Some More Chapter 7

Here's chapter seven. It's kinda sad. Tell me what you think, ok? And Froula girls, guess what? I have to get off this computer to go pack my suitcase!!! SEE YOU!



Chapter Seven: Rainy Saturday

It had been raining for days. The mud was thick and the grass slippery. It was not a good day for riding, but of course, the weather did not stop Kit.

She was out in the ring, wearing her cow-boy hat pulled low, a too tight sweatshirt, and riding Indigo. Her jeans were spattered with mud and her boots just in the edge of the slippery stirrups.

As usual, she locked in her own world, seeing only the horse and the ring. Nobody else was in the yard. Josh was in the barn cleaning his saddle, and Becca and Maggie were in the hayloft playing card games. Julia and Martha were mucking stalls, and Jen was checking on all the pastures. The creek was close to flooding due to all the rain, and she wanted all the horses in the near fields.

Even though the morning was wet and cool, both Indigo and Kit were in a sweat. Both of them were working hard, but they were deathly quiet, except for a few grunts from Indigo, or a quick command from Kit. But Kit didn't say much, because she knew horses listen better to actions then to words.

Back and forth, up and down, gallop, weaving the barrels, trying little jumps. Kit pulled her grubby hat lower, and Indigo listened to her happy words of praise.

After awhile longer, Kit stopped for a break. She dismounted, leading Indigo to the water trough. She flicked the lather from his neck and sides, and laughed.

"Man, you're good!" she said, dipping her blistered hands into the cool water, Kit never wore gloves. "You're so fast and smart!"

Indigo grunted, and began to drink heartily. "But it's true though!" said Kit "You wild thing!" She fingered his mane, now long and glossy. "I could ride you forever and ever and never get tired of it." she whispered, laying her head on his neck.

The sudden sound of footsteps running, made her look up, Indigo too raised his head from the trough, water dribbling down his nose.

It was Josh. "Kit!" he called "Kit, Jen needs you in the barn right now!"

"Why?" asked Kit, grabbing hold of the reins.

"It's Bill. He's got the colic again. Really bad too."

Kit's eyes flashed with concern.

"Here, I'll take Indigo." said Josh, reaching for the reins "Just hurry! Jen needs you now."

Kit nodded, slipped the reins into Josh's hands, and ducked under the fence, running to the barn.

Bill did have the colic badly. The poor horse, that used to be so strong, was nothing but skin and bones. He lay on the floor of his stall, motionless.. Jen was there, kneeling in the wood shavings, massaging his belly. Julia and Martha stood watching, clearly very nervous. Maggie was holding Becca close in the tack room. Becca was crying.

Kit entered the stall. "I'm here." she whispered to Jen. Jen looked up sadly. "What do you want me to do, Jen?" asked Kit

"Kit..."

"Yes?"

"There's nothing we can do." said Jen painfully

"No! What? No! There's got to be something we can do! Can't we..."

"He's old, Kit. Bill's time has come."

Kit looked wildly about the stall. Jen had tears in her eyes, as did Julia. Martha was clutching a pitch-fork so hard her knuckles were white.

Josh came in the barn leading Indigo, once Indigo was put away in his stall and brushed, Josh joined the sad group.

Kit gently scooped up Bill's great head, and cradled it in her arms. Kit wasn't crying, she showed no emotion. Kit never showed a great emotion over anything that pained her. Kit held Bill's head up to her chest, her dark hair falling on his white fur. She whispered many things to him, and pet his nose.

She didn't let go of him until he died.

When Bill took his last breath Julia began to cry, she was at once joined by Martha and Jen. Maggie too, began to sniffle. Josh silently got up and left the barn, going out into the driving rain.

Kit gave Bill one last kiss, gave a encouraging glace to the three sad women, got up, and left the stall. On the way out she gave a quick hug to Maggie, patted Becca on the back, then went outside.

Once Jen dried her tears, she got to work finding a place to bury Bill. Nobody noticed Kit had left until nearly an hour had passed. Maggie noticed first. The grown-ups were all busy, but she found Josh, and together the two of them went looking for Kit.

They spotted her in the cart ponies' pen. she had her arms wrapped around a pony's neck and was sobbing.

"Shhh, let's leave her alone." said Maggie, knowing Kit would not like to be caught crying. "She'll come back when she she's ready." Josh nodded in agreement.

And Kit did come back later, to help bury Old Bill in a far off pasture. She showed no emotion as she took one last look at Bill.

But the image of Kit crying, and clinging onto the pony never left the minds of Maggie and Josh.