Read Online Lois Greiman - [Hope Springs 02] by Home Fires - Free Book Online

forward. Pain, he knew, was driving daggers through her belly, but she did as she was asked and took a staggering step toward the trailer.
    “Call the hospital,” Sophie said.
    Ty glanced at her, barely understanding her words.
    “Emily!” the girl snapped. Em jerked toward her. “Call Dakota Equine. Tell them we’re bringing in an emergency.”
    “I don’t . . .” Em shook her head, looking dazed and worried. Maybe she was thinking of her unborn baby. Maybe she was wondering how she was going to pay her own hospital bills. God knew Casie would help her if she could, but how was she going to do that when she was sinking money into vet bills? Em glanced at him, eyes as worried as Angel’s. “I don’t know the phone number. Maybe I should—” she began, but Sophie stopped her.
    “Well, find it. Tell them we have a colicky horse. Older. Early twenties, maybe. Mixed breed. Nine hundred pounds. Generally good health. We’ll be there in forty-five minutes.”
    “How are you going to get all the way to Rapid City in forty-five—”
    “Just call them,” she barked and turned her attention to the mare. “All right.” She calmed her voice, pursed her lips. Casie came around the back of the trailer, expression strained.
    “We ready?”
    Ty clenched his fists. He was trying like hell to be strong, but he wasn’t strong. Never had been. “What if she goes down in the trailer?”
    “She’s not going to,” Sophie said.
    “What if she does? ” He was sick to death of Sophie Jaegar with her glowing skin and stinking superiority.
    “She’s not going down,” she repeated, “because we’re going to hold her up.”
    “What? No, you’re not,” Casie said, but Sophie had her back up.
    “Angel’s not going to . . .” She paused and took a deep breath. “She’s not going to die.”
    “You can’t ride in the trailer!” Casie said. “It’s not safe. It’s not even sane.”
    “Well, this whole thing is crazy, isn’t it? Ty said himself the horse isn’t worth the cost of a bullet.” Her tone was harsh, her eyes bright with emotion. She was probably mad about the waste of money, too. Blue, the colt she adored, needed supplements. Hell, every animal on the property needed something. “We’re wasting time. Let’s get on the road.”
    “All right,” Casie said, “but you’re not riding back there.”
    “Then she’s as good as dead.” The girl’s tone was steady and absolute.
    Ty felt the words in his gut. He knew it was stupid. The old mare should probably just be put down. In the long run it might be kinder, but . . . He shifted his eyes to Angel’s. They were wide with fear, dark with a hundred memories of time they had shared together, of times he had wept when no one else could see. Of times he had whispered his deepest fears, his most closely guarded secrets. He felt his throat close up, felt his hands shake.
    For a moment he could feel Casie’s gaze on him, hot as a heat lamp.
    “Load her up,” Casie said, but he couldn’t bear to look at her. To thank her. Neither could he argue, though he was sure he should. His mother would be screaming mad if she knew they were throwing away good money on this worthless nag.
    He tugged the mare toward the vehicle.
    Angel stumbled as she heaved herself into the trailer, groaned as she hoisted up her hindquarters. But she didn’t refuse. She never refused. Casie had once said the old girl would walk through fire for him. He swallowed, trapped in Angel’s eyes, as Sophie stepped up beside the mare, hand braced on her neck.
    “Shut the door,” she ordered. Her tone was abrasive, her expression taut. But she didn’t sound angry. Maybe she was scared, too. Maybe this was what she was like when she was afraid . . . more irritating than ever. God help them all.
    “Listen—” Casie said, but Sophie spoke first.
    “We’ll be all right.” Her voice had dropped a few decibels. “We will.”
    Casie scowled at her, then shifted her gaze to Ty. “You