The Eventer's Rodeo {starting again very soon!}

Chapter 7: Friends

"Log!" I yelled calling the jump in the cross country warm up. I turned at a canter straight to the log jump. "Oh my God!!" I screamed and yanked on the reins as hard as I can, making Cash freak and do a little rear to the left. A girl on a liver chestnut thoroughbred galloped about a foot away, right in front of us, cutting me off. "Hey!" I yelled trying to get her attention. "Please pay better attention, I called that jump a while ago. That could have ended badly for both us and the horses." She turned her horse around, she looked about 12-13 years old. "I'm so sorry, this is my first time doing a novice level event and I'm a little nervous." She looked like she was about to break down. "Hey its okay, just don't let it happen again." I said in a softer tone. She nodded and walked away. I turned and trotted around to go again. Cash had his ears pinned back at me for pulling so hard on his mouth. "Sorry Bud, just scared me a little." I patted his neck and told him good boy.

"Okay try again and you'll be good." Ally called to me. I successfully cantered the log and let him walk. "145, Marissa King riding Billionaires Bid." I made my way to the start box with Ally. "You have 2 minutes." A woman by the box said. "Okay, remember he isn't the biggest fan of brush, especially in a shaded area like that." Ally said to me as I nodded and walked circles around her. "Don't be afraid to tap him with the crop. You got this! See you at the finish line. Oh, and water... Well, you know what he does and you know what to do." I nodded, remembering what she said. "30 seconds, Miss." I walked Cash in and out of the start box to keep him calm. "10 seconds." I stopped him in the box and looked over at the stands, all my friends gave me thumbs up. "5...4..." I took a deep breath so I was ready. "...3...2...1."

Immediately Cash broke out into a smooth gallop. I focused on the first log jump, and went over it with ease. We came to the next jump the brush. I gave him a little tap when he started flickering his ears at it. Again he jumped it with ease. 15 jumps later we headed towards the water. Cash used to be super bad with water but has been good the past couple times. He saw the water ahead, started flickering his ears and raised his head. He started turning his head to the right, and moving to the left. He always ran out to the left. "No. No you're not doing this to me. Come on Bud, we can do this." I tried to turn his head straight to focus on the water. He then jumped to the left throwing his head up. Thank God we weren't close enough to the jump to count as a run out or refusal. I had no choice but to give him a smack with the crop on the left to try and refocus him. 'Five, four, three, two..' I said in my head counting the strides to the down bank.

I lean back as Cash went down so I didn't fall forward. There were two strides to a little fish shaped jump in the middle of the water. He jumped it perfectly. And two more strides to the up bank. After a flawless up bank, the last jump, a large coop was straight ahead. 'Three, two, one, jump." I said in my head.

Once I had cleared the finish flags I slowed him to a trot then a walk. I checked my cross country watch. 5 minutes and 33 seconds. Awesome time, I barely made it above the lowest optimum time of 5 minutes. I secretly make it my personal goal to have the fastest cross country time out of my class. But I dont let time control my ride.

I walked over to my crew and Katie was first to give me a high five. "And that is how you do it!" She said to me. I got several more high fives followed by Ally, my parents, and my brother who just showed up. I was still out of breath, but my mom gave me a water to help out. I hopped off and gave Cash a huge pat for being a good boy. I unhooked my helmet, took it off. I could only imagine what my helmet hair looked like right about now. I took off my vest revealing a completely soaked shirt. Gosh, it is so freaking hot. I loosened Cash's girth and we headed back to the barn.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧

I just finished rinsing Cash and put him in his stall. I sat down in a chair and started to play on my phone. My friends came back from the restaurant and Katie threw something wrapped in aluminum foil at me. "Got you a pork barbecue sandwich, I hope thats what..." She trailed off and just stared at me while raising an eyebrow.
Before she could finish I had already taken a huge bite of the sandwich. I covered my full mouth and looked up at her. "Im sorry I was really hungry." She shook her head and sat down.

"Hey I have to go home, wash my clothes for tomorrow and feed, my parents are having a date night thing." I said rolling my eyes at the last comment. "You all want to come?" All three of my friends nodded. "Alright let me finish up and we can go."

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧

We arrived at my ranch and parked at my house. I threw my clothes in the washer. We all crashed on the couches in the living room. I threw the remote at Katie and told her to pick something out. We ended up watching "Friends" reruns for the next 2 and a half hours.

We went down to the barn and I gave Austin a tour of the place. Katie and Justin have been here several times before. I opened the door to the tack room, this was my favorite room on the whole ranch. I gazed into the large room like I do every time. I loved the smell of all the leather that filled the room. I walked in and showed him every square inch of the place. Each family member had their own section. My dad and brother had their roping saddles in their sections. And my mom had a pleasure saddle and an old cutback saddle from her Tennessee walking horse showing days. I walked over to my section and smiled at all of my stuff. "The two empty racks are for my close contact and dressage saddles." I admired the wall of my section with my all my ribbons on it.

We went through the narrow hallway to the the back of the tack room. We liked to call it the "King Family Hall of Fame." Here we hung old pictures, ribbons and banners. The end of the hallway came out to a huge living room-type room. This was our hang out. There were two couches, a tv, and a snack bar. I pulled some drinks out of the fridge for everyone and handed them out.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧

After talking for a few minutes we headed out to feed. After spending two hours feeding every sheep, steer, goat, and horse on the 1,500 acre ranch, I went back inside to get my things and we headed back for another night at the rodeo.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧

A/N: heyyyyy guys, long time no see right? Sorry I haven't been real active lately! My farm has been super busy with the cattle, and having baby lambs popping out everywhere! I wrote you all an extra long chapter to make up for it and I plan on updating again soon! Thanks for sticking with me! Love you all!!!

VOTE, COMMENT, and ADD!!

Also dont forget to check out turnandburnbaby and her new book! And, if you're a Nash Grier fan (and even if you're not) check out "Hidden" but griers_chick! Thanks Guys!!!