Taking Charge (Lone Star Burn #4)(62)
Ben set up his equipment outside the stall, then handed the syringe to David. “You said she was looked at by a vet over in Fort Mavis?”
“Yes, but nothing like this was done.” David opened the stall door. Tia’s ears flattened. He spoke to her softly and approached her.
Ben said, “We could try an oral sedative if you want. They’re not as effective, but a whole lot safer to give.”
“I’ll be fine,” David said.
Lucy wanted to tell David to be careful. Actually, she wanted to tell him that no horse was worth risking his life over, but she knew how important this was to him. She clasped her hands in front of her and held her breath.
David spoke to Tia gently. He ran a hand along her shoulder. His touch seemed to soothe her, and her ears raised as she listened to him. “Tia, I know all about you now. You’re a good horse. You need to let us do this. One little pinch, and we can take your pain away.”
David took his time until it almost seemed he had hypnotized the horse. Then slowly, gently, he gave the horse the sedative shot. She looked mildly irritated, but she didn’t pull away from him.
From the door of the stall, Ben said, “I never put much faith in what I see on TV, but you can work with me any day.”
David continued to run his hands gently over Tia’s shoulder and back while the sedative slowly began to work. “She knows I don’t want to hurt her, and I don’t believe she wants to hurt us. Or she won’t want to after you remove what I hope you find.”
When Tia’s head lowered, a sure sign she was getting drowsy, Ben stepped into the stall. “I’ve seen stranger things, so you could be right.” He held part of the machine up and took a digital picture just behind Tia’s ears. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He took several more shots of the horse’s neck beneath the mane. He stepped back and showed them what he’d found. “Right there, do you see it? It looks like a bent needle. I bet that’s a piece of the barbed wire you said she’d been caught in. I’m surprised it didn’t get infected. Or maybe it did and healed over. It’s deep, so I can see how someone wouldn’t notice it, but being where it is, it must be painful for her whenever someone puts a halter over it.”
David continued to speak gently. “Or applies any pressure while trying to lead her. No wonder she doesn’t want anyone putting a lead line on her. And that angry shake of her head is probably her way of saying it hurts.” He looked across to Ben. “Can it be taken out today?”
Ben nodded. “I don’t see why not. I know exactly where it is. I should be able to get it out with a small incision. After that, it’s just a matter of keeping it clean.”
When David stepped out of the stall, Wyatt gave his shoulder a pat. “You did good, son.”
Lucy stepped into David’s arms and hugged him tightly. “You really are amazing.”
David kissed Lucy on the forehead and chuckled. “That’s what I keep trying to tell you.”
From beside them, Wyatt said, “I’ll stay with Dr. Ben while he works on her.”
David shook Ben’s hand again, then slid an arm around Lucy’s waist. “I’ll walk Lucy in.”
As they walked out of the barn, Lucy asked, “Why did Ron try to move Tia?”
David didn’t answer at first. He walked with Lucy back to her house. Deciding how much to tell her wasn’t easy. “He was drunk, and people make poor choices when they hit the bottom of a bottle.”
Lucy tensed beneath his touch. “This is my ranch, David. I have a right to know what’s going on.” She turned and pinned him down with a steady stare. “And everything you’re lying to me about.”
“Lying?” David felt like a child who’d been caught doing something he’d been told not to. His stalling question sounded as lame to him as it probably did to her.
She put a hand on one of her hips. Her cheeks were flushed with anger, and her eyes flashed with temper. If she didn’t look so close to belting him, he would have told her how beautiful she was just then. “I know you went to town hall about property lines. The clerk said you told her you were asking on my behalf. I’d like to know why. I’d also like to know if you’re doing anything else on my behalf.”
David went to pull her to him, but she stepped back. He sighed. “I know I promised I wouldn’t get involved, but . . .”
Lucy shook her head as if wanting to deny what she was hearing. “But you did? What did you do?” She searched his face, and before he had a chance to answer, she said, “No, don’t bother. I won’t know if you’re telling me the truth or not.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I am the worst judge of character; I thought I could trust you. Really trust you.”
He stepped closer to her, but she retreated again. “Lucy, I didn’t want to lie to you, but—”
“But you did. How many times? Once? A hundred times? How many lies would I have to tell you before you’d start doubting everything I said?”
It was a harsh stance, but one that David could understand. He’d had many opportunities to talk to her about how dangerous he thought York was and how he needed to look into what he was doing even if Lucy didn’t want him to. “All I wanted to do was protect you.”
With large, hurt eyes, Lucy said, “Even if I believe that, it changes us. Do you see that?” She put her hand on the door handle of the house. “You can sleep in the bunkhouse, David. I don’t want you in the house tonight.” She gave him another long, sad look. “Why was Ron here?”