Mary sighed.
"'Great, just great, " said Mary. "As if it wasn't bad enough being stuck as a girl's pet, now I have to spend the night in a stable with a bunch of horses!"
"What's the matter, beautiful?" said a male voice in the distance.
Her ears twitched. Someone had spoken to her, and it sounded like they understood her.
"Hello? Is someone there? Can you hear me?" asked Mary.
"I sure can, baby. How could ignore such a sweet voice?" replied the voice.
"Oh brother, " said a female voice. "Just ignore him, dear. He acts that way with all the new girls."
New girls, thought Mary. What was she talking about? But Mary didn't care. Someone could understand her. Somebody that could help.
"Hello? Please you have to help me! You have to get me out of here! A little girl turned me into a horse and trapped me in this stable!" yelled Mary.
The barn was silent. Then it echoed with sound of laughter, the laughter of many voices, a crowd of voices. But the laughter sounded strange - very nasal, almost like a snort..... or a whinny!
She looked around the pens at the horses. A horse with a coal black coat lifted her lips and whinnied.
"You sure know how to pick 'em, Thunder. She sounds like a loon!" said the horse.
Mary turned her head and saw the white stallion the black horse was addressing. He looked a little embarrassed.
"Quiet, Beauty. It sounds like she was just brought in from the wild today. She is probably just a little confused. Maybe she injured her head. That little snot John is not known for his kind touch," said the white horse.
Mary was shocked! The horses were talking! And about her!
"Maybe it was the apple. Maybe Amy put something in it," said Beauty.
"Don't be silly, Beauty. The young girl is obviously fond of the new horse. I think maybe you are a little jealous. I can't remember the last time Amy snuck out to bring you a treat," said another horse, with a beautiful red coat.
"That's not true, Belle! She still loves me the best! She spent all last weekend grooming me," said Beauty.
The other horses whinnied with laughter.
"Well, it sounds like she has a new favorite now. She was talking about taking her to the fair," said Belle.
Beauty stomped her foot angrily.
"Well, I've got a new favorite now, too, " said Thunder. "My name is Thunder. What's yours?"
"My name is Mary," said Mary uneasily. "Thunder? Your name is Thunder?"
"Sure thing, " said the white stallion proudly. "The little girl called me that because when I ride the powerful beats of my hooves on the ground sound like thunder. Impressed?"
Beauty scoffed. "Hardly. More like Sprinkle - making a big promise of rain, and failing to deliver anything but a drizzle."
"Or Lightening," said another female horse that Mary couldn't see.
"That works, " said Thunder. "I am very fast."
"A little too fast where it counts, from what I've heard, " said another unidentified male horse.
The stable erupted in the strange laughter of the horses.
"Listen - Mary, was it? Don't listen to those jealous nags. Just come with me tomorrow. I'll show you a great time. All the best places to run and the best grass to eat. Tomorrow when we are in the pasture, just come look for me," said Thunder.
"Don't listen to him, dear, " said Belle. "He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Why don't you hang out with us girls tomorrow? We will show you the ropes, and teach you the rules."
Thunder scoffed. "Humph, don't be lame. She wants to have a good time. Make her first time in the field a memorable one. She doesn't want to waste her day with silly rules and girl talk. Come with me, Mary. I will give you an unforgettable adventure, I promise."
Mary couldn't believe it. Not only was a horse talking to her, it was flirting with her! Mary was not homely as a human, but she did not get much attention from men. It was kind of flattering to be admired, even if it was coming from a horse. But she was a little uneasy. She just wanted to do her time, and return to being human. Exploring the boundaries of her new home with Thunder did sound fun, but maybe she was better off sticking with the other female horses and learning what was expected of her. Then again, Thunder was pretty wild. Maybe he knew a way to escape from the farm.
"I'll think about it, " said Mary, to no one in particular.
That seemed to satisfy everyone. The horses welcomed her to the farm, and wished her a good night. Now comforted by the company of friends - even strange ones -she felt more relaxed and drifted off to sleep.