Nightstorm and the Grand Slam Read Online Free Page B

look at his flank and then lifting his hind leg to kick at his belly.
    Issie was confused. She had seen Blaze behave like this once when the mare was about to have a foal. But Storm was a stallion. He wasn’t about to give birth, so why was he behaving like…
    Suddenly, the big bay dropped to his knees in the loose box and began to roll. At that moment, Issie knew what was wrong. She was about to slide the bolt to his stall when she felt a hand clasp her roughly on the arm.
    â€œYou’re in serious trouble!”
    It was the security guard. His face was flushed from sprinting and he was clearly furious.
    â€œNo!” Issie turned to him, “You don’t understand. I’ve got to get in there! Look at him!”
    Storm was lying down on the straw bedding of his stall, and rolling frantically from side to side, grunting in pain.
    â€œHe’s got colic!” Issie said. “If we let him roll he’ll end up killing himself! He’ll twist his bowel and then he’ll die!”
    The guard let go of her arm. He was an officious sort, but he had also been hired because he was a skilled horseman and he knew immediately that Issie’s assessment of the bay stallion was probably right. Colic was like a very painful stomach ache – and the horse would keep rolling to try and relieve the pain. But the rolling would actually make matters much worse. The situation could very quickly turn deadly if they didn’t act fast.
    â€œLet’s get him up!” the guard said, reaching out to pull back the sliding doors of the box.
    Issie was already way ahead of him. She reached for the halter and lead rope that were hanging by the stalldoor and slipped the halter over Storm’s head. The stallion was still lying down and even as Issie tried to buckle the halter up, he was attempting to roll again.
    â€œHey, no, Storm,” Issie said, trying her best to subdue her own panic and speak gently to the horse. “Easy, boy, don’t roll. I’m here now. We’re going to get you up on your feet…”
    But Storm wasn’t listening. As Issie tried to secure the buckle on the halter he flung his head up, narrowly missing her face. She reeled backwards and before she could grasp the halter again Storm had flung himself to the ground, legs flailing over his head. Issie was forced to flatten herself against the stable wall to avoid the flying hooves.
    â€œStorm! Stop it!” There was a wild look in the stallion’s eyes. He was in so much pain that he wasn’t listening at all. A wall had gone up between them and she couldn’t get through.
    Issie looked at her beautiful horse, writhing in agony. She had to pull herself together and act now if she wanted to save him.
    Avoiding the thrashing hooves, Issie stepped closer to Storm’s head and shouted out to the security guard.“I’m going to need your help! Can you get to the side of him and prepare to push?”
    The guard immediately grasped her plan and backed his way around the loose box, avoiding Storm’s legs which were still waving violently in the air, until he’d managed to get himself into position near the stallion’s flank.
    â€œStay back from him until I tell you to move!” Issie told him.
    The guard nodded. He wasn’t arguing. Those hooves were deadly weapons.
    Storm stopped thrashing for a moment, and Issie immediately seized the chance and lunged forward to grab the lead rope. “Do it now!” she yelled at the guard. With an almighty heave, she gave a yank on the rope while the guard put his shoulder to the stallion’s side and shoved against the horse as hard as he could.
    With a grunt of effort, the stallion heaved himself up to his feet, and immediately repaid the guard’s efforts by lashing out at him with a hind leg.
    â€œAre you OK?” Issie asked.
    The guard nodded. “He missed me.”
    â€œI’m so sorry,” Issie said.