Dancing With The Devil

Chapter 1

I stood there, surrounded by the other riders and there horses, awaiting the results for the dressage competition, my fingers secretly crossed behind my back even though I was 19 and had won too many shows to count and placed in even more. I knew I couldn't be too cocky though. I mean, my trainer told me just about a million times that I had been great, but I criticize myself more than she does. I was surrounded by amazing riders that i could have been surprised to be competing against. However, i knew Captain, the grey andalusian i was paid to ride, had been just about wonderful. He always tries his absolute best and I love him so much for that.

"And the results are in for the Prix St. George dressage competition!" The announcer said into the microphone. I was freaking out inside but hopefully succeeding to look completely calm on the outside. My fingers were beginning to hurt because I was crossing them so tightly. I glanced down and they were white, but I couldn't risk uncrossing them. Yep, I was a little superstitious not that it mattered. Anyway, I kept my fingers crossed maybe even tighter than before, lightly biting my lip. If I even placed in this competition it would be like that big step for me into the world of professional dressage and I'd be on the road towards the Olympics. I had no clue if I'd ever make it there but hey, a girl can dream!

"In third place," the announcer continued. " Is Makayla Olning and Leap of Faith." I nodded and smiled. I had met Makayla a couple of days ago when we were taking care of the horses. She had been really nice and she was an amazing rider. "In second place, is Cody Atkin riding Legacy." Another amazing rider. If he got second I was sure I couldn't have won. There was no way, no possible way. "In first place," the announcer paused for emphasis. " is Dakota Smith riding Captain's Command!" Usually I'd cringe at the sound of my real name - I didn't like it very much {sorry if your name is Dakota, I actually love the name, it's just the character I made up, honest :)}. But not this time. I was shocked for a minute. Then it took everything I had not to scream. Instead I simply smiled and went up to the front of the crowd to receive my ribbon, still slightly stunned as the crowd applauded. Did that really just happen? YEP!

"Amazing," I said sitting on the floor of Captain's softly bedded stall as he ate the hay around me. "Just amazing. We won, we actually did it! It's all beacuse you're an amazing horse." I patted Captain's neck and kissed him on the nose. "And I couldn't be any happier than I am right now." That statement would soon be proven wrong.

I could hear footsteps against the concrete isleway. They were getting closer. My instructor, Mandy's voice echoed against the barn walls. "Kota? Kota!"

I waited until she was right in front of Captain's stall. Then I popped up from my sitting position in the straw. "Yep?!" I said.

Mandy whipped herself around and faced me, her eyes wide. "Kota!" She gasped. "You scared me half to death!"

"We'll that was the plan."

"You are such a child. How did you make it here in the first place." She said the last part jokingly.

"Thank you, and because Captain and I are a great team." I smiled and stepped out of the stall.

"Well I can definitely agree with that." Mandy laughed. "Now how 'bout you come back to the hotel and we'll have a celebration dinner. There's someone who really wants to see you and I think you'll be happy to see them." She smiled.

I nodded. "Okay, I'll be over in a few minutes."

Once Mandy had left I checked to make sure Captain had plenty of water and hay, then I headed back to the hotel.

At the hotel I quickly stopped at my room and changed into decent clothes, brushing my hair out and washing the dirt off of my face. Then i made my way to the dining room where i took a seat next to Mandy and ordered a coke. "So," I glanced over at Mandy. "Where's the person you were telling me about?"

"Oh," Mandy said. "He should be around here somewhere." She glanced all around the room.

As if on cue a reddish-brown haired boy dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans walked into the room and I stood up from my chair. When he saw me, he walked faster towards me until he was picking me up and spinning me around in his arms. When we pulled away from each other he was smiling. "Kota!"

"Ty!" I gave him a quick hug. "I missed you!" Ty is my boyfriend and has been for three years.

"I missed you too." He kissed me on the cheek. "Luckily I got here just in time to see your amazing performance on Captain, I mean, it was truly amazing. I wanted so bad to see you when they announced you as the winner but I couldn't get through the crowd and..."

"Ty," I cut him off. "Ty it's okay, you're here now and I couldn't be happier." I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and he blushed. We had kissed each other countless times so it must of been because he realized he had been rambling. I laughed and ruffled his hair.

"Hey, hey, hey, not the hair!" He smoothed it back out but since it was kind of long it just fell over his face and I laughed again as I pushed it away from his eyes.

I took Ty's hand and led him over to the table and we sat down. "Let's get some dinner."