Rita looked ahead gravely before answering. “After spending a year as a horse while she was pregnant with Jasper, then staying another year as one while she weaned him, my aunt actually ended up deciding to spend the rest of her life as a horse – which didn’t exactly go over too well with my mom. Anyway, she actually wanted to move with Jasper to a wildlife sanctuary for wild horses back home that she knew about, but they wouldn’t take them because they were concerned what my aunt’s altered biology might do to the herd. They were also worried about both her and Jasper having advanced intelligence for horses.”
“That sucks,” Trevor sighed.
“Yeah. But, as much as my aunt preferred being a horse, she didn’t want to end up as someone’s property, and definitely didn’t want Jasper to end up that way. I think she was worried about him just being sold off or gelded by their new owners after they got home.”
“So she decided it was better to stay here?” Trevor asked.
Rita nodded. A second later, Trevor could tell she was biting her lip. Finally, she choked out, “Yep. She ended up dying here, too.”
“What? When did that happen?”
“About a year ago,” Rita said sadly. “She just got sick and the vets couldn’t save her.”
“Oh, God,” Trevor sighed. “I’m so sorry to hear that, Rita.”
Rita just shook her head, making a few strands of her jet black mane drift over her right eye. “It’s okay. Feel sorry for Jasper. I wasn’t here for it, but I heard he took it pretty hard.”
“I can imagine.” Trevor thought it over for a few seconds, then asked, “So, what? He’s just stuck here now?”
A sharp snort blasted out of Rita’s nostrils. “Sort of. Like my aunt, he doesn’t want to end up as someone’s property. But, eventually, the resort’s going to sell him off. I just know it.”
“He could become one of those counselors I’ve seen around,” Trevor suggested.
“I’ve tried to talk him in to it, especially considering how much he’s helped learn how to be ridden and run as a horse. But he’s just not that interested. Plus, they don’t have a need for any more equine counselors right now.”
“Crap,” Trevor snorted, stomping one of his forelegs into the grass. “So what are you going to do?”
“You know how I said I came here to try and be a better rider?” Rita asked after taking a deep breath.
“Yeah.”
“Well, let’s just say I have an ulterior motive with that. I’m hoping I can head back home after this, win a few more barrel races, and then make enough money to buy Jasper from the resort.”
“But he’d still be property, then, wouldn’t he?”
Rita’s ears pinned back. Not in anger, but in determination. “Maybe. But I would be taking care of my cousin and he would be living with me. I think if my aunt would approve of it if she was still around. It may not be the wildlife sanctuary, but it’s better than ending up in someone’s backyard paddock.”