She kicked at pine cones. “No. I’m, um, allergic to dogs. I don’t want to get close to him.”
Sarah blurted, “You’re allergic to dogs, but not horses?”
“Yep. If that’s a problem?” She threw her head, ready to leave. “I’ll go back to the barn.”
“No, stay.” I touched her arm. “We’ll work it out. Colton can stay with us.”
Groaning, Sarah caved in. We took turns holding Colt, hiding and searching. He wanted to run and bark at the squirrels and the leaves fluttering across the ground. Morgan eyed Colton’s every movement and her face softened.
The wind gusted through the trees as we approached the creek. I stopped and put my finger to my mouth. “Shh. Listen. The breeze sounds like a waterfall.”
“It’s just the trees.” Sarah covered her mouth. “Oops! Forgot. We’re supposed to be pretending. She glanced at Morgan. “I’m getting a little old to be playing this game.”
Morgan hadn’t spoken in minutes, just followed. Now she halted, and a small smile appeared across her face. “Well, it’s a neat sound. It does sound like water rushing.” Her silence erupted into giddy laughter. Her brown eyes grew, her eyebrows arched, and in between breaths she started to speak. “I’m, I’m actually forgetting about—” and she glanced at the ground and drew in a long breath. A second later, she added. “This is so different than what I’d be doing in Atlanta.”
I took a step back and stared. “Why?”
“I haven’t played since my brothers moved away. I’ve never had time to make friends. I’m always at the barn, training.” Morgan flicked her bangs.
I turned the palms of my hands to the sky. “Why?”
Morgan pretended to check her boots. She lifted her head and gave Sarah a funny look. “This is—I shouldn’t be talking about this stuff.”
Sarah caught her expression. “I guess I’ll head home now. You need…”
“It’s okay. Maybe this is good to do.” Morgan touched Sarah’s arm. “You guys have tried to be nice to me. Maybe it’s time for me to try, too.”
A slow, tiny, smile bloomed on Sarah’s face. “Okay.”
We stood, waiting for the nasty Morgan to appear.
Morgan rocked back and forth for a couple of seconds. “All I can say is—My parents expect me to be the top student at school and hang with—” She used air quotes. “‘—the popular group.’ The girls who rode at my barn were super competitive.” Morgan hung her head and muttered, “Not very friendly.” After a moment she looked out at the trees. “Every parent wanted—” She wobbled her head. “No, expected their kid to win every event. It always made the parents look good.” Morgan’s eyes leaked, drip by drip. “And of course, I believed we all pretended to be happy. I know I did. What else could I do?”
“Wow!” Sarah put both hands on her chest “That sounds awful.”
I was at a loss on what to say. “How-how do you do it all? I’m having trouble keeping up with a puppy, barn chores, and riding.”
“I never have.” Morgan’s eyes zeroed in on mine. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.” She bowed her head, stood quietly for what seemed a long minute, and then abruptly turned and walked away.
Sarah and I looked at each other and shrugged. Just as we thought she was leaving, she spun around and marched toward us with a purpose. “You know, this feels really good.” She drew in a deep breath. “And you’ve helped me stop thinking about—” She dabbed at a tear and hesitated. Her face sagged as she waved away what she started to say. “I can’t talk about it. But I will tell you my grades are only average, and I’ve never had any close friends, let alone any popular ones.”
When I caught her eyes, mine softened. “Morgan. This year will be better. Which school are you going to?”
“The new Sterling Charter High School. New town. New school, new grade, new horse, new friends.” Her eyes glimmered. “Where do you guys go?”
I smiled at Sarah, and then at Morgan. “We’re in the eighth grade at Bethel Middle. But, I’ll be fourteen in September and Sarah in November. What grade are you?”
“I’ll be a freshman.”
“Morgan, you’re in luck. You can tell your parents you hang out with Sarah. They don’t have to know she’s in the eighth grade. She’s popular and running for president of our class. If she wins, you can say you’re friends with the school president. Sarah’s involved in lots of clubs and soccer. I’m kind of a nobody ‘cause I’m always hanging out at the barn or training my dog.”
Sarah laughed, punched my shoulder, and smiled at Morgan. “She is not a nobody. At school she’s everyone’s helper. And I mean everyone. She works in the special classes, and she’s the person the office calls if there’s a new student.”
“Oh.” Morgan frowned at me. “So that’s why you’re helping me?” Her shoulders jerked to the right.
“Please don’t go.” I stepped in front of her. “That has nothing—”
Before I had a chance to soothe Morgan, Rapp and Sonny caught my attention, playing tag in their paddock. “I guess Mrs. B let them have extra time outside since it’s cooler. It wasn’t my day to go over and help.”
The horses whinnied and lunged at each other, galloping back and forth. Dove and Chancy were in the adjacent paddock and snorted at the fun. Suddenly, all four horses raced to meet in the middle where Knight stood, watching but not interacting. Their feet were pounding the ground like ceremonial drumbeats.
Colt’s ears perked, and he looked their direction. In a split second, he snapped the short leash out of my hand and sprinted toward the ruckus. My heart dropped into a pit of quick sand and sunk fast. I struggled to get air.
I gasped and tried to sound calm, “Colt. Come here!”
He looked back for a moment, and then changed his mind.
My breath caught again. I struggled for enough air to holler. “NOOO! He’s heading to the paddocks!”
Chapter 17
I raced behind Colton. His four legs carried his little body faster than my two could run. “Colt, come!” I screamed, but he didn’t respond. I tried again, clapping my hands. “Colton. Come here.”
He halted and sat, panting. Relief swelled through my lungs. I pulled treats from my pouch, grabbed my clicker, and waited for him to turn all the way around. He eyed me for another second, but the horses nickered and charged the other direction. Spinning his head back to the horses, he zoomed off in a racing gear I’d never seen.
Gaining distance, he paused close to the fence. I squatted and made my PUP-PUP-PUP noise. Over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed at me. He knew what I expected him to do and ignored my command. He turned his head and nodded in beat with each hoof stomping the ground. He wanted to play, too.
He scrunched down to crawl under the bottom rail, but his small body didn’t fit. His front paws slung the soft, sandy dirt every which way. Then he glimpsed the next section of fence where the rail rested higher. Panic pulsed through my heart. His twenty-inch height slid under the railing as he did the Limbo dance on his tummy.
I could hardly speak. “No, no! The horses! You’ll get kicked.” I found my voice and squealed. “Colton, NO!”
Morgan froze at the fence and watched. Sarah stood next to me, clapping her hands, and screaming. “Colt, Colt. Here!”
He made eye contact with me as if to say, “Look what I can do!”
In seconds, the trouble began. In the right paddock, he charged at Knight, nipping at his hooves.
Barking and hunching down, he pointed his bottom in the air and wagged his tail, Colton maneuvered in and out of Knight’s tall, sturdy legs. The startled horse neighed and bolted to the other side of the fence, looking for a safe place to flee.
Colt only chased and lunged faster, but his little legs couldn’t keep up. Knight kicked a back leg into the air, just missing Colton’s head. Then Colt chased Sonny. Lucky for my
pup, Sonny was too old to move fast, and my puppy dashed to the next paddock.
I yelled. “Sarah, run! Get Mrs. Brown. We need help.”
Morgan backed up and covered her eyes. No one was able to help. I squeezed between the middle rails, fell to the sandy ground, and bounced to my feet. Standing at the side of the paddock, I waited to see which direction Colton chose. Animals can sense fear, so I swallowed, and told myself to speak calmly. “Colton.” Sealing my lips, my breath came out as a whisper. “Please come here.” In my head the words played over and over. He’s so tiny. One kick, and he’ll be a goner. I wanted to cry, but that wasn’t going to help.
Chancy snorted as I strolled closer. Trying to keep her calm, I called. “Here, Chancy. Come here, girl.” She stopped, looked for the puppy, shook her head, and made a noise we called raspberries. I approached her, stroked her nose, and walked her to the side of the paddock, out of Colton’s path. She pawed the ground and nickered.
Just as I guzzled some air, Colton leaped at Rapp’s long tail.
“Oh no!” My heart stammered and my voice shook, “Rapp. Hey Rapp. Come here, sweet boy.” When he heard my voice, he sauntered right over to me.
Colton dashed in a straight line under Rapp’s stomach between all four legs. I had hold of his halter and watched Colt running forward. I sighed. He would be safe from Rapp’s legs. But as soon as relief whizzed through my lungs, Rapp put his nose under Colt’s body and flung him into orbit.
I shrieked the entire time Colt sailed into the air, which seemed to be a mile off the ground and across the paddock. Seconds later, he landed in a sandy spot, thick with grass, but he hit the ground with a thump and a yelp.
My heart stopped beating. It was being squeezed like an exercise ball. I moved without thinking. Each step took an eternity before I was next to his body. I fell to the ground and examined my little guy.
Mrs. Brown called to me. I glanced up for a split second and noticed she had Rapp by his mane. Her words didn’t register. “Trina, do…him…breathing. See…okay.”
Sarah showed up, sobbing. “Did you hear Mrs. B?
I shook my head.
“She said, ‘Do not to move him. Check his breathing. Is he okay?’”
Colton lay perfectly still. I couldn’t tell if he was breathing and laid my head on his chest. It barely moved. I straightened, drew in a long breath. And spoke in a soft voice. “Oh, Colton. Please open your eyes.” I stroked his side.
Mrs. B hadn’t moved. “Is he all right?”
My fingers brushed his soft fur, checking for injuries. My eyes leaked onto his frail body. Maybe my tears would heal him like in the movies. “His eyes are closed. And-and he seems to be breathing, but really slowly. I don’t see any blood or broken bones.”
I looked up at her, and then to Sarah.
She was crying.
Mrs. Brown moved Rapp to the fence, attached a lead rope to his halter and wrapped the other end around the top railing. Chancy had not moved and seemed to know to stand without being restrained.
“Trina, you must keep Colton on a leash whenever he’s around the horses. I have some expensive horses out here that aren’t mine. If anything happened to them.” Mrs. Brown bit her lip. “Well, you know all that. And, I know you feel bad enough. I’m sorry, honey.” She blew out all of her frustration. “Trina, if Colt wakes, don’t let him move.”
“I feel awful, Mrs. B.” I bowed my head and spoke to the ground. “Colton has never jerked the leash out of my hand before.” I looked back up hoping to see her eyes. “He totally surprised me.” I inhaled deeply and cried. “And then he took off at a run, and I couldn’t catch him.”
Sarah stood over me, silent. I sobbed while trying to speak and get myself under control. Mrs. Brown returned from checking the fences and squatted next to me. She rubbed my arm up and down. “All the rails are fine. The horses are fine, and now we need to make sure Colton’s fine.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Brown.” I sobbed one more time. “I had no idea he could cause so much trouble.”
“I know, Trina.” She rubbed my back in circles. “He’s a puppy. And puppies always find new ways to test you. You both have a lot to learn.”
Sounds came from the next paddock. Mrs. Brown and I both glanced over, and then looked at each other. Morgan had come out of her trance and called Knight. He galloped toward her, and she met him in the middle of his paddock. With both hands, she examined his sleek body and each leg, and then lifted each back hoof. With a slap on his rear, Morgan spoke in happy voice, “Knight, you’re okay. Go play.” She called to us. “I’ll check the fences over here.”
Once again we heard running and yelling coming from the woods. I recognized Mom’s voice before she appeared. “What’s going on? I was reading on the back porch and heard screaming and horses whinnying.” Her eyes searched the area. “What was all the—?”
The rest of what she started to say caught in her throat as she spotted me on the ground next to Colton’s still body. And Sarah standing over me. Mom covered her mouth.
“Mom, Colt pulled the leash right out of my hand and ran to play with the horses. I don’t know if Rapp didn’t like being chased or was playing with Colt, but he got tossed into the air.”
“Oh my! Is he okay?” Mom glanced at Mrs. Brown.
She nodded. “He seems like he’s waking. He may be sore, and I bet he never comes close to a horse again.”
Squatting and leaning over him, Mom spouted instructions. “Trina. Run home and call Dr. Mayer. I don’t have my phone. That’ll give Colton an extra few minutes to recover, and then I’ll carry him home. Give her a heads up. We may need to bring him in.” Then she spoke to Mrs. Brown. “If there are any damages, just let us know.”
“No harm here. Trina, go use the barn phone. It’ll be a lot quicker.
Sarah pulled her phone from her pocket. “Here, use mine.”
I stood and traded places with Mom. She cradled Colton in her arms like a newborn baby and whispered in his ear. “Hey, little guy. You have to be okay. There you go. I see a little piece of your brown eyes. Now, let’s open all the way.”
His eyes closed again. He lay like a ragdoll and struggled to breathe in little puffs.
I couldn’t stop staring at his limp body. What if something happened and he couldn’t be a service dog? It’d be all my fault.
Colton started to fidget in Mom’s arms. She looked at me. “He’s waking, honey. Go ahead and call. I might feel better if we take him in.”
Sarah and I moved away from the disaster area to speak. After explaining everything that happened with my head down, I looked up. Morgan had joined us.
I returned to Mom. “Dr. Mayer said for you to take a deep breath. You know all the signs. But I’m supposed to tell you, ‘Give him a few minutes to recover. Check his pupils to see if they’re dilated. If he seems confused, throws up, or seems to be in pain bring him in.’ She’ll be waiting to hear.”
“All right. I’m carrying him home. You girls run on ahead. I’m going to walk slowly.”
Morgan backed away with an uncomfortable expression. I picked up on the awkward moment. If we were friends, I would have looped my arm through hers. I didn’t know Morgan well enough. Would she get angry at being touched?
Oh go for it. You decided to be her friend.
Instead of being too close, I touched her wrist. She looked down at my hand like she had been stung, and before she protested, I pulled her forward. “Come on over to my house. There’s no way you feel like riding right now. We’ll have a snack and then come back to the barn.”
She walked with us, and I dropped my hand. Once inside the house, she glanced around but didn’t speak. Mom arrived a few minutes after we had popped open a can of orange soda.
Colton lay awake, but not moving in Mom’s arms. She set him on the carpet and all four of us kneeled around him. No one spo
ke. I whispered a quiet prayer. A full minute went by. It seemed forever. Then Colton lifted his head and pushed himself into a sitting position. He scanned the room, stood, and shook his whole body, starting from his head all the way down to the tip of his long tail.
Air filled my lungs, and I stroked his head. “Are you okay, Colton?”
He looked straight at me and barked. He walked to the sliding glass door and pawed the door. Mom cleared her throat. “Don’t let him out. I want to keep an eye on him for a few more minutes.”
I stood. “Colt. Come here.” He walked to me and sat. After scratching his ear with his back foot, he put the paw into his mouth for a quick chew. He scratched his ear again, and as if he’d just thought about it, popped up and ran to his water bowl. “I’d say he’s okay.” I chuckled for a second, and then tears streamed down my face. “But I need to sit down.”
In unison, Sarah and Morgan said, “Me, too.” And we all crashed on the couch.
“By the way, Mom.” I glanced at her and pointed. “This is Morgan.”
Chapter 18
After Colton’s scary experience, if he spotted a horse even in the distance, he slinked across the ground, making himself invisible—which was perfectly okay with me. He ran loose in the woods and never returned to the pasture. He swam in the pond and chased the ducks until they zoomed to the sky.
During his weekly home visit with Ms. Sue, I complained to her about his antics. “He never seems to run out of energy.”
She smiled and glanced at Mr. Colton sitting next to my legs. “He’s still very young and some Labs need a ton of exercise, physically and mentally. Let me see his birth date. Yep. He’ll be officially four months old, and he’s had all of his immunizations. Let’s get him started in the next service puppy class next week. His brother and sister will be there. The others are a couple weeks older. The class will be in Columbia, once a week.”
As Ms. Sue continued speaking, my thoughts got hung up with the word “Columbia.” Where Chase and Peyton lived. Then I heard parts of her last sentence. “—learn about socializing and following more commands. That will make it safer for him to go on more outings.”
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