Once he got off the phone he glanced across the street. Today was Jenna’s day off, but her car wasn’t in the drive. Still, if shewasn’t in the middle of something important, she wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to see Dream and her foal up close and personal. Make sure they were all right.
Before he could stop himself, he placed the call. It had nothing to do with missing her. At least that was what he told himself as the phone rang. Once. Twice.
“Hey, Ty, what’s up?” Jenna answered in her normal tone.
“Not much. Where are you?”
“Running a few errands. I’m currently finishing up at the post office. Why do you ask?”
“Just got off the phone with Fish & Wildlife. There was a little run-in with a couple stallions, and Dream got in the way. Sounds like she’s fine, just a little scraped up.”
“Oh no. Are you sure she’s okay? And her foal?”
“The foal wasn’t involved and Jerry doesn’t think Dream’s injuries are serious. But just as a precaution I’m meeting the vet at the refuge. Thought you might like to ride along.”
Chapter 32
Jenna pushed back her nerves as she shifted in Ty’s truck. She was worried about Dream, that was all. If anything happened to the pony, it would be like losing her father all over again.
But it didn’t sound as if that would happen. “Only a little scraped up,” Fish & Wildlife had said, and Ty had spent most of the drive reassuring her.
But part of her nerves had nothing to do with Dream and everything to do with the fact that the last time she and Ty had been together, they were all over each other. A rush of heat swamped Jenna’s cheeks at the thought. The past few days the memories had never been far from her mind. Not while she was guiding kayak tours and certainly not when she was lying in bed late at night.
“How are things between you and your mom?”
“You know Mom. She can flare up pretty good, but she forgives quickly.” Jenna thought back over the summer. “I just can’t believe I had it so wrong. I’m usually better at reading people.” Why had she been so quick to doubt Gordon? Sure, she was protective of her mother, and the romance had progressed quickly. But sometimes they did.
“There were some red flags.”
“Sounds like they weren’t so red after all.” She’d been extra niceto Gordon this week—her way of atoning. It wouldn’t do her mom’s relationship much good to admit how far she’d gone to prove he was up to no good.
She stared out the window as they crossed the bridge to Assateague. At the end of the bridge a line of cars stretched from the entrance gate. But Ty went through the unmanned lane, offering a wave to the rangers. He followed Beach Road to the south pen, where cars lined up along the road’s shoulder to snatch pictures of Dream and her foal.
Some had approached the wooden rails, putting them within a few yards of the wild ponies even though park rules required a forty-foot distance from them. “You’ll need to move back to the road, folks,” Ty said as they approached the pen.
They followed his direction even though he lacked a uniform or even a badge. Ty had a certain presence that conveyed authority. It was an admirable and attractive feature.
With the crowd dispersing, Jenna visually examined Dream’s form. A jagged wound near her left flank was easily visible against her white coat. “She’s bleeding.”
Ty opened the gate, letting Jenna go first. “I’ll go check it out.”
Engagement with humans was kept to a minimum to preserve the ponies’ wild nature. And even though Jenna would’ve liked to interact with the ponies, she stopped just inside the gate.
Ty approached the pair for a closer look, talking in a low, soothing tone. Dream’s ears perked up as she nickered. Her foal came closer. The filly was adorable with those spindly legs and bore the markings of a pinto. She had her mama’s white tail and mane, though.
“She seems all right,” Ty called over his shoulder as he watched the pony move. “Cut doesn’t look too deep.”
The sound of an engine alerted them to the vet’s arrival. LloydPhillips was a crusty old-timer with stooped shoulders, white hair, and a sharp tongue. But the second one of these ponies needed him, he was there.
Jenna’s heart gave a sigh as the man stepped up to the pen. Dream was in the best of hands.
The sun was ready to set by the time Dream was resting comfortably at the Chincoteague carnival grounds, where injured or sick ponies were rehabilitated. The mare had been deemed clear of internal injuries. Doc sutured her up, and now Dream and her foal roamed the fenced-in pasture on the northeast side of the property. Although it was easily accessible by road, most tourists didn’t know to look here for the Chincoteague ponies.
Jenna leaned against the railing, watching as the mama nursed her foal. The mare nickered softly, and the sound carried across the pasture. Jenna breathed in the scent of fresh hay and horseflesh, then exhaled, relief flowing through her.
Dream’s going to be okay, Dad. And do you see her baby? She’s just beautiful, isn’t she?
It seemed like just last week Dream had been a foal herself. Jenna laid down her savings to buy back the pony. She wished Dad could be here to see how Dream had bloomed into such a beauty. Such a good mama. Even though she’d been through an ordeal today, she watched over her foal, groomed her, fed her with care.
