Free Shadow Horse by Alison Hart Page B

Hugh’s other horses.”
    She told her grandfather about spotting Shadow and realizing he had the same illness as Pocomo Pete. Then she went on to tell him how the horse was so weak that they practically had to lift him into the trailer.
    “Chase, a boy who works at the farm, he and I had to link hands behind Shadow’s hindquarters and push him into the trailer while Miss Hahn pulled. We finally got him back to the farm, and tomorrow Miss Hahn’s vet will be in to examine him and—”
    “Miss Schuler?” a voice cut in.
    Jas turned. A nurse with a friendly smile had come up beside Grandfather’s wheelchair. “Dr. Bindera would like to speak to you now. Besides, it’s time for your grandfather’s nap.”
    “Oh, right.” Jas glanced back at her grandfather. His eyelids were drooping. “I think I wore him out.”
    “No, you relieved his anxiety. He’s been very worried about you. And now that he’s seen you, I think he’ll be able to relax and concentrate on his therapy. We need to get him up and walking.”
    Jas stood up. Grandfather’s chin had dropped to his chest and he was snoring softly. She touched his hand one last time, then followed the nurse into the hall.
    Jas tensed up when she saw Miss Hahn sitting in the office with Dr. Bindera.
    On the drive over, Miss Hahn had asked Jas if she could listen in on the conversation with the doctor, explaining that she’d gone through the same thing with her mother. Jas hesitantly answered yes. She might be able to take care of herself, but she knew she couldn’t take care of her grandfather. She didn’t know the first thing about nursing homes or strokes.
    But after catching Miss Hahn listening in on her conversation with her grandfather, Jas wasn’t sure if she wanted anything from this woman.
    “Your grandfather is doing well, Miss Schuler,” Dr. Bindera, a plump woman with pitch-black hair, said, gesturing to a chair. “He’s very determined, and his previous strength and good health have given him an edge in recovery. Plus, his mind was not affected by the stroke, so he was lucky.”
    “Good.” Jas sat down, her hands clasped in her lap. “How long will he have to stay here?”
    “That’s hard to say. It depends on his progress. His left side suffered quite a bit of paralysis. Since he is right-handed it won’t affect him quite as much. We will continue working daily on his speech and strength.”
    “I guess that’s good news.” Jas hoped the doctor was being straightforward with her. If she was, then it sounded as if Grandfather was getting excellent care. Hugh had kept his end of the deal. When they left the nursing home five minutes later, Miss Hahn asked, “Did you have a nice visit with your grandfather?”
    “You should know,” Jas retorted.
    Miss Hahn stopped in the middle of the parking lot. “Pardon me?” she asked.
    Jas shot her an angry look. She couldn’t believe the woman was going to pretend she hadn’t been eavesdropping. “Never mind.” Striding ahead, Jas yanked open the car door and slid into the seat. She wasn’t going to say another word. She wasn’t going to give Miss Hahn anything more to tell Hugh.
    “Dr. Bindera seemed very competent,” Miss Hahn said a few minutes later as she started the car. “Speaking of doctors, Dr. Danvers will be at the farm tomorrow afternoon to check Shadow.”
    “Dr.
Danvers?”
Jas repeated, turning to face her.
    “Yes, he’s the farm’s veterinarian. He donates quite a bit of his time.”
    Jas’s heart thumped excitedly. She couldn’t believe her luck.
    “Shadow will have to stay in quarantine until Dr. Danvers gives him a clean bill of health,” Miss Hahn went on.
    But Jas wasn’t listening. She was thinking about Dr. Danvers. She had been wondering how she was going to contact the vet. Calling him up to ask him questions about Whirlwind would seem too suspicious.
    But now he was coming to Second Chance Farm, and all Jas had to do was just
happen
to mention Whirlwind.