Cracker-Jack

Chapter fourteen

I slipped on my leather boots in front of the screen door and carefully walked out without waking Mom. I jogged toward the barn. The cold air chilled my skin, I started to run, the faster I get to the barn, the faster I get warmed up. I pushed the barn door open and walked in, with my arms wrapped around my chest, I walked in the feed room to grab Jack's bucket. I bent down to scoop some sweet feed. All of the sudden I heard some wheezing noises.

 Was that Jack?

 I panicked, with the bucket still grasped in my hand, I ran to his stall. There he was, lying on the ground covered in sweat and shavings, his body was shaking, and mucus was dripping from his nose, I dropped the bucket to put my hand over my mouth. I slowly stepped backward before darting outside. My heart was about to pound out of my chest, I don't know what was wrong with him, but I have to do something about it. I ran in, slamming the door behind me, now is not the time to worry about waking Mom. She quickly ran into the living room, still in her pajamas.

 "Kathy, what's wrong?" She asked, I reached under the lamp table by the couch and searched for a phone book.

 "Jack is sick, very sick, I have got to help him," I licked my finger and flipped through the pages. Mom sighed.

 "That reminds me, I need to talk to you-" I finally found the phone number for a veternairian that takes care of larger animals, I punched the numbers in my phone.

 "Mom, not now, I am busy!" I yelled at her, Mom seemed suprised. Without feeling guilty I ran out the door with my cell phone to my ear.

 Ring

 Ring

 Ring

 "Hello?" I man answered. I got into the doorway of the barn.

"Hi is this the Animal Clinic?" I asked.

"Yes, ma'am, how may I help you?" I got to Jack's stall, he was still laying down.

"Please help me, my horse is sick and I am so scared," I could feel tears burning in my eyes.

"What are his symptoms?" I looked down at he sweaty body and listened to his wheezy breathing.

"Umm, he is real sweaty, wheezing, shaking, and has a lot of discharge,"

"I see, did he seem funny yesterday?" I thought back to yesterday trying to remember if he seemed sick.

"No sir, he seemed just fine, and when I walked in he was just lying there...and," I sniffed back tears.

"Did you buy him just recently? Has he been with any unknown horses?" He seemed concerned.

"I got him from an auction, there were a lot of horses there,"

"Well with just these symptoms and his history, it seems that he may have caught Equine Influenza from the horses at the auction, it's just like when you get the flu, except if you just let him be, it will take it's coarse and go away, it's harmless." Relief filled my body.

"Oh good,"

"Yes, just keep him comfertable, a nice clean stall, fresh water, extra bedding, and every now and then hand walk him to stretch his legs, do you have any other horses?"

"No, sir."

"Okay, just keep him on stall rest until he is better, just to make sure he does not come in any contact with other horses, and remember if he sick for more than about a week or shows any other symptoms, you need to bring him in, okay?" I felt so relieved nothing serious is going on.

"Okay,"

"Also, to prevent this from happening again, make sure he gets his shots, ma'am, okay?"

"Yes, sir,"

"Okay, well you have a nice day, young lady."

"Thanks, you too."

 I hung up my phone and put it in my jeans pocket. Jack looked up at me tried to sit up, he pushed his hind legs on the ground and attempted to heave himself up, then it happened again. That blank expression started to form in his eyes, like he was a whole other world. He kicked and screamed and cried, I panicked again, without hesitating I ran in there with him and brushed his soft, golden face. The spark started to fade back into his eyes.

 "Easy, boy, Im here, Im here," I whispered. Jack's sides moved up and down, struggling to catch his breath. I carefully stroked my hand up and down his neck, helping him calm himself down. I went to his injured ankle to unwrap it, I wanted to make sure that his leg wasnt infected, I gently unraveled the gauze and braced myself for the worst, but it was actuall healing well, just a few scabs. I looked back at his face, his eyes were still wide, I crawled on my hands and kneese up to him. "It's going to be okay, sweetie, everything is fine," I whispered. I started to remember what the vet said about keeping him comfertable. I sat up and walked across the hall to the pitchfork and wheel barrow, I parked the wheel barrow out side the stall and walked around Jack, picking up the muck.

 After I hauled off the wheel barrow, I went to the back of the barn with a bucket in my hand in search for a water hose, I finally found the hose and turned on the water, I waited until the bucket was full of clean water. I carried it back into the stall, I sat on my knees and dipped my fingers in the cold water and held it over Jack. I let the water drip on to his neck, covered in sweat, in hope to cool him off. I even got a cloth and wiped his nose. I leaned on his neck and stared in the ceiling. Never wanting to leave. I want to stay in this barn forever with him.

 "I will never leave your side, Jack."

*****

 Later that afternoon I decided to go see how Jack is doing, I opened the front door and closed it carefully, the smell of hay and sweet feed filled my nostrils. I walked to Jack's stall and looked down, he was sleeping. I stood there for a minute until he finally opened he pretty brown eyes.

 "Hiya, Jack!" I greeted him, I remembered that the vet said that he needed to stretch his stiff legs, he could use some fresh air anyway. I grabbed his halter and lead rope that was dangeling from the hook next to the gate and walked in, he lifted his head.

 "If you wanna feel better, you have to get up and walk around!" I slipped his halter over his delicate face and got to the edge of the stall and pulled. I could tell that he was refusing, but I will not give up, I pulled in an upward motion until he finally sat up. Not good enough. I stood up and pulled until my teeth were clenched, Jack gave in and sat up, I could feel a smile on my face, I tugged once more and he pushed his legs to the ground and stood up, showering the ground with shavings. I praised him by rubbing his soft ears, I turned my body to the gate, unlocked it, and gently pushed it open with my foot. As I smiled at him, I tugged on Jack's lead rope gently. His front right leg shook, until it finally stepped forward, once again, I praised him. Soon he was walking by my side out the barn.

 An icy breeze slapped me in the face as we took a step outside. Fog floated past my face as I exhaled. I headed to the oak tree by the frozen pond. I leaned back and glared at my reflection, our reflection in the frozen water, then I leaned my head back, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Even with the bitter cold, I feel warm with Jack around. I rubbed my wrist with his soft nose, I wrapped my hand around him and twirled my fingers in his soft mane. I smiled.