Paycheque (40 page)

‘Don't worry, mate, you'll only be stuck in here for a few days.'
If we're lucky
.

Will had said he needed to be confined for between three and seven days, depending on his progress. He'd be one bored, cranky horse by then. His eyes were already looking a lot brighter than the night before, so it was only a matter of time before he'd be back to his cheeky self. In that state they'd have to watch out for his teeth. Paycheque wasn't keen on being stabled at the best of times. She suspected he only put up with it so graciously because of the reward of food. And if he hadn't already realised, there were some significant changes in that department, too.

Paycheque loved nothing more than to tuck into warm, molasses-sweetened mash full of grains and tasty supplements. But while he was out of work he'd only be on a mixture of lucerne and meadow hay – and not a lot of that either, given the lack of exercise he'd be getting. They couldn't have him putting on weight and adding extra pressure to his leg. And the grains would heat him up and give him too much energy – they'd never keep him calm then. Yep, he would become a very unhappy camper very quickly.

She looked at him as she ducked under his neck to change sides for grooming. His eyes were almost fully closed in what looked like contentment. The herbs and acupressure must really be working to keep him calm and pain free. Whatever it was, if they could keep him in this state, it would make life a lot easier for all of them.

‘Okay, Claire. We're off,' Maddie called from outside.

Claire poked her head out of the stable and saw Maddie leading
Howie out of the one next door. ‘Are you sure you're okay to do this much riding so soon? Seriously, I can do it later.'

‘I'm fine. It'll stop me getting stiff, and anyway, we have such a good routine going it would be a pity to upset it.'

‘A couple of days won't matter.'

‘I'll just take him on a long stroll, stretch his legs. Walk, trot and a little canter.'

‘Okay. But don't overdo it. You might be even stiffer tomorrow if you're not careful.'

‘You worry too much,' Maddie said, putting the reins over Howie's head and getting on.

‘It's my job to worry – I'm the boss.'

‘Righto, I'm off.'

Claire finished brushing Paycheque's tail, changed his rug, and hung the one he'd been wearing inside out on the day yard rail in the sun. She checked her watch. Damn, it was time to start the massage again.

She sat down heavily on the bucket, took a deep breath, and started pulling at the Velcro securing the bandage on his bad leg. Will certainly hadn't been exaggerating when he'd warned them it would be gruelling. Her hands were still stiff from the last massage and her head ached from concentrating and lack of sleep.

At least the regime of an hourly massage was only for the first twenty-four hours. Then they'd get a bit of respite as it became every couple of hours until the swelling subsided. But they were still looking at two to four times a day for the next three months, until Paycheque was fully recovered and back in training. She just hoped it would all be worth it. What if they did all this for seven days and he was no better? Would they have to contemplate putting him down? No, she really couldn't think like that. Will was adamant it could be done – he'd been successful before with the same injury, even with racehorses.

Claire finished doing up the straps of Paycheque's rug, then went over to Jack and Will who were standing by the rainwater tank at the far end of the stables. Jack was leaning on a shovel.

‘What are you up to?' she called as she got close.

‘Will thinks all the horses would benefit from a herb garden to pick at.'

‘It works well if there's a variety and they can walk past and choose what they want. They'll crave what they need to stay healthy,' Will said.

It sounded a bit far-fetched, but so far he'd been right with Paycheque, so who was she to argue? ‘Okay.'

‘So, we've decided here by the tank is the best spot, see: we've marked it out. What do you think? We figure there's enough sun in the morning, and when it gets hot in the heat of summer there'll be shade from the tanks.' Jack said.

‘Bernie's better with gardening than me.'

‘This spot was her suggestion. She and David have gone off to get the herbs she has in stock and order what she doesn't.'

So why bother even discussing it with me?
She told herself off for being so catty and put it down to being tired. ‘Bernie said something about a mini spa – what's the story there?'

‘Running warm water over the injury as much as you can will also be beneficial,' explained Will.

‘We had a look around but couldn't find anything the right size,' Jack said. ‘So we might have to scrap that idea.'

‘How much would it help?'

‘Well not doing it wouldn't jeopardise his recovery, but I do think it would help.'

‘Right.' Claire thought for a few moments. ‘What about one of the fountains Bernie sells? They pump the water around and around. We could fill the pond with warm water and have the fountain run it up and onto his leg.'

‘Brilliant idea!'

‘Yes, I think that could work,' Will said, thoughtfully. ‘Well I'll leave that to you to figure out. You've got a few days before Paycheque can leave his stable. I'd better get going. I'll just check in on him on my way past.'

‘Thanks for everything, Will,' Jack said, shaking the man's hand.

‘My pleasure. I'll see you again soon.'

Jack started digging the soil for the herb garden as Claire and Will walked back towards the stables.

‘Paycheque definitely seems better this morning, don't you think?' Will said.

‘Yes, there's still some swelling but not nearly as much as I thought there'd be. And he seems calm enough.'

‘We'll have the wee thing out and about in no time.'

‘And you really think he could be back racing in four months?'

‘Absolutely. But, remember, it's important to be gradual. You'll all have to have resist the urge to rush things.'

Will peered into Paycheque's eyes before going into the stable. He ran his hands down all of the horse's legs and gave him a general, quick going-over.

‘You're doing well, son,' he said, leaving the stable and giving the horse a solid pat on his neck.

‘I'll see you in a few days, but feel free to phone if you have any worries,' he called from the old Volvo's open window.

Claire waved him off. She checked her watch – nearly time to start again. It was the last stint she had to do that day. Then she could go home for a snooze before the evening schedule of feeding and rugging all the horses. She was sitting down to begin again when she realised she'd forgotten to ask Derek to shut the kittens in the laundry when he left. God only knew what havoc they'd been up to for the last few hours. Speaking of Derek, he'd said he would drop in on his way past. So where was he?

At that moment Claire heard the crunch of tyres on gravel and the purr of a car engine. She returned her attention to Paycheque's leg.

‘Hello there, little mate. I come bearing gifts,' Claire heard Derek say from the gate.

‘Hello,' she said from her perch on the bucket.

‘Ah, bucket. Good idea,' Derek said, peering in at her.

‘Did I hear you say you come bearing gifts?'

‘Yes. Sorry – for him, not for you. Carrots. He's allowed, isn't he?'

‘Yep. Crawler!'

‘Guilty as charged,' Derek said, pulling a carrot from inside his jacket and holding it out to Paycheque.

Claire returned to her massage amid the crunching as the horse devoured a number of carrots, one after the other. When she was finished ten minutes later, she got up from the bucket to see Derek holding his jacket open and Paycheque snuffling around at his chest.

‘Sorry mate, none left.'

Claire smiled at the touching scene, and slipped through the bars of the gate.

‘Can I now take you away from all of this?' Derek asked.

‘Well for a few hours, yes.'

‘Come on then, we've got plans,' he said.

‘I'll have to go home first – to have a shower and check on Bill and Ben.'

‘No you don't. They should be fine – I locked them in the laundry when I left. And where we're going, they won't mind one bit if you're covered in horse snot.'

They got into Derek's BMW and drove off down the driveway.

‘So, where are we going?'

‘You'll see.'

Claire watched the large gum trees and green pastures from the car window. Before long, acres of timber and wire trellising with bare woody grapevines dominated the landscape.

‘Remember, I said I have to be back around three.'

‘Yes, Claire, I haven't forgotten. So, everything is going okay having Maddie working and living at the farm?'

‘Yes, great, thanks to your generosity.'

‘Well it's win-win, so let's just leave it at that.'

‘Thanks for shutting up Bill and Ben. I forgot to ask.'

‘At least you approve. They weren't very impressed with me.'

‘No, I'm sure. Little monsters. They wouldn't have to be locked up if they were better behaved. I hope getting them desexed is going to help. How are Terry and Sandy doing?'

‘Pretty cute – a lot more laid-back than your two. They're like little old men.'

‘Ah. Are we going to your house, Derek?'

‘You'll have to wait and see.'

Claire sat back and folded her arms across her chest.

‘Do you think Jack will mind having the two cats for a week? I've got to go to Sydney again.'

‘Wouldn't have thought. Jack loves cats. Might be a good idea for the feed shed in case this mouse plague they're forecasting hits. As long as they don't get under the horses' feet.'

‘Well they've got nine lives. Hopefully they'll only need a couple to learn to steer clear.'

‘Very funny.'

‘I thought so.' They shared a grin.

‘Seriously, where are you taking me?'

‘Worry not, my dear – you'll see soon.'

They turned off the bitumen road onto a well-maintained dirt road. After a few hundred metres they turned into a driveway marked by a large milk can mailbox painted in a rich, glossy ruby red, laying on its side atop a post. Underneath it hung a small white sign with ‘D.L. & A.T. Anderson' in black.

Claire concentrated on taking in as much of the view outside the window as she could. The driveway ended after a right angle at a large double-fronted stone home set high on a wide verandah. A stand of large gum trees in neat rows flanked the house to the right, and ended in miniature against a range of blue-green hills in the distance.

‘Welcome,' Derek said, stopping the car in front on the white gravel, and turning off the key.

‘It's lovely,' Claire said, staring up at the house.

‘Thanks. Come on, I'll give you a quick tour outside before we go in.'

Claire was impressed at how neat and tidy Derek kept his property. As she went through his shed she noticed all the tools were lined up on a shadow board with spanners, screwdrivers and sockets all in graduating sizes. The benches were clear. An old ute and a ride-on
lawnmower were neatly lined up at one end of the shed. Not a speck of oil was visible on the concrete floor. She wondered what Derek thought when he visited the run-down chaotic farm.

They finished the tour at the back of the house where an expansive sandstone patio overlooked a small running creek. It was one of the loveliest settings she'd ever seen.

‘Wow,' Claire said, watching the water making its way over the rocks and around the bends. ‘That's just gorgeous.'