Wild and Free

Chapter 16

"Are you ready?"

"Of course"

"Are you sure? You look like a ghost."

"Okay, maybe I'm a little nervous." I sigh looking at Cloud's neck. I was waiting at the pole bending arena with Drake. Dad was sitting by the anouncer's desk.

"You should be," A voice snaps behind my head. Without turning I know who it is.

"Hey uh Drake, did you tie that red ribbon around Cloud's tail yet?" I smirk as i speak.

"Oh gosh I completely forgot! It was the big sparkly one right? The one that no one can miss? You know cause Cloud is soooo threatening and wild," He plays along.

"Yes that one. It's quite funny, I never see when she's going to strike again." Cloud bows her head and stomps her back hoof. Selena squeals and I hear hooves trot away.

"You are too much Rebecca." Drake laughs. I smile and the speaker goes on.

"If Rebecca is ready, we will let you in now." Drake smiles and grabs Cloud's reins as he leads her in.

"Good Luck." He whispers as he lets go of the reins. I breathe, this is it.

"The time starts when you cross that line." The announcer calls. The white painted line was about 10 strides out.

"Okay Cloud, we got this. Just do what you know." I say patting her neck, though I think I'm reassuring myself more than her. I get her into a trot and do a circle as we go into a quick canter. I remember Drake's advice 'Just let her go, she knows what shes doing.' I loosen her reins and squeeze my calves. Here we go. She shoots forward past the line and into the poles, expertly weaving as I taught her. In no time we reach the end and are circling around the barrel. I urge her forward as we reach the poles again. Cloud's hooves are all that I can hear. I don't even realize we finish until Cloud has made her own circle and walked.

"23.01 seconds," The announcer calls. I smile breathlessly as I hear Drake whooping in the corner. Selena is in the back her face looks deathly white.

"Cloud is the horse to beat!" Someone yells. We walk out and past the crowd. Drake follows.

"Holy cow Cloud! Since when are you a quick paced horse?" Drake laughs.

"What's next?" I ask still breathless adrenaline coursing through my body.

"Barrel Racing." Drake says as he rubs behind Cloud's ears.

"Okay, I want to see Selena go first." I stare at the gate as she goes in. I lay my head on Cloud's back as I wait for a time.

"27.09 seconds" I smile as the voice booms over speaker.

"You beat her by a long shot!" Selena walks out scowling.

"Where's that pretty pure bred of yours again?" I laugh as she walks by.

"Oh this horse isn't as advanced as me. I'm getting a much more challenging horse soon." She says her voice dripped with sugar coated venom. I swear she could kill like 500 men if her voice was actual venom. She walks off and goes to the barn where all her stuff is, a stablehand trailing behind her.

"Oh I so wish she could fall into a hole full of spiders" I growl and Drake laughs.

"Lets get going over to the barrels, you Dad is already there." Drake starts to walk towards an arena close by and I follow.

"Selena if you are ready you may enter." A much younger voice comes over the speaker. Selena glances my way and flashes a striking smile as she walks in. She doesn't even prepare her horse, she just goes. The announcer didn't even realize it or announce anything. Her horse spins around the barrels and back to the line in lightening speed.

"24.06 seconds"

"Dang, that horse knows exactly what he's doing."

"So does Cloud, in fact watch Cloud as she does it with so much grace she will knock Selena off that horse and right into a pit of spiders!" I laugh.

A few other horses go before me, a paint, a silver quarter horse, and even a cute little black pony. "Rebecca if you're ready you can enter." I let Drake lead Cloud in and I close my eyes. Cloud knows exactly what she is doing and I seriously hope I do too. I open my eyes and start. Barrels are the most extreme and fun for me. Cloud gallops to the first and twists into a turn not even tapping the barrel. The last barrel comes into my view and Cloud's hooves sound like a thunderstorm rolling over. We cross the line and it's over.

"23.09 seconds" The announcer calls and I gasp realizing that Cloud had done such a great job in both shows. I left the arena and went to stand under a tree. Drake brings a bucket of water for Cloud to drink from which she happily does. I lean back onto Cloud's back and shut my eyes.

"Hey hey! Two firsts in a group of 10 and 13! In your first show!" Dad walks up showing off the ribbons. I smile at his enthusiasm.

Hours go by and I finish the rest of my classes with 2 more firsts and 1 second. Only one more day to go! I sigh at the thought, today was so busy it seemed like a blur.

When everything was done and cared for, I sat down underneath Cloud's stall. Drake was cleaning the trailer and Dad was talking to his friends a few barns down. I closed my eyes as Cloud played with my hair gently.

"That's quite a nice horse you have miss, is she for sale?" A man walks up to me and I open my eyes wistfully.

"Sorry no. She's mine."

"Are you sure? Seems like an awful lot for someone like you." I twitch at the comment.

"I'm sorry sir but she is not for sale, nor will she ever be." I state firmly.

"Aw that's a shame." He walks off to a woman with blond hair and talks to her. She is obviously angry and I realize who it is as her voice reaches me, Selena.

Ah! I did this in one sitting so if there is mistakes please tell! So did you enjoy that? And I have come up with where this book is going! I will have a second one! So what do you think Selena is up to? What did you think of the chapter? Yay or nay? Welp I hope you enjoyed! <3