Changing Strides

~Chapter 11~

  I walked into barn with Sammy and walked over to Meg. I introduced them to each other and questioned where Miss. Woods was. Meg pointed to the track room, "She's cleaning saddles because I'm busy at the moment and there's no one else here." I looked a round realizing how quiet it was, "Oh, yeah. Alright well I'll go talk to her and probably end up finishing the saddles. See you around." Meg nodded and sped off towards the paddocks to retrieve horses. I led Sammy to the track room where Miss. Woods sat intent on her job scrubbing each saddle efficiently and with care. She looked up when I knocked on the side of the doorway. "Greetings, Miss. Woods. I brought my friend Sammy today because she is interested in riding." Miss. Woods set the half cleaned saddle beside her, stood up, brushed off her hands on a rag and stuck out a hand in greeting, Sammy met it. "Alright Claire. Um, you can show her around, we'll welcome anyone who comes in. So, I have to do a couple things first before joining you guys. By the way, what is your status, I see you don't have your boot." I leaned against the doorway as I spoke, "Um, yes my ankle is healed, but they want me to take it easy. I was thinking of riding today and possibly bareback. Though they said my back may hurt when riding so I'll see how it goes." Miss. Woods nodded, excused herself and left us alone. I showed Sammy around, her excitement growing. We ended back up at the track room and I taught her how to clean a saddle and we polished away.

After finishing, I went to find Miss. Woods talking with Meg near one of the paddocks. I approached them, "Excuse me real quick, but Miss. Woods, what horses should we take?" Miss. Woods spoke quickly to Meg and Meg walked off. She turned back to me. "I think you should start off on Moon, She's also easier to balance on. Assuming Sammy has no experience, take her on, Max." I looked at her blankly. "The quarter horse gelding, trail horse, 15.3 hh, 13 years old, paddock 2." I nodded getting acquainted with this horses info. It sounded fitting for a newbie. I grabbed a spare lead rope and showed Sammy how to bring a horse in. I called Max's name and he came trotting toward us obediently. I clipped the rope to the halter and had Sammy lead him out. We walked back to the stables and got Max into cross ties. I took Moon from her stall and clipped her into cross ties as well. I showed Sammy how to groom, tack, and get the right size helmet. We did some groundwork then mounted. Miss. Woods started teaching Sammy to ride, leaving me to get reacquainted with riding. I sat comfortably on Moon's back, I slowly warmed up, barely able to trot her before my back started to twinge. I stopped Moon, she twisted her head towards me as of to wonder what was wrong. I looked at her and saw Storm's muzzle in my face as I laid on the arena dirt unable to move. "Storm misses you." I turned Moon to see Meg standing behind me. "Excuse me?" I gripped my back and bit my lip. "You heard, Storm misses you, he refuses to eat sometimes and bucks off anyone who tries to ride him." I gazed down. "I can't, not yet. I, have to get awa-off." I painfully dismounted Moon taking her riens. I took a deep breath, trying to relax my back. "Claire, come. Put Moon in her stall." I nodded relieved to not have to bend down to untack and groom her.

I followed Meg into the tack room and sat down. Meg handed me an ice pack. I put the ice on my back and leaned against the wall breathing a sigh of relief, thankful for ice. "Claire, are you okay?" I avoided her gaze. I couldn't speak, I just started to cry, a stifled, yet painful cry. Meg came over and sat next to me. She started telling me a story and I didn't really listen until she mentioned something that stung me. "When I was jumping, Leo, he threw me over the fence. I hit the top pole and still landed on the ground. I had fractured a bone in my back. Even after the bone was healed, it was still excruciating to ride. But I couldn't do anything, that's when my show days ended. Then I went to college and then got my job here. Though I don't want you to give up. You luckily are young enough to still have a chance. You could be great. I don't want you riding anymore today, but you can help me bring in horses." I nodded and stood up. Meg looked at me, "You know the rule, sit, twenty minutes." She gave me a bridle along with a rag and polish. "This will keep you busy." Meg smiled and walked out.
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  A little while later, I led the last horse in.  His frisky nature was sometimes difficult to control, even if it was just from the paddock to the washing stall.  I inquired to Meg as I approached her.  "How does anyone mount this horse, gosh, I can barely lead him here."  Meg gave a slight chuckle.  "Someone just as frisky and demanding as him?"
 

"Who?"
  "Emily," Meg says matter-of-factly.
  "Really, that little girl?"  Meg nods in reply and I don't argue.  Instead, I bring up another topic, one that's been bothering me since the accident.  "Hey Meg, who tacked up Storm at the Jump-Off?"  Meg looks at me, perplexed.
  "I thought you did, I was going to do it, but I saw him tacked up and I figured it was you."
  "I didn't tack him though."
  "Well, I was helping others, go ask Julie, she was the groom for the day."

  "Is Julie even here today?"
  "I'm afraid not, she hasn't been here for a long time now that I think about it."  Rage bubbled through my body.  I needed to find out what happened, and I needed to know, now.