Read Online Moon Shadow by Chris Platt - Free Book Online

stared in the window. “I’ll take care of your filly, Callie,” he promised. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
    Callie watched as Justin spun on his boot heels and walked off with his hands jammed in his pockets. She felt like a bigger jerk than ever. He was only trying to be nice to her, and she’d turned on him like a rabid dog. She’d gotten off on the wrong foot with him from the start. After the way she had just behaved, she doubted the young cowboy would ever forgive her. But worse than that, Moonbeam was gone.
    She put her head in her hands and sobbed.

Seven
    Callie stared out the truck’s window at the full moon. She wiped her eyes with a tissue and took a few steadying breaths. It was time to stop crying now. Crying wouldn’t help Moonbeam or her orphaned foal.
    Susan opened the door of the truck and climbed in.
    â€œHow’s Moon Shadow?” Callie asked, fumbling with the torn edge of her shirt.
    The vet turned the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life. “There was some mare’s milk with colostrum stored at the office. We got a good dose of that down her with a feeding tube. I sedated her a little and left the tube in so the cowboys can feed her a couple more times during the night. In the morning, Sam wants to try putting Moon Shadow in with another mare and foal to see if the mare will take her. If not, we’ll have to try bottle-feeding her.” Susan glanced at Callie as she put the truck in gear and backed out of their spot. “If she won’t take the bottle, she probably won’t make it.”
    Callie leaned her head against the side window and stared at the shadowy desert that lay under the light of the moon. She’d lost Moonbeam forever. The beautiful mustang would never again gallop over this sage-covered land. She refused to lose the filly, too. She hoped the mare would accept the newborn foal. If not, then she planned to do everything she could to get Moon Shadow to take a bottle.
    Clamping her lips together in determination, Callie looked back toward the mustang pens. Somehow, she’d find a way to save Moon Shadow.
    â€œI called your folks and told them what was happening,” Susan said as she turned onto the road that led to Callie’s house. “Your mom has your dinner warming on the stove.”
    Callie wrinkled her nose. Dinner was the last thing she wanted right now. “Are you going back to the pens tonight to check on Moon Shadow?” she asked.
    Susan shook her head. “Sam assured me that he’s done this kind of thing a hundred times,” she told Callie. “He’ll feed the little filly during the night, and I’ll be there first thing in the morning. He has my cell number if he needs me.”
    Seeing that Callie was about to protest, Susan held up her hand. “Moon Shadow will be fine,” the vet said. “You need to get a good night’s sleep so you’ll have a clear head in the morning.” She slowed the truck down and turned into Callie’s driveway.
    Callie thanked Susan for the ride and made arrangements to meet her the next morning. Then she turned and walked toward the house. Her mother met her at the door with a big hug.
    â€œI’m sorry to hear about that mustang, honey,” she said. “I know how much that little mare meant to you. Susan tells me that her filly is still alive.”
    Callie nodded as she extricated herself from her mother’s bear hug and bent to take off her shoes. “I’m really tired, Mom. Is it okay if I skip dinner and go straight to bed? I’ve got to be up early to meet Susan in the morning.”
    Her mother started to insist, then gave in to Callie’s pleading look. “Okay,” Mrs. McLean said. “I don’t suppose you have much of an appetite now anyway. I’ll make you a good breakfast tomorrow.” She kissed Callie on the top of her head and shooed her toward