A Medallion

Chapter 14

Medallion had come up for a drink. She raised her dripping muzzle as I we clambered over her fence and walked up to her.

"See, she's not mean. She just doesn't do what you ask. Passive aggressive, I guess," I said as I stroked her neck.

Tessa ran her hand through Medallion's mane. "Interesting. But Vanessa, we can't afford another horse right now. Thank you for the offer, but I'll stick with Challenger for now."

I smirked. "You want to try riding her?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Here? Today?"

"Why not? Come on, I'm still riding Challenger. Can't you try Medallion?"

She thought for a moment. "I guess so. I think my parents would be alright with it. Of course, I'll have to check with them."

I clapped my hands. "It's settled. Oh, what time is it?"

She pulled out her phone and looked at it. "12.50. We'd better start heading back."

We pulled ourselves up over the fence and made our way back to the barn.

I led Tessa to the only part of the Vantage Point that I hadn't shown her yet: the lounging and viewing area of Vantage Point.

It was upstairs, right over the top of the entrance to the indoor arena from the barn. We pushed ourselves up the stairs and I opened the door.

In front of us was a huge wall of ribbons and sashes, all in the one huge frame. A few of mine were in there, all of them were prestigious first and second places, with the occasional third. Lining the sides to the left and right of the ribbon wall were two glass cases on wood stands with trophies. Again, a few of those were mine.

Also greeting us was the delicious smells of pizza, steak, and shrimp. Laid out on the counter alongside the sink was our lunch, and it looked positively delicious. I hadn't realized until then how hungry I was.

Tessa was looking around with interest. This was the one time I had seen her mildly impressed. "Wow, this is nice."

I nodded. "The horses aren't the only ones who live in luxury at Vantage Point."

I pointed to a connecting doorway. "That leads to the viewing room above the indoor arena, that's probably where we'll eat."

All of the adults were in there, chatting away intensely. Lacy's mom broke from it enough to say, "Hi girls, you're just in time for lunch. Oh, where's Lacy?"

"She split from us, we can go find her-" Tessa was interrupted when Lacy came bursting through the door.

"Sorry I'm a little late. Oh, this room is so beautiful! Is that pizza I smell? Goodness, I'm so hungry," she gasped out breathlessly.

Tessa smiled benolvently at her. "You got here just in time."

"If we don't eat soon, I think I'll starve," I declared as I picked up the dish that had salmon on it. I'd decided Tessa had the right idea with seafood, only I'd decided on salmon.

"Me too. Let's go into the view rooming," agreed Mr. Wellen as he picked up the plate with his steak on it.

We all grabbed our food and drinks, then went into the viewing room. It was outfitted in brown and white, with a coffee table and TV behind the lounge chairs.

We settled ourselves, but before we began eating, Mrs. Wellen held up her hand. "Do you mind if we say grace?"

I was surprised, but I shook my head. "No."

They grasped hands and murmured a very simple prayer. When it was finished, Mr. Wellen exclaimed, "Let's eat!"

We laughed at his enthusiasm but tucked into our food just as vigorously as he did.

The adults seemed to pick up their conversation right where they left off. I turned to Tessa as I began slicing at my salmon.

"So, how do you want to do this, after we're done eating?"

She thought for a moment as she popped in a little shrimp into her mouth. Her eyes widened. "This shrimp is some of the best I've tasted!"

I shrugged. "There are perks to having a ambitious mom," I said with a wink.

She smiled. "Well, back to the question."  She thought for a moment.  

"I think it would be best if I warmed up Challenger, and you warm up whatever horse you want to ride, 'cause I'm assuming you don't want to ride Medallion?"  

"No, I'd like to be able to jump if we're going to do that."  I sliced off another bite of salmon. 

"Oh, we definitely are," interjected Lacy.  "Tessa, did you see all those jumps they have in the outdoor?"  

Tessa chuckled at her friend's enthusiasm.  "Yes Lacy, I did.  I don't know how Challenger is going to take to them."  

Lacy wrinkled her nose.  "See, that's why I don't want a spooky horse.  You always have to be thinking about what might set them off."  

Tessa rolled her eyes.  "Oh, whatever."  She turned back to me.  "I can tack up Medallion, and we could put her in a stall until we're ready for her, right?"

"Whoa, wait, who's Medallion?  Tessa, are you riding her?"  Asked Lacy.  

We outlined the situation for her.  Lacy shook her head.  "Honestly Tessa, you're always volunteering to ride the hard ones."  

Tessa shrugged.  "I find often they're not hard, just misunderstood or mistrained."

"To answer your early question, yes, I think we could do that, or we could have one of the grooms tack her up," I said.  

"No, I can tack her up, it's fine.  Do you want to ride Challenger first, or have me ride Medallion first?"  

"I'll ride Challenger first," I instantly replied.  As the hours had ticked by, I found myself growing more and more excited about riding him.  

Lacy leaned forward in her lounge chair, having already decimated one slice of pizza and reaching for another victim.  "This ought to be a show," she cackled.  "Each of you getting bucked off by the other's horse."  

Tessa laughed.  "I guess that means you won't be riding anyone but Russo, eh Lacy?"

She vigorously nodded.  "Yep, I'll just stick to Russo.  At least I know he won't try anything and I won't end up in the dirt because of him."  

Tessa glanced at me.  "She has a point there."  

I shrugged.  "Maybe she does, but the dirt adds excitement to your ride."  

Lacy rolled her eyes.  "You sound like an adrenaline junkie."  

I paused.  I'd never thought of myself that way.  

Tessa spoke up before I could reply.  "So, it's settled:  we'll tack up the horses and warm our respective horses up, then you'll ride Challenger and I'll ride Medallion.  Then we'll go have some fun with the jumps and XC course."  

Lacy nodded.  "Sounds good to me."  

"Me too."  

"Good, all that remains is for me to get permission from mom and dad to ride Medallion."  Tessa pushed herself up and made her way over to her parents.  

AN:  As an author, I feel like this chapter and the one before it need serious editing, as they were slightly jerky and not as uniform as I would like.  But again, that's just first draft problems.  

So, hope y'all enjoyed this chapter :)  I think this book is going to be bigger than originally planned.  I looked at my first rough outline last night and cringed.  I believe by now Vanessa was supposed to have already ridden Challenger, or actually be riding Challenger XD  Outlines just don't work for me.

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