Rocketman

Chapter 3: Worry

It was around noon when Mr. andMrs. Davidson heard the sound of their granddaughter's Mercedes-Benz coming down the dirt driveway. Mrs. Davidson was waiting on the porch, anxious to smother them in affection. Mr. Davidson held Ben by his lead rope and had a big red bow hung around the horse's freshly groomed neck. Ben's face and parts of his legs were still a bit dirty, due in part that he would fuss and fling himself anytime the elderly man tried to get close to those parts of his body. Even now, the horse couldn't seem to stand still.

The first person out of the car was the driver, Josie. Even though she knew she was going to her grandparents' farm, she dressed like she was trying to impress her classmates. Winged eyeliner sat against a natural brown eye shadow that almost matched but was barely darker than her long amber hair. She wore high-waisted jeans and a mustard yellow v-neck. Everything about her appearance said that she had money, and she wouldn't hesitate to spend it on making sure she looked good.

Walking around the car to the backseat, she unstrapped her four-year-old stepsister Riley from her car seat.

"Gammy!" giggled the excited child as she tugged on Josie's hand, urging her to walk faster so that she could hug her older relative.

As Mrs. Davidson and Riley exchanged excited greetings, Ben immediately caught Josie's eyes.

Crap.

Josie handed her stepsister over to Mrs. Davidson, turned, and made a brisk walk toward her grandfather and the horse.

"Umm, hey—woah—Grandpa," Josie greeted, cautiously avoiding the swerving stallion.

"Howdy, Jo!" Mr. Davidson responded, "How ya been?"

"Umm, better for sure."

Ben nickered nervously and eyed Josie, his head held as far away from hers as possible.

"Well why's that?" the older man asked, taking his eyes off of the horse.

Josie leaned over and whispered, being careful of the large horse near her, "Please don't tell me that this is supposed to be Riley's birthday present."

"Ding ding! Co-rect!" Mr. Davidson shouted and laughed. He then called his younger granddaughter over, "Hey Riley! Come say hi to Ol' Ben over here!"

The young girl giggled, struggling to walk down the stairs, but then came running up to Ben. Instantly, a look of panic came over Josie's face as she ran to meet her, swooped her up, and put her back down. Josie bent to her eyelevel and warned gently, "Riley, do not run up to a horse like that. You could scare him really badly, and he's a lot bigger than you. You could get hurt. Come with me and we'll walk up slowly."

Riley nodded, slightly ashamed, but also relieved and calm.

Once approached by the pint-sized human, Ben went from uneasy to outwardly anxious. For some odd reason, a child was easily more terrifying to him than an adult. Noticing the warning signs of a stressed horse, Josie removed Riley from within kicking or striking distance.

"Grandpa," Josie began, squinting from the sunlight, "This really isn't a good idea,"

"Well shoot! He was just fine when I bought him!"

"I just think Riley might be better off with my old pony," Josie said, referring to the chestnut mare already kept in their paddock.

Mr. Davidson sighed, looking at the ground, and then looking back up," Josie, the only reason I'd really kept that mare was 'cuz I'd been waiting on you to take 'er up again. Unfortunately you waited a bit too long."

There was a long pause. Josie kept eye contact with her grandpa, waiting nervously for what he was about to say next.

He continued, "Rocket's dyin'. She done sat and sat in that pasture till her feet couldn't stand the excess weight she kept puttin' on."

Josie looked over and noticed the chestnut mare standing with her front legs perched out in front and her back legs pulled behind her, as if trying to relieve herself from pain in her feet.

 "She ain't got much longer before she either can't take it no more and finally passes peacefully, or till I have to put 'er down myself."