Wind Dancer

by Chris Platt

  “This won’t hurt much,” Ali said softly to the gelding. She scratched his neck. “It’s going to make you better.” Wind Dancer cocked his ear slightly. Ali had hoped for a bigger reaction, but for now, that was as good as she was going to get.

  The vet brought the IV bag into Wind Dancer’s pen. Ali cringed when she saw the size of the needle.

  “Just keep rubbing him so he doesn’t pay any attention to the needle,” Ali’s mom said. “Poor Wind Dancer.”

  “It’s not as bad as it looks,” Dr. Forrester reassured her. “A horse is a big animal. Their shots are bigger than ours.” He turned to Ali. “It’s going to take at least ten minutes to administer this drip. It’s your job to keep him as still as you can so we don’t have to worry about the needle coming out, okay?”

  Ali nodded. She stroked the horse’s forelock and spoke softly to him. But Wind Dancer acted like she wasn’t even there. He barely even flinched when the needle went in. Ali reacted for him, grimacing and turning her head. Misty nickered to her friend, but Wind Dancer just stood there.

  “How often will we need to do this?” Ali’s mom asked.

  “Well, if you guys make sure you feed him that paste, this one IV might do it,” Dr. Forrester said. “I don’t think he ate that much this morning because his appetite is still off. But his electrolytes are down from what they were yesterday, so something is affecting him. It could just be that he was down so far that even this small amount of food is causing problems. We’ve got to do everything we can to reverse that trend. We’ll continue on with the feedings as usual, but we’ll need to keep giving him extra electrolytes.”

  When they were done with the treatment, Jamie brought in the gelding’s feed. “Here, try to get him to eat some of this.”

  Ali shook her head and pushed the bucket back to him. “Could you please do it this time?” she asked. “You’re really good at getting Wind Dancer to eat. We can’t take any chances. I’ll stand here and hold him while you try.”

  Jamie nodded and tucked some alfalfa into Wind Dancer’s mouth.

  Ali spoke to Wind Dancer. “You’ve got to eat some of this and get your strength up,” She rubbed his neck. “You need to be strong like your stablemate. Misty is getting better by the hour. You want to be able to buck and play with her again, right?”

  “Keep talking,” Doctor Forrester said. “He’s starting to eat. I think he likes the sound of your voice.”

  That lifted Ali’s spirits. The more Wind Dancer chewed, the better she felt.

  Jamie managed to get Wind Dancer to eat half his ration of alfalfa. “I was hoping his appetite would be a little better,” he said as he hung the bucket on the fence. “But at least he’s still eating.”

  Dr. Forrester handed Ali and her mom some of the tubes. “You need to follow my instructions carefully,” he said. “Too many electrolytes can cause just as much trouble as too few. Move the plunger to this mark.” He showed Ali the dosage. “You can give it to them at feed time. Just insert the tube into the side of their mouths—like you do when you worm a horse—and deposit it on their tongues. They’re too weak to fight, so you shouldn’t have any trouble giving the dosage. I’ll be back in the morning to take another blood sample.”

  “How will we know if he’s getting worse?” Ali’s mom asked. “Are there any symptoms that we should look for?”

  “Yes,” the vet said. “If his electrolytes start to drop again, his muscles will get weak. You might see him stumble or maybe lie down and not be able to get up. If he’s really bad, he might even have a seizure. If you see any of these symptoms, call me immediately.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. We’ll help Ali keep watch tonight.” She turned to her daughter. “I’d better write all of this down to make sure I have all the details we need. Your father and I will take over your feeding duties while you’re in school tomorrow.”

  Ali had forgotten all about school. The horses were her responsibility. She didn’t want to leave them when Wind Dancer was this bad. “I haven’t missed any school this year, Mom. And I’m getting good grades. Can I please stay home tomorrow?”

  “I could bring you your assignments, if your teachers are okay with it,” Jamie volunteered.

  Ali’s dad joined them. From his expression, he hadn’t had much success with Danny. “How’s it look, Doc?” he asked. “Are they going to be okay?”

  Dr. Forrester picked up his medical bag. “We’re going to have to watch them closely, but I believe we can get a handle on it. I’ve given your wife and daughter their instructions. I have faith that these horses are in good hands.” He smiled at Ali and her mom. “If anything comes up, no matter what time, just give me a call and I’ll come over immediately.”

  Ali thanked Jamie and Dr. Forrester, and as they packed up, she went into the house with her parents. “Please, Mom and Dad?” she begged. “Please let me stay home from school tomorrow. The horses really need me and I’ve got to make up for what happened this morning when I overslept. Besides,” she added, “you two never had horses before we got Max. I don’t mean any disrespect … but I’m kind of the only real horse person here. I might be able to see important changes in their behavior quicker than you would.”

  Ali’s dad chuckled. “Hey, are you trying to say you have more horse sense than we do?”

  Ali smiled. “Yeah, I guess I am,” she teased him back. “I just couldn’t think of a good way to put it.”

  “Okay, as long as it’s all right with your mother, and as long as you get your homework done,” her dad relented. “Your mother and I will do the just-before-dawn feeding so you can sleep in a bit.”

  “Can I ask one more favor?” Ali bit her bottom lip, knowing she was pushing the envelope. “Could I sleep outside tonight? That way I don’t have to keep tromping up and down the stairs.”

  “I don’t know, Ali,” Mrs. McCormick said. “You know we’ve got coyotes here.”

  “Cara and I have slept outside in the tent before,” Ali pointed out. “We didn’t have any trouble. Or you could park the truck right next to the corrals and I could sleep inside it. Then I could blast the horn if something happens.” She pulled a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. “Dr. Forrester says I need to keep a really close eye on the horses for the next few days. I can do it better if I’m out there with them.”

  Her dad looked to his wife. “She has a point. She has spent the night in the tent in the backyard. I’ll let you make the call on this one.”

  Her mother thought for a few moments, then answered. “Danny’s window is right there overlooking where you’ll be staying,” she said. “He’d hear you immediately if something happened.”

  “So, does that mean yes?” Ali asked.

  “Oh, I suppose,” her mother said. “Your father and I will check in on you throughout the night. We’ll be there if you need help.”

  “Thanks, Mom and Dad!” Ali ran to her room to finish her homework. Maybe Cara could pick it up from her in the morning and take it to school.

  Ali made her way downstairs for dinner. She heard Danny coming just as she sat down. The repeated sound of his crutch thumping on the floor was followed by his remaining foot hitting the tiles. It was a slow, labored cadence.

  “Is it okay if I eat my dinner in my room tonight?” he asked, not even looking at Ali. “I’m not feeling that great, and one of my buddies from Afghanistan is on Skype. He’s not online very often and I’d really like to see how he’s doing over there, along with the rest of the unit.”

  “Is that Jeff, the boy from Nebraska?” their mother asked.

  “Yeah.” Danny looked over the roast beef, broccoli, and sweet potato casserole that were already on the table.

  Their mom and dad shared a glance. “I think that will probably be okay for tonight, son.” Their dad grabbed Danny’s dinner plate and began filling it with food.

  “I’ll follow you up with your plate and a glass of milk. But Danny?” Their mom gave him one of her I-mean-it stares. “No more mis
sed dinners unless you are truly ill. Understand?”

  Danny nodded, then turned and made his way back up the stairs. Ali followed him with her eyes. Did he really intend to talk to his friend in Afghanistan, or did he just not want to sit at the table with her? She pushed the broccoli around on her plate, promising herself that next time she’d think first before opening her mouth.

  “Ali, you’ve only got a few days before you’re out for the summer,” her mother said. “So no more talk about missing school after tomorrow, kiddo. Your father and I will take over during the day.”

  Ali grinned. “All right. Thanks for tomorrow.” She started clearing the table, but her mom shooed her out of the kitchen. “You go take care of those horses.”

  In the corral, Ali prepared the feed buckets. Once again Misty ate all her food and begged for more. But Wind Dancer ate less than he had earlier.

  “Come on, boy,” Ali murmured. “You’ve got to eat some more so you can get better.” She fetched the electrolyte paste she was supposed to administer. “I’ve got something here that’s going to help you.”

  Misty nickered like she thought Ali had a treat for them. “I’m sorry, girl.” Too bad she couldn’t give the mare some tidbit—a piece of apple or a small bit of grain, especially since the mare seemed to be doing so much better than her stablemate.

  Misty tossed her head a couple of times and Ali felt a tug on her heartstrings. If she didn’t get these horses better and find a new owner for them soon, she was going to be in deep trouble. “I’m sorry, girl, but I really can’t,” Ali said, turning away.

  She concentrated on giving the electrolytes to Wind Dancer. “Here we go,” she said as she inserted the tube in the corner of his mouth. Wind Dancer wrinkled his nostrils like he didn’t really like the taste, but he swallowed several times, then accepted a few small bites of alfalfa from her palm. “That’s it, big guy. You’re getting the hang of it.”

  Ali put the buckets away and went inside to gather her sleeping bag, pillow, and cell phone. If only it wasn’t a school night, Cara could have stayed with her.

  She hauled all of her things down to the truck. Her mom lit the way with a flashlight and made sure she was secure in the front seat. “I packed you a bag of popcorn and a soda,” she said. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay out here?”

  “Come on, Mom. I’m in my own backyard. You guys are right there in the house. I’ve got my cell phone. I’ll call if I need to. Don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine.”

  But at midnight, Wind Dancer only ate a couple handfuls of feed, leaving the rest of the bucket untouched. Ali tried to ignore the cold feeling in the pit of her stomach, but it wouldn’t go away. A diminished appetite in an already sick animal wasn’t a good sign. But Wind Dancer was still able to stand and shuffle around. There was no sign of the muscle fatigue or seizures that Dr. Forrester had warned her about.

  “Why won’t you get better?” she whispered as she stroked the gelding’s rough coat. His body felt warm in the cool night air.

  “I’ve got to get these buckets set up for your next meal,” she told Wind Dancer. She picked up the plastic pails and set them outside the corral.

  The moon had traveled across the night sky, lighting the corrals and shining down on the horses. Misty’s white coat reflected the pale beams, making her easier to see. With his black coat, Wind Dancer disappeared into the shadows, with only the white blanket on his rump showing.

  Misty stood near the dividing fence, bobbing her head and nickering. Ali took a moment to pet her before returning to the truck to catch a few more hours of sleep. If Wind Dancer’s appetite didn’t improve by the next feeding, she’d have to call Dr. Forrester.

  Ali crawled into the truck and snuggled down deep in her sleeping bag. It still got a little chilly at night, but she needed to keep the truck window cracked so she could hear the horses. She texted her parents, letting them know she was okay, then set the alarm to wake her up in another four hours.

  As she lay on the front seat of the truck looking out at the stars, Ali listened to the sounds of the night. Misty shuffled around in her pen looking for any stray bits of hay she might have dropped. Wind Dancer grunted as he lay down in his corral and stretched out for some sleep.

  Far up in the mountains, the coyotes yipped. Maybe they’d found a fat rabbit to chase. The coyote calls set off a chorus of neighborhood dogs, leaving Ali to wonder if she’d ever be able to fall asleep. Did the noise disturb the horses the way it did her?

  After a while her eyelids grew heavy and she began to drift off. A train whistle blew in the distance. It sounded so forlorn, echoing the sadness she felt inside. No matter how hard they all tried, Wind Dancer might slip away from them anyway.

  Around 2:00 AM, Ali was woken by the sound of shoes crunching on gravel. She peeked out the truck window, expecting her mom or dad, but it was her brother.

  Danny stood outside Wind Dancer’s corral. “Come here, boy.” He held out his palm, coaxing the Appaloosa over. He called softly to the gelding several times and Wind Dancer finally stood up and ambled over.

  “That a boy.” Danny stuck his hand through the fencing and rubbed the white star between the gelding’s eyes. He put out his palm again and Wind Dancer took something from him. Ali could hear the gelding slowly munching the treat. Was it carrots? Sugar cubes? He probably wasn’t supposed to have either of those. Should she say something to Danny? She pictured how his face fell when she yelled at him about feeding Wind Dancer too much before.

  She listened to Wind Dancer crunch another treat. If the horse would eat for Danny, she should encourage it. She tried not to feel jealous that Wind Dancer wouldn’t eat so easily for her. Her goal was to get the horses better and find them a new home, right?

  She shifted uncomfortably in her sleeping bag. Did Danny even know she was out here?

  “Why aren’t you eating your hay?” Danny asked Wind Dancer. “You need to get your strength back.” Danny was quiet for a long time.

  “What are we going to do, old boy?” Danny’s voice cracked. “You got a raw deal here. Your life is pretty messed up. Same with me.” He was quiet for a minute. “I went away to war and my world turned upside down, but everything here kept marching on just the same. My friends went to school, went to parties, got married, had babies … they left me behind.”

  There was a long stretch of silence and Ali wondered if her brother had gone. She was about to look out the truck window when he spoke again.

  “Neither one of us seems to be doing very well in this ol’ world. What’s going to become of us?”

  She peeked out the window and watched as he scratched Wind Dancer’s ears. Danny lowered his forehead until it touched the gelding’s. He stood that way for a long time, then Ali heard both the horse and her brother sigh.

  Fifteen

  It seemed like only a few minutes had passed when the alarm on Ali’s cell phone sounded. It was just before dawn and the early morning chill made her shiver. She slipped out of her sleeping bag, pulled on her boots and a lightweight jacket, and stepped out of the truck.

  Misty nickered for her breakfast, but Wind Dancer was lying down again. He seemed to be sleeping. Ali watched him nervously as she grabbed the feed buckets and hung Misty’s on the fence post. The mare needed no encouragement to eat.

  Ali carried the other bucket into Wind Dancer’s pen. To her surprise, he rose quickly to his feet and shook himself from head to tail. He looked a little stronger. “Well, look at you,” she said as she walked around the gelding, taking note of his appearance in the pre-dawn haze.

  His ears were still flopped out to the side like they’d been since he’d first arrived. Though he didn’t seem all that alert, Ali sensed an improvement in his outlook. She lifted her hand and snapped her fingers to check for a reaction. Wind Dancer’s ears twitched at the sound. “Good boy,” she said. Maybe the electrolytes and antibiotics were starting to work? Or maybe it was Danny’s visit?

  She offered t
he bucket of hay to Wind Dancer. He sniffed the alfalfa and pushed it around with his nose, but he didn’t appear to be interested in eating it. A small patch of light crept over the mountains as Ali waited patiently for the gelding to eat.

  A lone meadowlark sang in the desert beyond their house; it was soon joined by desert scrub jays and other birds. A jackrabbit sprang from its hiding place beneath a peach bush and sprinted across the sand.

  Ali breathed in the fresh smell of sagebrush. It was kind of cool being up this time of day and seeing the desert come to life. She reached out to straighten Wind Dancer’s forelock and rub the star on his forehead.

  Something at the far end of the pen caught Ali’s eye. She put down the alfalfa bucket and went to see what it was. Bending down, she found a few tidbits of carrot. Danny must have left them. She glanced back at Wind Dancer. He still showed little interest in his morning feed. “Here, boy.” She held the goodies out for him to sniff. The gelding’s ears came forward a little, but he ignored the treats.

  Ali picked up the bucket of hay and put it under his nose, Wind Dancer lipped it, but he didn’t take a bite. She took some of the soft leaves and gently pushed them into his mouth. The gelding held them for a moment, then slowly began to grind the food.

  Ali picked up the bucket and offered him some more alfalfa. “That’s a good boy.” Ali tilted the bucket to make it easier for him to eat. She stood patiently while the gelding picked through the bucket. When he was almost to the bottom of the feed pail, he stopped eating and pushed the hay away.

  She couldn’t keep the smile off of her face. The horses weren’t out of danger yet, but Misty was definitely on the way, and Wind Dancer was showing promise for the first time.

  She fed Misty a piece of carrot and put the buckets away. This time, she would have good news to report to Dr. Forrester.

  Ali stretched her stiff muscles. Her warm bed was calling to her. Maybe she could squeeze in a few hours of good sleep before the vet arrived?