How To Heal

Chapter Three

The rest of thee day passed by mostly without problems, although I had girls constantly glaring at me, especially when they think I can't tell. Luckily, or unluckily depending on how you look at it, I was still at a cross road. I have one of the boys in every class that I just didn't notice before, which just so happens to cause even more girls to hate me for no reason. On the drive home my brothers shared stories about their day. All of them seem to have become quite poplar with the kids in their grades and even some friends, whom they want to invite to come hang out at our house. Awesome, I know. Note sarcasm.

Finally the house and stables come into view and I sigh in relief. After the day I had I cannot wait to go for a ride and leave my problems in the dust. Without changing I walk into the tack shed and grab and saddle and bridle. My dad banned tackless riding until the horses are more familiar with our new property. At least I could still ride like that in the arenas, I'd go crazy being stuck in only saddles. There's something so amazing about the way a horses muscles move under your hands, such powerful movements made by such gentle creatures.

Setting my tack down I grabbed one of my own horses. We had plenty that needed to be ridden to keep in shape but when I was most stressed or upset I need my own horse to make me feel like I wasn't drowning.

Grabbing a lead role, I clipped Harley to the cross ties starting to brush his already shiny coat. I spoiled him a bit, giving him more attention than the others. I made sure to groom him everyday because he loved it and it helped me to relax. He was a gorgeous 17.2 hh Black Warmblood gelding. I'd snagged him from an auction as a foal on my 9th birthday as a scared, emaciated little colt. Sadly we need Thoroughbreds so his genes weren't needed, which is a pity because he'd make some beautiful foals.

He lifts his lips to my hair, nibbling on it as I brush down his neck. I'm the only person that he's fully comfortable with and he tended to be a bit protective. My brothers called him the Satan Horse since he only stood still for them if they had treats. Even then he still wouldn't allow them to touch him. When strangers got to close to his stall or the paddock fence he would bite or kick them, especially men.

Going through my usual routine, I quickly felt the tension leave my body. I only ever felt completely relaxed when I was with horses. Even when I was around my family there was always some tension in my shoulders and I never feel perfectly content and relaxed like I do with horses. After checking his girth I bring Harley to the back gate, deciding to ride the west side of our property to check on some of the mares.

I keep him at a walk until we get to the herd, takin a head count to make sure we have them all. Once the herd is out of sight I let him have his head and we gallop across the grass along the back gate. I can feel the smile spreading across my face, just like it always does. This is what I love, the wind in my hair and his mane, feeling like nothing can catch me as long as we're running.

Out of my peripheral vision I see a car pulling along the road up to our gate. I slow Harley to a canter and stop next to the car. They roll the window down and I see two boys about my age and assume they're my brothers new friends. My brothers hadn't said they were coming over today or I would have brought some food or something so I didn't have to go back to the house.

The guy in the passenger seat is staring at me like a peace of meat and my normal scowl appears on my face. "What do you want?" I ask sharply, not feeling the need to beat around the bush.

"Uh.. we're trying to get in, we're here to hang out with your brothers." Says the driver and my scowl deepens. He looks nervous, like I might scream at him just for speaking. I'm not that bitchy looking am I?

"They didn't tell me anyone was coming, what are your names?" I ask, bored. The sooner I can let them in the sooner I can get far away from here. Harley starts fidgeting underneath me, feeling me getting stressed.