The Unpolished Diamonds

The Anderson Race

As much as it pained me, I had to go and see my grandfather at the folding race. I wanted to cry, but grandpa thought it's better for me to get some fresh air and clean my mind. Everett also came with us. Our eyes were glued to the window hoping we could spot one of the missing horses.

-I think I saw a black...! Oh, just a swedish warmblood. Sorry Everett. For a second I thought it was an arabian. -He didn't answer, just continued to look out of the window holding onto hope. Our horse theft was all around the news, radios and some posters were glued on walls. Apparently we weren't the only victims of this crime. We also heard they were also looking for a palomino and a cremello. I thought that's it for us. No more horses, no more seasonal. This is it. Not just because of theft, but the traffic! There has never been traffic so terrible as this one! Ever! Not just here, but the forest roads are full as well. We are already slowed down by Pilot travelling in the back, but now...

-We will never make it at this pace! - I realised that I said out loud when Everett responded.

-A landslide from the heavy rain. - said Everett.- It fell on the motorway a few weeks ago straight from the mountain. This isn't a big town, they don't have the necessary equipment to clean it up this fast. I should have realised that sooner.

-Wait! The landslide Charles was talking about is on the motorway?

-Who is Charles?

-It certainly looks like. -answered grandpa ignoring Everett.

-Wow. It must have been a big one then.

After we got off the topic and we started to move again I was filled with sadness once again. Was it reasonable? No. It is what it is. When something bad happens you solve it, but I couldn't.  And I had every intention of trying to do so. I had a priority and a duty I promised to fulfill. That is the ranch of course. Everything comes after and no excuses.

The three of us unloaded the trailer and once again filled with nerves we were preparing for a competition. Pilot being the only white horse kind of stood out of the crowd. Grandpa was whistling while preparing Pilot and singing a song to him that seemed to calm him down. I was frustrated.

-How come you are not nervous? I nearly threw up on my competition!

-Why would I?

-I don't know... maybe because we still don't have enough money for the ranch?

-Are you trying to put nerves on me?

-No...

-We are the perfect team. Aren't we, Pilot?

The horse let out a big neigh and accompanied with my grandpa graciously walked away.

-You okay?

-Yes! I'm perfectly okay! I was invited to the Anderson Race which could provide enough money for me to pay out our ranch and guess what? I don't have a horse for it!

-I will take that as a no, instead of the yes. Come on! We have to see your grandpa, don't we?

He grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the paddock. This wasn't at the Red Apple ranch, but at a local farmer's place. We saw Pilot and grandpa trotted towards the sheep. Each sheep had a tape on it. Some had red and some blue. They had to be separated into two different corners where they would be locked away so they would not interfere with the rest of the competition. Pilot turned left-right or right-left incredibly fast with just spinning. His response was incredibly fast and didn't even flinch when a sheep bumped into him. Pilot was the best folding horse I've ever seen. He was watching grandpa's every single movement and responded as such. They were in perfect sync. At that moment I realised that beside all my training it was just luck that I got into other rounds. Pilot and grandpa acted as one, but Domino and I didn't. Not at all. We were complete strangers to each other. A hand on my shoulder, a smile and our happiness when grandpa won, comforted me, that things might get better. Erik sent me the rules of the competition and I realised they were very different from the seasonal ones. I had a terrible idea that I proposed to grandpa. Deep down I wished he would say no to it.