Page 15 of Saving Veronica
“She didn’t have a watch?”
“She does, but it’s hard to explain. The meadow is…” Gerald looked around and everyone was frowning.
“Tranquil, peaceful. I won’t say magical, but being there puts you into perspective,” Maggie said.
“Okay. Go on.”
“I laughed with her and asked when she wanted me to come get her. She said if she wasn’t back by noon on Saturday, then to call out the search party. Or if her horses returned without her.”
“So, her not being here by Thursday or even yesterday, wasn’t putting up any red flags for you?”
“Not at all. That’s why I was waiting until ten to start prepping. I’d have had to call the General for a mount, but I wanted to be all packed and ready once I got the horse.”
“Okay.” Finn turned to the vet. “Doctor, is there any way you can check out the horses? Why do they have all that foam dripping off them?”
“Lather,” several people said at once. “When a horse runs hard, really hard, they sweat. Like anyone would do. But, the harder they run, the sweat turns into lather.” The vet explained. “The way Sarge was directing them coming down that mountain was pure terror. I saw the whites of several of the eyes on the wild ones. Something happened up there. Something bad.”
Finn immediately held up his hand. “I understand, but can you separate Ronnie’s horses from the wild ones?”
“Why do you want to do that, son?” His father frowned at him.
“If we can get them separated and calmed down, maybe the vet and Hector can see something up close and personal that we’re not seeing from back here. I’ll be the first to admit that I know jack shit about horses. But, if Sarge and Paige are used to being around humans, we’d be better able to get more information from them, rather than the wild ones. Is there any way to tell how long ago the baby was born? We can get a timeline started here.”
“I understand.” The vet nodded and he climbed over the fence, and together he and Hector walked over to where Paige was, and in less than ten minutes, Ronnie’s horses were in their own separate pasture. Everyone watched as between the two men, they calmed the horses and the foal. Hector removed the saddle, and blanket. He changed out the bit bridle with a halter, and Grady examined the foal. Ten minutes later they led Sarge over to the others at the fence.
“Well?” Finn asked.
“First, the foal is a filly.”
“Meaning?” Finn frowned, and everyone around him laughed.
“Don’t know horses, do you son?” Gerald asked, slapped his hand on Finn’s shoulder, and gave it a gentle squeeze. He leaned in and whispered loudly. “It’s a girl.”
“I rode one once at a petting zoo, Mom and Grandma took me to when I was eight.” He frowned when everyone laughed. “So, what else?” Finn asked, able to chuckle at himself.
“There’s still amniotic fluid on her.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning Paige hasn’t had the opportunity to clean her after she was born. After a quick exam, I’d say the filly is almost twenty-four hours old. Not much older.”
“So, we can assume that’s why Ronnie didn’t come home when she’d first indicated. She found Paige and stayed with her until the baby was born.”
“Good assumption.”
“But…” Hector said, and turned Sarge around so his right side was facing them. Everyone sucked in their breath and then the men started swearing. Finn heard the mention of mountain lion and cougar several times.
“Okay! Listen up!” Finn yelled, as the noise started to grow louder. They all stared in shock and horror at the huge gashes on the neck and back right flank of the jet-black horse. “Does anyone have a map of this area?” he demanded.
“On Ronnie’s office wall,” Hector said. “Gerald and Maggie know where it is. I’ll get these two in their stalls and join you.”
“I’ll stay out here and take care of them,” the vet said, and began to lead Paige to the barn. As everyone headed to the house, Finn made a detour to his truck.
“I’ll be right there,” he called, and retrieved a couple of items. He arrived at the front door at the same time as Hector. Together they went into Ronnie’s house and Hector led the way down the hall. Finn walked into the office and frowned at the map on the wall that everyone was gathered around.
“Wait!” Hector called, and hurried forward. He asked everyone to step back. They watched in shock and awe as he walked over to a large wall, pushed the two bookshelves to each side, then turned them, so they were flush with the next wall.
“What the hell?” Gerald asked, as he looked at the wall that was revealed. “When did Ronnie do this?”
