Lockwood Creek Book Two - This can be read as a stand-a-lone.
A Why Choose Story.
Maddy Lockwood was the Perfect Daughter and to save the Lockwood family she agreed to a marriage she did not want, but now she will learn the hard way that no matter...
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~ ~ Logan ~ ~
* Present Day *
I was in the barn and though it was early summer; it was still brisk in the mornings.
"Diagnosis, Doc?" Out in the barn with me was our vet, Calvin. He didn't look up and he walked around my horse.
"Can you fetch me the portable ultrasound, Logan?" He flicked his head toward the door. "It's in my truck, bag seat, black bag."
"Sure thing, Doc." I picked up the pace, returning in less than a minute.
"Thanks, just drop it there."
I carried on watching, waiting whilst gnawing at the soft flesh of my inside cheek.
Late on yesterday, I'd brought one of my old timers in, Jethro, from the pastures. A few days ago, I'd spotted him pawing the ground and not exactly acting like himself. And then yesterday Hank, one of my ranch hands said he'd gotten worse and was restless and cranky.
Restless and cranky, I was used to. Jethro here was a Quarter Horse, and we had retired him out to the pastures for the last few years. Luckily I'd got hold of Calvin, who told me he would swing by this morning.
And here he was as I watched him fire up the machine I'd just fetched for him. "Anything?" I knew I was being an inpatient son-of-bitch.
Calvin grumbled. "Give me a minute." Running a hand along my horse's underbelly, with that fancy device. His eyebrows scrunched then relaxed as he spoke in a low whisper to Jethro, trying to soothe him.
I swiped my hand across my chin, scraping the stubble, waiting for him to finish up. Jethro was getting on in years, touching twenty-three. He'd been my Ma's horse and when she'd left, I was the only one he'd let near him, ride him. And the idea he might be at the end of the road didn't sit right with me.
"Doc?" I was getting impatient with my gut tightening because deep down, I already knew what was wrong.
You didn't spend your whole life around horses and not learn a thing or two.
"I'm afraid your initial thoughts were right, Logan. It's Colic."
Fuck. I knew it. Colic in a younger horse you could manage, but in old-timers, not that easy.
My shoulders sagged. You'd think I'd be used to losing horses living and working the ranch my whole life. But growing up with Jethro, he was my last link to my Ma.
Calvin crouched and rooted around in his bag. "Add in some beet pulp and rice bran to his feed, but you have to be prepared, Logan. It's something we can manage for a while, but his age won't be helping." He pulled out a small bottle. "Add some oil in too." He held the bottle up. "Damn, not enough. I'll call in with some later, on my way home."
