Unbridled Beginnings

Chapter 15: Drenched

I step down from the bus on to the Mayfield Ranch driveway, and look up at the unpredictable grey sky. As I start to walk towards the stables, rain begins to spit against my face. The small droplets soon turn into a heavy downpour and I run the rest of the way to shelter, attempting to cover my head with my schoolbag.

When I finally make it inside I spot Janet outside running with two horses on leads. She slows Solly the Connemara, and a black x-racehorse down when she enters the stable and quickly puts them in their stalls.

"Hey Hayley! I'm so glad your here! Can you help me bring the rest of the horses in please?" She says gasping for air in between breaths.

"Yeah," I say, trying to sound enthusiastic.

We both run out into the pouring rain, exposing our bodies to the cold water. I first grab Sharki from his paddock and a small pinto shetland that is with him.

Janet soon appears into the stable as well, leading Nova and her horse Sam, a blue roan gelding. Nova frets and scatters around on the concrete floor, so I take her from Janet and put her in one of the last remaining stalls. We get two towels each from the tack room and begin to dry off the horses. As we catch our breath, neither me or Janet says a word but I continue to dry Nova and the other horses. In the process I also use the towel to dry myself off and try to stop my wet school uniform sticking to my cold skin.

"Hayley, I've been meaning to tell you this," Janet begins. "Mayfield Ranch is currently running low on money as it usually does in summer. But this year our income is lower than it should be and I'm struggling to keep up with paying bills." She says.

I'm startled at what she says since I had no idea. The thought of getting to a point where Janet has to sell the ranch, and leave Sharki with no place to stay brings tears to my eyes. But I quickly blink them away, trying to show her that I'm positive.

"Janet I... I don't know how to help. I wish I could though. Is... Is there anything you want me to do?" I stutter.

"Thank you for your willingness to help Hayley, but really at this point theres really nothing you can do," she replies sadly.

I walk out, close Nova's stall door behind me, and go inside the tack room to get a treat for both Sharki and Nova. When I come back Sharki is rolling in his stall making sawdust fly everywhere.

"Sharki!" I say, laughing.

Once he decides to stand up, I put my hand through his stall bars and he greedily gobbles down the apple. I do the same to Nova and when I'm finished they both turn around and start to munch at their hay. I say goodbye to Janet and the horses as the rain has now calmed slightly. I know this might be my only chance to get home without being completely drenched.

On the walk home I think about any way that I could help Janet pay for the bills at Mayfield Ranch. But none come to my mind, except maybe earning the little money that Jack and Alison might give me for chores.

I continue to think of ideas even when I arrive home and go up to my bedroom. I think through dinner time with Jack and Alison and right until I fall asleep.

I really want to help Janet. But I simply just don't know how.

A/N

Hey Guys!

Will Hayley find a way to help Janet save Mayfield Ranch or will Sharki be left with no place to stay?

Comment below what you think!