nine

“Be careful!” her mother warned as she watched them make their way toward the barn. “I’ll be down to help as soon as I’m done speaking with Mr. Yoder.”

Jordan took her time leading the Star Gazer down the slight incline. The draft behaved like a trooper, picking her way slowly and carefully down the hill. She touched Jordan gently with her nose several times, and nuzzled her hair.

“I’m happy you’re here, too,” Jordan told the big mare.

Walking beside Star Gazer for the first time gave Jordan an idea of just how big and powerful this mare truly was. She felt like a tiny Shetland pony walking in her shadow. She was glad they had reinforced the stall.

Jacob walked behind, giving Star a push on the rump when she stopped. “I think she likes you,” he said. “She hasn’t really been that friendly with the rest of us.”

“We’re going to be the best of buds,” Jordan said, placing a comforting hand on Star’s neck as they progressed toward the barn. She kept Star moving at a steady pace, but the mare stumbled several times. “Poor baby,” Jordan crooned. “It’s just a little bit further, then you can rest in your comfy stall. I made the straw really deep.”

“My dad has some Easy Boots we can loan you,” Jacob offered. “They might help Star. I’ll ask him if he can drop them off to you tonight.”

Jordan looked over her shoulder as she kept the horse moving forward. “What are those?”

“They’re hard rubber boots that fit over the hoof. Kind of like tennis shoes for horses,” he explained. “They keep their feet off the ground and can help stop the lameness from getting worse.”

Jordan sighed. She had a lot to learn about equine medical care. The riding lessons hadn’t provided her with any information on health matters. “We probably can’t afford to get X-rays right now,” she said. “I spent all my money buying Star. What’s the best thing I can do to help her?”

Jacob shrugged. “If she were mine, and I couldn’t get the X-rays right away, I’d probably pack her feet with some medicine to draw out the soreness. She has heat in her front hooves. That usually means there’s trouble.”

“Oh,” Jordan said, frowning at the thought. She had definitely taken on a project that might be bigger than she could handle. But she had to try for Star Gazer’s sake.

“I can bring you some of Brother Fisher’s poultice in a day or two, if you’d like. It smells really bad, but it works really well.”

“That would be great,” Jordan said. “I’ll do anything that will help Star. I want her to be happy here.”

When they arrived at the barn, Jordan handed Star’s lead rope to Jacob so she could open the big door. The shade inside felt cool compared to the heat and humidity that brewed outside.

Jacob waited until Jordan tossed some hay into the manger, then he let Star Gazer loose in her new stall. The mare lowered her head to smell the fresh straw bedding, then went to the manger and grabbed a mouthful of hay. She chewed and watched them between bites.

Jacob leaned on the stall door, looking in. “I saw your friend Nicole at the feed store yesterday,” he said. “She told me your mom didn’t know you bought this horse. She said you got in a lot of trouble.”

He fixed her with a stare from his bright blue eyes and Jordan squirmed beneath the scrutiny. “Yeah, my mom gave me a long lecture and a chore list a mile long. I can’t speak to Nicole for a week, either.”

“I’d say you got off lightly,” Jacob said.

Jordan felt a bit defensive. “I didn’t buy Star just to defy my mother.”

Jacob laughed. “Lighten up, girl. I just meant that my parents probably would have punished me a bit harder if I’d done something like that.” He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “Look, Jordan…I know your heart was in the right place and you wanted to save Star. But I hope you realize how serious all this is. These drafts are big, powerful horses. And from what you tell me, you haven’t been around horses that much. I hope you haven’t bitten off more than you can chew. It wouldn’t be good for you or Star Gazer.”

Jordan wanted to be mad at him for lecturing her, but deep down, she knew he was right. She’d taken on a huge project that she wasn’t really equipped to handle. “I know I kind of went about this the wrong way,” she admitted. “But I really want to help Star, and I’m willing to work hard and learn.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s the important part.” He placed his hat back on his head. “Did you know the town’s already talking about the new city girl who bought the lame draft mare?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Jordan was shocked. The national news stations could learn a thing or two about fast reporting from the people in this town.

Jacob grinned. “They think you’re crazy for buying a horse that was on its way to the packers. Most of them are betting you won’t to be able to pull it off. They think Star will end up right back at the auction within a month.”

Jordan crossed her arms and glared at him. “Oh, they do, do they?”

“You can’t blame them, Jordan. People around here have been in the livestock business for most of their lives. Gilbert Sutton is a really good horseman, and he chose to get rid of Star because he couldn’t deal with her anymore.”

Jordan lifted her chin determinedly. “I’ll show them,” she said. “I’ll help Star get better, and then maybe we’ll enter that pulling contest against Mr. Sutton. It would serve him right for ditching this mare.”

“Take it easy, Jordan.” Jacob pulled a couple of carrots out of his pocket. “How about for now, you just concentrate on making Star better? You’re going to have your hands full with that.”

Jordan picked at the straw bits that clung to her T-shirt. Jacob didn’t think she could do it, either. She could tell. And he certainly didn’t offer to help her learn anything about riding draft horses or pulling. That stung.

Star Gazer walked over and leaned against the door. She stretched out her neck, asking for a rub. The door creaked under her massive weight and Jordan wondered if the hinges would hold. She was beginning to understand just what Jacob meant about the difference between caring for draft horses and regular horses. She had her work cut out for her.

Jacob handed her the carrots for Star. “Don’t worry about it, Jordan. I think you’re going to do fine,” he said. “I’ve got a good feeling about this mare. Things are going to work out and you’ll both be happy.” He gave her an encouraging smile.

Jordan couldn’t help but be pleased when he smiled at her like that. She hoped he was right and that things were going to work out.

“I better get going,” Jacob said, hanging Star Gazer’s halter on a peg on the wall. “My dad has probably talked your mom’s ears off by now. I’ll bring that poultice for Star’s hooves by in a day or two.” He waved good-bye and walked from the barn.

Jordan watched him go, then turned her attention back to Star Gazer. She still couldn’t believe the mare was hers. It had really been nice of the Yoders to deliver her. Suddenly she remembered her manners and sprinted up the hill after Jacob. She caught him just as they were about to leave.

“I want to thank you both for all of your help,” she said, breathing hard from the uphill run. “I don’t know how we would have gotten Star home if you hadn’t volunteered to help.”

Mrs. McKenzie nodded in agreement. “That’s right. Thank you so much for helping my impetuous daughter out of a jam.”

Mr. Yoder turned the key in the ignition and the big truck fired up with a rumble. “You’re welcome, ladies. It was our pleasure. Helping each other is what it’s all about. And don’t you worry about that mare, Mrs. McKenzie. I checked her out before I brought her over. She’s kind of shy and hangs back in her stall when people are around, but my son says she’s taken a real shine to your daughter. She’s a mighty big horse, but she’s safe. The only thing you have to worry about is minding where your feet are when you’re around her.”

Jacob laughed. “Yeah, with hooves almost as big as plates, you don’t want to get your toe caught under them. Been there and done that. Wasn’t much fun.”

Jordan grimaced. She couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have a horse that weighed over a ton step on your foot. She had the feeling that everything about Star Gazer was going to be a learning experience.

They all waved good-bye as the truck pulled out of the driveway. Jordan turned to her mom. “Are you ready to meet the newest member of our family?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

They walked together to the barn and Jordan opened the stall door to let her mother inside.

Mrs. McKenzie hesitated. “I don’t know…she’s awfully big,” she said. “Maybe I’ll just meet her from out here?” She pushed the stall door closed, keeping them both on the outside. “How much hay will a horse this size eat?”

“Jacob said that even though drafts are twice the size of a regular horse, they don’t eat twice as much. And they gain weight easily, so I need to be careful that I don’t feed her too much.”

Star stood at the back of her stall, content to keep her distance. Jordan hoped she’d be able to change the mare’s outlook on people. She pulled out one of the carrots Jacob had given her. “Here, Mom, give her this.” She held out a carrot of her own, coaxing Star to the door.

Star Gazer caught the scent of the carrot and slowly shuffled forward on tender feet. As she got closer to the door, Jordan’s mom backed away.

“Oh, my gosh!” she said, her hand going to her heart. “She’s huge! How are you ever going to be able to do anything with her?”

Jordan grinned. “That’s the beauty of draft horses,” she said, feeding her carrot to the big mare. “There’s a reason they call them ‘Gentle Giants.’ Mr. Yoder says that temperament is bred into them. Now, hold out your carrot in the palm of your hand.”

Mrs. McKenzie slowly extended her hand, but as Star stretched her thick neck to take the treat, Jordan’s mom panicked and pulled her hand back.

“Mom!” Jordan laughed. “She’s not going to bite you. She just wants the carrot. Now hold your hand out flat so she can take it.”

Her mother tried again, but pulled back at the last second. “She’s so big it scares me.” She chuckled nervously.

“Here, let me show you.” Jordan placed her hand under her mother’s, holding it steady as Star Gazer reached for the tasty treat.

“Oh my,” Mrs. McKenzie said, still hesitating as Star Gazer’s big lips moved over the surface of her hand and gently took the carrot. She laughed and wiped the horse slobber off her palm. “That felt so funny. I thought she was going to take my whole hand.” She asked Jordan for another carrot.

This was an encouraging sign…and a good first step. Jordan handed her mother another carrot. “This is the last one. We don’t want to spoil her too much.”

Mrs. McKenzie held the carrot, trying to be brave as Star Gazer stretched her lips to accept the last treat. She only flinched a little bit this time.

“Do you want to pet her?” Jordan asked.

Her mother shook her head and took a step back. “Maybe another day,” she said. “I’ve got to get back up to the house and make us some lunch.” At the barn door, she looked back. “Jordan, maybe it’s best if you don’t get too attached to her? There’s a good chance that…that this won’t work out. And even if her hooves do get better, you know we can’t keep her.”

Jordan frowned. One step forward, two steps back. She had to come up with a plan to keep Star Gazer.