Starting Over

by Sheri S. Levy

  Morgan’s shape blurred, but I knew it was her. “What happened?”

  “That’s not a good sign. You fell. I saw your light go down. Do you hurt anywhere?”

  “My elbow’s sore. I feel funny. Let me stand up.” Morgan put her hands under my arm pits and helped me stand. My vison blurred, and the trees seemed to be spinning. My guts turned. “Ooo. I think I’m going to throw up. My ankle.”

  Morgan shuddered. “Oh crud. This is great. How are we going to keep this a secret?”

  I stood, inhaling short choppy breaths. “All right. Give me another second.” I blew out my frustration. “If I don’t get back before Colton wakes my parents, I won’t be able to keep it a secret. Can you balance me? Let’s see if I can walk.” Pain shot through my leg and I gritted my teeth. “Oh. My. Gawd! Standing is making every nerve come alive. They’re yelling at me, ‘Don’t move!’ Oh, Morgan. It’s like I’m being poked with hot knives. Wait. Wait a minute. I-I can’t handle the pain.”

  The wind quieted off and on, letting us maneuver. Since I couldn’t put any weight on my right foot, I had to hop on my left foot. Morgan balanced me on the right. I swallowed my screams with deep moans and cries.

  Maybe the worst of the weather is over, but what about me?

  I opened the door to the garage, and Colton met us. He sniffed me and circled Morgan. “Good boy, Colt. Good quiet.”

  “Okay, Morgan. We have to go upstairs without waking mom and dad. “I’m not going to be able to walk up. You’re going to have to go ahead with Colton. I’ll sit on the steps and pull myself up on my bottom.”

  She puffed out her cheeks and stared.

  “Morgan don’t give me that look. Colton’s fur won’t bother you if it hasn’t already. I need your help. Or you need mine. Either way, we need to get up the stairs.”

  Colton didn’t want to follow Morgan. I sat with my back to the stairs, and lifted myself up one step at a time with my leg straight. He slapped his front two feet on each step and waited for me to move to the next step. And then his hind legs bounced forward ready to do it again. Morgan stood at the top of the stairs, holding her breath and wringing her hands.

  As I lay across the bed, she rushed back and forth to the bathroom, cleaning my elbow. Then she found dry PJ’s for me and a night gown for herself. I snickered. “It may be a shortie nightie for you, but that’s all I have. Did you pack anything before you decided to run away?”

  Her glare scared me.

  “How did you get here?” I gave her my evil stare. “I saw you get in the cab.”

  She put her hand under her long hair and flung her curls, and then shook her head. “I pretended I was going home. I told Mr. Cabbie, to drop me off at the corner store.”

  “What?” I covered my mouth, hoping I hadn’t woken my parents. I listened for a second. All was quiet. “Why would he leave you there?”

  “I pretended to get a phone call from Dad, saying he was on his way to get me at the barn.” Morgan paced in the room. “So I told Mr. Cabbie Dad would pick me up there.”

  I hit the mattress with my hands. “So you walked all by yourself down that busy street to Mrs. Brown’s?” I shook my head and shot her a nasty look. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”

  “Yeah. At that moment, I didn’t care.” Morgan sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes flooding. “And with the bad weather there weren’t many cars. But by the time I got to Mrs. Brown’s, the weather had gotten worse, and I was wet and hungry. I raided the tack room frig and dried off, and found Mrs. Brown’s raincoat. All the horses were way down by the stream, bunched in a group, and I thought I’d be safe with them. I patted and talked to them. But I got so tired. I was afraid I’d fall asleep, collapse on the ground, and get stepped on. I decided to settle into the hay loft, but the wind picked up, and then Mrs. Brown’s tornado alarm went off. I rushed down to the tack room, hid in a corner, and it sounded like the barn was going to blow away.” Morgan stopped talking and panted. “That was the most frightened I’ve ever been.”

  “Oh, Morgan, I’m so tired, and my leg hurts so bad!” I cringed and cried out in pain as I tried to scoot to my side of the bed.

  “I don’t know what to do.” Morgan ran her fingers through her bangs. “Let me sneak down and get some ice. Maybe it will help by morning.”

  “I’m supposed to help with the horses in the morning.” I sobbed. Tears streamed down my cheeks. “What if I can’t walk?”

  She caught my quivering chin and flinched. “I’ll be right back. Do you have any Tylenol close by?”

  I nodded. “Downstairs in the guest bathroom medicine cabinet.” I patted the bed. “Colton, up!”

  Without any effort, he bounced up as Morgan slipped out of the room.

  Chapter 30

  On my back and Morgan on her stomach, we buried ourselves under the covers with our flashlights, whispering. “Morgan, what are you going to do tomorrow?”

  She lifted the sheet higher, letting air slip in. “Well, I know I’m not going home. After all I’ve gone through to stay away. I’m not going back.”

  Colton pushed his nose under the sheet as he laid on my pillow.

  As I rolled onto my left side, I shrieked and jammed a knuckle into my mouth.

  When the pain eased, I shined the flashlight under my chin, and made a scary face at Morgan. “You’re going to be in so much trouble.”

  She exhaled. “I don’t care! My house is like tomb. The quiet kills me.” She opened her mouth to tell me more, but a look came across her face. She stopped.

  “Morgan, tell me. I took a chance for you tonight. You have to trust me.” I accidently moved and caught my scream with my hand.

  Eying me, she ducked her chin, and twisted her head the other direction.

  I didn’t speak. Her breathing rushed in and out.

  Morgan finally muttered, “All right. I want to tell you. When I was six, my parents bought me a horse so I’d have something to keep me occupied, and Mother wouldn’t have to take care of it.” Morgan snickered and made eye contact. “But, I’ve discovered through the years, Dad would love to have a dog, but he’s never home, and there’s no way Mother would ever allow one in the house.”

  My eyes grew larger. She had told me that she was allergic. But not wanting to distract her, I pressed my lips together.

  “They got me the cutest chestnut pony they could find. She was so pretty and sweet. Then they started planning my future. When I outgrew Melody, that was her name, and I had to get another horse. I guess, I was around ten. No questions asked. No discussion.

  “One day she was there, and the next she was gone. I never wanted to ride another horse. But one day, they took me to a horse show and showed me Sally, a small thoroughbred, and said she was mine. I almost died inside. I didn’t want to get attached again. She had been trained already, and all I had to do was learn to ride her. I got bucked off three times at a riding event, and I refused to ride her. But when another really good rider eyed Sally and offered to buy her, I quickly had to rethink what I wanted to do.”

  “You sound like me. I can be stubborn, too.” I laughed.

  “I decided to learn how to ride her, and we won most of our shows. Mr. Grumbly took care of her, but I’d hide in her stall and keep her company. I didn’t want to go home. Of course, I grew, and my parents switched horses again. I’m always starting over.”

  Surprised, I huffed. “Really! Me too. So you know what it feels like to lose your best friend. And now you have another horse. It’s weird isn’t it?”

  She put her face closer to mine. “What’s weird?”

  I groaned, and chose not to move any part of me but my mouth. “We have so many things in common. We’ve both lost our best friends. The first dog I grew up with died, and then my first service dog had to be returned to be matched to his forever companion.”

  “Wow, I h
adn’t thought about Sydney leaving.” She looked over at me.

  Colton shoved himself forward and lifted the sheet with his nose.

  I got another whiff of cool air. “It’s awful, though.”

  Her dark eyes studied me. “What’s awful?”

  “How you had to give up your pony and your first horse. That your parents didn’t ever ask you about what you wanted.” A sharp jab in my chest took my breath away as I thought about losing Sydney. “Do you love riding?”

  “I did at first with Melody.” She closed her eyes for a second. “Then my parents took control. A horse was their perfect pet, knowing someone else would care for it, and they’d never have to do anything but pay for it. They chose Knight the same way. I’ve never had a say in anything.”

  My frizzy hair scratched the sheet as we wiggled underneath. “You’re such a good rider. Are you saying you don’t want Knight? You’re not enjoying competing?”

  “My Mother uses Knight as her weapon, and it takes a lot of the enjoyment away,” Morgan whined. “But if I take her out of the equation, I’m beginning to like him. You showed me how he can be my friend. I’ve begun to think about being a trainer. Have a barn like Mrs. Brown. I can’t lose Knight. Not yet. I will one day.”

  “Why would you lose him?”

  “I’ll outgrow him, or need another horse that can jump higher, or do more difficult dressage.”

  I pushed back the sheet and tried to sit up. The pain stole my breath for a moment, and then I used a forceful whisper. “Morgan, do you see how much we’re a like? You’re already training horses, and I’m training dogs. And we’re both going to have to give up another.”

  “You are so right!” Morgan’s voice grew louder. “I never ever thought about how much we were the same.” And then she cackled. “But, we sure do come from different families!”

  Her laughter was contagious.

  I straightened as much as I could without hurting. In between snickers, I added more advice. “When your parents get home, tell them what you just told me. My mom is always asking me to tell her what is going on in my head.” I held the flashlight under my chin. I wanted Morgan to pay attention to what I was saying. “See? I’m serious.” I made a quirky face. “Remember when we worked with Colton on door manners? He showed you that he wanted your attention. You need to tell your parents in words instead of acting angry.”

  “Trina. You make it sound so easy.”

  “Maybe they don’t know how lonesome you are. Tell them you understand they’re busy making money, but you don’t like that they leave you alone.” I glanced into her eyes. “Have you ever thanked them for Knight?”

  Morgan flinched and shook her head.

  I started to pop up, but caught myself. “Oh. My. Gawd! I’ve always dreamed of having my own horse and competing.”

  Morgan shifted on the bed. “But now you’re training dogs!”

  “Yep, I am! And I can say I’ve chosen to do this.” I closed my eyes, grabbed a long breath, and thought about what this all meant. I cleared my throat. “Don’t change the subject! Tell them how Knight is keeping you from being lonesome and how he’s making you more independent.” I snickered. “Your mother will like that one!”

  Morgan giggled with me.

  I had to say, “Shhh!” and we laughed some more.

  Once we quieted, we listened for footsteps.

  Nothing.

  Chapter 31

  Every time I drifted off, the pain in my ankle shot upward through my leg and made my breath catch. Morgan snored right along with Colton. I sobbed quietly, resting on my back with my foot propped on a pillow under the sheet, waiting for the nightmarish minutes to end.

  What am I going to tell my parents? I’ve never kept any secrets from them, but I knew that if I told them the truth, they would probably tell Morgan’s parents where she was hiding.

  Not only did my ankle hurt, I’d never been in a situation like this. Common sense said, “Be honest.” But my heart said, “Help, Morgan.”

  Daylight barely peeked through the blinds. I twisted onto my left shoulder to see the time and shuddered from the pain. I nudged Morgan.

  “What? What?” She rolled over on her side. “Oh! Hi, Trina. Boy oh boy, am I tired.” She rubbed her eyes, and as if remembering about last night, she bounced upright. “How are you?”

  “I’m not good. You’re going to have to make up a story about going to the barn early. There’s no way I can help feed the horses. Hurry and get up. Grab a pop tart or anything you like from the pantry. My parents won’t be up yet.”

  Morgan grumbled. “Oh, no! What are you going to say?”

  “I’ve thought about it all night. I want to help you, and you are right. My parents would want to tell the truth.” My stomach revolted. Is it the lying, or the pain I’m in? I’m going against all I’ve ever learned. I’ll be in big trouble for this. I hope it’s worth it.

  Sitting on the side of the bed, Morgan stretched. “Can you believe the things I did last night, and my parents don’t even know I’m missing. I hope they got caught in the storm.”

  Colton jumped up for his morning snuggle.

  I puckered my face. “Be careful what you wish for.”

  Morgan bowed her head. “I know. I need to hurry. Thanks for listening. I probably made it sound worse than it really is. I know you’re going to get in trouble at some point, and I’ll try and help you when this is over.”

  “I believe you. I just want you to get to the barn. Mrs. Brown has probably brought in the horses. If she even slept. Just tell her I called you early this morning and said I hurt my ankle while walking Colton in the storm.”

  She jumped up. “And I’ll tell Mrs. B I’m going back home. I’ll take my bike and disappear when I’m finished. She won’t see me again and can’t tell my parents anything. They’ll start looking tomorrow. They haven’t even called. What are you going to tell your parents?”

  “The same thing you are telling Mrs. Brown. It’s partly true.”

  “How are you going to care for Colton this morning? You want me to walk him on his leash and put him in the stall.”

  “Nah. I’ll scoot down the stairs on my bottom, and let him out. He can run in the woods by himself, and when my parents get up, they’ll find out I’m hurt.”

  After putting Colton outside, the pain stabbed straight up my leg, and I fought to keep from throwing up. I left the door cracked, and sat on the chair next to a window. Colton ran and entertained himself until he realized he was alone. He dashed inside, panting, and hungry for breakfast.

  I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to make it to the kitchen and feed him. Biting my lip, I scooted across the carpet with my leg pointing straight in front of me, tears dripping down my cheeks. He followed behind, pouncing at me as if we were playing a new kind of game.

  Mom shuffled across the kitchen floor to make coffee. She choked on her scream as she caught her balance before tripping over me. “What in the world are doing, Trina?”

  “Um. Umm.” My butt hit the floor. I swallowed and let the words fly. “I-I hurt my ankle last night taking Colton out in the middle of the night.”

  “What?” Mom’s face went pale. “Are you okay? Colton doesn’t usually do that.”

  “He never went out before bed last night. I’m not sure if he heard a noise or he just wanted to do his business. He didn’t want to stay out long, but I forgot my flashlight, and I stepped in a hole or tripped on a branch. I hobbled in and pulled myself up the stairs.”

  Mom squatted and examined my ankle. “Oh, honey. Why didn’t you wake us? This looks awful. Are you in terrible pain?”

  Tears flooded my eyes and regret tore at my heart. I had made the right decision and now I had to follow it through. I bit my bottom lip and nodded. I didn’t want any chance of saying something I’d regret later.

  “Sta
y right there. Don’t move. Better yet. Let me get you to the couch so you can stretch out. Then I’m waking your father.” She helped me shuffle to the couch and set a blanket over my lap.

  “No! Please don’t wake Dad. I’ll be okay in a couple days. Let’s just wait and see if it gets better. I don’t—”

  But she disappeared into their bedroom. Dad’s deep voice boomed through the door. “Let me get dressed, and we’ll take her to the emergency room.”

  My heart throbbed, making it hard to breathe. I cradled my face in my hands, and slowly shook my head. Now I had really made a bad situation worse.

  Mom fed Colton his breakfast and as soon as he finished, she told him, “We’re going to the store, and we’ll be right back.” He had learned that meant, we’d be gone for a little while, and he walked into his crate downstairs.

  Mom leaned her head with a questioning glance as Dad lifted me. “Weren’t you supposed to take care of the horses this morning?”

  I gulped. More lies. “Yep. I called Morgan late last night after I fell. She stays awake late. And she promised to go over early and take care of everything. She had somewhere to go this afternoon.”

  Mom smiled. “That’s nice of her. I’m proud of you for taking the initiative to be her friend. Goodness knows she needs a friend or two. I sure hope to meet her parents one day.”

  “Me, too. But you might be surprised by what they’re like.” I held onto Dad as carried me to the car.

  After X-rays, Dr. Mack, an orthopedic specialist, decided to check on me. “Want to tell me what happened?”

  I whispered. “I tripped over a root or a hole. I don’t remember.”

  “Well, I’m going to make you feel better soon. First, I have to put your ankle in place.” He gave me a minute to relax. “Ready? This shouldn’t hurt.”

  I sealed my lips and squeezed a pillow in my lap as he positioned my ankle at a ninety-degree angle.

  “That a girl!”

  I nodded.

  Then he pulled a white sock up to the middle of my calf and wrapped layers of gauze around the sock for extra padding. After he smoothed the material, he applied the fiberglass.