Chapter 18

“Happy to do it,” Dan replied, feeling a warmth spread through him and settle in his groin. “Sorry I’m so late. That’s the way it goes sometimes in this business. Unexpected things come up.”

“No worries.”

As Dan began to remove piece after piece of equipment needed for doing the job of floating the horses’ teeth, Scott’s eyes widened. “Geez! It looks like an arsenal of medieval torture equipment.”

Dan laughed. “I guess it does.”

As Scott helped Dan carry the tools into the barn, he asked, “Why do they call it floating?”

“Because that rasp we use to file down the teeth is called a float. But…” Dan shook his head as he saw Scott open his mouth to speak, “don’t ask why they call a rasp a float. They never taught us that in vet school.”

They both chuckled.

When they got to the stalls, Shadow and Sugar looked up expectantly.

“Have they been fed yet?” Dan asked.

“No. Should I feed them?”

“No. It’s better if they haven’t eaten. Their mouths will be clear of food debris that way.”

Scott nodded.

“I’m going to need an electrical outlet and a bucket of water.”

Scott showed Dan the outlets located between the stalls, picked up Dan’s stainless steel bucket, and went to get the water Dan had requested. When he returned he watched with interest as Dan poured disinfectant into the water.

“That’s to rinse the float while I’m working,” Dan explained. “I’m going to give them a sedative. It’ll make them more relaxed and easier to work on. Let’s do Shadow first.”

“Do you want him out here in the aisle?” Scott asked.

“No. We’ll do it in his stall in case he goes down. Rarely happens,” Dan added quickly when a look of concern crossed Scott’s face.

The men entered the stall. Scott slipped on the horse’s halter.

“Hello, Shadow, old man,” Dan said, holding out a hand for the horse to sniff. “Remember me?” He patted Shadow’s neck, then injected the sedative into Shadow’s jugular. “Nighty-night,” Dan said, rubbing the spot where the needle had entered. “It’ll take about five minutes,” he told Scott.

“So, tell me why they need to have this done?” Scott asked as they waited for the sedative to take effect.

Dan appreciated Scott’s interest. He was going to be a good horse owner. “Horses’ teeth grow continually and since domesticated equine diets don’t usually supply the roughage to keep them in check naturally, we have to do it. They get these spurs on the edges of the teeth that keep the mouth from closing so they can’t chew properly. Here, let me show you.”

Shadow was now drowsy. Dan lifted the horse’s drooping head and opened his mouth. Dan guided Scott’s hand so he could feel the sharp edges on Shadow’s teeth. The thrill of holding Scott’s lightly haired forearm was not lost on Dan.

Dan lifted Shadow’s head and put it on a Y-shaped headrest that he’d had Scott bring into the stall. Then he forced the horse’s mouth open with a metal speculum. He assured a concerned Scott it wasn’t as bad as it looked. “Shadow’s pretty out of it right now. He doesn’t feel much,” Dan said.

Dan asked Scott to stand next to Shadow to secure the head rest by putting his foot on the base, steady Shadow’s head by letting his neck rest on Scott’s shoulder, and placing Scott’s arm around Shadow’s neck. This helped Dan get a better angle to use the electric rasp. As a bonus, the position generated very pleasant sensations when the fine hairs on Scott’s arm brushed Dan and he felt the warmth of Scott’s body next to his.

Once again, Dan had to reassure the apprehensive horse owner that the God-awful sound of the float filing Shadow’s teeth wasn’t giving the horse as much discomfort as might be supposed.

It took nearly an hour to do each horse and by the time they were finished it was fairly late in the evening.

“Thanks,” Scott said as they carried Dan’s equipment back to his truck. “Sorry it’s so late.”

“Goes with the territory,” Dan said.

“How far do you live from here?”

“I live in Taylor,” Dan told him.

“That’s quite a drive. I’m sorry I need to schedule appointments so late in the day. Let me make it up to you.”

Dan hesitated, not knowing what to expect. Finally he said, “Okay,” his thoughts going into wish mode.

“I’ve got a gas grill. I can whip us up a couple of burgers in no time.”

Dan accepted. “That would be great. I’d probably just grab some fast food on the way home.”

“Do you need to let your wife know you’ll be late?” Scott asked as the two men made their way to Scott’s trailer.