Clear as Day (Scotty McCreery fanfic)

Chapter 16- Back on a horse

~Emily’s POV

Honestly though I was excited to get back on a horse. It had been way too long. The excuse I’ve been using back home was that I didn’t have enough time. Truthfully I was too scared after my accident. I had been on the trail, bareback, and there was a family of deer that ran out of nowhere. My horse decided to bolt, and my head hit a low tree limb. I was knocked off my horse unconscious. When I woke up he was grazing a little farther down the path, but my head hurt too much to move. Of course I had on a helmet, but sometimes that doesn’t always help. Since then I’ve only been brushing and lunging him at home. Getting back on a horse was way overdue. What better way could you do that than with a bomb proof trail horse.

We got there and the next group left in 30 minutes. We were introduced to our horses and they showed us where their tack was, because I offered to help due to them running a little late. Scotty got a cute little buckskin mare and I was paired with a dun paint gelding. Both of them western and I got right back into it. Remembering how to tack up a horse is just like riding a bike, you can’t ever forget how.

~Scotty’s POV

I knew it was pushing it to try to get Em back on a horse, but it was worth a shot. When she offered to help tack up, and I saw her doing her thing, it reminded me of the girl I used to know, before her accident. She never once blamed her horse; she was just scared to get back on, which is acceptable. I made it a priority to help her face that fear, starting here.

Before the group left we had to all go into the ring so our guide could assess our skills and figure out what order people would ride in. Also to make sure everyone’s tack was all set.

Then we left for the trail and our guide had Em and I go first, so we rode side by side and just talked.

“Thank you for getting me to do this.” She said.

“You’re welcome, now to just get you back on Mick at home.” Mick is her horse, a haflinger gelding. She always said she liked shorter horses, because it was less to fall from.

“I don’t know about that.”

“I’ll be there to help you I promise.” I told her.

“But what if something like that happens again,” she asked.

“That’s why you’re gunna use your saddle this time.” He joked.

“Okay,” She said, and I could tell I pushed the subject too far.

 I started talking about eliminations tonight instead. There are 25 of us left and tonight is the four chair challenge. Meaning that everyone is to perform and their judge can either eliminate them or have them take one of their four seats. Each category had 4 chairs so the group would go from 25 to 16 tonight, so I have to bring my all. “I hope I get a chair tonight.”

“Are you kidding me, I know you’ll do fine. It’s not like this year is full of country artists,” which was a good point. “What song is it tonight?”

“I’m doing ‘Amazed,’ by Lonestar.” I answered.

Our trail ride was about an hour long and I guess it made a huge loop because we were never told to turn anywhere. By the time I started recognizing trees that were towards the beginning is when I figured this out. They wanted us going back to the ring for some reason.

We got into the clearing and there are a ton of people with cameras and an American Idol van. Damn, I can’t do anything anymore. “There he is!!” Our guide came up first and cut the camera men off saying the horses don’t like cameras and to stay back, until we got into the ring. He said Emily and I were allowed to show off a little bit, just no galloping. I glanced at Emily and she just smiled. All of the other riders got off and led their horses to the edge of the ring. Em and I cantered around the ring while the cameras filmed, mostly me though. I was just happy to see Emily having fun. Maybe getting her back on her horse wasn’t going to be so hard after all.

It took a little bit to cool our horses off and then we took them back to the barn with the cameras following, at a distance. After untacking and giving them treats, I was bombarded by camera men. All asking questions like “How long have I been riding,” “Have I always been a ‘Country Boy,’” “When did I learn to ride,” “Did Emily teach me?” It was so annoying, yes I liked being on the show and everything but just the fact that I couldn’t have any privacy anymore. It’s even getting hard to get into our hotel room at night; they all just wait for us in the lobby. If only I knew it was this bad.

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A.N.

Uhoh, will this mean Scotty will drop out if he's already annoyed by the cameras???

What will happen at the four chair challenge?

Will Emily ever ride again, at home?

Stay around new chapter every night,,, x-factor is on tonight and I just have to wait for it to record. I want Restless Road or Alex and Sierra to win!! What about y'all??

Oh thanks you guys sooo much for over 200 reads!! That amazing Love y'al soo much ~Emily