Before Knight had even pulled the car to a complete stop, I was out the door and running for the stall.
"I found JoEllen," Knight called. "She’s pretty banged up."
Forcing myself to put humans before animals, admittedly sothing hard to do in the mont, I rushed to the side of the barn where Knight was helping JoEllen sit up.
"What happened?" I asked her as I knelt beside her.
"I’m not sure," she admitted. "I was talking to you and then I felt pain in my head. That’s all I rember."
Knight checked her over and grabbed an icepack from his bag, twisting it to activate the chemicals. He laid it over the back of JoEllen’s head and said, "Keep this secure. I’ll check on Fozzie and then we’ll see if we need to call an ambulance. I think you’re okay, but you might want to go to the ergency room to check for a concussion."
JoEllen shook her head. "It’s fine. I’ve had far worse hits falling off horses."
"Okay, hold tight," Knight said, and stepped back into the barn to look Fozzie over. I stood at the threshold, so I could watch both JoEllen and Knight. Fozzie was not himself, but I had to let Knight work.
"Where’s his feed?" Knight asked.
"In the loft," I said. "Up those stairs."
"Stay with Fozzie, Kim. I’ll be right back," Knight demanded.
I forced back panic, walking into Fozzie’s stall, and dropping my forehead to his. He was so dull. So unlike him. I heard Knight return before I saw him.
"Yeah. Yeah. Twenty-four-seven. Buck’s good. Get Cricket to cover Kim’s shift tonight too, yeah? Thanks, brother." He walked back in the stall, a syringe in his hand.
"What’s that for?" I asked.
"Fozzie’s been poisoned, Kim. This will help reverse the effects."
"What?" I rasped as Knight sunk the needle into the horse’s neck, pressing the plunger down.
He rubbed his hand across the shot area and faced . "Buck’s comin’ to watch him."
I felt tears drip down my face and Knight pulled against him, stroking my hair. "My uncle did this."
"Probably," he agreed.
"He won’t stop, Knight. Things are going to get worse."
"I’ve got you, sugar. Both of you. Booker’s doin’ backgrounds on everyone who works here and we’re gonna install caras."
I took a second to let him comfort , my heart racing as he did. "What was it?"
"Thiaminase."
I shook my head and t his eyes. "Which is what?"
"Bracken. Fozzie’s oats are littered with it, but since the symptoms ca on so quickly, I’m guessing soone’s shot him up with it."
"Quickly?" I gasped. "What normally happens?"
"It’d take a month or more for him to have these symptoms typically, so soone got impatient."
"What did you give him?"
"Thiamine shot. It should start to reverse the poison. We’ll give him more in three hours, then intramuscularly for a few days. I drew so blood and I’ll see how much is in his system and if we need to give him antibiotics."
I pulled out of the comfort of his arms and reached for Fozzie who nuzzled gently, and then shoved his nose against my hand. "Can I give him a carrot?"
"No, sugar. Sorry. We need to make sure this works."
"Sorry, boy." I stroked Fozzie’s nose. "Gotta make sure you’re okay first."
Knight ran his hands over him again, checking his eyes and mouth, his countenance easy and gentle as he cared for my horse.
"Did I hear you say sothing about Cricket?" I asked.
Knight nodded. "She’s coverin’ your shift tonight so you can focus on Fozzie. Buck’s gonna co take first watch."
If I didn’t love him before, I sure as hell loved him now, and I was so glad he was with when the call ca. "I’m liking the armor," I whispered.
He gave a gentle smile. "Good."
"Knight," a deep voice called, causing a few of the horses to whinny.
Knight leaned over the stall. "Back here, Buck."
The next few hours were relatively painless. Fozzie responded almost imdiately to the shots Knight administered and he was happy with his progress. JoEllen refused to go to the hospital, so Knight insisted she hang around so he could check for signs of concussion. After he gave Fozzie the second shot, he grabbed his bag. "Let’s head to the clinic, babe. I’ll run the blood and grab more supplies."
"I don’t want to leave him," I argued.
"And I don’t want to leave you."
"I got ’em both, brother," Buck said.
Knight turned his head slowly toward the young recruit and I stepped between them. Bikers weren’t overly fond of other n getting between their relationships, even if he was a Dog, and I saw the irritation in Knight’s expression.
"I think we’ll be okay here," I countered.
"Not comfortable with that."
I patted his chest. "What if sothing happens while we’re gone? I’ll be the only one who’ll know if Fozzie’s acting out of character. It would be better if I stay. I trust Buck."
He stared at for a second and then glanced over my head. "You carryin’?"
"Always," Buck said.
I slid my arms to Knight’s sides. "We’ll be fine, honey."
Knight focused on again. "You notice anything weird... with Fozzie or just in general, you call ."
"I will."
He sighed. "I don’t like leaving you."
"I know. But we’re okay."
After a few more minutes of go-around, he kissed , grabbed my keys, and took off to the clinic. I headed back into the stall where my horse was quiet for the mont, but no longer lethargic. The temperature had dropped considerably since we’d arrived, so I grabbed Fozzie’s blanket from my tack box and carried it into the stall.
"Need so help?" Buck asked, peeking in.
Buck was new... a recruit who was maybe eighteen. He was African Arican with startling green eyes. He resembled Michael Ealy and he was gorgeous. I couldn’t wait to find out what his story was.
"No, I’m good." I smiled. "He gets jittery around n he doesn’t know."
"You let know if you need ."
"I will, Buck, thanks."
Once Fozzie was wrapped up, I texted Dani to fill her in on what was going on, then spent so ti mucking Fozzie’s stall, sneaking him a carrot (or two) before Knight got back. I was surprised to see Booker and Mack following him. I stepped out of the stall, receiving a quick kiss from Knight before finding myself pulled in for a tight hug from Mack. "Hey, buddy."
Even though Mack didn’t release , Booker kissed my cheek gently and I smiled. "Hey, babe. FYI, I made Dani stay ho. She’s not happy with , so you might want to call her. She said no more texts, she wants to hear your voice."
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