“Good boy,” I tell him, reaching over to pet the top of his head. He has his nose sticking out of the window, feeling the warm air as I tear down this country road. “Do you think I can do this in time?” I ask him, slowing only when gravel flies up under my tires, hitting the sides of the truck. “Yeah, it’s probably better if you don’t answer.”
It's a mad dash after I get home, and my arms are ready to fall off after I unload all the feed into the barn. Everly and Maria went trail-riding and aren’t back yet. I’m sure they’re fine, but I’m a mom and moms worry. Thor is more than ready for another walk, and I brush him while he grazes. The sun was out in full force around noon, and Ev and Maria bathed the draft horses and Odin already.
My project for the upcoming week is to get a saddle and bridle on Odin and see how he reacts. I’d love to send him to a trainer to test this out, but it’s a bit out of my budget at the moment. The horse was a former trail horse so he should just need a refresher.
Everly offered to do it, but until I know how the horse will behave, I don’t want to put her on him. Though, a fourteen-year-old is more likely to pop up unfazed after a fall. I’m in my thirties and will probably break my arm or something.
“Jo!” Louisa calls when I’m back in the barn. “Did you forget about tonight?”
I stick my head out of Thor’s stall, wiping sweat from my brow. “No, what time is it?”
“You need to leave in like two hours.”
“Fuck. All right, mister. That’s all the attention you’re gonna get from me tonight.” I run my hand over Thor’s soft muzzle, and he nudges me for more attention. “I think you’d like being a lesson pony for kids. Just think of all the attention and treats you’ll get.” I give him one more pat and then hurry my ass up, double-checking that water buckets are filled, and everything is set for the night.
Then I rush to the house and get into the shower, getting out in record time even though I shaved and washed my hair.
“Mom!” Everly shouts, voice coming from the hall.
“What?” I call back, turning off the bathroom fan for a minute so I can hear.
“You’re never going to believe this!”
With just a towel wrapped around me, I throw open the bathroom door and steam billows out. Everly is leaning against the wall, looking down at her phone.
“This!” She flips her phone around, showing me her latest TikTok video. It has more views than anything she’s posted before.
“You went viral!” I exclaim. “How exciting!” I hold my towel up with one hand and take the phone with the other so I can watch her video. It’s a “glow up” of Odin, and his before pictures hit me right in the heart both because they were awful, but also because they were taken by Aunt Kim. I didn’t realize Everly had gotten the photos from her phone.
“Look at the comments! So many people had no idea horses could be sold at an auction like this. The same auction Odin came from is happening again this weekend. Click on my comment,” she tells me, and I do. She replies to someone with a video, explaining how the loose sale at an auction works. This video reply has nearly six figures in views as well, with a ton of comments from people saying they donated.
“You’re raising money to go to an auction?” I ask out loud, working hard to keep my expression neutral. She’s just a kid and doesn’t see any of the implications. In her eyes, she’s just posting about horses in need.
“Yeah, people are outraged and want us to save as many horses from the Hillside Auction as we can tomorrow.”
“Everly,” I start, swallowing hard as I carefully choose my words. “I can’t just pack up and go to an auction.”
“Why not?”
I tighten the tuck of my towel and pad into the bedroom, needing to start getting dressed.
“Because it’s a huge case of easier-said-than-done. We have an almost full barn as it is.”
“We have an open stall, and Thor is going to Poppy’s soon, right?”
“That’s the plan.”
“And once we get some miles on Odin, he’ll be listed for adoption too.”
“Yeah, in a sense,” I continue; though, I have no official way of “listing” him.
“So, we will have stalls open, and I’m sure these horses who are bound for the slaughterhouse would rather have some nice pasture board in our field than being hit in the head, passing out, and then painfully bleeding to death.”
I get into my room and pull-on underwear and an oversized t-shirt to put on while I dry my hair and do my makeup.