Page 13 of The Breakdown

“There’s nothing left to do tonight,” Gram said. “’Less you wanna help Vaughn tend to some cuts on Hazel.”

Natalie looked at Vaughn with hope in her eyes. “Can I?”

Vaughn shrugged, not used to people getting excited over treating some minor cuts. “Sure.” She led Natalie to one of the supply shelves where they housed the first aid materials. She walked down to Hazel’s stall, gave her some gentle pats, and opened the door to enter. Vaughn carefully cleaned her hands with antiseptic gel before she got started removing the taped-on gauze. Luckily, from what she could see, the wound on Hazel’s leg wasn’t very deep.

“Here you go,” Vaughn said, handing the hand sanitizer to Natalie.

Natalie cleaned her hands and hesitantly stepped inside the stall. “Is this okay?” she asked, as if each step might rattle the horse.

“You’re fine,” Vaughn said, smiling to herself. “Hazel doesn’t spook easy.”

“Oh. Good to know.”

Vaughn knelt closer and reached back toward Natalie. “You want to hand me that wound cleaner there? The white bottle. And some gauze?”

Natalie did as instructed and Vaughn began cleaning the wound. She knew that Gram had already done so, but it never hurt to do it twice. Hazel took a few miniscule steps but otherwise remained in place.

“Good girl,” Vaughn cooed. “That’s a good girl.”

“How did she hurt herself?” Natalie asked.

“She got tangled up in some wire.”

“That sounds painful.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Vaughn sprayed on more cleaner and dabbed the last cut with the gauze. “She’s lucky this is mostly superficial.”

“How did she, you know, come across the wire?”

“She most likely got too close to the outside fence line when that storm rolled in. She wasn’t supposed to be out that way, but there she was. That’s where Gram found her.”

“Does that happen often? Horses going where they aren’t supposed to?”

Vaughn reached back again and met her curious gaze. “No. Not often. Will you hand me that Silvet Silver Spray now? The gray bottle.”

Natalie handed it over. Vaughn applied it generously to the wound and straightened, trash in hand. “That should do it.”

Natalie smiled as if feeling truly accomplished. “She’s all better?”

“Should be, in about a week or so. We’ll keep her duties light until then.”

Vaughn exited the stall, allowed Natalie to follow, and closed it up and threw away the used gauze. She cleaned her hands again and led them out of the stables. She’d hoped for a gentle breeze outside to help stir the heavy feel to the air, but she was met with disappointment. Maybe a ride on the Quadrunner would help.

“I need to ride out to where Hazel was found to check that fence line before I turn in,” she said.

“Mind if I come along?” Natalie asked. “I’d love to see more of the ranch.”

Vaughn appreciated her eagerness to help, but she was tired, bordering on exhausted, and the thought of Natalie clinging to her on the back of the four-wheeler sent her head spinning to places it shouldn’t go.

“You wouldn’t be able to see much tonight,” Vaughn said. “And I really need to make it a quick check.”

The letdown wasn’t well disguised on Natalie’s face. But she lightheartedly smiled, nonetheless. “Raincheck?”

“Sure.”

“Okay.” She began to walk slowly away. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“We’ll be up bright and early,” Vaughn said.