Finny and the Boy from Horse Mountain Read online

  “Are you kidding? I’ve broke exactly zero. I would love your help! You’re a Godsend!” Finny said, quoting Vel. She could see she’d made Joe happy, and that made her happy too.

  Chapter Four

  THE BUS PULLED INTO TOWN AT 8 AM, RIGHT on time. Finny and Joe sat near the back.

  “So, how did you really hurt your knee?”

  “On a horse.”

  “From a fall or a kick?”

  “Fall.”

  “You told Vel you were kicked.”

  “I . . . was. I fell then got kicked.”

  Finny glanced at Joe. He was staring at the floor. She knew he wasn’t telling the truth.

  “I think we’re almost there.”

  “Thanks for coming. I’ve never been on a bus. I would’ve got lost.”

  “Sure, no problem.” Finny looked away. She thought Joe had wanted her company, not a guide. She took a deep breath and stared out the window. Why did that bother her? She didn’t want to be like her mother or most of the girls she knew in school who lived only for boys. Or, in her mom’s case, men. After the divorce, it was a struggle even to get her mother out of bed.

  She looked at Joe, confused by her feelings, which tumbled around so much when it came to him. She barely knew him. He was a nice guy, a new friend, but that was it. And that was fine with her, she told herself. Besides, she didn’t want a boyfriend, and if all he wanted was a bus guide, so be it. The bus rolled to their stop.

  “This is it. We’re here.” Finny got up and went to the door. She waited for Joe, annoyed now by how slow he was. Once on the sidewalk Finny headed off in the direction of the clinic.

  “This way,” she said. She stood by the clinic door with her arms crossed and her foot tapping.

  “Finny, did I do something to make you mad?” Joe said once he’d caught up to her.

  “No, you didn’t,” Finny said with a sigh, feeling stupid.

  “I’m sorry you had to come. I didn’t know it’d be such a hassle.”

  “I wanted to come.” Finny opened the door and the two walked in to chaos. The waiting room was packed, not a seat available, leaving several people camped out on the floor. The place reeked of urine and the sound of babies crying was deafening.

  “Oh, lordy,” muttered Joe.

  They made their way through the mass of bodies. Once they were at the counter, the obviously harried nurse barked out, “Name!”

  “Uh, Joe.”

  “Last name?”

  Joe looked at the nurse, then at Finny.

  “Tell her your last name, Joe.” Finny put her hands on her hips thinking he’d lie again.

  “McCoy . . . Joe McCoy.” Finny let her arms drop. That sounded real. After he explained why he was there the nurse gave him a number, then told them they were looking at a four- to five-hour wait.

  “Let’s go sit outside so we can breathe,” Finny whispered.

  Joe followed her out. On the lawn more people were camped out. A speaker sitting in a window called out numbers.

  “There’s a spot under a tree in the shade.”

  “Race you to it,” Joe said, making Finny laugh. They made their way and got comfortable.

  “So, is McCoy your real last name?”

  “Think I’m lying?”

  Finny said nothing.

  Joe settled back against the tree. “It’s really my name.”

  “Joseph McCoy. That’s a nice name.”

  “Joseph McCoy. That’s my dad’s name. Well, was my dad’s name. I’m just Joe.”

  “Was . . . did your dad die?”

  Joe picked up a small pebble and tossed it. “Yeah, he and my mom, when I was eleven.”

  “That’s awful. I’m so sorry.”

  Joe continued to toss whatever small pebbles he could find as far as he could.

  “What happened?”

  “They were driving home and hit black ice. Truck flipped.”

  “Sorry . . . I wish I knew what to say.”

  “Nothin’ to say.” Frustrated when he ran out of rocks, Joe moved to any debris he could find to toss. Finny sat cross-legged next to him and watched him throw stuff. She stayed quiet, leaving Joe with his thoughts. Her mind was wandering when he asked, “What about your parents?”

  “My parents . . . well, they’re divorced and hate each other.” Finny let out a small laugh. “I was eight when they separated. Eleven when my mom married Steven. My dad got remarried too. He has two kids just like my mom. That’s about it.”

  “Wow, makes for a big family.” Joe, now with nothing left to throw, rested his arm on his good knee.

  “Not really. I don’t think my half brother or sisters have even met. My parents were real young when they had me . . . I wasn’t exactly planned.” Finny, like Joe, picked up a pebble and threw it. As much as she’d thought about her parents and the divorce, she’d never talked about it to anyone. She didn’t have close friends at school and she spent most of her time at the barn where she wasn’t completely accepted by the other girls her age.

  “They got married thinking it was the right thing to do.” Finny gave a pained chuckle with that statement. “I didn’t know it, but they were real unhappy, at least my dad was.” Finny looked at Joe who was looking back, listening.

  “Anyway, they’re both remarried with young kids, perfect families, everybody’s happy. Then there’s me, the fifth wheel everywhere I go.”

  “You don’t feel like you’re a part of a family?”

  “Not so much. With my dad, I went through long periods of not seeing him. That about did me in when I was a kid. He used to call me the sunshine of his life, you know from the Stevie Wonder song? He’d sing me that verse to wake me up in the morning.” Finny had to stop. Her eyes burned and tears came before she could stop them.

  Joe, surprised by the sudden emotion, didn’t know what to do. He wanted to put his arm around her shoulder, comfort her like his mother used to do when he was little, but he didn’t know if it was the right thing to do when you’re not little anymore.

  “I’m sorry, I know your dad’s still around and all, but him being gone like that . . . I could see it hurtin’ bad like someone died.”

  “You know, Joe, that’s exactly what it feels like. I’m sorry, you really did lose your parents and nothing could be worse. But it’s like our whole family just died. Crap, I don’t know what I’m saying.” Finny buried her face in her hands. Joe felt helpless. He thought Finny would keep crying but she didn’t. After a deep breath she went silent behind her hands.

  “Hey, Finny, do you want to hear the Legend of the Cherokee Rose?” Finny peeked out between her fingers. She nodded and let her hands fall to her lap.

  “My grandpa told me this when I was a little kid. He was full-blood Cherokee, so I know it’s true.” Joe cleared his throat and then began speaking as though he were reciting from a book: “In the later half of 1838, the Cherokee People were forced to leave their homes in the East. The trail to the West was long and treacherous and many died along the way. The People’s hearts were heavy with sadness and their tears mingled with the dust of the trail. The Elders, who were very wise, knew that the survival of the children depended upon the strength of the women. One evening around the campfire, the Elders called upon Heaven Dweller, Gal v la di e hi. They told Him of the People’s suffering and their tears. They were afraid the children would not survive to rebuild the Cherokee Nation. Gal v la di e hi spoke to them, and said:

  “To let you know how much I care, I will give you a sign. In the morning, tell the women to look back along the trail. Where their tears have fallen, I will cause to grow a plant that will have seven leaves for the seven clans of the Cherokee. Amidst the plant will be a delicate white rose with five petals. In the center of the blossom will be a pile of gold to remind the Cherokee of the white man’s greed for the gold found on the Cherokee homeland. This plant will be sturdy and strong with stickers on all the stems. It will defy anything that tries to destroy it.

 
“The next morning the Elders told the women to look back down the trail. A plant was growing fast and covering the trail where they had walked. As the women watched, blossoms formed and slowly opened. They forgot their sadness. Like the plant, the women began to feel strong and beautiful. As the plant protected its blossoms, they knew they would have the courage and determination to protect their children who would begin a new Nation in the West.

  “My grandfather told me unending strength is the trait of all great women. I believed that story ’cause my mom was so strong, not in size and muscles, but in heart, and Finny, I think you’re like that too.”

  Finny was stunned into silence. She’d never been spoken to so beautifully. Joe’s face was open and honest. She felt weak just looking at him. He was waiting for her to say something. Finny knew this, but her head and her heart were reeling.

  “Three hundred seventy-five,” rang out from the speaker.

  “Hey, that’s my number . . . only three hours, can you believe it?”

  “No . . . I can’t.” Finny stood and offered Joe her hand to help him up. He stretched his leg and they made their way inside.

  “Joe McCoy,” the nurse from earlier yelled to the crowd.

  “Right here.” Finny waved to the nurse who then motioned them over.

  “Okay, son, right this way. Miss, this could take a while.”

  “Okay, good luck, Joe.” Finny wanted to hug him so badly but stood and waved instead. Joe gave her a quick smile before disappearing down the hall.

  There were some seats available now, but the smell was sickening, so she went back outside to their spot. She sat by the tree and thought of Cherokee women and roses.

  “Finny, wake up.” She struggled to consciousness; the light had changed and shadows now surrounded her. Finally awake, Finny got to her feet. Joe stood in front of her with a huge brace on his leg and crutches under both arms. She took a quick glance at her watch. It was long after four.

  “So is it broken?”

  “ Ye p .”

  “Ugh! That’s not a cast though, it’s just a brace.”

  “Yeah, because it’s my kneecap. I have to wear the brace for six weeks and I’m not supposed to walk on it.”

  “Six weeks, that’s like forever!”

  “I know. I gotta get a job and a place to live. I hope I can with this.” Joe motioned toward the brace. “No, you can’t strain it. We can keep doing what we’re doing for six more weeks.”

  “You can’t keep taking care of me. I gotta get a job.”

  “Joe, you’re a fifteen-year-old with no ID and a broken leg. Who’s going to hire you?”

  Joe let out a groan and closed his eyes. “I don’t know, someone stupid?”

  Finny laughed out loud. “Come on, we gotta get to the bus stop before it’s too late.”

  “Okay, lead the way.”

  “You know, you move a lot faster with the crutches. Does it still hurt?”

  “Not so much now.” Finny and Joe made it to the stop with only moments to spare. The bus pulled up and they hurried on board hoping for the very back so Joe could stretch out his leg. They got what they wanted and settled in for the long ride.

  “Thanks again, Finny.”

  She smiled. She wanted to reach over and hold his hand. It’d probably feel right, but she couldn’t make herself do it.

  “No problem, Joe.”

  Chapter Five

  “LOOK, HIS HEAD IS UP AND ALL HIS FOOD IS gone.” Sky nickered loudly when he saw Finny. Joe caught up to her as she was putting the halter on the horse.

  “How’s the ringworm?”

  “About gone.”

  Finny led Sky from his quarantine corral to the grooming area next to it. He danced around and fidgeted before settling down to get brushed. Finny began with the currycomb. She rubbed the dead and sunscorched hair off.

  “It hasn’t even been two weeks and look at the difference. You did a great job on his tail.”

  “Thanks, but look at his feet. They’re gonna need shoes.”

  “I gotta save a little more money.”

  “I know how to shoe. I need tools, but I can do it.”

  “You can? Are you serious? Vel has tools but no shoes. Can you trim?”

  “Yep, I sure can, and he needs it bad. That’s a nasty toe crack.” Finny ran to the shed and got the farrier tools.

  “I can’t hold his leg right because of the brace. Can you hold it up?”

  “Of course!”

  Twenty minutes later Sky’s feet looked remarkably better. Joe trimmed with skill and ease; he balanced the hoof perfectly. Finny knew there was an art to it; you had to have an instinct and an eye for correctness. Joe had it, no question.

  “You’re amazing. How did you learn?”

  “Being around horses and farriers who were willing to teach me.”

  “I bet once your leg gets better you could make good money shoeing.”

  “I can ride and train, too. Well, I could anyway.”

  “Your leg will get better. You will again. I can’t wait to see you ride. I bet you’re great.”

  Joe gave a half smile, then his eyes got far away. Finny recognized this look now. It was thinking about his past that put him there. She also knew it’d be a while before he was upbeat again.

  “I want to see if he knows how to lunge. Will you come with me?”

  Joe nodded and grabbed his crutches. Finny led Sky, who danced energetically at the end of the line, all the way to the arena. Once in the ring Finny let out some slack and tried to get the horse to move around her in a circle. Sky kept turning to face her instead.

  “You have to drive more from the hindquarters, that’ll send him forward.”

  Finny moved back and lined up with Sky’s hipbone. That was all it took; he moved forward and around her in a brisk walk.

  “Joe, that totally worked.” Sky walked with a spring in his step. He was feeling better as well as looking better.

  “Try a trot.”

  Finny gave Sky a cluck and he stepped instantly into a trot.

  “He knows how to lunge!” Finny said. “This is so great!”

  “That’ll make breakin’ him a lot easier.”

  “I can’t wait. How long till you think we should try?”

  “Well,” Joe said, “let’s wait another couple weeks before putting the saddle and bridle on. If he gets some fat over his bones the saddle won’t rub sores.”

  “Good thinking. Joe, look at him move. His feet aren’t even healed and look how big his step is.”

  “He does look like he’s gonna have a big stride.”

  “Wouldn’t it be amazing if he could jump? It’d be a dream come true for me.”

  “I hope he can, Finny, I really do.”

  After five minutes Sky got tired and broke to a walk. Finny let him cool before taking him to graze next to the arena. Joe came with her and sat on a big rock. He rested the crutches against it.

  “How’s your leg?”

  “It doesn’t hurt. It itches under the brace though.”

  “Four more weeks, then it’s off and you’ll be able to walk and ride pain free. Once your leg is better, I think it’ll be time to tell Vel. I’m hoping you’ll trust her by then. Besides, she’d know how to find you a job.”

  “I don’t know, Finny. I’ve never had much luck trusting adults. She’d feel it was her duty to tell the police or somebody that a minor just appeared out of nowhere.”

  “Maybe you’re right. So, Joe, where did you appear from?”

  “That’s kind of a hard question to answer.”

  “You know you can trust me.”

  “I know.”

  “But if you don’t want to say, it’s okay.”

  “It’s not that. . . . It’s just I’ve been living all over the country the last few years, but I grew up in Horse Mountain, Montana.”

  “Wow, I like the sound of that. I never heard of Horse Mountain, Montana.”

  “That’s what the Indians call
ed it. It’s probably named something else on maps. We were right outside Sweetgrass on the Canadian border.”

  “It must be beautiful up there.”

  “It was. Heaven on earth . . . When I picture my parents in heaven, I picture Horse Mountain.”

  “I’ll bet heaven does look like that, Joe.”

  “My uncle says there’s no heaven and when we die we just go to dirt, but I think he’s wrong.”

  “Your uncle is wrong. I see little pieces of heaven every day.”

  “Where?” Joe locked his gaze on her. Finny was caught off guard by his sudden intensity.

  “You’re gonna think I’m nuts.”

  “No I won’t.”

  “Little everyday things . . . Sky’s nicker when he sees me. The rain when it cools you down just right. When I walk through a forest so thick I can’t see the sky, but streaks of gold sunshine cut through the leaves and light up the ground. I always look up into the gold light knowing it will blind me, but I don’t care. It’s like a pathway to heaven.”

  “You sound so sure.”

  “I am.”

  Joe smiled, a big smile that said, If you have hope, I can too.

  “Joe! Joe, are you over there?” Elsa’s voice cut through the air, startling them both. She was at the fence line at the edge of Silver Spur property.

  “There you are,” Elsa said as she slipped through the fence.

  “What are you doing here, Elsa?” Finny asked, trying not to show her annoyance. Elsa had surely never stepped foot on Azure Hills before.

  “Oh, hello, Finny. Didn’t see you.”

  “Joe, I have a job for you if you still need one.”

  “Yes, I do. What? Where?”

  “My groom needs help. So you’d work for me helping with my horses.”

  “Elsa, you only have four horses. Since when does that require two grooms?”

  “Since I decided it did. What do you say, Joe, ten bucks an hour?”

  “Yes . . . Oh, I’m on crutches for four more weeks. Is that a problem?”

  “No, don’t worry. Whatever you can’t do, Omar will. Follow me. I’ll show you what needs to be done.” Finny stopped him with a touch to his arm. Joe looked at her; his face said it all—he wanted the job, he needed the job.