I was rudely awoken as the truck hit a dip in the road, causing me to slam my head against the window. I groggily blinked my eyes and grudgingly rubbed the sore spot on my head. Up in the front, Ryan turned from his seat and gave me a lopsided grin.
"Sleeping Beauty awakes", he said with a chuckle. I reached over and punched his arm lightly. He held up his arms in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, take it easy! I'm delicate!"
"You're an ass", I replied.
"Taylor!" Kayden reprimanded sharply from the drivers seat. I gave her an apologetic grin in the rearview mirror.
"Sorry", I said, although I rolled my eyes the moment she wasn't looking. I pushed my hair out of my eyes and looked outside.
"Where are we?" I asked no one in particular. Kayden answered.
"About 20 minutes from the showground." I exhaled loudly and flopped back in my seat dramatically. A minute later, I leaned forward again.
"Are we there yet?" I asked mischievously. Kayden fixed me with one of her motherly glares through the rearview mirror.
"Oh, god, Taylor. Do not start that with me." She warned. I laughed and resumed staring out the window. I wondered how Sundance was, and I felt a little separation anxiety even though I knew she was only feet from me.
Soon enough, we were at the schooling show. We pulled into a spot at the showground, and I got yelled at again by Kayden when I took my seatbelt off before she'd fully parked.
"Sorry!" I yelped, before jumping out of the truck and slamming the door behind me, something I knew annoyed my sister to no end.
I jogged around to the back of the horse trailer and slid the latch up and open. Ryan appeared as I lowered the ramp. Surprised snorts greeted me as sunlight flooded into the dingy trailer. I smiled as Sundance looked over the stall dividers and whinnied at me, stamping a foot impatiently.
"Why don't I unload Jailbreaker? He's always a handful", Ryan suggested. I nodded, relieved I wouldn't have to deal with the chestnut gelding's fireworks. Ryan grabbed a lead rope hanging on the trailer wall and cautiously approached the nearest stall. Jailbreaker nervously flicked his ears around and snorted as Ryan squeezed into his stall. It was a dangerous thing to do with a horse like him, but if anyone knew the chestnut gelding and had the power to handle him, it was Ryan.
Without wasting a second, Ryan untied the gelding from the trailer and clipped the lead line to his halter. I undid the chain keeping the horse in place and stepped back as Ryan led Jailbreaker out of the trailer. The gelding nervously stamped his hooves and snorted, but trustingly followed his handler's commands. Ryan spoke soothingly to the horse, and in no time, Jailbreaker was out of the trailer. He shook his mane out and gave a little buck, stretching out his muscles.
"Easy boy. Time for all your fireworks later", Ryan said and lead the gelding to the side of the trailer, when he tied him to a ring connected to the trailer side. The chestnut gelding yawned and dropped his head, but I Wawa a mischievous glint in his eyes, and I knew he wasn't done getting his energy out.
"Alright, my turn. I'll get Mazie out." I grabbed another lead rope and calmly walked into the trailer. The Gypsy Vanner/Warmblood mare looked over at me curiously, snorting a quiet hello. I slipped into her trailer stall and clipped the lead onto her halter. I rubbed her neck, and rubbed her face against my chest. I smiled and led her outside, knowing that the mare wouldn't try anything. She calmly followed, hay falling out of her mouth.
Kayden waited at the ramp of the trailer. As soon as Mazie spotted her, she pricked her ears and puffed out a breath of air in delight. My sister smiled as she took the lead from me, and I laughed as Mazie nibbled her hair happily.
