The clock was ticking, so I had to work quickly and cautiously. One wrong move and a hoof could cause a tear to the delicate tissues inside.
“Everything is okay so far,” I said to Shannon, hoping that she believed me. “Belle’s doing great. Tell her that, okay? Keep talking to her. Let her know you’re there.”
Shannon had frozen while I was working, but the reminder was enough to shake her from her stressed-out trance and get her to refocus on her horse.
“You’re so strong, Mama,” Shannon said in a shaky voice, stroking Belle’s nose. “You’ve got this, you beautiful girl.”
“Yes, she does,” I said as I worked. “She’s an experienced mother and she’s being really patient with me.”
“She knows you’re trying to help her.”
I caught Shannon’s eyes for a second and something powerful passed between us. I couldn’t let on that the foal was more twisted up inside of Belle than I’d expected.
I worked in silence while Shannon murmured to Belle. The seconds ticked on, and I felt sweat bead on my brow.
This was hard. Incredibly hard. But there was no way I was going to fail.
“What’s taking so long?” Shannon asked.
“Nothing, we’re fine, just a little bit longer,” I lied. “Keep her calm. I need her to focus on you, not on what I’m doing.”
Just as I started to really worry that we’d run out of time, the foal untwisted, and I managed to gently pull the baby out enough that Belle could complete the labor naturally. Shannon rushed back and was there, choking back tears of happiness as Belle finished the job.
Declan and I stood side by side at the edge of the stall, watching the tiny filly test her legs.
“She’s perfect.” Shannon sighed as she propped her elbows up on the edge of the half-door.
The foal looked like she was the perfect mix of her renegade father and her sweet mother, with a streak of white running across her dark brown shoulders.
“She really is. Have you thought about what you’re going to do with her?” I asked.
Shannon whipped to me with her eyes wide. “Keep her, of course. There’s no other option.”
Of course. The filly was a way to hold onto Belle after she was gone and would also maintain the connection to Shannon’s mother.
“Right, of course,” I agreed. “That makes sense.”
She sniffled. “I don’t think I want to know the answer, but how close did we come to…”
“You definitely don’t want to know,” I said quickly. “All that matters is she’s here and they’re both healthy.”
I saw Shannon wipe away a tear. “For now. Belle’s old, and this pregnancy definitely took a toll on her. I don’t know how I’m going to deal with losing her.”
“Hey, hey,” I chided softly, turning to Shannon. “I get where you’re coming from, but why don’t we just focus on the here andnow, okay? Today, Belle is in great shape, and she’s going to be an incredible mom to her new baby. Have you thought about a name yet?”
Shannon dragged her fingertips across her eyes and cleared her throat. “Not yet. Got any ideas?”
“Hm,” I said. “It has to be something special. Maybe a name that links your mom and Belle to her? I remember how your mom always loved to ride Belle down by the Tuckernuck River, so maybe something that has to do with water?”
Shannon chewed her lip.
“Um…” Her brow furrowed. “I can’t think of any cute options; I’m too wiped out. What about you?”
“Well, the Hopi Indian word for clear water is Pavita,” I offered. “Maybe something like that?”
“And ‘Vida’ is Spanish for ‘life’! Declan, that’sperfect. I love it.” Shannon caught me by surprise when she went up on her toes and kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you. For everything.”
I was caught off guard. Before I could do or say anything, she turned her attention back to the foal. Shannon smiled as the foal wobbled, her little ears flicking around her head as she took in the world.
