Chapter 6 #2
Payton considered that for a moment. “But he lives far away.”
It wasn’t really that far, but Dr. Matigan’s was based in Westfield which was on the other side of Briarwood.
It was the largest of the three towns that made up our immediate area.
So it was still an hour away, though he was usually closer since he made the rounds regularly. Especially during the week.
“You’re a doctor, Uncle Emery.”
It still tickled me every time he used the honorific.
He didn’t always, nor did he use the title for all of my siblings.
Hawk had just been Hawk until he adopted Aria’s nickname for my younger brother and started calling him Hawkle.
Hawk pretended to hate it, but I knew he was secretly pleased he got a special nickname.
“Yeah, but I’m a people doctor, not an animal doctor,” I reminded him gently. “That’s Isley, silly.”
He thought about that for a second. “But Uncle Isley isn’t here yet. Maybe you should go check to make sure.”
He was really worried. I got it. Jaina was his dad’s heart horse and he loved her as much as he loved his son and Crew.
And that was saying something. He’d done everything he could to give that horse the best life, including giving her up when he couldn’t take care of her.
Instead of letting her suffer, he made sure she had the best possible situation.
He’d trained her from the ground up and she did whatever he asked.
Jaina meant the world to Mal, and therefore, she was important to Payton.
The least I could do was check on her and give him a report.
“And what am I supposed to do with you, hm?” I made a silly thinking face, hoping it would help ease some of his tension.
But I was ready with a denial if he wanted to come along.
Even though it was most likely going to be okay, colic could be tricky, especially in a draft cross like Jaina.
I wasn’t going to bring him to the barn just in case.
“I can go to Mimi’s,” he said quickly.
“I’ll walk him to the house,” Ville interjected. I’d forgotten he was there, which was kind of shitty, but I was sure he would understand my need to focus on my nephew.
“You good with walking with Ville?” I asked, because Payton was generally shy with strangers. He’d met Ville of course, been around him for a couple of days, but Pay was slow to warm up. I needed to give him the choice.
Payton thought about it for a few seconds, and then he nodded. “We can talk about the dogs. Right, Mr. Ville?”
I bit back the smile at the way he said Ville’s name, really accentuating the syllables. Like Vil-uh. It wasn’t quite right, but it was close and it sure was cute.
“Sure.” Ville’s smile didn’t reach his eyes and I had to wonder if he had a lot of experience with kids. “I’ll tell you about the phone call I made and what the plans are. Deal?”
Payton nodded. “I gotta get my shoes and Mr. Raven.”
He turned and ran back into his cabin. Ville disappeared for all of three seconds and reemerged with sneakers on his feet and his phone in his hand. I met him on the grass.
“Thanks for this,” I murmured, pushing up on my toes to kiss the corner of his mouth.
“He’s worried. You can set his mind at ease, hopefully. Go on now. I’ll take him to your mom.”
I called out to Payton to let him know I was leaving, and he ran back onto the porch to wave at me. I took off at a jog, not really wearing the right shoes to run. I heard Ville tell Payton to make sure the door to the cabin was shut tight.
I stopped at the equipment shed and jumped on an ATV. It was too early to run all the way to Barn 3 and I didn’t want to make Payton wait any longer for an update than absolutely necessary. With the machine’s help, I made it to the stock barn in a few minutes.
Inside, Crew, Wy, and Russ were standing outside Jaina’s stall. I assumed Mal was in with her. Crew did a double take when he saw me, and a scowl crossed his face. I held up a hand.
“Pay is headed to his mimi’s. Ville is walking him. He’s fine. But he’s worried. What’s going on?”
“Jaina was kicking her stall when I got here,” Wy said softly, not taking her gaze off the stall door. “It was so unlike her I came right over. She was biting at her sides and in the ten minutes I was watching her, she got up and down like three times. I called Mal immediately.”
I grimaced and Crew nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”
“Has he given her pain meds?” I asked.
“Not yet,” Crew answered. “That’s nex—”
Mal walked out of the stall and held out the stethoscope. “I hear gut sounds. I think. I’m just… can you check?”
Crew went to grab the stethoscope, but I intervened. “How about I listen? I’m kind of good at it. Then I can give the boss a direct report.”
Mal handed it over, but he looked confused.
I let Crew explain as I stepped into the stall.
Jaina was laying down, but she wasn’t all stretched out or rolling violently, so I wasn’t as worried as I’d been a minute ago.
Clearly she didn’t feel well, but if she was calm then it probably wasn’t that bad.
All it took was a quick click of the tongue and Jaina got to her feet but as soon as she did, she kicked at her stomach with a back leg.
I made soothing sounds as I settled the stethoscope in my ears and made my way around her, listening to the different quadrants.
I spent a little longer than I normally would have, just to make sure.
I was smiling when I exited the stall. “Definitely gut sounds. She’s a little gurgley but my guess, if she were a people and not an equine, is trapped gas. Has she pooped?”
“There was a fairly fresh pile in the stall,” Wy said. “I cleaned it up in case she started rolling.”
“Good. Banamine and watch her. But I’d bet money that once she relaxes a little, she’ll fart and feel a ton better.”
Mal looked relieved and glanced at Wy, but she was already headed to the tack room for the pain meds. “I’m relieved. Thanks for double checking. That’s what I thought too, but it’s hard not to worry more when it’s your own.”
“Of course. And, you know, I won’t be offended or anything if you call the vet anyway.” I made my eyes wide hoping for a smile out of Mal. It only sort of worked, but I was taking the win.
“I’m going to.” Mal’s smile grew a little. “At the very least to put him on standby. But now I’m not as worried about him heading right out here.”
Wy returned with the syringe and Mal took it, entering Jaina’s stall again. I took two steps toward the barn door, then stopped and spun. Crew raised a brow, but I ignored him and strode to where the two-way radios were charging. I picked one up.
“EH to Base.”
A few seconds later, Payton’s voice came through the walkie. “Go for base. Over.”
“Jaina is doing just fine. Your daddy is giving her some medicine to make her feel better but I checked her out and listened to her gut and you don’t need to worry right now. Okay? Over.”
The radio crackled to life, I heard Payton sigh, and then it clicked off again. A second later, he was back. “Thanks, Uncle Emery. Tell Daddy and Dad that Mimi is making special breakfast. She said…what was it again?”
Mom’s tinkling laugh came through and she must have taken the two-way from Payton. “Stress makes everyone hungry. I’m making Mal’s favorite quiche. It’ll be ready and waiting. Over.”
I glanced across the aisle and saw Crew hugging the stuffing out of Mal. As if he sensed my stare, Mal lifted his head and gave me a wave of acknowledgement.
“They’ll be up when they’re ready. Over and out.”
I set the two-way back on its base and headed out with only a wave to the couple.
They didn’t seem to notice, but that was fine.
Good dead done, I made my way back to the ATV.
I had my own day to get ready for, though I still had hours before my shift started at the clinic, and I wanted to thank Ville again for helping out.
He didn’t have to. No one would have thought less of him.
But he had a big heart and a gooey center, so of course he hadn’t hesitated.
Maybe we could find a secluded corner and I could thank him on my knees.