My Husband Sold My Horse While I Was Away – When I Overheard the Real Reason, I Went to War with Him

"Have you seen Spirit?" I asked, already bracing.

He didn't look up.

"Yeah, Willa. I sold him while you were visiting your dad. It was about a week ago. It's better this way."

My heart stopped.

"You... sold him?"

"He was old, Willa," Sky said, shrugging like it was obvious. "He was going to die soon anyway."

"Have you seen Spirit?"

"And you didn't think to ask me?!"

"My gosh. Are we really doing this now? He was your childhood pet. That's all. You should be happy you've got a husband who's willing to make hard calls."

I stared at him. He went on chewing like we were discussing groceries.

"You gave him away while I was out of state, Sky?"

"Are we really doing this now?"

"I literally just said that. And I got a good price," he said simply. "Put it toward something useful. You'll see."

I didn't hear the rest. I walked out of the kitchen before I said something I couldn't come back from.

**

That night, I sat on the floor with my laptop and a notebook, dialing every number I could find. I looked for every rescue center, boarding stable, and even online auctions.

"And I got a good price,"

I emailed photos of Spirit — his chestnut coat, the little white star on his nose. Some people didn't answer, others said that they had no clue what I was talking about. And some didn't even pretend to care.

But one woman did.

"I'm really sorry, honey," she said. "Nothing like that has come through here. But some people flip older horses fast through private resales. Elk River has a lot of small barns and rescues — start there."

I closed my eyes, my stomach twisting. Offload, like junk furniture... like clutter.

"I'm really sorry, honey."

I stepped outside with my phone still in my hand, trying to breathe past the sick feeling building in my chest. The porch boards creaked under my feet. It was just past nine, the air soft and still.

And then I heard Sky's voice drifting through the living room window.

He was on the phone, pacing, too loud and too relaxed.

"Sweetheart," he laughed. "You can't imagine! With the money I got for that hairy nag, we're going to live in the lap of luxury."

He was on the phone, pacing...

My fingers went cold around my phone. My ears rang.

Sweetheart?

I stayed frozen, heart thudding, as he kept talking, unaware I was only a few feet away, listening through the open glass. There wasn't a single word about me... or Spirit.

It was just money, and her.

**

My ears rang.

The next morning, I waited until Sky left for work.

I didn't eat, I didn't shower. I just stood at his desk with my hands shaking over the drawer he always kept locked.

I found the key taped under the bottom shelf.

Inside was a folded bill of sale and a printed email confirmation — pickup address, payment, and a number at the bottom.

I waited until Sky left for work.

I called it.

"Hello?"

"Hi there! Sorry to bother — I was told you recently took in a chestnut gelding, older guy. Little star on his head? Spirit?"

"Oh! Right! Yeah, we did have him."

"Do you still have him?" I asked.

I called it.

"No," she said, exhaling deeply. "We had him for a few days. He was gorgeous, but stubborn as heck. He just stared out at the fence like he was haunted."

I felt a sharp ache in my chest.

"What happened to him?"

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