Wild and Free

Chapter 12

It had been 3 days since I arrived home and everything was back to normal, almost. There was a show coming up in a month and a half and everyone was practicing and getting ready. Me however, could not practice until I got my leg cast off. I had gotten my arm stitches out and there was only a scar. I could now use crutches to get around instead. I hobbled out of the house and down the stairs to go see Cloud. She nickered softly as I arrived and gave her her apple treat. I sighed as I pet her soft muzzle, I could not wait to ride again. I get the cast off tomorrow since I had been um in a coma for 2 weeks. I swiveled around on my good leg to see Drake leaning against a pole watching me.

"I'm entering the horse show." I declared. "With Cloud."

"Rebecca, are you sure your leg will be strong enough? Those girls showing are top notch-"

"And I'm not." I shot back.

"You are, but your leg." Drake's eyes drifted to the cast.

"My leg will be fine."

"Hey I didn't mean to offend you." Drake sighed walking towards me. I hugged him with one arm and sighed. He was like my brother but not at the same time. Because I didn't have a brother. Does that make sense?

"My friends are having a campfire tomorrow night wanna go?" He mumbled into my hair. I shifted my weight so I could see his face.

"Sure, but-"

"What?"

"My leg. I don't think they want to see a girl with no cast walking with crutches, or one crutch." I grumbled.

"You can lean on me, or I can carry you."

"That won't be needed but fine I will go." Drake smiled and kissed my forehead. I sighed and looked at my cast.

"I gotta go, I'm needed in the feed barn." Drake said walking away. I yelled bye then turned to Cloud. She stared at me probably thinking "How did you get that on your leg?" or "How did you end up with him?" I patted her muzzle and hobbled out of the barn.

~The Next Day~

I woke up to my dad patting my head. "What?" I groaned.

"Time to get that off." He pointed at my cast.

"Right I forgot. I will go get ready, by the way I'm going to a bonfire with Drake." I called as I waddled over to my bathroom. After 20 minutes of struggle I came out of the bathroom and went downstairs. My dad escorted me to the car then hopped in next to me. As we pulled out Cloud nickered at me from her turnout arena as if to say "You're leaving me again?" I smiled and sat back in my seat. When we arrived at the doctors office I hobbled into the waiting room with my dad at my side and sat down while he checked me in.

"Rebecca?" A nurse called out from a door. I walked into the room with my crutches as dad sat down to wait. The nurse smiled at me then led me down a long hallway to a small room. "So you are here to get the cast off right?" She asked me as I sat in one of the chairs. I nodded and tapped my foot on the floor. "The doctor will be in soon." She walked out and closed the door. The room was extremely quiet, I pulled out my phone and decided to text Drake.

"Hey what's up?" I asked and tapped my screen on my phone for no reason at all.

"Not much, Cast off yet?" Drake answered back just as the doctor walked in.

"SO, You are here to get that thing off?" The doctor asked raising an eyebrow.

"Uh yes." I answered somewhat awkwardly. The doctor wrote something down then looked at me.

"I am Doctor Smith." He said then walked out without my response. I sat in the chair drumming my nails against the hard plastic chair. The doctor came in a minute later with something that looked like a chainsaw. I gulped down and stared at the thing. He smiled at me then sat on the little stool next to my leg. He turned the contraption on and explained what it did while the machine made a small whirring sound.

"This will cut the cast and not the skin, hopefully." I gasped and he smiled. "Just kidding, It will only cut the cast off." I nodded and he went to work slicing the foot then the rest of the cast. The cast split into two and fell onto the floor. The doctor smiled as he picked up the two pieces and threw them into the trashcan. He walked over and sat down again examining my leg. The room reeked, of like dead/dirty feet, that sounds weird. He gently pressed on my leg in different areas then moved to my foot and ankle. He pushed on my ankle and I slightly winced.

"Ok, you need to take it easy for a bit. There is obviously some pain still in your ankle from the sprain. You can take the crutches back until it is easier to walk. I will show you out." I grabbed the crutches and started to walk out of the room. Dad met me at the door and the doctor talked with him for a bit. I wobbled to a seat and sat down, sighing. Dad came over to me and sat down.

"The doctor said you can get back into riding in about a week."

"You do realize once I can walk I'm getting on a horse right?"

"I figured." Dad smiled. "Can you at least start with like Cricket or someone calm?"

"Cloud is fine dad. But if you want me to then sure." I grumbled. We went back to the house and I tested my leg around the clrearing. Drake ran up and smiled wildly as I limped over with one crutch.

"How's the ankle?" He asked. I gave him the crutch and gingerly walked in a circle. He laughed and hugged me.

"What's this for?" I asked into his chest.

"Well, if you can walk soon you can ride soon an show soon!" He said happily. He handed the crutch back and we went to see Cloud. She nickered at us happily and when I opened the door she nudged my shoulder.

"Does your ankle hurt alot?" Drake asked.

"If I walked too quickly or ran the bumps hurt and if your press on it too." I explained. He nodded and stroked Cloud's muzzle. He closed the stall door and dragged me over to the sawdust pile and gently pushed me into it.

"Don't you have work to do?" I giggled falling into the softness.

"I got off early since I had the morning shift." He explained falling into the shavings next to me. I giggled scooting towards him. Drake leaned forward and gently kissed me. I pressed up against his chest and smiled into the kiss. We broke apart and I laid my head on his chest as he rubbed circles into my back. My eyes fluttered closed and breathing slowed as I snuggled closer to Drake in the sawdust. My breath stirred the sawdust slightly as Drake looked down at me sleeping and smiled to himself.

Hours past and it had started to darken in the barn. "Hey. It's getting late." Drake smoothed my hair dawn as he gently woke me. I groaned and opened my eyes. Drake was staring at me silently.

"What?" I asked.

"You've got sawdust in your hair." He smiled. I groaned and flung my head into the sawdust. Drake coughed as little dust particles flew upward.

"What time is it?"

"8:30"

"Ok, I'm going to the house." I sighed scrambling up onto my crutch. Drake stood up and walked me to the end of the barn.

"Goodnight." He called as he went to his car and I went to my house.

"Good Evening." Dad said from the kitchen. I walked in and sat on the counter.
"Where did you disappear to?" He asked putting the newspaper down.

"I fell asleep." I smiled sleepily.

"Are you still tired?" He asked as I rubbed my face. I nodded and he got up from his seat. He walked over and wrapped me in a bear hug. I smiled at the warmth and wrapped my arms around him.

"I'm going to bed." I mumbled and Dad let go of me. I hopped off the counter and walked up to my room.
"Goodnight!" I called and gently closed my door. I changed and curled into my blankets. I hummed to myself until my breathing deepened and I went still.

SORRY FOR TAKING FOREVER! I WILL TRY TO GET THE NEXT CHAPTER OUT SOON! THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!