Page 48 of Ropers Can't Tie Knots
“Okay. Please hurry.” My voice cracks. “I don’t like her like this, Hunter.”
“I know Gabe.” Hunter’s voice is soft as he does his best to comfort me. “I’ll be there soon.”
After pocketing the phone, I find Mack’s halter and the lead and try valiantly to remember what Hunter taught me all those weeks ago. Halters, bridles, bits, saddles, and brushes. It was a lot for a newbie to digest, but if I wanted to ride with him again, he said I needed to learn all these things.
Returning to Mack with the halter in hand, I find her still lying down, but she raises her head when I open the stall door. Her breaths are still harsh pants, and I try to channel Hunter’s calm.
“Hey, girl. Your dad said to put this on you, okay?”
Mack’s eyes are so expressive. Over the weeks that I snuck her carrots and talked to her without Hunter knowing, I believe we bonded. I didn’t know horses had personalities that were as unique as humans. Her eyes are my favourite part and over time I learned to read her looks. It probably seems silly to think it, but sometimes I wonder if she’s so good with me because she knows I’m new to horses.
I think she knows I’m here to help now, even though my hands are shaking and I’m sweating as bad as she is. Mack allows me to slip the halter on and buckle it, and that simple task feels like a massive victory. But it doesn’t make anything better.
She lays her head back down, and I’m unsure what to do, so I call Hunter again.
“Gabe?”
“I got the harness on but she’s laying down and just huffing. Should I get her up?”
“If she seems comfortable, that’s okay. Just stay with her. I’m almost there. Try not to panic. You okay?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
“You’re doing great, Gabe. I’m ten minutes out.”
Hunter hangs up, and I get comfortable in the stall next to Mack’s head.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you, Mack, but whatever it is, you’re going to get better.” She puffs as I pet her ears. “I only just went for my first ride with you and your dad, and it won’t be our last, okay? I know I’m not a horse guy, but I really like you, and I think you might have made me a horse guy.”
I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. How do people manage it with sick pets? She’s not even mine, and I’m on the verge of an emotional meltdown.
A male voice I don’t recognize calls out in the barn. “Hello?”
“In the stall with Mack!”
Footsteps sound down the barn aisle, and the man, who must be the vet, pokes his head over the door.
“You must be Gabe. I’m Jonah. Hunter should be here soon. I was nearby when he called. Sounds like Mack is colicking, but I need to check her out to be sure.”
“Is that bad?”
Jonah moves into the stall with me and kneels next to Mack. “Sometimes it can be, but if you catch it early—” He listens to Mack’s heart, lungs, and belly. “—which it seems like you did, the chances of full recovery are much better.” He hangs the stethoscope around his neck and stands. “Her gut sounds are pretty quiet. I need to do a rectal exam. Do you think you can help me?”
“Ah…in what way?”
A familiar low chuckle sounds as Hunter shows up at Mack’s stall. “Not the way you think, counsellor.” Hunter stands in the aisle, dressed in jeans that have never seen the inside of a barn. The blue button-down shirt is one I haven’t seen before, but damn, does it ever look amazing on him. He’s definitely dressed to impress his date, and it takes a moment for me to pick up my jaw. I’m still sitting in the stall with Mack’s head partially on my lap when he leans down to plant a soft kiss on my lips. “We need to get Mack on her feet for the doc.”
“Oh.” Petting Mack one last time, I whisper she’s a good girl and to be brave before sliding out from under her head. “I’d like to help.”
“The more hands, the merrier,” Jonah says as he pulls on a pair of gloves that go up to his shoulder.
Hunter bends to speak to Mack, and the horse nickers at his voice before slowly pushing up to stand with Hunter at her side. He walks Mack out of the stall, and Jonah motions for me to join him.
“Stand off to the side and mind her legs. She might try to bring one up like she’s scratching, and you want to avoid a kick. Hold her tail out of the way for me and just stand like that.”
Hunter and Jonah share a few words I don’t understand before Jonah slathers one arm with lube and works it into Mack’s butt. Remind me never to complain about a prostate exam again. Mack barely moves with the intrusion, but her panting continues.
“There’s a large mass of fecal matter here. I’ll run the nasogastric tube and try the mineral oil. If it works, then we avoid surgery.” Hunter’s eyes close with a sigh as he presses a kiss to Mack’s head.
