Mystery at Brightfields

Chapter 11.

Authors note: I know I know. It was delayed again. But here is a bonus chapter for your patience :)

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When Zoe got back to the barn Laycee was still asleep. Marcus had covered her in a blanket to help keep her warm over the chilly night.

She looked at her phone, Vet Baker could be back at any moment for the next feeding. She was going to show Marcus and Zoe how to mix up the bottles and how much to feed.

Zoe walked into the tack room and Marcus was sitting on one of the couches.

"Oh, you're back! I just set alarms for 11,1, 3, and 5. And I also just ordered us a pizza. I haven't had dinner and I suspected that you hadn't either." Marcus started.

"Thank you, Marcus. For all of it. You're right, I haven't had dinner." said Zoe.

"I'm still here for you, you know that, right? I don't know how things are with Pin, but you haven't talked about him for weeks. I'm not trying to move in, trust me. But I'm still going to be here. Even when he isn't." Marcus blurted out.

"Thank you." Zoe whispered to him. She turned to the door at the sound of a truck pulling in the drive way. "Guess Vet Baker is back. Lets see how busy our new life is going to be with an orphaned foal." she laughed awkwardly and rolled her eyes.

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Vet Baker showed them how to mix up the milk replacer and how warm to make it. She showed them what angle to hold it while Laycee was drinking and how to make sure she was warm enough by touching her sensitive skin under her legs near her belly.

Marcus left to grab the pizza from the delivery guy and Zoe held the bottle as Laycee finished it. As soon as the bottle was empty, Laycee began to hop around the stall getting some energy out.

Vet Baker laughed. "Guess she is feeling good. I'm glad to see that Layla's nutrition didn't effect her baby at all...Along with a foal blanket, I'll bring a halter around tomorrow as well. You guys look like you are going to have a handful with her. Might as well try and get her haltered early."

Zoe shook the Vets hand and thanked her for all of her help that evening.

Marcus came back into the stall with the pizza and a blanket. He spread the blanket out over some hay and sat down in the corner. Zoe followed him over and grabbed a slice from the box. Laycee was still skipping around the stall, stretching out her new legs. Zoe sat down beside him and ate her pizza watching the little filly run.

Somewhere around 10 she settled down and laid back down for a nap. Marcus got back up and threw the blanket over her and went back to sit down next to Zoe.

"I'm going to go grab my blanket. I think we can just stay in here. If we get too cold we can move to the tack room." said Zoe getting up to leave.

Walking out of Laycee's stall she stopped Raven's to say hello. He was sleepily resting his head over the door. She kissed his nose and continued to the tack room.

Marcus was half asleep sitting upright with his head against the wall when she returned. She threw the blanket over the both of them and settled in for the night...well for the next hour.

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11 pm came too quickly. When Marcus's alarm went off they were both groggy from the light sleep they had gotten.

Zoe went to the tack room sink to mix up the milk and Marcus stayed to wake up the baby. She returned and Laycee seemed just as tired as they both did. Marcus held the bottle for her as Zoe stroked her soft baby hair on Laycee's neck.

Night feeding 1 accomplished. And they went back to their corner of the stall. Hopefully they could nap for the next 2 hours until they had to wake up again.

Marcus went back to sleep pretty close to instantly. Zoe watched the baby breathe slowly and drift off to sleep as well. She grabbed her phone off the blanket and looked at it.

She had a missed call and a voicemail from Pin. She threw her phone back down on the blanket.

Zoe didn't want to listen to his excuse. He had let her down this time. She leaned back against the wall beside a sleeping Marcus and closed her eyes.

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When 1am came Zoe woke up on Marcus's shoulder. She quickly got up and stopped the alarm.

Oops.

Marcus was still fast asleep against the stall wall. Zoe decided she would take this feeding.

Night feeding 2 accomplished.

As she was falling back asleep she heard her phone vibrate. She ignored it.

Zoe woke up to someone calling her name. She felt Marcus stir beside her. She glanced at her phone, it was almost 2:30.

Pin was the one who was calling her earlier.

"Zoe? Zoe, wake up.." whispered Pin.

Speak of the devil.