Filling in the Pieces // Luke Brooks

Chapter 9 - Training Day

        The next morning I woke up lying next to the stall Jewels paced in wanting to get out, with a blanket over top of me and some breakfast beside me. I sat up rubbing my eyes as I heard someone stomp down the stairs. Turning my head I made eye contact with Luke and smiled before quickly remembering that I slept on a barn floor last night and probably look like shit.

        "Did you do this?" I asked as I glanced down at the small plate of toast and fruit beside me.

        "Yeah," he nodded, "I figured you'd be hungry and too eager to spend time with that horse to actually get yourself some food."

        "Yeah," I sighed with a smile as almost a way to say thank you. "I still don't know what to do with her," I shrugged my shoulders, looking up at her as she swayed impatiently.

        "You'll figure it out, I know you will," he stated before walking out of the barn.               

        After Luke left I pretty much spent the whole day with Jewels; caring for her, calming her down, and unfortunately creating more and more of a bond between us. Luke would occasionally try to get me to go for a ride or get some lunch, but all I wanted to do was stay with Jewels. I'm the only person that she trusted at the moment and I wasn't about to leave. Night came quickly and was just in the middle of making my barn floor bed when my grandpa and the twins walked in.

        "No, this is not happening again," my grandpa shook his head, "you can't keep sleeping on the barn floor."

        "Come on just one more night," I pleaded.

        "Don't you start with me. She will be right here where you left her in the morning."

        "I can sleep down here with her tonight and you can take my bed," Luke offered and I smiled, about to say thank you and agree when my grandpa cut me off.

        "Yeah, like I'm going to allow her to bunk up there with Jai, not a chance," he almost laughed at the thought of it. "You will all be in your own beds tonight," he said before walking out. 

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        Two days have passed since we have had Jewels and she is making a wonderful recovery. We got her to go outside and stay in the pen with other horses today. We have also discovered the hard way, -sorry Jai- that I am the only person that she lets touch or even go near her. On that note, I feel that our bond is strong enough for me to attempt to train her when no one is around, and tomorrow will be the perfect opportunity. 

        I woke up at around 8 o'clock and people were already gone. My mother had taken Danica to her baseball game, and my grandpa had taken Luke on a delivery trip that is way out of Hudson. Today it's just Jai, Jewels, and I. 

        I started off by putting a halter and lead rope on Jewels to make her run in circles at different speeds. Getting her to change from one speed to another was difficult because all she did was run. After about an hour or so, I was able to get her to go from walk, to trot, to canter. It was a long task of trial and error and Jai laughing, but we finally got there. The next step was to get her to do this drill with a blanket on her back, acting as a saddle. At first she was a bit hesitant, but once I calmed her down I was able to do it. What felt like minutes of training was actually long hours, and I knew my mother would be home soon. There was still one last thing I wanted to try. I slowly raised myself onto her back, and swung my leg over. I was able to sit up straight on her back for a few seconds, before she bucked me off and I was face first in the dirt. With my head spinning a bit, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

         "Are you okay?"Jai asked, as he helped me up.

        "I'm fine, I'm fine," I said in return.

        "I think that's enough for today, I'll bring her to the barn, and you... don't move," he ordered trying to grab her lead.

        When he returned my head had stopped spinning and I was able to walk on my own now.

        "Did you see how long I was on her for Jai? I can't believe that I was actually able to get on her back!" I said with adrenaline rushing through my veins.

        "All I saw was your ass being thrown to the ground," he smirked, and I lightly punched him in the arm and giggle when he flashed me a shocked face.

        "With the progress I made today I'm going to tell everyone that I am training her, but do not tell them about the fall," I quickly said as my mom's car pulled up the driveway and I narrowed my eyes at him.