Reckoning

It was time. The sun was peeking over the horizon, and he could wait no longer. A horseman all his life, Sean Patrick Cullen was determined that he was not going to leave Keeley alone in dealing with Legacy, come hell or high water. Slowly, slowly he made his way from bed, dressed, pulled on his boots and went out the door. The light was a bit stronger now showing the barn where Legacy was housed clearly. Sean paused to gather his thoughts- he knew it was critical that he be fully aware now and not letting his mind wander. Taking a deep breath, he began to make his way to the distant barn.

There were mourning doves cooing to him. And he could swear he heard hoof beats walking with him. Not many days went by it seemed, when he did not hear the beat of hooves long gone. Or at least he thought they were long gone. It was very hard to tell sometimes what was in the "now", and what had gone before, and been left to echo in his memories.

He paused once more in the sun. Tilting his head back, he closed his tired eyes and prepared himself to face what waited inside the barn. Straightening his spine, looking much like the man of old, Sean stepped into the quiet of the barn and headed towards the stall that housed the horse who haunted him.

"I never wished this on him. I wouldn't wish this on any creature, no matter what they'd done."

Keeley was startled awake by the sound of her father's voice. He stood there, with the sun behind him, holding onto the stall door. It had been five years since her father had made his way to the barns, six with any regularity. In the days after Keeley's mothers death, getting her father to even look at a horse- any horse- was next to impossible. He retreated to his sitting room, where he turned his favorite chair to the position it was still in today. His only decree? Do NOT put Legacy back in that paddock. He did not want to ever lay eyes on that horse again. Legacy had been the first horse sold- and now he was the first horse back home.

Trying to cover her shock at seeing her dad there, Keeley looked down at the horse she had curled up around. A smile lit her face when she saw Bad Ass, curled comfortably on Legacy's side, staring back at her. Legacy lifted his head and looked around, interested in his surroundings. He nuzzled Keeley softly, and then rolled an eye to look at Bad Ass perched on him.

"Morning Dad. I didn't mean to sleep late. Came down here last night to check on the horse, and guess we kinda all passed out together."

"That's fine girl- that's fine. I had to see him for myself though. No reason my legs can't carry me down this way for a look now is there? Poor bastard. He's had a bad time of it, hasn't he? How did Dr. Mike even know it was Legacy?"

Keeley explained that somehow, Dr. Mike had discovered the scar underneath Legacy's forelock and knew what horse it was and where he had come from.

Legacy shifted, ready to stand up and eat. Bad Ass hopped down from his perch on the bony horse's side, and Keeley scrambled up out of the way too. Everyone watched as he struggled to his feet.

"Well, he can still get his pins underneath him. That's a good sign. Let's see if we can get some food into his belly too." Together, Keeley and Sean made their way to the feed room to prepare the first of Legacy's meals for the day.



Bad Ass looked at the horse. Legacy had taken a drink of fresh clean water, and stood slobbering in contentment. "I didn't expect to ever see YOU back here horse." Legacy blinked slowly, slobbered a bit more, and replied "I didn't expect to live to be back here, Cat. Never mind come back and find you still alive."

Bad Ass sniffed and swished his crooked tail some more. "That's neither here nor there. Right now, we have to work on getting you looking not so pathetic. Or is this just another attempt to get attention? We know you've been an attention hog your entire life."

"I'll admit- I don't look near as fine as I did in times past. I don't feel that fine right now, and haven't for a few years. But you don't look as sharp as you did six years ago either, you ratty looking thing. Come here and let me add another lump to that hide of yours." Legacy contemplated whether or not he actually had the strength to pin his ears at the cat. He didn't but it didn't stop him from thinking about it.

"What happened to you? Frankly old pal, you look like death warmed over." Bad Ass moved closer to Legacy, and began to groom himself.

"I don't want to think about that right now BA. Right now, things hurt too bad for me TO think. Will Keeley bring back food soon? Maybe if I had something in my belly I might feel better."

"I'll go check. Sometimes she is a bit slow, but we can't blame her. She's had her hands full with her father for a while now."

Legacy nodded his head and tried to move around a bit as he waited for BA and Keeley to come back. He looked out the doorway, off towards the main house and his old paddock. Memories came flooding back- the warm sweet grasses, shade under the mighty oak tree, the joy he felt racing around and kicking up his heels.

His walk down memory lane was interrupted by the sound of Keeley talking to her father and Bad Ass. Slowly he turned, looking over the door.


Keeley set down the bowl of food for Bad Ass, who happily dove in. Legacy stood quietly, waiting as she let herself in the stall and hung the bucket containing his mash. "There you go big guy. Eat a bit, and we'll see how you feel later on. Make sure you rest up, too. It's the only way you'll gain any ground. Later on we'll give you a good grooming and see just what we're dealing with." Keeley stepped out of the stall, and paused to look back at the horse. "BA, you keep an eye on him. I've got to go get breakfast ready for Dad and I, and we'll be back down in a bit. This will be good for Dad- get him out of the house some." With a final stroke down the big cat's back, Keeley walked on out of the barn and towards the main house.

Bad Ass turned and looked at Legacy. He had to wonder- would the horse have the strength and will to survive? He hoped so. He really hoped so.