Chasing Shadows(45)

I looked all around me as I walked into the woods, looking for any sign that Angus had come this way. I was definitely subscribing to the theory that the horses had been set free before the fire had been started—otherwise, why hadn’t Angus gone off with them? The bull knew those horses very well, was even somewhat protective of them: I could recall more than one occasion in the years I’d had him that Angus had bellowed in protest when one of the horses acted frightened. But he hadn’t been with the horses when the Mitchell boys had found them and he hadn’t been in the ruin of the barn, which could only mean he’d escaped on his own.

As I roamed my eyes about I also sniffed the air every so often. The further I got away from the house, the clearer the air was, and the easier I could separate the different smells that assailed my nose. I could smell the trees, the leaves on the ground, small animals that roamed…and then I caught something else. It was faint and off to my left, but it was a smell that was familiar to me, and so I turned toward it and began to walk faster. The farther I walked the stronger the scent trail, and the more excited I became that one more of my animals had survived. Of course, I didn’t know what I would do with Angus seeing as I had no barn for him to sleep in, and I hated to impose on Harry more than I already was.

My sharpened hearing picked up an out of place noise up ahead, and I quickened my pace. In moments I came within sight of Angus, and the closer I came, the more of him I could see and smell. He’d been injured during his escape, though I could not tell from this distance how badly. And he was mad—this I knew from the wild, wide-eyed look he turned to me when he finally heard me, and the restless stamping of his feet. I stopped immediately but this did not appease the bull; he snorted loudly and thundered toward me. But I knew better than to run. I stayed my ground until he was almost near, and then pivoted out of his way and spun to face him.

Angus came up short and turned around, coming at me again with his head down low in the charge position. Once again I sidestepped and turned out of his path, and though I knew he was injured I was actually feeling kind of proud of the big brute. He’d lived through hell and hurt himself in the process of his escape, had spent the night alone in unfamiliar surroundings, and still he had enough stamina to fight what he perceived to be an enemy. As soon as I wore him out enough to get close, I was going to give him a great big hug.

I felt like a bullfighter in an arena, waiting for Angus to charge and then spinning out of the way in the nick of time again and again, but eventually he tired. When at last he stood still, his chest heaving with exertion, I held my hands casually at my sides as I approached him and spoke with my voice low and soothing. Given enough time, I knew that Angus would remember me, and that some of his fear and anger would subside. Coming up to his side, I could now see where and how he’d been injured—some piece of the barn must have fallen and seared his right flank, leaving a horrible looking burn that was now scabbed over in places. With a hand laid gently on his back, I continued to speak softly as I leaned close to sniff it, detecting what I had suspected I would find: the wound was infected. When I got him to a barn, I was going to have to soften up the scabbed parts enough to remove all of the seared flesh before I could clean it properly.

Anger shot through me again as I evaluated Angus’ burn, then slowly checked him over from back to front for any other injuries. He had minor cuts on his front legs and chest from his mad dash through the woods, and a cut on his forehead just below his horns, likely from when he had broken through the gate to his stall. I held onto his halter and stroked his nose like I had done countless times before, reassuring the bull that he was okay and no longer had anything to fear. After several minutes of this, his wide, frightened eyes relaxed, his breathing slowed to normal, and I felt secure enough to start guiding him home.

When we drew closer to the house Angus grew agitated again, but thankfully he didn’t fight me as I led him out of the woods and past the burned-out barn. I guided him through the small paddock and over to the first pasture, and was securing the gate behind him when I was joined by Mark.

“I see you found him,” he said, leaning against the railing as I was. “How’s he doing?”

“He was angry and frightened, naturally. I had to dance with him a little, but all is well,” I replied.

“What do you mean dance with him? He didn’t hurt you did he?”

I glanced over. “He charged a bunch of times, but Angus never touched me. I’m fine. Remember, I’m a lot faster than he is. I just had to wear him out before I could even get close to him. He’s got a nasty burn on his right flank that needs to be cleaned and medicated, and he’s in desperate need of water, I suspect. But other than that I think he’ll be okay.”

Mark reached his arm over to place it around my shoulders. “A little bit more good news for you. I’m glad he made it.”

I leaned my head on his shoulder as I asked, “How’s the clean up coming? I see they’ve actually managed to clear quite a bit.”

“Yeah. Foreman thinks they might just get it all in one load, seeing as the barn wasn’t near as big as the house.” He drew a breath. “Your, uh, dad called again. Said he was calling to make sure you were all right, and wanted to make sure it was okay if he came by.”

I scoffed. “I’m surprised. Usually Diarmid just does whatever the hell he wants.”

“I gathered that myself,” Mark mused. “I told him how you were out looking for Angus and that I could not speak for you, but you hadn’t said anything about him not being welcome when Juliette told you earlier he was planning to come by, so I could only assume you were okay with it.”

“Like I said, he usually does whatever he wants. I figured there was no point in telling him to stay away.”

With a sigh, I turned around and started back toward the house. “I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to call Harry and see if he’s got room for Angus, because I don’t know what else to do with him; once that burn of his is cleaned and dressed it won’t be good for him to be outside, or I’d leave him where he is.”

“I’ve been wondering, did you see him when you went over there earlier?” Mark asked as we were passing the workers.

I nodded. “Yeah. He confirmed your suspicions, asking how serious we were and confessing that he’d have liked to have something with me. But he is pleased that I am happy, and he threw his hat in with Palmer—said if you’re not good to me, you’ve got him to answer to.”

Mark laughed. “I have been duly warned,” he said with a smile, opening the back door for me.

In the kitchen I noticed four glasses in the sink, and turned a curious eye over to Mark. “What’s this?”

He shrugged. “The guys out there took a break, and I offered them some water.”

“Oh. It was good of you to be so polite in my absence,” I said with a smile, walking over to the phone on the wall. I dialed Harry’s house and got Billy, who had to put the phone down and go out to the barn to fetch his dad.

“Hey darlin,’ what’s up?” he said when he came on the line.

I had to grin. Apparently having his hopes of being with me dashed hadn’t dampened his spirits too much, for which I was glad. “Harry, when are you going to invest in a cordless phone?”

Harry laughed. “When I darn well feel like it,” he shot back genially. “Now, I already seen your pretty face twice today. To what do I owe this honor?”

“Guess what? Angus busted out of the barn before it collapsed. I didn’t know until the one crew came to pick up the animal remains, and I found him out in the woods.”

“You alright? He didn’t put up too much of a fight, I hope?” he asked, concern in his voice.

“He was agitated, naturally. Had to practice my bullfighting skills to wear him out some, ‘cause once he saw me he did charge a time or two. But he missed, I promise. Angus, on the other hand, didn’t fare so well,” I told him, and went on to explain the bull’s injuries.

“That burn sounds nasty. Good thing you keep your veterinary stuff in your house, or you’d have nothing to treat him with.”

“My thought exactly.”

“Now I’m supposing your purpose for calling is to see if I’ve got any more vacancies in the Barn Animal Inn?” Harry asked jokingly.

“Harry, I hate to ask you when you’re already doing so much for me,” I said. “But you know as well as I that I haven’t anywhere else to take him.”

I heard him sigh. “I know, sweetheart, I know. And of course you can bring him down here. Good thing I keep only the two horses, the pig, and some chickens.”

“Thank you, Harry. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity,” I told him, my tone full of sincerity.

“Saphrona, I’ve told you time and again, if there’s ever anything you need, all you have to do is ask. That’s what friends do for each other,” Harry said firmly.