Equine Strike Hills Academy (A Place in the Saddle) #1

Chapter 11: Muck Boots and Beauties

Saturday morning I was up at 5:00 getting ready for the long day of chores ahead. Pulling on yoga pants, a t-shirt, and my muck boots I glanced out my window. And it was raining. Great. I fixed my hair into a messy bun and pulled on an old sweatshirt. I had to be at the stables by 6:00 for feed time. After grabbing my phone I headed out. I trudged through the almost downpour and entered the stables.

Shaking off the water I flicked on the stable lights. The harsh glare made me squint as my eyes adjusted to the lighting. All around horses started to awake and move around in their stalls, they knew it was time for breakfast. I entered the feed room and examined the chart that had each of the horses names listed on it and their needs. Opening up the feed bins I mixed together different supplements and herbs for each of the horses special diets. After 15 minutes I gathered all the buckets and put them into the cart. Each horse let out an excited whinny as I approached with their feed. After finishing that chore I glanced at the barn clock- 6:30. Where was Tiffany? I could never trust her to be on time.

Moving ahead with chores I switched horses in and out of turnout, washed water buckets, and sorted out the laundry in the tack room. Finally Tiffany appeared at 7:30.

"Why weren't you here at 6:00?!" I questioned, fury rising in my voice.

"Please Floyd, I had other things to take care of." She brushed me off.

"Like what?"

"And I would tell you why?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Because we're best friends?"

"You wish Floyd." Tiffany sneered.

"Well I guess since I did all of the morning chores you can go muck stalls 1-10 by yourself." I stated.

Tiffany rolled her eyes but grabbed the pitchfork from my hand and headed down the aisle. "I can't believe I have to spend two days with you doing this crap." She said as she stomped down the aisle.

I smiled to myself. Kiera-1 and the Wicked Witch-0.

•••••••••

After cleaning tack for hours I decided to help Tiffany muck out stalls. We were on stall number 11 and we had 39 left. It was 11:30 and the air began to turn muggy after the morning rain. Tearing off my sweatshirt I was a sweaty mess, but Tiffany on the other hand was just fine. Her shirt was wrinkle free and her hair was flawless. Not a single trace of dirt or sweat on her. At least next weekend I would be going home for three days and not seeing Tiffany for seventy-two hours sounded really good right now.

Just then her phone rang from her pocket. Tiffany threw down her pitchfork and exited the stall. I rolled my eyes and stuck out my tongue at her. But her conversation carried through the open stall door.

"Dad don't worry, my grades are fine." Tiffany spoke. There was a pause. "Yeah you don't have to worry about anything, I'll make the team." Another pause. "Dad just...." Tiffany was cut off. I could hear her pacing back and forth on the concrete aisle. "Okay bye." Tiffany ended the call and shoved her iPhone into her back pocket. Sighing she rejoined me.

"Are you okay?" I asked. I felt kinda sorry for her. Her dad was always pressuring her to be the best.

"Like I need your pity." Tiffany scoffed.

"Sorry I was just wondering."

"Why the hell are you even here anyway. You suck at riding, you got me in trouble so now I'm stuck doing this for the weekend, and you don't have a chance placing on the advanced team. Better yet, how did you even get accepted to this school?"

My blood began to boil as I tightened my hold on the wooden handle of the pitchfork. "I placed in every show in my district and I was the star student at Cottonwood."

"Cottonwood?!" Tiffany laughed. "That little hick town. That place is worthless. I drove by that dump on the way to nationals last year."

"Cottonwood may not be the greatest or prettiest stable but the riders are good."

"You don't know what you're talking about. News flash Kiera, this is ESHA. This is the big league, we're not good, we're epic."

I gritted my teeth. Any sympathy that I felt before was gone. It took all my willpower to not strangle her.

Just then Mr. Cooper walked up. "Looks good girls. You can be excused for lunch and the rest of the afternoon, but be back here for evening chores at six."

"Thanks." I replied.

Mr. Cooper nodded and left.

"You take the pitchforks and put them in the storage room while I go dump the wheelbarrow." I said.

Tiffany gave out an annoyed huff but carried on with her task.
What a little-. I stopped myself. Just don't go there Kiera. Taking a calming breath I grabbed the handles of the wheelbarrow and pushed it down the aisle. Now here comes the best part. As I rounded the corner, Tiffany didn't see me and ran right into the wheelbarrow. And fell into the muck. I gasped but it took everything in my body to not laugh my head off.

Tiffany had fallen face first into poop, dirty straw, and mud.

"You.." Tiffany replied coldly. "Are so done!!"

"Tiffany I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-" I stopped short as I held back my smirk.

"You think this is funny?"

"No," I smiled.

"You better wipe that stupid smile off of your face because you won't be laughing when I do something way worse to you." Tiffany said as she wiped the mud off of her face.

"It really was an accident." I called after her as she walked down the aisle.

After dumping the wheelbarrow I decided to call Courtney. She had to hear this. Sitting down on my tack trunk I dialed her number. "I made her fall into manure." I said when Courtney answered.

"What?!"

"I had a wheelbarrow of manure and I ran into Tiffany and she fell in."

"Oh God! This sounds too good to talk over the phone about. Come over and tell me in person. And don't forget a second of it!! I want details!" Courtney exclaimed.

"I'll be over soon."

After hanging up I smiled to myself. Sure I was on the top of Tiffany's hit list, but I had a good friend in Courtney who could always testify at my funeral if that deviled beauty ever murdered me.

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Hey! Are you surprised that I updated so early? So am I! Hope you enjoy the longer chapter. Comment, vote, and share!! ~Skylar