Some People Change (Currently Editing)

Chapter Eighteen

Amy, Emma, Freddy, and I arrived at the stables early. Jason had a worried look on his face, and Ed was by his side. He looked angry. Angrier than I had ever seen him before. I wondered what was going on.

Amy dropped Emma, Freddy, and I off, and then we went up to Jason. He gave us a smile, and then Ed rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest.

“What’s going on, Jason?” Freddy asked.

“Um, well. It’s a surprise. How about all of you go inside and help Taylor?”

Freddy and I nodded, and then Emma just followed us into the barn. Taylor was just sort of standing there in the aisle way, with the same distraught look on his face that Jason had. But I could tell it was for a different reason.

“What the heck is happening?” I said to Taylor.

He came over to hug Freddy and me, and then he let out a sigh.

“Do you remember that day when Wes came here?” Taylor asked.

“Yeah,” Freddy, Emma, and I replied.

“Well, apparently Wes was trying to get Jason to buy this mare that he bought, but couldn’t train or something. And of course, Ed didn’t really like that idea, but Jason did it anyway.” Taylor explained.

“So, that horse is coming here?” I said.

“Yeah.”

“I can’t believe you did this, Jason!” Ed nearly screamed from outside.

“Ed, please.”

“I’m not going to train that horse!”

“I know. I’ll find a way to.” Jason said.

“Wes has access to the best trainers in the world. And yet, he claims this stupid poverty thing. If his trainers couldn’t train the horse, then how are you supposed to?”

“Look, Ed. If I didn’t take her, then Wes was going to put her down! I couldn’t let that happen!” 

Ed was silent, then. I knew he knew deep down that Jason had done the right thing. 

Soon, there was truck with a horse trailer attached to it that was coming up the driveway. Ed just sort of shook his head. The truck stopped right in front of Jason, and then Wes jumped out. 

There were loud bangs coming from inside the trailer, and I could only imagine how scared the horse inside was. Wes patted the trailer as he passed it.

“Hi, Jason,” he said, smiling. Jason didn’t smile back. “Um, I’m going to need you and Ed to help me. Stupid thing tried to bolt when I loaded her into the trailer.”

“Stupid?” Ed asked.

Wes and he glared at each other, and then Jason came between them. 

“How are we going to do this?” Jason asked.

“Let me go in there and try to get her. Then you two unlatch the trailer.” Ed said.

“Good luck.” Wes smiled an almost sinister grin.

Ed entered through the side door of the trailer, and then there was more banging inside the trailer. I was scared for Ed’s safety. I knew horses could be dangerous. 

And then, again, I knew I couldn’t possibly be controlling my actions because I reached down and slipped my hand into Taylor’s. But I knew it was okay because Taylor gave my hand a squeeze. I didn’t even need to look at him to know he was smiling.

“I got her!” Ed shouted from the trailer. “Open it up! Now!”

Jason and Wes unlatched the trailer quickly, and then suddenly, it all happened so fast. Ed lost control of the horse, and she bolted. Jason tried to catch her, but he wasn’t even close. The horse kept going, and then I realized she was heading straight for the barn.