Excerpts from Chapters 12 and 15

"There's no way we could put you in with the rest of the livestock. We'd have to make special arrangements for you and those would cost us in time and money. Plus, there is no way, no matter how careful we were, that we could guarantee that an accident wouldn't happen and that you wouldn't be turned into one for real.

"Even if you were to pay for the feed, we'd lose money on the deal and we're not in business to lose money."

Unused to having a man say no to her, the ginger-haired woman turned sullen, her face clouding up like the western sky before a summer storm. She was just starting to leave the booth when a comment from Joey caused her to lower herself back down.

"But I've got an alternative proposal you might like almost as well," he said.

Terri pushed one triple-studded ear forward toward Joey. "I'm listening."

"In three weeks they're going to run the Chiron Cup races at the fairgrounds. This year they've added an fledgling division for amateurs who aspire to pony status but still want to retain their human citizenship. I'll sponsor you as my entry.

"I'll pay for your boarding and instruction. You'll get the same treatment as human ponies do, live in the same stalls, eat the same food. You will be a human equine except that fledglings are only given temporary status as ponies, just as you want.

"It's safe. There's no way entries in this class can be involuntarily converted. Even if you were to be raped by three or four real human stallions, you'd still keep your status. You'll have your temporary experience of being livestock and, after it's over and you've run your races, you'll get your citizenship back."

"Joey," Terri responded, her countenance reflecting her delight at the suggestion, "That's great. It's better than great, it's perfect. I'll do it."

"Now's my chance to say `whoa, hoss, whoa.' This deal comes with some conditions."

"Sure, no problem," said Terri confident that she could met whatever demands the young cattle rancher had.

"First, you have to understand that I'm in this to win, not to give you another thrill. I don't enter contests unless I intend to come out on top. This isn't a holiday at the shore. You'll train hard and long and there will be no quitting until after the meet is over."

"OK."

"Second, you'll run in at least three of the five races they're holding in your class, one of which will be a distance race. That will give us a chance to get enough points to take home the Chiron Cup in the fledgling division. On race day if you need to run in more contests to give us a shot at winning you will because you won't be a human, just another pony girl."

"Three races, got it. Still no problem."

"Don't be too sure of that," Joey warned. "You'll be training four times as hard as most of the other entries. Not only do you have to make up for lost time, you'll be undergoing exercises to build speed for the short sprints and endurance for the long hauls.

"I love that slight plumpness your figure has but if we're going to have a chance at the trophy that pyknic body of yours is going to become more angular and firm. You need to shed some pounds and build up a lot of muscles. And we don't have a lot of time to do it in."

"Joey, this is the type of thing I wanted to endure, just being another farm animal forced to do whatever my master wanted."

"All right, but remember there will be no backing out. Once you've been placed with the trainer you're committed to the end."

"I can do this. I want to do this."

"There's one final condition."

`Which is?"

"One of the races you'll have to run in is a tandem harness match. You'll need a partner next to you and I want Linda Sue to be that partner. If you want to do this, you'll have to convince Linda Sue into training as well."

"Why don't you give me something hard to do? Remember that just before that other rancher came by with the paper, I told you that your girlfriend was real. I don't know if you realize it or not but Linda Sue doesn't just fantasize about pretending to be an animal, she really wants to be one."

"Terri, I know you grew up here so you can't think that just because I'm a farm boy I'm dumb. Of course, I know about Linda Sue. I probably know more than she thinks I do. I even know that she doesn't have to shave her pussy any more because she dipped herself in the defoliating tank. That's not the point."

"What is?"

"The point is that I want her to experience being a pony girl without my asking her to."

"Why?"

"Never mind why. I have my reasons and they're mine. Look at it this way. If we work together we can both get what we want. The training and entry fees for the Cup are expensive. You can't afford them. Your relatives can't. I can. In return I want Linda Sue in harness beside you and I want the Chiron Cup on my mantel. Do we have a deal?"

Quietly, Terri got up and walked around to the other side of the booth. As Joey responded to the pressure of her soft, full breasts on his arm by turning to his right, Terri leaned down and kissed him full on the mouth. "We've got a deal. I'll call you once I've got Linda Sue ready for her traces."

"Hey Joey," said Luke. "I know you've got other things to do and you probably want to get ready to see Miss Linda Sue. Why don't you go on up to the house and get cleaned up. Hela and I can take it from here.

"Thanks Luke, I guess I could use a bath."

"You know boy, it's a good thing I'm not a few years younger," Luke said his craggy face dancing with mischief, "or I'd give you a run for your money with that gal."

"I give thanks for your age every night in my prayers," Joey teased back. "If you're sure you don't need me...."

"Go on son. Everything is under control here. Say hi to Miss Linda Sue for me, tell her if she wants to sneak off tonight to be with a real man, I'll give be glad to give her my love in person."

With a laugh and a wave of his hand, Joey left the breeding room.

Linda Sue had shown up at 7:00 pm sharp, a rarity for her since she always ran at least 10 minutes late for everything. Tucked under her arm was an elongated box measuring about 4 inches wide, two inches deep and two feet long, topped with a bow made out of silk. Linda Sue allowed Joey to hold the box but wouldn't let him open it until later that night.

"Nine o'clock. That's when you can open your gift and not a minute before."

After the living room clock had sounded nine times, Joey found the box contained two pieces of paper rolled into scrolls and tied it a ribbon of the same silk as the bow. These papers rested on top of a cardboard insert. With Linda Sue watching carefully, her tongue popping out of her mouth to moisten her lips, Joey unrolled the scrolls.

They were a pair of authorization covenants signed by Linda Sue and Terri and notarized by Beth Hardie, which gave Joey the right to have both girls temporarily converted into human equine for the purposes of competing in the Chiron Cup races.

"Don't stop there Joey," said Linda Sue. "There's another gift for you in the box."

Joey removed the cardboard to find a new, red leather riding crop it surface glistening with freshly applied oil.

"If you want a chance to use that tonight," Linda Sue said. "Come on out with me to the breeding room. Luke should have Terri on the rack by now and I'm more than ready for the sling."

"You're sure you want to do this," he asked.

"More than sure," she replied. "Terri talked me into it, not that it was hard. And she's right. This will not only be fun. We're going to win the Cup for you."