Twenty-Eight
An incoming call popped up across the news article Tuck was reading about yesterday’s stakes race. At breakfast, he and Piper had decided they weren’t in any hurry to leave, so he was relaxing on his hotel bed. They still had another couple of hours before checkout.
His lips flattened at the interruption, but then he pressed the green accept button. “Hello?”
“Hey, sir, it’s Joel.”
Why was their groom calling? He sat up and placed his feet on the floor. “Everything all right?”
“No. Something’s wrong with Dream, Mr. Hale.”
Tuck’s heart picked up speed. “What?”
“I’m not sure. Every time I try to get close to check, he backs away. I hate to bother you, but can you come down here?”
“I’ll be right there.”
His gut clenched. Crap. Was it the strangles? Did Dream have a virus? His mind raced as he put his boots back on and grabbed his wallet and cell. He didn’t want to give Piper more bad news on top of Dream’s not placing. Not to mention he still hadn’t told her about his dad. Was that why he hadn’t seen the signs that something was wrong with her horse? Lord, what’s going on? This would explain why the colt hadn’t run faster yesterday. Having him place in sixth was a huge letdown.
Tuck raced out of the hotel, thankful the stables were within walking distance.
Lord God, please give me wisdom. Please help me see what’s wrong with Dream. I pray it’s nothing serious and that it can be easily managed. Please keep my thoughts centered on You and not on a path that won’t help me or Dream. Please don’t let him be so sick he loses his opportunity to race in the Derby.
Piper would be devastated if that happened.
When Tuck entered the stables, his eyes slowly adjusted from the bright light outside to the dimmer light inside. Joel met him in front of the colt’s stall.
“Anybody else have a sick horse?” Tuck scanned the stalls, but the other horses appeared calm.
“Actually, yeah.” Joel pointed over his shoulder. “They removed one from the stables an hour ago. Said he might be sick and they’d let us know if it was something contagious.”
Tuck had some not-so-great words to say to that, but instead, he clenched his jaw. “How far away was that stall from Dream’s?”
“At the very end.”
Could be a blessing in disguise.
“You want me to call a local vet or Mordecai?” Joel asked.
Tuck shook his head. “Let me examine him first.” Tuck slipped into the stall, whispering soothing noises as he extended his hand.
Dream’s nostrils flared, but he didn’t back away. Tuck continued his slow pursuit until he was rubbing the colt’s muzzle. Drool hung from his bottom lip, but Tuck couldn’t see anything amiss otherwise.
“What’s wrong with you, boy?” Tuck ran his hand all along the Thoroughbred, examining him from head to hoof. Nothing appeared out of order. No swelling in the joints, no palpable heat or painful area that made Dream jerk away. Puzzled, Tuck faced the colt once more.
“Are you just antsy? Or is there something more?”
Tuck’s gaze narrowed on the clear saliva dangling from the horse’s bottom lip. He grabbed a glove, and while whispering soothing noises, slid his finger along Dream’s upper lip and lifted the flesh away from the teeth.
Dream whined.
“Aw, poor guy.”
A burr had nestled itself right in the upper fold of the horse’s mouth, and an abscess had already begun to form.
“Found the culprit.” Tuck jerked his head, signaling for Joel to take a look.
The groom blanched. “I swear I didn’t see anything on race day. I would’ve said something.”
“I believe you. I know Gabe would’ve said something as well.” Though people had been known to ignore an issue in order to let a horse still compete, they weren’t the ones Tuck chose to work with.
“Can you make a warm saltwater solution for me, Joel?”
“Sure thing.”
“Good. I’m gonna remove this and see if he starts feeling better.”
Lord God, please don’t let Dream get a fever. Please don’t let this get infected. We just want him healthy and whole and ready to race in the Derby.
Tuck needed to update Piper. He pulled out his cell and called her.
“Hey, you. What’s up?” she said.
“I’m in the stables.” He cleared his throat. “Dream’s got a mouth abscess.”
Piper inhaled sharply. “How bad is it?”
“It looks pretty nasty, but he doesn’t seem feverish. Just a little skittish right now.”
“No,” Piper moaned. “I’ll be right down.”
“You don’t have to come. I’ve got this. I’ll watch over him.”
“Of course you will, Tuck. But Dream needs to know everything will be okay. I’ll comfort him and get to hang out with you. Two birds.”
“Then come on down,” he drawled.
She laughed. “Oh, hey, are you gonna be able to remove it yourself?”
“Never had any trouble before.”
“But you’re right-handed.”
He stared at his slinged arm. How could he have forgotten about this blasted contraption for even a minute? “Joel can do it if I can’t.”
“Or you can stop being stubborn and let me help.”
He wasn’t stubborn. “Dream’s under my care, and I’m pretty sure I can take care of him myself. I don’t need your help.”
“And I think that’s called being stubborn.” Piper chuckled.
Tuck sighed. “Fine. I’ll wait for you.”
“Good. Be there in a jiffy.”
This was the perfect time to ask for prayer. Tuck opened his text messages and wrote one to Chris and Lamont.
Tuck
Dream has a mouth abscess. Please pray he heals with no issues so he won’t lose the chance to race in the Derby.
Lamont
On it. Nevaeh is right next to me and said she’s praying too.
Tuck
Thanks y’all.
Chris
??Please keep us posted.
Tuck
Of course.
Lamont
Is this why he placed so low?
Tuck
Could be.
“Tuck.”
He turned at the sound of Piper’s voice, and his brain went into hyper focus. Tuck noted her gleaming eyes, the wisp of a smile across her full lips, and the way her jeans hugged her body. And because he could, Tuck took his time appreciating her beauty without having to hide the fact that he found his best friend attractive.
She came to a stop before him and placed a kiss on his cheek. “You okay?”
“Me? You’re the one I’m concerned about.”
“Tucker Hale, when will you realize I’m good as long as you’re by my side?”
Joy bloomed inside him. Whenever he contemplated the Scripture that talked about abundant joy, he couldn’t help but think Piper was part of that. The Lord had blessed him with this woman, and Tuck prayed he’d give thanks all his days.
He hugged her to him. “I feel the exact same way.”
“Good. Now that I know we can face whatever, what are we looking at?” She studied Dream.
“Obviously, we need to remove the burr. After that, we’ll rinse his mouth with a saltwater solution. I want to make sure he doesn’t get a fever.”
Piper’s brow furrowed. “He’s gotten so far on the road to the Derby. Will this prevent him from racing?”
“It shouldn’t. The recovery should be straightforward as long as he doesn’t get an infection and need antibiotics.” Tuck ran a hand through his hair.
If it came to that, Piper’s Derby dreams would end right here. Well, for this season. There was always the next.
“I just keep thinking about the horses who never got to race because of tragic medical issues. Remember Wild on Ice?” She sighed. “He qualified for the Derby only to break his leg after a work. He never even got to leave the starting gate before he was euthanized.”
“I know anything can happen”—Tuck cupped the back of Piper’s head—“but remember, God wants us thinking on what’s true, noble...” Tuck paused, trying to recall the rest of Philippians 4:8.
“Lovely, good report,” Piper added.
“Right. All those things. Let’s focus on removing the burr and getting Dream comfortable.”
She nodded. “Okay. You’re right.”
Piper entered the colt’s stall, and then soft murmurings cascaded from her lips as she slipped a halter around him.
“I can pull his lips back if you want to grab the tweezers to pull out the burr,” Tuck said, suggesting a plan.
“That’ll work.”
Joel walked up. “Got the saltwater ready.”
“Thanks, Joel.”
“Need anything else?”
“We’re good. Thanks,” Piper said.
Joel walked away, and Tuck turned to the task at hand.
“It’ll be just fine, boy.” Tuck slid his fingers under Dream’s upper lip and folded it back from his teeth. “Can you see, darlin’?”
“Yep. I’ll get that removed right about ... now.” Piper held up the burr triumphantly.
“Make sure there are no remnants.”
“It’s all good. Want me to check his lower lip?”
“Yep.”
Once she gave the all clear, Tuck let go of Dream and reached for the saltwater solution. He filled the syringe, then handed it to Piper so she could squeeze the solution into the colt’s mouth. They worked in silence until Piper pronounced the site clean and free of debris. That and the solution was almost gone.
“We need to get him home so he can rest. Give him some soaked mash to eat until he’s all healed.” Piper placed her hands on her hips.
“I’ve got some softer grass hays we can try too.”
Piper nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Good. Do you still want to make the trek back today, then? Rather than let him rest here another day?”
“Yeah.”
“All right. Let’s get packed and check out.”
Tuck wrapped an arm around Piper’s shoulders. Telling her what Dad did now didn’t seem like a great idea. With what was happening with Dream, Tuck didn’t want to compound the drama. Maybe tomorrow he’d sit her down and share all he knew. Starting with the phone call with Aaron Wellington and moving to Tuck’s conversation with his dad.
Until then, he’d have to take his own advice and meditate on what was good and true. Yes, it was true that Dad outed Piper’s dad. But it wasn’t necessarily true that she would dump him because of it. He couldn’t entertain the unknown, because it would make him spiral quicker than a spinning ride at the carnival.
His relationship with Piper mattered above all else. His feelings had ranged from a crush to feeling like he was in a pathetic, unrequited one-sided relationship. Knowing she felt the same way, had been trying to repress her feelings as well, unleashed his in an almost overwhelming fashion. He loved her.
Loved her the way God called a man to love a woman. If she decided to end their relationship because of his father’s action ... well, Tuck wasn’t sure what he’d do. That fear was enough for him to keep quiet and pray for the right time, even though his gut kept prodding him to speak.
Could he do it? Could he turn to her right now and just lay it all bare?
He opened his mouth and—
“I sure hope God doesn’t have any more surprises,” Piper murmured.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s been storm after storm. I feel like I’ve been in a very real battle.” She laid her head on his good shoulder. “It’s exhausting.”
He squeezed his eyes closed. No, today wasn’t the right time. He didn’t want to cause Piper any more turmoil. He placed a kiss on the top of her head and said nothing. For once, he had no words of encouragement, only a hope that they truly would get through the storm.