Cowboy Bring Me Back

13

July 17, 2013

Stevie and Livinia were sitting in the living room watching mindless television, Well Livinia was, Stevie was reading her book. It was funny really when she was in Agoura Hills she read a lot and she never did that in Santa Monica. While they were doing their mindless activities, Livinia was eating a bagel with cream cheese when Lindsey burst through the front door. All he does is grabs Stevie's purse off of the hook and chucks it at them on the couch, Stevie's book goes flying and the purse lands right on Livinia's leg. Livinia had her foot on Stevie's lap on a pillow.

"Daddy." Livinia whines flinching.

"Sorry, Go, get up let's get moving we've gotta go." He states.

"Honey calm down what's going on?" Stevie questions.

"Kid, fell off a horse at the center, unresponsive, ambulance being called I have to kill a horse." Lindsey states.

"Which one?" Livinia tries her hardest to get up and off the couch.

"Blaze...they were on the advanced trail, and he stepped in a hole. Blaze broke his leg and when the horse fell the kid was tossed into a tree." Lindsey explains as Livinia is finally in a standing position.

"So why do we have to go?" Stevie asks.

"Because Livinia's appointment is in forty-five minutes. While I deal with the horse and the paperwork and all that shit I don't want to deal with, Colton is going to bring you to the appointment." Lindsey explains.

"Is that today?" Stevie asks.

"It is. In 45 minutes, let's go, let's go." He states his keys in his hands as he flies throughout the house. 

"Daddy, I can't move that fast." 

"Dammit." He states tossing Stevie his car keys and hands her Livinia's crutches and then he hoists his daughter up bridal style and then they're quickly on their way as they're stopped at the truck Lindsey turns to Stevie.

"What, I'm not driving." She shakes her head.

"No, my wallet is in my back left pocket, grab it and look for her insurance cards," Lindsey explains.

So Stevie, checks out his ass as she goes to grab his wallet and she tantalizingly brushes her hand across it after she's got his wallet in her hands and then she opens it and wrinkles her nose at how old and abused it was because that was the same wallet he had when Liv was born. And once she places it back in his pocket she pats his bottom for good measure and he situates Livinia in the car before helping Stevie up and then he squeals and speeds out of his driveway down to the center. Lindsey hops out when they arrive and Colton hops in and then just like that they were off to the doctor. 

***

It was weird being back in the Agoura Hills Hospital, seeing as the last time she walked out of there she was seventy-two hours postpartum and she was cradling a teeny tiny Livinia. They make it to the Orthopedics office and then they check-in. 

"Livinia Buckingham." The nurse calls not long after they check-in and updates her paperwork. and Stevie stands up, as does Livinia and the two of them make their way back. 

They only wait for a few minutes and then the doctor comes by relatively quickly and it's shocking at how fast this guy was compared to other doctors in Los Angeles that she's been to. 

"Hey Liv, it's been a while...who's this?" The doctor asks 

"This is my mom..." She starts.

"Stephanie Buckingham." Stevie cuts her off holding her hand out as the Doctor shakes it.

"I don't think I've met you." He shakes his head.

"No, when Livvy broke her wrist, I was traveling for work. It's nice to meet you." Stevie shakes her head.

"Well, it's nice to meet you too. So let's talk about this leg. What happened?" He winks knowing full well who the older woman in the room with Livinia was. 

Once her legs been re-x-rayed and it was determined that she could move to a walking cast Livina spoke up. "So, my family and I usually go on a camping trip at the end of July...do you think I will be able to?" 

"Camping yes...this is a movement cast. You can walk on it, go back to most of your normal daily activities. You won't be riding a horse again probably until mid-August but camping should be fine." He nods.

"Alright, thank you." She smiles.

"You're quite welcome." He grins at her.

"So she's basically back to normal like she can walk out of here without the crutches she can do normal everyday activities?" Stevie inquires.

"I want her to walk on it as much as she can but if it starts hurting or causes discomfort then she can use the crutches. She might want to start out on the crutches so he can gain her balance. This boot has a rounded soul so the toes don't touch the ground I want her to wear this all day except for when she's sleeping in bed at night and when she's in the shower. If you do go camping, it stays on the whole time and she sleeps with it elevated even at home. I'm going to put a sock on her foot, this is not to be worn without one. We're going to keep it on for fourteen more days and then we'll see how it goes." He smiles.

"Alright." Stevie nods.

"Do you need a new prescription for pain meds?" The doctor asks once she's situated.

"NO." Stevie cuts him off.

"Mom, I don't have any left though." She shakes her head.

"Livinia, what did we talk about in the hospital," Stevie asks.

"You got addicted to a prescription drug that said take as needed." She rolls her eyes.

"So no, you don't need one. I have regular old Tylenol in my purse." Stevie states.

"But I'm not you." Livinia states.

"Drug addiction is genetic though." The doctor breaks in.

"What?" Livinia asks.

"If the parent was or is a drug addict that child born to them is genetically inclined to become one themselves. By that I mean, you are more likely to get addicted to something where my son isn't because both my wife and I have never been addicted to anything." He explains.

"So you and Colton have to be careful honey, that's all I'm saying. We don't need another prescription you'll be okay." Stevie states.

***

Colton, Livinia, and Stevie are driving back to the Equestrian Center in comfortable silence when Livinia speaks up.

"Did daddy kill Blaze yet?"

"I don't know Liv. The Vet's there that's all he said in the text I got about five minutes before you got out of your appointment. He might be waiting for you to go say goodbye. He knows you have a soft spot for all of the horses. I already said goodbye before I left." Colton explains.

"Why would he have to euthanize it?" Stevie asks.

"Well, horses have heavy bodies and light leg bones. When a horse's bone breaks more times than not it shatters, which makes it almost impossible to surgically reconstruct the bone. Horses have no muscle, ligaments, or tendons below the knee, it's just bone. Without muscle, even with a cast, the broken bone has nothing that can support it.  And, it's much harder to prevent a horse from using its broken leg to bear weight. Horses stand most of the time, and if it's scared a horse is going to flee and buck. When Liv fell Snow didn't have anywhere to flea too she was trapped in a circle so that's why she freaked out and threw Liv. If the handlers hadn't been there it is highly likely that Snow could've trampled her. So since it's going to want to flee if it's scared with a broken leg, they're going to use it to gallop which could cause re-injury. Sometimes it can be fixed, but most of the time it can't be." Colton explains. 

"Geez, I'm sorry guys." Stevie sighs looking between her kids. 

"It happens, not often but it does happen." Livinia sighs.

"Well losing an animal hurts all the same," Stevie explains.