Isla Halstead is the daughter of Detectives Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton. She's been addicted to horseback riding since she was 6 years old, with dreams of reaching the Olympics. Her parents support her fully along the way and are determined to do...
Isla and her parents had arrived in Vegas and were spending most of their time at the arena, as Isla had to be there for last-minute lessons and exercises for Ranger.
"Has she said anything to you about how she's feeling?" Hailey asked her husband as they sat in the stands watching Isla warm up for the first day of the competition.
"Not really. Why?" Jay asked, briefly taking his eyes off his daughter to look at his wife.
"The night before we flew here, she sought melatonin pills. She hadn't been sleeping much and was looking for some sleep aid to try and help her fall asleep," Hailey told him as she turned to look over at him briefly before turning her eyes back to Isla.
"I thought her nerves were improving after the movie night," Jay said.
"She told me her nerves have been an up-and-down roller coaster even after the movie night. I don't know how to help her. She's so close to her dream of the Olympics, and I don't know what we can do to help her," Hailey said, seeing Isla head towards the arena exit.
"We'll figure it out, Hails, don't worry," Jay reassured his wife. "Come on, let's head down to meet her at her stall."
The two got up from where they were sitting and started to make their way over to the stalls, knowing that that was where Isla would be heading.
~~~~~
"Isla, just remember to take a deep breath; you're doing great," Anna reassured her student right before she went into the arena for her round, knowing that her student was nervous and always hated being the last one to go.
So far, no one in the competition that day had jumped a clean round, and hardly anyone had made it under the time allowed. Isla was terrified.
Up next is Isla Halstead riding 5021 Henry.
Isla cantered into the arena, stopping in the middle. She waited to hear the buzzer that signaled her to start her round. "Let's do this, Ranger," Isla whispered before she began to.
Hailey and Jay sat in the stands, watching their daughter jump the course. She cleared the first line perfectly. Hailey reached over and grabbed her husband's hand.
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The first line was clear, Isla thought to herself. Alright, now we got the water jump.
Jay's eyes never left his daughter; he was the most worried about the water jump, which was the jump that hurt people the most fault-wise. Come on, munchkin, Jay thought to himself.
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