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He leaned down from the saddle, and she met him halfway, their lips meeting in a tender, lingering kiss that seemed to hold a thousand unspoken promises. Reluctantly, they pulled apart, and Patti stepped back, her fingers brushing against his for a final moment before he urged his horse forward.
“Take care, Trent,” she called after him, her voice barely audible over the pounding of hooves.
As she watched him disappear into the distance, Patti couldn’t help but feel a mixture of sadness and trepidation. She knew how important it must be for Trent to leave so suddenly, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that this mysterious message from Glen might bring further heartache to their lives.
She stood there for a while, lost in her thoughts, the wind playing with her hair as if trying to comfort her. It was only the distant sound of laughter and conversation that reminded her of the gathering still taking place at the ranch.
Drawing a deep breath, Patti turned away from the horizon and made her way back to the others. If anything, she knew she needed to be strong for them—for Millie, who had lost a dear friend in Thunder, and for the rest of the ranch family who were mourning the loss of such a beloved creature.
Patti found her way back to the ranch staff and listened to their stories about Thunder. The sun dipped behind the mountains, casting a warm, orange glow on their faces. Laughter mingled with tears as they shared memories of the horse who had left an indelible mark on their lives.
The wake was a low-key affair. There was no alcohol, which was ranch policy for public gatherings. They were under a marquee outside Duke’s old barn near Martha’s field. There were snacks and drinks, as well as a book into which people were writing their memories of the horse.
Of course, the attendees were talking, too, sharing stories about Thunder.
“Remember when he jumped that fence and went gallivanting through Mom’s old garden?” Duke chuckled, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Mom would’ve been so mad,” Chuck added, a smile tugging at his lips. “Lucky it was less of a garden and more of a dusty old piece of rock-hard land by the time Thunder went through it.” Patti found herself smiling too, despite the sadness weighing on her heart.
“Once, he bit my ass.” That was Anita.
Everyone looked around at her.
“He bit your ass?” Duke said, smiling.
“I had carrots in my back pocket,” she explained, “and I bent over to pick something up…”
A chorus of laughs broke out as they pictured the scene.
“Hey!” Anita said, indignantly, “it was painful!”
As the conversation continued, Patti’s gaze drifted toward the horizon. A lone figure on horseback approached, kicking up a trail of dust behind him. Squinting against the fading light, Patti recognized Benjamin, the ranch foreman. His grim expression sent a shiver down her spine.
When he arrived at the wake, he quickly dismounted.
“Where’s Trent?” Ben asked, urgency in his voice.
“Uh, he’s gone to Butte,” Patti replied, her stomach knotting with apprehension. “He was needed at a lab there.”
“Damn,” Ben muttered, rubbing his forehead. Then, his eyes set on her. She’d never seen him look this serious. “Well, as the senior medical staff member left at the ranch, you’ll have to take the lead on this, Patti.”
Patti felt a kick of anxiety so fierce she almost forgot how to breathe. “Me? What’s going on?”
“Four young lambs are sick—incredibly sick,” Ben said, his voice strained. “They’re losing their wool and running high temperatures. I don’t know what’s wrong with them.”
Panic tightened its grip on Patti’s chest, but she pushed it down, knowing she needed to be strong for the animals. “Okay,” she breathed out, trying to steady her racing heart.
What would Trent do? What would Trent do?
She breathed in again, out again. She could do this. She didn’t have to be afraid, her instincts could guide her through. “We’ll handle it. Duke, Chuck, can you help?”
“Of course,” Duke said, determination flashing in his eyes. Chuck nodded in agreement, and the three of them followed Ben back to the barn, leaving behind the warm circle of friends and memories.
As they rode, Patti’s thoughts raced. She wasn’t a veterinarian like Trent, but she’d learned so much from him during their time together. The pressure of taking charge in his absence terrified her, but she knew she couldn’t let fear hold her back. The lambs needed her and she refused to let them down.
They arrived at the barn to find the lambs huddled together, in the corner of a quarantine pen. The creature’s tiny bodies trembled. Patti could see that their wool was patchy and thin. What had happened to them?
Patti’s heart ached for them, but she knew she had to focus on getting them better. “Alright, everyone,” she said, taking charge. “Let’s check their symptoms and see what we’re dealing with.”
