True Blue (Canterwood Crest)

Chapter 6 - Team?

I nearly screamed as I looked at it. It's ribs were showing and in some places it was bald. Its hooves were over grown. Its coat was so dirty I couldn't see it's color. It's mane was matted and had burrs in it. Its eyes were defiant. It looked at me with fear. It was a horse...and as I looked at it I nearly cried. By this time my parents had arrived.

"Oh my god." My mother says under her breath.

"I need to save it. DADDY PLEASE!!" I scream crying.

"Honey it's probably too lat-" he tries to console me.

"Please daddy, please?" I beg my eyes never taken off it.

"Cami...we can't just barge in and take him!" He says looking at it. Its head was drooped.

"Fine! Then I'm not going anywhere! I'm not going to Canterwood or home. I'm going to stay with him." I say running into the car and grabbing an apple out of the snack pack. I duck through the fence holding the apple out.

He eyes me wearily, but soon his curiosity took hold of him. He neared and before I could do any thing snatched the apple, as soon as he had a hold on it he took off but it was all too much. Slowing down a few steps later his head drooped and he realized he still had the apple. He bit into it and his head flew up in surprise. He shook his muzzle around and snorted. Giggling I sat down.

"Camber we don't have time for this!" My mom complained.

"Honey are you sure?" My dad asked. He could always tell. That's why I loved him, he listened, actually listened.

"I'm sure daddy..." My dad called the animal shelter and they sent their team here.

They went into the farm and found the owner - they arrested him for animal abuse. And took custody of all ofhis animals - they had already warned him twice before and he had not paid any heed to it. He got put into the car and driven off. Shaking from shock I walked to the little horse - looking at him now he was probably around sixteen - one hands not that small. I loved him, even after such a short time.

He was shaking and whinnying nervously. I sat down on the ground. One thing my old instructor had taught me was that you should never approach a scared horse, it should approach you. I sat on the ground and drew in the sand. He watched me with curiosity and about ten minutes later I felt a breath right above my neck. Lifting my hand up slowly as not to scare him I let him sniff it then touched his nose. He lifted his head up in disgust and threw his top lip up - the flehmen response. I laughed loudly and he spun away bucked. Trotting away from me he flagged his tail and was full of energy.  How could someone be so cruel to such a beautiful animal?  He slowed down and walked back to me. Lowering his head in acceptance. I patted him and rubbed his forehead and behind his ears. My parents were talking to the officers. My dad shook the mans hand as I walked toward them.

"Honey," my mom said, "this kind man has offered to tow your new horse in his trailer to Canterwood for us. His niece goes there so he wants to visit her before school so it was lucky for us that he came..."

"Ok mom." I walk to the man, "thank you sir. It means a lot to me." I say gratefully. After shaking his hand I walk to the side of the road. Picking the greenest grass I can find and walk to him. He warily watches me as I hold it for him, after thirty seconds it's too tempting. He snatches it and then turns his butt into my face.

"I guess you need a name boy?" I whisper.

He turns his head in my direction pricking his ears. It was only by chance that we found him here...Chance! That's it. I'm his second chance and he's mine. "Second Chance..." I whisper. "That's your name."

He nickers softly as if looking for something. Next thing I know he has tossed his head into my face as if to say. 'I'm hungry! Give me food.' I laugh and walk back to my mom and dad who are currently trying to get hold of Canterwood to ask them for a stall. As dad explained the situation I went up to the man who had offered to take him.

"Sir, do you by any chance have some food?" I realized how that sounded, "for him..." I clarify.

He laughs, "yes, actually I have some molasses, oats, tea leaves and pellets."

"Thank you!" I say feeling super happy, I decided to only take a small amount of tea leaves and pellets knowing that he's probably colic if I gave him a lot of food especially after not being fed for such a long time.

"And don't call me sir! It makes me feel old, Mr. Aver will be just fine." He laughs again, rumbling from deep in his stomach.

I head into the trailer and immediately see the food, grabbing a halter and lead. If he wouldn't accept the halter I would tie the lead around his neck and then lead him. In each bucket of food there is a cup, after putting a quarter scoop of pellets into the bowl I grabbed a couple of tea leaves, it was herbal and I'd tried it before, I scrunched and then sprinkled the leaves into the rest of the food in the bucket that was at the back of the trailer. Next I went to our car and emptied a water bottle of water into the food. Sloshing it around with my hand, if I closed my eyes, it was as if nothing had changed. I then picked it up in one hand, slinging the halter over my shoulder and walked out. My dad was off the phone and everyone was waiting for me.

"Chance?" I whispered so he could hear me. Shaking the food around. It took half a minute. He pricked his ears and came from the other side of the ring. He knew food came from me I noted. I put the food on the ground then gently reached forward with the halter. He eyed it. I reached closer. It was in front of him now...I gently rubbed it on his neck and slowly sliding it up showed it to him. He eyes it but made no move. Feeling confident I started undoing it, preparing to undo it and then slide it on. He backed away, turning his bum on me again. Instead of getting frustrated I tried again. This time, rubbing it all over him. He stood but his ears were back as I touched him. I kept on rubbing it. After a bit he stopped being rude and let me rub it along his face. I kept going, it was now touching his ears. I kept rubbing. Everyone's eyes were on me. I tried to ignore them. I let a little piece touch his face and he flickered his ear but nothing happened. I kept going. Now I had it rubbing on his face a bit. After about ten minutes of it...

"Honey we've gotta hurry..." My mom says gently, "we can't make Mr. Aver wait forever!"

"Mom...dad, Mr. Aver. Please may I have two more minutes?" I ask getting frustrated, I was almost there and she'd broken my concentration.

I keep going. Now I let him sniff it again. After about thirty seconds I shifted it a little. Now the nose band part was pressing against his muzzle. I pulled slowly. Only a minute left...I counted down in my head as I pulled it. Suddenly I had an idea. I walked him to the fence leading him with his mane, bending down I leaned through the fence and picked some grass. When he saw it he pricked his ears again, he lipped it up and while he was chewing thoughtfully I pulled the halter the rest of the way, I knew it was risky but I had to. After it was over his ears he stared at me confused. I laughed and did the buckle up. Surprisingly he didn't even react. Chance had been trained before...and as I lead him forward he pricked his ears once more and behaved. He walked into the trailer freely. And I gave him the food I had mixed. As he munched away I placed myself in the grooms place and rested...we were going to Canterwood, not me....us. Me and and Chance. We were a team.

A/N*** this chapter took really long, plus I was away. I'd like to dedicate this chapter to the two people who have been here the whole time time.

AlphaAbi and SpringBlossomSmiles  thanks guys!

Luv yah! ❤️