Hell to Heaven

Legacy heard the stall door close softly behind Keeley as she and the men left. He carefully shifted his weight from one aching leg to another, seeking some kind of relief from the never ending dull throbbing that had been a part of his life for far too long. The pain spread much farther than his legs, as it radiated up to his low back, and far up into his spine and neck. Pain and discomfort had been so much a part of his existence for so long now, that he didn't know how to function with out it.

The big horse stretched his weak neck as much as he could, trying to balance that fine line between causing more pain and getting the muscles to relax just a bit.

Keeley. He remembered her. Her scent, her touch and her soothing voice. She'd promised to come back, to bring him out of the darkness of his current hell, and into the light of home. Home.

Legacy dozed off, unable to stay awake any longer. He knew help would arrive in time, or it would indeed be too late. Either way, it was out of his control and dozing standing in the dark was all he could manage.

In his sleep, he dreamed. He saw a massive gray gelding, standing with him and staring at him. The gray seemed to be willing him to carry on- to live. Legacy felt as if the gray was literally holding him up.

He woke with a start at the sound of doors slamming and voices. There was no telling how much time had passed- the days all looked the same from his point of view. He heard other noises- could it be a trailer? He tried to shuffle around to face his stall door, waiting patiently to see if Keeley had come back.

She had. He heard her light step and smelled her scent. She quietly slipped into the stall, placing a soft halter on his bony head. She then turned her attention to the stall door, forcing it to open enough to get Legacy out of the stall. Dr. Mike was with her, and he pitched in clearing the alley way of debris so that Legacy would have less to possibly trip and fall over.


An open door.

Light.

Quiet, gentle hands.

The horse had to stop in the door way. His nostrils flared from the exertion of making his way slowly down the narrow alley into the light. He blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to adjust to so much brightness. He slowly looked around, and turned his head to Keeley. A huge sigh escaped him, and he began a slow shuffle to the trailer.



Keeley knew that in Legacy's condition, the trailer ride might well be the last thing he ever did. The ride to the farm was relatively short, but the road was in horrible condition. Getting the skeletal horse home in one piece was going to be a stressful happening. Forty agonizing minutes later, Keeley breathed a sigh of relief as she pulled into the yard at the farm. She shut the truck off, and took a moment to lean her head on the steering wheel. What am I doing? she thought. No sense in second guessing herself now. The horse was here. Now she had a job ahead of her.

Dr. Mike was standing at the trailer, talking softly to Legacy. Bad Ass was at his feet, tail swishing furiously. He reached out and swatted Dr. Mike's leg, as if he was trying to tell the silly human to hurry up- get the horse out of the trailer already and bring him into the barn. Dr. Mike laughed, and bent down to pet the old cat. "Hey you old scalawag! Keep your paws to yourself! I'll get him out when your momma gets here to help. You just be patient, alright?" Bad Ass merely swatted Dr. Mike again, obviously annoyed that the silly human was NOT moving anywhere near quick enough.

Keeley joined Dr. Mike and together they dropped the ramp to the trailer. Legacy was still standing as she had left him- legs splayed, head down, looking utterly exhausted. He was just played out.

"Let's give him a moment to rest, and we'll get him out. I've got his old stall ready for him, bedded extra deep so he can lay those weary bones down finally and rest."

With the ramp down, Bad Ass wasted no time in trotting right into the trailer. He marched right up to Legacy, and started purring. Legacy turned his head to look at the cat, and Keeley had to wipe away tears as the old cat and the exhausted and battered horse touched noses in greeting.

"Look out you silly old fart. Let me get him out, and you can inspect him closer, OK?" Keeley gently scooped the cat out of her way, so that neither she nor Legacy would trip over him as they were getting out of the trailer. "Here Dr. Mike, hold this trouble maker will you?"

Dr. Mike took the squirming mass of muscle in his arms, well aware that if Bad Ass did not WANT to be held, there was no way he'd be able to contain twenty pounds of pissed off fury. "This is why I went into large animal work Keeley. I swear, if this cat wanted to kill me he could."

Keeley laughed a bit. "I've often thought that myself about that cat. There is just something about him, isn't there?"


The three of them coaxed Legacy off the trailer and into the stall. The deep shavings, fresh clean water and a bite of hay waited for him. Legacy sighed in pleasure and made himself right at home. As Keeley and Dr. Mike discussed how, when and what to feed him, Legacy stood looking around. It was his old stall- the one right in the middle of the barn, where he could see all the action of the farm. The light was soft, the air was fresh and the view was beautiful.

Bad Ass hopped up onto the wall, and looked at the horse. Keeley popped back in, checking to make sure Legacy was quiet and settling in well. "I've got to go take care of Dad real quick BA. You keep Legacy company and make sure he is OK for me." She rubbed the cat's ears and was rewarded with a huge purr.



Night fell. Keeley had taken care of her father, who was shaken to say the least at the news of Legacy. She was exhausted from the events of the day, but found herself unable to rest. She slipped out her apartment door, and made her way to the stall. Legacy was laying down, resting in the deep bedding but he picked his head up at her approach. Bad Ass was in the stall with him, curled up in a bit of hay. Keeley took in some fresh hay, and made herself a place to sit at Legacy's head. The big horse sighed, and laid his head in her lap. Keeley let the tears fall then- silently they coursed down her cheeks. Her hands slowly stroked his face and neck, feeling protruding bones and finding new knots, injuries and scars. Bad Ass came and curled up with her, sharing her pain. Legacy slept.


The dream horse came again. Keeley knew he would. This time though, there was no wild ride through the plain, no tour of the farm. This time, she saw him standing over them all, watching over her, Bad Ass, and Legacy. The morning sun breaking through clouds shone on Legacy still sleeping, with Bad Ass on his side, and Keeley curled up around his neck. The gray nodded to himself- the journey had begun.