shape, overgrown as if no vehicle had passed there for some time. Fresh tracks through grass, weeds and a sprouting blackberry bush testified it was an actual driveway.
“No worries.” Sean gave the wheel a slow spin. “I’ve got four-wheel drive.”
“Let’s hope you don’t need it.” She couldn’t imagine getting the horses and trailers out if they did. Julianna seemed to enjoy the jolting and pitching, her eyes shining with the importance of their adventure.
It wasn’t long before a clearing gave way to a mass of parked vehicles and the saddest sight. Eloise gasped aloud at the four shapes huddled in the shade of a maple tree in a barren, tumbling-down corral. The shapes were animals covered with thick layers of dried-on mud and dirt.
The sharp hint of bones pierced the horses’ sides. Her vision blurred with hot, shocked tears and obscured the image of the half-starved horses. Sean’s truck rolled to a stop and she wondered if she should make Julianna stay in the cab or call her father to inform him the situation might be too graphic for her.
But it was too late. Julianna unclicked her belt, rising to her knees on the seat. She gripped the steering wheel, straining to look. “What happened to them? Why are they like that?”
“They’re starving, sweetie.” Sean answered, his baritone layered with sadness. “Someone left them to fend for themselves.”
The place was obviously abandoned. The old farm-housestood dark and silent with weeds growing on the walkway and obscuring the front steps.
“It’s been foreclosed on. When the appraiser came to take a look at the property for the bank, she found this.” A woman who must be Angie, the lady from the county shelter, strode over in a simple shirt, jeans and boots. “Nate is taking a look at them right now. They seem glad to see us, poor things.”
“It’s good to meet you, Angie.” Eloise didn’t remember tumbling from the truck, only that she was on the ground staring at the horses. She swiped at her eyes. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t prepared for this. Julianna?”
“I’ve got her,” Sean answered. The girl’s hand was tucked safely in his as they watched Nate work with the animals.
“We’re going to help them, right?” Tears rolled down the girl’s face.
“That’s why we’re here.” Sean was ten feet tall in her view. Shoulders square, spine straight, unfailingly decent. It was really hard not to look at him and think, “amazing.”
“I’m sorry to bring you all the way out here like this.” Angie glanced at her cell screen before tucking it into her pocket. “I was just getting ready to call you. It’s worse than I thought. I suppose you are rethinking your offer?”
“Not at all.” The wind puffed lazily against her as she turned toward the fence. One of the horses lifted her head over the top rail, nostrils scenting the air, chocolate eyes gleaming with the smallest hope. “My boss would not want me to walk away from this.”
“Whew. I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that.” Angie tugged at her hat brim. “Our donations are down in this economy, and we are stretched thin as it is. I’mnot sure we have the resources for this, even with Nate donating his services. They are good horses, as far as I can tell. Calm. A little skittish, but that’s to be expected.”
“How long have they been like this?”
“Probably a few months. I talked to a neighbor. No one realized the animals were left behind or they would have done something sooner. The folks who left probably had no money to deal with the animals, but they should have called us. We could have helped. That’s why we’re here.”
A sad situation. Eloise set the tip of her cane on the uneven ground. “At least we can help now. How long before we can trailer them?”
“As soon as Nate is done. I think he intends to follow you back to town. They are going to need some special care.”
“We will make sure they get it.” Determined, she joined