Chapter 5

Ahead of us, the collared man stopped so

abruptly that I almost ran into him, but he pulled my reins up

short and held me in check. His voice rang out loud as if he wanted

everyone to hear him. “Pony,” he said, addressing me, “I gave you

an order. Prance.”

The blinders kept me from seeing anything but

his ugly face. Keeping my voice even, I told him, “My name is Drew.

And I don’t prance.”

Suddenly the riding crop leapt from his hand

to strike across my thigh. “You’ll do as I say,” he threatened.

In a low, dangerous voice I said, “Untie my

hands and try that again.”

The face before me purpled with rage. Each

word seemed an effort for him to spit out. “Insolent little

ass.”

“That’s rich,” I shouted, “coming from a pig

like yourself.” I started to say more but hands seized me from

behind and forced something hard between my teeth—a bit, snapping

onto the sides of my bridle and rendering me speechless. I strained

at the hobble binding my arms, shook my head back and forth, tried

to dislodge the bit with my tongue but couldn’t. Around the slim

steel bar, I growled at the man in front of me, gnashing my teeth

in a fit of anguish and anger.

With a laugh, my tormentor cocked an ear

towards me and mocked, “What did you say? I don’t believe I heard

you.” Then he tugged at my reins and I lost my balance, falling to

a graceless heap on the ground. The riding crop was back again,

striping my arm and shoulder and back. “Get up, you foul pony!”

More laughter—at least he found himself so amusing. I curled up

into a fetal position to avoid the lash that spread fire across my

skin in its wake. I kept one hoofed foot on the man’s leg, trying

to keep him back, but it was as ineffective as a kitten against a

tiger. One thought kept going through my mind: …And some

peoplelike this?

“Stop it!” someone called out. With my head

turned into the grass, I couldn’t see who spoke, but it was a new

voice—young, masculine, sane. “John, stopit. Is this the

beginning class? My God.”

I could just imagine a dozen wide-eyed ponies

shuffling around me, scared into discipline after this little

scene. Strong hands touched the welts on my back and I pulled away.

Just unhobble me,I thought—the bit in my mouth kept the

words inside. Just untie me, and I’ll get myself out of this

damn outfit. I’ll leave peacefully. I’ll go. Just let me

go.

The newcomer spoke again. “This pony’s had

enough.” The hands on me again—I didn’t have strength enough to

fight back. My knees shook unsteadily as I was helped to my feet. I

caught a glimpse of blond hair but my savior stayed behind my

blinders, out of sight. One hand settled on my shoulder, the arm

attached to it supporting my back, the other hand on my waist to

guide me away from the scene. That voice again, gentle now, low,

speaking in a calm tone. “It’ll be okay. You’re safe now. You’re

with me.”

I didn’t know why that was supposed to

comfort me but oddly enough, it did.

* * * *

My unseen companion led me through the crowd

towards the barn I had noticed earlier. As we got closer, I heard

people inside, ponies clomping horse-shoed feet in unison as a

trainer barked out orders to be obeyed. For a heart-stopping moment

I thought we were headed there, but then I saw a small stable that

stood by itself just off the end of the path, and I knew he had

something else in mind. The stable door opened to a golden

lamplight, lit by a flickering Coleman lantern that hung in the

first horse stall. Cautiously I stepped into the stable and let

myself be led into the stall. “Right here,” the voice behind me

said.

Old blankets covered the hay that lined the

stall. The hands on my body eased me down to my knees, then

unhobbled my wrists. With relief, I shook out my arms and turned to

get a look at the man beside me. The moment I saw him, I forgot who

or where I was, how I got there, why I was dressed as a stupid pony

in the first place, as everythinginside me skid to a halt

against the sudden pounding of blood through my body, a roar of

desire and lust that mingled in my veins, warming my arms, my

chest, my groin. Here was the type of man Sean had promised me.

Herewas the man I came looking for. Here, now, with

me… “I’m Drew,” I tried to say, but the bit in my mouth turned the

introduction into garble.