A Horse for Mandy Read Free Page B

pain.”
    “Isn’t there anything I can do to help?” Mandy begged.
    “Yes, there is. You can start applying ice to both these front feet. And plan to spend day and night here, too.”
    The rest of the day seemed like a nightmare.
    Her father did all he could. Then Mandy began the long nursing process. She brought an ice chest to Solana’s stall and packed ice around her feet every hour. Mandy petted her and encouraged her to eat. Still her horse stood painfully and stared at the floor of her stall.
    “Need some help?” She looked up into David’s worried face.
    “No, but thank you,” Mandy said. He stood for a while making small talk. His being there lifted her spirits a lot.
    It was almost suppertime before Mandy realized that Laura had not come by once to check on her. The thought upset her. Bitterly she changed Solana’s ice. Of course, Laura knew. Everybody on the whole ranch seemed to know. Even Mr. Callahan had stopped by to check on her and comfort her. But not Laura.
    When her father arrived with a take-out hamburger dinner, Mandy was still fuming. She didn’t say anything to him, but ate in silence.
    “Founder is a funny thing,” he began, thinking her silence was worry. “A horse can recover from it as quickly as that.” He snapped his fingers. “It goes as fast as it comes. Yesterday, Solana was fine—today Founder—tomorrow, perfectly well. What troubles me is how she got it. I know how careful you are with her, honey.”
    “What are some of the causes?” Mandy asked.
    “Excessive work. Can’t be that though. We all know how you spoil that filly. Idleness and lack of exercise, too. Couldn’t be that either. Improper shoeing... but Solana doesn’t even have shoes. Digestive disturbance is a big cause. You know, too much protein-rich feed.”
    Mandy’s heart fell.
    “What’s wrong, honey?”
    “Dad, when I came this morning, Solana wasn’t in her stall.”
    “Where was she?”
    “Wandering out back.”
    “Did you check the feed bin?”
    “No. ..I never thought. ..”
    “Mandy!” Her father was angry. “She got out of her stall and got into the sweet feed. I’ll bet you anything. Mandy, how could you have been so careless? What could you have been thinking of when you put her in her stall last night?”
    Mandy hung her head and began to cry. It was all her fault! If she’d had her mind on Solana yesterday instead of Laura and David, this never would have happened.
Oh, poor Solana
, Mandy thought.
Suffering so much and all because of me
.
    “I’m sorry, Mandy,” her father said gravely. “But this is very serious. I gave you a horse because I thought you’d be old enough to handle the responsibility.”
    The more she cried, the worse she felt. Her father reached over and put his arms around her. “Mandy, I’m sorry. I know you love Solana. I shouldn’t have come down so hard on you. Look, you’ve been a real nurse today. You keep wrapping her feet tonight and I’ll bet she’ll be fine by morning.”
    Mandy wiped her eyes. “Sure,” she said. “Did you bring my sleeping bag?”
    “Right here,” he told her, gesturing to the corner of the stall. “Listen, the Callahans are letting me sleep up at the house tonight. If you have any problems, you come get me.”
    “Thanks, Dad.” Mandy smiled weakly. Then she kissed him and watched him head up toward the house. She sighed and turned back to Solana. Mandy rolled out her sleeping bag. But she was certain that she wouldn’t sleep tonight.

Six
    M ANDY watched the stars come out in twos, fours, and then in clusters. They twinkled brightly and coldly down at her. Over and over, she iced down Solana’s swollen forefeet. Her heart soared when the horse nibbled on a little bit of feed.
    “Good girl!” she said encouragingly. The lights were out at the Callahan house, and Mandy lost all track of time. Then she heard a scraping noise from farther down the stables. She bravely stepped out of Solana’s stall to investigate