Page 4 of More Than a Helping Hand

Parker chuckles as he walks outside. He’s heard the name before, but to an Animaniacs fan, the name is always funny.

Bailey stares up at the horse. “She’s pretty. Can I pet her head?”

“Of course.” I scan the barn for the stool. “Let me find you something to stand on.”

“Just pick me up.” She puts her hands on her hips. “I’m not heavy. Even my mommy can carry me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I pick her up, and she strokes Dot’s nose.

“Hello, Dot.” She’s grinning. “I can’t wait to tell Mommy that I touched a horse.”

A noise catches my attention, and I glance back to see Parker in the doorway, snapping a pic. What a good uncle he is. Now Bailey’s mommy will get to see it and not just hear about it.

Bailey and I make our way around the barn so that she can meet the other horses.

And by the time we get close to the barn door, she’s all smiles.

She points to the main doors. “Now let’s go see the ones outside.”

“Sure thing.” I spin around to head to the door, but my boot catches on something, and I lose my balance.

I will not fall on top of this kid, so I shift my weight.

It probably looks like something out of a comedy sketch as I’m stumbling backward, trying to get my footing.

Bailey grips my shirt, her eyes wide. “Be careful.”

When I feel the bench behind my knees, I drop down.

Pain explodes through my backside. I set Bailey on her feet and spring back up, choking back lots of naughty words because there is a wide-eyed little girl staring at me.

Parker comes running in the side door. “What’s wrong?”

So maybe something slipped out.

Bailey points at me. “He sat on Fred.”

I glance behind me to ascertain what Fred is. A porcupine? No. Given the spines sticking through that tote, I’m guessing Fred is a cactus. “And Anderson and his butt are both very sorry they did.”

Parker rubs his beard. “I meant to warn you about that.”

“Yeah.” I take one step and think better of moving.

Tears pool in Bailey’s brown eyes. “Fred was my new cactus.”

Her tears make me forget about the pain. Only temporarily. Because there are spines in my butt that need to be dealt with.

I lean down. “Please don’t cry, Munchkin. I’ll get you a new one.”

“You will?” She wipes her cheeks.

“I’ll get you two. I’m sorry for hurting Fred.”

Leaning around me, she asks, “Did Fred hurt you?”

“A bit. Yeah.” I’m holding it together because of her, but once she’s out of earshot, I’ll be shouting my displeasure.

“I’m sorry.” She slips her hand in mine. “You need to see a doctor. The ends of the spines are barbed and will be hard to get out. That’s what my mommy told me. So I’m so careful about not getting poked.”

---