Restoration

by Laurie Larsen

  “You’re making a mistake,” his mom said coldly.

  “You raised me to put family first,” Ryan argued, even though he didn’t fully believe it. He cleared his throat and went on. “I don’t know how that can be a mistake.”

  She shook her head and looked away. His dad motioned to his mom and they stepped out of the room for a consultation. The room was silent in their absence, but the tension didn’t dissipate at all. He stood still, but he felt like jumping out of his skin. He heard his heartbeat in his ears and took a deep breath to try to prevent a bodily catastrophe. After a few moments, they returned, a united front. “You’ll be responsible for your own tuition and fees. You can live here, but we will have no part in financially supporting you. You say you’re an adult with responsibilities. Start showing it.”

  Although it wasn’t unexpected, nonetheless it was a punch to the gut. He schooled his expression to hide the distress rising up his esophagus. The chicken and dumplings aroma now made him nauseous.

  He had put his new life in motion. It was up to him now to live it.

  Chapter Four

  In the truck, Shaw’s phone rang. It was Phil Rosewood, Thunder’s owner. “I found him. It’s not good.”

  “Is he injured?”

  “Yeah.” Phil’s voice was grave. “Best I can tell he tried to clear the fence with the extra height and didn’t make it. He crashed through the new wood, splintering it, and he collapsed on the other side. He’s lying there in the demolition.”

  Shaw closed his eyes tight, then opened them. “Where are you? I’m on my way.”

  “I’ll meet you at my front gate and lead you there.”

  He glanced over at Nora and filled her in. “I just hope he hasn’t broken a leg or severed an artery. About anything else can heal. Those two are usually life-ending.”

  Nora reached over and placed her hand over his as he drove. He nodded his appreciation, and then heard her praying. “God, help Thunder. Help him recover and be well to fulfill Shaw’s new plans for his life. Amen.”

  The Rosewood Ranch was a dozen miles away. Shaw raced it as fast as he could without putting their lives in danger. When he arrived at the front gate, Phil opened it, letting him in, then he followed the other man’s truck as he drove to the far west corner of his property. There, Shaw could see the damaged fence. He quickly parked, jumped out and circled to the back where he pulled out his medical transport bag and a large flashlight. All three people made their way carefully to the crash site. Shaw held his arms out. “Please be careful and keep your distance from hoofs and teeth. He could hurt you without meaning to.”

  He took the lead and hiked to the wood fence, now eight feet tall. Shaw reached the fence, pulled a few broken boards away and peered over the top. Thunder lay in the rubble, eerily motionless.

  “How long’s he been lying here?”

  Phil shook his head. “I don’t have an accurate time. Best guess is up to three hours. Maybe less.”

  Shaw needed to get closer. He hoisted himself up and over the fence and lowered himself carefully on to the ground on the other side, carrying his tools. He went immediately to Thunder’s head. “Hey Thunder, how are you feeling, boy?” he murmured close to the horse’s ear. The horse didn’t flinch. Shaw opened Thunder’s eye with his fingers. He was unconscious. He grabbed a stethoscope from his pack and searched for a heartbeat. Yes. It was there, and it was slow but steady.

  He would need to rouse the big fella, but he took advantage of his stillness to do an examination. He ran his hands over Thunder’s body, part by part, and mentally documented any abnormalities. There was a gash on his forehead, and judging from the blood on the ground, he had lost quite a bit already. However, the wound had clotted, and it appeared that the bleeding had slowed. Running his hands down the gelding’s long face, on both sides of his neck, then on to his back, his ribs, then down each leg. Thunder's back right leg was bent at an abnormal angle. That’s where the bulk of his injuries lay. The gash on his head was nearly stable, a few abrasions from crashing through the fence on his torso. But the leg.

  He stood and faced Phil. “I’m not sure about this leg. It’s going to need an x-ray to see if it’s fractured. If it is, we’ll have to see if it can be treated. But first we need to get him into a trailer, so we can transport him.”

  Phil frowned. “Horses can’t recover from broken legs, can they? Isn’t that an automatic euthanasia?”

  Shaw shook his head. “Not necessarily. It depends a lot on where the break is, and if it can be set, and if we can keep him from putting weight on it.”

  “How do we do that?”

  “First things first. You have a horse trailer, don’t you?”

  Phil nodded.

  “Go get it and while you’re gone, I’ll work on creating a sling for that leg so it’s up against his body and he can’t put weight on it. Then we’ll figure out how to get him up, and into the trailer on three legs.”

  Phil raced off.

  NORA STAYED CLOSE TO Shaw, wanting to help but having no idea how, other than to provide moral support. She watched him rummage silently through his truck, mentally whirring through ideas about how to rig a sling for an injured horse using stray items that would hold once Thunder woke and started thrashing. Soft, calming, familiar voices would help the horse get over his fears and anxiety once he came to. She’d be there to help provide one.

  Shaw moved from the bed of his pickup to his back seat, holding a few items he’d selected. He pulled a blanket from the backseat and got to work folding it lengthwise. He looked up at her. “I think this might work. This’ll hold the leg up at the knee, then I'll tie it around his torso. I’ll use this ...” he held up a metal tool that looked like a clip, “to keep it nice and tight in place. I’ll put Phil in the trailer with Thunder, both to keep him calm, but also to use his shoulder to help him balance on three legs for the ride.”

  “I could stand at his head and talk to him while Phil stabilizes his leg.”

  Shaw nodded. “Good idea. Let’s get over there and see if I can get this thing on him while he’s still down.”

  They jogged back to where Thunder lay. His eyes were still closed but Nora could tell he’d moved slightly, and his tail was switching. He was coming to. Shaw noticed the same thing. He went to his vet bag and pulled out a syringe and medicine.

  “This will take the edge off the pain for him, but it won’t sedate him. We need him to be awake to get him into the trailer. But I don’t want him to be fighting me as I apply the sling.”

  Nora nodded and watched him work. He was so good at this. If there was anyone who embodied perfection at the field that was God’s chosen work for a person, it was Shaw. He loved animals, he related to them, he wanted to care for them, and they trusted him. Nora hoped that Thunder would take comfort in Shaw, a familiar person, working on his injured leg.

  The pain killer injection complete, Shaw moved to Thunder’s leg. Nora stayed at Thunder’s head, close by in case he awoke. Shaw took the blanket, folded accordion-style lengthwise and started maneuvering it around the leg, bending gently at the knee, keeping the harmed shin section safe from movement. He looped the blanket around the horse’s torso and neck, tied a knot, then reinforced it with the metal clip. He leaned back to inspect his work.

  Thunder shook his head, once gently, then a second time with more force. “Shaw, time’s up. He’s awake!” Nora tried to keep panic from her voice.

  Shaw jumped to his feet and slipped a halter and lead rope onto Thunder. “You hold on to this and do your best not to let go if he starts to run. Of course, his ability to run will be limited with the injury and the sling. I’ll be back here with his leg to make sure the sling holds when he stands up.”

  A rush of anxiety pulsed through her. “Wait, am I supposed to coax him up?”

  “No coaxing needed. Once he’s fully awake, he’ll want to get up on his own.”

 
Seconds later, several events all happened at the same time. Phil pulled the truck up feet away from Thunder, the horse trailer bouncing along behind it on the unpaved ground. Thunder awakened and hoisted himself up. Shaw grabbed the leg, held by the makeshift sling, and pushed his shoulder into Thunder’s side, creating a substitute fourth leg. Nora stroked his head and neck and kept a running string of comforting words going.

  All things considered, it went pretty well. But there was no time to celebrate their success. Phil jumped out of the truck and ran to the trio. Phil took hold of Thunder’s lead rope and coaxed him up the ramp of the trailer while Shaw provided bodily support in the rear. Between the two men, they managed to get Thunder in place in the trailer.

  “Phil, I want you to ride in this right stall and stay in Thunder’s sight. Keep him as calm as you can.”

  Phil shook his head. “Why don’t I stay in the left stall with him, and be fourth leg back up like you’ve been doing?”

  “Too dangerous. If he gets nervous and starts thrashing, I don’t want you in the way.”

  Phil considered. “What if that sling doesn’t hold?”

  Shaw shrugged, his mouth grim. “If it doesn’t he’ll try to put weight on the leg and change his mind real quick. He should be safe on the way to the clinic.”

  The three of them took their assigned places. Shaw took the wheel and did his best to cover the distance over the grassy pasture without bouncing the trailer around too much. Once on the highway, he made speed to get to their destination quickly: a veterinary co-op clinic that offered the use of big medical equipment to its participating vets. Shaw pulled the rig into a barn, parked and raced around to the trailer.

  “I called ahead while we were on the road. They have an opening with the x-ray machine.” As he finished the explanation, two people, a man and a woman dressed in lab coats joined him.

  “Hi. This is Thunder. He fell through a fence that I’m guessing he was trying to jump over and misjudged the height. He landed and twisted his leg. I’m pretty sure the knee and thigh are okay, but I wonder about the calf.”

  They nodded and entered the trailer as Phil and Nora moved out of their way. Between the three veterinary professionals, they had Thunder out of the trailer and in place for the x-ray in no time.

  “He did pretty well in the trailer, all things considered,” Phil murmured.

  “Yeah, I was proud of him. He’s quite a horse,” Nora responded.

  Phil glanced at her, then focused on the medical entourage. “I know he’s quite special to your family.”

  “Yep.”

  “We love him to death, but he just doesn’t seem to want to stay with us. I feel terrible that he injured himself trying to escape so he could get back to your place again.”

  Nora put her hand on his arm. “Don’t torture yourself. You can’t assume that’s what he was doing.”

  Phil shook his head. “He’d already escaped three times by jumping the fence and headed straight to your ranch. I added the extra height to the fence, assuming it would stop him and keep him in. But it ended up getting him injured.”

  A tear came to Nora’s eye. “Poor Thunder. You realize it’s not me he’s running to. It’s my Aunt Edie, who has passed. Thunder just doesn’t understand.”

  Phil stayed silent for a moment. “He sure is loyal.”

  Nora nodded.

  He turned to her with an urgency that surprised her. “Let’s see what happens with Thunder. Hopefully he’ll recover fully. But would you consider taking him on so that he gets to live at your ranch? It’s obviously where he wants to be.”

  Her answer was immediate. “We’ll do what’s right for Thunder.”

  Phil nodded and set his full attention on the x-ray procedure.

  THE X-RAY RESULTS WERE promising. Shaw sent a silent prayer of thanks upward when the technicians announced, “Hairline fracture. The bone’s intact. Some ligament damage and just a tiny split in the bone.”

  “We can heal that,” Shaw said softly.

  “Yes, I believe so.”

  Shaw responded with a fist pump and a smile. He turned and looked across the open barn to Phil and Nora, and they immediately understood the good news and responded with smiles of their own.

  They wrapped Thunder’s leg with gauze and Ace-bandage type strips till it was tight and contained. “Just a second,” Shaw said to the techs, and went over to where Nora and Phil stood.

  “Great news. The fracture is very small and not entirely through the bone. The main injury is torn ligaments, which we can treat.”

  “Is he going to recover?” Phil asked.

  “Yes. He’s not going to be jumping over eight-foot fences, or even five-foot fences anymore. But he’s going to be fine.” Shaw ran a hand over his mouth, looking around the clinic. “I’m going to lease a horse sling apparatus from the co-op clinic here. It’s a harness with a series of straps that connect to a hook installed in the ceiling of a stall. It allows the horse freedom within its stall but provides support while he’s standing mainly on three legs for healing.”

  Phil said, “So you don’t need to strap his leg up like you did with the makeshift sling?”

  Shaw shook his head. “No. Because the leg hurts, and because we have it strapped, Thunder knows there’s something wrong with it. He’ll keep it lifted naturally. I’ll check him every day or two. I imagine he’s only going to need to wear it for two weeks.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Nora exclaimed.

  “Here’s the thing,” Shaw said. “I happen to know Nora’s barn has a stall with the metal hook installed in the ceiling.”

  “It does?”

  “Yes. I worked with Edie to install it and we used it several times in the heyday of Waccamaw Trails.” He looked over at Phil. “Would you give me approval to take Thunder there and do his rehab at Nora’s place?”

  Phil sighed. “Yeah, that makes sense. But at some point, we need to talk about Thunder’s future and all the medical expenses he’s incurring.”

  Shaw shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. I have plans for Thunder. I’d be happy to cover all his medical expenses as part of a sales agreement to shift ownership from you to me.”

  Phil raised his eyebrows.

  Shaw put a hand on his arm. “Let’s not discuss it now. Let’s put Thunder’s needs first and get him healed.”

  CARLY STARTED THE WORKWEEK wearing her new teal dress. She took a little more care than usual on her makeup and hair, jewelry and shoes. Even Grace noticed. When Carly fed her breakfast, her daughter, normally focused on Cheerios and fruit juice, gave her the once over and said, “You pretty, Mama.”

  She leaned over the little darling’s head and planted a kiss there. “Thank you, sweetie. You pretty too.”

  When she walked into the office and passed Haley’s receptionist desk, the response was similar. “Girl!” Haley exclaimed, drawing out the word to last a few seconds. “You are looking good!”

  Carly laughed. “Thanks, Haley. You too.”

  Haley rose and took Carly’s sleeve between her fingers. “Is this silk?”

  “Um, no, I’m pretty sure it’s not silk.” If it were, she would’ve made sure to put a coat over it while she was cleaning up Grace’s breakfast mess and getting her into the car seat.

  Haley winked at her and nodded approvingly. “I think I know why you’re dressing up and wearing the new face and hair.”

  Carly chortled. “No, you don’t.”

  “Oh, yes I do. It’s that tall, dark and handsome hunk who's after you. You’re looking your best, hoping he’ll come back and visit you again. What’s his name again?”

  “His name is Ryan, and Haley, you have no idea how much history we have. None at all. Or else you wouldn’t be pushing me into his arms.”

  Haley frowned, her forehead creasing with confusion. “Oh. That doesn’t sound good at all.”

  Carl
y sighed. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell it to you sometime when we’re not supposed to be working.” She gave Haley a meaningful smirk, hoping that her message wouldn’t be missed, and headed back to her desk.

  “Lunch!” Haley exclaimed. “We’ll go to lunch today at the cafeteria and it’ll be my treat.”

  Carly chuckled, rolled her eyes and shook her head as she kept walking.

  The morning passed quickly. Now that she knew how to do her new job, Carly felt a sense of confidence in her role helping students enroll in classes. She also took her job a step further and invited them to tell her their future career goals so that she could ensure they weren’t missing any opportunities. It brought her a sense of achievement, a shoot of exhilaration at helping others and making a difference.

  Before she knew it, Haley stood at Carly’s desk, her finger pointing at her watch. “Let’s go, babe. It’s lunch time.”

  Carly grabbed her purse and joined her. At the cafeteria, they grabbed salads and found a table. Haley studied her as she punched her straw out of its paper wrapper. “So? Tell me all about this Ryan.”

  Carly wasn’t usually forthcoming about her story, about Grace’s story. She had no high school friends remaining. Not a single one. She harbored no ill feelings toward them. It’s just that their lives didn’t go the same way hers had. They all graduated from high school and went on to college. No one else had given birth to a baby and then had to work her arse off trying, not only support to Grace, but also to move forward with her own life and career as well. It wasn’t the easy way. It wasn’t the way she would’ve chosen for herself. On the other hand, she wouldn’t change it for the world because she couldn’t imagine her life without her daughter.