#1: ABANDONED “If it makes you happy,
It can’t be that bad” - Sheryl Crow
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Rebecka Nelson is a mouthy rebel, an abandoned rebel. She doesn’t have the perfect life and she doesn’t expect one. She lives on Whitebrook Farm with her grandparents, Ian and Beth McLean. Her mother, Samantha Nelson, died when Rebecca was younger and a few weeks later, her father, Tor Nelson, up and left her.
Becka, however, feels out of place at the prestigious racing farm. She doesn’t have the passion for racing like everyone else at the farm. That’s why her eyes are set on a black gelding. His heart isn’t intent on racing, either. It bores the horse, as it does Becka. But, Becka has her own plans for the both of them ....
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Chapter One:
“Beck,” a voice said, “c’mon! Wake up!”
Groaning, ten-year-old Rebecka Nelson opened her blue eyes up and stared into her uncle’s green ones. She rubbed her eyes and sat up.
“Why’d you wake me up so early, Uncle Kevin?” she asked him as he sat down on her bed.
A smile played at the corner’s of Kevin’s mouth. “If you think one in the afternoon is early,” he stated.
Becka clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, no!” she exclaimed, her voice muffled. “I told Ashleigh and Mike that I would work Indy on the track! They‘re going to kill me!”
“Ridiculous,” Kevin said, standing up as Becka jumped out of her bed. “They told me to tell you just to ride him on the trails. Then, tomorrow you’ll exercise him on the track.”
“Okay, good.”
Kevin grinned. “Now go get dressed!” He turned and left the room.
Becka hurried to put on her riding clothes. She placed her boots on her feet and then grabbed her helmet. She dashed towards the door, pausing to looked at the picture of her mother, Samantha McLean, who died three years earlier. I love you, Mom, she thought and then ran downstairs.
“Ready, weirdo?” Kevin asked his niece as she ran into his arms.
Becka nodded. “Let’s go, Uncle Kevin!”
Her grandmother, Beth McLean, turned around from the sink and stopped Kevin.
“Sweetie, you have to take your pill,” she said. She grabbed one of the pills and a glass of water and walked over to Kevin and Becka.
“Do I hafta, Nana?” Becka asked Beth as she reluctantly took the glass of water.
Beth nodded. “Yes.”
Becka frowned and took the pill in her hand. She put some water in her mouth and then slipped the pill in. She swallowed the water and pill, making a face, and then handed the cup back to her grandmother.
Beth smiled and kissed Becka’s forehead. “Have fun, sweetie.” She turned around and walked back towards the sink, placing the cup in it and then heading up the stairs to shower.
Kevin walked over to the door and Becka reached down to open it. She also shut it and then they two of them headed out to the training barn.
“Who’re you gonna ride?” Becka asked her uncle as he placed her lightly on the cement. She didn’t wait for an answer and ran down to Indy’s stall. All the horses except two were turned. The two in the barn were Indy, the black gelding by Indigo and out of Magical Lassie. Neither of them had done much on the track, but they were bred together to get a good trail or pony horse.
When Becka has come to Whitebrook three years ago, she fell in love with the two-year-old. She had insisted that the horse stay in training. Now, at five, Indy wasn’t putting his efforts into racing. He acted like a lazy school horse more than a high-strung racer.
“Who do you think I’m going to ride?” Kevin teased Becka as he walked past her. He had just recently gotten his newest trail horse, Skipper. The horse was a big bay Perchron-Thoroughbred cross with a star and two back socks. He had been ridden English and Western, participated in Western and English pleasure shows, and Hunter events. Kevin had sold his old trail horse, Jasper, to Whisperwood. But, when Tor moved, he had taken Jasper, Sterling, and several other horses. The rest of the stock had been sold off, including Sam’s precious mare, Treasure.
Becka smiled at her uncle and took Indy’s saddle from the tack trunk. She walked in the gelding’s stall and he nudged her.
“Stop, Indy,” Becka ordered the horse lovingly. “You can be mean to me later, when I’m doing your girth.”
Indy tossed his elegant head and whinnied. He kicked the stall door and pinned his ears as Becka placed the saddle on his back.
“Stop!” she cried to the gelding. She slapped his neck lightly and then reached under his girth area to snatch the girth. As she pulled it tight, Indy pinned his ears all the way back and kicked out his back leg.
“Knock it off,” Becka said. She managed to get the girth slightly tight without getting her side bitten.
Finally, she led the jet black horse from his stall. She walked down to Kevin, who was waiting for her outside the barn.
“Ready, kiddo?” he asked his niece as she exited the barn and stepped into the fresh sunlight.
Becka nodded. “Will you put me on his back and then check his girth?”
Kevin nodded and lifted Becka from the ground to Indy’s back. The black horse only 14.3 hands high, not very tall for a Thoroughbred. Becka’s own buckskin pony, Friar, stood taller than Indy did.
“I didn‘t realize how short he was!” Kevin said as he placed his foot the Western stirrup and swung onto Skipper’s back. When Kevin had bought Skipper, he gotten all the gelding’s papers, and his Western and English saddles.
Becka grinned and nodded. “He’s almost like a cowpony!” she agreed.
Kevin laughed and then headed off. Becka got her horse moving. He had to trot to keep up.
“Slow down, speedy,” Kevin told Becka as they entered the wooded trails.
Becka followed her uncle’s instructions and slowed Indy. The black horse slowed down reluctantly, shaking his head. The tight breeze by past them and Indy’s mane flew off to the side. When the wind hit him, he stopped short and braced himself. After it passed, he bucked once and then trotted after Skipper and Kevin. Becka slowed him once again and then they turned right. They wandered down a slight hill and came out to a flat area with a stream running through it.
“Indy doesn’t like water, Uncle Kevin,” Becka regarded her uncle as Kevin walked Skipper up to the flowing water. The big hose put his front feet in and then lowered his head to get a drink.
Kevin waved his hand to beckon his niece forward. “Walk him up to Skip,” he instructed.
Becka did as Kevin said. She held the reins tight, making Indy stop several times and be hesitant about walking forward.
“Drop the reins,” Kevin demanded.
Becka blushed and dropped the laced reins. She urged her mount forward and he took several steps. When he reached Skipper’s mid-stomach, he stopped and refused to budge. He looked down at the water, eyes wide and interested.
“Now pick up the reins with one hand,” Kevin told Becka. “Hold them in the very middle and reach your arm out over his neck. Then, urge him on.”
Becka did as Kevin said. Indy took tiny steps forward. When he got his front feet directly in front of the water’s edge, he dropped his head and sniffed the water. Finally, his lips touched the cool liquid. Becka rubbed his neck and hugged him. She sat up and tried it again. The horse willingly placed the tip of his hooves in the clear water.
“Good boy, Indy!” Becka praised the gelding. He lowered his head once again and took a long refreshing sip.
Tu gusta?? (you like?)
Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger
An endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower
And you, it's only seed
It's the heart, afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It's the dream, afraid of waking
That never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul, afraid of dying
That never learns to live
Re: ...
aw good job hammage hehe when do u want the illustrations by tho? fer seriously (hehe and i kinda wanna do more then just the cover )
~*~At first you were somethin i denied Something I would slide Just do somethin in the ride But shorty Theres something that you provide Cuz the entre ain't as good without something on the side ya' know.~*~
YoUr jEaLoUsY iZ Ma EnErGy EvA WoNdA WhY Im So HyPeR?
_EvErYoNe hAs dErE wEaKnEsS_
_u JuS hApPeN tO bE mInE_
<LoSe OnE FrIeNd< LoSE aLL FrIeNdS< LoSe YoUrSeLf
you tell me not to walk away, but ur the one who taught me how
-u spend all ur time waitin for that second chance..for a break that'll make it ok..theres always some reason, to not feel good enough..-
I wish dreams were like wishes, n wishes came true, cuz in my dreams i'm always with u
"In your world I may be no one, but what makes you think you're someone?"
-AFI
Re: ... thanks, all! And meca, I told you a million times that it don't matter when you have it done. And you may do more than the cover if you.
And, for the rest of ya'll ... i plan on scanning the illustration(s) on the puter and showing ya'll. meca is a TERRIFIC drawer! well, i at least wanna get the ocverup, mmmkay?
And .. i have the second chapter and I should have it up soon ... I'm really liking this story.
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed
That with the sun's love, in the spring
Becomes the rose
Re: ...
great ham now i have to draw it good im jk haha but really im ont that good
~*~At first you were somethin i denied Something I would slide Just do somethin in the ride But shorty Theres something that you provide Cuz the entre ain't as good without something on the side ya' know.~*~
YoUr jEaLoUsY iZ Ma EnErGy EvA WoNdA WhY Im So HyPeR?
_EvErYoNe hAs dErE wEaKnEsS_
_u JuS hApPeN tO bE mInE_
<LoSe OnE FrIeNd< LoSE aLL FrIeNdS< LoSe YoUrSeLf
you tell me not to walk away, but ur the one who taught me how
-u spend all ur time waitin for that second chance..for a break that'll make it ok..theres always some reason, to not feel good enough..-
I wish dreams were like wishes, n wishes came true, cuz in my dreams i'm always with u
"In your world I may be no one, but what makes you think you're someone?"
-AFI
Re: ...
nonsense!! lol meca, you're GREAT!!!!!! better than me Anyway, here's more
______________________________________
Chapter Two:
“Race ya to the pasture!” Kevin yelled, breaking Becka out of her thoughts. Her uncle heeled Skipper and the horse sprinted across the stream and raced up the hill on the other side of the stream.
“Cheater!” Becka yelled after uncle. She kicked Indy, but the horse refused to move. Finally, Skipper’s light bay body was gone and that’s when Indy kicked up his heels skidded over the water and shot up the dirt hill. The two young ones raced after Kevin and Skipper. The bay horse suddenly rounded a corner quickly. Becka tightened her left rein and when they reached the corner, Becka opened up that rein and Indy flew around the corner. He saw Skipper ahead and dug in. The tiny horse caught up with Skipper easily. He passed the horse and then started to slack off. When they reached the pasture a few seconds later, Skipper and Kevin had won by a neck.
“Good job, Beck,” Kevin told his niece. “Now let’s cool these guys off.”
By the time they got back to Whitebrook, the sun was hanging low in the sky. It cast a shadowy glow on the ground and shadows of Becka, Indy, Kevin and Skipper were stretched out as long, willowy figures.
“What time--” But Becka cut herself short. She saw a dark blue Sierra with a trailer hitched to it pull up the drive.
“Poppi’s home!” she said excitedly, grinning.
She cued Indy to canter and headed towards the truck and trailer. Ian climbed out of the truck and waited until Becka got him. She slowed Indy and stopped next to Ian. She jumped on her grandfather and hugged him tight.
“You promised me you would have been home yesterday,” Becka told Ian as she pulled back and looked into her grandpa’s eyes. “I was afraid that you wouldn't come back.”
Ian smiled. “You miss seeing you again?” He shook his head and kissed Becka’s forehead. “Never.”
Becka smiled at him and then Ian placed her back on Indy’s back. “How was the little guy?” he asked as they walked around to the back of the trailer.
“Pretty good,” she replied. “Uncle Kevin didn’t wake me up till one, so I didn’t get a chance to work him on the track. But I raced Uncle Kevin today, but Indy always goes off the pace whenever he gets in front.”
Ian nodded. “I say Mike and Ashleigh sell him,” he replied. “He’s not paying his keep and there’s no point in training him. We even tried what Ashleigh did when she had that problem with Goddess.” He shook his head sadly.
Becka was horrified. “No!! We can’t sell him! Poppi, don’t say that!”
Ian had let the ramp down on the trailer and turned and studied Becka. “It’s not up to me, Becka,” he told her. “Mike and Ashleigh own him. It’s only my input that we sell him. They make the final decision.”
Becka frowned. “Can you convince them not to sell him?” she begged Ian. “Please, Poppi! I love Indy too much!”
Ian rolled his eyes. “I never said they were selling him, hon. It’s my opinion only. Honest.”
Becka nodded and hung her head. “Mmmkay,” she replied dully. She lifted her head and found Ian staring at her. “Want any help?”
“Sure, but go get your uncle.”
Becka nodded and then trotted off to get Kevin. The young man was already walking out to the trailer. Becka briefly said ‘hi’ as she passed. She dismounted and walked into the training. All the horses were inside now and were getting fed. Indy whinnied and pranced towards his stall.
Becka lead him in and took off his bridle so he could munch n his food. She started to take off the saddle and then stopped to study Indy as he chewed his fed thoroughly.
“How was he?” a voice cut into Becka’s mind.
The ten-year-old looked up and saw Ashleigh Griffin’s face. Ashleigh co-owned Whitebrook with her husband, Mike.
“Alright,” Becka replied, looking away from Ashleigh. She then kicked herself for saying that. She then put her eyes back on Ashleigh. “You and Mike aren’t gonna sell him, right?”
Ashleigh smiled and laughed. “I don’t think so,” she said back. “It hadn’t crossed my mind. Why? Did you hear Mike say something?”
Becka shook her head. “No,” she said sadly, “but I was talking to Poppi a little while ago and he said that you two should sell him.” She frowned and tears welled in her eyes. She looked up at Ashleigh with pleading eyes. “Please don’t, Aunt Ashleigh. I would just die.”
“Sweetie, not to disappoint you, but racers have to keep their pay. That means racing and winning. Or at least, placing or showing. Mike and I can’t afford to keep horses who don’t do good. There just isn’t enough room, and that’s one more horse we have to grain when he doesn’t need it.” She sighed and shook her head. “We even tried steeplechasing.”
“Then throw him out in the pasture! Keep him out all the time! Then you won’t hafta grain him!” Becka argued.
Ashleigh frowned. She looked thoughtful. She reached in the stall and picked up Becka, placing her on the stall door. “Tell you what,” she began, “if you can get this horse winning without him being grained, he can stay. Alright?”
Becka looked at Indy, who’s head was slightly out of the fed bucket. He was eyeing Becka and Ashleigh. Becka turned back to her ‘aunt’.
“At any sport?” she asked.
Ashleigh frowned. “Well, racing gets us the money we need, but fine; any sport he’ll be good at.”
“It’s a deal,” she said.
“Good.” Ashleigh kissed Becka’s forehead and pushed away from the stall door. “Now come help me grain these horses.” Becka jumped off the stall door and followed Ashleigh down the aisle, giving each horse the amount of grain it needed.
“I’m leaving! Bye!”
At the call her uncle gave, Becka ran downstairs. But, Kevin had already left the house. She stomped her foot and sighed. She walked into the living room and found her grandparents talking. They abruptly stopped when they spotted her. Ian put on his reading glasses and picked up a horse magazine while Beth continued sewing.
“Need something, dear?” Beth asked.
Becka practically glared at her. “No, forget it,” she said. “I’m going out to the barn.” She turned around and stormed out of the tense room. I hate it here, she thought as she ran from the house and out to the barn. In the distance, her saw Kevin’s silver sedan driving away. Becka stopped and frowned. She balled her hands into fists and stormed into the training barn. Night had taken the horse state and the stars shone brightly in the dark sky. A dim light was on farther down the aisle. Becka knew that stall too well. It was the stall that Wonder’s Star was kept in. She heard soft voices coming from the stall and decided not to bother who ever was in there. She instead went to Indy’s stall. But, the horse wasn’t in the stall.
Becka groaned and stomped down the aisle.
“Hello?” a voice from within Star’s stall called out. It was Christina Reese, Ashleigh and Mike’s daughter.
“Hi,” Becka said shortly.
Suddenly, Christina appeared near Star’s stall door. “Beck you scared me!” she said, smiling. “What’re you doing out this, uh, late?”
“It’s only eight or so.” Becka sighed. “Do you know where Indy is?”
Christina nodded. “Yeah, Parker and I turned him out in the paddock. Mom told me to. He’s in the front paddock.”
“Okay,” Becka replied. “Thanks.” She dashed out of the barn and down to the front paddock. She saw three horses inside the green pasture. She instantly recognized all of them - Indy, Skipper and Friar. Good, they’re both out, Becka thought as she climbed on the paddock fence. She whistled to the three geldings. Friar lifted his head and whinnied back. He then pranced over to Becka and nudged her stomach. Indy clobbered lazily after him. Becka pulled out the carrots her had and fed the two horses. Skipper was the last to wander over.
“Sorry, big guy,” she said. “Those two pigs cleaned me out.”
Enjoy!
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed
That with the sun's love, in the spring
Becomes the rose
Around nine, Becka headed to the house. She sighed heavily and stopped. She looked up at the sky, sending her head back far. Her short blonde hair fell behind her. I miss you, Mom, she thought sadly, closing her eyes. Why did you leave? Can’t you ever come back? I need you, Mom. Please come back ....
Squeezing her eyes shut, Becka tilted her head back to the right position. Tears escaped her tightly closed eyelids and she dashed off for the house. She knew that Samantha could never come back. But Tor could .... She swung open the front door and then slammed it. She rid her eyes of the tears, but they still came. She wanted so desperately to run to her grandfather and let things be all better, but she knew that a hug and a kiss just wouldn’t do.
“Beck?”
Becka opened her eyes and looked over to her side. She saw her grandparents standing there. Ian’s glasses were on the tip of his nose and Beth had a concerned look on her face.
“Leave me alone!” she yelled at them. She ran towards the stairs and hopped up them, pausing to listen to what her grandparent’s were saying.
“She needs a higher dosage, Ian,” Beth was saying.
“Maybe. But I think having her take the pills is just making it worse. It’s like giving an old horse senior feed. True, it keeps them living, but they’re really dead.”
Becka didn’t bother listening to the rest of the conversation. Instead, she bounded to her room and closed the door quietly. She quickly changed into her PJ’s and then hopped in bed. She turned off the light near her bed, which automatically turned on when the sun set.
Becka finally made her way out to the track. Ashleigh was holding Indy. She boosted Beck into the saddle and placed a hand on her knee.
“He’s feeling good this morning,” Ashleigh warned her. “I think he likes being outside all the time.” She smiled. “Just be careful, alright?”
Becka nodded and then headed over to Ian for instructions. Indy felt strong beneath her. His gleaming black head was high in the air, his hindquarters tucked under him as he lifted his slender legs high in the air. He acted like a racer, but when he got out there, he just completely lost it.
Becka reached her grandfather and stopped in front of him.
“Just breeze him six furlongs,” he instructed, without looking up from his schedule. A few moments later, he looked up. “We’re going to have Chris and Mel out there with you. You’re all going to warm-up together, okay?” Becka nodded. “Then, you’ll let the horses go once you’ve got a good slow gallop going.”
“’Kay,” Becka replied. Ian checked Indy’s girth and then sent the couple off.
Becka patted Indy’s neck as she waited on the soft dirt for Christina and Melanie to get out. Melanie Graham was Mike and Ashleigh’s niece, who used to live in New York City with her father. But, after getting into some trouble back home, she was sent to Whitebrook for the summer and had decided to stay once the summer was up.
“Please do good, Indy,” Becka pleaded in a small voice to the gelding. Indy’s ears flicked back and he danced in place, but other than that ... the horse paid no attention to his rider’s voice.
“Hey, shrimp! You coming?”
Becka looked over to her left and saw Christina walking towards her. She was mounted on a tall light bay colt, The Master. She spotted Melanie behind Christina, riding a much shorter horse. The horse, Fleeting Glory, was a light gray filly, who was making it to the big-time league. She, along with another Whitebrook filly, Charisma, was headed toward the Triple Crown next year.
“I’m going ... I’m going,” Becka said as she stepped out away from the rail and landed next to Christina. Indy was so short compared to all the other horses. The Master, or Master as he was nicknamed, stood 17.0 hands high or slightly taller. Fleeting Glory, or Fleet, was about 15.3 hands high. But, no other racer on the farm stood below 15.0 hands high, with the exception of Indy.
The girls popped the horses into a trot. Becka posted along easily with the horse’s rhythm. Melanie pretty much stayed close to Becka as they warmed up the horses. Christina and Master were well ahead of them.
“Let’s get these two cantering,” Melanie said. Fleet quickly picked up the correct lead.
Becka did as Melanie said. Indy gave a slight protest with a toss of his head, but he willingly cantered after Fleet. Finally, the two caught up with Christina. She also pushed Master up into a canter. They started to round the turn of track and Becka got up out of the saddle. She gave Indy more rein and the Thoroughbred picked up a faster canter. The others did the same.
After several seconds, Becka cued Indy into a slow gallop. The other stayed in the faster canter for a few moments, letting Becka get a head start. But as they drew away from the others, Indy began to slow. His pace dropping dramatically, to him almost trotting. But when Melanie and Christina passed the pair, Indy picked up his pace again. He thundered after the two.
Melanie and Christina’s stared to round the final bend in the track. Indy was still galloping on the straight. But, when Becka had to pull his inside rein to get him to run around the bend, the horse stubbornly refused. Instead, he kept going straight, his ears pricked.
Becka held tight to his mane and sank lower into the saddle, incase he decided to suddenly skid to a stop. But Indy’s strides didn’t slow and shorten. The horse kept going.
Becka knew she had to turn the horse, but he wouldn’t listen to her. They were going to crash right into the rail! But, as the white rail loomed in front of them, Becka grabbed half-way up Indy’s black mane, letting him have his head. Right before the jump, Becka squeezed and Indy lifted off the ground with a powerful thrust. He landed on the other side of the rail and slowed to a canter. The gelding tossed his head and then let Becka lead him to where he had to go.
As she walked the horse over to the group on the rail, Ian came rushing towards her.
“Are you okay, Beck?” he asked, an expression on his face that Becka never wanted to see again.
She didn’t reply at first. But, after a while, she smiled and started laughing. “I’m fine, Poppi!” she exclaimed, a grin spread over her slim face. “Indy is a great jumper!”
Ian stared at her. “Don’t get any ideas, Beck,” he warned her as he took the reins and started to lead them back towards the group. Indy’s sides were heaving and his necks was a little damp, but he still seemed full of life.
“Aunt Ashleigh!” Becka called as they neared. “I know what I wanna do with Indy!”
Ashleigh waited until Ian had come over to her to talk to Becka. “I can only guess,” she said.
Becka grinned. “Why didn’t you tell me he was good at jumping?” she asked the older woman. “You could have stopped wasting your time on Indy’s racing career a long time ago!”
“He never really made it over the steeple jumps, Becka,” Ashleigh replied. Suddenly, her tone and expression changed. “That was a very dangerous thing you did. You could have gotten hurt and killed, Beck.”
“But,” Becka protested, “I know how to jump! Indy was doing just fine. I think I would know. I do have my own horse, you know.”
“Well, then if you have your own horse--”
“Stop it, you two,” Mike interrupted them. “Ashleigh, stop acting like a little kid. And Becka, don’t argue. Go cool the horse out.”
Becka sighed and listened to Mike. She began to walk Indy out around the barns.
Friar’s black name whipped back in Becka’s face as they cantered down the lane on Whisperwood’s cross-country coarse. Becka always went to the coarse, even though she wasn’t supposed to. She knew it was dangerous jumping a horse, especially jumping one alone .... and on a cross-country coarse.
Ahead of them loomed an advanced water-jump coarse. Over the logs, down the drop, into the water, over the water fence, jump the drop out of the water.
Friar’s ears pricked as he saw what lie ahead. He started to gather his legs beneath himself and then lifted off the ground when he was at the takeoff point. Becka gave him rein and then they landed. They cantered towards the drop. Friar started to slow and then cantered into the water. He lengthened his stride and then lifted out of the water and over the fence. The gelding continued through the water and then jumped up the bank. He cantered away from the advanced jump and then Becka started to turn him, slowing him at the same time.
“You’re a great boy, Friar,” Becka praised the buckskin horse. He arched his neck and whinnied loudly. Becka smiled and patted Friar’s mocha-colored neck. He wasn’t a true buckskin - light colored with silver-like tips, black stockings and a black mane and tail. But, he was still classified as buckskin. “Let’s go back, boy.”
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed
That with the sun's love, in the spring
Becomes the rose
Chapter 3
wow... i loved that! i could like feel what Becka was feeling... especially during that moment when she was upset about her mother. that was excellent, hun... please have more soon!
Re: Chapter 3
thank you! lol i finally have more up because it's finally back on my computer! lol long story ...
Chapter Four
“How was your ride?” Kevin asked Becka as she and Friar wandered into the stable yard. He had Skipper out, tacked up in an English saddle and bridle. The big bay looked flashy in the dark Havana saddle, with a matching bridle.
Becka nodded. “It was pretty good,” she said.
Kevin looked over Friar. “He looks kind of hot,” he commented, looking up at Becka.
Becka was taken aback by the sudden comment. “We did, uh, some fitness gallops,” she fibbed, dropping her reins on Friar’s neck.
“Then he must be out of shape, eh?” Kevin asked. He checked Skipper’s girth, tightened it two holes and then brought down the stirrups. He swung into the saddle and looked at Becka, waiting for an answer.
“Yeah ... I guess,” she replied. She shrugged. “I have been spending a lot of time with Indy, Uncle Kevin.”
Kevin nodded. “Yes, but the last you rode Friar was only a few days ago, when you went to the show.”
Becka blushed and hung her head. “Okay, you caught me,” she admitted. “I was over at Whisperwood’s cross-country coarse.”
Kevin shook his head and moved Skipper out into a walk. “Beck, I can’t believe you!” he yelled at his niece. “First of all, those courses are dangerous! They’re even worse alone! And ... you were trespassing! What if you had gotten caught? Or hurt?”
Becka lifted her head, her eyes full of angry and tears. “Stop yelling!” she pleaded to her uncle, her voice rising with each word. “I know it was a stupid idea! Don’t lecture me on it! I know what I did wrong! So stop!”
She looked away from Kevin and then turned Friar towards the barn. She walked him right into the aisle without dismounting. Finally, when she was in the cool interior of the barn did she hop from Friar’s back.
The young girl quickly took off all of the tack and placed it in a tack trunk. She then placed Friar’s halter on him and turned him out with Indy, who was grazing intently on a patch of grass. Friar’s ears pricked when he saw Indy, He trotted over to the black horse and bit the skin on his back. Indy’s head shot up and he pinned his ear, kicking out and getting Friar right in the chest as the other gelding circled him. Friar also pinned his ears and then bit Indy harder. The black gelding turned around and pinned his ear in Friar’s face. Then, the two sprinted off in a chase around the paddock.
Beck turned away from the green paddock and headed to the house. It was around lunchtime, but Becka didn’t feel too hungry. She entered the small cottage and walked into the kitchen. She grabbed the phone from its cradle and dialed her best friend’s number.
“Is Alena there?” she asked into the phone.
“Yes; hold on,” Alena’s brother, Danny, said and went to get his younger sibling.
“Hey, Becka,” Alena Morrison said several seconds later. “What’s up?”
Becka shrugged as she decided that she was slightly hungry. She grabbed an apple from the refrigerator, the phone tucked between her shoulder and ear, and then walked into the living, flopping down on the couch, her legs swung over the armrest.
“Nothing,” she finally said as she stared at the pattern on the cream-colored ceiling. “What about you?”
“Same, gotta leave for my lesson soon,” Alena replied. “Wanna come? We could pick you up on our way over, since we drive right past Whitebrook anyway.”
Becka thought for a moment. She hadn’t been over to Whisperwood in a long time, only the back of the cross-country course. She wouldn’t know what to except. What if it brought back too many overwhelming memories?
“It’s okay if you don’t wanna go,” Alena told her friend gently. “I know it’ll probably be hard...” Her friend’s voice trailed off.
Becka shook her head stubbornly. “No, I want to go,” she said firmly. “Do you have a jumping lesson?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think...?”
“Let me call my instructor.” Becka could tell Alena was grinning as she spoke. The girls hung up the phone.
Becka stayed on her back, staring at the ceiling, gripping the phone. If Alena’s instructor said ’yes’, Becka would be going over of Whisperwood ... after three years of torture of what happened the day that her mother died ... and the day her father left her.
Becka jumped as the phone rang. Her thoughts were ripped away from her as she spoke weakly to Alena.
“She said ’yes’!” Alena announced happily. “She knew that your parents used to own the farm and agreed to let you come. And she said that you wouldn‘t have to pay.”
Becka smiled. “Great,” she said. “I’ll go and get the horse ready. And the tack.”
“Mmmkay. My brother and I will be over soon!”
Once again, the girls hung up. Becka laid on the couch for a minute or two before finally going to catch Indy. She decided that she would bring the black horse to get him in the routine of jumping.
When they got to Whisperwood, Becka carefully stepped from Danny’s truck. She looked around the farm. It seemed so old, but yet so new. The barns had been stained to look like they were made of real trees. The house had been repainted match the barns, and there was also an addition to it. There were less pastures now, most of them had been connected to throw more horses in one pasture. There was also more one barn - a smaller one, probably for the studs and broodmares.
Everything was different from how Becka remembered it. She could hear voices coming from the barn. They sounded friendly. And finally two girls emerged from the barn. They stopped in the doorway and stared ahead at the trailer behind Becka.
Alena stepped forward to Becka. “That’s Michelle and Rachel,” she replied. “They think they’re big shots because they got horses from great Hunter bloodlines.”
Becka swung her head towards Alena. “This is a Hunter barn?!” she shrieked, her eyes wide, almost tearing.
Alena shook her head. “Not all of it!” she said in a pleading tone that cued Becka to calm down. “My instructor is a Hunter, but there’s an Eventing instructor as well. But most of the people here ride the Hunters. I ride both. I retrained Rebel for Hunters, but we still do Eventing, sometimes.”
Becka nodded. “I had better get Indy out of the trailer.” She walked around to the back of the trailer and let the ramp down. Alena stayed to the side of the trailer as Becka backed down the gelding. Indy reached the dirt and raised his head in the air. Michelle, Rachel and their horses were still looking down at the trailer. Indy saw the other horses and whinnied to them. The other two horses, one a bay and the other a liver chestnut, whinnied back to Indy.
“Who’s the new horse, Alena?” one of the girls called down from the barn.
“None of your business,” Alena murmured to herself and Becka as Becka tied the horse to the side of the trailer. She turned to look at Rachel and Michelle. “My friend’s.”
“He looks kinda small to be an Eventer,” the other girl remarked.
Becka spun around. “Who said he as an Eventer?” she snapped at them.
The two glanced at each other. One had blonde hair and the other had black. Becka was pretty sure that Michelle had the dark, and Rachel had the blonde.
“Someone needs an attitude check,” the blonde said. Then, the two girls headed off the outdoor ring.
“Riiight,” Becka mumbled as she groomed Indy and then tacked him up. She was using Friar’s jumping tack. Becka just hoped that Indy would during the lesson....
okay, i sent it to my friend (who sent it back to me) and it got all messed up because of the stupid email stuff! srry if there are major grammer issues, etc. once i start writing the 6th chapter, everything should be back to normal. lol oh, and ... this is probably the last chapter you'll get for a while. lol i may go write some right now ...
And I want to thank you
For giving me the best day of my life
Oh, just to be with you
Is like having the best day of my life
(you like?)
it's awesome... i love kevin in this! you gotta have more soon!
hehe when do u want the illustrations by tho? fer seriously (hehe and i kinda wanna do more then just the cover 
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