Page 37 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

ChapterFourteen

GIA

The restof the foaling came easy.After all that strain, this part felt like mercy.The foal slipped free, small and slick, into the shavings.I moved on instinct, clearing its airway, checking for breaths.For a second there was nothing.Then, the foal had a thin, fragile movement of air.

“Good,” I whispered.

Behind me, the mare stretched toward the foal, nickering low.The foal twitched, legs scrambling, trying to figure out how to exist in a body that didn’t quite work yet.I stepped back, giving them space.My hands hovered uselessly for a second before I let them fall.That’s when I heard it.

“Hey, Sof.Bad dream?”Timothy’s deep voice echoed through the stall, resonating deep in my gut.

I turned to look at the baby monitor before I could stop myself.On the tiny glowing screen in black and white shadow, he stepped into the room, all the hard edges gone from him.He crouched just as his daughter threw herself at him, wrapping around his neck like she’d been holding that fear in until he got there.

He caught her without hesitation.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, pulling her in close.

My lungs screamed for me to exhale when I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding my breath.

“Took you so long,” she mumbled into his shoulder.

“I know.”His voice stayed low, steady.Certain.“There’s something special going on.”Then he added softer, “Aunt Erika’s mare is having her baby.You want to see?”

“Yeah.”

He smiled and reached for a blanket and shoes, moving around the room like this was second nature.Like taking care of his daughter was the most natural thing in the world.Then he carried her out.The screen went still again.

Behind me, the foal let out another shaky sound, pushing up onto unsteady legs.The mare breathed over it.

Everything was right.The foal was breathing.The mare was steady.It should’ve felt like enough.

My vision blurred before I realized what was happening.I dragged in a breath that caught halfway, my throat tightening around it.This had nothing to do with the foal and everything to do with what Timothy had said.And the way he said it.

I’ve got you.

For a moment, I wanted to believe that kind of promise didn’t break once it was made.I dabbed at my eyes, refusing to be caught crying.

Timothy appeared with the little one in his arms.The child looked even smaller with her arms looped tight around his neck, her cheek mashed against his shoulder.

“Sofia,” he said, “I want you to meet a friend of mine.This is Dr.Stevens.”

“Hi, Sofia,” I said.“You can call me Gia.”

She leaned back just enough to study me, eyes heavy with sleep but painfully intent.Timothy’s exact blue, but…judgier.

“Your hair,” she said slowly.“It’s kinda redish.And kinda brown.”

“Kinda both,” I agreed.“I like your hair too.”

She considered that, then nodded like we’d reached a treaty.“You am-nal doc like Unc Josh?”

“Sure am.”

Another solemn nod.I had apparently passed inspection.Timothy put her down.

A dog trotted down the aisle.The blue heeler sat next to Sofia.Without thinking, she put her hand on his head.

I knelt down and held out my hand to the dog.“You’re a pretty guy.What’s your name?”