Complication

Chapter Eight

My car pulls into the gravel driveway and I walk into the main aisle to greet Harry. He nickers when he sees me walking down the aisle. "Hey boy" I smile automatically.

I quickly groom and tack him and take him into the cross country field all the way in the back of the barn, behind the woods, behind everything. I knew nobody would be out here and that's really what I needed right now.

Two Trees is closed the Monday after a show. Only some of the grooms and stable hands are there to muck out stalls and feed the horses. I would go to help but even though I know Lucas won't be there, there's a slight chance that he might be. I can't avoid him forever but at least I can put it off for a little longer.

Speaking of avoiding people. I know Justin will be here for his 9 o'clock lesson in a half an hour. I have to tell him but I'd rather have a good ride in Harry before I get my ass kicked.

Harry has been doing great after his whole colic scare. I got him back into regular work in no time and he's being happy as ever.

I work him in the grass field for a half an hour and then pop over the cross country jumps. I haven't jumped him in a while because I've been so busy I haven't had the time and I really miss him. "Whoa" I say as I canter up to a 3ft gate. Harry's ears swivel back and he slide stops like a western reiner. I get pushed forwarded in the saddle but re-adjust myself as Harry stands perfectly still. "Sorry bud" I say, forgetting that he hates it when I talk when I'm on his back.

I pick up my canter again and steer back around to the gate jump. I half halt without a word and Harry easily shortens his stride. I stand up in my irons and laugh when he throws a happy buck on the other side.

After jumping a couple more things I call it a day and walk him out going back through the woods.

Justin has a grey mare on cross ties when I walk Harry into the barn. "Hey!" He smiles his signature smile.

I couldn't help but smile back, but it soon disappeared, "I'm going to take care of Harry, I'll talk to you in a second." I say and keep walking right past him. I groom Harry and put him back in the stall when I finished. Then I just stand in the front of his stall, debating on going to talk to Justin or running away to restart my life.

I get the answer by Harry shoving me forward with his head. I give him the stink eye and he looks at me with his innocent face.  "You're lucky you're cute." I say and he bobs his head up and down like he already knows.

The grey horse isn't on cross ties anymore so I wonder into the office to see Justin sitting in a chair watching Josh ride his horse in the indoor. He sees me and smiles once again. Automatically my lips form into a smile as well.

Without thinking I wrapped my arms around him and hug him, suddenly really sad. "Is this what three days away does to you?" He jokes, knowing that I hate hugging people. "I heard you kicked ass in the big eq! That's awesome!" He hugs me back. "How was yesterday's show? I didn't get a chance to talk to you."

I don't answer, too scared even thinking of what's going to happen. Justin notices my silence and pulls away to look at my face. "What happened?" He asks concerned. His dark blue eyes all worried.

"I have to tell you something." And I tell him everything. Everything from Saturday night to right now. I watch his face stay the same, no anger, no sadness, nothing. "I'm sorry Justin! I should've told you that day but so was too scared! Please for-"

He lips form into a smile and he chuckles, "come here" he wraps me into a hug.

"You're not mad?"

"Why would I be? It's not your fault. I would go over there to talk to him but it seems you already took care of that." I picks up my right hand and looks at my red knuckles.

I laugh, relived "So you're not mad?"

"Of course not. If he does it again then I'll have a problem."

"I don't think he will but if he does promise me you won't do anything stupid." Because if he does I can lose my job.

"I promise." He claps his hands together, "Now that that's out of the way, Are you done here?"

"Um, I was going to play with Zara a bit. Why?"

"Come on." I follow him out and to his BMW. I get in the passenger seat. "Friend of yours stopped by the barn on Friday looking for you. She has some good news."

"Friend? I don't have friends." I say trying to think of who it is.

Justin pulls into the Chipotle parking lot and walks me in. I stop short when I see Sarah smirking at me. "Oh my god" I drag out the words. Sarah is a major in Journalism at Hofstra University. She was one of the people that always came to watch my late night rides on Harry. After that we did become friends, not the ones that you go shopping with and talk constantly to, but we do get along and have some common interests.

"Haven't seen you in a while. How've you been?" She asks.

"Good" I sit down next to Justin and across from her. "I heard you have some good news?"

"I have amazing news." She opens up her blue Hofstra backpack and pulls out a white packet. She puts it down in front of me and I read the first couple lines.

Dear Sarah. ,
I would be honored to Publish the book about the extraordinary life of Gina Ortz. -

There was a whole lot more. Like three pages more, but I couldn't get my eyes to move past my name. "Are you serious!?" I ask in excitement.

"Hell yeah!! And it's a big publisher too!" I high five her and Justin then she asks, "Want to see the book?

"You have it?"

"I had one made before it even sent one to the publisher. I liked the cover so much I just asked him to make them all like this." She pulls out a book from her bag and I gasp.

The cover is me.

A handheld paperback book with me jumping Harry over the last oxer of the course that I showed in in my "comeback" ride. The picture is from behind and it has Harry taking off. I loved the title even more, Growing Up Equestrian, "This is awesome!"

The month I was grounded, I didn't just catch up getting homeschooled. I also worked with Sarah to write this book like it was in first person. Sarah was my ghost writer, I would explain what was happening and how I felt at that moment and she would write it in a story type.

Also, the book isn't just about going to the barn in the middle of the night and showing at the end of it. Although that takes up a big chunk at the end of the book, the book starts with me doing anything possible to get my first riding lesson. It's about making it to where I am now without billions of dollars to spend. I worked for everything, of course my mom helped me, but only when she new I was being serious with my riding career. That's when I bought Harry three years ago. I started riding when I was seven. That was six years of working for everything.

"So your okay with it being published?" Sarah asks.

"Yeah! Definitely!"

"Perfect! Just sign here." Sarah points to a line on a new price of paper out. "It's just approving you permission for your book to be published." She hands me a pen and I sign it without hesitation.

We catch up on everything for a half an hour before we head out. "Can I drive?" I ask Justin.

"You? Drive my car. That I don't let anyone drive?"

"Yeah"

"No" he looks over at me and sees my puppy dog face and immediately looks away and gets in the drivers seat.

I laugh and get in the passengers seat. "One day I'll drive it."

"I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you." he say as he starts the engine.