The Great Expedition

Chapter 3

There at the entrance of the barn stood Kristie's enemy Melissa Greene. Melissa was the popular girl at school and loved to tease Kristie because she did not ride at a fancy barn nor did she compete at horse shows. Melissa made fun of the horses at Happy Hearts Ranch too saying that the horses there were fat old nags. She owned an Arabian mare named Arabesque and loved to brag how expensive she was. 

What are you doing here? Kristie asked Melissa.

I'm here to go on a trail ride is it not obvious. Melissa responded sarcastically.

Honey can you go show Melissa the horses? Kristie's mother said showing up from behind her daughter. I will show Mr and Mrs Greene the horses and they can choose which one to ride. 

Yes mother. Kristie replied. Right this way Melissa.

In this paddock we have Amigo and Double R would you like to ride one of them? Kristie asked 

No thanks their colors are to ugly. Melissa responded.

Finally after going to see all the horses Melissa chose the one that was the worst choice. You probably guessed it the horse Melissa wanted to ride was Honeysuckle. Kristie tried to get her to chose another horse but Melissa was very adamant about riding Honeysuckle. Melissa's mother was riding one of their broodmares that was too old to give birth any more and could only really walk around. Melissa's father chose Buckshot a horse that would shoot off like a bullet if you did anything more then a walk or if you ever so slightly touched your heels to his sides. Her mother came out of the barn with her sweet paint mare named Sweetheart just behind them.

Honey since you and Kristie are friends why don't you guys go on a trail ride together and then since we won't be with together, you guys can ride faster. It will probably be better for the both of you guys because your mother do not know a thing about horses and would probably fall off if we went faster then a walk. Mr Greene said to his daughter. 

I think that that is a wonderful idea! Kristie's mother replied. Kristie quickly go grab Stardust or one of the horses you are supposed to ride today. Quickly now we do not want to keep our guest waiting now do we? Kristie ran to the paddock where Stardust was kept during the day. To save time she whistled for Stardust to come galloping to the fence line. Once Stardust appeared and stopped at the gate, waiting for Kristie to slip on her halter. Kristie decided that instead of wasting precious time leading Stardust up to the barn, grooming her and tacking her up she would just ride bareback with just the halter and lead rope as reins and a bridle. She opened the gate and led Stardust out, shut the gate and lined her horse up next to the fence. Kristie took the lead rope off of the metal ring on the bottom of the halter by Stardust's jaw and clipped it to the side of the halter then she went around to the other side of Stardust and tied the end on the lead rope to the other side of the halter so it made make shift reins. She walked over to the fence and hopped on to the highest fence board so she could easily hop on to Stardust's back. Kristie quickly hopped on a squeezed her legs against Stardust's sides and started to head towards the barn. 

Finally how long does it take you to get a horse? Melissa said the moment Kristie got to the barn. Now hurry up I would like to go on this trail ride before it gets dark. After Melissa mounted up on Honeysuckle they started out on the trails. Kristie's mother had already started on the trials while Kristie was getting Stardust. Already Honeysuckle was hyped up her head high ion the air prancing around as they walked shying at invisible monsters and scary stuff. 

Why is she acting all weird? Melissa asked Kristie with a mean undertone.

It is her very first trail ride and she is only 4 years old. If you had chosen any other horse on the farm they would have not act like she is right now but no you had to chose the greenest horse on the farm. Kristie replied.

Well I'm sorry that I liked her coloring and the way she moves. Melissa said sarcastically. 

Do you want to trot now? Kristie asked after a few moments of silence. Melissa kicked Honeysuckle hard in the sides and then proceeded to yank hard on her mouth because Honeysuckle tried to jump right into a canter. By the way Honeysuckle shook her head it looked like it had hurt her mouth, she was not used to that kind of treatment. Occasionally she would get the odd kick of bite when she was bad or from when she crossed a line from the other horses but other then that everyone was really nice to her. 

Try not to kick her and then yank on her mouth. She is very sensitive. I would also prefer you do not ruin her training, her trust in humans and the pleasures of trail rides. Kristie said to Melissa.

Well if she would listen to my commends and not jump forward then I would not have to pull on her mouth. My mare always listen to my commends and she never jumps forward. Melissa replied. 

Well Honeysuckle is very young and not very experienced so of course she is not going to act like your experienced mare back at your fancy shmancy uptight barn. Kristie responded to Melissa harshly.

Well at least I do not live in a mud pitted dump with all my nags in my run down barn where I have to get up at the butt crack of dawn to help my poor parents clean the nags and clean up the barn to make it look like it is well profitable. Melissa shot back. 

Well the girls were arguing, a squirrel ran across the trail in front of the horses. Out of fear Stardust stopped and tried to turn around to run back to the safeness and comfort of the barn. When Kristie put her leg around the barrel of Stardust to get her to move forward. Instead Stardust kept backing up. Kristie kicked Stardust in the side, Stardust did not want to move forward and also hated being kicked in the sides. Stardust reared up kicking her hooves out and neighing loudly. Well Kristie was getting Stardust under control again Melissa was having a harder time with Honeysuckle. When the squirrel ran across the trail Honeysuckle's head shot up, eyes rimmed with fear and stopped. Melissa kicked Honeysuckle forward when they reached the squirrel, Honeysuckle lowered her head to sniff the squirrel. When the squirrel ran away from fear that surprised Honeysuckle. Honeysuckle's head shot up again and she started to back up when Melissa kicked her forward Honeysuckle reared up for about a minute when she came down on to all four feet she immediately bucked. Melissa who was not expecting a buck never mind a buck with such power flew off of Honeysuckle's back and landed on the ground in front of Honeysuckle. Now free of her rider Honeysuckle took of a gallop down the worn down trails into the forest. After Kristie checked to make sure Melissa was not hurt when Honeysuckle threw her, she put her leg to Stardust's side. Stardust who was waiting all day for this shot of like a bullet down the trails after Honeysuckle.

Authors Note: 

The photo up at the top is my vision of what Honeysuckle looks like

Another cliffhanger! what do you think will happen if Kristie finds Honeysuckle?

QOTD: What is your favorite tv show or movie? 

Mine would be a cop show called Flashpoint! 

Stay safe!