Cowboy Fever by Joanne Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page B

he’s doing all right.”
    They reached the other side of the barn, where all the stalls opened into one big paddock. Teague’s old brown and white paint stood in one corner, staring off across the landscape, but he turned and ambled to the gate as they approached. The brown spots around his eyes had whitened with age.
    â€œVegas,” Jodi whispered.
    Vegas had been Teague’s father’s horse until his dad quit cowboying so he could get serious about drinking himself to death. The paint had become Teague’s horse then, and he’d carried him and Jodi everywhere before her dad bought her a barrel horse. Seeing Jodi standing beside Vegas gave Teague a rush of nostalgia that almost hurt. He wished the two of them could mount up like they used to and take off at a gallop. Hell, he’d even let Jodi take the reins.
    They used to fight about that every time they rode.
    â€œHe has changed,” Jodi said.
    She was right. The paint’s flashy coat had lost his luster, and his withers and hip bones stood out. He just couldn’t keep weight on anymore. The old horse walked slowly across the corral, his head hanging low, then butted his head against Teague’s chest just like always.
    â€œHe’s glad to see you,” Jodi said.
    â€œNo. He’s glad I’m here,” Teague said. “But he can’t see me. Not much, anyway.”
    Jodi looked closer at the horse. His brown eyes were cloudy, misted with cataracts. “He’s blind?”
    â€œMostly.” Teague ran his hand down the horse’s long muzzle. “You’d never know it to watch him, though. Long as I keep his routine steady and don’t move stuff around, he’s fine. He misses riding out, though. He’ll do it—he trusts me to guide him, and I think he can see shadows and stuff—but if I got distracted… well, he could hit a hole or something. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to him.”
    Jodi tucked her hand up under the paint’s mane and rubbed his neck. He turned and gave her the same treatment he’d given Teague, rubbing his forehead against her shoulder.
    â€œHe seems a little depressed. I think his days are kind of long,” Teague said regretfully. It made his chest ache to see the way Vegas stood in the corner of the paddock day after day, gazing over the fence longingly at a world he could barely see. “And his goat died.”
    â€œHis goat?”
    â€œThe other horses bully him, but he gets lonesome by himself, so I got him a goat. But it died.”
    â€œPoor Vegas.” Jodi looked at the old horse thoughtfully. “He’ll trust you, though? He’ll let you lead him?”
    Teague nodded.
    â€œHe’d be a great horse for kids,” Jodi said. “Heck, he was a great horse for kids. For us. Remember?”
    Teague remembered all right. Looking at her standing there beside Vegas, he could almost convince himself they were still the kids they used to be.
    No such luck. They definitely weren’t kids anymore.
    Troy appeared at the barn door, his face creased with worry.
    â€œTeague, you want me to feed the horses? I didn’t mean to forget. I’m really, really sorry.”
    Teague shrugged. He’d meant to chastise Troy, but it wasn’t really necessary. His brother did his best. He just forgot stuff sometimes.
    â€œI did it, bro.” He saw a look of dismay cross Troy’s face and thought fast. “But if you clean up the workshop, that would help a lot.”
    â€œOkay.” Troy ducked back into the barn. “I’ll clean it really good. You’ll see. I’m good at cleaning. Just ask Jodi.” His voice faded away.
    Jodi laughed. “You’re going to have the cleanest workshop in three counties,” she said.
    â€œI know. And it doesn’t even need cleaning. But if I don’t give him something to do, he’ll feel bad.”
    â€œYou handle him