Oak Valley Stables

Chapter twelve

Both riders rested with their horses for a while. Gale took her feet out of the stirrups and slouched forward to stroke Vlad's neck. Suddenly, a cold drop of rain splashed off her hand.
"Is it raining?" Gale sat back up and looked across at Jackson. He turned Goldrush around and put his hand out.
"Yeah," he nodded as a few droplets landed on his palm. Gale slipped her feet back into her stirrups and kicked Vlad towards the other horse and rider.
"Typical British weather..." Gale sighed. "It should clear up," With that, the rain got heavier, without any warning. It landed on the horses' fur, causing it to darken and their manes to tangle. Looking up, Gale could see the clouds hanging ominously over the sky. The rain plummeted to the earth, thundering upon the ground. Vlad shuffled, ears flattened back, eyes wide and muscles tensed.
"Is he alright?" Jackson asked.
"I think so; he's just scared. Let's go back. If we go slowly, we should be fine," Gale uttered. Jackson nodded and Gale moved Vlad on. She followed the same track but the dry path was no longer solid but instead slippery under the horses hooves. The muddy water ran past them in streams. Vlad snorted and raised his head, obviously spooked by this. Soon the whole bridleway was flooded up to the horse's hocks and was filled with sticks and leaves. A wave of thick mud water washed over the horses' legs. Vlad let out a sheik and reared up, thrashing his front hooves into the water.
"Woah!" Jackson pulled Goldrush to the side, dodging Vlad's kicks. The splashing water made Vlad even more spooked. He darted forward, off trail, and into the trees. Gale gripped her reins and pulled Vlad back but he just flung his head back as he tried to canter. As he dashed from side to side, he raced into low branches that hit Gale and made Vlad throw himself about.
Seeing enough space to go at top speed, Vlad galloped forward, splashing muddy water everywhere.
"Yaw!" Jackson yelled and Goldrush started to gallop down the track. Gale went to pull him back again but it was too late as he'd already met with a fallen tree. Before she could react, Vlad throw himself forward. With a splash, his hooves crashed into the water. Gale was dumbfounded.
A loop of rope flung around Vlad's neck. Gale looked up to see Jackson on Goldrush, holding a lasso. He'd caught up with them after Vlad went off track.
"Alright?" Jackson asked. Gale nodded, shakily. She pushed Vlad on and walked back to the path with Jackson. She straightened up and watched Vlad slowly became less tense. The rain was beginning to stop and the sky started to clear. The wind was still howling but without the rain it wasn't as bad.
The bridleway seemed endless; it stretched on for what seemed like forever. When they had galloped, it had only take a little while, maybe two minutes or so. Now it took an eternity.
The remaining water drained off of the path and into the undergrowth. Underneath the path was now muddy. Gale was careful not to let Vlad stand onto the really muddy parts and slip. She looked around her. Small trees were now up rooted and the ground had become slush. Gale sighed and looked up at Jackson. He was stroking Goldrush's mane. The path suddenly ended and the two riders emerged from the trees. Gale could see the true damage of the storm. The fields weren't green and covered in grass anymore; they had been flooded. Some parts of the grass still had water floating upon its surface but some parts had already turned into sludge. People were gathered outside and around the barn. They seemed to be worried.
Gale and Jackson trotted on to see what was happening.
"What in tarnation is going on here?" Jackson asked. Carol appeared, leading two horses out of the barn.
"The first couple of stalls have been flooded. Same with the tack room and the feed room," Carol explained. "You guys were out in the storm weren't you? Were you okay?"
"Yeah," Gale nodded "We're both fine..."
"Good good," Carol smiled and took the horses to one side. With that Amber came crashing out of the barn carrying her pink saddle blanket and bridle.
"My designer tack!" She wailed as she held them out in front of her. They were soaked, dripping onto the ground. "It's ruined!" She shrieked before storming off. Gale could hear Jackson chuckle softly into her ear. Victoria and Jake appeared with Shadow and Apollo.
"Are the horses alright?" Gale asked. Victoria nodded.
"Shadow and Apollo are fine. They were near the back of the barn," She explained.
"At least we know our tack and horses are okay," Jackson went to pull the lasso off over Vlad's head.
"Ha! I know someone who wasn't so worried about her horse!" Victoria sneered and pointed across the yard. Amber's horse, Belle was being taken care of by Carol. The bay Hackney was shaken up and her legs were soaking wet. Gale snorted in disgust and rolled her eyes.
"If I had a horse that fancy, I'd do anything for it," She sighed, as she watched Amber flap about her wet tack.
"Well, some people just can't be real horse people-" Jackson kicked Goldrush on. Gale went to follow him.
"I guess not..." She steered Vlad alongside the palomino.
"Anyhow, I can't see you on a fancy horse like that," Jackson jumped off of Goldrush and went to tie him up.
"It would be as strange as a Royal guard riding a Dartmoor pony," Gale agreed as she dismounted.
"So, you wanna help sweep the water out of the barn?" Victoria handed Gale a broom.
"Sure," She nodded. "You coming?" She asked the blonde boy.
"Yeah," Jackson smiled. They left the black Anglo-Arab and palomino Quarter horse to eat hay.