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 was at the barn, just about to get on Ranger and head into the indoor arena, where Anna awaited her, when she felt her phone buzz in her coat pocket. She pulled her phone out and saw a text message from Jake.
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Isla shoved her phone back into her coat pocket, immediately getting on Ranger and heading into the indoor arena. Her parents were talking to Anna about what; Isla had no clue; she assumed it was something about the upcoming competition that would decide who would make the Olympic team.
"Look who finally decided to show up," Jay chuckled, seeing his daughter walking into the arena and towards the group of adults in the middle of the hall.
"I'm only a couple of minutes late. Jake texted me," Isla responded, turning to go to the rail and start warming up.
While Isla and Ranger were warming up, Jay, Anna, and Hailey were busy setting up some jumps that Isla would be jumping once she and Ranger were ready. Once Isla was all warmed up, Anna started telling Isla the courses she wanted her to do with Ranger. Jay and Hailey had retreated to the heated viewing room, telling Anna they didn't know how she could handle the cold for hours.
Isla's lesson went pretty well, and she wasn't as critical of herself as usual; she felt like she was in a good spot in her relationship/partnership with Ranger and had a real shot at making the Olympic team.
"You looked good, munchkin," Jay told her as she removed Ranger's saddle.
"Thanks, I think we're in a perfect spot," Isla responded, setting the saddle on the saddle rack outside the stall.
"Anna thinks you have a real shot at making the Olympic Team," Hailey told her, reaching into her pocket for a peppermint she had grabbed before Isla's lesson to give to Ranger. "Here you go, buddy," she said, laying her hand flat for Ranger to eat the peppermint.
"I think you might be his favorite mom," Isla chuckled, seeing Ranger start nudging her mother with his nose, looking for more peppermints. "I think so too. But if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen." Isla said, grabbing a brush from her brush box and brushing Ranger.
"The team will be decided after the next competition in 6 weeks," Jay reminded her.
"I know, but as I said, I do not think I'm a shoo-in for the team. That's never been my mentality, Dad; you know that," Isla said, placing her brush back in the brush box and then moving to grab Ranger's blanket.
Before Isla could reach Ranger's blanket, Jay had beat her to it. "Here, munchkin," Jay said, handing Isla the mantle.
"Thanks!" Isla responded, carrying the blanket into the stall.
Hailey followed her daughter into the stall and helped Isla put the blanket on. Once the blanket was on, Isla, along with the help of her parents, put her stuff away.
