Laila gently pulled at his shoulder and said in a softer tone, “Get up; let’s go for a walk and talk about it.”
Surrendering, River sat up, ran one hand through his snarled hair, and looked around for his shoes. Laila brought them over to him and then helped him put them on, tying the laces for him. “I can’t even dress myself,” he continued to complain.
“Quit being such a whiny baby,” Laila admonished him. “You can’t dress yourself because you’ve been lying in bed doing nothing so your muscles are getting stiff. You’ll heal much faster if you just move. Now get up.” She took his hand and pulled him to his feet and steered him through the house to the front door. “We’re going now,” she called out.
Mrs. Marshall peeked around the corner of the kitchen, smiled and waved. Laila met her eyes and Mrs. Marshall silently communicated her thanks.
The Marshalls, a couple in their fifties, owned a large four-bedroom house in one of the better neighborhoods of Firwood. Their own children grown, they now took in temporary foster children, ‘to help fill the emptiness of the house’, and maybe help out a few less fortunate children than their own had been.
“The Marshalls are great people; you’re very lucky,” Laila told River as they walked out the front door and onto the sidewalk.
“I never said they weren’t.”
“They’re doing what they think is best and they’re following your doctor’s orders. Believe me, it could be a whole lot worse.”
“I don’t know how,” River grumbled to himself, but he did feel guilty for in his heart, he knew the Marshalls were trying to do what they thought best. He just didn’t agree with them.
“Well..,” Laila started, and frowning, looked off into the distance. “At least they don’t make you kneel on the bare kitchen floor in your underwear when it’s freezing cold; to ask forgiveness for your sins. Especially when you don’t even know what sin you are supposed to be guilty of.”
River glanced at her, confused. “What?”
“Like turning on the radio and a song plays that they don’t approve of, like I chose the station’s playlist. Or when I came home with a book from the school library; a book that was on my English teacher’s recommended list, but it’s one that their church had banned. Or my choice of outfits. That was my last foster home. The one before that, well, my foster father used to come into the bathroom to pee every time I was in the shower. There was no lock on the bathroom door. I’m not going to tell you what happened after that.” She shuddered at the memory.
River stopped and turned to look at her. Laila ducked her head. Shame filled him. He pulled her into his arms and she let him hold her for a few minutes. “I’m sorry,” he apologized.
She made a choking noise and then pushed out of his arms and looked up into his face defiantly. “River, your father tried to kill you…but he didn’t succeed. Yeah, you’re laid up for a bit, but you will recover if you do the right things. You could be dead. You could be paralyzed. You could be in a very different kind of foster home.”
“Okay.” He reached for her hand but she yanked it away.
“Be glad about what you do have and quit making everyone around you miserable.”
“Laila, I’m sorry. You never told me…”
“I’m sorry too, but it’s in the past and I’m over it. Believe me, physical hurt is the easiest to deal with.”
They started walking again, and when River took her hand a second time, she did not pull away.
“You have so many people who care about you,” Laila said after they had walked in silence for half a block.
“Like who?” River wanted to be more agreeable but still hadn’t totally thrown off his self-pity.
“Me, for one.”
He looked at her and when she smiled, he smiled back and then impulsively kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, I care about you too.”
“I believe you do.” Then she continued, “Your boss cares about you; Tess or whatever her name is. You have her to thank for getting you emancipated.”
“Okay, she cares some, although with Tess it’s probably more she doesn’t want to lose my cheap labor.”
“She cares,” Laila said emphatically. “Nobody is completely selfish, including you.”
“I never said I…”
“Never mind. You also have two pretty girls madly in love with you.”
“Right, like who?” River laughed in disbelief.
“Those two girls from the stable; the one who gushes over you and the brown-eyed, petite one that you’re in love with.”
“What are you talking about?” River’s heart flipped at her words.
Laila laughed and squeezed his hand. “Don’t act like you don’t know it.”
“I don’t…Laila, why do you say that?”
She scrutinized him for a moment. “You really don’t know, do you?”
“I just want to know how come you think so.”
She laughed and said, “Never mind, I just know.”
“Come on, tell me what you think,” he asked, his thoughts churning in a turmoil of hope and doubts as they turned the corner of the block. She looked at him with a smug expression. “Laila, why do you think Sierra likes me?”
“Umhm, just as I thought. You like her, don’t you?”
“Okay, I admit it, I do. I think she likes me as a friend. She just broke up with some guy at school, so I can’t see how she can like me that way.”
“What way?”
“Laila, don’t tease me. You know how I mean. Do you think she likes me more than just a friend?”
“River,” she assured him, “I’m positive she does.”
“How can you tell?”
“It’s the way she looks at you; it’s really very simple.”
“Hmph,” he huffed. “It’s not so simple. Do you think she’s looking at me, like on the rebound?”
“Probably; I personally can’t see any reason why a girl would love you.”
“Thanks a lot,” he responded, recognizing the teasing in her tone. They walked on and then River asked more seriously. “Laila, how come you didn’t ever want to be my girlfriend?”
“What makes you think I didn’t?”
He studied her face, unsure if she was joking again or not. But when she laughed and punched him playfully, he smiled.
“River, if you were older, or had been more experienced with girls so that you knew when you had a good thing…I don’t know. I could have fallen in love with you, but you weren’t ready for a girl like me.”
“I knew you were a good thing…”
“Besides,” she interrupted, “you were already in love with your little stable mate.”
“I was not!”
Laila made a noise of disbelief. “Tell me truthfully, who were you thinking of more often than not when I was in your arms?”
“You.”
“I’m sure you did some of the time; but who was in your heart? Think about it before you answer.”
River looked down at his shuffling feet, not knowing how to answer. As he thought back to all the times with Laila, he had to admit how often he had wondered what it would be like with Sierra.
Laughing, Laila said, “River, it’s okay. I’m just trying to help you understand your own feelings.”
“I do love you, you know.”
“I know, and I love you too…the same way. You’re maybe the best friend I’ve ever had.”
They rounded the block and returned to the Marshalls’ house to see Sierra getting out of her mother’s car. She was halfway up the walk when she heard their footsteps and turned to look their way.
“See the look on her face?” Laila said. “She is not at all happy to see you with me.”
To River, Sierra’s expression reminded him of how she had sometimes looked at Dean as he walked away from her…wistful and hurt. Could Laila be right?
“Hi, Sierra,” Laila called out and waved, smiling wickedly. “Well, I gotta go.” She turned to River and kissed him
on the mouth. Then she waved at Sierra again and skipped off to her own car.
“Laila,” River hissed under his breath after her. Then he walked up to Sierra, and feeling very shy, said, “Hi.”
*****
After his walk with Laila, River did feel his spirits lifted, and he determined to make more of an effort to speed up his recovery. He forced himself to get up as soon as he woke each morning and go outside to walk. He made himself sit down at the table and eat the good food Mrs. Marshall prepared for him, thanking her with sincere gratitude. The Marshalls had one other foster child living in their house at that time. Todd, a ten-year-old boy, stuttered whenever he tried to say more than two words, and jumped at any sudden noise. His story is probably much worse than mine, River realized, and also noticed the kindness of both the Marshalls as they tried to make the boy feel safe and wanted. They really were very fine people.
Laila came almost every morning for two hours before she had to leave for her job at the mall, to help him study for finals. Four weeks after his discharge from the hospital, Mrs. Marshall drove him to school two days in a row, and he completed his final exams. A week later, he learned that he had passed; actually with an A on his geometry test, the first A he had ever earned in an academic subject, and a few Bs, and squeaking by with a C minus in world history, never his favorite subject.
Best of all, Laila must have said something to the Marshalls, for a few days after his walk with her, and he was demonstrating an effort to help himself, Mrs. Marshall drove him and Todd to the stable so he could visit the horses. Sierra had been bringing Storm to the stable with her every day, and when Mrs. Marshall observed the reunion of River with his dog, but also the fact that Todd seemed to really enjoy petting her and whispering to her in sentences without one single stutter, she consented to let River bring Storm back to their home.
“Sierra, while I’m here, do you want to ride Cory?” River asked after watching her lunge his horse.
Sierra’s eyes opened wide with surprise and a smile split her face. “You would let me?”
“Sure, he knows you almost as well as me.”
Sierra saddled Corazón, and River watched her ride him in the arena, coaching her, and very happy with how well the two seemed to get along. “It would be great if you could get him out on the trail a few days a week,” River said as Sierra brought Corazón back to the crossties, and he stroked his neck while his horse nuzzled at his chest.
“No problem! I would love to take him out; he’s so willing and responsive. I can ride him at least five days a week.”
“Thank you,” he said, and the gratitude and relief in his smile caused a strange full feeling in Sierra’s heart and a desire to hug him. He trusts me.
*****
When Mrs. Marshall invited Sierra for dinner, and then Sierra helped her cook, it became a routine. Sierra figured out the bus schedule and went to the Marshalls every evening after she had showered and changed clothes from working at the stable. She helped prepare dinner and clean up afterwards, and then hung out with River until her mother came to pick her up. They saved a plate for her mother, who usually stayed a short while visiting with Mrs. Marshall.
One evening, Sierra and River were sitting on the back porch, watching Todd play with Storm, when Allison appeared.
“Allison, hi!” Sierra greeted happily, welcoming her onto the porch and offering her a chair.
“Hi,” Allison returned the greeting. “Hi River. I just stopped by to give you my news; well, okay, I’m showing off a little. I got my license today and I drove over here.”
“Oohh!” Sierra gave a little squeal of delight and gave her friend a congratulatory hug. “Did you get your car?” Allison’s parents had been taking her used car shopping ever since she had turned sixteen this summer.
“I did, you should both come and see it.”
“Take care of Storm,” River called to Todd who smiled and nodded; and then followed Sierra and Allison out front.
“Of course I don’t plan to go drag racing against Crystal who’s driving all around town in her brand new Porsche,” Allison said as she demonstrated the features of her ten-year-old Subaru wagon.
“Yeah, smart. But I like this; it’s very cute. Hey, Katrina just got her license too. She doesn’t have her own car but she gets to use her parents’,” Sierra informed her. “Well, when I finish drivers ed first quarter of school, my mom says I can drive João’s truck that he left us. She thinks he really intended it for me.”
“It’s a nice truck,” River said. Then he smiled. “I guess I get my father’s beater truck. He won’t need it where he’s going.”
Sierra and Allison both looked at him in surprise and when he laughed, they joined in.
“Is his trial over?” Allison asked hesitantly.
“No trial; he plea-bargained, and they dropped the charge from attempted murder to attempted manslaughter. He still has to serve at least four years and part of that is for his DWI.”
“How do you feel about that?” she asked as they started walking back to the house.
River shrugged his shoulders. “I’m okay with it. Mr. Tanglewilde explained how it saves the state money if they can avoid a trial and get a quick conviction. By the time he gets out, I’ll be an adult, done with school, and there’s nothing he can do to me. Part of the deal is that he never tries to make contact with me unless I initiate it.”
Allison nodded as if in agreement. “Hey, I hear you passed all your finals. Congratulations.”
River frowned at her. “Why is everyone so amazed that I passed?”
“River,” she chided him, “I’m paying you a compliment. Why do you have to turn it into an insult?”
Sierra breathed in with relief when River laughed and conceded Allison’s point. The relationship between them was still a bit prickly and Sierra always felt a little nervous with the two of them together.
“All of us are juniors now!” she said. “Can you believe we’re half way through high school?”
They returned to the house and into the kitchen where Mrs. Marshall served milk and cookies; very traditional in what she thought children needed. Allison brought out a book she had finished reading to give to Sierra, talking about what she liked about it, and they went on to discuss other books.
River relaxed in his chair, listening to the girls’ discussion, and although he hadn’t read any of the books they talked about, found what they were saying quite interesting, almost to a point where he might even want to read one of those books (almost). They’re smart, like Laila, he thought, and realized that he liked being around smart girls.
“Oh yeah,” Sierra said after Allison had left and her mother had called to say she was on her way. “I almost forgot to tell you. Gloria found a buyer for Silver. Somebody made an offer for him after the last event, and her parents accepted it. He’s leaving in a few days.”
“Oh,” River said, interested. “I hope it’s a good home. He deserves it.”
“Me too. And now Four Score is for sale. I think Gloria wants to find a horse like Diva.”
“Gloria and Crystal both need to learn to ride,” River mumbled.
*****
Six long weeks passed. Mrs. Marshall drove River to the medical clinic, for what he hoped would be his final check-up.
“You’re doing well,” Dr. Hoffman said after his examination, and looking at a chest x-ray on his computer screen. “You still have a little fluid collection in the pleural space but it is greatly decreased from two weeks ago. It will all go away in time, but that’s why you still get a little short of breath. I’m willing to give you a clean bill of health to return to all normal activities, as long as you take them up gradually and don’t push yourself. Get plenty of rest; eat well; call me if you experience…” Dr. Hoffman proceeded to recite a list of symptoms that River should report immediately if any should occur.
“I know this is good news, River,” Mrs. Marshall said as they left the clinic, “and I’m very glad you�
��re healed, but I can’t help feeling sad at the thought of you leaving us.”
“Thank you,” River replied in a voice filled with gratitude.
“You don’t have to go, you know,” she added.
Surprisingly, River realized that as eager as he was to move into his own place, he would miss the Marshalls and Todd…a lot. For the first time in his life he felt like he belonged to a family; and that was a very good feeling. Not since his mother or João had he felt so cared for. It was almost tempting to stay, but…
“I don’t know what Todd will do without Storm,” Mrs. Marshall said, watching the young boy walking ahead. Todd scuffed his feet, looking at the ground with slumped shoulders, for he knew who would be leaving with River.
“Well…” River started to say as they got into the car. Mrs. Marshall looked at him, and they both grinned, knowing they had the same thought. Instead of going home, they detoured to the county animal shelter.
They let Todd choose the dog he wanted to bring home. Mrs. Marshall thought he might pick one of the adorable puppies in a litter of six; all in a pen together and eagerly yipping out to ‘pick me, pick me’. But she wasn’t surprised when Todd picked an older mongrel dog with coarse, nondescript patchy brown fur, very sad, runny eyes, and missing a back leg. “This is the one,” he announced, without a stutter. And that was how Brownie, destined for euthanasia, found the best home of his sad life.
“You don’t have to leave,” Mr. Marshall repeated the offer after dinner. River remained at the table with the Marshalls, talking about his plans. Todd, who had wolfed down his food so he could be with his new dog, was out on the back porch with Brownie and Storm.
“Thank you; I do appreciate all you have done for me.”
He stayed with the Marshalls for the rest of the week, teaching Todd how to take care of his dog, and letting Mrs. Marshall take him shopping for the things she thought he would need in his new home. When he moved in on the weekend, he felt as if he had good friends that he could call on if he needed help or advice. They made him promise he would come over for dinner at least once a month; a promise he was glad to give.
The Boy Who Loves Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center Series) Page 34
