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“He just needs some help,” I said. “Let’s give him some help. Come on David, help me.” We joined the stewards, and as the poor brute strained for a second attempt, I put my hands under his flank and lifted, pushed him upright with all my strength. “Come on, Samson,” I hissed. “Come on boy, get on your feet. There’s a good lad.”
David pushed and I pushed, and we gave it everything we had to help that horse back to standing. He braced his weight on one of his forelegs, and he wavered just a moment as he struggled for grip. We gritted our teeth, held him steady, and his weight shifted as he lurched and heaved. His leg held, took the weight, enough for his back end to come up and under him.
A big lurch, and a shove from us at his side, and he was on his feet. The boy was on his feet.
I was breathless, heady, my forehead pressed to Samson’s sweaty neck as he struggled to limp forward on his battered legs.
“Tendon damage,” the vet said. “Extensive, I’d say.” He looked at me, looked at David. “This horse is unlikely to work again.”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. None of that matters.”
“His recovery will be expensive.”
I waved my hands and so did David, and for that one moment our thoughts aligned in perfect sync.
“Whatever it takes,” I said.
“Fine,” the vet said, and got to work.
They limped Samson from the course, and applied cold compresses as the horse ambulance arrived.
I let them do their job, let the experts take over.
And I begged fate for mercy.
“You saved him,” Katie whispered as they lifted her into the ambulance. Her voice was muffled and fragile, her eyes so sad.
Our beautiful girl looked so broken, so weak, all trussed up on a stretcher.
I leaned over her. “No,” I said. “I just helped him up.” I gestured towards David. “We both did.”
“Good job, Carl. David,” Rick said, and Katie’s hand was still clamped tight to his wrist.
“I want to ride in the ambulance with her,” Debbie said. “Can you follow us?”
“There’s room for one other,” the paramedic said, and Rick looked at me.
“Go,” I said. “I’ll meet you there.”
Katie tried to move, tried to lift her head to me, but Rick and Debbie held her firm. “Don’t leave Samson!” she cried. “Please don’t leave him, Carl! Don’t leave my boy!”
“I won’t,” I promised, dipping my face to hers, and she relaxed, her eyes fluttering as they took her away.
I watched the ambulance pull away, sirens blaring, and my heart dropped through the floor.
“I’ll go with Samson,” I said to David. “Wherever they’re taking him.”
He looked across at an ashen Verity, a shocked-looking Olivia at her side. Seb and Dommie looked sullen, and I realised we were all feeling it, every one of us. Olivia took a step towards David, beckoned him over, but he didn’t move. He held up a hand, indicated she should stay put, that they should all stay put, and then he turned to me, his eyes on Samson as they tried to load him into the truck.
“I’ll come with you,” he said.
We followed the horse truck, thoughts heavy as I kept the Range close behind. My legs were shaky and my nerves were shot, my mind veering between the poor brute in front of us and my poor sweet Katie on her way to the hospital. I hoped they’d stabilised her, hoped to God she wasn’t in too much pain.
“I’m having Samson directed to our vets,” David said. “They’re the best, Carl, we use them for Verity’s show breeds. They’ll do their very best for him.”
I nodded. “I’ll take your guidance. I know fuck all about horses.”
He sighed. “Poor girl. Poor, poor girl.”
