The Great Expedition

Chapter 4

Now in the forest Kristie slowed Stardust to a brisk walk not wanting her stumble or fall on the rough terrain especially at a fast gallop. Low hanging branches moved slightly in the light breeze sometimes scraping against Kristie's helmet. In the dense forest it was hard to see anything beyond the path. As the pair ambled on the path Kristie saw that up a head was the clearing, plenty of space to gallop for a few meters. Once they reached the clearing Kristie saw a golden blur running up ahead towards the end of the clearing. Beyond the cleared was another trail that led deeper into the forest. Kristie kicked Stardust into a gallop as they raced threw the clearing racing against time and Honeysuckle. If Honeysuckle could not be headed off in the clearing then they could lose her in the dense forest that had many forks in the paths. Honeysuckle slowed down just a fraction that gave Stardust the advantage of speed so with in seconds Kristie and Stardust had caught up with Honeysuckle. Kristie reached over to grab one of the reins that were flapping against Honeysuckle's neck. Quickly Kristie grab on to the rein with a tight grasp and started to turn Stardust in a circle around the clearing forcing Honeysuckle not only to follow but to slow down. Once Kristie got both horses to slow down to a walk they walked out of the clearing. 

Finally your back! How long does it take to catch a runaway horse in the forest. Melissa said once they got back to where Honeysuckle deposited Melissa and where Kristie left Melissa to go catch Honeysuckle. 

Well if you did not get thrown off like a rag doll, then I wouldn't have to! Kristie shot back.

Hmmph. Melissa grunted in return. For the rest of the ride back the girls stayed silent the only noises were the horses hooves crunching on the ground or the odd snort from one of the horses's noses. Once the girls reached the barn they quickly hopped down from the backs of their horses. Melissa flipped the reins from over Honeysuckle's head and started to hand them over to Kristie.

Whoa Whoa Whoa! You know how to untack a horse. I'm not your personal groom. Kristie said stopping Melissa from giving her the reins. Kristie walked into the shaded barn and unclipped the lead rope from Stardust's halter and led her into her stall. Melissa walked in after with Honeysuckle in tow.

Where do I tie her up? Melissa questioned.

Her stall is just up ahead. It's the fourth stall from the end. It has her name on it. Or if you do not look for plaques then she is in between Moonshine and Willow. Kristie answered walking away from Melissa and Honeysuckle heading for the tack room to grab her brushes. When Kristie exited the tack room she saw Melissa leading Honeysuckle up up the aisle to her stall. As Kristie kept walking towards Stardust's stall she saw it was ajar wide enough to get a horse threw. When she looked in the stall it was empty. Then she looked down the aisle where the hay was being kept. There munching on the hay looking not at all guilty was Stardust. Kristie quickly walked over to the hay cart and grasped onto Stardust's halter to lead her back into the stall. Once safely in the bolted stall Kristie started to groom Stardust. 

Hello, where do I put this junk? A snarky voice said. Kristie looked up from picking out a hoof to see Melissa right outside the stall door with an arm load that consisted of a saddle, a bridal, a saddle pad and a breast plate. 

It goes in the tack room. Kristie replied.

And where might that be? Melissa shot back even snarkier then before.

Right this way. Kristie walked up the aisle and stopped right in front of a closed door. In there is a saddle rack you put the saddle on the rack along with the breastplate over the horn. For the bridal you put it on the bridal hanger it should be the only one empty cause I didn't use a bridal and my mother and your parents should be back by now with their horses in their stalls. Kristie watched Melissa walk in to the tack room for a few seconds before walking back to Stardust's stall.