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Chapter 5

The next day when we reached our next stop Richard led me to the horses so I could look at Gem. My heart leapt when I saw Louis with her, running his delicate fingers through her mane.

"Louis!" Richard called his son as we approached. Louis turned his attention to us, his blue eyes shining in the soft morning glow. "Son, this is the circus's new vet." Richard motioned to me. I smiled and extended my hand for him to shake. He shook it, his soft, delicate hand fully fit in my own. Just touching him sent this...this sensation through my body, this feeling that felt like fire igniting deep in my gut. But, sadly, he acted almost like I wasn't there.

"He's the vet?" He asked his father after letting go of my hand. His soft voice had a hint of disbelief mixed with sort of shock. I furrowed my eyebrows and dropped my hand back to my side a little embarrassed.

"Yes, this is Harry Styles," Richard grabbed my shoulder then leaned in a little to Louis, "I assume you will introduce yourself soon." He whispered and stood back straight.

"I'm Louis, nice to meet you, Harry" Louis introduced himself. Hearing his name roll so smoothly off his tongue was pure heaven. I don't even know why I'm saying these things. I'm not supposed to have these feelings about a man. I was raised knowing it was a sin and was clearly forbidden. But how does sin look so beautiful and pure? "It's her front right hoof....It's an abses, it needs warm water and a salt wrap until it heals." He spouted rather confidently.

I bent down and picked her foot up to inspect it. The tissue on the bottom of her hoof was broken—A jagged circle glistening with raw, red skin. My heart sunk for Louis and how much he loved this horse, this clearly wasn't an abses. I let her hoof down gently and stood back up, ready to deliver bad news. Although, I didn't want to say anything in front of Louis, I couldn't bare the thought of breaking his heart. Luckily Richard told them to prepare for the show so they walked away. I almost winced myself when I saw Gem limp.

"So?" He asked, face scrunched, ready for the worst.

"Well, I didn't want to say anything in front of Louis," He nodded, "The horse has Laminitis."

"English, please" I breathed out slowly.

"The tissues that connect the hoof wall to the coffin bone in the horses hoof are inflamed. It's very painful and cannot be fixed. The best thing for her is to put her down." I told him, regretfully. Richard had a look of frustration overtake his features.

"There's nothing you can do?" I shook my head. "Well, how much longer do you think she?" He asked, not really finishing his sentence.

"A few days at the most...I'm sorry." He crossed his arms and looked to be thinking intently about the situation.

"You can tell all that just by looking at it?" He asked sounding shocked. I nodded, I opened my mouth to reply to him but I was interrupted.

"Tony!" Richard turned to a man coming off the train car carrying two buckets full of meat, "Are those for Rex and Luna?" Richard asked referring to the meat. The man nodded, "Harry and I will feed the cats." Cats? I hope he means the cute and cuddly kind. Richard looked back at me with a smirk that struck fear throughout me. I was more afraid he was going to feed me to the cats.

The fly infested, raw meat brought a whole new smell to my nose as we hauled them to the lion cages. I have never had a weak stomach before, but this almost changed that.

"Alright, Cornell, you can feed Rex," Richard said nonchalantly as if it was the most casual thing in the world, "Just open up the door and slide the bucket in, don't throw it, you'll scare him," He wants me to what?! My eyes widen at his command and I'm more than hesitant.