Hoofbeat Ridge Soaring High

Chapter 2

It was late when I got home. I silently slipped through the front door and bolted up the stairs to my room. Luckily my mom wasn't home yet so she would have no idea that I got home late. Quickly I jumped into the shower and got into my P.j's and started working on my "homework" when she walked in.

"I'm home Chris!" She called up the stairs.

"Okay!" I called back. I heard her walking up the stairs and she opened my bedroom door.

"Homework?" She asked.

I nodded. I wasn't really doing homework, we didn't have any. I was just drawing. Drawing was a pass time for me. I hardly ever did it unless I had a lot to think about or was just flat out bored. My mom nodded and walked out shutting the door behind her. I sighed and looked down at my drawing. "Man...I really need to ride." I said almost without realizing it. I looked outside my window. The ground had been given another coat of fine, white snow and was glittering from the moonlight. There was hardly any clouds in the sky and only the full moon really stuck out. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. "6:40." I frowned. It wasn't worth risking getting sick or something happening to me or Dusty. Sighing again I leaned back, sketch pad in hand and pencil twirling between fingers. I had begun to sketch a horse, I didn't think I was good, and no one knew about my drawings but me, and I intended to keep it that way. After about an hour I had finished my drawing and was slowly drifting off. My body was sore completely and I knew it would be worse tomorrow. School was not going to be fun. With one final yawn I gave in to sleep and was out in about five minutes.

~*~

I whimpered as I got out of bed. My whole entire body was completely sore and stiff. Any movement sent pain through my body. I decided to just make it a relaxing day so lose jeans, t-shirt and a pony-tail was the only thing that I did. I walked out to the bus stop, the cold winter air barely having an effect on me. My phone went off in my pocket, grumbling I dug it out and answered.

"Yeah?"

"Oh good, Chris, it's Jay. We have a problem at the track."

"What's wrong?" I asked, turning my back to the road and wind.

Jay sighed. "Some guy dropped a horse off down at the track barn and no one knows what breed it is. No one will get near it."

"So what do you expect me to do about it?" I asked. I knew I sounded a little grouchy, I hadn't missed a day of riding and I was going to today. That set me in a bad mood enough, and now I was expected to miss a day of school.

"I need someone with hands as calm as your's." Jay said. "You're more sensitive to Glory than anyone has been. No one has been able to let him loose and control him."

"So, I'm expected to miss a day of school, noted that it's only my second day, to come down to the track and try to figure out this horse?" I said, it sounded incredibly stupid and just plain get me in trouble. If Jay was implying that I was a horse whisperer I was going to shoot him. I wasn't one.

"As crazy as it sounds...yes."

I sighed and pressed a finger to my temple. "Fine. Give me about twenty minutes. I'll get Dusty and head out."

"Thanks Chris." Jay hung up and I made my way to the barn. I had never ridden in anything but my riding clothes, so this was new. I had to admit, I was a little nervous on the whole idea. Luckily I remembered that I had put an extra pair of my winter riding jeans in my saddle bag. Quickly I changed in the tack room and grabbed my English saddle and bridle and got Dusty out. Within record time, Dusty and I were tacked up and ready. I swung up and clicked to the big gelding and he sprang to a bouncy rack. Quickly I adjusted my seat and fell in rhythm with his strides. I cut into the woods behind my house and steered Dusty around the trees. It was about a half hour ride to the track, if we only racked. If I could manage to get Dusty into a canter we would make it in about fifteen minutes. Dusty was quick for a Tennessee Walker, where as, most Walkers didn't canter or gallop. Dusty was an exception. I rubbed my knuckles on his withers. "Come on Dusty buddy..." I whispered. I clicked my tongue, and squeezed my legs tighter to hold on more to the saddle. "Canter." I said clearly enough. Dusty's ears flicked back and I felt the smooth transition in his strides into a well gathered canter. I smiled and continued to steer my friend through the trees.