by Connie Foss
Chapter Nineteen:
“Get out of here, you stupid cat!” It’s Gordy in the feed room, and I hear Angie yowl.Then,“Get off of me! Ow!”
What’s happening? Is Angie attacking Gordy? No way. She’s a
must be Tom.
I whinny as do the other horses, and we raise a mighty call for help. It works, for running in the barn is Bill, followed soon by Meg. “What’s going on in here? Surely you’re not just hollering for breakfast,” Bill puffs as he looks around.
“Oh,Angie, what has happened?” I can’t see for the feed room is on the other stable aisle.“You poor thing…and Tom, look at you. Have
Bill has two voices. This one, the one he is using as he talks to the cats, is a gentle, loving voice…my favorite. But in his rough voice he says, “Gordy, are you in there? Get out here this minute!” I hear
cruel to our cats. That does it, Gordy. We need the cats, but we don’t
Gordy out of here? Hallelujah! There is nothing good about Gordy.The stable will be a much happier place after he goes.
The regular work proceeds, some of us being turned out for a bit of fun, while others have their training sessions. It’s well into the
“Stop that, you raving maniac! I’ll teach you to give me a hard time,” and with Gordy’s shout, there comes more screaming.
“What’s going on? Gordy, what are you doing?” It’s Meg and she’s running by my stall on the way to the other aisle, just as Prince and Gordy come around the corner.
Prince is all lathered up from fear, and Gordy is beating Prince with a show whip, as Prince rears and sidesteps trying to get away.
“No, Gordy! Stop!” Meg is almost there, when Prince rears with a mighty effort, pawing the air, going so high that he loses his balance and falls over backwards, hitting the ground with a thud. Suddenly all is quiet.
listening to his heart.“Come on, big guy! You’re all right. Come on, open your eyes.”
Bill comes running and joins Meg. “There, he’s opened his eyes. Let’s see if we can get him up.” But try as they will, Prince does not get up. As Lilly comes, she says, “He may have a concussion…or even a fractured skull. Maybe we should wait until Doc comes to get him up.”
“Probably right. I’ll call right now,” and Bill runs to the phone.
Both Meg and Lilly are kneeling by Prince, talking to him and petting him, but he isn’t responding at all. “The only way we know he’s alive is that he’s breathing and I can feel his heartbeat. But, Lilly, what will we do if he dies? Gordy will have killed him!”
Chapter Twenty:
Prince
The only thing I was able to see after Doc examined Prince was
the clinic. It took all of them to do that, even Gordy.The rest of this I heard Bill and Meg tell Lilly the next morning.
“It was awful, Lilly.” I can hear the pain in Meg’s voice as she tells about the awful night.“Prince didn’t know us, and he could hardly stand. When Doc checked him, he found Prince had lost his sight, and his gut sounds had stopped. He was in shock, but Doc went ahead and took an x-ray of his head. The x-ray showed that he had suffered a basilar skull fracture and it had damaged the optic nerve. It was so sad to stand there looking at what was once a marvelous individual and see him suffering. Doc told us he was not apt to survive, but if he did, he would never be okay. He suggested we call Prince’s owner and have them decide, though he urged Prince be put down.”
Meg is drained of energy, relating all of this in a monotone. Bill
were, but they loved Prince too much to make him continue to suffer. So Prince left this world of pain, and the actual euthanizing caused no pain. Finally we said goodbye to Prince and headed home.
“But no way will I leave it there. Gordy cannot get away with this! So on the way home, we stopped at the police station, told them
I have anything to do with it, he will never touch another animal.” The day is slow and heavy. There’s no joy for any of us as we
remember Prince and the awful thing that happened.But it’s little Patches
that is hurting the most. Her best friend and constant companion is
gone.
“Bubba, until we get a better idea, can we have you take care of
Patches?” Bill has opened my door and is bringing Patches in. The poor little gal is so sad, but I’ve never had a stall buddy. I
don’t know if I can handle this. She moves right over to me and rubs her
for Prince.
Mr. O must be a really sensitive guy for he’s doing his best to cheer us.“Hiss-hoo to all.Ladies and gentlemen,I have an announcement. I have been seeking the most opportune time to add to our stable, and I think this is the day. Hiss-hoo what you are about to experience will bring happiness to all. I know where of I speak, for I have experienced it. Ta ta. I shall return,” and with a wink of one of his huge eyes and a spreading of both of his huge wings, he is out and gone.
What could he be planning?
familiar hiss-hoo as Mr. O swoops into the stable and perches on his favorite rafter. Right behind him comes another Barn Owl, this one larger and just as beautiful. “Let me introduce my wife…yes, my wife. This is Princess Polly hiss-hoo has agreed to become the mother of my offspring. Please correct me if I am wrong, dear lady.”
Princess Polly has a very gentle look about her. Her colors are soft apricot, even on her chest where Mr. O is white, and her eyes have a warm glow. I like her already.
“I am honored to be Mr. O’s wife and the mother of his future offspring. I trust you will help me be good at those things. I will be happy to share my hunting skills, should you want them, and I am very good at seeing and hearing.Though I have never lived in such a beautiful stable, I think those skills might be very useful,” and she humbly lowers her eyes. “I can be your watchbird, if you like. I see well, but I hear even better. In fact, I can catch mice in total darkness just by the noise they make. So maybe Mr. O and I will be your listenbirds instead of watchbirds.”
I think it will be nice to have Princess Polly here. Even so, the day is still slow and boring but mostly sad. It’s a good thing all days aren’t like this.
Chapter Twenty-One:
Gordy
The next morning it’s Lilly who feeds us. “Good morning, dear Bubba. And how is my favorite guy this morning? And Patches, how do you like being with our big guy Bubba?” She gives Patches a rub behind her ears and Patches pushes her little horns into Meg’s hands.
“I’ll bet you’re wondering where Bill is. You’re right, he is the logical one to do the morning chores since Gordy is gone. But Gordy is to be in court this morning, and Bill needed to be there. Gordy’s cruel nature is why Prince is dead, and Bill wants Gordy jailed. I do too, don’t you?”
I’m not sure what jailed means, but if Bill and Lilly want it to happen, then I do, too. Later, when I hear Mr. O and Princess up in the rafters, I ask them if they know what jailed means.
“Hiss-hoo, what? We’re busy up here. We’re getting ready to
Really? Does that mean we might have a family of owls in our stable soon? That should be fun.
“Bubba, where is Prince? I like being with you, but I miss Prince. Won’t he ever come back to me?” As Patches starts talking to me, I look down at her and see such a sad face. How can I help her understand and accept that Prince is gone?
“Patches, I like having you with me, too, but, no, Prince can’t come back. He was hurt too badly by Gordy, and he died. Now we’re the ones hurting. It hurts us not to have Prince here, but we’ll do what he would want us to do…be happy. As long as you want to stay with me, you can. My feet are pretty big, but I will be as careful as I can not to step on you. If I do, you just give me a good butt with your horns.That’ll remind me.”
Patches seems to understand and curls up in the corner under the feed box, falling asleep almost immediately. I wish I could be that relaxed about Annie.
During the day, I hear Lilly and Meg talking about Gordy and
a possible jail sentence, and I begin to understand. If Gordy goes to jail, he won’t be here. Later Bill comes with good news. “Gordy has been charged with cruelty to animals and will spend thirty days in jail. I wish it were more, but maybe he’ll get the message.
“So we’re back to needing help. Who can we hire? Got any ideas? Gordy’s proved we need to be careful who that someone should be.” Not waiting for an answer, Bill says,“Well, I’ve got to go get out of these city duds.Then I’ll clean the stalls.”
Later in the day I hear Meg and Lilly talking, and Lilly says,“Meg, do you think Nancy would be good help? It’s summer now, so she isn’t in school. Even after school starts, she could probably come after school.”
“Is she old enough to do this work, Lilly? Some of it takes a bit of strength.”
“Remembering what I was doing at her age, I think so. I was doing all of the work for my horses. Remember when you used to come over and check on Julie and Bubba when they lived with me?”
“Indeed I do,” and Meg smiles remembering.“It’s been interesting for those two horses, hasn’t it? Born here, and then they both eventually became yours.When you left for college, they came back home…all in all, a couple of pretty lucky horses.Well, I know Nancy would be good with the horses…not like Gordy. I’ll see what Bill thinks.”
Apparently Bill agrees for here comes Nancy to feed me this morning. “Good morning, Bubba. Good to see you. How about some breakfast? I see here in the note on the door that you get two big scoops of oats and lots of hay. Oh, yes, the instructions say I should check on your salt and mineral block, too.” As Nancy leaves, she says, “See you later, big guy,” and she and her little blond ponytail dance on down the aisle to feed the others. Her big heart makes up for her tiny size. It’ll be nice to see her every day.
Some days I feel kind of down, and today is starting out to be one of those. As I see all of the mares and their foals in the pasture, including Julie and Baby, and then I see Annie all by herself and know that she and I don’t have a family.Well, it just gets to me. Even Tom and Angie have a family, and Mr. O and Princess Polly will soon.
One good thing, though, is that since Annie isn’t busy with a foal, Bill and Meg have decided to use her instead of Geoffrey with Mickey. So everyday I get to see Annie as she goes up and down the aisle with Mickey and Lilly.Annie is so loving that I know she is enjoying this, even before she tells me so as they walk by.
“Hi, Bubba. How are you? Are we going to try for another baby soon? I do so want us to have a family, but in the meantime at least I get to see you everyday now. Isn’t Mickey the cutest thing? I miss jumping, but I think I’m pretty lucky to get to do this. It doesn’t hurt my leg like jumping did, and Mickey is as light as a feather. I hardly know he’s even in the saddle.” And she is gone before I can tell her that I, too, hope we can start a family soon.
It’s different for Mr. O and Princess Polly. They’re busy setting on six eggs, expecting a big family.They take turns, making sure one of them is keeping the eggs warm all the time. So at night only one of them hunts at a time. “It’s okay, Mr. O, my little guys are all grown up so we don’t need your help any more,” Tom says, for he and Angie are happy to
kittens.“I expect with six owlets on the way, it would be a good idea to let the rat and mouse population grow.You’re going to need every one to feed those six wide-open mouths.”
Chapter Twenty-Two:
Trouble
The show season has been good, and we’re about halfway through when I hear Bill say, “Meg, I’m going out to get the 9 horse
this next show, instead of two trailers, the 6-horse and 2-horse.We can use that extra stall for gear.”
Decisions like that are always Bill’s, whereas decisions about the horses are generally Meg’s. Occasionally they disagree about something, but all in all they work pretty well together…just like Annie and I when we get a chance.Yesterday in the early morning we had our chance.We are going to have another foal! It’ll not be in the early spring next year but summer. Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope it will be okay!
Two days later we are all trimmed and looking good as we walk up the trailer ramp. I miss having Julie go to the shows, but she really doesn’t enjoy them like I do. Nancy has decided that she and Whisper won’t go to this show, either. Now that she’s working everyday she needs to stay and be in charge of the stable while the rest of us are gone. It’s a big responsibility, what with all of the visiting mares and foals in the pasture plus a few other horses that are in training but not going with us. I heard Meg and Bill talking about that.They think since Nancy will have their phone number at the show and will keep in touch, it’ll all work out.
“I hate being in a trailer.” Percy starts complaining before we even get out on the road.“I’m so trapped. I can’t even see out.” Which
trailer trips either. I have to admit, though, it’s better than walking all that way, for I do like going to shows.
We start early enough that the heat isn’t bad. Bill told us it’ll only be four hours before we get to the show. “Four hours won’t be bad and that will leave enough time for getting everyone settled in the
rid of any stiffness.”
I’m daydreaming about Annie when I notice we’re not rolling along smoothly but are slowing and jerking. Must be a bad road. It’ll smooth out.
“This is way too bumpy for me,” complains Percy. “It’s jerking the teeth right out of my head.” It isn’t comfortable, I admit, but losing teeth over it is a bit of a stretch. That’s Percy for you.
The jerking gets worse, and soon Bill has us parked on the side of the road. I can see him get out and raise the hood to check the engine. Then Meg and Lilly come back to check on all of us.That’s comforting for I admit I’m uneasy with the cars and trucks racing past us, bouncing the trailer. I feel like a sitting duck.
and we’ll be back on the road in no time.” I wonder how Meg knows that, but I trust her.
“I think I’ll stay back here with the horses, Meg. They’re pretty restless. Okay?” suggests Lilly.
“Good idea.You stay here, and I’ll go talk to Bill.This is not good,
too hot to have the horses sit here in the trailer for very long.”
jump off. I could sure use some water. Everyone else is feeling the same way…lots of grumbling going on. I hear Percy in his high-pitched squeal
and who will care? No one will even miss me.”
I hate it when Percy starts feeling sorry for himself. Maybe that’s his way of getting attention. I don’t think it works…certainly not now anyway.
“I know, guys, it’s hot. I’m sweating, too.” And she is. Lilly looks like she just washed her face and forgot to dry it. “We have to be patient. We’ll get out of this somehow. Meg called for help, but if it doesn’t come soon, we’re going to start unloading you guys.We can tie
at least won’t be trapped in a hot metal trailer. And so it goes.
Chapter Twenty-Three:
On the Road
The day drags on and Meg is lowering the ramp when I hear a big engine pull up behind us. “Hey, whatta ya want done, huh?” A big, sloppy, beer-bellied man in greasy coveralls climbs slowly down from the cab of his wrecker truck and ambles over. It’s hard to understand what he’s saying because there’s a cigar stump stuck in the corner of his mouth.
“As you can see, we aren’t moving, so we would like to have you
engine.” Bill is obviously upset and the nonchalance of this driver must be getting to him.
“No way can I pull the whole thing, Bub. I can pull the truck or the trailer.Then I ‘spec I kin come back and get the t’other.”
“Really? Your rig looks pretty big.Why can’t you pull the whole thing at one time?”
“’Cause I said I can’t. Got it? If you don’ wanna do it my way, then do it yourself,” and the driver turns and ambles back toward his truck. He doesn’t appear to be too eager to do any work.
“Well, if we have to do it
that way, we’ll unhitch the trailer, and
watered or we’ll lose them. There’s surely a city park or some shady place where we can do that, isn’t there?”
“Yeah. I reckon,” but he seems glued to the road, leaning on the trailer.
“Well, let’s get at it then.” Bill is dripping sweat like a faucet and fuming with frustration.
This trip to a show is not working out very well, but at least there’s a breeze once the wrecker starts pulling the trailer. Lilly and Meg are in the cab with the driver, and Bill is waiting with the truck.
Thank goodness the trip isn’t supposed to be too long, for we all have to stand at an angle, the way we’re being pulled. Percy is not a happy camper, but I don’t blame him. He doesn’t get much breeze down where he is.
Things will surely get better now for we are stopped and I see tree branches over the trailer, giving us some shade.
“Come on, guys, let’s get you out of this furnace. Lilly and I are going to tie you to the outside of the trailer.That way you’ll all be in the
use some of that water myself,” says Meg as she leads me out of the trailer.
Chapter Twenty-Four:
A Dastardly Deed
What a day this has been. It’s been hot and long, but we are all in our stalls and have a whole bucket of water in front of each of us, plus our supper.What a relief! I feel tired enough to have been on the jump course all day. But I’m not the only one. Hearing Bill talk to Meg, I know it’s been a hard one for them, too.
“Everyone’s okay, right, Meg? I know they’re all tired and dehydrated, but the cool night should get them rested and feeling better. How are you? I’ve been so darn tied up with the truck, I had to let you two gals take care of everything else.”
“I think it’s over, Bill.We’re here, and all is well. Just a little worse for wear. Thanks to you we’ll get to have a good show after all.” Meg looks tired, but she’s a tough one.
it, and I know why this happened. Meg, you know what the mechanic found?”
“No, but it doesn’t matter.We’re here now, and we’ll just chalk it up to experience and forget it.”
