Wild and Free

Chapter 15

The day before the show was so hectic. People were loading horses and tack into trailers, screaming commands, and cleaning anything and everything they were taking. Cloud's coat shone like a brilliant cloud in front of the sun. She loaded into the trailer surprisingly easy, along with Cricket, Dreamer, and Raja. Drake and I had been at work the whole day and it was only 10:00 A.M.

"Rebecca! Did you grab all of Cloud's tack? How about Dreamer?" Drake yelled as I closed the trailer with Cloud in it.
"Yes! Did you get all the feed and polos?"
"Yup! I will go check on everyone else!" He scrambled through Barn C's doors. We had 3 other horses going too, Scarlet, Alex, and Sunny. The truck with Cloud drove off the property slowly. We had put the tack in the tack room on the trailers and in the trunk of Dad's car. One hour later all the horses were at the property and I was climbing into the front seat of my truck. Drake hopped in the passenger seat and tossed more polos and first aid in the back.
"Any more?"
"Better safe than sorry!" Drake smirked and we drove to the show. The show was close, just down the street but the road was hectic. People were riding or exercising horses, trailers pulled in and out of the gait, and a few loose dogs trotted around the barns. Our tuck bumped along the dirt road till we reached the barn we were going to stay in. I hopped out quickly and grabbed some of the stuff we had brought along, leaving the rest to Drake. The stalls were partly filled already with our horses. Cloud nickered from her stall as I walked past. I would have pet her but my hands were full, oops! I went to where we kept all of our tack and dumped it on the floor. I placed the polos in a stack and hung the bridles I brought. Drake came in with the rest of the tack. I helped him set the rest up then grabbed some peppermint puffs and went to see Cloud. She whickered(mix between a nicker and a whinny) at me as I aproached. I opened 5 puffs and gave 4 to Cloud, popping the last one in my mouth and smiling. Cloud bobbed her head at the mint as the other horses in their stalls started to nicker.
"Now look what you started." Drake laughed as he walked by the stalls. "You could rule an army that only asked for peppermint puffs in payment."

"That's actually a good idea,"

"Don't,"

"But they'd be so willing!" I fanned my hands around showing all the horses that had their heads hung out of their stalls waiting.

"You are not creating a horse army,"

"But I want a horse army!" I playfully whined.

"Nope. No horse army."

"Fine. You're no fun." I pouted. He laughed and scooped me up into a hug.

"Sweeping more women off their feet eh Drake?" A too familiar voice came from the entrance to our part of the barn. Selena stood in a very polished, very shiny outfit, which could blind a bird and kill the rats.

"What do you want?" Drake dropped me and walked toward her.

"Oh nothing, just thought I'd wish Rebecca good luck with that mutt of a horse she has," Selena's voice dripped with innocence. "I mean after all, who could beat a champion sired, pure bred Quarter Horse?"

"A wild one," I snapped back.

"We'll just have to see," Selena called in a sing-song voice as she turned and sashayed away.

"I hate her," I stated. Drake wrapped me in a bear hug and mumbled something into my hair before looking at me with an exceptional look. "What?" I asked.

"I said, You are so gonna beat her." He reexplained. I nodded, walking back to Cloud's stall. She hung her head low and let me hug her head.

"Big day tomorrow! Might get some sleep eh?" Dad walked up to us.

"It's not even dark it won't be dark for another 4 hours!" I demanded even though I was tired.

"Fine, be home by 6"

"Deal." I turned and unlatched Cloud's door, grabbing her halter. Cloud backed up as I latched her halter. I lead her out and into a round pen. Cloud's ears perked as I let the halter fall from her face. She stood for a moment, or until I walked out then went crazy. She galloped for a good 10 minutes then she rolled and laid in the dirt. Worried, I ran in and checked on her. She looked at me and nickered.

"Come on Cloud. Time to get up!" I laughed as she stood and turned from chestnut to her natural dark dapple gray. She followed me to the gate, she waited until her halter was secure then followed me out lazily. I led her back and left her in her stall. Deciding I was done with work I sat in a corner of her stall and she laid down next to me. I checked the time, 12:30, I curled up next to her and slipped into a dark warmth next to Cloud.