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“Do you hear that?” Patti asked, propping herself up on her elbow.
Trent nodded. “Someone’s coming.”
As if on cue, Chuck emerged from the foliage, his face etched with worry. Trent could see the distress in his eyes even before he spoke. “Thank god I found you.” He was out of breath. “It’s Thunder,” he said, his voice tight with concern. “I think he’s dying.”
“What?” Trent gasped, sitting up abruptly. “What happened?”
Chuck shook his head, his expression grim. “I don’t know. He was fine this morning, but now... You need to come see him.”
Trent’s heart twisted with guilt, his stomach knotting. If only he hadn’t agreed to this date. They could have been there for Thunder.
“Let’s go,” Trent said, his voice hoarse from worry. He helped Patti onto Sunrise, and they galloped back to the ranch, with Chuck leading the way.
The past loomed on the horizon, a specter that Trent might never escape.
As they rode, Trent could feel Patti holding him tighter than ever before.
“Thunder seemed so much better,” Patti mumbled into his back. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Neither can I,” Trent responded, his words strained as they pushed their pace. “We’ll do everything we can for him, Patti.”
The barn rose ominously in front of them, a daunting sight that sent a chill through Trent’s bones. He felt a terrible feeling build in him. A feeling of pure, unbridled doom. The two of them alighted from the horse with haste, the thud of their boots against the earth echoing their urgent mood.
There, in his stall, was Thunder—once a robust, dignified horse, now diminished to a trembling, feeble being. Trent immediately noticed his breathing. It was erratic and strained. His coat was damp with sweat, and there was a disturbing glaze in his eyes. Even more disturbing, his mane and tail had patches where the hair had clearly fallen out. Patti reached out to touch his neck, her hand trembling.
“Please, Trent, do something,” she pleaded, her voice barely holding up. “W-we can’t lose him.”
“Is he in pain?” That was Chuck, agony etched onto his face.
“I’ll make him comfortable,” Trent replied, avoiding answering the question directly.
Clearly, it was enough of an answer for Chuck, who looked morose, before stepping next to Thunder, stroking the poor horse.
Trent sprang into action, inspecting Thunder’s state with serious resolve. He felt Patti’s eyes on him, her concern magnifying with each passing second.
“Come on, Thunder,” Patti whispered, instilling strength into the ailing horse. “You’re stronger than this.”
Trent couldn’t work out what was wrong. All of Thunder’s vitals were crashing. Thunder was over the cryptosporidium. This shouldn’t be happening.
“Is he going to be okay?” Patti said, biting her nails.
“I-I…” Trent began, but he stopped, as Thunder shuddered, a deep, excruciating breath moving through him. It was as though it had taken all of his remaining strength.
Then… Thunder’s breath waned, faltered, and finally faded.
A profound silence descended on the barn, the atmosphere dense with sorrow and disbelief.
“I can’t believe it,” Trent uttered quietly, his voice echoing emptiness. “He’s gone. I’m so sorry, Patti.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Trentstoodbeneaththeheavy sky, its gray clouds pressing down on him. The scent of damp earth filled his nostrils as he inhaled deeply, trying to steady himself.
After a morning from heaven, he had spent an afternoon in hell.
Thunder’s sudden death had sent shockwaves through Littlecreek Ranch. Bigs and Littles came to pay their respects. Trent found himself playing an unfamiliar role. A counselor. He lost count of the amount of times he had to explain that they’d done everything they could for Thunder.
And each time he said it, he couldn’t help but feel as though he was lying.
