Page 47 of Ropers Can't Tie Knots
I don’t know why that shocks me, but it does. Our wedding day was so rushed and not at all romantic, and yet…Hunter is doing his best to make it that way.
“I’ll meet you tonight. I can’t wait.”
“Me neither, Gabe. Have a great day, and I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye, cowboy.”
“Bye, counsellor.”
I’m not sure how I’ll concentrate on the rest of my day now, knowing what awaits me tonight.
Once I arrived home, I changed into a red button-down shirt I know looks great on me, and my most comfortable jeans that make my ass look incredible. If he’s putting in the effort to get me there, I’m putting in the effort to showcase the goods.
With a smile, I slip on my cowboy boots. They’re surprisingly comfortable, and I started wearing them to work when I have farm visits scheduled.
For a city guy, I’m at least looking like the locals now. As I head to my car, Lewis chirps, and I change course. It’s been a while since I’ve visited the little dude.
“Hey buddy. I haven’t been out to see you for a few days. Let me get youa carrot.”
Jogging into the barn, I locate the treat bucket and pull out a small carrot for Lewis. As I’m about to leave the barn, heavy panting and stall boards rattling stop me in my tracks.
I tentatively enter the row of horse stalls, the carrot clutched in my hand in front of me like a weapon. If it’s a wild animal, I could poke it in the eye with the root vegetable if it doesn’t like carrots. That would work, wouldn’t it?
Dixie pokes her head out of a stall, but she’s not the one making the ruckus. She nickers, but not the usual way when I’m bringing her a treat. This one sounds…stressed. stall boards rattle next to her—Mack.
The carrot drops from my hand as I jog down the barn aisle to her stall. Mack is not okay.
Her coat is shiny, like she just ran a marathon under the August sun, but she’s been in the barn for a few hours already. I know that because Hunter said he brings them in earlier in the fall, while the bears do their last-minute foraging for hibernation. That wasn’t news I liked to hear, but he insisted that in all his years here, he’s only had a bear in the pasture once.
That’s one time too many, if you ask me.
Mack paws at the ground, then stretches her neck and body out before kicking a back foot at her belly. She lies down, then immediately gets up with a low groan I’ve not heard from her before. Her expressive eyes, the ones that I sometimes feel are smiling at me, plead for me to help, but I don’t know what’s wrong.
She walks in a few circles in her stall, lies down and immediately gets back up—again—and in my gut, I know something is very wrong. I don’t need to be a horse guy to know that.
With a shaky hand, I pull out my cell and call Hunter right away.
“Hey, counsellor. Are you on your way?”
“No. I’m in the barn.” Mack’s panting intensifies and my panic bubbles over into my voice. “There’s something wrong with Mack!”
“What’s going on?” Hunter asks, calm and measured while I work at tamping down the panic.
“She’s all wet, like she’s sweating, and she’s pawing at things, lying down and getting up. She looks like she’s in pain.”
Hunter curses, then takes charge. “Gabe, I’m calling the vet. His name is Jonah. Mack will probably be okay, but Jonah will get there faster than me. Can I ask you to do something?”
My shoulders relax with his steady voice and latch on to the words that Mack will be okay. If I keep thinking that, it will happen, right?
“Yes, of course. Tell me what to do.”
“In the tack room, Mack has a hook. There’s a halter on it. That’s like a bridle with no bit for her mouth. Do you remember when I showed you?”
“Yes.” I walk towards the tack room as he continues. “Put it on her and clip the lead rope to the side. Walk her around slowly until Jonah gets there. Do you think you can get a halter on her by yourself?”
“I-I don’t know, but I’ll try.”
“Just read her movements. It slips on easily and she’s used to it. I’ll be there as a soon as I can.”
