“I’m in the middle of nowhere.”
The night had descended, enveloping the road in darkness. The only illumination came from the bright beam of the motorcycle’s headlamp. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning sliced through the sky, casting an eerie glow across the landscape. The leaves rustled in the wind, picked up by a sudden gust, as the biker heard the deep rumble of thunder.
The tornado was bearing down on him, and the biker’s grip on the handlebars tightened as he pushed forward. A plume of dust trailed behind the motorcycle, marking its path away from the darkened city. The rough and bumpy dirt road was making the ride a challenge, but the biker was determined to keep going. He cursed under his breath, not a fan of the treacherous terrain.
“Oh no, I’m going to die tonight!” The man yelled as a lightning bolt struck a tree just ahead.”I shouldn’t have gotten out,” he grumbled. At this moment, a wave of sadness washed over him. In his 32 years of life, he had made several missteps, quitting college, ending his marriage with his wife, stubbornly continuing to ride his motorcycle in the midst of a tumultuous stormy night.
His visor fogged up, making it hard to see. He finally reached the end of the dirt road and pulled over. The vast farmland stretched out in every direction, and he took a moment to look back into the darkness. He lifted his helmet off, feeling the rain splash against his face. He fumbled in his jacket pocket and pulled out his iPhone 4. With shaking hands, he tried to dial, but his gloves made it difficult. He tore off his left glove and tried again. Despite the raindrops sliding down the screen, the call connected.
“Julian, did you find him?” The man asked into the phone.
“No, I haven’t. Where are you?” Julian replied, frustration evident in her voice.
“I’m in the middle of nowhere,” the man said wearily. He could hear the sounds of young boys shouting in the call’s background. They must be fighting over a Nintendo 3DS.
“Middle of what? My signal’s breaking up,” Julian said.
“I’m on my way to the stable,” the man replied, wiping the rain from his face. “It’s my final stop.”
“I can barely hear you, but be careful, bro,” Julian said. “I’ll take care of Kai and Jan.”
The man hung up the phone and slipped on his helmet. He revved up the engine and hit the road, heading onto the rural highway. The rain was coming down in sheets, drenching the road and turning it a ghostly white. Visibility was poor, but the stable were close.
The old stable was taking a beating from the rain, looking like a forgotten relic swaying in the wind. The man dismounted his motorcycle, leaving the headlight shining bright. He removed his dripping helmet and stepped inside, the familiar scent of hay and manure filling his nostrils. The horses, shrouded in darkness, peered at him from their stalls.
“Hey there, Carter,” he said softly, giving a gentle stroke to the neck of the closest horse. “It’s just me.”
The man’s eyes swept the area, searching for anything that might belong to the elderly stable hand. He took a few cautious steps forward and noticed a faint light hanging from a wooden beam. Beyond the beam, he could see rays of light shining through a slightly ajar door. He realized it was the grooming stall.
He gently pushed the door open and was hit with a strong, acrid scent of blood. On the bed of hay, a mare was writhing in labor pains.
In the corner of the stall, an elderly man was crouched down, muttering quietly. The warm glow of a lantern lit up his face, his eyes shining with joy and relief. His tattered gloves were stained with blood, but he paid no attention to the newcomer. “It’s okay, my girl. There’s no need to be afraid.” He spoke.
The biker approached the haystack and knelt down beside his father. “Wow, he’s beautiful.” The biker could now make out the newborn’s coat color: a rare, gay bay Thoroughbred.
“I had no idea you would have your hands full tonight.” The man said to his father.
The elderly man chuckled. “Sometimes things just happen. That’s life on the farm, but it’s worth it.” The father replied, smiling at the foal. “This one is special. He has a lot of potentials, just like his twin brother. You won’t forget this moment, son.”
“Two?”
“Yes, you heard me right. Two,” the father replied, pointing to the other foal in the corner of the stall. “This one was born just before you arrived.”
The biker’s eyes widened in amazement. “Wow, this is great news.” He said, “Two healthy foals born during a tornado, that’s quite a feat.”
The elderly man gently cleaned the newborn with a straw and disposed of the placenta. The tiny foal remained fragile.
“It’s a blessing,” the father said, looking proud and grateful.
The biker watched in awe as his father worked with the foals, carefully checking their vitals and making sure they were breathing properly. “These two are going to change our lives,” the father said with a twinkle in his eye. “I know it.”
The biker felt a surge of pride as he looked at the two new lives, so innocent and full of potential. Despite the danger of the storm and the treacherous journey to the stables, he felt glad that he had made the trip. He knew that his father was right. These two foals were going to bring a new sense of hope and renewal to the farm.
The sound of the rain beating against the stable roof was soothing, and the biker felt himself relax. He and his father sat in silence, watching as the two newborn foals stumbled to their feet, taking their first steps in the world.
The biker couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sense of peace in the midst of the storm. He knew that no matter what the future held, he and his father would face it together, with the strength and resilience of the two new lives in their care.