King of the Herd Book 1: Running Midnight

Chapter Three: The Test

After they showed her around upstairs, they went downstairs and into the kitchen, that's when Riley realized that the first two doors on the left went into the kitchen. In the kitchen between the two doors were a long counter and a sink; on the left side of the kitchen was a refrigerator, a freezer and cabinets. On the back wall, there were another long counter and a stove; on the right in a corner was a table that looked like a round booth and a couple chairs, but between that table and the stove was two sliding doors.

"Why don't you go on to the back porch, that's where we are going to eat." said Grandma Rose, as she was preparing a salad.

"Do you need any help?" Riley offered.

"If you want you can take these biscuits out to the table." and she handed her a basket of biscuits.

"Okay" she replied and she walked out unto the back porch. It was so beautiful; the porch was as long as the house and as wide as the length of three horses! The porch had a roof, so even on raining weather they can go out and watch the rainfall. Riley put the biscuits on the table and walks over to the railing. She looked over and saw that the porch was partly off the ground. She looked down and saw the porch was about eight feet of the ground. Then she saw them, twenty beautiful horses grazing at the bottom of the hill. She gasped as the horse started running to the other end of the pasture. It was like she was dreaming the horses moved with such grace that it looked like they were flying.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" asked Alex. Riley nodded. Alex walked up and leaned on the railing right next to her. "Whenever I'm sad, I come out here and watch them." she nod towards the horses. "They always bring a smile to my face." "Its time to eat" Grandma Rose said behind them. They had biscuits, beef and vegetable soup, and a green salad. "Gram here is our cook." said Alex as she was finishing her soup. "And your baker" Jake added, as Grandma Rose brought a delicious cherry pie.

While they were eating dinner, Riley had talked about her childhood, her parents, the moves, and why she was here in paradise.

"So Riley," Jake said in a curious voice, "of all your moving around and all. How's your riding?"

"Beginner" replied Riley. "I have only taking a couple lessons, I was doing western. When I left, I just started to lope. We did a lot of trotting, but that was it. " she said as she looked down at her folded hand that where placed on her lap.

"Well, would you like to go for a ride?" asked Chuck.

"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Riley. "Yes, please!" She was so excited the she practically jumped out of her seat.

"Do you know how to groom, saddle, and bridle a horse?" asked Chuck.

"Yes, I do" she replied proudly, "I never even falling off a horse before." she said with a laugh.

"Well, you'll probably be doing a lot of that here." he said with a chuckle. Alex and Jake chuckled with Chuck. "What horse do you think we should put her on?" he asked Jake and Alex.

"I think we should saddle four different temperamental horses, starting with an easy one then work our way up." said Alex

"Good idea Alex!" said Grandma Rose.

"I think we should put her on Victoria first." said Grandma Rose, "She so sweet and innocent, she would be the perfect for Riley's first horse."

"Perfect" said Alex. "Then we'll be her on Corina, she's a great horse, one of my favorites. But, sometimes she's a little picky on how you turn her or get her to move faster. It has to be just right or she won't do it."

"Alright, that sounds good." Said Chuck, "Then, we'll put her on Pocahontas. She is what her name means playful, frolic girl. Then I don't know what to Riley on after that." he said looking around the table, "If she's that good."