I untacked Renegade quicker than I'd done anything in my entire life and all the while Connor looked at me like I was a dangerous predator. He walked with me and I decided that then would be the best time to tell him what Leanne had done.
"That girl is insufferable. I'm sorry, but she ruined the progress I had made with Renegade. She came over and squealed as I had just gotten him to relax and he threw me off, I'm ninety percent sure I cracked a few ribs because of it, and I am sick of being left behind. Which doesn't have anything to do with our current situation but still." I ranted.
"She's my cousins twin sister... she's my other cousin... and yes she's annoying sometimes but she's just trying to get through this year. We've been through alot." He whispered, eyes casting down toward the ground.
"What happened?" I asked, curious. "Why isn't her sister here too?"
"That's a long story. And her name was Lillian." He answered.
"I've got time."
"Well, I'll tell you but not here. Let's go." He took my hand and we began walking.
We went off in a direction I'd never been and he began to talk.
"When I was two, my aunt had twins, Leanne and Lillian. We grew up together and became really close and all of us did horse shows together. Well, last year we did a three day event and Lillian tried to get Juniper down a steep bank and instead of running down it, he jumped, she lost her balence, and fell out of the saddle. She landed on her head and it snapped her neck, killing her instantly. My aunt gave me Juniper and Leanne donated Redemption to the barn to help other kids. I gave up riding my horse, Trooper, because he was getting old and I couldn't leave Juniper without a rider... I get that she's pushy, annoying, and even rude, but we've lost one of the three musketeers and we are suffering greatly."
My mind raced with this new information and shame washed over me as I thought of my harsh words to her earlier. I leaned into Connor, wrapping my arms around him and giving him a hug with my head on his chest.
"I'm so sorry.. I have to go straighten something out, okay? I'll see you in a minute. Meet me by the trails and we can take a walk or something." I mumbled.
"Okay, but grab a swimsuit." His smile lit up his features as he dashed off, making me wonder why I'd need a swimsuit.
I turned on my heel and walked back towards the barn, looking for Leanne in the process. When I got back to the barn, she was over by and old buckskin gelding with deep down eyes and a black mane and tail. The name plate read, Troubadour.
"Hey old boy. I'll bet you miss Connor, don't you?" She talks to the old horse like he was a peraon.
I knock on the wood of the stall, making her jump.
"Hey."
"Hi.." comes her awkward reply.
"So, I wanted to apologize. I was way out of line earlier today and I'm so sorry about going off on you like that. I had no right to do that and I wanted to apologize for the way I spoke to you."
"Thanks... I'm Leanne."
"Shasta. Nice to meet you. Connor told me about what happened and I know we don't know one another but if you need to talk to anyone, I'm here for you. I went through a rough loss a moth ago... but I'll help any way I can."
"So Connor told you, huh? Has he ridden Trooper at all?" She asks, looking at the horse next to her.
"I haven't met Trooper yet. He's only ridden Juniper." I replied, looking at Troubadour.
"This is Trooper. I was hoping Connor would at least visit him but it doesn't look like it. When Connor visited him, he never looked this way. His coat was always sparkling and his mane and tail never had tangles." She whispers, her mind far away.
"I'm sure he's visited Troubadour a few times." I say, hoping to comfort her restless mind.
"I'm not so sure.. will you show me to Redemption's stall? I haven't seen her since.. well anyway."
"Yeah. Come on. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you." I smiled.
The two of us left Troubadour to eat his grain and we wandered down the long isle way to the mares side of the barn. At the front was Redemption, poking her head over her stall door. It was a sudden movement but her ears shot forward and she let out a high whinny and looked right at Leanne.
"Hey, Red." She cooed, stroking the mares face when she reached her stall.
"I'm gonna go, I'll see you later maybe. Is it possible I could use Trooper for a trail?" I asked her.
"I don't see why not. I heard you were assigned to Redemption so my aunt is letting me use Trooper but go for it." She smiled.
"Okay. Thanks. Oh, and you can use Red while you're here. I'll use Trooper, if you want." I offered.
"Really? That would be awesome! You're sure you won't mind?"
"I'm sure. She was your horse to begin with." I smiled and walked into the house to get my bathing suit.
I dug through my suit case in search of my mossy oak camouflage bikini and matching swim shorts while I wondered why I would need it anyway. I quickly got my suit and walked into the bathroom, peeling my sweaty clothes from my body and replacing them with the swim suit and a pair of short shorts paired with a maroon tank top and my boots. I pulled my hair into a messy bun and my eyes went to the small owl hanging around my neck. My parents had given it to me for my sixteenth birthday. The diamonds sparkled when the light hit them and it made a small smile come to my face.
I jumped a little when a knock sounded at the door, breaking me from my thoughts.
"Who is it?" I call, walking out of the bathroom.
"It's Leanne, can I come in?" She asks.
"Sure, doors open." I call back, a small laugh escaping my lips.
She opens the door as I pull the covers up, making the bed.
"Connor sent me up here to see if you were ready to go? He wouldn't tell me where though." A puzzled look overtakes her features.
"Yes, I'm ready. He wouldn't tell me either, just said to wear my swim suit.." I replied, confusion coming back to me.
"Well, if you want to take Red you can. By the looks of old Trooper, he probably hasn't been ridden in a long while so I don't know how a bareback ride would go." She laughs.
"Thanks. You should come with us, if you want to." I offer.
"Connor seems like he wants it to just be the two of you so I should probably stay here. I'll put some work unto Trooper and give him some attention anyway." She grinned.
Nodding, I walk out of the room and down the hall to Connor's door. Hushed voices come through the door but the tones are angry.
"She's here to heal, not to get into a relationship to distract her from life! What happens when she goes back home? What then? She just starts all over?" It's Jackie, and by the sound of it, she's pissed.
"No! You don't get it, do you? She's helping me heal! I haven't felt anything but numb since we all watched Lillian die! She makes me feel whole again! If you want proof, go check the liquor bottle that you've marked up to see if I've been drinking. It hasn't changed. I haven't even thought of it since she showed up here! I'm helping her as much as I can and she isn't as bitter as she tries to make everyone think she is. She's my saving grace here, mom. I'm not going to argue anymore. I've got to go." Connor's footsteps came to the door.
My heart hammered in my chest at the thought of being caught eve's dropping and so, I ran.
Word count: 1402
YOU ARE READING
Faith and Freedom
Teen Fiction"You can't honestly think that this smelly creature is the answer to my problems. Your insain. I am NOT going to Tennessee and you can't force me to! I'm FINE!" ******************************** Their parents were killed. Their lives were about to c...
