Disconcerting: Day 15

Word Total: 90,009

Year to Date: 780,069

Summary of Events:

Caetline answered the phone because it was ringing and the caller, Jada's former teacher, informed her that Jada had been thrown from a horse once before and not gotten back on right away, thus her fear issues ran deeper than anyone at PCÉE had realised. Macaulay and his father's head trainer went to pick up the horse at the unusual hour of sunset; they kept the horse at his place for the night because he noticed Mr. Douglass-Milligan following them only to realise the next morning that the mare Macaulay had ridden two days before was not the animal in the pasture . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

"He told me this is the horse you got last night," Da replied. "He suspects the horse was drugged so that it wouldn't arouse anyone's suspicions."

"So there were two horses," Macaulay said. "I was right! Those confounded police wouldn't listen to me but I was right! The Rescuers weren't lying!"

"Obviously," Da said dryly.

"Why're you still upset?" Macaulay asked.

"I thought you were taking it to their place last night," Da replied.

"Mr. Douglass-Milligan followed us out of the driveway, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to keep it here overnight and drop it off in the morning," Macaulay replied. "Recalling the horse I was shown."

Da nodded.

"Do veterinarians have tranquiliser guns?" Macaulay asked.

"I don't care if they do," Da replied.

"It needs medical help," Macaulay said. "I mean, even if it's a side benefit that we get it to the Rescuers' farm, it needs medical help and there's no way we're going to stop it by hand."

"That is true," Da agreed.

"And besides," Macaulay said. "If we call the police we can show them the horse and prove that they got it wrong and get Mr. Douglass-Milligan into the trouble he deserves to be in."

"You're missing the fact Macaulay," Da said.

"What fact?" Macaulay asked.

"This is a stallion," Da replied. "He is surrounded by mares and completely uncontrollable. Carlton told me he put him here because you'd said the horse was a mare. Now we can't move him and we can't really move the mares other than to do our best to keep the ones in heat in the farther pastures from him. And, not having nor seeking a tranquiliser gun, we can't drug him, nor do I believe it best for him to be kept on a constant regimen of drugs."

"Well if we get him tranquilised and out to the Rescuers' farm so that he can recuperate what does it matter?" Macaulay asked.

"I've done a bit of research on the Rescuers myself," Da said. "They don't know what to do with a stallion. He'd kill them, especially in this state. They're much more capable of handling dogs, cats, and horses who've merely been starved to bones. He can't go there."

"Oh," Macaulay said flatly.

"So guess what you're up to when you're not at the hospital or classes," Da said.

"Why can't Carlton do it?" Macaulay asked.

"My staff are paid to train my horses," Da replied. "All of my staff are more than occupied with the training of my horses. You paid for this horse, you know how to train a horse, you know what to do with a stallion, he's your job."

Macaulay stared at the frantic stallion with horror. What had initially looked so easy and clean had completely backfired in his face. Not only was the horse stuck here lest the Rescuers kill themselves trying to help him, but he had to try and turn this petrified mess of horseflesh into something moderately controllable.

Next Post: October 31.