“Minor scratches,” Patty Turner said after examining Ghost. The stallion was remarkably calm as the vet stood beside Whip, running her hands along the horse’s back and legs. “Just to be sure, I’m recommending he have the rabies series. We have the meds in stock, but I’ll need permission from one of the owners or Harley. Once I get that, I’ll come back down.” She turned to Whip. “I’ll need you to be with me. Is that a problem?”
“No. I plan to stay with him, so I’ll be here.”
“I’ll text or call when I’m on my way,” Patty said, closing her bag and stepping out of the stall. “See you later.” She nodded to Bella, who had been watching from the other side of the gate.
Whip stood, resting his head on the horse’s back for several minutes, then with one last “Good boy,” he stepped out of the corral and closed the gate. Bella followed him to the bench just outside the barn where he sat, head between his legs, and sobbed. She sat beside him, arm over his shoulder, patting his back. After a few minutes, he looked up, meeting her eyes. “Pretty pathetic, huh?”
“No,” she said, stroking his cheek with her fingertips. “Would you like me to get you some dinner? I could drive into town or see If I can get something delivered.”
“I’m fine, thanks. I’m sure Fran has leftovers up at the bunkhouse kitchen. Greg’ll save me some, or I can scrounge around in the fridge. Besides, I’d like to tell you something, if you don’t have to run off.”
Bella smiled. “I’m here as long as you need me. All night if necessary.”
“My mom told me she spoke to you before they left. About Ellie and Johnny.”
“Yes.”
“What she didn’t tell you, because I’ve never spoken about it, was what happened that day. I gave Haley a summary, but even she doesn’t know all of it.”
Bella placed her hands over his. “I’m here.”
Whip gulped, his hands shaking as he turned to her. “It was a great morning, sunny and hot. We were so happy hiking in the woods. Lots of shade. We were about halfway to Lizard Pond when it happened. We were excited to climb down to the beach and swim. Much cooler than taking the road. My mom would have been with us, and she did offer to drive us. There’s a dirt road that leads into the pond, but we wanted to hike, to have a cool adventure. We were all good swimmers and there’s a lifeguard at the pond. Plus she trusted Johnny and Ellie to look after me. They were really responsible.
“Johnny was in the lead, then me, then Ellie. We’d just stepped into a clearing when I heard Ellie scream, then a thud right behind me. When I turned, the cougar had her by the throat. I’m pretty sure she died quickly. Before I could go to her, Johnny grabbed a hold of me and threw me off the trail into the brush.
“‘Run, Whip, run!’ he yelled, but a second cougar had stepped into the clearing. Just like today, they were hunting together, which actually is kind of unusual for mountain lions. From what I know, they usually stalk their prey alone. I hesitated, and he yelled again, just as the second cougar jumped on him. I didn’t want to go, but I fought my way through the brush and did as he told me. When I passed Ellie’s body, the cougar was already ripping at the flesh on her shoulder.”
Bella struggled with waves of nausea at the image, but said nothing as she held his hands tightly.
“I ran the whole way, almost bust my lungs. When I came into the backyard, I started screaming like hell, and my mom came out on the back porch. I was panting so hard, it took me a few minutes to tell her what had happened. She told me to go get the cart while she ran into the house to call my dad.
“In those days we kept an old golf cart that my mom used mostly for gardening. Ordinarily I wasn’t allowed to drive it unless my dad was with me. By the time I’d driven around from the barn, he’d raced in. He had two other guys with him in ATVs. He insisted that my mom stay home. She was in pain, holding her stomach. He didn’t want to take me, but he needed to be sure we followed the right path. While we set off, my mom ran in the house to call the rangers.
“When we got to the clearing, my sister’s face was gone, and the cougars were dragging Johnny off. One of his arms was detached from his body. They’d gotten him in the neck too. There was blood everywhere. The last thing I remember are gunshots and my father’s rage. ‘Bastards, bastards, bastards!’ he kept yelling. Then my brain shut down.
“They tell me I didn’t talk for almost a year. I have no recollection of anything after the sound of my dad’s gun. In fact, I don’t recall anything clearly till I was in third grade. I guess they sent me to school, but I just sat there. Said nothing, didn’t interact with anyone. Nothing. Until I started up with Haley last week, I’ve never spoken about the attack to anyone. Not my parents, teachers, or the long line of child psychologists they took me to.”
By the time he finished talking, it was dark, and the stars were shining in a moonless sky. “Oh Whip, I am so sorry,” Bella said, wrapping her arms around him, knowing that no words could ever take away the horror.
Suddenly he reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “That’s Patty. She’s on her way.”
They walked arm and arm into the barn and waited for the vet. She gave Ghost the first rabies shot, said good night, and left them alone.
“Thanks,” he said, squeezing Bella’s hand. “I’m going to stay with Ghost, but you should head home and get some sleep.”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll sit with you for a while,” she said as he dragged several hay bales to the floor just outside Ghost’s stall.
“I’d usually sleep in the stall if a horse is sick, but with Ghost, better to be safe.”
They sat down beside each other, his arm around her, Bella’s head on his chest. It felt so good to feel his warmth against her cheek that she closed her eyes. “I love you,” she whispered, unsure whether he heard her or was already asleep. An occasional howl of a coyote, nickering from the stalls, or the cry of a night hawk in the distance lulled them to sleep.