34. Jesse
JESSE
I should have known Johree would jump right into the fray.
I woke up with my throat parched and aching, my eyes feeling hot and swollen.
“Please eat at least some soup,” he begged me. “Your father agrees with Bob that the odds are good they’re safe at a sanctuary.”
“They’re both trying to cheer me up while hoping for the best. Those sanctuaries can’t buy all the horses there, and plenty of healthy horses with a lot of years left in them end up as pet food or gourmet steaks for those who like”—I made air quotes—“‘exotic meat.’ So, yeah, hope for the best, but know it’s probably the worst.”
“They’ve asked if you’d consider uploading the video to your channel so that, if the buyer sees it—or someone who knows them does and tells them—they’ll get in touch. Even if they were sold for meat, they might not have gone for slaughter yet.”
I laughed humorlessly.
“Sure. Let’s do that. Might as well let the whole fucking universe know what a bitch my sister is. Send me the vid.”
I dragged myself out of bed to fetch my tablet before climbing back into bed with it.
By the time I’d opened my streaming software, Johree had sent me the vid as requested.
I stared directly into my tablet’s camera, not caring that I looked like shit or that the lighting wasn’t perfect.
This needed to be raw so everyone could see the truth of my feelings over what she’d done.
I began recording.
“Hi, everyone. Yeah, I know I look awful, and the video’s a little shaky, but I’m not using my usual setup. I’m doing this via my tablet because I have something really urgent to share with you all.
“You may have watched one of my earlier videos showing the progress we’d made putting up a barn and a stable and fencing in a paddock and some pasture.
Not all of that was for the kilt-ha we’re gonna be raising, but for my two horses.
Socks, who my dad gave me for my tenth birthday and who I was excited to be bringing to a fancy retirement setup where he could graze, play, and be spoiled for the rest of his days, and Meadow, who I got after graduating college and returning to my family’s ranch.
There’s a lot of beautiful country I was excited about exploring with her, and I was hoping to find a horse large enough for Johree to ride so we could do it together. ”
I sniffled, swiping at my eyes to dash away two more tears that threatened to fall.
“Sorry. This is really hard to say. Um, suffice it to say, my dad really did apologize and said he was gonna have my sister and her husband wait for arranged transport for them as soon as he knew when someone could go get them so someone would be there. I’m just gonna play this video message she sent to my dad’s lawyer in reply so you can see for yourselves.
And, um, afterward, if you know anyone working at the auction house or the person or persons who purchased them, please get in touch with the nearest Mylos and Dragonii Testing Center so they can pass that information along to us. ”
I paused, uploading the video to the software and stitching it to the end of what I’d just recorded. Then I uploaded some pictures of me and my horses so folks could see the bond we had, as well as what they looked like. Once I was satisfied, I hit Publish.
“May the chips lay where they fall,” I murmured.
I watched as, mere moments later, the viewing counter began to climb.
Fifty-two viewers, then a few hundred. Within minutes, there were thousands, and the shares were in the high triple digits.
The video was already going viral, the animal lovers in my fan base doing their thing and leaving words of sympathy and encouragement for me.
Lauren had no idea what was about to hit her, and frankly, I didn’t care. If anything, I felt rather gleeful that her name was going to be ruined forever because of the wounds she’d dealt me.
I looked up at Johree.
“I think I can have a little soup. Could you replicate me some cream of tomato soup? With garlic-and-herb croutons?”
He bent down, kissing my forehead.
“Sit back,” he said, fussing with my pillows. “I will be but a moment.”
As always, he was as good as his word. In fact, the only thing he’d promised me that, so far, had not come true was that I’d get to have my horses here.
He’d certainly tried, as had Dad. I knew that, if despite everything they were still alive, Johree would bring the might of his father’s empire to bear to bring them home to me.
That was a big if, though, and the now-hollow ache in my chest told me it was much more likely all he’d be able to do was stand by my side and hold me up while I grieved, while seeing my sister punished to the fullest extent of the law.
It would have to be enough, and I’d have to let him know it was.
Otherwise, he’d find a way to worry himself silly over me.
I finished my soup and felt hungry enough, after skipping breakfast and sleeping through lunch, to have a grilled American cheese sandwich afterward. I was washing the last bite down with a caramel frappé when Bob spoke.
“Excuse me, guys, but there’s been a development.”
I sat up, clutching the cup in both hands as they trembled. Johree sat next to me, patting my leg reassuringly.
“From the tone of your voice, it sounds like it may be good news,” he replied.
“I think so. Hope for Horses contacted their local center to say one of their volunteers saw the video, and they believe they have your horses. Ted is on his way to visually confirm. The thing is, they say that if they are yours, they’ll give them back, but they’d like to make a deal with you both. ”
“What kind of a deal?” I asked, hope suddenly flaring to life.
“They want you to pay for the relocation of a herd of mustangs due to be culled, as well as agree to buy future horses sent for slaughter at auction houses in a four-state area.”
“Done,” Johree replied.
I stared at him, filled with awe at his lack of hesitation.
“Just tell me what these wild horses need, and I will see that it is done.”
“Johree, I think they want us to move them to New Haven. And these are wild horses used to running on the plains.”
“Then they shall do so here,” he countered. “We have plenty of planet left for them.”
“And the other horses?”
“We can offer some of them to colonists if they are young and healthy enough and allow the rest to enjoy retirement with Socks.”
“The number will continue to grow larger and larger!”
“Then we shall find homes for even more and create a sanctuary if need be.”
I threw my arms around him.
“You’re perfect, you know that?”
He kissed the tip of my nose.
“I would do anything for you, and how could I not also help an animal in need?”
This was why he was perfect as the governor of New Haven. His compassion knew no bounds, and he had a practical side that made what needed to happen feasible.
“I will inform Xeranos and the ambassador of this. They are insisting it not be contingent on these being Jesse’s horses, in case they are mistaken.”
“Of course not. We will lend our aid regardless.”
He reached for his tablet.
“I will inform Pata. He will wish to be involved in helping save the other horses.”
I had a feeling a lot more than just four states were suddenly going to find there were no horses available for the meat market.
My heart grew much lighter at the thought.