Greener Pastures - Alyssa Brugman [41]
'I know,' her father said. 'I've just talked to Brenda Edel. She's going to call a truck for us.' He opened the phone again and moved away from the two girls to make another call.
Shelby sat down in the road and put Chance's face in her lap. He looked into her eyes and her heart lurched. She stroked his cheek and ran her fingers across his eyes.
'Shh,' she whispered. 'Not long now. I promise.'
The vet seemed to take forever. Every now and then Chance rocked and groaned. Shelby looked at his legs thrashing. Her great-aunt came over and touched her on the shoulder. 'Is there anything I can do? Can I get you a water? Anything?'
Shelby shook her head. She sniffed.
'Maybe a tissue?' her great-aunt suggested.
'Thanks,' Shelby said.
Aunty Jenny headed back to the car.
Lydia whimpered into the pony's shoulder.
Shelby had never been so pleased to see the vet from the stables, Miranda. She nodded a welcome to Shelby. She shook hands with Shelby's dad and Aunty Jenny and they talked quietly for a moment. Then she quickly moved over to check the pony. When she examined Chance's feet Shelby could see her wince, even though she was trying to maintain her expression.
Miranda rocked back on her heels. 'Lydia, I can see by the type of shoes Chance has that you've already had a diagnosis of acute laminitis, so you understand about rotation of the coffin bone. What has happened here is that your pony's coffin bone has sunk through his sole. I don't think it is going to get better, and he's in a lot of pain. I am recommending that we euthanase him – that we put him down. We need to do it right now. Do you understand?'
Lydia wailed and pushed her face against Chance's side. The vet turned to Shelby's father. 'I need permission.'
'I'm giving it,' he answered quickly.
'Normally we would move the animal to a place that's more convenient for burial or collection, but I'm not going to try to move this little man. To do so would be too cruel.'
'That's OK,' Shelby's father said. 'I'm sure we'll manage.'
The vet continued. 'We can arrange collection. It's an extra cost, or Brenda Edel can organise . . .'
Chance groaned again. It was a long shuddering sound that made Shelby shiver. He rolled back. The sweat on his neck was foaming white.
'We're dealing with it,' Shelby's dad told Miranda.
'Lydia.' The vet tried to get her attention. Lydia sobbed into Chance's coat. 'Do you understand what I need to do? Look at me, sweetheart!'
Lydia looked up. Her face was swollen from crying and dirty marks smeared her cheeks.
'I'm going to give you a moment to say goodbye, but I want you to remember that he will understand what you are feeling, so you need to keep your sadness inside for him. Do you hear me? We don't want him to feel panicked and afraid. Save up your sadness for after.' Miranda went to her car to collect her bag.
Lydia stood up, moved around Chance's legs and knelt down next to Shelby. She pressed her face against the pony's cheek.
'I'm sorry, Chancey,' she whimpered as she rubbed her face against his. 'I thought you were better. I really did.' She started crying again. 'And now you're going to die and it's all my fault!'
Shelby patted her friend's shoulder. 'You're supposed to be calm for him, remember? Just tell him you love him.'
Lydia kissed the pony on the soft velvety part of his nose, whispering to him through her tears.
The vet came back. Lydia was crying uncontrollably now. Aunty Jenny put an arm around her shoulder and led her a short distance away.
Shelby kissed Chance's face.
'You've been such a good boy,' she told him, while the vet shaved a patch of hair on his neck. Out of the corner of her eye Shelby could see Miranda loading three syringes.
'I'm going to do it now. He will stiffen for a minute and then he will drop. He might twitch for a while afterwards. That's normal. OK?'
Shelby nodded. 'You're a lovely boy,' she told him again. She put her hand in the middle