Page 68 of Our Sweet Destiny
“No Johnson is touching your mother’s horse,” he said in a firm tone.
“She might be Hope’s only chance if this is really colic. Did you take her temperature?”
“Since when did you become a horse expert?” his father asked. “She has no other signs. She was rolling, craning her neck, and snapping. I’m no vet, but I think we’re looking at some kind of stomach issue.”
Rex shot a hot stare at Josh. “Dad, you’ve been at this all day. Go with Savannah and Josh. We’ll sit with her and see if we can calm her down.”
“Go on. We’ve got this,” Treat said.
With Savannah’s persistent yank on his arm, their father reluctantly went toward the house.
Rex grabbed Josh’s arm. “What was that all about?”
“I thought maybe he’d make it easier for everyone and just let Jade help.” Josh shrugged.
“Whatever. Just keep him in the house.” Rex heard Jade’s car pull up behind the trees along the road. He pulled out his cell phone and called her.
“He’s inside,” he said when she answered.
A few minutes later, she entered the back door of the barn, carrying her medical bag.
JADE’S NERVES FELT like wires that had been pulled too tight. She kept looking at the barn doors, waiting for Hal Braden to storm in and throw her out.
“What can we do?” Rex asked.
“I’m fine with Hope, but I’m really nervous about your dad. Can you guys just give me space to work and watch for your dad?” she asked.
Rex kissed her lightly. “Thank you. I know this is a lot to ask.”
“Nothing is too much for an animal.” She watched them go to the barn doors, two strong sentries allowing her to do the thing she loved most next to being with Rex.
Jade closed her eyes and breathed deeply for a few seconds. She inhaled the smell of straw, leather, and the unique scent of hot horses, and when she opened her eyes, Hope was looking right at her.
“Hi, sweet girl.” She calmly stroked the side of her jaw. “You’re not feeling so well, huh?” Hope stopped throwing her body from side to side. She nudged Jade’s solar plexus over the gate of her stall. “That’s a girl,” she said.
She unlatched the stall and opened the gate.
“Jade, be—”
She cut Rex off with a silent palm in the air. Hope walked out of the stall, and Jade tried to ignore Rex’s eyes watching over her. She focused on leading Hope toward the back of the barn, where she tied her lead to another stall. The center of the barn stretched about twelve feet wide between the stalls on the left and the ones on the right. Jade moved with slow and careful steps to Hope’s side, speaking in a soothing voice.
“I’m just going to do a quick exam, Hope.” She rested her ear against Hope’s stomach, relieved to hear plenty of stomach noises. She took the horse’s temperature, her pulse, and when she moved to Hope’s head to check the mucus membrane in her mouth, she was drawn in by the sad look in Hope’s eyes. Jade pet her muzzle gently.
“It’s okay, sweetie. I’m just going to open your mouth, okay?”
Hope neighed and pushed her nose into Jade’s chest again. Most women would worry about their blouse or the wetness that brushed their skin, but to Jade, the feeling of the horse against her body was a blessing. It meant that Hope was comfortable with her, which was half the battle when examining a horse.
She checked Hope’s gums and her capillary refill time.
“I’m not seeing anything alarming here, Hope. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” She stroked Hope’s side and checked her eyes and skin for dehydration.
Jade glanced at Rex, who was still watching every move she and Hope made. She wanted to tell Rex that she wasn’t concerned with her findings, but she didn’t want to break the bond she and Hope had established by hollering to Rex. Instead, she spoke to Hope.
“Okay, sweetie, I’m just going to give you a bit of a massage. This will help ease whatever is going on in your belly.” She rested her palms on Hope’s body until she found her rhythm. Then she worked her way along her stomach meridian.
She heard Treat and Rex approach before she saw them. They watched in silence as she inched her fingertips along Hope’s body, feeling for abnormalities beneath her fingers. Hope was no longer cranking her neck. She was still and calm as Jade took extra time around the same point where she’d massaged Berle, and so many other horses, to alleviate stomach discomfort.
REX’S ADORATION FOR Jade multiplied just watching her put so much love and energy into Hope. He was mesmerized with the care she took, every ounce of her focus on the horse, and as she spoke to Hope, her voice was soothing and calm, as if she were talking to a child or a lover. Despite himself, he began to picture her with a child. With his child.
