Read Online Storm Chaser by Chris Platt - Free Book Online

appeared outside the corral. Jessica was surprised to see him. She hadn’t heard him approach. “She doesn’t want me to touch her,” Jessica said with a frown as she tossed the brush back into the bucket.
    â€œGive it some time,” Duncan suggested. “She’s been wild for the last couple of years. It doesn’t happen all in one day.”
    Jessica didn’t care. She wanted it to happen now. They needed to look at that injured hoof before infection set in. “So what should I do?”
    â€œYou’ve got Rusty to help you,” Duncan said. “A lot of the time these young horses take their cues from the older ones. They look to see how the older horse reacts to a situation and they act the same way.”
    â€œGee, thanks!” Jessica called after Duncan’s retreating form.
    Duncan looked back over his shoulder. “You’ll figure it out, Jess.”
    Jessica knew she wouldn’t get any more out of Duncan right now. He’d said plenty. She’d have to sort this one out on her own. She leaned her elbows on the fence and observed the two horses for a while. Sure enough, everywhere Rusty went, Storm Chaser followed like a little puppy. The filly limped along behind him, walking when he walked, stopping when he stopped. The paint watched Rusty drink from the water trough and sidled up beside him, sticking her muzzle deep into the trough.
    An idea suddenly occurred to Jessica. She knew her father and brother would recommend soaking the hoof to draw out any infection. She quickly ran to the tool shed and dragged a couple of old wooden saw horses over to Rusty’s feeder, blocking off the sides so the horses would have to stand directly in front of the feeder to eat.
    Next she went to the old pig pen and found the rectangular feeder they used for the weaner pigs they’d raised last season. The feeder was long and shallow. It would work perfectly for soaking the foot of a reluctant horse. After washing the container thoroughly, Jessica lugged several buckets of warm water from the house and gathered some Epsom salts and vinegar. She’d watched her father use these ingredients before. They worked together to draw the infection out of a wound.
    Rusty watched calmly, but Storm Chaser snorted in surprise as Jessica brought the metal pig feeder into the corral and placed it in front of the manger where the horses ate. Next, she poured in the warm water and added the Epsom salts and vinegar.
    Rusty stepped forward and sniffed the strange concoction, lifting his upper lip and making a funny horse face. “I know it stinks,” Jessica told him with a laugh. “Like my dad always says, ‘The worse it smells, the better the medicine.’”
    Chase stood far back from the odd-smelling brew. Jessica hoped her plan would work. She went to the hay pile and grabbed a big armload of hay. Rusty saw her coming and nickered in excitement. He loved to eat.
    Jessica tossed the hay into the feeder and stepped back to see if the horses would venture into the water to get to the food. Rusty gave the pig feeder a suspicious look and lowered his head to sniff the water. He stood for several moments, pondering the situation.
    â€œCome on, Rusty,” she pleaded. “I’m counting on you.”
    The old gelding put one foot in the water and snorted. Jessica was sure he was going to turn and run for the other end of the pen, but his belly got the better of him. He put both feet in the pig feeder and stretched his neck toward the manger full of grass hay.
    Chase wandered closer. Jessica noticed that when the filly stood still, she shifted the weight off her hurt foot. Her injury seemed to be getting worse. After a few minutes of assessing the situation, the paint apparently realized that Rusty was eating all the good stuff. She hobbled to within a few feet of the hay.
    Jessica had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing as Chase contorted her