Soaring Higher

Chapter 3

Erin

Me, Carrie, and Laura sit at a picnic table. We all wear matching camp T-shirts, and mine keeps coming untucked from my shorts. I take a bite of my watercress sandwich.
'So how are your kids holding up?' I ask.
'Pretty good. I think today we'll be learning leg steering. Most of them can steer already.' Laura May answers without hesitation.
'Carrie?'
'My kids are probably going to do some jumping courses. Maybe some cross country.' Carrie replies.
'Cool! I'm teaching mine how to jump vertically.'
'Neat. Good luck. Hopefully we get no deaths on the first day.' Carrie teases, skeptically.

I look around at all the tables. It amazes me how we put this together. We put together a whole camp.
Three figures sitting at our table snap me back to intention.
'Hey,' Laura May says.
Shane, Carter and Lucas, the stable hands sit at the table.

'How're the horses?' I ask. We specially handpicked all the horses.
First, we went to a horse auction, where we bought Honey; the sweet palomino that led me to name her honey, Arwen; the somewhat wired black pony, but a project Carrie insisted on taking on, then Spruce, the motherly mare. After, we visited Spriggs stables where two horses were up for sale; Chess, the gypsy vanner, and Tan; a buckskin old horse. After that, we visited several other places and collected around twenty seven horses and ponies. I specially remember we went to a auction where all the horses were going to be glue, and we fought intensely for a adorable grey miniature named Halley.

I bought Misty with my money for winning the show. Obviously, Misty has a small shared paddock with Carter's new horse; Scarlett. Misty is a gelding, but I'm crossing my fingers nothing happens, in the field.

Also, Laura May finally found a horse. Laura May's old horse, Cashew belonged to NBRA, and she couldn't take it, and she was heart-broken. While we were horse shopping, she chose a horse named Poker, a black Andalusian. I was thrilled to see her happy again.

As for Carrie, she got to bring Chacha to camp, and I find her on trail rides every morning, practicing her normal daring crazy tricks.

'So, lessons are coming up in-' Shane pauses to check his watch. 'Twenty minutes. You each have three lessons to teach. Gonna wing it?'
'Oh god, don't remind me.' Laura May groans.
I run my fingers through my hair.
'If any of you screw this up..' I say, proving stressed for once.
'No pressure.' Carrie says, holding her hands up.
'I'm just saying.. well you know.' I sigh.
'I get it.' Laura May grabs my hand and squeezes it.
'Thanks,' I smile.
'It'll be fine.' Carter nods.

I hope it'll be fine.