To get Back Into the Saddle Again {COMPLETED}

Chapter 4: The First Jump

As soon as she felt Atlas calm down, she heard barking from Rocky. She tensed up again, knowing that the barking would cause Atlas to tense up again. Atlas side-stepped and put his ears back. Madelyn stopped tensing. Maybe if she was relaxed, Atlas would. Atlas eminently calmed down and put his head down. 

"Good boy!!! Good boy yes!!" Madelyn said and rubbed his neck. She then took a deep breath in and squeezed her legs. He started walking out slow, then it went up to a fast walk. Madelyn decided to take him on a walk down the road for a little. She dismounted and opened up the gate and mounted again. She urged him into a trot, then a canter. They cantered along the road for a while, then turned onto a big open field that was the neighbors. They let Madelyn ride there whenever she wanted, and in return, she let them ride her horses anytime. She even gave their daughter free lessons. 

There were a few trees knocked over in the field, and Madelyn figured that they would make great first jumps. She circled Atlas around the tree at a canter three times, then straightened him up to the tree. At the perfect time, she kicked Atlas, looked forward, kept her heels down, and got into formation. 

Atlas jumped over the tree like he had been doing it for years. He enjoyed it, even more, when he got the praise. They jumped over the trees several times, and Madelyn mapped out a course in her head. After doing the course several more times, she decided it was time to head home. They would come back tomorrow and do the same thing. 

When Justin got home from his trip, Madelyn told him all he missed out on. 

"You did what?!" Came the remark from Justin when he heard about the jumping.

"I jumped Atlas," Madelyn said calmly. "Why? Do you a problem with that?"

"N-No just-just shocked,"

"You take things too harshly," Madelyn said as the phone rang.

"I'll get it," Justin said as he almost tripped over a dog to get to the phone. "Hello? Yes. Another? I just came back from my personal trip. No sir. I understand. I'll talk it over with my wife. Please understand! No. Listen I really have to go now. Bye." With a sigh so big it could cover a football field, he hung up the phone.

"Who was that?"

"My boss. He wants me to go on another business trip. I just back from my hunting trip, and now he wants me to leave in two days to go to Boston!!" He sounded really upset. 

"Oh, honey, it's okay. I can live alone for a couple more days." She said as she laid a hand on the big muscular shoulder. "I know what can shear you up. I'll make your favorite. Mac and Cheese with bread crumbs,"

After they ate, took care of the horses, and talked some more, they went to bed. All seemed peaceful and simple, and that was how they liked it. Even the horses seemed to at ease, and was a peaceful world, for a peaceful evening.