Chapter 2

It took them longer to get to the stables than Michaela had expected. The main reason was that Hannah insisted on walking most of the time, and none of the others had the heart to deny her this wish. They all knew how much it meant to her. For too long in her young life she hadn't been able to move around like other children, but after weeks of exercising and swimming she was, despite the still not fully closed hole in her heart, in good shape. So only when it became clear they might be late for the boys' lesson did Michaela carry the little girl.

It was almost five in the afternoon when they finally reached the dirt road that led to the entrance of the stables, and Michaela allowed Brian and Anthony to run ahead to look for their group. The boys knew their way around since they had watched the children's training more than once. "We'll come to watch you after Hannah had her ride," Michaela shouted after them, gaining no response though.

Frowning, she watched the boys dashing away and shifted Hannah in her arms. She wasn't sure if the children had heard her, but still shook her head indulgently. "They are in quite a hurry, aren't they?" she mused looking at Hannah. In Boston it was usually girls that were crazy for riding, but knowing Brian's adoration for Cloud Dancing she had an idea why he and his friend wanted to learn how to master a horse.

Hannah nodded seriously. "They need learn. Men gotta ride like wind," she explained and wriggled her way down to the ground.

Recognizing the medicine man's wisdom in the words, Michaela chuckled. "They certainly do," she acknowledged but then bent down to be at eye level with the girl. "But so do the women," she said. "We can do as well as they can, never forget that. Sometimes even better," she added and winked at her.

"Men're fools," Hannah said, putting her hands on her hips. She turned her head from side to side, trying to cluck with her tongue. Michaela couldn't help but laugh out loud; once again it showed that the child watched the people around her carefully and mirrored their gestures and words. This time she was copying Olive.

It was only some twenty minutes later when Hannah's face was flushed with excitement. The joy on her face was so contagious that the girl who led her pony in circles in the fenced in area agreed to add a few more rounds.

"At what age do you start lessons for small children?" Michaela asked the young employee. Riding would be an excellent way to support Hannah's development.

"I'm not sure," was the reply, but before the girl could elaborate, the frightened neighing of a horse disrupted the busy but peaceful atmosphere. For a second, a hush fell over the place, and then a woman screeching the name of her daughter ended the moment. Shouts and commands mingled with children's crying spoke a clear language: something bad had happened.

Instantly alarmed, Michaela asked the employee to look after Hannah because she needed to see if she could help. "I'm a doctor," she explained, already on her way. The girl nodded her agreement, lifting Hannah from the pony's back.

When Michaela reached the next corral, the crowd that had gathered in a small circle showed her where to go. As she heard a man's urgent shouting in a cell phone, obviously calling 911, she pushed her way through those that were gawking and offering all kind of advice. She didn't bother to apologize or respond to their rude comments but simply went on. Finally seeing a small figure lying on the ground she frowned with concern. It wasn't the weird angle in which one of the legs was bent that worried her. Broken bones healed. The stillness of the child's lower body told her that something more serious was wrong. As she went down on her knees next to the child someone wanted to stop her, but her "I'm a doctor" made everyone step back slightly and the crowd grew silent as they watched her examine the little girl.

Since she didn't have her medical bag with her, Michaela couldn't do anything but distract the girl whose face was white as a sheet by now. "What's your name, sweetheart?" she asked, gently brushing the hair from the small brow. With eyes full of fear the child looked up at her, "Jenny."

"Now, Jenny", Michaela smiled encouragingly, "I'm Dr. Mike. Do you remember what happened?"

"No," the child replied and tears threatened to spill.

"Shh," Michaela soothed and straightened her back, pulling off her jacket. "It's alright," she assured as she spread the coat over Jenny to keep her warm. In the background she heard people start talking again and children being asked what they had seen. She didn't pay attention to the interrogation though; her attention was focused on the little patient under her care. She only wished she could do more. Fortunately, the Penrose-St. Francis Hospital with its emergency and trauma center was quite close to the Academic Riding Stables, and so their ambulance arrived quickly. Normally, Michaela would have wanted to learn the reason for the accident, yet the moment the vehicle's doors closed her thoughts turned to the two boys and Hannah. Where were they?

Hannah sat on the bench next to the water troughs for the horses, her forefinger pressing down her lower lip. She was thinking hard about what to do. On the one hand the pony woman had told her to wait right here until she was back, but on the other hand she needed to go potty very urgently. At last the wish not to wet her panties won and she looked around. She knew from Dr. Mike what the sign for a bathroom looked like, but she couldn't spot one. Before desperation took over she remembered that her dad had told her there was no shame in doing your business behind a tree when you were out of town, and in her understanding she was because she couldn't see any shops or buildings where people lived. There were a lot of trees right across the way behind the fence though, and even better, there was a gate at the end of the row of troughs – and it stood wide open. Having made her decision the little girl slid down from her seat and scampered toward the wooded area.

"Hey, Dr. Mike," Brian called, waving enthusiastically to get her attention. "Ya seen us?" he added out of breath when he and Anthony reached her. They obviously were oblivious to the accident.

"The trainer said we're naturals," his friend chimed in, grinning from ear to ear.

"That's wonderful," Michaela responded somewhat absentmindedly, ruffling his hair. The boys noticed only now that she was craning her neck, searching the area.

"Where's Hannah?" Brian suddenly realized that their little friend was nowhere to be seen.

Good question, Michaela thought but she didn't want to upset the children, or herself for that matter, and said out loud, "I left her with one of the staff, but they apparently both left the pony corral."

"We can help ya find her," Anthony immediately offered.

"Yeah," Brian affirmed eagerly, "What's he look like?"

Still searching the place with her eyes, the young doctor replied, "It's a she, and she's wearing a red t-shirt and jeans and has short blond hair."

They quickly agreed that Michaela would ask for the employee in the building with the offices while the boys would go to the pony stables. It was after arranging that they meet again at the gate next to the entrance when Michaela spotted the young woman appearing around the corner of one of the stables. Relief flooded her, yet it was instantly replaced by alarm when she realized Hannah wasn't with her.

With the boys right on her heels she hurried towards the young woman. "Where is she?" she demanded the moment she was within earshot.

"She... I don't know," the blonde stuttered. Taking in a deep breath she tried to steady herself. Children ran to the horses all the time, but she had the feeling this wasn't the case here. "She promised to wait on the bench next to the troughs," she spoke coherently now. "I just went to pick her up again but she wasn't there anymore." Helplessly she shrugged. "I will tell my superior to organize a search party. She can't be far; it's only five minutes since I left her."

Looking towards the troughs across the corral Michaela instantly noticed the open gate. "Oh no," she breathed and started to run there.

"Miss! Wait!" the young woman called after her and the boys. "There's a protocol…" Acknowledging that those three wouldn't listen she pulled out her cell phone and dialed the number of her boss.

"Hannah? Hannah!" Michaela and the boys called for the little girl, running along the dirt road together.

Suddenly she stopped. "We should look for her in both directions. You search this way," she pointed north, "and I will go there." She gestured towards the main road from where the traffic noise could be heard. As they parted she resumed her shouting, and with each unanswered call she grew more terrified.