Chad came completely awake the minute he stepped into Taffy’s stall. Andi saw the sudden, alert look in his eyes and the furrowing of his brow.
“You’re right,” he admitted, “Taffy’s in trouble. It looks like she should have dropped that foal by now.” He ran his hands down the mare’s quivering flank and spoke softly to her.
Andi watched in helpless terror. “You . . . you can pull her through, can’t you?”
“I don’t know. I’ll do everything I can. But you have to help.”
“I will,” Andi said, nodding. “Just tell me what to do.” She felt stronger now, with her brother in charge. Chad would save Taffy. He must!
“I need soap and water. Never mind if it’s hot. Just bring me a bucket of water from the pump and lots of soap.”
Andi lit a second lantern and hurried to do her brother’s bidding. Please, God! she prayed breathlessly as she ran to the pump. Show Chad what to do.
When it was full, Andi picked up the bucket in one hand and snagged the lantern with her free hand.
Hurry, hurry! she commanded herself. But the full bucket kept her at a slow limp. Water sloshed over the lip, splashing her overalls. The freezing liquid soaked through, and Andi felt goose bumps crawling up and down her legs.
“Here,” she gasped, setting the pail down next to Chad. Then she ran for the lye soap. Thankfully it was on a nearby shelf. She threw it in the bucket of water and waited for more orders.
Taffy lifted her head and looked at Andi. Then she laid it down as a ripple coursed through her body. She whinnied weakly.
Andi choked back a sob. “Do something. Chad. I don’t want to lose her.”
“Take it easy,” came his quiet warning. “There’s no sense getting upset before we know what's wrong.”
Chad was often impulsive and quick-tempered, but when it came to an emergency, he could be as patient and composed as Justin. Now, he calmly dipped his hands into the bucket of icy water and proceeded to scrub with soap, clear up to his elbows.
Andi shivered, watching all that freezing water drench Chad’s arms, but her brother didn’t bat an eyelash.
“All right,” he said, shaking his dripping hands in the night air, “Let’s find out what’s going on. The best thing would be if you can get Taffy to stand up. It would make it easier on both of us, but she might not want to. Can you do it?”
“I sure can!” Andi said, more to convince herself than to convince Chad. After all, wasn’t Taffy her very best friend? Surely she would understand that Andi had only her best interest in mind! And hadn’t Chad trained Taffy since she was a foal? Of course, the mare could trust Chad!
With soft words and a gentle but firm tug to the halter, Andi coaxed her mare to stand. Taffy hung her head, and her whole body shuddered. “Good girl,” she praised her, rubbing her nose. "Just take it easy. It’ll all be over soon. Chad’s here. He’ll make everything all right.”
But Andi was trembling on the inside. She waited on pins and needles to hear what Chad would find out when he examined the mare.
A small gasp of surprise made Andi’s heart skip a beat. But she didn’t say anything, for fear of interrupting her brother’s concentration.
“Uh-oh,” Chad muttered a few minutes later. He glanced at Andi in astonishment.
“What is it?” she whispered. “What’s wrong?”
“I think there’s more than one foal in here.”
“Twins?” A feeling of despair washed over Andi. She’d seen twin foals once before—a long time ago. Both had been born dead a month before their time. Her eyes blurred with tears.
This can’t be happening! Andi thought wildly. It’s all a horrible, scary nightmare! Please, God! I want to wake up right now. In my own warm bed, with Taffy safe in her stall and one healthy foal beside her. Not two! Oh, please, not two!
She shook herself free of her thoughts and blinked back tears. “Can you . . . can you save them?”
Chad paused, and Andi knew he was getting ready to tell her a hard truth. He never lied to her, not even to save her feelings.
“I don’t know,” he finally said, “but I’ll do my best. I promise.” He gave Andi an encouraging smile, but she didn’t smile back.
She was too scared.
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