Free Star Gazer by Chris Platt Page B

That would be the saddest thing ever and their rescue would have been for nothing.
    She stood there for a minute with her stomach tied in knots. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Things will work out, she told herself, reaching a shaky hand for the lead rope that Jacob was holding out for her. This was her big dream coming true. Everything had to be okay.
    But as she attempted to lead Star Gazer down the slight hill to her stall, doubts as big as the draft mare herself settled in Jordan’s heart.

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    â€œBe 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.
    â€œI’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.”
    â€œWe’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.”
    â€œMy 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?”
    â€œThey’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.”
    â€œOh,” 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.
    â€œI 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.”
    â€œThat 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