TORIN
APRIL 12, 2004 - LAUREL RIDGE
Ihad tae rise.
Get up!
I opened m’eyes. I was face down on the ground. The smell of mud in m’nose, my cheek poked by grass. I groaned and pushed m’self over so I was facing the dark storm clouds in the sky. The ring of trees. It looked and smelled like the grounds of Lexi’s house.
Where was the Princess?
I twisted tae look, findin’ Lambo and Ferrari standin’ taegether, and then half under me, the Princess, mo leannan, still unconscious.
I rolled off her legs.
Master Cooper’s voice reached me. “... what happened?”
I croaked out. “Did she make it?”
I blinked up at the bright sun. Master Cooper and Mistress Jen were crouched over Mistress Lexi.
I had gotten her home, as I had promised.
Mistress Jen nodded, her voice trembling. “She doesn’t look good.”
“She is verra ill, the Princess needs a physician.” I lumbered tae my feet and looked over tae see Master Cooper cradling the Princess’s head in his lap.
I forced my eyes away. “She needs tae go tae yer hospital.”
I began untying the bags from Ferrari’s saddle and stacking them on the ground near Lambo.
Master Cooper said, “What’s happened to her?”
“She is beset by flux, a weak and loose belly. I couldna make her well.”
My temper had gone verra cross — between the long hours of worry over the Princess’s illness, the men chasin’ us, and Master Cooper with her head in his lap. I couldna bear being here, witnessin’ the Princess’s future.
Mistress Jen said, “You got your phone Coop? Call the ambulance.”
He nodded and began calling.
I ran m’hand down Ferrari’s neck, the horse flickin’ his ears at me. “I ken ye will miss Lambo, but I need ye tae stay with the Princess.”
Ferrari neighed.
I drew him tae the side of the house and opened the gate on a small side yard. I led him in, unbuckled his saddle, put it on the fence, and closed the gate.
I passed Dude on the porch and scratched him behind his ears. “Ye take care of her for me.”
The cat trilled at me in reply.
“Twas fine meetin’ ye.”
The cat arched under my hand, then meowed as if tae say farewell.
I stalked back toward Lambo, my eyes on Lexi, lying weak in the grass. Master Cooper had his hands on her. He said,“Lexi’s ambulance is on its way.”
I nodded.
