At Risk

Chapter 2

~Kendall's Point Of View~

"Where to first?" I ask Nick as I settle into his forest green pickup truck, my white three horse trailer hooked securely to the back of it.

"I know a family who is selling their Quarter Horse gelding because their daughter wants to switch diciplines from Western Pleasure to Barrel Racing so I figured we'd go take a look at him first.  He's been shown at a couple of smaller shows, but never a county or state fair.  He is 5 years old and needs a bit of brushing up on some stuff."

"Sounds like a good match for me." I forced a smile to keep from crying, "Let's go see him."

*****~*****~*****

"Excuse me sir?" Nick asks an older man as we approach the house, "we are here to take a look at your horse Jack?"

"Oh yes, you're gonna go up to that barn over there," he gestures twords a giant barn behind us, "and just open the door and you're gonna walk to the enterance to the indoor arena and a man should be in their.  Just say you're here to take a look at Jack and that Roger told ya' where to go."

"Thank you sir." I say and he tips his hat at us like a true southern gentleman.

We quickly find our way to the door Roger was talking about and find the indoor arena, where a man is lunging a cherry bay and white paint horse who doesn't look to be over 3.

"We are here to take a look at Jack sir.  Roger told us where to go." I start, stepping forward and shaking hands with the man.  He had rough hands, but a firm grip.  He shakes hands with Nick as well.

"Ah, a fine horse Jack is.  It's truly a shame my daughter is switching diciplines.  Jack was bred and raised right here at Maplewood Farm.  His sire is Mr. Goodbar and his dam is Sheeza Diva.  He stands as nearly 17.1 hands and he has two tall socks on his back legs," my thoughts go to Prince, who was also 17.1 hands (an uncommon height for a quarter horse), and had two tall socks on his back two legs. "As a matter of fact, here he is." the man stops and guestures to a stall with "Jack" written on a silver plate above the stall door.  I look into the stall and think for a minute that this can't be a horse named Jack.  This horse is a replica of Prince through and through.  I feel my knees get weak as Nick snakes his arm around my waist.  I lean into him for support.

"H-he looks... he looks just like Prince." I shakily whisper as a lone tear slides down my face.  I hastily wipe it away and notice that everyone, even the horse, has focused their attention on me.

"Are you alright ma'am?" the man asks me.  I dont respond.

"Go sit down Kendall I'll talk to him." Nick says as I take a seat on a nearby tack box and begin to fiddle with the hem of my shirt.  I hear Nick start to explain to the man about how Prince died throughout the night and that Jack and Prince could've been twins had they been the same age.  I hear the man apologize sincerely and Nick repeatedly tells the man that it's fine really and that he had no way of knowing.  The man then gave Nick the address for a nearby farm selling a mare.  From what I overhear the man say, her days are numbered as she is slaughterhouse bound if someone doesn't adopt her within the next 24-hours.

"You ready Kendall?" Nick asks as he takes my hand and pulls me from my trance.

"As I'll ever be." I mutter as we leave the barn.  I don't dare look at Pr- Jack as we leave the barn.  I just trap my line of sight with a curtain of hair as I walk with my head down.