True Blue (Canterwood Crest)

Chapter 18 - It's a secret...can you keep it?

I stared at the paper, not believing what I'd read. It was beautiful, sad, horrifying...how could someone like Beau be like that? I slowly bent down again and brushed off the dirt. I'd suspected Beau was a person who hid behind a fake front but this page proved it. I didn't believe he had wrote this...carefully I folded it up and slid it into my pocket.

xXx

Clarke and I walked down the aisle, she held her tack, and me a Pessoa. I held a rein-less bridle with a snaffle bit in my other hand. Clarke turned away down her isle and I continued down mine, reaching Chance's stall. I took a deep breath, this was the first time I was trying a bit on him. But Chance was getting better, he was obviously remembering his training from before he was taken. I clipped him onto the crosstie and pulled my drawstring bag open, grabbing my currycomb, dandy and pick.

I let him sniff the pick and surprising me he grabbed it and shook his head around. Laughing, I reached for his nose and pulled him down, gently prying it from him. I reached down, sliding my fingers down his flexor tendon and squeezing, he lifted his foot up quickly, eager to please. I smiled, he was really improving and becoming responsive. I cleaned his foot, dropped it carefully and patted his shoulder. After I had finished all his feet I dropped the pick and decided against currying him. He didn't have a winter coat so he wasn't getting too hot. I reached for the dandy, scrubbing his coat and getting rid of the shavings and burrs. When I was satisfied I reached for the bridle. Chance took the bit easily and chomped on it.

Smiling I clipped a lunge lead on and lead him to the circular arena. As I reached the fence I placed the Pessoa on his back, he seemed fine... I reached under him and picked up the sir-single he still didn't move...I put it up one hole. He twitched his ears but that was it.

I reached for his neck, giving him a stroke and patting him. Then reached down and did it up another.

Eventually the Pessoa was on tight. Not going anywhere. I took the clip, Mr. Conner said he'd measured it earlier after lending it to me. Sliding the line through his bit and down I clipped it to the martingale strap. The did the same on the other. I then slid the lunge line through one side, looped it and the back the other way. Slowly I let the rope out and clucked Chance forward. Not used to the roll, he gave a buck which tightened the front. He learnt quickly that if he kept his bum in and head down, he would be far more comfortable.

xXx

Fifteen minutes later I had worked him, cooled him down and was leading him into his stall. I grabbed a dandy brush and just ran it over him to get rid of some wet spots. Then ran into the tack room, grabbed a carrot from the huge bag and started walking back quickly, only to find Clarke walking to the tack room. Perfect timing! I fed Chance the carrot and ran around the corner, bumping into something... The only thing running the light my head as I hit the ground was that it wasn't  there before now! Landing on my bum hard.

"Ouch." I whisper winded. The drawing lay open on the ground and I slid my hand over it.

"Hey." Someone whispered.
I glanced up, my face an inch from his. Beau. I closed the drawing in my fist. Hiding it away. It was too late.

"What was that?" He asked gently. Grabbing my shoulders and pulling me up.

I gulped, "well...I...it was on the floor...and I.." I stuttered, struggling over my words, "I picked it up! You dropped it..."

"Cami, you can't tell anyone!" He says, his eyes panicked. "My sister would