Chapter Sixteen
Hope entered the house to find the twins playing Dutch Blitz with Daed. Although Chloe was grinning as she laid down a card, Jabin had a distressed look that didn’t match his hand. He looked the closest to calling Blitz, but he placed his cards down listlessly. Hope prayed she could reach him with horse therapy.
To call it therapy, she should have Logan here, but she could do informal lessons. Sometimes just bringing children and animals together helped. Her horses usually sensed what she needed. So far, they’d shown they’d do the same for children.
“When you’re done with that game,” Hope said, “I’d like to take Chloe and Jabin out to the barn.”
Daed’s broad smile dimmed. Hope wanted to make it reappear. She’d promised Micah the children wouldn’t be alone in the stalls with the horses. Maybe Daed would be willing to assist her. He was a seasoned trainer and loved working with horses.
“Daed, will you help us out in the barn?”
“Of course.”
Hope had guessed right that Jabin would be the winner. She could hardly hear his “Blitz.” After Daed and Chloe totaled up their cards to see who had the highest score, Hope beckoned to him. “Chloe, can you and Jabin clean up the cards?” Sorting the cards should take them a little while, giving her enough time to explain to Daed her purpose in the barn.
“I thought I’d start with Jabin, if you don’t mind keeping Chloe occupied,” she said to Daed after she’d told him about the therapy.
“I’d be happy to.” He stood more erect than he had in a long time.
“Gut. Then we can have dinner before my turn with Chloe.”
They returned to find the twins had placed the cards in their correct decks.
Chloe hopped off her chair. “Let’s go,” she said, motioning for the others to follow her. Then she skipped out to the barn, with everyone following her.
Daed called after her to slow down because he couldn’t keep up. She obeyed and waited for him, giving Hope and Jabin time alone.
Jabin’s head remained down as he shuffled out to the barn. Hope set a hand on his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. He winced. Had she hurt him, or was that his reaction to being touched?
She dropped her hand to her side. “Did that bother your sore ribs?”
His shoulder blades went up in a semi-shrug. Maybe she should refrain from touching him. At least for now. They walked the rest of the distance to the barn in silence.
“Come into Daisy’s stall with me,” Hope said. Chloe would likely make a beeline for Molly. That way, several stalls would separate them. Hope set the horse’s grooming tools on a stool right outside the stall.
“Will you help me currycomb Daisy?” she asked. “The tools are right there.” She pointed to the basket behind him.
Slower than a pig mired in mud, Jabin inched his way over to the bucket and back.
“You know how to do this, right?”
Instead of answering, Jabin began working. His currycombing was as lackluster as his walking.
She wanted to put her hand over his to direct him to move faster, but she curbed her impatience. Instead, she watched for times when he pressed a little harder.
“Look how Daisy leaned into that. You must be digging deep enough to get out the dirt and make her feel better.”
Her encouragement gradually transformed his movements. Soon he was currycombing more energetically. When he stopped, Daisy nudged him with her nose.
“You have a horse at home, right?” Hope said as he switched to the stiff brush.
“Jah.”
A small victory. That was the first word he’d spoken around her today other than “Blitz.”
“When you groom her, talk to her. Tell her how you’re feeling, tell her what’s upsetting you. Horses are good listeners.”
Hope was pretty sure Jabin’s slight head movement had been a nod. Maybe he’d take her advice.
“You can also tell secrets to Daisy. She’s smart and can understand people’s feelings. And I can’t hear what you’re saying.”
Jabin’s squinty side-eye made it clear he didn’t believe her.
“You can whisper. I like to give people privacy, so I don’t listen. But if you don’t trust me, you can talk to Daisy in your thoughts. Horses can sense what you’re feeling. Why don’t you try it to see?”
He still looked skeptical, but this time about the horse’s abilities. Moving closer to Daisy’s head, he mumbled near her ear. Then he glanced over at Hope. She kept brushing Daisy’s other side.
Satisfied she wasn’t listening in, he leaned closer to Daisy, who turned her head and nuzzled him. A strange gurgling sound came from Jabin’s mouth—a cross between a giggle and a sob. Hope stayed focused on her work and left the therapy up to Daisy.
* * *
After stopping at the bank for cash to pay Hope, Micah did his used buggy shopping as quickly as he could. He had no interest in any special features—unusual upholstery colors, fancy dashboards, cup holders, speedometers, dash lights, or propane heaters. Teens often favored those models. He preferred the least-expensive, four-seater one that was functional, safe, and sturdy.
The salesman, who answered his questions about the two buggies Micah was considering, pointed to the one with the battery mounted underneath rather than inside. “This one’s a bit more expensive, but with the battery on the undercarriage, it would be much safer in an accident.”
Micah winced at the word “accident.” No amount of safety features could have saved Ben and Anna from that drunk driver. Micah struggled to wipe the picture from his mind.
“It also has LED lights.”
When he’d helped his daed pick out a buggy, the only required safety features included battery-powered sidelights and an orange reflective triangle on the back. He could take the less-expensive model and have both of those. Only one thing stopped him: the twins.
Because he’d be carting them around, Micah wanted the safest buggy he could find. They were all he had left of his brother. If anything happened to them . . .
He couldn’t even finish the thought. They were his responsibility, and better than anyone, he knew the tragedies that could happen on the road.
“I’ll take this one,” he said, pointing to the more-expensive one. “Is there any way I could pay extra to have it delivered?”
“Two of the owner’s sons should be able to get it out to your house later in the evening, after we close.”
Micah exhaled a long, silent sigh. That would save him from hooking up another vehicle. He’d been around enough horses for one day. “They can leave it by the barn if I’m not there.”
The ride back to Hope’s went quickly, and her daed was exiting the barn as he drove in.
“Back so soon?” Isaac asked. “We were hoping the children could stay longer. Hope hasn’t had time to give Chloe her lesson yet.”
“I can wait. Where is she? In the barn?”
Micah had already turned in that direction before Isaac spoke.
“Jah, Chloe’s in the barn. Hope and Jabin are in the kitchen fixing dinner. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Chloe’s alone in the barn?” Dread washed over him. If something happened to her, he’d never forgive himself.
“She wanted to keep talking to Molly privately, so I left her there.”
Oh, he’d panicked too soon. Hope said they had two adults in the stall during lessons. And if Chloe was talking to someone, she’d probably be in the office or kitchen, not with the horses. At least he hoped that was the case.
“I’ll go check on her.” Micah needed to assure himself she was all right.
“You do that. Then bring her in with you to eat.”
“That’s kind of you.” Micah didn’t want to impose on Hope. He’d just pay her and leave. Isaac had mentioned something about Chloe’s lesson. If she hadn’t had one yet, why was she hanging around the barn?
He prayed Molly was responsible. Although Micah’s daed was dependable, he couldn’t prevent Micah’s childhood injuries. Micah would rather the twins not hang around in the barn before and after lessons. He’d speak to Hope about that.
Micah hurried into the barn, propelled by worry. Anything could happen. He jogged past the stalls toward the kitchen and office, staying close to the opposite wall, as far away from the horses as possible. As he passed the last stall, he screeched to a stop.
“Chloe,” he screamed. “Get away from that horse. All the way to the other side of the stall.”
She stared at him, her eyes wide, but kept her arms around the horse’s neck.
“It’s not safe to get so close.” In his fear for her, his words came out more sharply than he’d intended.
“Molly won’t hurt me.”
Molly? Molly was a horse? He couldn’t believe Hope and Isaac would leave a seven-year-old out here alone.
“Please, Chloe, step back. Come out of the stall.” Trembling, he rushed over to grab her and yank her out of harm’s way.
Chloe had looked at him as if he were crazy when he burst through the stall door. Maybe he was, but he’d never take a chance on her getting hurt. Wrapping his arms around her, he tried to drag her away.
She dug in her heels. “I’m not done talking to Molly.”
The horse stamped, twisting her body and snorting.
“No!” Micah grabbed Chloe around the waist, lifted her into the air, and rushed from the stall. After he’d slammed the door shut behind them and latched it, he set her on her feet. “You should never be in there with a horse by yourself.” He could barely catch his breath.
Her chin quivered. “Mamm and Daed always let me.”
Micah’s gut twisted. He had no defense against that. He didn’t want to remind her he was caring for her now. But he couldn’t allow her to do something dangerous. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I’m not going to.” She crossed her arms and thrust out her lower lip.
“You have no idea how dangerous horses can be. One kick from their legs can send you back to the hospital. And you wouldn’t get out in a few days.” If you even survived.
In a smart-alecky voice, she said, “Only if you get too close when you’re behind them.” Then her tone changed to exasperation. “I’m not a baby. I know how to be careful around horses.”
That might be, but it didn’t mean he wanted to take any chances. Thank God she was all right this time. Micah wasn’t so sure letting Chloe and Jabin take these therapy lessons was wise. As much as he wanted to help Hope get her business started, he couldn’t put the twins’ lives in danger.
* * *
Hope entered the barn to hear Micah scolding Chloe. She wasn’t close enough to discern his words or Chloe’s sharp answers, but the little girl had her arms folded and her chin jutting out.
All Hope could tell was that it had something to do with Chloe being in the stall with a horse. Feeling guilty, Hope rushed toward them. Micah had specifically asked if an adult would be with the twins, and she’d promised him two of them would be there. Unfortunately, Daed had left Chloe by herself.
“I’m so sorry,” Hope said as she reached them. “When Daed told me Chloe was alone, I hurried out.” She wasn’t about to admit the other reason she’d dashed out here was to see Micah.
He turned toward her, his eyes filled with terror. Hope sucked in a breath. What had happened? Chloe appeared to be all right, if a bit defiant. A quick glance reassured Hope that Molly had suffered no injuries. Micah had no visible wounds, but he was trembling, and his chest was heaving.
“Are you all right?” she asked, alarmed by his pale skin.
“I am now.” He inhaled a big gulp of air. “I found Chloe alone in Molly’s stall.”
Was that accusation in his tone, or had she only imagined it because she deserved it?
“And he pulled me out.”
“Did something go wrong? Usually Molly’s gentle. I’ve never known her to hurt anyone.”
“She was stamping and snorting and—”
“Horses do that,” Chloe snapped. “It doesn’t mean she’s going to hurt me.”
“I’m sorry she scared you, Micah.” Hope was puzzled by his over-the-top reaction to normal horse behavior. “I don’t think Molly would hurt Chloe.”
“Of course she wouldn’t.” Chloe stamped her foot and looked close to tears. “I was just talking to her.”
“Horses are dangerous,” Micah declared, his tone flat.
“I suppose they can be—”
“Can be? There’s no ‘can’ about it. They are.”
His emphatic tone and panicky expression made Hope wonder if he’d seen someone get hurt. “Did something happen to make you believe horses are dangerous?” she asked softly.
He stared at her. “How did you know?”
“I just guessed because you seem so upset.” His fear was unusual for an Amish man who’d been around horses every day, starting from the time he was small.
Micah closed his eyes for a moment, then he gazed off into the distance. “When I was five, a horse kicked me. After two weeks in the hospital, I needed physical therapy to help me walk again. I still limp if I get overtired.”
“Oh, Micah.” No wonder he acted traumatized around horses.
“Every time I enter a barn or get near a horse, I feel that tail flicking across my forehead, knocking off my hat.”
Micah’s uneven breathing made Hope long to reach out to comfort him. Even Chloe stood still, her hands clenched into fists by her sides, staring at her onkel.
“Did it hurt you?” she asked.
“The tail? It stung, but I don’t remember the horse’s kick. The real pain came when I was alone in the dark hospital room. That still gives me nightmares.”
No wonder he hadn’t wanted to leave the twins alone in the hospital. It also explained why he’d been so grateful that she’d stayed until he arrived. Hope was so glad she had. She only wished she’d told him she planned to stay when she first called him, so he didn’t have to endure the long ride there assuming the twins were alone.
Chloe moved closer and tucked her hand into Micah’s. “The hospital made you scared?”
He nodded. “I was petrified.”
“Me too,” she said in a shaky voice.
Micah knelt in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I tried to stay with you so you wouldn’t be frightened.” Then he opened his arms and drew Chloe close.
She buried her face against his chest, so her words came out muffled. “I’m glad you were there. But I was scared about not having a mamm and a daed. I still am.” Her shoulders shook. “That’s what I was telling Molly.”
Micah’s eyes welled with tears, and Hope wanted to wrap them both in a hug. She remained silent as the two of them clung to each other. But she sent up prayers for their healing.