Read Online Totally Buzzed (A Miller Sisters Mystery) by Gale Borger - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gale Borger
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oats as Alejandro trotted her down the blacktop drive and back. She tossed her head and kicked up her heels like she knew she was a champion. Many heads turned to watch Alejandro trot her toward the barn.
Alejandro looked up and down the aisles for Dr. Huerta. One of the broodmares had a slightly swollen tendon along her cannon bone, and it felt a little warm around the fetlock area of her left front leg. Alejandro thought he saw Huerta hurrying around a corner by the entrance to the coliseum. He carried the briefcase that had ridden up in the backseat of the pickup. Alejandro thought that was rather odd. He thought the registration papers and health certifications were in there, and the show office was in the opposite direction from where Dr. Huerta was headed. He called to him, but Huerta either did not hear, or ignored him.
Turning his attention back to the mare, Alejandro broke open a cold pack and bandaged it in place over the swollen tendon. He helped Jose bed the mares down. They fed and watered them lightly to avoid colic after the long ride. Jose scuttled off to find them both something to eat, and Alejandro began setting up house in a double stall, which had been left empty in the middle of the line-up. It was totally enclosed for security and privacy by curtains, which hung on all four sides.
Señor Martinez had hired someone to have the stall decorations bought and set up in advance. Alejandro was happy to escape that tiresome task. He stood back and observed the results.
The red, black, and gold curtains, swags, and tassels covering the stalls were eye-catching and elegant. The white banner announcing 'Ranchero del Sol' and 'Princesa Dianna' draped across the aisle near the temporary tack room. Each stall had a name plaque and a listing of winnings and points. The tack room itself was large enough to accommodate living quarters for Alejandro and Jose, as well as tack, grooming, and medical supplies. Alejandro could have stayed in a motel, but he did not like leaving the horses at night. A curtain was pulled across one end to provide extra privacy for a dressing room.
Jose returned with supper, and he and Alejandro dined on burgers and fries. Speaking Spanish, Alejandro and Jose discussed the schedule for the next day. After supper, they fed the mares a little more and prepared to lock up for the night. After checking on the injured mare and replacing the cold pack with another, Alejandro turned to find Jose looking over his shoulder. "Jose, have you seen Dr Huerta since we arrived this afternoon?"
"No, Alejandro. The doctor, he is not in! Hah-hah, I made a little joke! I have not seen him since we arrived. Do we look for him now?"
"No, Jose, we get some sleep now. I'll check on the mare throughout the night. I iced her down earlier and I have her wrapped for the night. Right now the leg looks pretty good. If she is not considerably better by morning, I'll have an American vet check her out if Huerta doesn't show up."
Jose nodded and looked thoughtfully at the injured mare. "I will get a snack now. I will check on her before I go to sleep. You will be up with the birds anyway, and she will be good until then, no?"
"Yes, she will be good until then. Thank you, Jose, good night. Wake me if the leg looks worse, okay?"
Jose turned and walked back toward the cook tent in the parking lot. He waved over the back of his head and yelled, "Okay, boss!"
Alejandro checked on his charges one more time. He spoke in quiet tones and stroked each soft nose. They pressed against the stall doors, trying to get closer to him. He loved them all. They were such individual personalities; it was like having a room full of his own spoiled children. One despised what another loved. One could not be transported next to this one, but stood placidly beside another. One was at her best in the morning, and another kicked the stall apart if she was not coddled like an old lap dog before bedding down. Saying goodnight to each was a
Alejandro looked up and down the aisles for Dr. Huerta. One of the broodmares had a slightly swollen tendon along her cannon bone, and it felt a little warm around the fetlock area of her left front leg. Alejandro thought he saw Huerta hurrying around a corner by the entrance to the coliseum. He carried the briefcase that had ridden up in the backseat of the pickup. Alejandro thought that was rather odd. He thought the registration papers and health certifications were in there, and the show office was in the opposite direction from where Dr. Huerta was headed. He called to him, but Huerta either did not hear, or ignored him.
Turning his attention back to the mare, Alejandro broke open a cold pack and bandaged it in place over the swollen tendon. He helped Jose bed the mares down. They fed and watered them lightly to avoid colic after the long ride. Jose scuttled off to find them both something to eat, and Alejandro began setting up house in a double stall, which had been left empty in the middle of the line-up. It was totally enclosed for security and privacy by curtains, which hung on all four sides.
Señor Martinez had hired someone to have the stall decorations bought and set up in advance. Alejandro was happy to escape that tiresome task. He stood back and observed the results.
The red, black, and gold curtains, swags, and tassels covering the stalls were eye-catching and elegant. The white banner announcing 'Ranchero del Sol' and 'Princesa Dianna' draped across the aisle near the temporary tack room. Each stall had a name plaque and a listing of winnings and points. The tack room itself was large enough to accommodate living quarters for Alejandro and Jose, as well as tack, grooming, and medical supplies. Alejandro could have stayed in a motel, but he did not like leaving the horses at night. A curtain was pulled across one end to provide extra privacy for a dressing room.
Jose returned with supper, and he and Alejandro dined on burgers and fries. Speaking Spanish, Alejandro and Jose discussed the schedule for the next day. After supper, they fed the mares a little more and prepared to lock up for the night. After checking on the injured mare and replacing the cold pack with another, Alejandro turned to find Jose looking over his shoulder. "Jose, have you seen Dr Huerta since we arrived this afternoon?"
"No, Alejandro. The doctor, he is not in! Hah-hah, I made a little joke! I have not seen him since we arrived. Do we look for him now?"
"No, Jose, we get some sleep now. I'll check on the mare throughout the night. I iced her down earlier and I have her wrapped for the night. Right now the leg looks pretty good. If she is not considerably better by morning, I'll have an American vet check her out if Huerta doesn't show up."
Jose nodded and looked thoughtfully at the injured mare. "I will get a snack now. I will check on her before I go to sleep. You will be up with the birds anyway, and she will be good until then, no?"
"Yes, she will be good until then. Thank you, Jose, good night. Wake me if the leg looks worse, okay?"
Jose turned and walked back toward the cook tent in the parking lot. He waved over the back of his head and yelled, "Okay, boss!"
Alejandro checked on his charges one more time. He spoke in quiet tones and stroked each soft nose. They pressed against the stall doors, trying to get closer to him. He loved them all. They were such individual personalities; it was like having a room full of his own spoiled children. One despised what another loved. One could not be transported next to this one, but stood placidly beside another. One was at her best in the morning, and another kicked the stall apart if she was not coddled like an old lap dog before bedding down. Saying goodnight to each was a
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