A Horse for Mandy (Chapter 9)
Time is hard to measure when you're alone in the dark. Mandy couldn't guess how long she'd been sitting there when she heard Laura groan. Instantly, Mandy leaned over her.
"Here I am, Laura. It's Mandy. I'm right here and help is on the way."
"M-my leg . . .," Laura whispered.
"I know. Don't try to move. We just have to hang on a little longer."
"What happened? How did you . . .?" Her voice trailed off.
"I guess you were thrown. We've been looking for you all day. Me, your family--half the countryside, in fact. But it won't be long now."
Mandy tried to sound reassuring.
"Yes. Now I remember . . ." Laura grimaced with pain. "Diablo tripped. A hole of some kind. I fell . . . Diablo!" Her voice rose in alarm.
"He's all right," Mandy said. "We found him this afternoon. He was limping, but Dad thought he'd be fine."
"That's good," Laura sighed. "How did you find me?"
"Just an idea I had. I remembered all the rides we used to take by the creek. I was just lucky."
Laura grew very quiet and mandy became alarmed. She felt that she had to keep her talking. "Laura?"
There was a long silence before Mandy heard Laura say, "Yes?"
"Why did you go out riding alone at night? Was it because of the mean things I said to you?"
More silence. Then Laura answered softly, "Because everything you said was true. I hated it when you got your own horse. You spent all your time with your horse."
"I know. Oh, Laura, I'm so sorry. I ws a rotten best friend. I didn't help you train once all summer for Diablo's fall circuit. And David reminded me . . ."
The mention of David's name put up another wall between them. "David," Laura said painfully. "I wanted him to like me so much."
"Oh, but he does," Mandy urged eagerly. "Why, I saw you holding hands down by the lake. He even told me he likes you."
"I was holding his hand," Laura corrected. "But we were talking about you."
Mandy decided to change the subject. "let me tell you how I sent for help." Quickly, she told how she'd tied their scarves on Solana's reins and sent the horse back. "I just hope she has the good sense to go home," she finished, half to herself.
Laura grew very quiet. "Laura," Mandy said, shaking her gently. "Don't slip away on me. Please, keep talking to me." But Laura did not respond.
Mandy scrambled to the edge of the creek and dipped her hand into the cold water. She crawled back to Laura and patted her friend's face with the water.
Laura moaned. "I'm so cold. . ."
"I know. But it won't be long now." Mandy reassured her friend. She clutched her knees to her chest and prayed silently, "Oh, dear God, don't let it be long now. Please."
The night dragged on. Mandy tried to make Laura talk some more, but she only mumbled. Mandy found more moss and spread it over Laura, being careful not to disturb the twisted leg. She went once more to the creek and took a long drink of water for herself. It helped refresh her, but did little to stop her growing hunger pangs.
Mandy began to think that when morning came she might have to set out on foot for help. She shuddered at the thought of leaving Laura out here alone. But she might have no choice. What if Solana had not made it back to the stable? What if she were off in some grassy field, wandering aimlessly? "Well, I must stop thinking like that," she told herself sharply. "Just take it one minute at a time. And try to get a little sleep." Just a little--why she hadn't been to sleep in her own bed for two night now!
In her dream, it was a brilliant white-hot day. She was standing and watching Solana graze in a large grassy field. She whistled and called to her over and over, but Solana acted as if she didn't hear.
Yet, when Mandy tried to climb over the fence into the field, she discovered that it was so high she
couldn't crawl over it. Helplessly, she called to her horse.
Then she saw Laura riding out into the field on Diablo. Mandy began to call to her frantically, but Laura couldn't hear her either. Slowly, Laura got off Diablo. She walked slowly over to Solana.
She petted her, then signaled to the little Paso. Solana followed her like a puppy. "No, no!" Mandy yelled in the dream. "She's my horse! Laura, don't! Solana is mine!" But they never heard her.
Just then, David walked into the field. He was smiling at Laura. He took her hand and together they began to walk away. Solana followed obediently behind them both. Mandy called and called to them.
The day was hot and still, the grass tall and swaying. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get over the fence. From out of nowhere, rows and rows of shiny trophies appeared, each engraved with Laura Callahan and Solana de Omega.
From very far away, Mandy heard someone calling her name. "Mandy! Mandy!" Over and over . . .David . . .her father . . .Laura . . over and over . . .
Mandy struggled through layer and layers of sleep. Again, she heard her name. With a start, she sat up and realized that someone really was calling her name. "Mandy!"
"Daddy!" she cried, struggling to her feet. "Daddy! Here I am! I'm down her, Daddy!"
From above the rim of the embankment, she saw a glowing yellow light. "Mandy! We're here, honey!"
Suddenly, the air was filled with voices, and her father was sliding down the steep incline. And suddenly he was there with her, hugging her to him. And she knew that she was safe, safe in her father's arms.
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