Watch Me

Chapter Three

Tara slipped the bridle over Jewel's head and guided the cool bit into her mouth. She lifted the western saddle onto the mare's back and tightened the cinch. Jewel lowered her head and blew out a lung full of air.

Tara led the mare out of the barn and up to the rock she used as a mounting block. She placed one foot in the stirrup and swung the other leg over, settling into the saddle. Jewel walked forward with spunk and eagerness. Her ears were perked and she was full of energy. Tara pulled the reins the slightest bit and Jewel slowed to a normal paced walk instead of her peppy brisk pace.

They rode out to the road. Jewel stopped at the road edge, patiently waiting for a truck to pass. The driver waved and Tara waved back, a smile on her face. She loved to ride Jewel out onto the road. She loved seeing all of the people and she knew that Jewel enjoyed it as well.

About a mile down the road, Tara guided Jewel onto a trail they hadn't been on in ages. The grass was almost a foot tall and the trees quickly thickened. Jewel plowed through the tall weeds, her tail occasionally swatting at a biting fly. The little mare picked her way over a few fallen limbs and logs and Tara ducked down to avoid low hanging branches. The trail wound through the trees and turned abruptly towards a steep hill. Tara grabbed a piece of Jewel's thick mane and leaned forward to help the mare balance as she climbed up. She launched with her powerful hindquarters and reached the top without a problem.

They came up to a clearing that opened up to a massive field. Tara stopped Jewel and looked around. Her eyes fell on three other riders coming towards her. She instantly recognized the stunning chestnut gelding Fibinaci. His rider, Mindy Archer, smirked and called out "well look here, if it isn't Tara Douglas on her mutt of a horse."

"Mindy." Tara exchanged glances with Genni and Ingrid, Mindy's followers. "I didn't know you rode out this way."

"I don't usually, but I guess I have to ride outside of my professional quality show ring at least once."

Tara rolled her eyes. She hated listening to Mindy brag. Mindy Archer was the daughter of a top of the class neuro surgeon. She was the only child and she always got what she wanted. Her father bought her an Olympic level dressage stallion when she was twelve because she "just couldn't live without him."

Genni struggled to hold her gelding at a halt. He tossed his large chestnut head and pulled hard on the bit, almost yanking the reins out of her tight hands. He stomped his hooves and reared up, his front hooves barely leaving the ground.

"Gosh, Genni! Get that mule under control!"

Genni gave an apologetic look to Mindy then spun the gelding in a tight circle, pulling on the rein hard enough to bring his head to her knee. Tara watched in horror as the gelding retaliated by throwing his head up and lunging forward, ears pinned. He jumped directly at Tara and Jewel. Before Tara could react, Jewel reared up high, the gelding going just under her hooves as she spun on her haunches and landed. She pinned her black tipped ears and kicked one hind leg out towards the gelding.

Tara glared at Mindy. She was laughing. "What the hell?" she yelled. She turned to face Genni, who had finally brought the gelding to a standstill. "Are you serious?"

Mindy  continued to laugh. She finally stopped and smiled. "Well, I guess you and your mutt should've been ready."

"Stop calling her a mutt" Tara growled. She could feel Jewel becoming tense. The little mare didn't like being around horses that weren't only twice her size, but could also harm her with their misbehaving.

"Why?" Mindy asked. "That is what she is. She's a no good mutt of a horse that can't do anything worth while. She isn't good for anything other than dog food."

Tara's eyes grew wide with anger. "Take that back!" Jewel raised her head and took one step forward, her muscles tightening and her frame collecting.

Mindy leaned forward and smirked. "You know what? How about we prove how worthless your mutt is? I say we settle this here and now. There is a single pine tree on the other end of this field. I'll race you out there. If you beat me, I'll leave you alone. If you lose, well, I guess you'll see just how worthless that bag of bones is!"

Tara clenched her jaw and looked out at the field. She knew where the pine was. She also knew that there was a creek that ran through that field. Jewel could jump, but that creek was almost eight feet wide from bank to bank. There were also logs all through the field that they would have to jump. Tara knew that Mindy had an unfair advantage with her expensive eventer.

But she couldn't let Mindy win.

"You're on."

Tara and Mindy rode to the edge of the clearing. Fibinaci pranced in place and Jewel brought her hind up under her, sensing that she was going to run. Tara held her back and tried to keep herself calm. She looked over at Mindy who had the gelding's head pulled almost to his chest. They exchanged cold glances then let the horses go.

Fibinaci sprang forward then bucked twice. Jewel sprinted across the grass, her head stretched out and legs moving quick. Tara crouched low against her neck. She could see Mindy ride Fibinaci out of the corner of her eye. They were about a length ahead.

The first log came out of nowhere. Luckily, Jewel saw it when Tara didn't. She adjusted her stride ever so slightly so she could clear the log cleanly and safely. Fibinaci leapt over a shrub and bucked again. Mindy smacked him so hard with the crop that Tara could see a welt rise on his shoulder. She couldn't believe that someone could treat a horse so poorly. 

Jewel cleared another smaller log then lengthened her stride once more. Tara felt the adrenaline rush through her veins. She knew the creek was coming up. She thought about the almost impossibility of Jewel jumping an eight foot stretch at a gallop. It wasn't that she doubted her mare, she just wasn't sure if it was something Jewel could do.

The time came quickly. Tara swallowed and whispered to Jewel "you can do this, girl."

As if she really understood her, Jewel perked her ears and ran forward, collecting her muscles before she hit the bank. She tucked her haunches under her and sprung into the air, her front legs tucked tightly and neatly and her head stretched out. Tara sat low in the saddle then leaned back as Jewel landed on the other bank. The mare snorted and raced off. Tara smiled widely and looked back at the creek they had just flew over. They did it!

The race wasn't over yet.

Mindy and Fibinaci came up beside Tara and Jewel. The gelding towered over Jewel. The mare paced him as well as she could, her short legs working hard. Tara saw Mindy smile wickedly before she heard the loud smack behind her. Jewel whinnied loudly and leapt away from the other horse, Tara grabbing her mane before losing her seat. Jewel stumbled slightly then shot forward again, her ears pinned aggressively. Tara had never seen this side of her mare. She rode wide eyed as Jewel quickly caught up to Fibinaci.

Jewel glared at Mindy and then moved even closer until her shoulder almost touched Fibinaci's. Mindy looked at Tara, her expression shocked. She looked forward where the pine tree was in sight then turned back to Tara with an ugly expression. She swung the crop again, this time hitting Tara's leg. Tara gasped in pain and looked at the girl in horror. She was willing to physically harm her just to win a stupid race!

Tara swallowed hard then pulled Jewel back just slight enough so Mindy could run ahead and beat her to the pine. Fibinaci tossed his head and kicked out when Mindy forced him to stop at the tree. She turned and smiled cruelly at Tara. Tara let Jewel slow to a lope then jog. Jewel kept her ears back, clearly aggravated.

Tara rode up beside Mindy and willed the tears back until she was done. "I can't believe you would go as far as sabotaging me, all over a stupid little race."

"Well!" Mindy laughed darkly. "You obviously are just a sore loser! Everyone knows that you do what you need to do to win!"

"I can't believe you." Tara whispered, her vision blurring with tears.

Mindy pulled Fibinaci back and whispered "just forget about ever trying to get your mutt to amount to anything." She glanced at Jewel and added "she's absolutely worthless."