I was out working the horses
that would be pulling the cart in just a few days. We were all hot and sweaty
by the time I finished.
"Dar, go get the girls.
They can help give the horses a bath."
"Alright,
Mamma Selena." I smiled at
her name for me. She didn't really want to call me Mamma, since she had already
known her parents, so I told her she could call me Mamma Selena, or just
Selena. Which ever she wanted. For awhile she thought
I was trying to take the place of her parents which I wasn't no one can do
that. Which I explained to her. I know that sometimes
she still thinks that.
"We here, Mamma"
Skyla's little voice interrupted my thoughts. I walked over and picked both my
little girls up, and took them over to the horses, then thought for a moment.
"Girls before we get
started, go get your swimsuits on." For sets of eyes went wide. I turned
to Darlita who was coming up the path.
"You too, Honey Child,
go get your swimsuit on as well."
"But I thought we were
washing the horses, not swimming?"
"We are washing the
horses, but you never know what’s going to happen." I told her with a sly
smile. I had even changed Bliss into hers.
When the girls came back out,
I handed them sponges and told them to have at it. I even held Bliss up and let
her mess with the suds. She looked so funny with bubbles sticking to the tips
of her ears. We all had a good laugh when she tried to eat one of them. A quick lesson for her there.
I took the hose and started
spraying the animals down, as I did, I'd spray the children every so often.
They all squealed in delight, and tried taking it from me. When they did, I'd
go back to rinsing the horses. Not one thing was dry by the time we finished.
"I've never had so much
fun giving a horse a bath, girls." I said as I sat on the swing after
putting the horses in the barn. Both Skyla and Shanda climbed up and sat in my
lap. Darlita came over and sat on it with me, she held Bliss in her lap as
well. Oh how I was treasuring the moment. That’s when I noticed the patches on
Shanda's arm. I had Skyla get up; I was holding my breath, as I looked.
Come to think of it, she
didn't seem to really be herself. It would be hard to notice anyways, she's one
of those who keep going no matter what. But I was seeing it while I was holding
her. At meals today or yesterday she really didn't eat much at all, and for her
that’s really nothing. She already eats like a bird. I looked over her there were
a few more in spots,
"Darlita, please get
Bliss away from her" I said as soon as I realized what it was. I pulled
Shanda closer to me.
"My poor Baby, I'm sorry
I should have noticed it." I was ready to kick myself for not paying
attention.
"What is it?"
"She's got, the Chicken
Pox."
"Don't worry I've had
it." Darlita told me.
"That’s good, but I bet,
Skyla's never had it, and I know that Bliss hasn't. I'm going to need you to
keep both away. Take Skyla and Bliss to the lake and play for a while, while I get her situated, and since they share their
bed, I'm going to have to clean them too. I know chances that since she's been
around it that long she's already going to be getting it."
I stood up carrying her.
"Let’s get you inside
and into bed." Shanda shook her head.
"We need to help you get
better." I told her looking in the medicine box for something to keep her
from itching to bad. I also grabbed something to knock out the fever that was
starting.
I drew her
a cool bath. Helping her in I noticed she didn't even want to keep her
eyes open she was so tired. I ended up taking her back in and using a cool bowl
of water and a rag with the medicines in it while she sat on my lap. That said
and don't I put her in my room, deciding that Bliss would sleep in the living
room she was getting old enough that she didn't need to be in mine all the time
anyways. So I managed to the crib out of the room. I would stay in the bedroom
still. I felt that I needed to be there if she woke up.
I heard the girls coming in.
I put my fingers to my lips to quite them as I headed into the room.
"Stay in here so that you
can hear Shanda, Skyla I want you to go play outdoors. I'm putting the baby in
her play box, and then I'm going to finish up the chores for the day. There’s
plenty that needs to be done before we go." Darlita nodded her head, and
Skyla followed me and the baby out the door. As I worked in the barn I heard a
thump, I looked over to see Skyla climbing the latter.
"I don't mind you in the
loft, Sky, but if you get onto those rafters, I'll swat you. Do you understand me?"
Eyes wide, Skyla "Okay," she answered then climbed into the haystack
and put a kitten into her lap.
*I just hope that they don't
get to upset with me for my choice of discipline.* I thought. Then went back to feeding the animals. I looked into the box
of a mare I had got on the last trip into town. That would be when I was also
getting Shanda. There in the straw laid a surprise.
"Skyla, come here! Keep
quite though,"
"What!?" She asked trying to look into the stall. I picked her
up so she could see in better.
"Look," I pointed
to where a new foal laid. Those eyes on that little girl looked at me with
delight.
"Mamma
a baby horsey!" She squealed,
"Oops,
Sorry Mamma."
"That’s alright. That
one's a late summer baby don't you think?" Skyla nodded. I put her down
and opened the box.
"You stay there, Sky. I
don't know what Bella will do when I come in yet." That little girl stood
and watched as I walked in slowly, I watched as that little filly stood on her
wobbly legs no doubt she was just hours old. She walked over to Skyla and
licked her little fingers.
"Mamma, she kissed
me." I smiled. Sky was also the only one that had really showed that much interest
in the horses, so after I emptied the water bucket, I walked over to my
daughter and put her into my arms, I looked into her eyes. She started
laughing.
"That baby's tickling my
toes!" I laughed as I looked down and sure enough that little horse was
sucking on Skyla's foot.
"It tickles!" She
laughed.
"Skyla, come with me. I
want to talk to you a minute." She looked at me as I carried her out of
the barn.
"I think your big
enough, You seem to help me out a lot with the horses, and Shanda has her
kitten, Darlita hasn't said if she wanted any, but if you would like, you can
have that filly as your own."
"Really!"
"Yes, but I want you to
listen to me, well." Those little eyes never left my own although I could
tell she wanted to go back into that horse stall. "It will be awhile
before you can take her out to play without her Mamma. And until then I don't
really want you to go into the stall without me." I got the biggest hug
that little girl could give. I watched as she ran back into the barn, I
reopened the stall so she could play with that filly.
I could see something between
the two that was never going to be explained. I smiled I got me a horse and a
daughter when I went to town and as a bonus, I my Skyla got a friend.
"Darlita, Has Skyla come
in yet?"
"No she's still outside
with the foal; ever since you put the mare and filly out to graze that girl's
been out there with them." I smiled as I went to check on Shanda. She was
still asleep. The fever had broke, which was good. We still had a little bit to
go before the spots would leave. Then went out to see about
getting my daughter. I had to turn and get the camera, that little girl
and that filly looked so cute together. That little horse had laid down and let
Skyla put her head on that little belly, and the foal had placed her head on
the little girl's belly as well. That was the neatest thing I had ever seen.
Seeing that there wasn't any harm, I turned and headed into the house, grabbed
a blanket then covered her with it, then went back in.
"Go on to bed, I'll keep
an eye out, thank you Darlita." I told her. Then stopped
her.
"If there’s an animal
you want just let me know." I told her she thanked me then headed up after
giving me my hug for the night.