Chapter 1

Screams echoed through the house. The family dog was barking loudly downstairs. People who walked by saw this as a loving family’s house, but that was not necessarily true. No loving family lived here.

“I’m not living here anymore! I will get my social worker to come get me,” I said, my voice cracking with anger. “It’s not like you care what happens to me! You don’t give a damn! All you care about is that money the state gives you!”

“You bitch! Don’t you talk to your father like that,” my foster father, Daryl, said.

“You are NOT my father,” I yelled back at him. With that, I ran down the stairs, and to the front door. My hand gripped the front doorknob, twisting it, and going outside. I slammed the door shut behind me, and went straight to the mail box. I grabbed the mail, and went through it, seeing nothing but bills, magazines, and more bills.

Then, something caught my eye. I looked at the intricate handwriting, almost calligraphy, on an envelope. Aleah Chettle it read. I set the other mail down on the top of the mailbox, opening the envelope.

Inside was a letter, with an official stamp on the top. My eyes scanned over it, reading the first paragraph.

Dear Aleah,

We are honored to inform you that you have been accepted to Cedar Wood Riding Academy. As you may know, we are a prestigious academy, and admission is tough. You have been awarded a full scholarship for your stay here. Please be checked into the Academy by the end of this month, where you will begin school here, and learning how to be a top class equestrian.

Signed,

Louisa Archin

My mouth dropped open.

I had applied for this riding academy as a hoax… a way to get away from the families I have been living with. I didn’t know I would be accepted! I knew the admission board there was very critical, and given my background, I didn’t think I would ever be good enough to get to Cedar Wood.

I took the paper, folding it into a square, and stuck it in my back pocket. I took out my cell phone, and called the social worker.

“Hello? Yes. . . I would like to report that the family I am living with is very abusive..." I said into the phone.

Chapter 2

Cedar Wood Riding Academy. It didn’t seem real. The landscape was beautiful. Pasture lined with whitewashed fences covered the rolling green hills. Horses dotted the pastures, all of different colors.

            I snapped out of my daydream as a middle aged woman walked up to greet me and my social worker.

            “Why hello, dear! You must be Aleah Chettle. I am Mrs. Louisa Archin,” she said. “I am the owner of Cedar Wood. I am very glad you could attend here!”

            I smiled and nodded. I wasn’t in the mood to say anything, seeing as I have never been here before. At least Mrs. Archin seemed nice enough.

            “Alright, now, Aleah. Why don’t you come with me, and we will go get you set up in your room,” She said, taking a bag of mine.

After we walked across the campus, we came up to the buildings that housed the students and some faculty. Rooms lined the walls, some with open doors, and some with closed.

“How many students are here, exactly,” I asked Mrs. Archin.

“Oh, roughly around two hundred ten,” She said, smiling brightly.

This was a prestigious school. It was even smaller than the school I had went to when I was living in Del Rio, Texas. I put on a happy smile on my face, and walked with her towards the end of a hallway named Athens Hall.

“This, Aleah, is your room. You will be sharing it with a new student who has yet to arrive. Her name is Katarina,” she said, pulling my bags through the door and setting them on the bed.

“Alright… thank you. I can unpack in here. What time should I be out for dinner,” I asked her nicely, sitting on the bed.

“Dinner begins at six. It is in Delaney Cafeteria,” She said.

I nodded as she walked out of the room, leaving me to unpack my things. I sighed, and looked around the room. It was a nicely sized room, with two single beds, two dressers, two nightstands, and one big closet. Outlets lined the room walls where ever there was space. I picked up my suitcase, setting it on the bed. I unzipped it, looking inside. I took out my shirts, stacking them neatly on the bed space beside the suitcase.

I walked to the closet, grabbing a handful of hangers, and set them down on the bed. I took my shirts, neatly putting them on the hangers. When they were all on hangers, I put the loop of the hanger on my hand, bringing them over to the closet. I took the side closest to my side of the room, hanging up all my shirts. I took my riding jeans, and breeches, doing the same thing. Once everything was hung up, I took all my socks and set them all in a drawer in the dresser. My undergarments went along with them, finding myself almost filling up my entire dresser. I smiled, and slid the suitcases under the bed. I took out my tall boots, cowboy boots, and paddock boots. I went to the closet, setting them neatly on the floor under my clothes. My half chaps went on the floor next to the paddock boots.

Now that the most important things were put up, it was time to start hanging up my jeans, nicer shirts, and anything I wouldn’t use for horseback riding. That didn’t take long. I set my alarm clock on the bedside table, as well as plugging in my laptop and cell phone charger. My laptop lay on the floor under the bed side table. I smiled and got started on making my bed. The sheets went on first, and they were of course, horses. Then the bedspread went on, and just extra blankets I always kept. Some had sentimental value, others were just blankets I had found at a thrift store and loved.

I sat on the bed, and looked at the clock. Five thirty it read. Wow. I stood up, and went to the huge mirror standing over the dresser. I looked at my reflection in it. My dark hair fell past my shoulders. I made a face, and pulled it up into a pony tail. It was time to go see all my new classmates, and see who I was up against.

Chapter 3

Eyes looked across the lunch room. Girls had already established cliques. Guys all sat together. Then there was me. I took my trey of food, and sat down at an empty table. I didn’t really mind being alone, since at all my previous schools I had eaten alone because I hadn’t bothered on making friends with anybody knowing I was going to be placed into a new home at any given moment.

            The grilled chicken sandwich they had prepared looked amazing. It made my mouth water. I took a bite of it, and instantly felt it melt in my mouth. I had never tasted anything as good as this. If all their food was this delicious, then I would be constantly buying it instead of going off campus to buy Subway. A chair across from me was pulled away by a group of girls. I rolled my eyes, and continued eating. Then, the chair next to me moved, and I was expecting it to be dragged away by somebody, but instead it stayed there, a blue shirt filling its place.

            “Hey… sorry, I just assumed it would be okay if I sit here,” a girl with blonde hair said. She reminded me sort of a pixie.

            “Yeah, its fine…I really don’t mind,” I said, and took a bite of my heavenly chicken.

            “Well, I’m Allyson,” said the pixie girl. “But my friends normally call my Ally.”

            “I’m Aleah,” I said, taking another bite.

            “Well, it’s nice to meet you. What seat are you riding?”

            “Hunter Jumper, what about you,” I asked her.

            “Western… I heard they give us a chance to ride all the seats the first week, though,” She said with a smile.

            “That’s dangerous. I don’t think they’d want some saddle seat rider trying to jump a warm blood… That just doesn’t happen in the real world anymore,” I laughed. “I can imagine them flying off as the horse lands after the jump.”

            She laughed. “Yeah, that may happen, but that’s when you get out your video camera!”

            I laughed. I had a feeling I was going to really like this girl. She had a sense of humor.

            “Alright everyone! Everybody who is enrolled seems to be here. In that case, after dinner, we will go to the barns, just to get to know all the horses,” Mrs. Archin said.

  “Good. I can’t wait to meet the trainer, and the horses that could possibly be assigned,” I said with a smile.

            “I know, I can’t help but wonder what kind of horses they’ll have in all the barns,” She said.

            “Defiantly in the saddle seat barn will be Arabians, Saddlebreds, and maybe a Friesian or two,” I said. “There could be a range of breeds in the Hunter Jumper and Western barns, though… even in the dressage barn.”

            “My bet is that they’ll have Quarter Horses, Paints, and Appaloosas in the Western barn… the more stocky horses.”

            I nodded. “Yeah, and maybe in the hunter jumper barn, possibly quarter horses, maybe a paint or two, but defiantly warm bloods of some sort, or thoroughbreds.”

            I finished my dinner about the same time as Ally did. We threw the garbage away, and went on to our seats again. When it was all over, everybody made their way over to the barn. For the first time, I felt like I actually belonged here… that I actually made a friend. 

Chapter 4

Now it was time to look at all the horses. Mrs. Archin had guided us all through all the barns, and just as Ally and I had expected, the main horses in the saddle seat barn were Arabians, Saddlebreds, and one Friesian in there.

            “Oh my gosh! I hope I get him assigned to me,” Ally exclaimed, staring at a black tobiano paint gelding in the western barn.

            “He’s beautiful,” I said, admiring the paint. “Who knows, maybe you’ll get him. When will you know?”

            “I think she said tomorrow before breakfast,” Ally said. She had a huge grin on her face, and her eyes were fixed on him.

            “Come on, they are leaving,” I said, and took her arm, pulling her with me to the hunter jumper barn. I smiled when we walked in, looking at all the nameplates of the horses.

            My eye caught on one horse in particular. She was a big paint colored warm blood. She looked to be about 17.3 hands, maybe more, maybe less. I watched her as she moved around her stall, watching everybody, but then going to stand in the back corner of her stall. Her ears were back against her head. She snorted and stood there, intently watching everyone that happened to pass by.

            “You want her, don’t you,” Ally asked me. I nodded. Was it that obvious?

            “Yes I do, more than anything. Look at her butt! Its big, round . . . she looks like she has a powerful jump,” I said, and my eyes scanned over her. She was stunning. Perfect coat color, perfect haunches, perfect legs for a jumper…

            “And now, ladies and gentleman, we are finished with the barn tour. Now you guys are free to go do whatever until it’s time to be back in the dorm rooms. Being here, there is a curfew. If you are caught outside of the dorm rooms without a parent or reasonable explanation, there will be severe consequences,” Mrs. Archin said. “Also, you will need to be in your room at the latest by eleven pm.”

            “Well, with that, what do you want to do,” I asked her.

            Ally shrugged. “I don’t know, but I haven’t finished unpacking. I have to go finish that. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning for breakfast?”

            I nodded. “Yeah, alright. And okay, I will meet you tomorrow morning in front of the cafeteria.”

            With that, we both parted ways. I walked to the dorm rooms, and into the front door. I walked up and down the hallways, looking at all the things going on around me. Girls had friends in the dorms. One girl even had her boyfriend in there. I knew because they were in there sucking faces. I rolled my eyes and came up to my door. I unlocked it, walking in. When I did, there was a girl on her bed, kissing a guy, and they were all over each other.

            “Hey, either you two get a different room or both of you get out,” I said, sitting on the bed. “This is my room.”

            “And mine. So, maybe you need to get out. This room is occupied,” the girl said, sitting up.

            I rolled my eyes. Who did she think she was? She had no right to be in here.

            “Carson, honey, why don’t you leave now,” She said to him. “I’ll call you later. I love you.”

            I nearly gagged, and watched as he nodded and got up, adjusting his shirt. He tossed me a look, and I couldn’t lie, he was very good looking. He walked out of the dorm, and closed the door.

            “Now, who the hell are you,” the random girl asked.

            “Aleah. Your turn,” I stated.

            “Katarina,” She said. “Oh, and I noticed you had an eye on that warm blood in the hunter jumper barn...just to let you know, don’t get your hopes up. He will be assigned to me. I could handle his type better than…” She eyed me, looking me up and down.  “…whatever you are trying to be.”

            I growled. That was it. “Okay, bitch, look. I don’t like you, you don’t like me. Obviously, there is going to be some problems. But I don’t know who the hell you think you are to tell me what horse I can and can’t handle,” I snapped at her.

            Kat looked pissed. I called her out on it. “Whatever. I’m going to Carson’s.”

            I mumbled as she left the dorm. Already, I couldn’t stand her. And she had the audacity to tell ME that I wasn’t able to handle that warm blood? What the hell?

            I lay on the bed, and stretched out. I was pissed off now. I reached over, grabbing my phone, and unlocked it. Fourteen unread text messages. My heart leapt to my throat.

            My foster father had sent them all.

Chapter 5

I groaned when my alarm clock went off. Five thirty in the morning. I sighed and sat up, turning on my beside lamp. I looked over to see if Kat was up already or not. She wasn’t. I contemplated waking her up and letting her go eat, or letting her sleep in and have her get in a heap of trouble. But, knowing her, she would somehow turn this around on me and get me in trouble. So I decided that maybe I should wake her up. I stood up from the bed, and walked over to the other side of the room.

            “Katarina. Get up,” I said.

            She groaned in response.

            I gritted my teeth. “Get your lazy ass up!”

            I walked away after that, and grabbed my riding breeches, a short sleeved riding shirt, and socks. I lay them on the bed, and stripped out of my pajamas. I pulled the shirt on, and then the breeches. I fixed the breeches around my legs, and then slid my tall socks over them. I walked to the bathroom, taking my toothbrush and brushing my teeth. I put on my deodorant, and then brushed my hair, pulling it into a ponytail. I walked out of the bathroom only to nearly run into Kat.

            “Ugh, watch it, you creep,” She said, and shut the door to the bathroom.

            I rolled my eyes, and walked to the closet. I grabbed my paddock boots, pulling them on, and my half chaps. I pulled them on, zipping them up on the sides. I picked up my helmet and room key, and put the key in my pocket. I walked out the door, making my way to the cafeteria to meet Ally for breakfast.

            When I got to the cafeteria, sure enough, Ally was waiting for me. She looked as pissed as I did.

            “What? Don’t like your roommate either,” I asked her, and tightened my pony tail.

            “No! She’s the most annoying person ever! She’s way too happy! She was constantly saying how grateful she was I was her roommate, and how I was her new best friend here. Then she won’t shut up,” She said.

            I laughed. “Well, I’d rather have her than the girl I’m roomed with. What’s her name?”

            “Who do you have? And her name is Courtney.”

            “Oh. I’m with a girl named Katarina. She’s the biggest bitch you’ll ever meet. I walked into the room last night after going to meet the horses, and she was in there making out with her boyfriend, Carson, or something. I am not going to lie, he’s hot.”

            She laughed. “Okay then, well, let’s go eat, and we can rant together until it’s time to go see what horses we were assigned.”

            I nodded in agreement and walked to the tables with her. I set my stuff down, and we walked to the line for the breakfast buffet. We stood there for a while, and finally when we got to the front, I grabbed us both a plate. I piled mine with pancakes, eggs, a sausage burrito, and biscuits and gravy.

            I went with her to the table. She looked at me with fire in her eyes.

            “Look what just walked in the door,” She said.

            My eyes shifted to see what she was talking about. Not a what, more like a who. A thin framed girl walked in, with long red hair. She looked like she would be the one to be annoying.

            “It’s Courtney,” Ally said, and a grim look came across her face. “Quick, hide.”

            I laughed. “Oh, come on. She can’t be that bad!”

            “Oh my gosh, there’s my favorite roommate in the world,” Courtney said enthusiastically.

            “Hey…Courtney,” Ally said, looking at her food. “I thought you weren’t coming to breakfast…”

            “I decided I want to. Any room for me,” she asked, looking at us both.

            “I think s—“ I was cut off instantly by Ally.

            “Sorry, don’t think so. But you know what? Why don’t you just take our seats… we got to go out to see what horses we were assigned,” Ally said. I couldn’t help but smile.

            “Yeah, sorry, Courtney. Maybe some other time,” I said, and got up, throwing away all my trash. I walked to the door, waiting for Ally.

            When Ally caught up with me, we walked to the barns together. I cast glances at her.

            “You were right… she is really peppy…more so than any human should be,” I said to her, my boots clicking against the ground.

            “Told you. I’m surprised she got accepted… yeah, she may be a good rider, but by the time school starts here, she seems like she’s ditsy as hell.”

            I laughed at that. “She does come off that way, doesn’t she?”

            “Yeah, she does. So, on a better note, what barn do you want to go to first? Hunter Jumper or Western,” Ally asked me.

            “Let’s go to Western first. I know your dying to see what horse you were assigned,” I said with a smile.

            “Alright,” She said happily and we walked to the western barn.

            When we got there, she ran over to the tack room, seeing the list up on the clipboard. While I waited for screams of happiness, or wails of disappointment, I stood next to a horse’s stall, seeing what he wanted to munch on.

            “Oh my gosh!! I got him! I got him,” She exclaimed.

            I smiled. “Well good. I know you wanted him. Who did Courtney get?”

            “… a horse named JoJo,” She said, smiling.

            “Awe. Sounds cute. Come on, I’m dying to see what horse I have! Since Katarina wanted the same horse as me,” I said, and made my way quickly to the hunter jumper barn.

            When we got there, I went over to the clipboard hanging on the wall. My eyes scanned over it.

            Aleah Chettle --- Verona

            “I got her,” I said in shock. “I actually got her!”

            “Good morning girls, I’m Mrs. Finch. I am the hunter jumper instructor. Now, I assume you found your horses, so please go tack up,” she said. I nodded.

            “Yes ma’am. Ally, I’ll meet up with you for lunch,” I said, and she nodded, leaving the barn.

            I walked over to Verona’s stall, and put the saddle rack up next to it. I walked in, and took a hold of her halter. She snorted but went willingly with me as I cross tied her in her stall. I smiled and patted her, then left her to go get her saddle and everything. I walked to the tack room, and found her tack box marked with her name, and her saddle, saddle pad, riser pad, and bridle. I took those with me, and walked back to her stall. I set the saddle and saddle pad on the saddle rack, and grabbed the dandy brush and curry comb.       

            When I was done brushing her, I took the hoof pick and picked out her hooves. She snorted, but listened nicely. I smiled and patted her when I was done. I took the saddle pad, placing it on her back and sliding it into the right spot. I set the riser pad on top of that and then set the saddle on top of all of it. I took the girth, and but the tongue on the first hole. I went around to the other side, going to the second hole. I went around her again, and finally managed to get the girth tight. I smiled and went to her head, putting on her bridle. I patted her, and put my helmet on my head, and led her out of the barn. I was beyond excited to finally start riding her.  

            When we got out to the outdoor arena, I stood next to Verona and patted the mare’s neck. She snorted and rubbed her head against my side. I smiled softly and let her do so. My hand slid up her muzzle, and then to the marking on her head.

            “Alright, class! Good to know you all found your horses and actually managed to tack the up yourselves correctly,” Mrs. Archin said. “Now, I would like you all to mount your horses, and walk around the arena.”

            I nodded and put the reins over Verona’s head, moving them back towards the pommel of the saddle. I moved to the side of her, and put my left foot in the stirrup, and hauled myself up on her back. She stood perfectly still for me, thankfully. When I got on her, I put my foot in the other stirrup, and gathered my reins. I moved her to the center of the ring, and adjusted my stirrups to where they would fit me for jumping her. I tightened my girth from on her back, and then gathered my reins again, pushing my heels down.

            I moved her to the rail, and walked her around the arena. I saw Kat mounting her horse, a big bay stallion. She didn’t seem too happy that I got the horse she wanted. I smiled to myself, and focused on my riding. This was when it all really counted. The first ride. This was showing our instructor, Mrs. Finch that I could handle Verona. That I could ride her and make it look easy. I squeezed my calves into her sides, and she responded instantly. She picked up her pace to a working walk.

            “Alright. Now, everybody, my name is Mrs. Finch for those of you who may not know me. I am your riding instructor,” she said, and looked at us all. “Alright, now, please trot your horses. I want to see a nice, posting trot, keeping rhythm.”

            I understood that. I was anxious to see what kind of trot she had. Was it smooth? Was it bouncy? Was it uneven? I squeezed in again, and she went into a trot. I sat the first beat, then rose the second. I lowered myself up and down out of the saddle, keeping up my trot. I passed a few other of the riders, and I felt self conscious. These people were good…then there was me.

            “Very nice, Aleah,” Mrs. Finch said. “Alright, now I want you all to come to the middle, except Katarina. I would like you to bring Concord down to a walk, and stay out on the rail.”

            I slowed Verona to a walk, and turned her towards the center. I pushed her along with my leg, and she turned willingly. I smiled and pulled on her reins very softly, making her stop.

            “Alright, now, Katarina, I want to see you walk six steps, then go into a canter,” Mrs. Finch said.

            “Alright.”

            I gave Verona loose rein as we sat there. I watched as Katarina gathered her reins, and then nudged the stallion on and walked him. Mentally, I was counting the number of steps she was taking before the instant departure. One…Two…Three…Four…Five…Six…Seven…Eight… Canter. It took her eight steps before she was able to get him into a canter. Granted, she rode the canter nicely, but the look on Mrs. Finch’s face didn’t show satisfaction.

            “Alright. Bring him to a walk. Aleah, your turn,” She said, and looked at me.

            I nodded and brought Verona to the wall. I couldn’t mess this up. I had to prove to her that I was a good enough rider to keep Verona, and to just prove to Kat that I was a better rider than she gave me credit for.

            I nudged her forward, and she walked on. I relaxed my body, and sat up straight, and heels were kept down. One…Two…Three…Four…Five…Six…Canter. Instantly, I pushed in harder with my legs, and Verona went into a perfect collected canter. She swished her tail, but kept the canter up. I kept my hands low and quiet, and my legs staying still. I bounced hardly at all out of the saddle. The smoothest canter I have ever ridden.

            “Very very good, Aleah,” Mrs. Finch said. The look in her eyes said she was proud.

            I smiled and pulled her down to a slow trot, then to a walk, and brought her back to the middle.

            “Looks like Mrs. Finch likes me a hell of a lot more than you,” I said quietly to Katarina.

            “Only because you have a push button horse,” She snapped.

            “Girls, enough!”

            Both of us got quiet after that and watched as the rest of the class went. When they all went, and our on the flat work was approved, Mrs. Finch set up four jumps, each progressively getting larger and higher than the last.

            “Alright. Shortest is two foot three. Highest is Three foot nine. I have faith you all have jumped this before, and if not, well, better hold on tight and learn, because this is the height we jump in our competitions here,” She said.

            I noticed the looks on everybody’s faces. Some were confident, while others showed signs of fear or hesitation.

            “Katarina, you go first, and make a courtesy circle, and go in at a canter, please,” She asked her. Kat nodded.

            I watched as Katarina walked the circle, and then asked for a canter. Concord instantly went into it, and she directed him towards the first jump, a cross rail. I watched as she got closer and closer, and closing into her two point position while she went over the jump. She did a small crest release, and then cantered towards the next jump. She closed again, and this time, she knocked a pole down. She finished her little course, with only one fault.

            “Alright. That was pretty good, now, Aleah, you go.”

            I nodded and collected my reins, and asked for a trot. I did the courtesy circle, and then got her into a canter. I noticed that one jump was on the diagonal. I took the first jump, closing at just the right time. I released, and landed softly. She picked her pace up a little bit and we soured over the next jump. On the third jump, coming up to it, I asked for a flying lead change, something Verona did perfectly. She went towards the third jump, and took it with ease. We finished out over the fourth jump with no faults. I smiled and patted her neck when we got down to a trot.

            “Now, Katarina, did you see what Verona and Aleah did between the second and third jump,” She asked her.

            “Yes…”

            “What did she do?”

            “Flying lead change…”

            “That’s correct,” Mrs. Finch said. “Something you forgot to do, which screwed not only your balance up, but your horse’s as well. You may learn a lot from Aleah.”

            Kat’s face turned red. She was not happy at all.

            After the ride, I led Verona back to the barn. I smiled and patted her. “Who’s the perfect horse?”

            I laughed to myself, and took her bridle off. I put her halter on, cross tying her in her stall. I went to her side, and undid the girth. I flipped the girth over, laying it with sweaty side up on the saddle. I took the saddle off her back, setting it on the saddle rack, followed by the riser pad and saddle blanket. I smiled and patted her once more. I took her lead rope, and led her outside to the water faucet.  I held her lead rope in one hand, and took the hose in the other, running the water over her. She snorted and side stepped.

            “Shhh. It’s okay. It’s just water,” I said to her, and ran it down her legs.

            When I was done with that, I took the sweat scraper and scraped the excess sweat and water off her coat, and led her back to her stall. I took her halter off, and let her go over to the hay in the stall. I closed the half door behind me, and set the halter on the rack outside her stall. I smiled and looked at the horses that lined the stalls in the stable.

            ”Hey! How did your ride go,” Ally said, walking into the barn and over to Verona’s stall.

            “Hey! And it actually went good. I love the riding instructor…plus I think she likes me a lot more than Kat,” I said to her, smiling.

            “Oh? Tell me how that went,” She said. “On our way to lunch, that is!”

            I laughed and went with her. “Alright, well, we got there, and got on our horses. Granted, Kat has a really beautiful big bay stallion, and Mrs. Finch told us to walk six steps then go into an instant departure. Kat walked eight, and even looked like she was having trouble asking for a canter on him,” I said.

            “Really? Then how did she get here?”

            “Who knows. She’s a rich, spoiled, brat. Maybe she bought her way in,” I said, and walked towards the cafeteria.

            “Yeah, maybe. So, how did you do on Verona,” Ally asked.

            “Actually, really good. Mrs. Finch complimented me today on her…what I liked was I could prove Kat that I could handle her better than she probably could. Verona’s trot is a little rough, but not as bad as I would’ve thought. Her canter is the smoothest thing you could ever ride, though.”

            “Well, that’s good! I loved the horse I was on. His name is Gizmo,” Ally said with a smile, and opened the door to the cafeteria.

            “Ah, that’s an adorable name,” I exclaimed and walked in, setting my helmet down at a table and walked with Ally to the buffet to get our lunch.

            “I know! He’s the cutest little thing ever!”

            I laughed and picked up a trey. I loaded it with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and then some rolls on it. I reached over, taking an apple. Then, I felt my phone go off in my pocket. I took my lunch and sat down at the table, and took it out. I looked around; making sure nobody was looking over my shoulder.

            Ally was standing over near the guys table, obviously flirting with one of the guys. I took out my phone, and hit the read button on the screen.

            Aleah, you need to come home. If you don’t, I WILL come find you. I know where you are, and I am not afraid to hunt you down.

            I closed the message, and deleted it. I let out the breath I didn’t know I was even holding. When Ally came over, a concerned look crossed over her face.

            “Aleah…what’s wrong,” she asked me, scanning my face.

            “When lunch is over, I need to tell you something…about where I came from. I’m not like everybody else here. I’m not rich; I’m not in a stable home.”

            She nodded and sat down. She kept quiet while we ate, and I just stared at the food. I felt as if I had been punched in the gut. I didn’t think he was serious, but he may be. If he was… then that would mean that Ally was in danger, and so was Verona. He was psycho, and who knows. He may end up not even end up showing up.

            I walked with Ally to the pond that was on campus. I sat down on the bench, and looked at her.

            “I am not rich. I don’t come from a stable home…or even a stable family,” I said.

            “Okay…what’s your story, then,” Ally asked me.

            “I was born to a couple when my mom was sixteen. She couldn’t afford to keep me, so she gave me up for adoption, and she and my dad never looked back. Well, I never got adopted. I was bounced around from foster home to foster home for sixteen years. Finally, I ended up in the house I’m in, or, was in, now. Everything was going great the first two weeks I lived there. Then, the dad, Daryl, started getting high or drunk or something. He tried to rape me. I didn’t let him, and then he started to hit me and abuse me. About two months ago, I put in an application here as a joke.  I didn’t think I would actually get in,” I said, and looked down at my legs.

            “Oh my gosh… you really had to live through all that,” Ally asked.

            “Yeah, I’m not like most people here. That’s why I was so surprised that I got in, because I’m not somebody who is rich…and I don’t even own a horse,” I said.

            “Well, you aren’t like the other girls here, that’s for sure, but that’s a good thing! You aren’t bossy, snobby, or caking make up on your face. You are also an amazing rider if you got in here without owning a horse or attending any United States Equestrian Federation shows,” she said with a small smile.

            “Well, thank you,” I smiled back to her. She really was a good friend. 

Chapter 6

“So, you are in the hunter jumpers, right,” some random guy asked me.

            “Yeah… why?”

            “Well, I just wanted to say, I have seen you ride, and you’re really good, much better than that Katarina chick,” he said. “Oh, and by the way, my name is Matt.”

            “Well, thank you. She’s my roommate, so a little competition is good, I guess. Nice to meet you Matt, I’m Aleah.”

            “Well, anyway. Class is about to start. I’ll see you later?”

            I smiled. “Yes, you probably will.”

            I picked up my backpack from the ground. I got up, throwing away my trey full of empty wrappers from muffins. I slid the backpack up and on, and walked to the first class I had of the day. Chemistry.

            When I got to Chemistry, I took the only seat that remained open—the seat next to Kat’s boyfriend, Carson. I let out an audible sigh, and went and took a seat.

            “Hey,” he said. I ignored him. “I said, hey.”

            “What,” I stated, not looking at him. “I know you aren’t thrilled to have me sit next to you, trust me, I’m not thrilled either. So maybe talking will do us both some good, and keep us out of fights.”

            “Alright, class, now, please take out your notebooks for some note-taking,” She said. She was a tall lady, thin with a short black pixie cut to her hair. Her classes were large and round and she had a classroom that reminded me of an elementary school room.

            I reached down, taking out my notebook, and then taking out a black ink pen. When the teacher put all the notes up on the board and began describing what everything was, and what they meant, I jotted it all down quickly.

            “…Now, use the arrow pointing up to show an electron, and a arrow pointing down to show an electron. We won’t show them both pointing up because then they’ll be forcing each other way to occupy the same space.”

            I glanced over at the left of me, seeing Carson looking totally lost. To my right, was a cute guy, probably a year older than me, looking as if he understood all of this and this was a breeze.

            “Do you understand any of this,” I asked Carson.

            “Not a thing.”

            “Assumed not. It’s not that hard. For Oxygen, put an O then a small eight on the left side of it. Then, write one s, two s with a line over them,” I said, watching him. “Alright, now, write two p with a small x, two p with a small y, two p with a small z, and then lines on top of them.”

            I watched as he did what I said. “Okay. So, oxygen has 8 electrons, since that’s the atomic number. Put an arrow pointing up in each space,” I said. “Okay, now you all you have to do, is put an arrow facing down in one s, two s, two p x, and that’s it.”

            “Oh! Thank you,” He said. “I don’t know why Kat said you were a bitch…you really aren’t.”

            I went back to my work, and continued writing down the rest of the formulas. When the bell rang, I stuffed the notebook in my backpack, and went out the door. For today, I had the next three hours of equestrian riding and training. I smiled and went into my dorm, throwing my bags on the bed, and went to the closet. I grabbed my blue riding shirt, my black riding breeches, and then my boots and half chaps. I stripped down to my undergarments and pulled the breeches on, then the shirt over my head. I took my helmet, and set it on the bed. I sat down, pulling my paddock boots on over the breeches. I pulled on my half chaps, zipping them up. I picked up my helmet, and left the dorm room, tucking my key in my shirt as I left.

            When I got to the barn, I noticed everybody around Verona’s stall. I felt the pace of my heart pick up. I ran over.

            “Is Verona okay? What happened to her,” I asked, seeing Verona’s painted body lying on the ground.

            “She colicked. She will be fine, but you will have to ride either another horse, or go to the western barn and see if they’ll let you ride one of their horses for the day,” Mrs. Finch said.

            “I’ll take another horse…what other horse is there,” I asked her, sighing softly.

            “Well, there is Marco. He’s a lot shorter than Verona, however.”

            “I’ll take him,” I said, and went to the stall around the corner, seeing Marco. He was a small horse, probably no more than fifteen three hands. I set my helmet on the ground near his stall, and went to the tack room, getting his tack and grooming box.  I walked out of the tack room, setting it by his stall on the floor. I took the saddle and placed it on the saddle rack, then grabbed the halter.

            “Well, you are short, but your hindquarters are huge there, Marco,” I laughed, sliding the halter on him.

            He snorted, and tossed his head. I cross tied him in the stall, then took off the lead rope. I hung the lead rope back on the hook outside the stall, and picked up the dandy body brush. I brushed him down, removing the giant clumps of dirt and shedding hair from his body. I tossed the brush back in the grooming box, and took out his bell boots, along with a hoof pick. I cleaned out the first front hoof, lifting his leg up. I straddled the hoof, holding it between my knees so I could pull on the rubber bell boot. He stood there patiently, looking as if he was about to fall asleep. I took the other bell boot and did the same with the last hoof. I went around to his hind legs, cleaning out the hind hooves as well.

            When I was done grooming, I took the saddle pad and set on top of his back, right behind his withers. I then put the saddle on him, and tightened the girth on both sides. When I was satisfied the saddle was on tight enough, I took off his halter, buckling it around his neck so he wouldn’t walk off. I tossed the reins over his head, and fixed the bridle in my hands. I held up the nose band, and stuck my left thumb in the corner of his mouth, pressing down on his gums. He opened his mouth, and I slid the bit in. I pulled the rest of the bridle over his head, and fastened all the buckles. I tucked the excess leather into the keepers, and then took the reins from over his head again, and undid the halter. I let the halter clank against the wall, and walked him out of his stall, grabbing my helmet on the way out. I put it on my head, and walked outside, sliding the reins to the crease of my elbow, and quickly snapped the snap on the helmet under my chin. I smiled and walked to the arena, and went in with the rest of the class.

            I tightened my girth one last time before leading Marco over to the mounting block. I slid my foot in the stirrup, and hauled myself up onto his back. I gathered my reins and put my foot in the other stirrup and walked him to the middle. I adjusted my stirrups and led him out to the wall at a nice working walk. It was weird riding a different horse. I kept my heels pressed down as far as they could go, so it would secure my leg.

            “Alright, now, everybody please trot,” Mrs. Finch.

            I sighed and asked Marco for a trot. He went instantly into a slow trot, then with a little more leg pressure he went into his nice working trot. I smiled and kept my leg still, keeping my toe at the girth, and then rising as low and as close to the pommel as I could.

            “Canter!”

            I sat the next few strides of the trot, and then squeezed in. Marco took a little bit then went into the canter. It was faster and had shorter strides than Verona. I guess I just had to suck it up and continue on with it. I rode his canter the best to my ability.

            His jump wasn’t any better than his canter. Instead of the beautiful flowing jump that Verona had, Marco’s was more of a jackhammer jump. It took a lot for me to come unseated when riding a horse, but he defiantly had what it took.

            “Alright class. Very good. Aleah, hopefully Verona will be better by tomorrow’s lesson. I know you miss her,” Mrs. Finch said.

            I nodded and got off Marco. He snorted and I took the girth down two holes to let him relax. I took the reins from over his head and then led him back to the barn. I sighed and walked with him and brought him into his stall, tying him to the cross ties. 

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 08.02.2014

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Dedicated to my riding instructors who have gotten me through everything... and my wonderful guardian angel