Cracker-Jack

Chapter thirteen

I feel sick. Very sick. I awoke shivering and coughing, discharge dripped from my nose, and I was tierd all the time, no matter how much I slept, I felt so tierd all the time. I awaited in my stall for Kathy, I just lied down and tried to rest, low, whistling noises came out every time I breathed, everytime I shivered my breathing would sound more shakey. I shifted my ears to the creak of the door opening. The sound of small, leather boots ticked toward my direction, Kathy looked around my stall then looked down at me, her eyes widened as she dropped a bucket, she yelped and ran away.

 Was it really that bad?

 I just waited on the floor wheezing, I felt of draft of cool wind from my window, it felt refreshing on my skin. It helped my take my mind off of how sick I was. I rested my head on the ground and waited on Kathy to come back. I feel strangely lonely without her here, I used to survive on my own, keep myself company, but now I wish she was by my side. The door swung open and Kathy jogged to me while talking on her cell phone. I tried to push myself up.

I pushed and pushed, but I was too tierd. My stomach was aching with hunger, my back and sides were itching and burning from flies, and my stiff knees can't push me back to my feet. I laid my head down and gave up.

 I tried to keep the memories of my past behind me, but it seems that everything reminds me of it. I pushed my hind legs on the ground to try to push myself up.

 I jerked my back legs behind me as the fire started to burn, I tried to push my hooves on the ground to try to scoot my self over away from the fire, I kicked and kicked until dirt was flying.

 I tried to keep my mind in where I am, I tried to tell myself that I am safe, that the past won't come back to haunt me, but I could feel the fire starting to burn at my hind quarters, my vision began to blur and fade into my old pasture. I watched as Master aproached me with the barbwire. My eyes widened as I saw him wrap it around me.

 I could feel each barb piercing through my skin then feel my warm blood dripping down to the grass.

  I screamed in horror, I am am living in a nightmare. I tried to escape, but I can't run away from the barbwire.

 "Jack!" Kathy kneeled by my face and stroked my mane. "Shh...Im here, Im here," Her words reminded me that I am safe here, that there is no barbwire around to hurt me. My racing heart slowed, my breathing bacame steady, and I bagan to fade back into the barn. I slowly lifted my head and looked at my fetlock. No barbwire. Kathy crawled down by my hoof and un wrapped the bandage that was around my injured leg. The air felt cool on it.

 "Your going to be okay, sweetie, everything is fine," She whispered. I rested my head again back down. As my head rested on the wood shavings I saw my red feed bucket, it smelled good, but I would do anything but eat right now, so many things rambling through my mind that I could not focus on things like eating, drinking,.....living. I don't know if I will ever overcome my past, or if it will stay all my life to haunt me.

 Kathy stood up and grabbed a pitchfork outside my stall, she walked around me, scooping up the muck, carefull not to step on my mane. After one wheel barrow full hauled off, Kathy came back inside with a clean water bucket and kneeled beside me once again, scooping her hands in the water and trickling it down my neck, I looked up at her. Her green eyes twinkled as she stared into mine, her silky black hair brushed her shoulders and rested on my neck, her soft hands stroked my sides, I felt warm, comfortable. Safe.

 Slowly, she got to her feet and walked into the hallway and came back with a white towel, she got on her knees and dipped the towel in the water before wiping it on my nose, it made it easier to breath, I took a wheezy sigh. I wanted her to stay with me, I felt more protected with her here. She slowly laid on her back and rested her head on my neck. She stared into the ceiling.

 "I will never leave your side, Jack."

 *****

 The sound of birds and a barking dog woke me from my slumber. I shifted my eyes to the sound of someone breathing above me, Kathy was leaning on my stall gate staring at me. She smiled.

 "Jack, if you wanna feel better you have to get up and walk around!" She came inside my stall and patted my neck. I watched her reach behind her back and pull a red halter and lead rope. Carefully, she pulled it over my nose and fastened the buckle by my left ear. "C'mon, boy we can do this," She got to her feet and pulled on the lead rope, I refused. There is no way I can stand, just like at Master's home, I am trapped, but Kathy won't take no for an answer. She pulled until my halter began to tug on my ears, I sat up, but still stayed on my stomach. Kathy was not satisfied, she stood up and pulled once more, I finally gave in and sat up. Kathy had a huge smile plastered on her face as she rubbed my ears. She gently tugged me toward the gate of my stall, I took one wobbly step and she praised me like I ran a mile. She unlocked the gate and stepped out, I took a wheezey breath and followed her.

The frosty air hit me like a bullet, it was much warmer in the barn, I inhaled the clean air and exhaled, a cloud formed in front of my nose. The air felt refreshing, and it felt nice to stretch my legs, but I would much rather stay inside and sleep.

 Kathy walked me around the border of the pasture as well as by the pond, I glared into the frozen water. Kathy stroked my side and glared at the ice as well. She leaned her back on the oak tree and sighed, a good sigh, the kind that we all do when we feel good about things, proud. I nuzzled her wrist, she wrapped her arm around my neck and gently rubbed her fingers on my mane as she kept her eyes closed. She smiled. Her smile gives me inspiration to keep going. To live.

Yay! It's done, sorry for the long wait guys! Stay put for Chapter fourteen!