Post by -HorseArtist- on Oct 1, 2010 19:54:15 GMT -5
Limo
Chapter 1
“Omigod mom! How much longer to I have to wait to get my present! I have been riding for hours! Limo needs a break!” I whined to my mom, dismounting the school pony I ride. Today is my birthday, and my mom insisted that I needed to ride Limo before I got my present. I’ve been riding her for 2 hours and we BOTH needed a break. It was the beginning of summer and it was HOT. The indoor ring with AC was being used for lessons so I had to go to the outdoor ring.
“Ok honey. Well lets get you to your party. It will be in the lounge. All of your friends are there!” My mom told me. That’s what’s great about my two friends, we all love horses! I took Limo and brought her to the cross-ties and freshened up, I didn’t want to go into my own birthday party smelling like horses. Not that I don’t love the smell of them! It’s just not good to have it on ME! I changed clothes and went to the lounge.
“Hey Jenni!” One of my best friends, Kennedy, said. Oh yeah I forgot to tell you, my name is Jenni!
“Girl, you just turned 13 and why aren’t you ‘Cheesin Mad Hard’?” My OTHER BFF Laurie asked me. That was her thing saying ‘Cheesin Mad Hard’.
“Well maybe it’s because my mom just mad me do 2 hours of riding before I got my present!” I told her. I called out to my mom. “MOM! I am opening up presents now! I don’t want to have cake first!”
“Ok honey, open up everyone else’s then open up mine to you!” My mom told me. I stared up at the pile of presents. I’m not kidding, I had a huge stack! Twice the size of me! I was 5’ 4 ½”!
An hour and a half later I was finally done opening my presents.
“Mom! Now can I open up your present!” I half asked.
“Ok honey, here you are. This is from both me and your father, who couldn’t be here today because he had a business meeting in Japan.” My mom told everyone, then she handed me a very small box. Hmm I wonder what it is? I ripened it open, and took off the top of the box………
“What is-OMIGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed. It was Limo’s papers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Honey, she is already registered in your name, and all the saddles and tack we made sure were fitted to her. I hope you like you present!” My mom told me.
“Mom LIKE?!?! I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! Thanks soooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “ I jumped up and down. I know, it sounds something like what a child would do, but wouldn’t you when you got your first pony? But then all of the sudden a girl named Gina(she rode Limo too) got up.
“You have GOT to me kidding me! I rode Limo too! I deserve to have her! Not you!” She said storming out. I felt bad for her but when she said that I didn’t deserve her that feeling went away. Everyone stared at her. I followed after her, worried she would try to take my horse.
“Gina-“ She cut me off.
“Listen Jenni, you are a stuck up brat,” I was in shock. I was always nice to everyone! “Thinking you are so much better than me because your rich, and same with your snotty friends,” They are NOT snotty! “and you think that you can just take away Limo? The only horse I have ever clicked with? No not gunna happen!” Gina told me.
“Listen Gina, I am not stuck up! I am nice to everyone! I do NOT think I am better than you because I am rich. My friend are NOT snotty, they are nice, kind, and at shows they cheer for EVERYONE! And I love Limo, My mom got her for my birthday and I will not give her back! I was going to let you ride Limo a couple of times, but since you said all of those things about me, I will not. Now get away from my pony.” I said to her not regretting anything I said. I was going to let her ride Limo a couple of times, but not since she called my friends snotty, and me a stuck up brat that thinks she is better than everyone just because I am rich. I am rich but I am nice and didn’t have any enemies.
Until now.
“Oh yeah sure you were brat! You would never let me ride your ‘Prize Pony’!” Gina replied. She went to stroke Limo’s muzzle one last time but then Limo went and tried to nip her! To bad Gina didn’t get nipped to get shaken back into reality. Gina stomped away, and I headed back to my party.
“Hi, she,” I decided not to let her slip by without being noticed. “She called me a stuck-up brat and called Kennedy and Laurie, snotty.”
“She what? I have to go and have a talk with that young lady.” Her mother said standing up.
“Wait! No! Let her calm down, don’t yell at her, I just wanted you to know what she did.” I told her mother very quickly. I took Kennedy and Laurie out and we went to see Limo.
Chapter 2
“She really called us snotty?” Laurie asked for the thousandth time on our way to Limo. I stopped and so did everyone else at the sight of who was in the arena. It was Gina, on Limo.
We all hurried over there. But we didn’t even though we knew Limo wouldn’t spook to it, we still wanted to be safe.
“Gina get off of my horse! You took her out of her stall and rode her without my permission!” I said, again, we didn’t want Limo to spook.
“But I love her and your just taking her away from me!” She said dismounting, and starting to cry.
“Listen, after lessons, if you’re here, you can cool her off. When I am on vacations or just can’t come because of schoolwork, you can ride her in lessons then. And lucky you, I am taking a 3-day vacation in 2 weeks. I will give Nia a note saying you can ride Limo while I am gone.” I told her. Oh and Nia is everyone’s instructor and the barn manager/owner. She’s very nice to everyone.
“Ok. I guess I would like that. Sorry for calling you a stuck-up spoiled brat, and your friends snotty. I didn’t mean it, I was only angry.” Gia sniffled, handing me the reins.
“We accept your apologie.” We all said in unison. We took Limo down to the boarding barn where we found a stall with her name ingraved in gold! We untacked her and put it into a wheelbarrow to bring up to the school pony barn. I looked into the tack room and squealed with delight to find that all my new saddles, bridles, saddle pads, and grooming things. Kennedy and Laurie ran in to see what was wrong, or right!
“What happened?!” Laurie asked worriedly.
“Nothing bad! It’s al great! All my new things are here by Limo’s tack section!!! Omigod! This is the BEST birthday ever!!” I practically screamed. I knew I would never get a new horse too, I was too stick-thin skinny to grow out of her!
“Omigod! Don’t ever scare us like that again! Hey look here come some girls that board too! Lets go and meet them, I haven’t seen them at all before.” Kennedy told me.
“Yeah well this isn’t our regular day here.” I said. We all went to a girl that was at cross-ties with her horse.
“Hi! I’m Jenni! I was using a school horse, but today on my birthday my mom bought her for me so now I’m a boarder! And these are my friends, Kennedy and Laurie.” I greeted the girl nodding the Kennedy and Laurie when I introduced them.
“Hi! My name is Cami, and this is my horse Money, Show name Big Money. We were going here for a long while but I’ve never met anybody that I could really be friends with here. I was going to leave but I don’t think I will anymore.” Cami told us. Laurie started to stroke Money.
“My new horse is Limo, Show name My Cool Ride Limo. Want to go on a trail ride sometime? All three of us?” I asked her.
“Sure! Why not now? Lets go saddle up!” Cami said.
“Ok! Laurie and Kennedy do you want to go and get Trinity and Moxie and bring them down here to tack up?” I asked them.
“Sure! We will go and get them!” They said together, and went to get their school ponies they rode. Their moms are going to buy them for their birthday, which as thankfully coming up soon.
Chapter 3
We were all grooming our horses at the boarding barn cross-ties. Finally we saddled them up and stared on the trail. Wow! Cami was REALLY good! I don’t know why she hasn’t tried out for YENT yet!
“So why were you thinking of leaving here? I’ve seen you at shows and you, like, always won first!” I told Cami.
“Well I had no friends here, and all my friends at my school don’t ride.” She said.
“So,” Laurie started pulling Moxie to a stop, we all stopped too. “Why don’t you get some friends, like, oh, I dunno. Us?”
“Really? Sure! I would love to! I’m glad I finally have some friends now!” Cami replied. All of the sudden someone was charging at us.
“Jenni! Jenni!” Gia called me, when she got to me she pulled to a stop. “It’s your dad! His plane from Japan crashed right before the airport!”
“Come on!” I screamed pushing Limo into a breeze. Finally we got back to the stables.
“Jenni go! I’ll take car of Limo for you!” Nia said. I hopped off of Limo, handed the reins to Nia, and raced to find my mom.
“She’s at her car!” Nia yelled after me.
“Thanks for everything Nia!” I yelled back. I ran to our car, hopped into the passenger seat, and buckled up my seat belt.
“Mom how is he?” I asked.
“He is at our hospital, and he only has a broken leg. But other than that he is fine.” She replied.
“Ok.” I said and for the rest of the drive I was silent.
Finally we reached the hospital! I raced to the front desk with my mother closely behind.
“We are here to see my husband, James Riano. Here is my ID.” My mother said. “Oh and this is our daughter. Can we just please go in and see him?!”
“Ok, ma’am he is fine just clam down please. He is assigned room 2318. He is getting a cast on his leg right now, you may wait in his room.” The nurse said giving mom back her ID. We both quickly went to his room. 15 minutes later my dad came in.
“Daddy!” I screamed as he came in on crutches.
“James are you alright?” My mom asked as the nurse helped him into his bed.
I heard the nurse mumble something that sounded like, “Dammit he’s married.”
Well it wasn’t her fault, my dad is very handsom. I walked over to him with my mom, and she gave the nurse what me and my friends would call “If you are not outta my sight in 2 seconds your dead meat.” Glare.
“Sherry, I’m fine. After some rest I will be able to go back home.” My dad told us.
“How long is ‘some’?” I asked.
“Two weeks. Its just a broken leg but it’s deep. They just want to survey how I heal so far.” He said. “Honey, can you leave me and your mother alone for a second?” I nodded, I had to call Gina.
I walked outside the door and took out my new Andriod phone and dialed Gina’s number. It rang and she finally picked up.
“Hello?” Gina asked.
“Hi Gina, it’s Jenni. I can’t ride Limo this week. Tell Nia that I said that you can ride her.” I told her over the phone. I held the phone away from my hear. She was so loud from the excitement.
“Jenni! Come in!” My dad said. I walked in still on the phone. “Listen I know that you just got Limo and don’t let me being in the hospital let you keep you from going and riding her.”
I mouthed ‘Ok’, and I turned back to my phone. “Sorry Gina, my dad said that I woud be able to ride Limo, btu when I come for my lesson I will help you pick out a lesson horse.” I told her. I heard her sigh then hang up.
Chapter 4
Two weeks later my dad was finally home! He was there for a couple of hours but then he reminded me about my lesson, and insisted that I go. I got in our car and my mom drove me to Victory Stables(MissAmericanDixie speaking:sorry I forgot to mention the name of her stable b4 but it is Victory Stables). I climbed out of the car and my mom was going to be back in 3 hours. My lesson was only an hour and a half but I like looking around and giving the horses treats.
I went to Limo’s stall and I saw that she wasn’t there. At first I wasn’t so worried, because I thought that she might be in the paddock, so I went there to look. No Limo. I headed over to Nia’s office.
“Nia!” I said bursting in. “Where is Limo?”
“She should be in her stall. I wouldn’t have put her in the paddock before a lesson.” Nia told me.
“Has Gina been here?” I knew that Nia would know because we had a sign-in sheet where a rider had to put down their name and horse before a lesson or trail ride.
“I don’t know, let me check.” Nia walked out to get the sheet and I was right behind her. “Ah, yes. She is on a trail ride on…….Big Shot.”
I stormed away to Big Shot’s stall. He was a gelding and a top of the line show horse, and school pony. No one ever used him for trails, even though they could. There wasn’t a rule about it. I got to his stall. He was there. I went down to see Cami. I knew she was there because we had lessons together now.
“Cami! I need to use Money! Limo is missing, and Gina put down that she was going for a trail ride on Big Shot, but he is in his stall!” I called to her, she was tightening Money’s girth.
“Sure! Here you go. I’ll tell Nia that you needed him.” She told me handing me his reins. I trotted him out then mounted up. I cantered to the trail and kept the steady speed. I knew that Gina would take this trail. She could canter Limo down it without slowing, thus gaining more ground in less time. Finally I was at a long opening where you could breeze your horse for miles, but I wouldn’t hurt Money like that. But I still urged him to breeze. Soon I slowed and dismounted to let him cool down. We walked for 2 miles and still no sign of Limo and Gina. I let Money drink at a pond a while back, and I think that he would be able to gallop now, it was about a mile and a half back. So I mounted up and urged him to gallop, soon I saw a figure up ahead. A girl trotting a horse. In other words, Gina trotting Limo. Finally we were about 100 yards away from them and I slowed down Money, not wanting to push him to hard.
“Gina! Stop now or I will sue!” I didn’t mean it but it made her stop and wait for me. I caught up with her and I dismounted Money and she dismounted Limo.
“Ya, sure you’ll sue. All you want is money.” Gina said sounding real snotty. I mounted Limo and she mounted Money.
“Listen, I’m tired of your snotty attitude. I don’t want money, I want you to stay away from my horse now lets go.” I told her, ponying Money behind us. Two hours later we got back to the stable. As we emerged from the woods we were walking and I was leading both Money, and Limo, while Gina trudged behind.
“Jenni! What happened!?” Cami asked, taking Money’s reins.
“Gina stole Limo. I am telling her mother.” I told Cami and I walked to Gina’s mother who was standing by her car looking very angry.
“What did she do?! I swear I don’t know what to do with her!” He mother cried.
Chapter 5
“Calm down Mrs. Cassidy. When you are calm we can talk about this. Lets go in the lounge and get you some water. I will be right there.” I told her. She started breathing heavy, I hope Gina feels bad for all the stress she gave her mother. Cami offered to watch Limo on some cross-ties by Money, so she wouldn’t get colic by drinking water right after she was ran that fast for so long. I un-tacked her and hoed her down real quick with warn, but not hot, water. Then I brought her to Cami to watch, and I went to the lounge to speak with Gina and Mrs. Cassidy, her mother, about what happened.
“Here comes the snob. Here comes the snob” Gina mumbled under her breath, her tone sounded as if she was singing ‘here comes the bride, here comes the bride.’
“Gina! Don’t ever talk that way again or I will ban you from coming here!” Her mother scolded her and she shut her mouth.
“Mrs. Cassidy, I would like to tell you that your daughter did nothing wrong, but that would be lying. She stole Limo and I cannot let this go any further. I have to report this to the police. I have had enough. Soon who knows what she would be doing? Getting so hateful that she would turn to hurting Limo just to avenge me. I am going to the police right now.” I told them. I exited and went to my moms car and explained everything to her on our way to the police station. I walked up to the officer at the front desk there.
“Excuse me? I would like to report that my horse was stolen. She was found but the girl that stole her has gone far enough.” I told the officer.
“Fill out these forms. We can only arrest her and put her on trial, the longest she will be able to be locked up in juvenile detention is 30 days though. Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked.
“Yes.” I said and started filling out the forms. Fifteen minutes later I was done. I handed them to the officer and then my mom and I left.
“Honey lets go back to the stables so you can be with Limo for a little while longer.” My mom said.
“Sure!” I agreed happy that I would be able to after we didn’t have a lesson together.
We arrived again at the stables, I zoomed to Limo’s stall. She was munching hay very happily.
“Hey-“ I saw something or someone in the back of her stall behind her. “Gina! Get out! Now!”
“Snob, your never going to keep me away from Limo! She is mine! You don’t deserve to live after what you did to me!” She half-shouted at me and then poured hoof polish all over me.
“Ah!” I screamed. Why wouldn’t she get the clue that I wouldn’t let her near Limo anymore?! She’s delusional!
Chapter 6
A week later I was in court. My lawyer called up Gina.
“Is it true that you took Miss Jenni’s horse from her stall and on a long trail ride, without her permission?” My lawyer, Ms. Conner, questioned Gina.
“Yeah, I stole her. Miss SNOB-“
“Objection your honor!” Her lawyer said. I guess he was mad that she confessed.
“Substained!” The judge called out. “Let the defendant go on.”
“Go on please Miss Gina, and do not call the prosecution names.” Ms. Conner told her.
“ ‘Kay. Well Miss JENNI bought her and she doesn’t deserve her. I deserve her!” Gina cried out.
“Why do you thin that you deserve her and not Miss Jenni?” Ms. Conner asked her.
“She never deserved any horse, especially not Limo. Miss Jenni is a snob and only cares about her image. Limo is a flashy Chesnut Overo where Miss Jenni thought that she looked good on her, so she started riding her and pretending that she ‘Loved’ her so her ‘Mommy’ would buy her for her.” Gina lied.
“No further questions,” Gina exited the stand. “I would like to call Miss Jenni to the stand.” Ms. Conner said. I walked up and Gina gave me a death glare.
“Miss Jenni, when you didn’t own Limo, did you just give her to the grooms to take care of?” Ms. Conner asked.
“No, I took my time cooling her down and grooming her, sometimes I even braided her hair just for fun.” I said truthfully.
“Did you only give her baths before shows so she would look presentable?” She asked.
“No, when I had like a day off from school, or I wasn’t busy all weekend I would go, ride her, then give her a bath.” I was guessing that it would be a plus for saying the truth un-like Gina.
“Did you only go riding her on your lesson days?” Ms. Conner questioned.
“No. Every free minute I got I was over there either trail riding or practicing.” I replied.
“No further questions.” We both sat down. Gina’s lawyer called me back up to the stand.
“It’s true that Limo got colic after a show that only you used her in.” He asked me.
“Yes, we found out that the grooms accidentally brought moldy hay. You didn’t mention the fact that five other horses got colic too. You only tried to single me out.” I said with a ‘Haha!’ kind of tone.
“Are the grooms still there?” He questioned.
“No, I requested them to be fired. I didn’t want Limo to get sick again.” I told him.
“No further questions.” He told the judge, and then he took his seat, and I took mine.
“Jury. Go and discuss the final verdict.” The judge told them and they all went into a room. Fifteen minutes later they came out. One lady was holding a piece of paper.
“Have you made your decision Jury?” The judge asked. The lady holding the piece of paper nodded and began to read.
“The Jury of this court find Gina Rodriguez. Guilty.” The lady said. I breathed a sigh of relief. Now for the next month I won’t have to worry about her.
“The court sentences Gina Rodriguez to Juvenile Detention for 15 days.” Ok scratch that. For the next 15 days I won’t have to worry about her. Wait, can she get out on bail? I think so. Oh no her mother would do that.
Chapter 7
5 days later Gina got out on bail. 7 days later she got her own horse. 10 days later I found that she doesn’t hate me anymore. Now 13 days later, I’m at a show with Cami, Kennedy, and Laurie. We were all entered in Dressage, Show Jumping, and Cross Country. Kennedy and Laurie’s mom’s got them Trinity and Moxie before our show so they could be theirs in it. We all saw Gina walk up to us with a cute black Arabian mare.
“Hi everyone,” She said. We all mumbled a ‘Hi’. “Listen Jenni I am really sorry about what happened. I promise I will not try to do anything bad to either you or Limo ever again. I have Rain now. Oh your probably wondering what my horses name is. It’s Desert Rain. She is as sweet as pie. I love her more than anything in the world. Well expect for my family, but she’s like my baby. But can you ever forgive me?” She asked.
“Yeah, I will forgive you. I’m really sorry that I had to go to the police with you. Do you want to say goodbye to Limo?” I asked her.
“Sure, you can see Rain if you want.” She replied. We swapped leadlines. She said goodbye to Limo and I said hi to Rain. We both gave back the leadlines and started talking.
“So what classes are you in?” I asked her.
“Dressage, Show Jumping, and Cross country.” She said.
“Same with us! Guess we all will be in the top 5 huh?” Cami said.
“Yup. But ya better watch it. Me and Moxie are good!” Laurie ‘warned’ everyone. We all broke out laughing. Finally it was time for Show Jumping.
I was up first, then Laurie, Cami, Kennedy, and Gina. I started out on Limo and I pointed her to the first jump. One, Two, Three, Up! We cleared the first jump with ease. Next was and oxer. Perfect! I thought as Limo lifted up in the air. The rest of the pattern was perfect! Easy blue ribbon! Laurie started and I gave her a smile. She completed the course with 3 faults. Next was a girl from a different stable. I felt bad for her. Her horse spooked before every jump and she was disqualified. Now Cami went. She had 1 fault. Kennedy went with a result of 4 faults. Gina was the last girl in our barn to go and she finished with a total of 2 faults!?! No way did she do better than Laurie and Kennedy?!? Ugh, even though I forgave her, I still didn’t like her all that much. 4 more girls went and I didn’t even pay attention to how they did. I was getting ready to do cross country.
The rest of the show I was perfect and Limo did everything the best any pony could! Finally it was time to see ho won each event and who won the entire show.
“Third…….., Second………, First Place in Show Jumping goes to……..
Chapter 8
No way! I thought as I stared at my three blue ribbons and my best all around ribbon. I had NEVER done this good! My dad will be soooo proud of me!
I loaded Limo into he horse trailer and put my tack things into the tack room part of it. I skipped to the van that was pulling it with all of my friends, and Gina. We all talked and giggled all the way back to the stables. This was the best day ever! Gina apologized, I won, Kennedy, Cami, and Laurie placed top 5 in everything! This was the best life anyone could ever have!
I went and un-loaded Limo while everyone else got their horses. I talked to her all the way back to her stall.
“You were the best girl! You deserved everything we won. You did all the work, you helped me win, you deserve all the credit!” I whispered to her, putting her in her stall and latching the gate. Everyone patted their horses and went to the lounge for a victory party. I decided to see my friends horses. Oh no! Trinity, Moxie, Money, and Rain were all lying down and breathing heavily. I heard a plump from Limo’s stall. I rushed over and she was doing the same! I think that they might have colic. I ran to the lounge.
“Everyone! I think our horses have colic!” I half-screamed. I raced back with Kennedy, Laurie, Cami, and Gina close behind me. All of us went to our horses stalls. I was so worried. Thank goodness 10 minutes later the vet was there. I made sure she saw Limo first. The vet helped me get her to her feet. She said that thank goodness she was only lying down because she was probably tired from the show. Same with all of the horses except for Moxie and Money, and a horse owned by a guy we didn’t know. A guy that was HOT. They had severe colic and might not get through it. All of our parents including Gina’s agreed that we could sleep in the barn with our horses. Same with that hunk of guy. But he had to sleep in the tack room. All of us girls would sleep in front of our horses stalls.
“Cami, Laurie you’ll get through this. We are all here for you.” I said to them. They just nodded while the walked Moxie and Money in a circle in the arena. On the other end the guy was walking his horse. I decided to go and introduce myself.
“Guys, I’ll be right back.” I said to them. I walked up to the guy and he stopping is horse.
“Hey, I’m Jenni and those are my friends Cami, Kennedy, Laurie, and Gina. I board here with my mare Limo.” I said pointing to everyone as I introduced them.
“Hey, I’m Devin. This is my stallion Black Thunder, Thunder for short. And, I’m single, and ready to mingle.” He told me stepping closer to me. He was hitting on?!
“Listen. I don’t care ‘bout your love life. I’m looking to be your friend, not girlfriend jerk.” Oh he was definitely a player, and I wasn’t happy about it.
“Whoa Drama Queen, can’t a guy at least try for a pretty lady?” Ummm weird much?
“Listen, I won’t date you, yet, but I will be your friend for now and maybe if your lucky, I’ll be your girl.” Man was he smoking!
“Fine, want to go to the barn? Your friends just left for there.” He asked.
“Why don’t we just stay here and walk Thunder some more.” I told him. I took Thunder’s leadine and started walking him in circles away from Devin.
Chapter 9
I woke up and looked at the clock on my phone. It said 5:56. Ugh, it was so early! I got up and went to the hayloft. I changed into my other riding clothes and brushed my hair. It was light out so I decided to go for a little ride in the arena, and just do some cantering for fun. I started out with a walk. I was a teensy bit tired so I didn’t want to take any chances. Finally 15 minutes later I was trotting and fully awake. I edged Limo to canter. It felt so good! I pulled Limo to a stop. I saw Devin watching me from outside the ring.
“Hey, shouldn’t you be watching Thunder?” I called out to him.
“I woke up and couldn’t find you so I started looking for you.” He said. I shook my head.
“Go check on him! I’m fine, just cantering a bit.” I insisted.
“Ok I bring him out to watch with me.” He walked away. Ah I think I really like him. Kennedy walked out as he walked in. I trotted over to her.
“Hey look who has a crush on you!” She said in a sing-song type of tone.
“Kennedy, please he’s soooooo NOT my type.” I insisted.
“Well then who is your type?” She asked.
“Someone that’s not a player.” I told her cantering around the ring again when Devin walked back out with Black Thunder. Black Thunder was edgy and everyone could see it. He broke away from Devin and came charging toward Limo. My mare. With me on her. He came up to us and reared up. Holy swiss cheese Limo just had to respond with another rear. I barley held on. Oh here we going again, as soon as she landed down again and went right back up. When she landed again I jumped off and scrambled to get her reins and lead he rout of the arena really quick and closed the gate behind me.
Devin walked in and grabbed Thunder and put him in his stall. I un-tacked and groomed Limo, then put her in the stall and gave her a peppermint treat.
I walked over to Devin.
“Horse like owner.” I whispered to him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked.
“Your both players, hitting on the wrong girls.” I told him walking away. My mom was supposed to come soon. I got all of my things in my bag and brushed my hair. I was heading to the picnic table to wait for her when Devin caught my arm.
“Carolyn, wait. I really like you.” He said and I turned around.
“I’ve known you since last night, how could you like me?” I questioned.
“Do you believe in love at first sight? That’s how I felt, but instead of real, true love like ‘Oh that’s the girl I’m going to marry.” Teen love like ‘I know she’s the one!’ and that’s you Carolyn.” Devin insisted. I was flattered but I heard my mom coming and I ran away to her car. Leaving him stunned.
Chapter 10
I was back for my lesson 5 hours later. I found out that everyone’s horses were ok and healed, but no one would even think of using them in the lesson though.
“Hey Cam!” I called out to Cami, she was stroking Money’s muzzle and turned toward me with a confused look on her face.
“Listen, what happened to you this morning? I woke up around 8 o’clock and you were gone.” She questioned.
“I went for an early morning ride, Devin brought out Black Thunder and h e got loose and charged at me and Limo while I was still on top of her.” I answered simply like it was no big deal. She gave me a look.
“Tell me everything, no detail left out.” She demanded. So I did.
“…………and that’s all that happened.” I finished. Cami’s eyes looked like they would bulge out of her head.
“He knows you for what? Half a day and he says he really likes you?” Cami asked. I nodded. “He’s a player. Deff. a player. What is any other explanation?!”
“He might really like me!” I said. I said the next part barley loud enough to hear. “I think that I might like him too……..”
“CC(My nickname) I used to date this guy. He’s not good. He cheated on me, then he cheated on her while he was still cheating on me. He’ll only hurt you. Ya sure he’s nice at first but then he gets bored with you and tosses you to the sharks. He hasn’t changed. And he never will. Don’t fall for him. He’s not really falling for you.” She insisted. I knew she was right but I just couldn’t help being angry that she might be denying the fact that he could really like me. But I shoved that feeling away.
“Thanks for looking out for me girl. You’re a great friend.” I told her.
“Oh I know I’m a great friend! Come on, lets get to our lesson. I’m going to be using Big Shot.” She told me. I nodded.
3 Hours later I was at my house on Skype with one of my other friends that got a scholarship at Winner’s Victory Boarding School. She got a scholarship with a riding program and now her horse Mystic Of The Wind(A.K.A Mysti) and her are there. She had the YENT testing soon and she was extremely nervous!
“Nancy calm down! Mysti is a great horse and she will land you a spot on YENT!” I insisted, assuming that WAS what she was worried about.
“That’s not what I’m nervous about. This school has 5 openings for some of my friends to come when I showed them videos of you all riding, and well if you had made 2 new friends while I was gone bring them with you, Kennedy, and Laurie!” She screamed.
“OMIGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO FREAKING WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have got to be kidding me right?!” I half shouted. She shook her head. I knew I would bring Cami with us, but first we had to get permission from our parents.
“Go go! You need to ask your parents! I’ll go on 3-way Skype with Kennedy and Laurie. You go and tell this Cami girl, and pick someone else to go!” She told me. I logged off and raced down to ask my parents.
“Mom, dad! Nancy showed the instructors at Winner’s Victory Boarding School some of the video’s of me, Kennedy, Laurie, and Cami riding and they have open scholarship spots! So can I go?” I asked. I was practically bouncing around the room. I soooooo hoped that they said yes! My parents smiled and looked at each other, but the look where I was never sure if I was going to get something or not.
My mom started out. “Well Honey………………………..”
Chapter 11
“……………Of course you can! When can you get there? We can also carpool with everyone. We have a huge van and a 4-horse horse trailer. Go and set things up!” My mom said.
“OMIGOD THANK YOU MOM AND DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS!!!!!!!!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST PARENTS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed and ran up to my room and told everyone. They all were a go!
4 weeks.later all of us pulled up into the WVBS(Winner’s Victory Boarding School) parking lot and followed the signs to were we should unload Limo, Money, Trinity, and Moxie. Then we saw Nancy waiting for us!
“Nancy!!!!!!!!!” Everyone except for Cami shouted.
“Hey Nancy, I’ve heard a bunch about you! My name is Cami! I can’t wait to really get to know each other! It looks like we will have the last month of summer to do so though!” Cami told her.
“Me too! Come on les get the horses unloaded and by their stalls that are my Mysti!” Nancy sang, she was being as outgoing as she always was. I missed her.
We all unloaded the horses and headed to the stables.
“Oh! And Carolyn I have a surprise for you! When you said you couldn’t find a fifth person, I did a little snooping and…………here’s Devin!” Nancy told me as Devin cam out of the stable. I halted Limo and I had an horrified expression on my face, so did Cami. Not only did she think that she escaped her ex when she came here, but she told me that I would escape him following me around like a lost puppy(that’s what he did to her when she said “No” to going out with him). I quickly faked a smile and thanked her, but then I hurried in with Limo. I looked at the stable. One. Word. WOW. Victory didn’t even come close to this! The stalls were awesome and Limo had a stall right next to Mysti! I looked at the gold engraved nameplate that said “My Cool Ride Limo” and then I looked at the bracelet I got for my birthday that had “Carolyn&Limo=Forever” engraved in gold too. I lead Limo into her stall and everyone else did too. Then, almost as if it was planned, we all took a step back and just stared in awe at the stable.
“You think just the stalls are cool, come and check out everything else!” Cami insisted. We followed her into the tack room……wow. Can this even be called a tack room? There was dividers giving everyone their own personal space to change into riding clothes, get tack, WORK ON SCHOOLWORK?! Yeah, there was a desk in the section, ya sure it was small but still, this was COOL! I am so happy I came!
“Now lets go to the lounge and then I will help y’all get you tack put away and to your dorms! I already have my BFF that’s a rider with me, but I managed to get you four rooms together. Cami and Carolyn, Laurie and Kennedy.” She told us. Soon we were in a large room. I had a flat screen T.V., a popcorn machine, loads of candy, and like a mini arcade! I was in love with this school already! And the best part was that it was directed around riding! The academics were as easy as a regular 7th grade class! It was the riding that either got you into this school, or out. Finally we went out to our cars and got our tack and put it away, then we went and our parents and Nancy helped us to bring our stuff to our dorms. Me and Cam fumbled into ours and flopped on the beds. Then we got up any said goodbye to our parents.
“Bye, Mom and Dad. I will miss you so so so so so so much! I can’t wait until the beginning of the actual school year when you can come back and visit!” I told them. They grabbed me up in a big hug and say goodbye. They left with Cami’s parents and we were left to unpack alone.
“Man this room is huge!” Cami exclaimed. I went to the closet. I opened it up and I was in love. It was TRUE love!
Chapter 12
Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! My new closet was stocked with all of my favorite DISCONTINUED LipGlosses!!!!!!!! Omigod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” I screamed, and Nancy popped up behind me.
“I see you found your present. I got everyone something.” She said, making me jump back and stumble on top of Cami’s suitcases, which lead to fall into my suitcase and tumble over that into my bed. We started laughing so hard I swore atleast one of us was going to blow up! Finally Cami stopped and went over to her coset and opened it. It was hung with pictures of Money I sent to Nancy. It also had a brand new Dover Show Jumping saddle!
“Omigod! Nancy! Why did you get me this?! You didn’t even know me!” Cami half shouted as she ran over to see the pictures and saddle.
“Any friends of my friends, are, well, my friends!” Nancy told her. I knew that this would be awesome. They were totally hitting it off so well!
When we were finally un-packed all of us went down to the stables fully dressed in the most expensive riding clothes there are! I wore fawn colored breeches, shinning black boots, and to top it off a white, snug, polo shirt. I went up to Limo and lead her out for a trail ride with everyone else. I grabbed one of my new saddles that I was saving for my first ride here, her bridle, saddle pad, and grooming kit. Everyone quickly got their horses ready and headed out. The sky was tinted a little gray, but I wasn’t worried. By the looks of it, it looked like it was just going to drizzle a teensy bit. Then we all mounted up and started out trotting on the path.
“Hey, how long is this path?” I questioned Nancy.
“Not to long but it is leading to a really pretty field that has a picnic there waiting for us. My other friend is there with everything set up for lunch so lets go!” Nancy told us and we all broke into a canter. Finally we came to a field and Nancy took us through a couple of bushes and we were in like a dome thing, covered with trees and filled with grass! I loved it! We all dismounted and tied our horses next to a horse tied to a line in between two trees. This place was really very truly beautiful! A girl appeared and walked over to us.
“Hey everyone! My name is Pami!” She introduced herself.
“This is Carolyn, Kennedy, Laurie, and Cami. Those are their horses Limo, Trinity, Moxie, and Money.” Nancy told her pointing to each girl and horse as she said our names.
“Hi! Nice to finally meet you all, but sorry I have to go, one of the girls from my theatre class over the summer needs to talk to me, and since I’m the only one that has saddle bags, I have to bring the food with. Maybe Nancy can show you around here and then when you get back from the ride you can eat the food at the stable! Bye!” Pami said rushing away on her horse. We all shrugged and mounted up again. We all heard a loud clap of thunder and a big streak of lightening went across the sky! I knew that I should get scared but all of our horses were scared of thunder and lightening storms so we better hurry back! I started to canter and everyone else followed me. It started to drizzled, then pour. We halted our horses and dismounted. None of us wanted to have them slip in the rain. 15 minutes later we were finally back and we ALL we drenched. We got our horses ready for their stall and when we put them away we left.
“Oh shoot! Sorry I’ll be right back! I forgot my phone was in the stable! Be right back!” I called out to everyone and they nodded. I quickly walked back and looked in the tack room. There! I found that it was in my grooming kit box. I quickly grabbed it and went to see Limo again real quick. There was someone in her stall. I walked faster.
“Hey you! What are you doing in my horses stall!” I demanded of him. He got up and slipped out of the stall.
“Whoa, sorry! I just like checking out the new horses! Sorry if that is illegal!” He said putting up his hands.
“Well for me and my friends, it is. So stay away from these five horses, and I think that we will have no problems.” I told him firmly. I saw Nancy walking toward me. Hmm I wonder why she just didn’t go straight back to our dorm.
“Hey Carolyn! Looks like you met Brad my boyfriend!” She exclaimed.
“Yeah I wasn’t too happy when we did. He went into Limo’s stall without my permission.” I told her.
“Oh ok. Well I have to go, come on Double C!” She said. I gave ‘Brad’ a death glare on my way out. I didn’t like him.
Chapter 13
I lied down into my bed that night, thinking about how much fun I’m going to have here! I mean really a school where you can see your horse anytime you want as long as its not during school hours!? Being with your BFF’s like every second of every day!
The next morning I woke up ready for a day devoted to riding! I hopped up and put on purple sparkly breeches with a white polo shirt, and black boots. I ran over to Cami’s bed.
“Wake up! It’s time to go riding!” I shouted into her ear. She shot up and started hitting me with her pillow and I started giggling.
“It’s not funny!” Cami yelled at me but then she burst out laughing. Nancy opened up our door and walked in.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. She looked really sad.
“Pami is moving and I am getting a new roomie!” She said.
“When is she leaving?” I asked her.
“Today. She just said goodbye. Look out your window and you can see her.” Nancy told us. I went over to our window and pushed over the curtains. She left with her horse in a trailer. I wonder why she did leave?
“Nancy, you can sleepover here for the rest of the summer until your new roommate comes!” Cami suggested and I nodded.
“Really? Thanks guys! Now come on lets go riding! I’ll go and get up Kennedy and Laurie!” She told me and left.
“Cami! Come on! Get dressed!” I said throwing her pillow at her.
”Ok! Just go! I’ll meet everyone there!” She insisted laughing.
I stopped at Kennedy’s room and told them, then I headed out to the stables. I heard someone open up a stall door and I peeked in. It was Brad and he went into Money’s stall. That wasn’t a good idea. He always spooked at new people going into his stall. I heard a whinny and a cry of pain. I rushed in and led Money out. I looked down at Brad and I saw that he had a grain type thing that was coated in a poison that gave horses colic!
“Brad! Get up!” I screamed at him. He scrambled to his feet and I locked him in there. I put Money up against the stall door so Brad couldn’t get out.
“Why did you do that?” I questioned him.
“Do what? Oh that! I was giving him his feed!” He said.
“Coated in poison! Why did you want to sabotage Cami!” I demanded.
“Because she is too good a rider and I can’t let her get onto the advanced team!” He said. Soon Cami walked in alone.
“Cami! Brad tried to poison Money! Ket me go and get the instructor. I heard that her name was Ms. Yung.
“Ms. Yung!” I said knocking on her office door.
“Come in!” She half-sang. I walked in and took a seat.
“Ms. Yung, Brad tried to poison my friends horse, Money. Please come!” I told her getting up and going to Money’s stall.
“What happened here?!” She demanded and I told her the whole story.
Chapter 14
“I can’t believe that Brad did that!” Nancy exclaimed as we started out on the trail. She kept on saying that!
“Nancy! He wasn’t the guy you thought he was! He was a jerk! And you thought that he was sweet. Nancy just be happy you broke up with him when you could. He wasn’t good.” I told her.
“You’re right but you didn’t have to rhyme it.” She said.
“I know. Sorry.” I pulled Limo to a stop. Cami wasn’t with us anymore. “Hey, where’s Cam?”
“I don’t know. She was here before. Let’s go back and check.” Laurie suggested. We all turned and headed back to the stable. We un-tacked the horses and were bringing the tack to the tack room. I heard voices inside there and stopped with everyone else.
“Listen since your friends got me in trouble and I’m not allowed to even be here anymore to at least she my horse. Your going to pay.” Brad said.
“How? Are you going to sneak off and try to kill my horse again? Not gunna happen. Your dorm moniter is keeping close watch on you, and Dan the stablehand will be patrolling the stables. You can’t do anything!” Cami said trying to sound confident but her voice wavered a bit. I set my saddle down and charged in there. I was so happy I had a lasso, from when I learned western, I put it around him hoping that it rubbed his skin hard and brought him to the instructors office.
“O found Brad in the stables. He was banned.” I told Ms. Yung.
“Thank-you Carolyn. I will take it from here.” She told me and I re-moved the lasso. Brad gave me a death glare. I walked out and saw that Nancy put away my saddle and Money was groomed and put back in his stall. Everyone was back at their dorms and I went to go and see them.
“Carolyn!” Devin called. I kept walking as if I didn’t hear him. I was so close to my dorm building! I felt someone grab my shoulder and turn me.
“Hey! Didn’t you hear me!?” Devin demanded. I shook away from his grip and ran to my dorm.
Chapter 15
I closed my door behind me breathing hard.
“Hey you ok?” Cami asked me.
“Um…..Yeah. I’m fine.” I lied to her.
“No your not, you don’t look fine at all!” She insisted.
“Well I ran into Devin….again. I don’t know what to do! I don’t like him! He’s disgusting and a player!” I told her. Before she could answer, Nancy walked in with a frown on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
“My new roomie is here, and it’s Gina.” She said slowly. My head snapped up. Even though she apologized, I didn’t want to take any chances with her trying to hurt Limo. Right then Gina waltzed it.
“Hey schoolmaties!” She yelled. I froze as she plopped onto my bed. I stood up.
“Hey…um…Gina. What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Well! I heard that you guys were coming here this year and I decided, well why not come here too? I’m going to be using Rain. She’s been a real beauty! I love her!” She said.
“Oh well it’s to bad, we have to go to the stables. There is a show during the summer for all of the riders that are here during their break and the show is next Saturday, and I want Limo to be really well groomed” I said heading for the door.
“Hey I’ll come with you! Rain really needs a good grooming too, plus I kinda want to practice for a show, if there is one.” Gina insisted. And there really was a show coming up.
“Ok.” I sighed and walked out to the stables. I looked into Limo’s stall and she was gone. I checked the pasture, not there. I went to see Dan to see if anybody took her for a trail ride. No. I looked everywhere and finally went to the tack room to calm down. I saw something on my jumping saddle.
A note! It said:
If you ever want to see your precious horse alive again,
Bring Midnight Dream out to the woods at the bridge across the creek
At midnight tonight, tell anyone of this, I will kill your horse no matter what.
-Anonymous
Some anonymous. I knew that it was Brad. But what should I do? I had to bring Midnight Dream out to him to get Limo, but I couldn’t tell anyone. Some people might call this crazy thinking, but that’s what you do for your horse that you love. And I do love Limo.
Chapter 16
I snuck out of dorm door at 11:15 P.M. and headed toward the stable. I found Midnight Dream’s stall, and I led her out. I checked my watch again. 11:30 P.M. I got her tack and tacked her up, then we set out for the trail to the bridge. I arrived there at 11:56 P.M. and I dismounted. Exactly 4 minutes later Brad showed up with a discouraged-looking Limo. I ran toward her and grabbed her, handing Dream to Brad. I gave Limo a big hug and kiss and she nudged my arm.
“I got expelled and they took away Dream from me, thinking that I would hurt her! I would never! She is my beauty. Don’t. Tell. Anyone!” Brad told me, pushing back his jacket to reveal a hand-gun. Seeing this I hoped on Limo and raced her back to the stables bareback. As we sped away, I heard 3 gun shots. Pointed. Toward. Me.
Finally we reached her stall and I quickly put her away. I gave her warm water after 30 minutes and I fed her food. Quietly I slipped back into my dorm and quickly changed into my PJ’s and slipped into bed for a good night’s sleep.
The next morning I woke up at, 11:57 A.M.!?!?!?!? I NEVER slept that late! I got up and rubbed my eyes. Cami was already up and out of the dorm. I got out of my bed and got dressed in my riding clothes. My phone beeped and I looked at my new text.
Hey hun! I just got txting! How is the school so far? Me and your father miss you so much! I can’t wait until the Open House in two weeks! And we are bringing a surprise! You’ll love it! See you soon!~Mommy. Wow I can’t believe that mom actually got texting! I decided to annoy her by using “Text Slang”.
Hey mom! Cnt wait 4 opn house either! Its gunna b so fun! Plz give me a hint bout the surprise! Me nd Limo miss u so much! School iz gr8! They have gr8 school horses that r soooooooooooo sweet! But not as sweet as Limo! XOXOXO!~Carolyn. I hit ‘Send’ and seconds later I got a reply. Dang! She can text fast!
Ok u want 2 use slang well I can 2! But heres a hint. Think:sibling. No more spoilers! Gtg now sweetie! Txt u l8r!~Mommy. I laughed to my self. Mom using ‘2’ instead of ‘to’, ‘l8r’ instead of ‘later’ and many more! But then I thought. Sibling? What the heck did that mean?!
OH SNAP!!!!!!! CATALINA’S COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Omg! Catalina is my sister in college, and I haven’t seen her in, like, ever! School starts in 2 weeks, and there is a open house where parents and siblings can stay in the guest dorms for 2 days. I was so excited!!!!!!!!!! And I get to see her horse, Justice Rose, Rose for short! She was a cremello Arabian mare.
She first got her at my age, and have been through everything. They’ve won ribbon, after ribbon, after ribbon, all blue of course! Everyone always wondered why she didn’t want to try out for YENT though. It was because, she loved riding and showing, but not all of that pressure. Anyway I was going to have to get everything ready for her coming!
Chapter 17
I walked to the stables with a egg bagel with regular cream cheese for breakfast. I was in a happy mood, until I walked into the stable. Everyone stared at me, all with tears in their eyes.
“Whats wrong?! What happened!? Limo!” I cried out. I knew that it was something with Limo. I just knew it. I dropped my bagel and ran to her stall and peered in. Limo lied there with a bullet hole in her side. I started crying, really hard. I knew who did it and I was going to make sure he was brought to justice. Slowly I unlatched the door and lowered myself to Limo’s head and put it in my lap. I was there for hours crying. Finally Cami told me to get up, once all of my tears we gone. But then I heard her nicker. She wasn’t dead!
“CAMI! CALL THE VET NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! SOMEONE!!!!!!!!! LIMO IS STILL ALIVE!!!!!!!” I screamed my lungs out. Minutes later the vet was there and drove off with her to take her to surgery.
“Carolyn! Come with me! Will we go to the vet! Now!” Ms. Yung yelled at me, pulling up in her red mini-van. I scrambled in with the rest of my friends, including Gina. Out of everyone here besides me, her eyes were the reddest. She had ridden Limo with me for years. She shared the pain I was in.
Finally we were at the hospital! I ran to the receptionist and told her we were here for Limo, a Paint horse. She nodded and before she could say anything else I zoomed toward the room called “Horse Per-Surgery Room” and went in looking for Limo. I didn’t care if there were sick horses around, I had on a mask and was on a mission. I heard a shrill whinny that was for sure Limo’s. I ran to her to comfort her. She calmed when I was at her side. I cooed to her and she was perfect.
“Just stay calm girl. These vets are going to take good care of you. Mommy wants you to go in there and be a good girl ok? I love you but I hae to go now.” I whispered into her ear, and as much as it pained me, I had to walk away, leaving her there. She was scared and alone. The only horse I loved, and will ever love. I slipped out the door and went to wait with my friends.
“How is she holding up so far?” Nancy asked. She was ashamed that she dated the jerk that did this to Limo.
“She was going a little crazy but I calmed her and she is going into surgery right now. I hope she pulls through!” I told her.
“Ok. I hope she does too. I don’t know what I would do if this ever happened to Mysti!” She exclaimed.
5 hourse later it was 5:28, and I was tired. Finally a vet came out!
“Are you Carolyn? Owner of Limo?” She asked me. I nodded standing up, along with everyone else.
“She survived! But she won’t be able to be ridden ever again. But she should be in perfect health soon though.” She smiled. I did too. I didn’t care that I wouldn’t ever be able to ride her again, I was just happy that she was alive!
“Omigod thank you! Can I go see her now?” I asked impatiently.
“I thought that you would ask that, so we waited the period of time she needed before she had visitors, before we told you. Go out to Barn 3, Stall 27. But don’t run.” The vet told us. I was ata brisk walk before everyone else. I scanned the stalls for Stall 27 and I finally found her!
I ran up to her and gave her a big hug around her neck and gave her kisses. She held her head against me, squeezing me into a hug. We stayed that for for the next 15 minutes and I never wanted to let go, but I was going to let Gina hug her too. After all, she did ride her as long as I did. She let go and I squeezed her into a hug again but I had to let go. Ms. Yung wanted us back soon.
I walked to the stables with a bagel for breakfast the next morning after I called the vet to check up on Limo, and after I told my mom about her. I heard a girl shriek and I ran in to see what happened. It was Lynette, the so-called Mean-Queen Of Drama. She was jumping her horse and came stumbling down(the horse) which caused Lyn(her nick-name) to fall off and roll over. While Ms. Young went to go and see her to make sure she was ok, I ran to make sure her horse was ok. It was a rose roan mare(missamericandixie here!: I did not steal this from Jumperchick02 I was writing this part before I read her latest chapter so please to not yell at me for that, thanks!). Maybe 3 or so. She was barley trained, you could tell. And Lyn was trying to jump a 4 foot oxer with her?! No wonder that she stumbled! I looked at her bridle and on the side it had engraved: Miz Strawberry Cream, and across the nose was: Cream. I was guessing that that was her barn name. She tried to get up, so I moved back to let her. She stood up shaking her mane.
“THAT OLD NAG!” Lyn yelled. She was 3! She wasn’t old! Or a nag! “She did that on purpose! I’m going to have daddy sell her! She doesn’t deserve my class of riding! She’s a horrible horse and deserves a horrible rider!”
I looked over at her after I gathered Cream’s reins. Lyn eyed me when Ms. Yung left for an ice pack. Apparently Lyn bruised her arm and thigh.
“Hey you! Would you want that poor old Arabian? She’s worthless, and a horrible. Just like your riding.” She smiled what I secretly call a ‘Devil Grin’.
“Sure! I would love too! Let me check with my mom!” I said ignoring what she said about my riding, and I whipped out my phone and dialed my mom’s number.
“Hey mom! It’s me, Carolyn! Listen, there is a girl, Lyn, that wants to give me her Arabian, for free! Can we keep her? Please? She’s really sweet! And I can finish up her training! You know how I helped Nia train that Paso Fino, Ventura Del Viento, and she can out perfectly! Pleeaaaasssseeeeeeee Mommy!” I begged.
“Honey, I don’t know! Let me check with your father.” My mom replied. I heard her hand cover the phone when she asked. I waited briefly and then she came back.
“Ok honey. But only if you’re sure that you can train her and ride her! Plus don’t for get tht you have to spend time with Limo! The only real reason we are letting you have her is because you cannot ride Limo anymore, and we know how much you love to ride and show.” Mom said firmly. I wouldn’t neglet Limo! Duh! And I knew that I could finish her training! With Suzie, the stable hand’s help(she was the 2nd stable hand, and helped me around a lot!).
“Thank you mommy! I won’t let you down!” I said, then I hung up to tell Lyn.
“Hey Lyn! My mom said yes! And she’s free right? With the tack? Including show tack for her and her grooming kit!” I asked her. She was standing up now, holding an ice pack on her arm and thigh.
“Yeah, sure. But don’t think that you’ll ever beat me on her!” She warned, and I laughed. She stormed out of the arena and I checked Cream’s legs. No heat which was good. I led her into the boarding barn, and found her stall. It was far away from Limo’s. Good. I didn’t want Limo to be jealous when I rode Cream. Lyn waltzed in and grabbed my arm after I put away Cream and was ready to put away her tack.
“Listen! Here is her tack and stuff! Take it and put it with your saddles and stuff. Finally you’ll have something actually worth something. When you put it away come back here!” She snapped at me. I did s she said and went back to her when I was done.
“Now don’t repeat a word I say! Or else!” She warned.
“Ok. Fine. Whatever.” I said.
“I act like I don’t care about her, but please don’t hurt Cream.” Lyn pleaded, showing a soft side of her.
“Of course I won’t!” I assured her, but before she could say anything else, I walked hurriedly out of the tack room to visit Cream. I was sad that Limo wasn’t here, but happy that I now had Cream.
“Hey girly, can I come into your stall? Thanks!” I said walking in and she came over to sniff me. She recognized my comforting sent and went back to her hay. I stroked her. Telling her(I know that it sounds stupid buuuuttt….) about myself, and my history of riding.
Chapter 18
I was still in Cream’s stall when Laurie and Kennedy walked in and saw me with her.
“CC! Get outta there! That’s Lyn’s horse!” They warned.
“Not anymore!” I started, telling them the whole story. They walked over cautiously, like they were approaching a wild, wounded beast.
“She’s really yours? For real?” Laurie asked me.
“Yeah, I’ll use Limo in leadline classes in shows, and I’ll ride Cream in jumping, dressage, cross-country and all of that stuff!” I told them, slipping out of the stall. I checked my watch and it said that it was almost time for lunch.
“Ok C, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Lyn did something to hurt you, even on her old horse. Don’t take any chances.” Kennedy told me.
“Quit your worrying! I’ll be fine! And so will Cream and Limo!” I assured them. I heard heels come clicking up the aisle. It was Headmistress Cane.
“Carolyn! Come with me now! It’s about Limo!” She said. I followed her to her office.
“Sit.” She said.
“Why didn’t you tell us that Brad sent you a note saying that if you don’t come and give him his horse, he will kill yours? And why didn’t you say that he was the one that attempted to kill Limo? This is a serious matter! There is no need for it o go unsaid!” Headmistress said. I stared up at her in awe.
“I-I-I didn’t want Limo to get killed! And it ended up that she almost did! I didn’t think that it would come to this! Just please deal with him! I don’t ever want to see him again!” I started crying, thinking that if I had told the Headmistress earlier, Limo might not have gotten shot. It was all my fault!
“Calm down Carolyn! It wasn’t your fault, it was something that was very unfortunate. I do have some good news for you though.” She said smiling at me.
Chapter 1
“Omigod mom! How much longer to I have to wait to get my present! I have been riding for hours! Limo needs a break!” I whined to my mom, dismounting the school pony I ride. Today is my birthday, and my mom insisted that I needed to ride Limo before I got my present. I’ve been riding her for 2 hours and we BOTH needed a break. It was the beginning of summer and it was HOT. The indoor ring with AC was being used for lessons so I had to go to the outdoor ring.
“Ok honey. Well lets get you to your party. It will be in the lounge. All of your friends are there!” My mom told me. That’s what’s great about my two friends, we all love horses! I took Limo and brought her to the cross-ties and freshened up, I didn’t want to go into my own birthday party smelling like horses. Not that I don’t love the smell of them! It’s just not good to have it on ME! I changed clothes and went to the lounge.
“Hey Jenni!” One of my best friends, Kennedy, said. Oh yeah I forgot to tell you, my name is Jenni!
“Girl, you just turned 13 and why aren’t you ‘Cheesin Mad Hard’?” My OTHER BFF Laurie asked me. That was her thing saying ‘Cheesin Mad Hard’.
“Well maybe it’s because my mom just mad me do 2 hours of riding before I got my present!” I told her. I called out to my mom. “MOM! I am opening up presents now! I don’t want to have cake first!”
“Ok honey, open up everyone else’s then open up mine to you!” My mom told me. I stared up at the pile of presents. I’m not kidding, I had a huge stack! Twice the size of me! I was 5’ 4 ½”!
An hour and a half later I was finally done opening my presents.
“Mom! Now can I open up your present!” I half asked.
“Ok honey, here you are. This is from both me and your father, who couldn’t be here today because he had a business meeting in Japan.” My mom told everyone, then she handed me a very small box. Hmm I wonder what it is? I ripened it open, and took off the top of the box………
“What is-OMIGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed. It was Limo’s papers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Honey, she is already registered in your name, and all the saddles and tack we made sure were fitted to her. I hope you like you present!” My mom told me.
“Mom LIKE?!?! I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! Thanks soooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “ I jumped up and down. I know, it sounds something like what a child would do, but wouldn’t you when you got your first pony? But then all of the sudden a girl named Gina(she rode Limo too) got up.
“You have GOT to me kidding me! I rode Limo too! I deserve to have her! Not you!” She said storming out. I felt bad for her but when she said that I didn’t deserve her that feeling went away. Everyone stared at her. I followed after her, worried she would try to take my horse.
“Gina-“ She cut me off.
“Listen Jenni, you are a stuck up brat,” I was in shock. I was always nice to everyone! “Thinking you are so much better than me because your rich, and same with your snotty friends,” They are NOT snotty! “and you think that you can just take away Limo? The only horse I have ever clicked with? No not gunna happen!” Gina told me.
“Listen Gina, I am not stuck up! I am nice to everyone! I do NOT think I am better than you because I am rich. My friend are NOT snotty, they are nice, kind, and at shows they cheer for EVERYONE! And I love Limo, My mom got her for my birthday and I will not give her back! I was going to let you ride Limo a couple of times, but since you said all of those things about me, I will not. Now get away from my pony.” I said to her not regretting anything I said. I was going to let her ride Limo a couple of times, but not since she called my friends snotty, and me a stuck up brat that thinks she is better than everyone just because I am rich. I am rich but I am nice and didn’t have any enemies.
Until now.
“Oh yeah sure you were brat! You would never let me ride your ‘Prize Pony’!” Gina replied. She went to stroke Limo’s muzzle one last time but then Limo went and tried to nip her! To bad Gina didn’t get nipped to get shaken back into reality. Gina stomped away, and I headed back to my party.
“Hi, she,” I decided not to let her slip by without being noticed. “She called me a stuck-up brat and called Kennedy and Laurie, snotty.”
“She what? I have to go and have a talk with that young lady.” Her mother said standing up.
“Wait! No! Let her calm down, don’t yell at her, I just wanted you to know what she did.” I told her mother very quickly. I took Kennedy and Laurie out and we went to see Limo.
Chapter 2
“She really called us snotty?” Laurie asked for the thousandth time on our way to Limo. I stopped and so did everyone else at the sight of who was in the arena. It was Gina, on Limo.
We all hurried over there. But we didn’t even though we knew Limo wouldn’t spook to it, we still wanted to be safe.
“Gina get off of my horse! You took her out of her stall and rode her without my permission!” I said, again, we didn’t want Limo to spook.
“But I love her and your just taking her away from me!” She said dismounting, and starting to cry.
“Listen, after lessons, if you’re here, you can cool her off. When I am on vacations or just can’t come because of schoolwork, you can ride her in lessons then. And lucky you, I am taking a 3-day vacation in 2 weeks. I will give Nia a note saying you can ride Limo while I am gone.” I told her. Oh and Nia is everyone’s instructor and the barn manager/owner. She’s very nice to everyone.
“Ok. I guess I would like that. Sorry for calling you a stuck-up spoiled brat, and your friends snotty. I didn’t mean it, I was only angry.” Gia sniffled, handing me the reins.
“We accept your apologie.” We all said in unison. We took Limo down to the boarding barn where we found a stall with her name ingraved in gold! We untacked her and put it into a wheelbarrow to bring up to the school pony barn. I looked into the tack room and squealed with delight to find that all my new saddles, bridles, saddle pads, and grooming things. Kennedy and Laurie ran in to see what was wrong, or right!
“What happened?!” Laurie asked worriedly.
“Nothing bad! It’s al great! All my new things are here by Limo’s tack section!!! Omigod! This is the BEST birthday ever!!” I practically screamed. I knew I would never get a new horse too, I was too stick-thin skinny to grow out of her!
“Omigod! Don’t ever scare us like that again! Hey look here come some girls that board too! Lets go and meet them, I haven’t seen them at all before.” Kennedy told me.
“Yeah well this isn’t our regular day here.” I said. We all went to a girl that was at cross-ties with her horse.
“Hi! I’m Jenni! I was using a school horse, but today on my birthday my mom bought her for me so now I’m a boarder! And these are my friends, Kennedy and Laurie.” I greeted the girl nodding the Kennedy and Laurie when I introduced them.
“Hi! My name is Cami, and this is my horse Money, Show name Big Money. We were going here for a long while but I’ve never met anybody that I could really be friends with here. I was going to leave but I don’t think I will anymore.” Cami told us. Laurie started to stroke Money.
“My new horse is Limo, Show name My Cool Ride Limo. Want to go on a trail ride sometime? All three of us?” I asked her.
“Sure! Why not now? Lets go saddle up!” Cami said.
“Ok! Laurie and Kennedy do you want to go and get Trinity and Moxie and bring them down here to tack up?” I asked them.
“Sure! We will go and get them!” They said together, and went to get their school ponies they rode. Their moms are going to buy them for their birthday, which as thankfully coming up soon.
Chapter 3
We were all grooming our horses at the boarding barn cross-ties. Finally we saddled them up and stared on the trail. Wow! Cami was REALLY good! I don’t know why she hasn’t tried out for YENT yet!
“So why were you thinking of leaving here? I’ve seen you at shows and you, like, always won first!” I told Cami.
“Well I had no friends here, and all my friends at my school don’t ride.” She said.
“So,” Laurie started pulling Moxie to a stop, we all stopped too. “Why don’t you get some friends, like, oh, I dunno. Us?”
“Really? Sure! I would love to! I’m glad I finally have some friends now!” Cami replied. All of the sudden someone was charging at us.
“Jenni! Jenni!” Gia called me, when she got to me she pulled to a stop. “It’s your dad! His plane from Japan crashed right before the airport!”
“Come on!” I screamed pushing Limo into a breeze. Finally we got back to the stables.
“Jenni go! I’ll take car of Limo for you!” Nia said. I hopped off of Limo, handed the reins to Nia, and raced to find my mom.
“She’s at her car!” Nia yelled after me.
“Thanks for everything Nia!” I yelled back. I ran to our car, hopped into the passenger seat, and buckled up my seat belt.
“Mom how is he?” I asked.
“He is at our hospital, and he only has a broken leg. But other than that he is fine.” She replied.
“Ok.” I said and for the rest of the drive I was silent.
Finally we reached the hospital! I raced to the front desk with my mother closely behind.
“We are here to see my husband, James Riano. Here is my ID.” My mother said. “Oh and this is our daughter. Can we just please go in and see him?!”
“Ok, ma’am he is fine just clam down please. He is assigned room 2318. He is getting a cast on his leg right now, you may wait in his room.” The nurse said giving mom back her ID. We both quickly went to his room. 15 minutes later my dad came in.
“Daddy!” I screamed as he came in on crutches.
“James are you alright?” My mom asked as the nurse helped him into his bed.
I heard the nurse mumble something that sounded like, “Dammit he’s married.”
Well it wasn’t her fault, my dad is very handsom. I walked over to him with my mom, and she gave the nurse what me and my friends would call “If you are not outta my sight in 2 seconds your dead meat.” Glare.
“Sherry, I’m fine. After some rest I will be able to go back home.” My dad told us.
“How long is ‘some’?” I asked.
“Two weeks. Its just a broken leg but it’s deep. They just want to survey how I heal so far.” He said. “Honey, can you leave me and your mother alone for a second?” I nodded, I had to call Gina.
I walked outside the door and took out my new Andriod phone and dialed Gina’s number. It rang and she finally picked up.
“Hello?” Gina asked.
“Hi Gina, it’s Jenni. I can’t ride Limo this week. Tell Nia that I said that you can ride her.” I told her over the phone. I held the phone away from my hear. She was so loud from the excitement.
“Jenni! Come in!” My dad said. I walked in still on the phone. “Listen I know that you just got Limo and don’t let me being in the hospital let you keep you from going and riding her.”
I mouthed ‘Ok’, and I turned back to my phone. “Sorry Gina, my dad said that I woud be able to ride Limo, btu when I come for my lesson I will help you pick out a lesson horse.” I told her. I heard her sigh then hang up.
Chapter 4
Two weeks later my dad was finally home! He was there for a couple of hours but then he reminded me about my lesson, and insisted that I go. I got in our car and my mom drove me to Victory Stables(MissAmericanDixie speaking:sorry I forgot to mention the name of her stable b4 but it is Victory Stables). I climbed out of the car and my mom was going to be back in 3 hours. My lesson was only an hour and a half but I like looking around and giving the horses treats.
I went to Limo’s stall and I saw that she wasn’t there. At first I wasn’t so worried, because I thought that she might be in the paddock, so I went there to look. No Limo. I headed over to Nia’s office.
“Nia!” I said bursting in. “Where is Limo?”
“She should be in her stall. I wouldn’t have put her in the paddock before a lesson.” Nia told me.
“Has Gina been here?” I knew that Nia would know because we had a sign-in sheet where a rider had to put down their name and horse before a lesson or trail ride.
“I don’t know, let me check.” Nia walked out to get the sheet and I was right behind her. “Ah, yes. She is on a trail ride on…….Big Shot.”
I stormed away to Big Shot’s stall. He was a gelding and a top of the line show horse, and school pony. No one ever used him for trails, even though they could. There wasn’t a rule about it. I got to his stall. He was there. I went down to see Cami. I knew she was there because we had lessons together now.
“Cami! I need to use Money! Limo is missing, and Gina put down that she was going for a trail ride on Big Shot, but he is in his stall!” I called to her, she was tightening Money’s girth.
“Sure! Here you go. I’ll tell Nia that you needed him.” She told me handing me his reins. I trotted him out then mounted up. I cantered to the trail and kept the steady speed. I knew that Gina would take this trail. She could canter Limo down it without slowing, thus gaining more ground in less time. Finally I was at a long opening where you could breeze your horse for miles, but I wouldn’t hurt Money like that. But I still urged him to breeze. Soon I slowed and dismounted to let him cool down. We walked for 2 miles and still no sign of Limo and Gina. I let Money drink at a pond a while back, and I think that he would be able to gallop now, it was about a mile and a half back. So I mounted up and urged him to gallop, soon I saw a figure up ahead. A girl trotting a horse. In other words, Gina trotting Limo. Finally we were about 100 yards away from them and I slowed down Money, not wanting to push him to hard.
“Gina! Stop now or I will sue!” I didn’t mean it but it made her stop and wait for me. I caught up with her and I dismounted Money and she dismounted Limo.
“Ya, sure you’ll sue. All you want is money.” Gina said sounding real snotty. I mounted Limo and she mounted Money.
“Listen, I’m tired of your snotty attitude. I don’t want money, I want you to stay away from my horse now lets go.” I told her, ponying Money behind us. Two hours later we got back to the stable. As we emerged from the woods we were walking and I was leading both Money, and Limo, while Gina trudged behind.
“Jenni! What happened!?” Cami asked, taking Money’s reins.
“Gina stole Limo. I am telling her mother.” I told Cami and I walked to Gina’s mother who was standing by her car looking very angry.
“What did she do?! I swear I don’t know what to do with her!” He mother cried.
Chapter 5
“Calm down Mrs. Cassidy. When you are calm we can talk about this. Lets go in the lounge and get you some water. I will be right there.” I told her. She started breathing heavy, I hope Gina feels bad for all the stress she gave her mother. Cami offered to watch Limo on some cross-ties by Money, so she wouldn’t get colic by drinking water right after she was ran that fast for so long. I un-tacked her and hoed her down real quick with warn, but not hot, water. Then I brought her to Cami to watch, and I went to the lounge to speak with Gina and Mrs. Cassidy, her mother, about what happened.
“Here comes the snob. Here comes the snob” Gina mumbled under her breath, her tone sounded as if she was singing ‘here comes the bride, here comes the bride.’
“Gina! Don’t ever talk that way again or I will ban you from coming here!” Her mother scolded her and she shut her mouth.
“Mrs. Cassidy, I would like to tell you that your daughter did nothing wrong, but that would be lying. She stole Limo and I cannot let this go any further. I have to report this to the police. I have had enough. Soon who knows what she would be doing? Getting so hateful that she would turn to hurting Limo just to avenge me. I am going to the police right now.” I told them. I exited and went to my moms car and explained everything to her on our way to the police station. I walked up to the officer at the front desk there.
“Excuse me? I would like to report that my horse was stolen. She was found but the girl that stole her has gone far enough.” I told the officer.
“Fill out these forms. We can only arrest her and put her on trial, the longest she will be able to be locked up in juvenile detention is 30 days though. Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked.
“Yes.” I said and started filling out the forms. Fifteen minutes later I was done. I handed them to the officer and then my mom and I left.
“Honey lets go back to the stables so you can be with Limo for a little while longer.” My mom said.
“Sure!” I agreed happy that I would be able to after we didn’t have a lesson together.
We arrived again at the stables, I zoomed to Limo’s stall. She was munching hay very happily.
“Hey-“ I saw something or someone in the back of her stall behind her. “Gina! Get out! Now!”
“Snob, your never going to keep me away from Limo! She is mine! You don’t deserve to live after what you did to me!” She half-shouted at me and then poured hoof polish all over me.
“Ah!” I screamed. Why wouldn’t she get the clue that I wouldn’t let her near Limo anymore?! She’s delusional!
Chapter 6
A week later I was in court. My lawyer called up Gina.
“Is it true that you took Miss Jenni’s horse from her stall and on a long trail ride, without her permission?” My lawyer, Ms. Conner, questioned Gina.
“Yeah, I stole her. Miss SNOB-“
“Objection your honor!” Her lawyer said. I guess he was mad that she confessed.
“Substained!” The judge called out. “Let the defendant go on.”
“Go on please Miss Gina, and do not call the prosecution names.” Ms. Conner told her.
“ ‘Kay. Well Miss JENNI bought her and she doesn’t deserve her. I deserve her!” Gina cried out.
“Why do you thin that you deserve her and not Miss Jenni?” Ms. Conner asked her.
“She never deserved any horse, especially not Limo. Miss Jenni is a snob and only cares about her image. Limo is a flashy Chesnut Overo where Miss Jenni thought that she looked good on her, so she started riding her and pretending that she ‘Loved’ her so her ‘Mommy’ would buy her for her.” Gina lied.
“No further questions,” Gina exited the stand. “I would like to call Miss Jenni to the stand.” Ms. Conner said. I walked up and Gina gave me a death glare.
“Miss Jenni, when you didn’t own Limo, did you just give her to the grooms to take care of?” Ms. Conner asked.
“No, I took my time cooling her down and grooming her, sometimes I even braided her hair just for fun.” I said truthfully.
“Did you only give her baths before shows so she would look presentable?” She asked.
“No, when I had like a day off from school, or I wasn’t busy all weekend I would go, ride her, then give her a bath.” I was guessing that it would be a plus for saying the truth un-like Gina.
“Did you only go riding her on your lesson days?” Ms. Conner questioned.
“No. Every free minute I got I was over there either trail riding or practicing.” I replied.
“No further questions.” We both sat down. Gina’s lawyer called me back up to the stand.
“It’s true that Limo got colic after a show that only you used her in.” He asked me.
“Yes, we found out that the grooms accidentally brought moldy hay. You didn’t mention the fact that five other horses got colic too. You only tried to single me out.” I said with a ‘Haha!’ kind of tone.
“Are the grooms still there?” He questioned.
“No, I requested them to be fired. I didn’t want Limo to get sick again.” I told him.
“No further questions.” He told the judge, and then he took his seat, and I took mine.
“Jury. Go and discuss the final verdict.” The judge told them and they all went into a room. Fifteen minutes later they came out. One lady was holding a piece of paper.
“Have you made your decision Jury?” The judge asked. The lady holding the piece of paper nodded and began to read.
“The Jury of this court find Gina Rodriguez. Guilty.” The lady said. I breathed a sigh of relief. Now for the next month I won’t have to worry about her.
“The court sentences Gina Rodriguez to Juvenile Detention for 15 days.” Ok scratch that. For the next 15 days I won’t have to worry about her. Wait, can she get out on bail? I think so. Oh no her mother would do that.
Chapter 7
5 days later Gina got out on bail. 7 days later she got her own horse. 10 days later I found that she doesn’t hate me anymore. Now 13 days later, I’m at a show with Cami, Kennedy, and Laurie. We were all entered in Dressage, Show Jumping, and Cross Country. Kennedy and Laurie’s mom’s got them Trinity and Moxie before our show so they could be theirs in it. We all saw Gina walk up to us with a cute black Arabian mare.
“Hi everyone,” She said. We all mumbled a ‘Hi’. “Listen Jenni I am really sorry about what happened. I promise I will not try to do anything bad to either you or Limo ever again. I have Rain now. Oh your probably wondering what my horses name is. It’s Desert Rain. She is as sweet as pie. I love her more than anything in the world. Well expect for my family, but she’s like my baby. But can you ever forgive me?” She asked.
“Yeah, I will forgive you. I’m really sorry that I had to go to the police with you. Do you want to say goodbye to Limo?” I asked her.
“Sure, you can see Rain if you want.” She replied. We swapped leadlines. She said goodbye to Limo and I said hi to Rain. We both gave back the leadlines and started talking.
“So what classes are you in?” I asked her.
“Dressage, Show Jumping, and Cross country.” She said.
“Same with us! Guess we all will be in the top 5 huh?” Cami said.
“Yup. But ya better watch it. Me and Moxie are good!” Laurie ‘warned’ everyone. We all broke out laughing. Finally it was time for Show Jumping.
I was up first, then Laurie, Cami, Kennedy, and Gina. I started out on Limo and I pointed her to the first jump. One, Two, Three, Up! We cleared the first jump with ease. Next was and oxer. Perfect! I thought as Limo lifted up in the air. The rest of the pattern was perfect! Easy blue ribbon! Laurie started and I gave her a smile. She completed the course with 3 faults. Next was a girl from a different stable. I felt bad for her. Her horse spooked before every jump and she was disqualified. Now Cami went. She had 1 fault. Kennedy went with a result of 4 faults. Gina was the last girl in our barn to go and she finished with a total of 2 faults!?! No way did she do better than Laurie and Kennedy?!? Ugh, even though I forgave her, I still didn’t like her all that much. 4 more girls went and I didn’t even pay attention to how they did. I was getting ready to do cross country.
The rest of the show I was perfect and Limo did everything the best any pony could! Finally it was time to see ho won each event and who won the entire show.
“Third…….., Second………, First Place in Show Jumping goes to……..
Chapter 8
No way! I thought as I stared at my three blue ribbons and my best all around ribbon. I had NEVER done this good! My dad will be soooo proud of me!
I loaded Limo into he horse trailer and put my tack things into the tack room part of it. I skipped to the van that was pulling it with all of my friends, and Gina. We all talked and giggled all the way back to the stables. This was the best day ever! Gina apologized, I won, Kennedy, Cami, and Laurie placed top 5 in everything! This was the best life anyone could ever have!
I went and un-loaded Limo while everyone else got their horses. I talked to her all the way back to her stall.
“You were the best girl! You deserved everything we won. You did all the work, you helped me win, you deserve all the credit!” I whispered to her, putting her in her stall and latching the gate. Everyone patted their horses and went to the lounge for a victory party. I decided to see my friends horses. Oh no! Trinity, Moxie, Money, and Rain were all lying down and breathing heavily. I heard a plump from Limo’s stall. I rushed over and she was doing the same! I think that they might have colic. I ran to the lounge.
“Everyone! I think our horses have colic!” I half-screamed. I raced back with Kennedy, Laurie, Cami, and Gina close behind me. All of us went to our horses stalls. I was so worried. Thank goodness 10 minutes later the vet was there. I made sure she saw Limo first. The vet helped me get her to her feet. She said that thank goodness she was only lying down because she was probably tired from the show. Same with all of the horses except for Moxie and Money, and a horse owned by a guy we didn’t know. A guy that was HOT. They had severe colic and might not get through it. All of our parents including Gina’s agreed that we could sleep in the barn with our horses. Same with that hunk of guy. But he had to sleep in the tack room. All of us girls would sleep in front of our horses stalls.
“Cami, Laurie you’ll get through this. We are all here for you.” I said to them. They just nodded while the walked Moxie and Money in a circle in the arena. On the other end the guy was walking his horse. I decided to go and introduce myself.
“Guys, I’ll be right back.” I said to them. I walked up to the guy and he stopping is horse.
“Hey, I’m Jenni and those are my friends Cami, Kennedy, Laurie, and Gina. I board here with my mare Limo.” I said pointing to everyone as I introduced them.
“Hey, I’m Devin. This is my stallion Black Thunder, Thunder for short. And, I’m single, and ready to mingle.” He told me stepping closer to me. He was hitting on?!
“Listen. I don’t care ‘bout your love life. I’m looking to be your friend, not girlfriend jerk.” Oh he was definitely a player, and I wasn’t happy about it.
“Whoa Drama Queen, can’t a guy at least try for a pretty lady?” Ummm weird much?
“Listen, I won’t date you, yet, but I will be your friend for now and maybe if your lucky, I’ll be your girl.” Man was he smoking!
“Fine, want to go to the barn? Your friends just left for there.” He asked.
“Why don’t we just stay here and walk Thunder some more.” I told him. I took Thunder’s leadine and started walking him in circles away from Devin.
Chapter 9
I woke up and looked at the clock on my phone. It said 5:56. Ugh, it was so early! I got up and went to the hayloft. I changed into my other riding clothes and brushed my hair. It was light out so I decided to go for a little ride in the arena, and just do some cantering for fun. I started out with a walk. I was a teensy bit tired so I didn’t want to take any chances. Finally 15 minutes later I was trotting and fully awake. I edged Limo to canter. It felt so good! I pulled Limo to a stop. I saw Devin watching me from outside the ring.
“Hey, shouldn’t you be watching Thunder?” I called out to him.
“I woke up and couldn’t find you so I started looking for you.” He said. I shook my head.
“Go check on him! I’m fine, just cantering a bit.” I insisted.
“Ok I bring him out to watch with me.” He walked away. Ah I think I really like him. Kennedy walked out as he walked in. I trotted over to her.
“Hey look who has a crush on you!” She said in a sing-song type of tone.
“Kennedy, please he’s soooooo NOT my type.” I insisted.
“Well then who is your type?” She asked.
“Someone that’s not a player.” I told her cantering around the ring again when Devin walked back out with Black Thunder. Black Thunder was edgy and everyone could see it. He broke away from Devin and came charging toward Limo. My mare. With me on her. He came up to us and reared up. Holy swiss cheese Limo just had to respond with another rear. I barley held on. Oh here we going again, as soon as she landed down again and went right back up. When she landed again I jumped off and scrambled to get her reins and lead he rout of the arena really quick and closed the gate behind me.
Devin walked in and grabbed Thunder and put him in his stall. I un-tacked and groomed Limo, then put her in the stall and gave her a peppermint treat.
I walked over to Devin.
“Horse like owner.” I whispered to him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked.
“Your both players, hitting on the wrong girls.” I told him walking away. My mom was supposed to come soon. I got all of my things in my bag and brushed my hair. I was heading to the picnic table to wait for her when Devin caught my arm.
“Carolyn, wait. I really like you.” He said and I turned around.
“I’ve known you since last night, how could you like me?” I questioned.
“Do you believe in love at first sight? That’s how I felt, but instead of real, true love like ‘Oh that’s the girl I’m going to marry.” Teen love like ‘I know she’s the one!’ and that’s you Carolyn.” Devin insisted. I was flattered but I heard my mom coming and I ran away to her car. Leaving him stunned.
Chapter 10
I was back for my lesson 5 hours later. I found out that everyone’s horses were ok and healed, but no one would even think of using them in the lesson though.
“Hey Cam!” I called out to Cami, she was stroking Money’s muzzle and turned toward me with a confused look on her face.
“Listen, what happened to you this morning? I woke up around 8 o’clock and you were gone.” She questioned.
“I went for an early morning ride, Devin brought out Black Thunder and h e got loose and charged at me and Limo while I was still on top of her.” I answered simply like it was no big deal. She gave me a look.
“Tell me everything, no detail left out.” She demanded. So I did.
“…………and that’s all that happened.” I finished. Cami’s eyes looked like they would bulge out of her head.
“He knows you for what? Half a day and he says he really likes you?” Cami asked. I nodded. “He’s a player. Deff. a player. What is any other explanation?!”
“He might really like me!” I said. I said the next part barley loud enough to hear. “I think that I might like him too……..”
“CC(My nickname) I used to date this guy. He’s not good. He cheated on me, then he cheated on her while he was still cheating on me. He’ll only hurt you. Ya sure he’s nice at first but then he gets bored with you and tosses you to the sharks. He hasn’t changed. And he never will. Don’t fall for him. He’s not really falling for you.” She insisted. I knew she was right but I just couldn’t help being angry that she might be denying the fact that he could really like me. But I shoved that feeling away.
“Thanks for looking out for me girl. You’re a great friend.” I told her.
“Oh I know I’m a great friend! Come on, lets get to our lesson. I’m going to be using Big Shot.” She told me. I nodded.
3 Hours later I was at my house on Skype with one of my other friends that got a scholarship at Winner’s Victory Boarding School. She got a scholarship with a riding program and now her horse Mystic Of The Wind(A.K.A Mysti) and her are there. She had the YENT testing soon and she was extremely nervous!
“Nancy calm down! Mysti is a great horse and she will land you a spot on YENT!” I insisted, assuming that WAS what she was worried about.
“That’s not what I’m nervous about. This school has 5 openings for some of my friends to come when I showed them videos of you all riding, and well if you had made 2 new friends while I was gone bring them with you, Kennedy, and Laurie!” She screamed.
“OMIGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO FREAKING WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have got to be kidding me right?!” I half shouted. She shook her head. I knew I would bring Cami with us, but first we had to get permission from our parents.
“Go go! You need to ask your parents! I’ll go on 3-way Skype with Kennedy and Laurie. You go and tell this Cami girl, and pick someone else to go!” She told me. I logged off and raced down to ask my parents.
“Mom, dad! Nancy showed the instructors at Winner’s Victory Boarding School some of the video’s of me, Kennedy, Laurie, and Cami riding and they have open scholarship spots! So can I go?” I asked. I was practically bouncing around the room. I soooooo hoped that they said yes! My parents smiled and looked at each other, but the look where I was never sure if I was going to get something or not.
My mom started out. “Well Honey………………………..”
Chapter 11
“……………Of course you can! When can you get there? We can also carpool with everyone. We have a huge van and a 4-horse horse trailer. Go and set things up!” My mom said.
“OMIGOD THANK YOU MOM AND DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS!!!!!!!!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST PARENTS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed and ran up to my room and told everyone. They all were a go!
4 weeks.later all of us pulled up into the WVBS(Winner’s Victory Boarding School) parking lot and followed the signs to were we should unload Limo, Money, Trinity, and Moxie. Then we saw Nancy waiting for us!
“Nancy!!!!!!!!!” Everyone except for Cami shouted.
“Hey Nancy, I’ve heard a bunch about you! My name is Cami! I can’t wait to really get to know each other! It looks like we will have the last month of summer to do so though!” Cami told her.
“Me too! Come on les get the horses unloaded and by their stalls that are my Mysti!” Nancy sang, she was being as outgoing as she always was. I missed her.
We all unloaded the horses and headed to the stables.
“Oh! And Carolyn I have a surprise for you! When you said you couldn’t find a fifth person, I did a little snooping and…………here’s Devin!” Nancy told me as Devin cam out of the stable. I halted Limo and I had an horrified expression on my face, so did Cami. Not only did she think that she escaped her ex when she came here, but she told me that I would escape him following me around like a lost puppy(that’s what he did to her when she said “No” to going out with him). I quickly faked a smile and thanked her, but then I hurried in with Limo. I looked at the stable. One. Word. WOW. Victory didn’t even come close to this! The stalls were awesome and Limo had a stall right next to Mysti! I looked at the gold engraved nameplate that said “My Cool Ride Limo” and then I looked at the bracelet I got for my birthday that had “Carolyn&Limo=Forever” engraved in gold too. I lead Limo into her stall and everyone else did too. Then, almost as if it was planned, we all took a step back and just stared in awe at the stable.
“You think just the stalls are cool, come and check out everything else!” Cami insisted. We followed her into the tack room……wow. Can this even be called a tack room? There was dividers giving everyone their own personal space to change into riding clothes, get tack, WORK ON SCHOOLWORK?! Yeah, there was a desk in the section, ya sure it was small but still, this was COOL! I am so happy I came!
“Now lets go to the lounge and then I will help y’all get you tack put away and to your dorms! I already have my BFF that’s a rider with me, but I managed to get you four rooms together. Cami and Carolyn, Laurie and Kennedy.” She told us. Soon we were in a large room. I had a flat screen T.V., a popcorn machine, loads of candy, and like a mini arcade! I was in love with this school already! And the best part was that it was directed around riding! The academics were as easy as a regular 7th grade class! It was the riding that either got you into this school, or out. Finally we went out to our cars and got our tack and put it away, then we went and our parents and Nancy helped us to bring our stuff to our dorms. Me and Cam fumbled into ours and flopped on the beds. Then we got up any said goodbye to our parents.
“Bye, Mom and Dad. I will miss you so so so so so so much! I can’t wait until the beginning of the actual school year when you can come back and visit!” I told them. They grabbed me up in a big hug and say goodbye. They left with Cami’s parents and we were left to unpack alone.
“Man this room is huge!” Cami exclaimed. I went to the closet. I opened it up and I was in love. It was TRUE love!
Chapter 12
Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! My new closet was stocked with all of my favorite DISCONTINUED LipGlosses!!!!!!!! Omigod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” I screamed, and Nancy popped up behind me.
“I see you found your present. I got everyone something.” She said, making me jump back and stumble on top of Cami’s suitcases, which lead to fall into my suitcase and tumble over that into my bed. We started laughing so hard I swore atleast one of us was going to blow up! Finally Cami stopped and went over to her coset and opened it. It was hung with pictures of Money I sent to Nancy. It also had a brand new Dover Show Jumping saddle!
“Omigod! Nancy! Why did you get me this?! You didn’t even know me!” Cami half shouted as she ran over to see the pictures and saddle.
“Any friends of my friends, are, well, my friends!” Nancy told her. I knew that this would be awesome. They were totally hitting it off so well!
When we were finally un-packed all of us went down to the stables fully dressed in the most expensive riding clothes there are! I wore fawn colored breeches, shinning black boots, and to top it off a white, snug, polo shirt. I went up to Limo and lead her out for a trail ride with everyone else. I grabbed one of my new saddles that I was saving for my first ride here, her bridle, saddle pad, and grooming kit. Everyone quickly got their horses ready and headed out. The sky was tinted a little gray, but I wasn’t worried. By the looks of it, it looked like it was just going to drizzle a teensy bit. Then we all mounted up and started out trotting on the path.
“Hey, how long is this path?” I questioned Nancy.
“Not to long but it is leading to a really pretty field that has a picnic there waiting for us. My other friend is there with everything set up for lunch so lets go!” Nancy told us and we all broke into a canter. Finally we came to a field and Nancy took us through a couple of bushes and we were in like a dome thing, covered with trees and filled with grass! I loved it! We all dismounted and tied our horses next to a horse tied to a line in between two trees. This place was really very truly beautiful! A girl appeared and walked over to us.
“Hey everyone! My name is Pami!” She introduced herself.
“This is Carolyn, Kennedy, Laurie, and Cami. Those are their horses Limo, Trinity, Moxie, and Money.” Nancy told her pointing to each girl and horse as she said our names.
“Hi! Nice to finally meet you all, but sorry I have to go, one of the girls from my theatre class over the summer needs to talk to me, and since I’m the only one that has saddle bags, I have to bring the food with. Maybe Nancy can show you around here and then when you get back from the ride you can eat the food at the stable! Bye!” Pami said rushing away on her horse. We all shrugged and mounted up again. We all heard a loud clap of thunder and a big streak of lightening went across the sky! I knew that I should get scared but all of our horses were scared of thunder and lightening storms so we better hurry back! I started to canter and everyone else followed me. It started to drizzled, then pour. We halted our horses and dismounted. None of us wanted to have them slip in the rain. 15 minutes later we were finally back and we ALL we drenched. We got our horses ready for their stall and when we put them away we left.
“Oh shoot! Sorry I’ll be right back! I forgot my phone was in the stable! Be right back!” I called out to everyone and they nodded. I quickly walked back and looked in the tack room. There! I found that it was in my grooming kit box. I quickly grabbed it and went to see Limo again real quick. There was someone in her stall. I walked faster.
“Hey you! What are you doing in my horses stall!” I demanded of him. He got up and slipped out of the stall.
“Whoa, sorry! I just like checking out the new horses! Sorry if that is illegal!” He said putting up his hands.
“Well for me and my friends, it is. So stay away from these five horses, and I think that we will have no problems.” I told him firmly. I saw Nancy walking toward me. Hmm I wonder why she just didn’t go straight back to our dorm.
“Hey Carolyn! Looks like you met Brad my boyfriend!” She exclaimed.
“Yeah I wasn’t too happy when we did. He went into Limo’s stall without my permission.” I told her.
“Oh ok. Well I have to go, come on Double C!” She said. I gave ‘Brad’ a death glare on my way out. I didn’t like him.
Chapter 13
I lied down into my bed that night, thinking about how much fun I’m going to have here! I mean really a school where you can see your horse anytime you want as long as its not during school hours!? Being with your BFF’s like every second of every day!
The next morning I woke up ready for a day devoted to riding! I hopped up and put on purple sparkly breeches with a white polo shirt, and black boots. I ran over to Cami’s bed.
“Wake up! It’s time to go riding!” I shouted into her ear. She shot up and started hitting me with her pillow and I started giggling.
“It’s not funny!” Cami yelled at me but then she burst out laughing. Nancy opened up our door and walked in.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. She looked really sad.
“Pami is moving and I am getting a new roomie!” She said.
“When is she leaving?” I asked her.
“Today. She just said goodbye. Look out your window and you can see her.” Nancy told us. I went over to our window and pushed over the curtains. She left with her horse in a trailer. I wonder why she did leave?
“Nancy, you can sleepover here for the rest of the summer until your new roommate comes!” Cami suggested and I nodded.
“Really? Thanks guys! Now come on lets go riding! I’ll go and get up Kennedy and Laurie!” She told me and left.
“Cami! Come on! Get dressed!” I said throwing her pillow at her.
”Ok! Just go! I’ll meet everyone there!” She insisted laughing.
I stopped at Kennedy’s room and told them, then I headed out to the stables. I heard someone open up a stall door and I peeked in. It was Brad and he went into Money’s stall. That wasn’t a good idea. He always spooked at new people going into his stall. I heard a whinny and a cry of pain. I rushed in and led Money out. I looked down at Brad and I saw that he had a grain type thing that was coated in a poison that gave horses colic!
“Brad! Get up!” I screamed at him. He scrambled to his feet and I locked him in there. I put Money up against the stall door so Brad couldn’t get out.
“Why did you do that?” I questioned him.
“Do what? Oh that! I was giving him his feed!” He said.
“Coated in poison! Why did you want to sabotage Cami!” I demanded.
“Because she is too good a rider and I can’t let her get onto the advanced team!” He said. Soon Cami walked in alone.
“Cami! Brad tried to poison Money! Ket me go and get the instructor. I heard that her name was Ms. Yung.
“Ms. Yung!” I said knocking on her office door.
“Come in!” She half-sang. I walked in and took a seat.
“Ms. Yung, Brad tried to poison my friends horse, Money. Please come!” I told her getting up and going to Money’s stall.
“What happened here?!” She demanded and I told her the whole story.
Chapter 14
“I can’t believe that Brad did that!” Nancy exclaimed as we started out on the trail. She kept on saying that!
“Nancy! He wasn’t the guy you thought he was! He was a jerk! And you thought that he was sweet. Nancy just be happy you broke up with him when you could. He wasn’t good.” I told her.
“You’re right but you didn’t have to rhyme it.” She said.
“I know. Sorry.” I pulled Limo to a stop. Cami wasn’t with us anymore. “Hey, where’s Cam?”
“I don’t know. She was here before. Let’s go back and check.” Laurie suggested. We all turned and headed back to the stable. We un-tacked the horses and were bringing the tack to the tack room. I heard voices inside there and stopped with everyone else.
“Listen since your friends got me in trouble and I’m not allowed to even be here anymore to at least she my horse. Your going to pay.” Brad said.
“How? Are you going to sneak off and try to kill my horse again? Not gunna happen. Your dorm moniter is keeping close watch on you, and Dan the stablehand will be patrolling the stables. You can’t do anything!” Cami said trying to sound confident but her voice wavered a bit. I set my saddle down and charged in there. I was so happy I had a lasso, from when I learned western, I put it around him hoping that it rubbed his skin hard and brought him to the instructors office.
“O found Brad in the stables. He was banned.” I told Ms. Yung.
“Thank-you Carolyn. I will take it from here.” She told me and I re-moved the lasso. Brad gave me a death glare. I walked out and saw that Nancy put away my saddle and Money was groomed and put back in his stall. Everyone was back at their dorms and I went to go and see them.
“Carolyn!” Devin called. I kept walking as if I didn’t hear him. I was so close to my dorm building! I felt someone grab my shoulder and turn me.
“Hey! Didn’t you hear me!?” Devin demanded. I shook away from his grip and ran to my dorm.
Chapter 15
I closed my door behind me breathing hard.
“Hey you ok?” Cami asked me.
“Um…..Yeah. I’m fine.” I lied to her.
“No your not, you don’t look fine at all!” She insisted.
“Well I ran into Devin….again. I don’t know what to do! I don’t like him! He’s disgusting and a player!” I told her. Before she could answer, Nancy walked in with a frown on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
“My new roomie is here, and it’s Gina.” She said slowly. My head snapped up. Even though she apologized, I didn’t want to take any chances with her trying to hurt Limo. Right then Gina waltzed it.
“Hey schoolmaties!” She yelled. I froze as she plopped onto my bed. I stood up.
“Hey…um…Gina. What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Well! I heard that you guys were coming here this year and I decided, well why not come here too? I’m going to be using Rain. She’s been a real beauty! I love her!” She said.
“Oh well it’s to bad, we have to go to the stables. There is a show during the summer for all of the riders that are here during their break and the show is next Saturday, and I want Limo to be really well groomed” I said heading for the door.
“Hey I’ll come with you! Rain really needs a good grooming too, plus I kinda want to practice for a show, if there is one.” Gina insisted. And there really was a show coming up.
“Ok.” I sighed and walked out to the stables. I looked into Limo’s stall and she was gone. I checked the pasture, not there. I went to see Dan to see if anybody took her for a trail ride. No. I looked everywhere and finally went to the tack room to calm down. I saw something on my jumping saddle.
A note! It said:
If you ever want to see your precious horse alive again,
Bring Midnight Dream out to the woods at the bridge across the creek
At midnight tonight, tell anyone of this, I will kill your horse no matter what.
-Anonymous
Some anonymous. I knew that it was Brad. But what should I do? I had to bring Midnight Dream out to him to get Limo, but I couldn’t tell anyone. Some people might call this crazy thinking, but that’s what you do for your horse that you love. And I do love Limo.
Chapter 16
I snuck out of dorm door at 11:15 P.M. and headed toward the stable. I found Midnight Dream’s stall, and I led her out. I checked my watch again. 11:30 P.M. I got her tack and tacked her up, then we set out for the trail to the bridge. I arrived there at 11:56 P.M. and I dismounted. Exactly 4 minutes later Brad showed up with a discouraged-looking Limo. I ran toward her and grabbed her, handing Dream to Brad. I gave Limo a big hug and kiss and she nudged my arm.
“I got expelled and they took away Dream from me, thinking that I would hurt her! I would never! She is my beauty. Don’t. Tell. Anyone!” Brad told me, pushing back his jacket to reveal a hand-gun. Seeing this I hoped on Limo and raced her back to the stables bareback. As we sped away, I heard 3 gun shots. Pointed. Toward. Me.
Finally we reached her stall and I quickly put her away. I gave her warm water after 30 minutes and I fed her food. Quietly I slipped back into my dorm and quickly changed into my PJ’s and slipped into bed for a good night’s sleep.
The next morning I woke up at, 11:57 A.M.!?!?!?!? I NEVER slept that late! I got up and rubbed my eyes. Cami was already up and out of the dorm. I got out of my bed and got dressed in my riding clothes. My phone beeped and I looked at my new text.
Hey hun! I just got txting! How is the school so far? Me and your father miss you so much! I can’t wait until the Open House in two weeks! And we are bringing a surprise! You’ll love it! See you soon!~Mommy. Wow I can’t believe that mom actually got texting! I decided to annoy her by using “Text Slang”.
Hey mom! Cnt wait 4 opn house either! Its gunna b so fun! Plz give me a hint bout the surprise! Me nd Limo miss u so much! School iz gr8! They have gr8 school horses that r soooooooooooo sweet! But not as sweet as Limo! XOXOXO!~Carolyn. I hit ‘Send’ and seconds later I got a reply. Dang! She can text fast!
Ok u want 2 use slang well I can 2! But heres a hint. Think:sibling. No more spoilers! Gtg now sweetie! Txt u l8r!~Mommy. I laughed to my self. Mom using ‘2’ instead of ‘to’, ‘l8r’ instead of ‘later’ and many more! But then I thought. Sibling? What the heck did that mean?!
OH SNAP!!!!!!! CATALINA’S COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Omg! Catalina is my sister in college, and I haven’t seen her in, like, ever! School starts in 2 weeks, and there is a open house where parents and siblings can stay in the guest dorms for 2 days. I was so excited!!!!!!!!!! And I get to see her horse, Justice Rose, Rose for short! She was a cremello Arabian mare.
She first got her at my age, and have been through everything. They’ve won ribbon, after ribbon, after ribbon, all blue of course! Everyone always wondered why she didn’t want to try out for YENT though. It was because, she loved riding and showing, but not all of that pressure. Anyway I was going to have to get everything ready for her coming!
Chapter 17
I walked to the stables with a egg bagel with regular cream cheese for breakfast. I was in a happy mood, until I walked into the stable. Everyone stared at me, all with tears in their eyes.
“Whats wrong?! What happened!? Limo!” I cried out. I knew that it was something with Limo. I just knew it. I dropped my bagel and ran to her stall and peered in. Limo lied there with a bullet hole in her side. I started crying, really hard. I knew who did it and I was going to make sure he was brought to justice. Slowly I unlatched the door and lowered myself to Limo’s head and put it in my lap. I was there for hours crying. Finally Cami told me to get up, once all of my tears we gone. But then I heard her nicker. She wasn’t dead!
“CAMI! CALL THE VET NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! SOMEONE!!!!!!!!! LIMO IS STILL ALIVE!!!!!!!” I screamed my lungs out. Minutes later the vet was there and drove off with her to take her to surgery.
“Carolyn! Come with me! Will we go to the vet! Now!” Ms. Yung yelled at me, pulling up in her red mini-van. I scrambled in with the rest of my friends, including Gina. Out of everyone here besides me, her eyes were the reddest. She had ridden Limo with me for years. She shared the pain I was in.
Finally we were at the hospital! I ran to the receptionist and told her we were here for Limo, a Paint horse. She nodded and before she could say anything else I zoomed toward the room called “Horse Per-Surgery Room” and went in looking for Limo. I didn’t care if there were sick horses around, I had on a mask and was on a mission. I heard a shrill whinny that was for sure Limo’s. I ran to her to comfort her. She calmed when I was at her side. I cooed to her and she was perfect.
“Just stay calm girl. These vets are going to take good care of you. Mommy wants you to go in there and be a good girl ok? I love you but I hae to go now.” I whispered into her ear, and as much as it pained me, I had to walk away, leaving her there. She was scared and alone. The only horse I loved, and will ever love. I slipped out the door and went to wait with my friends.
“How is she holding up so far?” Nancy asked. She was ashamed that she dated the jerk that did this to Limo.
“She was going a little crazy but I calmed her and she is going into surgery right now. I hope she pulls through!” I told her.
“Ok. I hope she does too. I don’t know what I would do if this ever happened to Mysti!” She exclaimed.
5 hourse later it was 5:28, and I was tired. Finally a vet came out!
“Are you Carolyn? Owner of Limo?” She asked me. I nodded standing up, along with everyone else.
“She survived! But she won’t be able to be ridden ever again. But she should be in perfect health soon though.” She smiled. I did too. I didn’t care that I wouldn’t ever be able to ride her again, I was just happy that she was alive!
“Omigod thank you! Can I go see her now?” I asked impatiently.
“I thought that you would ask that, so we waited the period of time she needed before she had visitors, before we told you. Go out to Barn 3, Stall 27. But don’t run.” The vet told us. I was ata brisk walk before everyone else. I scanned the stalls for Stall 27 and I finally found her!
I ran up to her and gave her a big hug around her neck and gave her kisses. She held her head against me, squeezing me into a hug. We stayed that for for the next 15 minutes and I never wanted to let go, but I was going to let Gina hug her too. After all, she did ride her as long as I did. She let go and I squeezed her into a hug again but I had to let go. Ms. Yung wanted us back soon.
I walked to the stables with a bagel for breakfast the next morning after I called the vet to check up on Limo, and after I told my mom about her. I heard a girl shriek and I ran in to see what happened. It was Lynette, the so-called Mean-Queen Of Drama. She was jumping her horse and came stumbling down(the horse) which caused Lyn(her nick-name) to fall off and roll over. While Ms. Young went to go and see her to make sure she was ok, I ran to make sure her horse was ok. It was a rose roan mare(missamericandixie here!: I did not steal this from Jumperchick02 I was writing this part before I read her latest chapter so please to not yell at me for that, thanks!). Maybe 3 or so. She was barley trained, you could tell. And Lyn was trying to jump a 4 foot oxer with her?! No wonder that she stumbled! I looked at her bridle and on the side it had engraved: Miz Strawberry Cream, and across the nose was: Cream. I was guessing that that was her barn name. She tried to get up, so I moved back to let her. She stood up shaking her mane.
“THAT OLD NAG!” Lyn yelled. She was 3! She wasn’t old! Or a nag! “She did that on purpose! I’m going to have daddy sell her! She doesn’t deserve my class of riding! She’s a horrible horse and deserves a horrible rider!”
I looked over at her after I gathered Cream’s reins. Lyn eyed me when Ms. Yung left for an ice pack. Apparently Lyn bruised her arm and thigh.
“Hey you! Would you want that poor old Arabian? She’s worthless, and a horrible. Just like your riding.” She smiled what I secretly call a ‘Devil Grin’.
“Sure! I would love too! Let me check with my mom!” I said ignoring what she said about my riding, and I whipped out my phone and dialed my mom’s number.
“Hey mom! It’s me, Carolyn! Listen, there is a girl, Lyn, that wants to give me her Arabian, for free! Can we keep her? Please? She’s really sweet! And I can finish up her training! You know how I helped Nia train that Paso Fino, Ventura Del Viento, and she can out perfectly! Pleeaaaasssseeeeeeee Mommy!” I begged.
“Honey, I don’t know! Let me check with your father.” My mom replied. I heard her hand cover the phone when she asked. I waited briefly and then she came back.
“Ok honey. But only if you’re sure that you can train her and ride her! Plus don’t for get tht you have to spend time with Limo! The only real reason we are letting you have her is because you cannot ride Limo anymore, and we know how much you love to ride and show.” Mom said firmly. I wouldn’t neglet Limo! Duh! And I knew that I could finish her training! With Suzie, the stable hand’s help(she was the 2nd stable hand, and helped me around a lot!).
“Thank you mommy! I won’t let you down!” I said, then I hung up to tell Lyn.
“Hey Lyn! My mom said yes! And she’s free right? With the tack? Including show tack for her and her grooming kit!” I asked her. She was standing up now, holding an ice pack on her arm and thigh.
“Yeah, sure. But don’t think that you’ll ever beat me on her!” She warned, and I laughed. She stormed out of the arena and I checked Cream’s legs. No heat which was good. I led her into the boarding barn, and found her stall. It was far away from Limo’s. Good. I didn’t want Limo to be jealous when I rode Cream. Lyn waltzed in and grabbed my arm after I put away Cream and was ready to put away her tack.
“Listen! Here is her tack and stuff! Take it and put it with your saddles and stuff. Finally you’ll have something actually worth something. When you put it away come back here!” She snapped at me. I did s she said and went back to her when I was done.
“Now don’t repeat a word I say! Or else!” She warned.
“Ok. Fine. Whatever.” I said.
“I act like I don’t care about her, but please don’t hurt Cream.” Lyn pleaded, showing a soft side of her.
“Of course I won’t!” I assured her, but before she could say anything else, I walked hurriedly out of the tack room to visit Cream. I was sad that Limo wasn’t here, but happy that I now had Cream.
“Hey girly, can I come into your stall? Thanks!” I said walking in and she came over to sniff me. She recognized my comforting sent and went back to her hay. I stroked her. Telling her(I know that it sounds stupid buuuuttt….) about myself, and my history of riding.
Chapter 18
I was still in Cream’s stall when Laurie and Kennedy walked in and saw me with her.
“CC! Get outta there! That’s Lyn’s horse!” They warned.
“Not anymore!” I started, telling them the whole story. They walked over cautiously, like they were approaching a wild, wounded beast.
“She’s really yours? For real?” Laurie asked me.
“Yeah, I’ll use Limo in leadline classes in shows, and I’ll ride Cream in jumping, dressage, cross-country and all of that stuff!” I told them, slipping out of the stall. I checked my watch and it said that it was almost time for lunch.
“Ok C, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Lyn did something to hurt you, even on her old horse. Don’t take any chances.” Kennedy told me.
“Quit your worrying! I’ll be fine! And so will Cream and Limo!” I assured them. I heard heels come clicking up the aisle. It was Headmistress Cane.
“Carolyn! Come with me now! It’s about Limo!” She said. I followed her to her office.
“Sit.” She said.
“Why didn’t you tell us that Brad sent you a note saying that if you don’t come and give him his horse, he will kill yours? And why didn’t you say that he was the one that attempted to kill Limo? This is a serious matter! There is no need for it o go unsaid!” Headmistress said. I stared up at her in awe.
“I-I-I didn’t want Limo to get killed! And it ended up that she almost did! I didn’t think that it would come to this! Just please deal with him! I don’t ever want to see him again!” I started crying, thinking that if I had told the Headmistress earlier, Limo might not have gotten shot. It was all my fault!
“Calm down Carolyn! It wasn’t your fault, it was something that was very unfortunate. I do have some good news for you though.” She said smiling at me.