“I can help.” Wasn’t like my morning was packed, but I likely would have volunteered anyway for the chance to spend a little one-on-one time with Jude.
“Good. I was hoping you might.” He led the way toward the row of stalls with the recent rescues. I stopped next to Linus’s stall.
“Linus isn’t improving.” I gestured at the horse, who was hunkered against the far wall of his stall. I’d worked with him all week, but his confusion persisted and his continuous low-level anxiety had me worried.
“I know. Kat filled me in. She said you’ve been trying hard to help him acclimate.” Jude fetched a treat from a bucket on the wall before stretching his hand into the stall to offer it to Linus. “His bloodwork came back inconclusive, but it doesn’t look to be EPM.”
“Darn. Need an answer.” I never wanted a horse to be sick, but EPM was at least treatable. I’d been hoping the bloodwork would reveal a condition that could be fixed by some meds. My gut said that a sweet horse lay somewhere under Linus’s disorientation.
“Yeah. I want to find whatever’s going on too.” Jude gave Linus a considering look as the horse cautiously accepted the treat. “Heard he’s been prone to panic as well. Let’s bring him out, so I can get a better look at him.”
“Sure thing.” I’d dodged more than one kick from Linus over the course of the week, so I agreed with Jude’s decision to examine him where there was more space if he tried to bolt. However, since he’d proven difficult to lead, we settled for the wide aisle between the stalls, with me holding his lead ratherthan trying to clip the lead to a post. Jude examined him, going far slower than he had the first time, pausing several times to make notes on the tablet he carried in his bag. He spent a long time on Linus’s eyes as well as testing various reflexes.
“Your guess of a TBI or maybe a stroke doesn’t seem that farfetched given the symptoms. I also wonder about a brain tumor,” Jude mused as he looked up from his notes. “All those things are super rare though. Like you, I was almost hoping for EPM because that’s treatable.”
“Yep.” I was hardly gratified that my theory might be correct. I had no idea how a horse might recover from serious neurological problems, so I had to hope Jude would find answers that could lead to a plan. “More bloodwork?”
“Yeah. I want to rule a few more things out.” Jude retrieved the blood draw supplies from his medical bag and snapped on a pair of disposable gloves. “I’m also going to take another look at that growth on RC’s leg. Kat said it seemed bigger.”
“Yep.” I moved to soothe Linus while Jude did the blood draw with practiced efficiency, despite Linus’s reactivity. “Think it’s removable?”
“Possibly.” Jude capped the vials of blood and stepped away from Linus. The horse shook his head from side to side as Jude’s tone turned more thoughtful. “I’m toying with the idea of taking RC and Linus to the equine center at the vet school for second opinions.”
“Long drive.” The only vet school in the state was up near the Denver metro area. Jude had to be seriously worried about Linus if he was contemplating the trek.
“Yeah, but I got an invitation for a ten-year reunion dinner at the school in my email today. Two birds, one stone. I don’t have the facility or equipment to do an equine MRI, and we may need one to fully diagnose whatever Linus has going on. I can do abiopsy on the growth on RC, but a surgical environment would ensure a better outcome.”
“Makes sense.” I patted Linus. An MRI undoubtedly meant sedation along with the lengthy trip to Denver. My back muscles tightened as my concern grew.
“I’ll talk to Kat and get her thoughts.” Jude finished repacking his medical bag as I returned Linus to his stall. “What would you think about tagging along? I could use an extra set of hands on the long drive with two horses. And it would be a chance to see how my new truck hauls.”
“Hell of a test drive.” I chuckled, already warming to the idea. I had more worry for Linus than was probably advisable, not to mention my desire for more time with Jude. Also ill-advised but wanted. “Reckon I could.”
“Good. I’ll talk to Kat about the details and get back to you.” Jude’s smile was worth a whole lot of risky action.
The trip would likely bring fresh temptation, but I’d deal with that complication later. We finished up with Linus. As we walked toward RC’s stall, Jude paused to turn toward me.
“I might get done before dinner tomorrow. Want to come game on my console?” His expression was so tentatively hopeful that my breath hitched. “I could pick you up. Maybe grill some steaks?”
“Sounds good.” I nodded before an image of Colt flashed in my brain. “Heck. I promised…Colt and Maverick dinner.”
“No worries.” Jude’s expression shuttered. “Another time.”
“Yeah.” I exhaled hard.
The invite wasn’t different from any other buddy asking me over. But tell that to my stomach, which wobbled. This trip Jude was proposing was a bad, bad idea because I seemed incapable of keeping Jude in the friend zone where he belonged.
Chapter Ten
Jude
Three daysand two nights alone with Carson loomed large in my brain, and our trip was the only thing I could think about all week after Kat agreed to the plan to take Carson and the horses to Fort Collins. August heat in Colorado was nothing to mess with, so we’d decided to get a super-early start on Friday morning to avoid the worst of the heat and the tourist traffic. Accordingly, the sun had yet to make an appearance as Carson and I loaded up. I was borrowing an air-conditioned horse trailer from the ranch, and it slid onto the hitch of my new truck like a key in a lock, first try.
The truck’s hitch cam feature helped, but so did Carson, who directed my maneuvers with practiced ease. Working with him was like gaining a clone, one who knew what I needed even before I asked. Linus continued to be hard to lead, but Carson loaded both horses as if he’d been a cowboy for decades. Heck, I’d seen plenty of seasoned rodeo folk struggle with getting stubborn stock on a trailer, but Carson emerged from the trailer without a drop of sweat.
“All set.” He dusted off his hands on his jeans.
“Did you secure the leads?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
