Riding Like the Wind

Lilly

Today - Saturday Cali had her foal. Tomorrow- Sunday I leave for school aka Falling Rivers Riding Academy. My mother called and explained the situation and FRRA principal said it was ok. Cali and the dun filly ran around in the pasture. Tiny little filly.

"Pack. Pack memories or pack your own clothes? They're coming with you, you know."

"Jasper! I know, I know but they are so beautiful together. Where's Dad?"

Jasper and I are the same age at 14 he is turning 15 in 2 months though. My birthday is in 5 months. Anyways, I've known him since my parents brought me home from the hospital. Seriously. His father ,George, is the foreman here. So it's safe to say Jasper and I are best friends.

"Working Lilly. Breakin' her in I suppose. He had the saddle out and all and-"

"I have to be there!" I turned to run away to go to the corral but paused and said," I have to ride her."

"Oh. Take the shortcut."

I had no time for jokes. "What shortcut?"

"The one I bushogged yesterday."

He pointed I ran he followed.

I was there in 30 seconds instead of 3 or even 4 minutes. I liked that shortcut.

" Dad! I'm here!" I yelled climbing over the corral fence.

"Someone's late but here. Better late than never I s'pose."

My dad grinned at me and I could tell he wasn't angry. My father was from Utah and you could tell. He had typical cowboy slang and so we had a ranch/farm. We were in Virginia. In the mountains though.

I hopped on Lilly having completely forgotten that she was not broke yet. I jogged, I loped, I did a complicated pole excercise. I grinned and looked at my dad still completely unaware that Lilly had never been ridden before. My dad had such a shocked look on his face I thought I had done something wrong.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled then walked over to the gate opened it and walked out. I was about to get off when I heard," What did she do?"

Then," HANNAH WATEN!" I gulped back tears and turned Lilly and kicked and she galloped off. What had I done so wrong? I heard Jasper say," Uncle, she's gone." (I call Jasper's father uncle and vice versa.) "Jasper saddle up Onyx I've gotta find 'er." Jasper said." No sir. I'm saddling up Foryx and I'm going. Trust me." I waited silently for the response and upon hearing nothing I knew that Jasper was coming and that I needed to go. So I whispered,"Go." And Lilly ran. As she ran wind stung my eyes and tears came down my face.

  «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»

"Hannah he didn't, he wasn't, ugh, he's not angry at you."

"He yelled my full name. What did I do that was so stupid? What ,Jasper, what?" I shouted at him even though it wasn't his fault. Then softer I whispered, "Why?"

"Lilly. How many times has she been ridden Han? How many times?"

"Never. Never. And I asked too much. Way too much. That's why he's angry."

"No he's impressed. With Lilly. You asked, she did. You did ask a lot of her. You kept pushing because she responded perfectly. So no he's not mad. He's impressed."

"Jasp I can't bring Lilly."

"So what does that mean?"

"It means I want to take her."

"It means your parents packed for you." The voice was soft and gentle. "I shouldn't have yelled Hannah. I'm sorry. I was impressed. I was wrong."

The word wrong isn't one frequently associated with my father. Wrong how? I thought. Wrong about what he said about Lilly. I thought.