Restoration

by Laurie Larsen

  Thunder must’ve known he was being introduced because he lowered his head to Rusty’s level and started sniffing his face, ending in a huge exhale. Rusty’s red hair blew up and out, and Rusty let out an excited laugh.

  “Do you like horses, Rusty?” asked Shaw.

  “I love ‘em.” Rusty held his hand out to Thunder, palm out.

  “Atta boy. That’s exactly the right way to let a horse smell you, get to know you.”

  The boy’s smile made a rush of warmth flow through Shaw’s heart. This is why he was doing this. “Here you go, buddy, here’s a way to make friends with Thunder right away.” He dug a half-carrot out of his jeans pocket and placed it on Rusty’s palm. He put his own hand under Rusty’s and together, they made the offering to Thunder. The horse swished his tail and accepted the carrot, his velvety muzzle tickling Rusty’s hand. Rusty giggled.

  “Rusty, you and Thunder have something in common.”

  Rusty looked at Shaw. “What is it?”

  “Thunder hurt his leg and had to spend over a month in a sling that helps it heal. Now, although his injury has healed, Thunder walks with a little limp sometimes, and he’ll probably never be able to do some of the things he used to do, like run and jump.”

  Rusty turned again toward Thunder, as if seeing him in a new light. “Really? Can I hug him?”

  Shaw stepped forward and held Thunder’s lead, helping Rusty move his walking frame as he inched closer to Thunder. “Sure.”

  Rusty leaned into Thunder’s chest, his arms wrapped as far around the big animal as he could, and rested his cheek against the horse’s body. “Don’t worry, Thunder. Even though we’re a little different, we still have a lot to give the world.”

  Shaw looked over at Rusty’s mother, who was beaming. She glanced at him and winked.

  Shaw pulled a brush out of a nearby bucket and handed it to Rusty. “We’re going to start with you grooming Thunder. Horses love the feel of a brush going over their hair. Go ahead and start at his chest and brush him all the way to his tail. Avoid his face.”

  The adults watched as the little guy did as he was told, Thunder appearing to enjoy the attention. At one point he grunted and let his eyelids drift closed. “Look Rusty, you’re putting him to sleep, it feels so good to him.”

  Rusty followed up each brush stroke with his hand, petting Thunder’s soft coat. When the grooming was done, Shaw tossed the brush back in the bucket. “Now let’s take Thunder back to the barn so we can put his saddle on. Then we can see if you’re ready to jump up there and ride him.”

  Shaw buckled Thunder to the restraints outside the tack room and while he was putting on Thunder’s saddle and bridle, he said to Rusty’s parents, “I assume you read the pre-session material and shared it with Rusty.”

  “Yes, we did,” Rusty’s dad said. “We were impressed with the benefits of the therapy. Building muscles, improved confidence and self-esteem, improved coping skills.”

  Shaw nodded. “Horses are great for all kids, including ones with special physical needs. But more than anything else, especially for a kid Rusty’s age, horseback riding is fun. Kids can form a personal relationship with this big powerful animal, and they’ll begin to trust each other. We’ll also get into goal-setting. Each week we’ll try to build our skills, focusing on one thing at a time. Balance, distance, strengthening the core. Once the rider sets a goal, we know what to work on that day to help him achieve it.”

  Rusty’s mom shook her head. “It’s a wonderful program and we feel lucky to be asked to participate.”

  Shaw winked at Nora. “Nora and I felt there was a gap that wasn’t being filled. We partnered to fill the need and provide equine therapy with our buddy Thunder.” He finished up putting on all of Thunder’s gear. He turned to Rusty and knelt, so their faces were even. “Rusty, how do you feel about riding on Thunder’s back?”

  Rusty’s eyes went wide as he displayed an excited smile. “Yesss!”

  Shaw glanced at Rusty’s mom and she looked nervous but gave a fortifying breath. “He’ll be completely safe, Mom and Dad, trust us. I will lift Rusty up and place him in the saddle, then you see, I installed this seat belt.” He tugged on a leather add-on to the saddle. “He can’t leave the saddle with this on. In addition to that safety feature, we’ll have Nora leading Thunder, walking at his head, and I’ll walk along beside Rusty. At first, I’ll have my hand on his leg for support. But once his balance is good, I’ll let go. He’ll ride on his own, and I’ll just walk along beside in case a problem arises.”

  Rusty’s mom gave a determined nod, then gripped hands with her husband.

  “You two stay on the other side of the fence in the pasture. You’ll have a good view from there.”

  They made their way out of the barn, across the paddock and through the gate into the pasture. Shaw turned to Rusty. “I’m gonna lift you up, buddy, is that okay?”

  Rusty nodded enthusiastically. Shaw lifted him and handed his walking frame to his parents. He loaded Rusty onto Thunder’s saddle and strapped him in, then he took his place right beside the little boy. “Okay, Rusty. You can hold onto this thing for balance, it’s called the horn of the saddle. You can also lean forward and pet Thunder’s neck. He’d like that. Nora will take care of steering and we won’t let Thunder go very fast today. If for some reason you think you’re gonna fall, I’ll help you.”

  Falling off the horse looked like it was the last thing on Rusty’s mind. He was a typical little boy Shaw would rather see racing down the field with a football, sprinting around a court with a basketball, or swinging a bat for a homerun. It broke Shaw’s heart to see this tough little kid afflicted with cerebral palsy, and he knew his disabilities would probably get worse as he got older. But gazing up at him on this majestic animal, sitting tall and proud and excited about this experience, Shaw said a prayer of thankfulness in his mind that he and Nora were embarking on an endeavor that could help kids like Rusty.

  They walked in a big circle in the pasture. Shaw not only kept an eye on Rusty, but he also kept an eye on Thunder’s recovering leg, searching for a limp, a flinch or any sign of discomfort. However, both his patients were doing great. Thunder loved the attention, the movement, the outdoors, and Rusty loved the riding.

  “Hey Rusty, do you like the beach?”

  “Yeah.” The response wasn’t particularly enthusiastic, and Shaw could imagine why. Walking the beach, maneuvering the dips and mounds of sand, while relying on the walking frame would be awkward and difficult. Why would Rusty enjoy the beach under those restrictions?

  “Thunder likes the beach too. Let’s head down there.”

  Rusty grinned and nodded. He was up for it. Shaw turned Thunder in that direction and they continued to walk. He winked at Nora and she smiled back. Shaw caught a quip of conversation on the breeze and he turned to see Rusty leaning forward in the saddle, talking to Thunder. The two were bonding.

  They reached the beach and Shaw turned to catch the sight of Rusty’s face beaming with excitement. “Wow!” the little boy said. Maybe he’d never been to the beach. Or maybe he’d been exposed briefly. But never, Shaw was sure, on the back of a horse.

  “You like it, buddy?”

  “Yeah!” Rusty gazed out at the waves, the shoreline and the distant water. He lifted his nose and Shaw knew he was sniffing the distinct scent of salt water. Thunder seemed to enjoy it too, his ears forward, his head up and his tail swishing. “It’s amazing!” the little boy shouted.

  They took a short break, standing on the soft sand of the beach and Shaw took the opportunity to unwrap Thunder’s leg, run his hands down it to check for swelling and rewrap it. The leg was doing well. This was just what the doctor ordered.

  They turned back and made the slow walk back to the barn. When they arrived, Rusty was looking a little worn out but still happy and positive. When he saw his parents, he waved happily. They waved back, their relief at his retu
rn showing in their faces.

  Shaw led Thunder into the barn and hooked him at the grooming station outside the tack room. He came around to Rusty’s left side. “I’m gonna get you down from there, and then, you can help with grooming again. After a good ride, you always help the horse by brushing him. It helps soothe the muscles and remove any perspiration due to the exercise.”

  Rusty agreed. Shaw reached up and grabbed hold of Rusty firmly. Rusty leaned left and ended up in Shaw’s arms. Shaw lowered him to the ground and put him on his own feet, hanging on until he felt Rusty was solid. His parents were right there with the walking frame and put it in place.

  “Mom! Dad! It was awesome! We rode all over the pasture and I didn’t fall off. Then we went to the beach and rode on the sand. It was the best thing ever!”

  “Oh sweetheart, I’m so glad.” Rusty’s parents looked at each other, then at Shaw. “Thank you so much. This was such a great experience for him.”

  Shaw removed Thunder’s saddle and hoisted it onto a stand in the tack room. Coming back out, he handed a brush to Rusty who again showed his expertise in horse grooming.

  “Does that feel good to him?”

  “It sure does. He knows you’re taking good care of him. He appreciates that.”

  Rusty moved to face Thunder straight on, brushing the barrel of his chest while continuing to murmur words to the horse.

  “What are you saying to him?” asked Shaw.

  “I’m just telling him that he’s my best friend. We have a lot in common because we both have problems with our legs. But we can help each other and be friends.”

  Shaw chuckled. “I’m sure Thunder’s happy to hear that.”

  Rusty turned to his mom and dad. “Can I come back and go riding again?”

  They looked at each other and back at their son. “I don’t see why not. This experiment was a total success.”

  Rusty cheered and threw his arms around Thunder’s chest, hugging the massive animal. Thunder lowered his head and muzzled the top of Rusty’s head.

  “We’re going to recommend you to Rusty’s doctor for other patients to check out. This is a wonderful program for kids like Rusty.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  When they were done brushing Thunder, they put him back in his stall, and Shaw showed Rusty how to measure the oats and pour them into the bin for Thunder to eat. Then they were done. They walked back out to the car and as his mom was helping him in, Rusty turned and put his arms around Shaw, hugging him fiercely. “Thank you,” he said.

  Shaw blinked back an attack of tears. This little boy had so much ahead of him to battle, physically, emotionally and socially. He was glad he could give him a whole afternoon of love, companionship and fun.

  “And thank you, Rusty. You were Thunder’s first rider after his leg injury. You were exactly what he needed. He can’t wait for you to come back and ride him again.”

  With that, he climbed into the van, and they drove away.

  Chapter Twelve

  Carly stood in the doorway of her small closet, scanning the choices. She sighed. Two things became apparent to her: one, her wardrobe choices were limited. Two, she had no idea what to wear for a girls’ night out. Because she honestly couldn’t remember the last time she’d been on one.

  The doorbell rang, and Grace yelled helpfully, “Mommy!” She went to the door, opened it and was relieved to see Haley. “Hey you.” She smiled at her and then noticed her hands were full. “Oh, thank goodness. You brought reinforcements?”

  Haley stepped in with a big smile. “Yes, I couldn’t resist.” Then she kneeled in front of Grace. “Hi pretty little girl, remember me?”

  Grace nodded vigorously. “Yes. Haley. Mommy’s friend.”

  “That’s right. And I have a little gift for you because you’re so smart.” She handed her a small white plastic bag with red print boasting the name of the girl’s accessory store at the mall. Grace opened it and peered inside. Then she squealed and pulled out hair scrunchies and a few barrettes.

  “Mommy, look!” She held out her stash with a beaming smile.

  “Well, what do you say to Miss Haley for bringing you a gift?”

  She twirled back to face Haley. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetie.”

  Grace raced down the hallway to her room where she could experiment placing the treasures in her hair.

  “You didn’t have to do that.” Carly patted her on the shoulder.

  “Hey, I want the kid to like me and be excited to see me. A quick trip to Claire’s Boutique and for five bucks or less, I can guarantee that reaction.”

  Carly laughed.

  “Now, I brought along a few things just in case you need some wardrobe assistance.”

  “How did you know? Oh my gosh, I have nothing to wear.” Carly ran her fingers down several of Haley’s offerings before she set her eyes on a turquoise form-fitting blouse with a V-neck and layered cowls. A fitted waistband would hug her middle and add shape and form.

  “You like that one?” Haley said with a grin. “That’d go nice with a pair of dressy jeans or black pants.”

  “I’ll go try it on. Thank you again.” She leaned in, placed a peck on Haley’s cheek and ran to her room. Once on, it was a hit. It was the perfect top for a classy evening out between two girlfriends, just as Haley had said.

  She made her way back to the front of the apartment and just as Haley was giving her the thumbs up and gushing about how great she looked (how had she ever lived without Haley?) the doorbell rang. Haley gave her an eyebrows-up look of anticipation. She obviously thought it was Ryan behind the door. Carly shook her head quickly. “It’s Ryan’s mother.”

  Haley gave an exaggerated frown and pretended to gag. Carly smacked her shoulder on the way by. “Behave!”

  She opened the door to Ryan’s mother. “Hello, dear,” she said blandly. “Had Ryan let you know of the change in plans?”

  “Yes, he did,” she answered. “Please, come in. I’ll get Grace and her stuff for the night.” As she headed for the bedroom, she remembered her manners. “This is my friend Haley. Haley, Mrs. Melrose.”

  She left the two of them to try to make conversation. She didn’t feel too sorry for Haley. She could talk to a rock and get it to laugh.

  “Sweetie, your grandma is here.”

  Grace looked up from her mirror. She had successfully placed three randomly scattered ponytails around her head and secured them with scrunchies. Carly held back a laugh at her rag-tag appearance and wondered briefly what her perfectionist grandma would think of it.

  “What? Gramma?”

  “Yes, honey. You’re going to spend the night tonight with Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa. Is that okay?”

  Grace rose to her feet and jumped up and down. “Yes!” Carly’s heart eased at her daughter’s reaction. Regardless of what she thought of Ryan’s mother, and what Ryan’s mother thought of her, Carly would never want to impact Grace’s love for her extended family. Every child deserved the love of as many people as they could get, and grandparents were a child’s treasure.

  “Okay, I’ve already packed your bag. I want you to be a good girl for your grandparents. Mind your manners, be a little lady, and do as you’re told. All right?”

  “Yes!” Grace raced out the door, down the short hall and threw herself into the arms of her grandmother.

  “Well, my goodness,” the older woman said. “Careful now.” Then she eased into a warm grandmotherly hug.

  When she stood, Carly handed her Grace’s child-sized suitcase full of pajamas and a few changes of clothes, as well as her diaper bag filled with the last of her supplies. The handing over of the child and all her weekend material goods was quick and conversation was short. Carly kneeled and pulled Grace into her arms. Grace rested her head into Carly’s chest and Carly breathed her in. It was easier now to relinquish her precious daughter
to extended family. But it would never be normal. “I love you, baby,” she whispered, more for herself than for Grace. She wouldn’t want Grace to know she was melancholy about her leaving, because she truly did want her to have a good time. Her mother’s loneliness without her was not something she wanted Grace burdened with.

  She rose and watched Grace scamper over to her grandmother for their Melrose weekend together. Ryan’s mother waved and opened the door, disappearing through it without a word.

  Carly took a breath into the void, closed her eyes for a moment, then turned to face Haley. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re here.”

  “I can see why. That woman is not exactly a ball of sunshine, now, is she?”

  Haley and Carly finalized their plans and since they both planned to have a glass of wine or two, they decided to call Uber for their ride. That way, they wouldn’t be at risk of driving under the influence.

  An hour into their evening, Carly was grateful for the night out. Haley had taken her to, as she’d promised, a higher-class bar, and she felt like she fit right in with her pretty top, her dressy jeans, and not a care in the world since she’d passed her mothering responsibilities over to Ryan’s mother for the night. She could see why young professionals came to places like this to unwind after a busy week of office work. For her, it was a first, but for many that she met there, she knew this was something they did to kick off every weekend.

  Haley suggested that they order appetizers to fill their stomachs with a makeshift dinner. They selected potato skins and shrimp cocktail off the appetizer menu and shared the delicacies.

  “THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR help, Ryan. I sure appreciate you being flexible like that,” Marlin said as he drove the truck pulling the flatbed trailer into the campus equipment garage.

  “Not a problem, Marlin. Happy to help.” Ryan helped Marlin with the garage door, and waved goodbye. Pulling his phone out of his pocket he saw it was 7:20. On his way to his car, he called his mother, however it rang and rang with no answer.