Following week:
Watches as my sister makes a lap on her mount, a smaller version of mine laughing the whole time as she is keeping up with my brother, or at least trying to. Eventually she notices my laughter, steering her mount to where I am sitting then looking right at me
Molly: What's so funny?
You reminded me so much of myself just now, when I was younger.
Molly: Oh.
Not in a bad way.
Molly: Well of course not sister dear. So when are you going to race me?
Soon.
Molly: Hope so. Want to see if you are as sharp as you used to be.
Well I think I can keep up with you, shorty.
Molly: Good. Next week, we go. You and me. Same course our brother and me are working right now.
Count on it.
Molly: Okay then. I will.
Slightly later, same part of the stables where the they are
keeping TJ alongside the other horses:
Slowly approaches my mount so he doesn't get spooked, as before
No worries this time either, okay TJ? Manages to get close enough to him to start to place the sidesaddle on him, all the while making sure that he understands there is nothing being done that he hasn't been through before. This time however, despite my best intentions…. something goes wrong
Watches helplessly as he begins to panic. That being due to the fact that someone has arrived to cause this to happen. Someone who shouldn't have triggered such a violent reaction in my mount, as she has been around him as much as I have
Molly: What's going on? Why is he reacting this way to me?
Molly…. shh! Step away from where he is! Slowly, so as not to make it any worse!
Molly: Slowly backing away while still talking to me is this what you mean Megan?
As she continued to do it right, she failed to see what was behind her. Which led to her tripping over the rake that was on the ground. The minute her blue jean and panty covered bottom smacked the hay that was lining the floor of the stalls, that was when the whole thing took an ugly turn as TJ noticed her lying there crying as she had twisted her ankle slightly, and made to move to flee the noise, with her being right in the path of his flight
Molly: Scooting along on her backside trying to get away Help! Ow… Megan do something!
Which I did. Before I was even aware of having moved I was standing over where my sister was, awaitng the horse that was slowly approaching. When it reached us, what happened next was something that made my sister gasp in fear. That was because I put both my arms out and raised my hands towards the descending front hooves of my mount, as if to stop him from doing anything further to me, or my sister
Molly: No…he'll… 'Break your arms is what she wanted to say. Which was the truth. Since TJ outweighed me by well over 70 pounds, and stood about 6 hands high, at the lowest part of his back/belly. Even though that was so, it didn't matter to me at all. Nothing was more important to me than her safety, and mine.
A minute later, it happened. His front hooves touched my outstretched hands. As they made contact, I could feel every groove of his 'shoes', every nail that was holding them to his feet. And it felt weird as the cold iron touched my hands, and they felt like they were going to snap off at the wrists. Much to my surprise, and my sisters as well, that wasn't what I remember happening
Molly: Wide-eyed from fear over what might happen to me and whispering what are you?
Slightly strained Will you let me concentrate? If I can't, he will break my wrists and possibly both my arms as well!
Molly: Sorry.
Turns my head back to TJ, looking him square in his eyes NO. You will NOT harm her or me. Do you understand me? If you so much as flinch and dislodge your front fore hooves from my hands, I go right to uncle and you become backing for stamps in the post office! Now calm down! I'm not asking you to I are telling you! And you better listen, maggot!
TJ: Megan I'm sorry. Sorry about this whole thing. You're right. I overreacted. I'll stop.
Which he did, much to her surprise. Not mine though, as I knew it was my efforts that kept him from becoming glue. What happened next scared my sister all over again
Molly: Wow sis you….'did it' being what she wanted to say to finish the thought. Too bad the sight of my folding like a collapsible card table kept her from saying anything other than she was going to get help and avoid making my mount any more excited in the process.
Slightly later [okay a lot later] inside in my shared room:
Molly: Poking me repeatedly to see if
I am alive Megan. Megan. Megan. Megan. Megan. MEGAN!
Groans while sitting up somewhat could you please try to yell a little louder? I think part of my head has some feeling left in it…and people in the next house can't hear you!
Molly: Sorry sis. Didn't mean to make it worse. How are you feeling?
Been better. Looks around, trying to focus my eyes on where I am and make the 3 versions of my sister collapse into one Um…. how did I get back here?
Molly: Brother and the stable hand carried you silly! Then I got to pull your shoes and jeans off and get you ready for bed!
Blinks Ready for…. bed? What time is…
Molly: After 7! Almost 8!
I've…. been out for that long?
Molly: Yep!
So what happened? I don't remember.
Molly: You stopped him from hurting me, and then you collapsed.
Oh.
Molly: Going to go tell the housekeeper now you're awake! She has been saving your dinner for you.
Okay. Which she did. When the housekeeper brought me my dinner, that was when the real fun began
Jerrica: Now see what you get for not listening to me?
Eyes her frowning Shut up. He didn't do it on purpose. Molly spooked him.
Jerrica: He could
have snapped your arms like twigs! Then
he would've hurt her! You should've
listened to me!
Shut up shut up shut up shut UP! He is
my mount and I told you he wouldn't hurt either one of us!
Jerrica: No you shut
up! I swear Margaret…. you don't
think with that brain that's under the mop of blonde curls sometimes!
Leave me alone!
Jerrica: Fine. You win. But this isn't the end of the matter. Not by a long shot.
Stares at her as she walks away, clearly not missing what she was saying, and what it meant Don't even think about doing anything that costs me TJ or so help me…. at that she spins and glares at me
Jerrica: You will not talk to me that way young lady! Now or ever again! Do you understand me, or do I need to tan your backside until you do?
My aunt: Now you just stop right there. You will not lay a hand on my niece. Do you understand that, or do I have to make a fuss and a lot of noise?
Jerrica: No. At least none will be required from you this time old woman. Later on though, well that's later on
Later, when my aunt is away doing something and I'm alone in
my room which I share with my sister:
Jerrica: You know don't you, that I was more concerned about what your deed
indicated, than you or your sister being in any actual danger, right?
Sighs I thought we agreed that this conversation was over?
Jerrica: It was. We are discussing something totally different.
Yeah, like what?
Jerrica: What you really are.
What is that supposed to mean?
Jerrica: Just what it sounds like? You're not human my dear. Well somewhat anyway. Your human appearing on the outside, on the inside however, you are something totally different.
Still not following you….
Jerrica: You're before she could say anything else my sister wandered in and flopped down on her bed. When that happened, the housekeeper took her leave of the room, telling me that we would finish this conversation another day