The Midnight Horse

by Michelle Bates

  And with that, he turned Whispering Silver to the gate, leaving the two girls looking equally sheepish. It was a few moments before either of them spoke and then Izzy was the first to start.

  “I suppose he’s right, Kate,” she said. “We did ride rather fast out there.”

  Kate knew only too well that what Izzy was saying was true, but she didn’t want to agree with her.

  Izzy waited for a few moments, before shrugging her shoulders and turning to the gate.

  Well so what? Kate thought to herself. Izzy was no friend of hers. And if she had never turned up at Sandy Lane, Kate would never have had to compete with anyone anyway, would she? Still, Kate couldn’t help but feel a little guilty at the way she had ridden as she walked Feather through the gate. She was well aware that she had been the one who had set the precedent. Perhaps she should say something to clear the air. Kate looked across at Izzy and noted the self-defiant expression on her face. No, it was better to leave things as they were.

  “I’m sorry Feather,” Kate whispered, as she jumped down in the yard. “I know I pushed you,” she said, leading the little Arab into her box.

  Feather snickered softly as if in response and Kate picked up the body brush to start work on her coat. She must have gone over her back for some time because, before she knew it, she was in total darkness. Rushing across the yard, she collected Feather’s haynet.

  “Kate,” Izzy called tentatively across the yard.

  Kate didn’t answer, and the voice came again, louder this time. “Kate!”

  Kate spun around. What did she want? And then she looked around and saw that no one else was in sight. The others must have gone home.

  “Midnight’s behaving really strangely,” Izzy called over. “You couldn’t come and have a look at him could you?”

  “I am in a bit of a hurry,” Kate answered, coolly. “Well, maybe just a quick look,” she said, her curiosity getting the better of her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Well, he’s just really restless. He’ll hardly let me go anywhere near him.”

  Kate looked into the box. Inside, the horse’s head was bent towards the floor and his ears were laid right back.

  Kate was puzzled. She slid back the bolt and slipped inside. Gently, she held out her hand to try to soothe him but Midnight bared his teeth.

  “Hmm,” she said. “I don’t think he’s in a terribly good mood tonight, are you old boy?” she said, patting his shoulder. “He’s probably just tired – you did push him quite hard out there.”

  “Well if you hadn’t forced me–” And then Izzy stopped herself and looked embarrassed.

  Kate was surprised by the outburst. She had obviously rubbed a raw nerve.

  Izzy started again, more calmly this time. “I was just going to try to catch Nick before he goes out,” she said. “But I’d feel silly if it’s nothing...perhaps I’ll just leave it.”

  Kate shrugged her shoulders and turned away. She was relieved that Izzy had taken the decision out of her hands. She could well do without seeing Nick again that night.

  9

  PANIC-STRICKEN

  As Kate cycled home that evening through the dark, winding lanes, she couldn’t stop thinking about Midnight. She’d dismissed Izzy’s notion without really thinking about him. What if there was something wrong with the black horse? What if she’d let her irritation with Izzy get in the way of his need? Nick had always said that if anything was wrong with one of the horses, they were to alert him straight away.

  “Kate, is that you?” she heard her mother calling as she walked in through the back door. “Where have you been? You said you’d be back by four thirty. You know I worry about you cycling home when it’s dark.”

  Kate sighed. “Sorry Mum,” she said sheepishly, putting her head around the kitchen door. “There was something wrong with one of the horses at the yard. And – well, anyway, I’m sorry.”

  “Hmm, make sure you’re not late again,” her mother said.

  “OK,” Kate said, happy to agree to anything, if only to escape the lecture.

  “Come and sit down and have your supper. Dad and I are off out in a moment. Where’s Alex? Alex, your food’s getting cold.”

  Kate washed her hands in the kitchen sink, scrubbing away at the dirt under her nails, before she sat down to eat.

  “Where are you going, Mum?”

  “The Bicknells’,” her mother said. “We won’t be back late.”

  “OK,” Kate said as Alex joined her at the table.

  “Alex,” she started. “I’m a bit worried about Midnight. He was very unsettled when I left. Izzy really pushed him over the cross-country. He was very tired, and then he wouldn’t eat anything and...”

  “Not that horse again,” Alex groaned. “Leave it alone, Kate. It’s none of your business. It’s not as though you’re even a friend of hers.”

  “It’s not her I’m worried about,” Kate snapped. “It’s the horse. I couldn’t give two hoots about her.”

  “Well, you’ve made that clear enough,” Alex answered.

  “What do you mean?” Kate said, through a mouthful of food.

  “Well, you haven’t exactly been very nice to her, have you?”

  “Well, she’s not exactly the nicest person you’ve ever met, is she?”

  “She’s not bad,” Alex said.

  Kate felt herself getting cross. “She’s not bad? She’s dreadful. She’s so conceited. All she cares about is winning at Hawthorn.”

  “Sounds like someone else I know,” Alex said, as Kate got up from the table.

  “I didn’t expect you to understand, Alex.” Kate walked off, tears pricking her eyes. How could he? How could her own brother take the side of a complete stranger?

  “What’s going on?” Mrs. Hardy asked, walking back into the kitchen.

  “Nothing,” Kate answered.

  “Right,” Mrs. Hardy said. “We’re off in a moment,” she said, as she cleared the plates. “Alex, you’re in charge.”

  “Fine,” Alex said, an evil grin spreading across his face. “Did you hear that Kate?”

  Kate pulled a face as Alex turned to the sitting room to watch television.

  “I’ll leave the number by the telephone,” their mother called, shutting the front door behind them. “Bye.”

  Kate was left sitting at the kitchen table. She couldn’t stop thinking about Midnight. What if something was wrong with him? If only she could check. Perhaps she should go back to the yard...

  “Alex.” Kate threw back the door to the sitting room and walked in.

  “Sssh.” He motioned to his lips, his eyes glued to the TV.

  “But I need to talk to you.” She paced up and down.

  “Sit down, Kate,” said Alex. “You’re in the way.”

  Kate thought hard. There was no point in waiting for him to listen when he was in this sort of mood. “Look,” she said. “I’m going back to the stables to check on Midnight. I won’t be long.”

  “What? You’re crazy, Kate.” Alex was immediately alert. “I’m in charge, and Mum would go mad.”

  “Well she need never know,” Kate said defiantly.

  And before Alex could stop her, Kate had rushed out of the house and climbed onto her bike.

  “Kate, Kate.” Alex’s voice cried out as Kate cycled away, the beam from her lights marking a path through the night. It really was very dark. She started to pedal faster, down road after road.

  It wasn’t long before she was turning into Sandy Lane. As she headed up the drive to the stables, she felt relieved to find that things were quiet. She had been silly, panicking unneccessarily. Of course there wasn’t anything wrong.

  And then she heard a loud moaning sound that caused her to draw her breath in sharply. Even before she had a chance to investigate, Kate knew it was the sound of an animal in pain, and it was coming from Midnight’s stable. A high-pitched whinny filled the air. Kate felt as though someone had punched her in the stomach. Without hesitating, she
threw her bike to the ground and rushed across the yard to look in the box.

  Inside the stable, Midnight stood bathed in sweat. The whites of his eyes were rolling viciously and the veins on his neck were jutting out like twisted cords. Desperately he lashed out, his hind legs striking the timbered walls behind him with a dull thud. Kate’s heart sank. He was ill, desperately ill. Manically he plunged to the ground in sinking motions, his legs buckling beneath him. Up and down...up and down, he reeled.

  What should she do? Nick and Sarah were out. Who should she call? She felt scared...scared of what might happen. She had to think straight. “Keep calm, don’t panic,” she told herself. “Call the vet.”

  Quickly, she let herself into the tack room and flicked on the light. Slotting a coin into the call box, she dialled the vet’s number, impatiently shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

  “Come on, hurry and answer,” she cried.

  “Hello, Colcott 5678.” The voice came loud and clear.

  “Hello, yes, can I speak to the vet?” Kate asked urgently.

  “I’m afraid he’s on call,” the voice said. “I’m his wife.”

  “Well, there’s trouble at Sandy Lane. One of the horses is ill and I don’t know what to do,” Kate cried, the panic rising in her throat. “He’s going mad. He looks as though he’ll kick the box down.”

  “Whoa, now slow down,” the woman answered. “I’ll call my husband and get him over there as soon as I can. But first you’ll have to tell me what the horse is doing so I can give a clear description to my husband. Take a deep breath.”

  “Well.” Kate paused for a moment, not knowing where to start. “He’s kicking at the walls and he keeps rolling around on the ground,” she said, uncertainly. “And he’s making this groaning noise.”

  “And how long has this been going on?” the vet’s wife asked.

  “I don’t know,” Kate wailed. “I’ve only just got here, but his coat is drenched in sweat.”

  “Have you taken his temperature?”

  “I don’t know how to do it,” Kate cried, feeling useless.

  “Don’t worry,” the woman said. “My husband can do that. It sounds like colic. I’ll get him to come to you as soon as he can. I’ll phone him on his mobile. He’s up at Grange Farm at the moment – on the other side of Walbrook.”

  Kate looked at her watch. It would take him a good half hour to get to Sandy Lane from Walbrook. He wouldn’t be with her till quarter past eight.

  “It’s important you keep calm,” the woman started. “Try and put a head collar on the horse and keep him from rolling. He could get stuck on his back otherwise and it’ll be difficult to get him up.”

  “OK,” Kate said bravely. “Will he be OK?” she asked quietly.

  “I hope so,” the woman said, uncertainly. “You could put a blanket on him to keep him warm,” she said gently. “But that’s about the best you can do. He’s in a lot of pain at the moment. Imagine if you had very bad stomach ache, well that’s what it feels like – the pain comes in waves.”

  As Kate put the phone down, she felt strangely detached. She couldn’t hear any more sounds, and for a moment, she thought that Midnight had stopped – maybe the pain had eased. Quietly she approached the box and looked in. Midnight didn’t even look up as she stood there. What was it the lady had said? The pain comes in waves.

  “Come on now,” Kate crooned, gently drawing back the bolt on his stable so as not to startle him. “I know you’re not feeling very well, but I’m here to help you.” She held out her hand as she approached his shoulder.

  “Here boy, easy does it,” she said, hiding the head collar behind her back. Kate edged forward and put a blanket over him, but every time she tried to reach up with the head collar, he lurched away.

  He was getting restless now, looking around as if to bite at his flanks. Ten minutes had passed since Kate had called the vet, another ten might pass before she could get Midnight into the head collar. Kate knew in her heart of hearts that there was only one person who could do it. She took one last look at the horse before running to the tack room. Pulling aside the numbers on the board, she looked for Izzy’s phone number. There it was.

  Nervously, she slotted another coin into the phone and dialled the number, praying that someone would answer.

  “Colcott 2731.” It was Izzy.

  “Hello Izzy, it’s Kate.”

  “Hi,” Izzy said, in an uncertain voice.

  At the sound of Izzy’s voice, Kate clammed up. But then she took a deep breath and let the story spill out. At first she didn’t think Izzy could have understood because there was deathly silence, but then Kate heard a whimper, like an animal stunned with pain.

  “I’ll be right there,” Izzy whispered, putting the phone down without another word.

  Kate paced around the yard for a few moments, wondering where to start. She had to get that head collar on him. Midnight was lying down when she looked into the box. As she drew back the bolt, he struggled to his feet, wobbling from side to side.

  “Come on now, I know you’re in pain, but the vet will be here soon,” Kate said gently.

  “Easy does it,” she whispered, slowly stroking the horse’s nose. “No, no,” she cried, realizing that his legs were beginning to buckle beneath him.

  But it was too late. The horse was on the floor, rolling in acute agony. And that was the state he was in when Izzy arrived at the yard. Kate looked out over the box just as Izzy flung her bike to the ground. Kate felt a pang of sympathy at the sight of Izzy’s tear-stained face.

  “Oh Midnight, you poor, poor thing,” Izzy cried, hurrying over. She backed away as the horse struggled to his feet. “How long did the vet say he would be?” she asked. “And what did he say we should do?”

  “We’ve got to get the head collar on him and he mustn’t roll,” Kate said quickly.

  “OK,” said Izzy. “Let’s do it.”

  Slowly, Izzy reached up to the horse’s neck and, with a competent hand, slid the head collar on over his head. “That’s the easy part,” she said grimly, turning to Kate. “We’ll never be able to keep him standing.”

  “Yes, we will,” Kate said, sounding more confident than she felt. “You stand on his left, and I’ll stand on his right. OK?”

  “Will he die?” Izzy asked quickly.

  “I don’t know,” Kate answered truthfully, not knowing quite what to say.

  Izzy was talking to herself now, muttering under her breath. “It’s all my fault. How could I have been so stupid? I’ll never forgive myself.”

  “Of course it’s not your fault,” Kate said calmly. “And anyway, you mustn’t think like that, not until we hear what the vet has to say.”

  “But where is he?” Izzy cried in a panic, as she looked at her watch. “You said quarter past eight on the phone. It’s half past now.”

  “I was estimating,” Kate said, through gritted teeth, trying to keep her cool. “I don’t know how long the case at Grange Farm’s going to take him, do I?”

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Izzy said quickly. “I’m just panicking, that’s all.”

  It seemed like they’d been talking forever when eventually they heard a car in the distance. Looking out over the box, they saw a Land Rover rattle into the yard. The vet jumped out and walked straight over.

  “Where are Nick and Sarah?” he asked, taking the horse’s temperature.

  “They’re out,” Kate answered.

  “Unfortunate that something like this should happen the one evening they’re not around,” he grimaced.

  The two girls were quiet as they waited for the vet to say something. He looked thoughtful as he tapped the thermometer and got out his stethoscope. Midnight’s eyes were flecked white as the vet listened to his chest and abdomen.

  “You did well to call for me,” he said.

  “But how can it have happened?” Izzy cried.

  “Hmm, well often it’s a case of exercising heavily on a full stomach. H
as he come in from a heavy ride today?”

  The two girls looked at each other and didn’t say anything.

  “Well, what did he have to eat?” the vet went on, not noticing their stricken faces. “Was he given a big feed for instance?” he asked.

  “No, just the normal amount,” Kate answered.

  “It wasn’t the normal amount,” Izzy blurted out. “I’ve been bumping up his feeds.”

  “Have you?” Kate looked surprised.

  “Yes.” Izzy looked worried. “And I did ride him really hard.” She looked at Kate and then turned back to the vet. “You see we’re entered for the Hawthorn Horse Trials the weekend after next,” she explained. “I thought giving him more food would build up his energy levels.”

  “Did Nick tell you to do this?” the vet asked, concerned.

  “No.” Izzy hung her head. “I just thought...”

  “It was a silly thing to do, but try not to worry,” he said, patting her on the shoulder.

  Quickly, the vet pulled out a syringe from his bag and injected something into the horse’s neck. “This is a painkiller and muscle relaxant,” he explained. “The effects should be pretty quick, but you’ll need to keep a close eye on him for the next couple of hours anyway. I’m afraid I’m going to have to go back to Grange Farm in a moment. He should calm down and be more at ease. Can I leave you to watch him?”

  “Of course,” the two girls answered in unison, and looked at each other.

  “Keep him in his stable. Don’t give him any food tonight, but make sure he has water and ring my wife immediately if he starts to look distressed again.”

  The two girls nodded as the vet disappeared out of the yard.

  “You really don’t need to stay, Kate,” Izzy said. “I’ll be quite all right on my own.”

  “But I’d like to, if you don’t mind, Izzy,” Kate said hesitantly. “You see, I know it sounds strange, and I know he’s your horse, but I do feel partly responsible for what’s happened. If I hadn’t been so desperate to race you over the cross-country, you might not have pushed him so hard.”