Joe ran his hands gently over it, watching her movements carefully to gauge her reactions and check nothing was wrong.

Fly just kept her head turned continuing to search his pockets.

Joe chuckled and stood up

"There ain't nothin' wrong, you's just bein' lazy ain't ya...!"

Fly whineyed at him.

Joe looked at her properly, frowning a little before leaning down and checking her hoof.

Fly held up her hind leg, taking the pressure off her foot.

Hank meanwhile returned inside to Loraine and had been sitting beside her eating.

Jow winced as he saw the problem. An especially large and problamatic stone had wedged itself into her foot....and inside Joe bubbled up with anger a little at Hank....he had let a girl get in the way of the well being of his horse. Usually if Fly had a problem, Hank would check it straight off...

Fly whinned softly at him.

Joe nodded, gently putting her foot down.

"Alright girl...you wait here an' i'll get this out..."

He quickly headed out the pasture and to the barn, getting the pick.

Fly whineyed holding her hoof up a little as she chewed on grass.

Joe soon returned with the pick, taking the leg between his own legs and holding it there before gently working on getting the stone out.

Fly shook her head whineying at him, trying to pull her foot away.

Joe held fast, speaking soothingly.

"I know...I know darlin'...its almost there..."

Fly pushed her head into Joe's chest as if hiding it there.

Joe quickly worked on the stone and soon had it out.

"There we go girl...good girl..."

He took a couple of sugar lumps out his pocket and fed them to her.

Fly nuzzled into him as she chewed her sugar.

Loraine looked to Hank and smiled looking back down, she was finished eating, "that was delicious miss Lucinda, thank ya much ma'am." "Hank, uhh... I think I left a certain Horse o' mine in town!"

Hank smiled. "Well...we can head back there if you like."

Loraine smiled,"Yea, anyone who touches my horse'll surely get a gooden!"

Loraine laughed a little getting up from the table, waiting for Hank.

Hank got up too taking her hand and leading her outside after saying goodbye to Lucinda and Jeremiah.

Jerimiah watched as they left, shaking his head with a smile as he watched them leave.

Joe gently stroked Fly as she ate the sugar lumps.

"Its ok...its over now..."

Loraine looked to Hank,"Hank whats wrong with Fly?" "Joe was over there with her back leg." Loraine figured she had a thorn in the frog of her hoof or a rock.

Hank shook his head. "I dunno...she was favorin her leg earlier... I was gonna look at it after I brung ya home..." He quickly went out to the pasture. "Is she ok?" he asked, worry on his voice.

Joe looked over as Hank called to him, seeing him hurrying over. He shook his head, a scowl on his face as he continued to soothe Fly softly.

"No actually she's not..."

He held up the large and pointed stone.

"This was dug, sharp point up into Fly's hoof..."

"Oh Lord....Fly...I'm sorry girl...I didn't know...." he said as he bent over examining her hoof.