Honoring Freedom (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #3)

Chapter Thirteen

Freedom stood outside the barn door waiting for Keller to finish examining Midnight and Requiem. When he stepped outside, wearing a grim expression, she felt the air swoosh from her lungs. “They didn’t make it, did they?”

Keller rubbed his jaw. “You might want to sit down for this.”

“I’ll stand. Spit it out.”

“Just as Jinx had said. Requiem has a relaxed lower lip, sweating, isn’t responding like he should.”

“Had he been administered any meds?” She strolled inside the barn, swiped the chart off the hook, and thumbed through the chart. “I don’t see anything recorded.”

“You won’t.” “Keller seemed uneasy.

“What about Midnight?”

“I’m sorry, Free. He didn’t make it. I did everything I could think of to save him.”

She dropped down onto a bale of hay, suddenly needing to sit before she fell flat on her face. She felt the sting of tears at the backs of her eyes, but she couldn’t allow herself to break down. She had to remain strong and focused. “How did this happen?”

He paused. “I’ve seen a few cases like this before. In poisoned horses.”

“Poisoned?” she snapped. “That can’t be.”

“The symptoms…I don’t know how it happened, but I think it’s the most logical explanation.”

“Can you tell what they got into?” Her heart pounded against her chest. The air turned thin and she couldn’t breathe.

“I asked Jinx and Billy to check the pastures for any poisonous plants. They’re not back yet.”

“This doesn’t make any sense.” She swallowed hard. “Will Requiem be okay?”

“As of right now, he’s fighting. He’s up and I have him hooked to an IV to help replenish hydration after all the vomiting. I used a nasogastric tube and mineral oil. I’m also sending off blood samples so we can be sure what toxic substance they were given. It’s a wait and see process before we have any concrete answers.”

“Given? As in you think someone intentionally gave them something toxic?” Her mind was blown.

“At this point, we know very little outside of the symptoms, so we need to cover all bases.”

“What about the other horses?” Her frown grew. “Are they okay?”

“They’re being monitored but it’s likely we would already be seeing similar symptoms by now if any of the others were exposed.”

She stood as restless energy invaded her body. “Requiem and Midnight were my prized thoroughbred sires. If they ingested anything toxic, that means…” She couldn’t even form the words on her tongue. This would—could—change everything.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions. Let’s wait for the results and then take a closer look. I didn’t find any needle marks and nothing in their feed. Requiem is almost finished with detox.”

“Keller,” Jinx came strolling in, followed by Billy. “We didn’t find anything toxic out in the pastures. How are they?”

Keller motioned for Jinx and Billy to follow him away from Freedom. She didn’t even care to be privy to the conversation.

Jinx nodded, looked back at Freedom, then headed into the back of the barn.

“I’m not getting a good feeling about this,” she said when Keller joined her again.

“I agree. The hands might need training in areas, but they’d never be as incompetent to let a horse get into anything poisonous.”

“What can I do to make Requiem comfortable?” Freedom couldn’t just sit there doing nothing.

“He will need hay and high fiber feed when he’s able to tolerate solid food. And how about a sponge and a bucket of warm water.”

“I’ll go get what we need.” Freedom went to grab the items, feeling at a cross between numb and ready to sob like a baby.

With the supplies in hand, she hurried to join Requiem, her heart racing. The usual cheerful, responsive horse had his head hanging and he didn’t acknowledge her when she entered the stall.

“Poor, boy,” she said.

Keller examined Requiem. “It’s okay, boy. Relax.” Wetting the sponge, Keller ran it down the horse’s back.

“Can I take over?”

“Sure.” Keller handed her the sponge. “The water will make him feel better.”

She gently wiped Requiem down and soothed him with a soft tone. “It’ll be okay, buddy. You’re going to get through this.” When she dipped the sponge to rewet it, she wrung it out then said to Keller, “Someone is sabotaging Sagebrush Rose. If we lose Requiem too, I won’t have any sires and will have lost the investment. But even worse, if word gets out that our horses have been poisoned, we’ll have an empty boarding stables by the end of the week.”

“We should probably tell Sam.”

“Daddy is out of town. He dropped the marriage bombshell then left. Something about Trinity needing his help. How long will it take to get the test results back for the horses?”

“Should be within three days.”

“Then we’ll wait until we have something more concrete to tell him.” She paused in moving the sponge down Requiem’s chest. “I sense your doubt.”

“I’m staying in my lane.” He opened his medical bag and took out his stethoscope, listening to Requiem’s heart and lungs. “The heart rate is up a bit, but his lungs are clear.”

“You’re going to be okay.” Freedom nuzzled the horse’s nose. “You’re tough.”

“Why don’t you go grab some dinner,” Keller told her. “I’ll stay and watch over him.”

“I’m not leaving him. You go on ahead,” she said stubbornly.

He stepped out of the stall, latched the door, and walked over to the workbench, took two blankets off a stack and tossed them onto the bales of hay. “Might as well get comfortable then because it’s going to be a long night.”

She spread out one of the blankets and sat down, bringing her knees to her chest. “He’ll pull through this. I know he will.”

“He’s looking better.” Keller sat down and stretched his legs. “Once the cameras are set up everywhere on the ranch we can keep a closer eye on things.”

“This all seems too coincidental with the incident at the cabin.” She yawned. The stress of the day was weighing heavily on her.

“Sneaking inside of the cabin is breaking and entering, and stealing your panties is a serious crime. I’d love to get my hands on the bastard.”

She laid her hand on his. “Keller, you don’t have to protect me.”

“I don’t have to, but I want to.” He took her hand and entwined their fingers. “I’m here for you.”

She cuddled up closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m still upset, but I am grateful that you’re here.”

“Where else would I be?” He threaded his fingers in her hair.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe grabbing a drink at Mav’s. Watching the game there with the crew. I remember you loved football.”

“Still do, but I’ll survive. I’d rather be here with you.” He kissed the top of her head. “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.”

She watched Requiem until sleep took over.