Читать книгу Dark Days at Saddle Creek - Shelley Peterson - Страница 11

5

MERRY FIELDS

Honour all with whom we share the Earth; four-leggeds, two-leggeds, winged ones, swimmers, crawlers, plant and rock people.

— anonymous Native American Elder

Sunny and Bird took their time getting to the Piersons’ farm. Leisurely, they hacked down the gravel road, followed by Lucky, who sniffed every bush happily. Bird smiled with pleasure. There was nothing she liked better than to ride her horse bareback in the cool, fresh evening air.

Hannah’s pie smelled delicious. Bird was sure that Laura and Pete would be delighted. The Piersons had always been good to her. She counted them among the people she could rely on in times of need. They’d helped her when her grandfather had tried to sell Sundancer, and counselled her wisely whenever she needed to get on the right track. They cheered her up, too, Bird thought. They had a wonderful, sunshiny, practical outlook on life. Merry Fields was the perfect name for their farm.

Bird could just picture them now, sitting by the fire in their roomy kitchen, chatting about the day’s events as Laura stitched a ripped pocket or mended a worn sock. The house would smell of fresh flowers and home cooking, and the kettle would be on, ready to offer a friend or neighbour a cup of tea. It was always like that.

Merry Fields was not far from Saddle Creek, and soon Bird and Sunny were strolling up the driveway. Lucky was busy somewhere, but Bird wasn’t worried. Cody was likely around, and he’d keep an eye on the pup.

Interesting, Bird thought. There were no lights on in the kitchen, and the truck wasn’t parked in its usual spot beside the house. Maybe the Piersons had gone out somewhere. But where would they go if Pete was not feeling well?

Bird slid off Sunny and removed his bridle so he could graze. Don’t go far, Sunny. I don’t know how long I’ll be.

Right you are. I won’t move. This grass is delicious.

Bird took the pie and walked up to the kitchen door. She peered through the glass. There was no cheerful fire burning in the hearth, no fresh flowers, and no home cooking. The house seemed empty and forlorn.

She knocked on the door. Nobody came.

She glanced at Hannah’s pie. Leaving it outside wasn’t an option. The ants, raccoons, and squirrels would get at it within minutes.

She tried the door. To her surprise, it opened. Bird called out, “Hello? Mrs. Pierson? Mr. Pierson? Is anybody home?”

There was no answer, so Bird put the pie in the refrigerator and found some paper and a pencil to write a note. They’d find the pie when they returned.

A wheezy, whining noise coming from the hall stopped her in her tracks. She put down the pencil and strained to listen. The noise came again. It was faint, but something or someone was definitely in the hall.

Bird gathered her courage and crept to the hall door. She put her ear to the space between the door and the frame. She heard it again, this time more clearly. It was a rasping sound, like tortured breathing. Fear gripped her. Should she run? No. She had to know what was going on.

Hands shaking, Bird opened the door a crack to take a look, having no idea what she might see.

Pete! Bird gasped involuntarily. Lying on the floor! He was hunched over in an awkward position with his head jammed against the wall.

Bird rushed to him. “Mr. Pierson! Are you all right?”

Pete opened an eye, and then closed it.

Bird pulled his legs with all her strength to straighten his body, and carefully moved his head to relieve the stress on his neck.

“What happened?” Bird whispered. Pete didn’t react. “Where’s Mrs. Pierson?” His skin was yellowish grey and his mouth hung open. Bird felt panic rise in her chest. This was all wrong.

Suddenly, Pete’s breath rushed noisily from his open mouth. Bird jerked back in fright. He coughed hoarsely. He opened one eye again, then shut it, as he had done before. There was no sign that he had seen her at all.

Bird shot to her feet. Mr. Pierson needed help. She’d call 9-1-1, then Hannah. She ran to the kitchen and picked up the phone. There was no dial tone. She replaced the receiver and wondered what to do.

Lucky began to bark wildly. Bird looked outside as the Piersons’ truck stopped with a screech of the brakes beside the house. Bird ran outside.

“Mrs. Pierson! Mr. Pierson needs a doctor!”

Laura got out of the passenger side, and Dr. Collins stepped quickly down from the behind the wheel. He grabbed his bag and ran past Bird into the house.

“Bird, dear!” said Laura. “Pete had a spell. The storm knocked out the phone and I had to drive over to get the doctor. I hope you didn’t worry.”

Not worry? Bird’s eyes grew round. She’d just seen a very old man gasping for air on the ground! “I brought over a pie from Aunt Hannah,” was all she could think to say. “I put it in the fridge.”

“Thank you, dear. How very thoughtful.” Her eyes glanced to the house and back to Bird. “Can you visit another day? I must join the doctor now, and help my darling Pete.”

“Yes! Of course!” Bird backed away from the house. “Call if there’s anything that we can do.” Then she remembered. “Is somebody coming to fix your phone?”

“They’re on their way. Don’t you worry.”

“Aunt Hannah and Paul will help. Just call. Me, too!”

“I will, dear, I will. Thank your aunt for the pie.” With that, Laura rushed into the house and closed the door.

Bird stood on the walk and gathered her thoughts. She hated to leave Pete in the condition he was in. And to leave Laura to handle it alone. But Dr. Collins was there, Bird reasoned, and he would call an ambulance on his cell if needed. There was nothing she could do. It was so upsetting!

Sunny, come. We have to go.

So soon?

Yes. Bird took the bridle from the branch where she’d hung it and slipped it over the horse’s nose. Mr. Pierson is sick. Really sick. We have to go home.

I like him, Sunny messaged. He’s a good man.

That’s what Cody calls him. The Good Man.

Bird silently rode Sunny home. Lucky followed along, but it was a very different ride from the one to the Piersons’ farm. All the joy had left Bird’s heart. For the second time in one day, she felt that the wind had been knocked out of her.

When they got back to Saddle Creek, Bird let Sunny out in his field, and she and Lucky entered the kitchen. No one was there.

“Hi, Bird,” called Hannah, from the next room. “Did they like the pie?”

“Mrs. Pierson said thank you,” answered Bird hollowly.

Hannah’s head appeared in the doorway. “What’s wrong? How’s Pete?”

“Oh, Aunt Hannah,” said Bird. The words came pouring out. “He’s awful! Nobody was there so I put the pie in the fridge. Mr. Pierson was on the floor and he could hardly breathe and it was horrible. Mrs. Pierson came with the doctor and then we left.” Bird flopped into a chair with glazed eyes.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” said Hannah as she brushed the hair from her niece’s face. “It must have been upsetting.”

“Yes, but more upsetting for Mr. Pierson! He was all scrunched up and he couldn’t see or hear me.”

Hannah looked at the phone. “I wonder if I should give them a call. See if there’s anything we can do.”

“Their phone is out. It’ll be fixed soon. I told Mrs. Pierson to call us if she wants us.”

Hannah pursed her lips. “I hope she will.”

Paul joined them, and Hannah filled him in. Paul shook his head. “He’s a wonderful man. I hope they can fix him up as good as new.”

Bird hoped so, too, but the memory of his unhealthy colour and unresponsive behaviour gave her doubt.

IT TOOK BIRD A long time to get to sleep that night. She couldn’t get comfortable. She tossed and turned and flipped and flopped, unable to get the sight of Pete out of her mind. When she wasn’t worrying about him, she was thinking about her father — what Hannah had told her, and how he’d died before they could meet. Finally though, when she slept, she slept deeply.

When the morning sun came through her window, Bird sat up in bed and stretched. It was Monday. She would help Cliff with the chores, and maybe Sally would come over to see Tall Sox. There was another show on Friday, and again on Saturday. Maybe they could bring Sox over to see what a horse show looked like. It would get him used to the activity and confusion of the show grounds without the stress of competing in the ring. She’d talk to Hannah about that.

Bird made a wish for Pete, and then jumped out of bed.

When she entered the kitchen, Hannah and Paul were sitting together having coffee.

“Good morning, folks,” Bird said as she got a cereal bowl from the cupboard. “Another day in paradise.”

“Morning, Bird,” said Paul. “Mrs. Pierson called.”

Bird spun to face them. “And?”

“Mr. Pierson was taken to Headwaters Hospital last night. He’s feeling better, but not great. He doesn’t want to be there, that’s for sure.”

“I don’t blame him,” said Bird with feeling. “I hate hospitals.” Hannah spoke up. “Apparently, they got the dosage wrong on his new medication, and he had a nasty reaction.”

“Not good,” said Bird. “Are we going to visit him?”

“Soon,” answered Hannah. “He’s not ready for visitors yet. Mrs. Pierson said she’d let us know.”

Bird got the milk from the fridge and cereal from the shelf. “I’m glad he’s at the hospital, even though he hates it.” She sliced bananas on top and sat down with a spoon. “He sure looked bad yesterday. In fact, I thought he was going to die right there on the floor.” She shuddered at the thought.

Paul looked thoughtful for a moment. “Death is normal, Bird. All living things must die. It’s the way it is.”

“Death is the price we pay for living,” Hannah added. “We make that deal the minute we’re born.”

“Yeah,” said Bird. “I know, but I can’t really believe it. I mean really believe it.”

Paul chuckled softly. “Like everybody else in the world. It’s different when it’s somebody we love, or yourself that’s dying.”

“We don’t need to worry about Pete dying just yet. More coffee, Paul?” offered Hannah.

“Just half, thanks.” Paul was not ready to drop the subject. “I deal with life and death daily, Bird. Being a vet puts you in touch with it in a very tangible way. Helping my clients through is a big part of my job.”

“That can’t be the nicest part,” said Bird.

“No, but it’s a reality. If I didn’t accept it, I couldn’t do my job.” Paul sipped his coffee.

“Sorry, folks, but I’ve got to get out to the barn,” interrupted Hannah. “Lessons await.”

Paul glanced at the kitchen clock. “I’ve got to get going, too.”

“Is Sally coming today?” Bird asked Hannah.

“I think so. And her father wants us to take on Peasblossom. That’ll be a problem for Dexter.”

“I don’t care,” Bird sputtered through a mouthful of granola. “That’s his problem. Nobody would leave him if he treated his horses better!”