“What was that?” said Miss Julie, who was hugging Honey.
“I wanted him to ask me who I thought had taken the jewelry.” Jeff shut his eyes and swallowed. “I wouldn’t have pointed a finger first, but if he had asked, I would have told the truth.”
“Who do you think took it?” I said, knowing what his answer would be.
“I can’t see any way around it, and I haven’t wanted to get her in trouble, but I’m tired of covering up for her. I think Cassie took it and now she’s gone somewhere. Her stuff is gone from her room. I didn’t want to tell you this morning. We may never find her.” Jeff looked at me bleakly.
Miss Julie and I looked at each other and I looked at Jeff. The problems, if what he said was true, were mind-blowing, especially for him. What would he do? Where would he live? He was still a minor. I had a father and a mother, who even if they were divorced, still loved me and would give me a home. I had Addie, Miss Julie and Sam for friends, who would always help me out. Jeff had no one. Jeff sat at the table, staring at the floor.
“Jeff,” said Miss Julie. “Has Cassie ever done anything like this before?”
“I think...maybe,” he said. “When my dad was still alive, I remember them arguing about her leaving somewhere with something she shouldn’t. He was furious and she was, well, she was Cassie. All loud talk and yelling. I was a kid and didn’t pay much attention. Wish I had, now.”
“Dear, you know I have to call Harvey Martin, don’t you?” said Miss Julie.
“I know, Miss J., it’s okay. You call him and I’ll tell him what I know.” I had never heard Jeff sound so sad and resigned and it broke my heart.
“Jeff?”
“What, Piper?”
“We all know you weren’t involved. No one thinks you were. And you are brave to say what you think about Cassie.”
“Thanks, Piper. I know you’re trying to help, but this is pretty hard to deal with. I’ll go upstairs until I hear from the sheriff.” Jeff’s shoulders slumped as he trudged up the stairs to his room. Miss Julie shook her head and looked at me.
“That poor boy,” she said, taking out her cell phone and dialing. I heard some guitar music start from somewhere upstairs. Did he play guitar? This was definitely a time to play the blues. The notes came softly down the stairs until there was a harsh, unmusical chord, and then silence.
Chapter Ten
~ The Note ~
Things moved pretty quickly after Miss Julie called Harvey Martin and told him about the scrap of Cassie’s suede jacket being found in her bedroom. Harvey came out and searched Cassie’s rooms, including Jeff’s, but found nothing. He told us that even if it was circumstantial evidence, it was enough to do a search. He put out an alert for Cassie and her truck on the police and state trooper radio. He even searched the room Cassie had rented for her sister at The Blue Parrot motel. Since no one had seen Cassie’s sister, even Jeff, no one knew what she looked like. The clerk at The Blue Parrot agreed that Cassie had checked her in, but never saw the sister. The room looked unused and he doubted if anyone ever slept there. It had now been three days since anyone had seen Cassie. I had hung around Miss Julie’s all day to see if anything would happen, playing cards with her and fooling around with the horses. Since the next day was Monday and a school day, I left in the late afternoon and went home for dinner.
Mom wanted to know what had happened, so I told her everything I knew, then had to repeat it all over again for my dad when he called. Then I had to call Addie and tell her all about everything.
Monday morning, I went to school as if nothing happened and got through my day in a sort of haze, worrying over Jeff and what Cassie was doing. I looked for Jeff in the halls and didn’t see him. Addie and I waited after class to see if he would come in to help Mr. Simpson, but he didn’t. When I asked Mr. Simpson if Jeff was coming in, he said, “Oh, he called to tell me he couldn’t make it today.” What was going on?
Addie had a Pep Club meeting, so I rode my bike out to Miss Julie’s after school alone. Her car was gone and Jeff was sitting on the porch swing, playing a guitar. He looked up and forced a smile when he saw me.
“Hey, Piper.”
“Hey, Jeff. How come you weren’t in school today? I looked for you.” I parked my bike by the porch, ignoring the horses for once and climbing the steps to sit in a rocking chair beside him.
“I didn’t go. Sheriff Martin told me I should stay home today. They found this in Cassie’s truck at the airport.” Jeff pulled out a dog-eared piece of paper and handed it to me. I looked at him, then unfolded it and read:
Hi Jeff,
Guess I’m not a very good mom, but you can have the truck, the horse, and anything else I had to leave behind. I’ll be somewhere in South America with Sis. Have a nice life.
Cassie
I had to read it twice to understand what it said.
“She left?” I said. “Just like that, she left you high and dry?”
“I guess so,” said Jeff, his voice choking a little. “Turns out there were police bulletins. She’s wanted in five states for theft. I never did like her much and I knew she didn’t like me, but I didn’t know she was a total criminal. Piper...what am I going to do?”
“Well, you’re better off without her. She was crazy and didn’t appreciate you. You’ll see. You’ll...” My voice trailed off because I didn’t know what he was going to do either.
“The sheriff said I should go ahead and plan on staying here for a while until they figure out what to do with me,” said Jeff.
“He said that?”
“Well, he used nicer words, but that’s what he meant.”
“Jeez, I’m just so sorry, Jeff. I don’t know what to say.”
“I know, right? It’s weird. You don’t have to say anything much, but it helps to have someone to talk to, if you don’t mind hanging around.” Jeff’s voice was flat and hopeless.
“I don’t mind. I’ll stay as long as I can,” I said. Willie Nelson came up the steps onto the porch from Miss Julie’s yard, purring, and began rubbing his head on Jeff’s leg. Jeff picked him up and buried his nose in the soft gray fur.
“Did Miss Julie say anything before she left?” I asked.
“Uh, she said not to worry, she would see to things. Isn’t that what little old ladies always tell people?”
“Well, I know Miss Julie never says things she doesn’t mean.”
“Right.” Jeff stroked Willie’s head.
“How is Daisy?” I asked, trying for a change of subjects.
“She’s about the same,” he said. “I checked a few hours ago.”
“Maybe after she has the foal, you can ride her. Do you like to ride?”
“I haven’t ridden much. I never was very interested and Cassie didn’t care if I did or didn’t. My dad used to like to ride, though. That’s how he met her. They were on a trail ride together. Maybe I would like it more if I tried.”
“Well, after the baby comes and Daisy recovers, maybe we can go riding.” I tried to sound bright and cheerful.
“That’s a long way off. Maybe we shouldn’t make plans,” said Jeff. “Who knows what will happen?”
Chapter Eleven
~ Delivery ~
Not knowing what else to say to Jeff, I stood up to stretch. I noticed Dotty and Nickel watching something near the barn, but didn’t see the bay mare.
“I have to go and check on Daisy,” I said, I walked around the side of the barn. Daisy was pacing back and forth, sweating and stopped occasionally to turn and look at her belly. I only had to watch her for a minute before warning bells rang in my head. I shooed Daisy into her stall and shut the door behind her. She went in easily, as if she had been waiting for me to let her in. Then I ran through the barn and yelled up at Jeff.
“Hey! She’s in labor! Come here!”
I was pulling out my phone to call Dad when Jeff barreled down to the barn
“Seriously? Where is your dad?”
“I’m trying to get
him on the phone. Will you come help me?”
“I don’t think I can be a horse’s midwife,” he said.
“Not funny, come on. Daisy is your horse now.” Honestly, this was not the time to be cute.
“I wasn’t trying to be funny,” he said, looking uncomfortable.
“Yeah, well, I don’t want to be a midwife either.”
We walked into the barn and looked in Daisy’s stall. She was walking back and forth around it and sweating.
“Look how restless she is,” I said. “I hope that’s not a bad sign.”
Daisy turned her sleek head and snorted at us. She looked at her belly every few minutes, as if she felt something going on in there. What did it feel like? Did it hurt? I wished that I could speak horse and ask her some questions. I kept trying to get Dad on the phone, but it just went to voice mail. We couldn’t always get phone signals out at the farm, so it was good that the voice mail connected. But where was my dad and what was he doing? He needed to get here quickly. He had told me what to expect, but I didn’t want to deal with this without him.
I left another message that I thought Daisy was ready to foal and I needed him to come to the farm. Right now. I tried the clinic, but Sue said Dad was out on a farm call and she’d give him the message as soon as she could reach him.
I tried calling Addie and Miss Julie, but neither answered. Of all the people that were supposed to be available, none of them were answering their phones. Stupid farms calls! Stupid Pep Club! There was nothing to do but wait and watch. Jeff and I pulled up stools outside the foaling stall and sat down. I twisted and twisted my bracelet, but there was actually something calming about being in the hay-smelling barn. Swallows zipped in and out of the big door, twittering in the warm air.
We didn’t have to wait very long though, because no sooner had we settled in, than Daisy let herself down on the straw in the stall with a grunt. She began straining.
“Jeff! She’s trying to have her baby! It’s coming!”
“What do we do?”
Exactly at that moment, my phone rang. I looked at the number- it was my dad.
“Dad! You have to come right away! Daisy is having her baby and it’s just me and Jeff here!”
“Okay, Piper, take it easy. Horses have been having foals for millions of years with no help.”
“But Dad, she’s having it now!” I was almost in tears. I wasn’t ready for this.
“Steady, Piper. Take a deep breath and tell me. What’s she doing?” I told him she was lying down, straining, and he said, “Okay, it’s coming. Just keep watching her. You can do this, honey, we’ve talked about it. I’m coming, but I’m sixty miles away. You stay on the phone and I’ll walk you through it. Put me on speakerphone, so you can have your hands free.”
Free for what? I took another deep breath. I wished he were here, but this was better than nothing. I set the phone on a hay bale and with shaking hands, pushed the speaker button. Jeff was staring at Daisy like he was afraid she would explode.
“Dad’s going to talk us through it,” I said to Jeff. “Are you ready?”
“No,” he said, “but I think Daisy is. Hi, Dr. Jones.”
“Hi, Jeff,” said my dad. “Time to be a midwife.” Jeff gave out a little groan.
Dad was right. Daisy was pushing in earnest now, grunting a little. Some clear fluid was coming out from between her back legs. I looked over at Jeff. He stared, stricken.
“What’s happening, Piper?” said Dad.
“She’s pushing, and...and there’s something watery coming out.” My voice shook and I tried to breathe normally.
“When the baby comes, just make sure it all comes out,” said Dad.
“All what?” said Jeff.
“All of the baby,” said Dad.
Daisy gave a couple more good pushes and I could see the foal’s nose sticking out. The mare’s sides were wet with sweat and she breathed heavily. The air smelled of horse and hay and my fear.
“Dad! It’s coming out!”
“Tell me what she’s doing. Tell me what you see,” he said.
“She’s pushing and straining and the nose is sticking out.”
“Okay, Piper, keep watching and tell me what happens,” said Dad. Jeff and I watched for a couple more minutes, but nothing else happened. “Talk to me,” said Dad again.
“Nothing else is happening,” I said.
“Is it stuck?” asked Jeff, with a quiver in his voice.
“Go around to her rear very quietly—let the mare know you’re there—but go softly, so you don’t scare her. Tell me what you see.” Dad had seen so many foals born, I trusted him to know what to do.
I stepped closer to Daisy and peered at the baby’s nose emerging. “Dad? I see the baby’s nose, and there’s a hoof sticking out.”
“So this is where you need to help her,” said my dad. “As quick as you can, go wash your hands and put on a pair of those rubber gloves. I left a box of them on the medicine shelf.”
“Oh, jeez, really, Dad?”
“Yes, this is important, honey. You can do this.” Dad sounded sure, so I did what he said, washing quickly and putting on the gloves. My heart raced, my hands shook, and my mouth was dry. Jeff stared at me with his mouth open.
“Okay, Dad, I’m ready,” I said, kneeling at the back end of Daisy.
“Very gently, reach in and see if you can feel another hoof.” Taking a deep breath, I did what he said. What if I mess this up? Will I kill both of them? Sliding my right hand carefully inside the slippery heat of Daisy, I reached around with my fingers.
“There’s another hoof!” I said, feeling it through the glove. My left hand rested on Daisy’s large, round rump. Her tail swished over my face, getting in my mouth. Her body moved restlessly, concentrating on getting the baby out.
“Can you pull on it?”
I groped around. “Yes! I have it with my fingers and thumb!”
“Okay, honey, pull hard!”
“Pull hard? How hard? I don’t want to hurt it. Or Daisy.”
“Just pull! Give it a good tug,” my dad said, with a little bit of impatience.
So I pulled. The leg came toward me a little, so I pulled harder, Daisy pushed, and sploosh! The whole foal slid out onto the ground.
“Woohoo!” said Jeff. “It’s out, Doc! Piper did it!”
“Way to go, Piper,” said my dad. “Now what’s happening?”
“It’s on the ground and I can see the cord.” I sat back on my heels, straw stuck to my legs. Daisy thrashed with her legs and got to her feet.
“Whoa!” said Jeff.
“Oh, Dad! Daisy got up already. Is that okay? She’s standing up and the umbilical cord broke.” I brushed the straw from my legs and stood up, too.
“That’s right, that’s what’s supposed to happen,” said Dad.
“She’s sniffing the baby now, and licking it,” said Jeff.
I had moved to the side of the stall, exhausted. I had to catch my breath, as if I had given birth myself.
“Watch for the placenta to come out. When it does, put it over to the side, or out of the stall would be better. I’ll check it when I get there to be sure it’s all in one piece.”
“Why is that?” asked Jeff.
“I’ll explain later. You just watch for it,” said Dad.
“Should I do something with the baby?” I asked.
“No, if she’s licking it, leave them alone and watch. And be proud of yourself—you saved two lives.”
“Really? They could have died?”
“It happens,” said Dad.
Jeff must have felt as numb as I did because we both sat still then. After a few minutes of watching Daisy lick the foal, she lifted her tail, groaned a little, and a large, dark red mass came sliding out of her.
“Whoa!” said Jeff. “Is that the placenta?”
“I think so,” I said, getting up.
“Okay,” said Dad, “go pull it over away from her, but keep it in one piece so I
can check it. We have to make sure there’s none left inside her to get infected.”
Jeff and I both slipped into the stall. Daisy ignored us and kept licking her baby.
I puffed some air out of my cheeks. “I guess we pull it out of the way,” I said.
“Uh...” said Jeff.
“Come on, we have to. Go and grab another pair of gloves. I think you can use those short ones in the box.” Jeff went out, pulled on a pair of nylon gloves and walked back into the stall with me.
“Gross,” said Jeff. “It looks like liver. I hate liver.”
“That’s how it works,” I said. “A placenta is important for growing babies.” I was feeling like the old college professor teaching the student. “Come on. Don’t think about it. Just do it.”
Together, we grabbed the slippery mass and pulled it through the stall door so it was outside on the barn floor. I bet it weighed over ten pounds. We left it there and went back to looking at mother and baby, the best sight in the world.
“Amazing,” said Jeff. “I can’t believe it. A new baby horse and you delivered it. How do you know all this stuff?”
“I listen to Dad and ask questions. I need to know things for when I become a horse breeder and trainer.”
“That’s what you want to be?”
“That’s it,” I said, taking off my gloves and washing my hands in the big sink. Jeff did the same and we sighed together.
“Piper? Jeff?” my dad’s voice came from the phone. “What’s happening?”
“Well, we have the placenta out on the barn floor.”
“Okay, just keep watching the mare.”
“Jeff, look! It’s getting up! It’s standing up. Dad, the baby’s up!”
“Oh, wow! Look at it.” Jeff started laughing and then he hugged me.
The foal staggered on long, spindly legs. Like it was on stilts, it wobbled around near its mother and stuck its muzzle onto her side.
“Dad, the baby is sticking its nose into Daisy’s side.”
“It’s looking for milk. Watch until it starts nursing from the mare’s udder.”
The Horse Rescuers Page 17
