It Really Happened

Walking out to the stable, William Regan saw Jim Frayne riding off on Jupiter in the early hours of the morning. He was grateful Jim was taking Jupiter out, since the horse had started having some fussy moments when he was being ridden.

Regan wasn’t worried about Jim. He had seen Jim over the course of the past several years calm Jupiter down with a few gentle words. He had a feeling the horse wouldn’t want to receive a harsh word from Jim.

Entering the stable, Regan quickly got to work feeding the other horses and cleaning the stalls. The horses liked a clean place to sleep and he liked it clean as well.

Just as Regan was finished filling Lady’s trough, he heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching the stable. He moved to the open door and gasped in surprise to see Jupiter pacing anxiously outside the stable. Jim was nowhere to be seen.

He quickly grabbed the reins and tried to settle Jupiter down, but it didn’t happen. Jupiter reared up on his hind legs, kicking out. When the horse came back down, Regan patted him on the neck.

“Calm down, Jupe,” Regan said. “It’s all right.” As he tried to calm Jupiter, he looked around for some sign of Jim. He knew Jim was very responsible and careful when he took any of the horses for a ride. With there being no sign of him, Regan got this uneasy feeling that something terrible had happened to Jim.

“Regan!” a voice yelled.

Turning, Regan saw Jim’s adoptive father, Matthew Wheeler, coming down from the house.

“Hey, Matt,” Regan said, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.

“How are things going?” Matt asked, taking a look at Jupiter.

“Not bad,” Regan said.

“Were you planning to take Jupe out?” Matt asked.

“Actually, Jim took Jupiter out,” Regan said, getting straight to the point, knowing he couldn’t lie to his boss. “But Jupiter came back without Jim.”

Matt quickly looked at Regan. “Do you think something happened to him?”

“I don’t know,” Regan admitted. “But I don’t want to chance it.”

“Let me saddle Starlight and I’ll come with you,” Matt said heading for the stable.

* * * * *

Within a short while, Matt and Regan were riding through the preserve, searching for Jim. They continued along a trail they knew Jim frequented when he was riding alone.

They scanned the wooded area along the path in case he had been thrown, but so far their search had been worthless.

After another half hour of riding, Regan wondered if Jim had gone on a different trail that day. Just as he was about to suggest splitting up, he saw a white sneaker sticking out from behind a tree up in front of them.

He pushed Jupiter to move a little faster and came to a halt next to the tree. He could hear Starlight’s hoofbeats coming up behind him.

Regan slid out of the saddle and landed on the ground. He held onto the reins and slowly approached the shoe.

“What do you see?” Matt asked.

Regan quickly glanced at Matt and saw he was positioned so he couldn’t see the sneaker. Regan said, “Just a minute.”

Hoping Matt would stay on Starlight, he moved to the tree and clamped his mouth shut as he took in the scene in front of him.

Jim Frayne the second was lying stretched out on the ground, unmoving.

Regan took another step forward and leaned down. He placed two fingers against his boss’ son’s neck, searching for a pulse: there wasn’t one. Jim Frayne was dead.

“Regan! What is it?” Matt demanded, his voice closer than before.

Just as he turned around, Regan saw Matt approaching him. There was no way to hide this.

As he took a step back, Regan watched Matt’s face go white and he released his hold on Starlight’s reins.

“No, not my son,” Matt whispered as he slumped to the ground beside the motionless young man. Sobs immediately wracked the older man’s body. “Not Jim. It can’t be.”

“We need to inform the authorities,” Regan said quietly, his heart breaking as well. Jim was a good man and had dealt with a lot in his young life. He had great dreams, and now, those visions would never become a reality.

“No police,” Matt whispered.

“We have to,” Regan said. “Even though this was an accident, they need to know.”

“I can’t leave him.”

“I’ll go,” Regan offered.

“Don’t tell Maddie or Honey. I will tell them.”

“Of course,” Regan said.

With one last look at the lifeless young man, Regan mounted Jupiter and made his way back to the Manor House.

* * * * *

Four days later, James Winthrop Frayne the Second was buried in Sleepyside Cemetery, next to his great-uncle, James Winthrop Frayne. He had grown to love the small community and the people in it, and his adopted family wanted him to be close to them.

As he watched the mourners move past the black casket, Regan glanced at Matt, Maddie and Honey. All three of them wore looks of pure devastation on their faces. None of them could believe Jim was gone.

As he stood there watching them, he thought back to the moment when Matt had broken the news to them. At first, a look of disbelief crossed their faces. Then, realization set in and they both began sobbing uncontrollably. The same shocked expressions appeared on all the faces of the Bob-Whites when they had heard the news. No one could really believe it was true.

After the service at the cemetery, many of the friends and family returned to the Manor House for a gathering. As everyone headed into the house, Regan made his way to the stable to check on the horses.

Going inside, Regan saw Jupiter had his head sticking out of his stall. He moved to the stall and patted Jupiter on the neck.

“I know you know what’s going on,” Regan said. “You’re a smart horse, you always have been. I don’t think anyone blames you for what happened. It was an accident and accidents happen. It’s just going to take time for people to adjust to what has happened. People might ignore you, but it’s because they’re sad.”

Jupiter nudged Regan’s hand with his head.

“I know, Jupe,” Reagan said as he continued to pat Jupiter’s neck. “I know you want to go for a ride, but that will have to wait.” He sighed. “I’ll be back later to see what we can do about that.”

As he started to turn around, Jupiter neighed and nudged him in the shoulder. Regan knew Jupiter was sad as well.

With one last pat, Regan left the stable and headed up to the house.

* * * * *

Over the next several days, Regan was kept quite busy exercising the horses and taking care of everything in the stable. He knew everyone was avoiding coming there, but that didn’t change the fact that he had a job to do.

It was dark when Regan returned to the stable one night after having a late dinner. He was going to check on the horses one last time before going to bed. He entered the stable through his office and moved to the door that led to the stalls.

As he stepped through the doorway, he stopped short. Sitting against the wall on the floor across from Jupiter’s stall was Matthew Wheeler. And what surprised Regan even more was that Matt had a rifle in his hand.

Taking a closer look at his boss, he saw bloodshot eyes and a glazed look on his face. It looked as if he had been drinking. A lot.

“Matt?” Regan asked. “What’s going on?”

“My son is dead,” Matt said quietly, his eyes never leaving Jupiter’s stall.

“I know,” Regan said. “And it was an accident. That’s what the police investigator’s report said.”

“But my son is dead,” Matt said, his voice taking on an angry tone. He pointed the rifle at Jupiter’s stall. “He killed my son.”

“Matt, I know you’re angry, but this is not the way,” Regan said. “Accidents can happen when someone is riding, this was one of those times. You can’t blame anyone.”

“This horse killed him.” Matt tightened his grip on the trigger. “The horse needs to pay.”

“I think you need to give me the rifle,” Regan said, holding out his hand. “You’re not thinking clearly. Someone is going to get hurt if you don’t give me the rifle.”

“I need to do this first.” The rifle wavered in his hand. “I can’t let anyone else get hurt.”

“No one else will,” Regan said. “Please, Matt, give me the rifle.”

Matt shook his head. “I’m sorry, Regan.”

Matt pulled the trigger and the sound of the blast echoed through the stables.

* * * * *

Bill Regan sat up with a start, breathing hard. Glancing around, he realized he was in his bedroom in his apartment above the garage.

He took several deep breaths trying to slow the pounding of his heart. As he started to calm down, he took a shaky hand and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. He couldn’t believe it. He was completely shocked.

I need to check on the horses, he thought, remembering all that had happened.

Regan shakily climbed out of the bed and pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt. He slid his boots on and quickly left the apartment. His steps were unsteady as he headed down the stairs, which he attributed to what he hoped had been a dream.

As he neared the stable, he could hear the horses whinnying inside. He opened the door and was surprised to see Jupiter standing there in front of him, ready to go for a ride.

Regan let out a breath, realizing it had been a dream.

“Hey, boy,” Regan said, moving up beside the black horse and patting him on the neck. “How are you doing?”

“How are you doing?” a familiar voice asked.

Regan spun around and saw Jim coming out of his office. Regan was stunned. He had decided that Jupiter’s death had been a dream, but he hadn’t expected to see Jim. He hadn’t expected to see Jim. He wondered if he was dreaming, but everything seemed real. He said slowly, “I’m okay.”

 

“Are you sure?” Jim asked as he approached him. “The doctor did say you should stay in bed for a couple days after the fever broke. From the looks of you, I’m not sure it has.”

“There’s too much work that needs to be done,” Regan said. “I’m fine.”

“Regan, you need to get back to bed,” Jim said, taking him by the arm and leading him out of the stable. “Everything is fine down here. I’ve been taking care of the horses, making sure they’ve been fed and exercised. Jupiter needs to go for a ride and as soon as I get you back to your room, we’re going to head out.”

Regan spun around to face Jim, grabbing hold of the young man’s arms. “Don’t take him out today,” Regan said frantically. “Just let him be in the corral. Just don’t go riding with him.”

“Come on, let’s get you inside,” Jim said as he wrapped an arm around Regan’s shoulder and led him back to his apartment.

Within a short time, Regan was settled in his bed once again. A cool cloth was placed on his forehead and he was covered in warm blankets.

Regan was exhausted, but he didn’t want to rest. He had to make sure Jim didn’t go riding on Jupiter. It seemed as if his dream was coming true.

Before he could say anything to Jim, his eyes slid shut and he was asleep.

* * * * *

A while later, the sound of hoofbeats in the driveway woke Regan. He pushed the covers off himself and climbed out of the bed. He moved over to the window and looked down. Jupiter was walking around, back and forth, riderless.

“It’s come true,” Regan whispered. He quickly got dressed again and left the apartment. He approached Jupiter and gently took hold of the reins. Trying to ignore the throbbing in his head, he smoothly mounted Jupiter and made his way down the driveway.

He heard his boss call out to him, but he kept going. He wasn’t going to allow Matt to find his dead son.

Taking the trail on which Jim had died in his dream, he pushed Jupiter to move at a steady pace to get to Jim before the worst happened.

As they went further along the trail, the more uneasiness he felt. He remembered the area from before and knew he was close to where he had seen the unimaginable.

As he turned the bend on the trail, he saw a leg sticking out onto the trail, unmoving. It had happened. It had really happened.

Regan halted Jupiter a few feet back before dismounting. He tied the reins to a tree branch and slow made his way forward. He could feel his stomach churning and knew he was going to be sick.

As he stepped around the tree, he stopped short at seeing Jim still and lifeless on the ground. Regan sank to his knees beside Jim.

“He should have listened to me,” Regan whispered as he closed his eyes. “He should have. If he had, we wouldn’t be here now.”

Regan did not want to have to tell the Wheelers about this. He just didn’t. His nightmare was coming true.

“Ohh,” a groan came from in front of him.

Regan’s eyes flew open and he stared at the body in front of him. The head moved and a moment later, two green eyes gazed up at him.

“Regan?” Jim whispered.

“You’re alive! Regan exclaimed.

“Ohh,” Jim groaned and closed his eyes.

“Stay with me!” Regan shouted. “I’m not going to let you die!”

“I’m not dying,” Jim whispered. “I just hit my head when I got knocked off Jupiter.”

To illustrate his point, Jim reached his hand to the back of his head and winced. When he pulled his hand away, there was a small amount of blood.

“That’s not good,” Regan said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a handkerchief. He leaned forward and helped apply pressure to the back of Jim’s head, hoping to stop the bleeding.

He looked Jim in the eye. “Are you hurt anywhere else? Your arms? Your legs? Your back?”

“It’s just my head,” Jim said, closing his eyes. “Just my head.”

“Don’t go to sleep, Jim,” Regan sad. “You might have a concussion.”

“I’m not going to sleep,” Jim said. “My head is pounding and it feels like it’s right behind my eyes.”

“All right,” Regan said. “I need to figure out a way to get you out of here.”

“Just go back to the house and call for help,” Jim said. “My head hurts so much that I don’t think I can walk.”

“You probably shouldn’t ride either,” Regan concluded.

“Probably not,” Jim agreed.

Regan was quiet for a moment as he tried to figure out the best plan of action. He really wasn’t sure what to do.

“It’s a shame you don’t have your phone,” Regan said. “If you did, we could call for assistance.”

“I do,” Jim said.

Regan watched as Jim reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Regan took the phone from Jim and quickly made the call for emergency help.

Once the call was made and help was on its way, Regan said, “I will got meet them and bring them back.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Jim said.

Regan squeezed Jim’s shoulder. “Just hang tight.”

“Okay.”

As Regan hurried to meet the paramedics, he felt a great sense of relief at how things had turned out. He had had a nightmare, which scared him to no end, but it had been a dream and nothing else. Jim and Jupiter were alive.

-The End-

Author’s Notes: Once again my esteemed appreciation goes to Kaye and Amy for the edit. And more thanks goes to Amy for making my site look as good as it does. This story came about while at Trixie Camp 2005. A discussion had taken place the first night at dinner about an author’s story, and in the midst of the conversation, it was said that the author had killed Jim, as well as Jupiter, leaving several people stunned. With the idea of killing off Jim, just for fun, this was what I came up with. I hope you all enjoyed it.

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