Behind A Horses Eyes

-Nicki's POV-

'Trot on! Trot! I SAID TROT YOU STUPID PONY!' I shout at the skewbald.

I forgot my whip, worst luck, and had to ride Jasper and he was the only horse in. Well, pony. Cassia isn't here to help as she's with Moon. I know Linda abused Moon and that made me sad. Sad because Linda had to reason to do that. Unless there's something she's not telling me. I caught her in action one day, beating the poor grey. Now Linda is in prison and doesn't matter how fed up I act, I don't think I'm fooling anyone.

Secretly I am glad she went to prison. Moon didn't deserve it and Linda was being a bully. More then a bully. A stupid cow. Just like this stupid pony. He's half asleep already and we've only been in the arena five minutes.

'Get moving, Jasper! Oh my gosh, I hate riding you!' I say, angrily. Usually I give him four whips and he bucks with me. Then I struggle to hold back the tears because Linda would be angry. But now I'm angry and upset with this pony. I've barely ever cantered him.

'Jasper, why won't you move?' I ask. He suddenly stops and won't move so I boot him in the ribs. That didn't do anything. I need a whip badly. Sighing, I give up and dismount before leading him out of the arena. It's just too much work.

'Whats wrong?' asks Cassia as Jasper and I walk around to the stable block.

'This pony. He won't move,' I moan. I un tack and put him out and Cassia goes back to Moon. Why bother riding now? Im tired from Jasper.

Linda's coming out from prison soon. Mummy told me this morning. I don't know how anyone could want to bail out a horrible person like Linda. She's mean and doesn't even like me. She only likes people who can ride. I'll admit, I can't ride really well as I'm not very confident. This whole thing started with me getting private lessons from Linda and then offered me a job riding for her. At first it was a bit bumpy. Linda sometimes didn't pay me the right amount of even forgot to pay me. I felt too shy to ask for money and when I came home empty handed Daddy got angry with Linda. He stormed to the stable and demanded my money. At first Linda went red and said sorry but then got angry and nearly fired me.

I'm not so sure it was a good idea to carry on working here.

I walk into the arena and put up the jumps, pretending to be a horse. They're very small jumps as I jump them without a horse. By the time I've finished, I'm exhausted and tired out.

'Well well well, you don't see that every day,' says a voice. I spin around.

Standing there is a young woman, grinning.

Linda.

-Cassia's POV-

I had just finished with Moon when I heard voices. There was Nicki and another woman's voice. My first thought was Linda but how could it be? She's not meant to be back yet. As I got closer it sounded more like Linda. I decide to hide in the darkness of the tack room.

'So how did you get out?' I hear Nicki ask.

'I thought your mum told you?' Linda says.

'She said you got bailed out! But you weren't supposed to get out yet, were you?' Nicki demands.

'Well, I just thought you guys wouldn't be able to cope without me around here,'

'Well you were wrong, weren't you? It's been okay, really,'

'The show?'

'We went and, okay, it wasn't so good but Cassia was nice and good to me. She's been great when you've been away,'

'I thought you said she was a stupid cow who knows nothing about horses?'

'I....Erm.......I was wrong....' I sigh. Nicki's been saying stuff about me?

'Were ya?'

'Yes! I want you to go back to prison and serve your time or whatever. Because Moon is way better off without you being here. If you go now I won't tell Cassia about this. I won't tell anyone about this. I know you've made a runner. Go, go back,' I didn't hear the rest because I ran. I ran to the back of the yard, to Moon. Moon is looking really good. He let me go near him and even walk him around on the lead rope. I'm going to ride soon. Properly. Yesterday, I just mounted and then dismounted. I did that about seven times with the saddle and bridle on him. Things have been going brilliantly.

Until now.

Linda is back and what can I do about it?

NOTHING.

I appear in front if them and Nicki flushes a shade of red whilst hanging her head. Linda smiles at me even though I just got her in prison.

'Hello Cassia. First of all I would like to thank you,' Linda says.

'Thank me?'

'Yes. Going to prison was like a wake up call. Now I'll never ever hurt another animal. And I'll stay out of Moon's way,' she says. Sounds good to me.

'Really? Thanks!' I smile and look at Nicki.

'Anyway, see ya,' I say.

'Cassia! You don't have to go! Why don't you stay?' Nicki says.

'Uh... I gotta go,' I say, hurrying off.

I grab my jacket and bike from the tack room and cycle home.

-Nicki's POV-

As soon as Cassia left I knew Linda would start.

'Right! Lets get training! Tack up any old horse,' she said to me.

This was going to be a long evening.