Heartlines

Chapter 8

Chapter 8           

“You sure about this Krista? I mean, we haven’t had him very long. I have no idea how he is on trails, or anywhere away from home. I don’t think this is a good idea. At all.” Trina was ranting on and on to me as I loaded Kiro into the trailer. I simply smiled at my worried trainer, “Don’t worry, I promise, everything will be okay. He’s a good boy, I’ll take good care of him, and he’ll take care of me. It’s okay.” I clipped his halter into the manger as Trina did up the butt-bar in the back. She huffed, “famous last words,” but left it at that. After everything was all set, and Kiro was eating away at his hay, I hopped into the cab of my truck. I leaned out the window to call to Trina, “Thanks again for letting me borrow the trailer! We’ll be back by eight!” She smiled halfheartedly, gave me a curt wave, and headed back into the barn. She had just a bit of cleaning up to do before heading out.

I hadn’t driven the trailer a lot, so the drive itself always worried me. Of course, I’d never been in an accident (knock on wood), and neither had anyone I’d known. I was a good driver, so I really wasn’t sure why I was so timid. “Just nature, I suppose” I said to nobody. I checked the rearview at the trailer once again; everything was just fine, as I expected. When I arrived at the stables, I was immediately impressed. I hadn’t ever actually been to the barn Jared kept Northgate at. “Green Lantern Stables” read the beautiful elaborate sign set out front of the property. Thankfully there was no gate – that might have been a little too intimidating for me. “Dang Jared, I knew your parents were doctors, but I had no clue they were this wealthy …” I thought aloud. After driving up the long, concrete driveway, I parked in a spot farther back. Trina had lent me her nicer two horse trailer… but my truck wasn’t quite as fancy.

I unloaded Kiro from the trailer quickly, happy I had dressed him in matching red shipping gear. The sheet and boots complimented his jet black coat very well, not to mention the halter and lead I held. “Good thing we wore our nice threads to this place, huh Kiro?” I patted his glistening neck, then led him into the beautiful white barn, lined with a gentle green trim. Inside, the barn was stunning.

The stalls were perfect. A beautiful cherry color, matched with black, twisted iron. Cleaner than some of my dinner plates quite possibly, and matted and bedded with the finest material. The aisles were just as neat, with one solid piece of concrete going through the whole area. The wash-stalls were perfectly kept. I was almost scared to walk Kiro down the hall and place him in the cross-ties, afraid he may dirty something. I’d kill to see the tack room of this place. I didn’t have enough time to snoop some more before Jared turned the corner and found me.

“I thought I heard hooves! How you doing Krista-Kat?” Jared came up and gave me a big hug, before turning to my black giant. “Wow Kat …” was all he could say. He walked up to pat Kiro. I stepped toward Jared, about to warn him of Kiro’s habits with other people, “Jared, wai-… woah…” Kiro let him pet him. Jared had rested his hand upon his nose, and began to stroke his face, calmly. “What is it?” I just shook my head, more or less amazed. “He usually … won’t let anyone touch him.” I managed to throw out. Jared laughed, “he just knows who’s awesome and who’s not. NG is in the other crosstie, I’ll just tack him up and meet you here?” I quickly agreed with a nod. Jared smiled and set off, and I began to unload my saddle and bridle out of the trailer before placing them upon Kiro’s back. “Well buddy … I just realized I might like red just as much as you look good in it!” His saddle pad and SMB boots were both red as well. Well, at least he matched.

It wasn’t long after I had gotten Kiro ready that Jared walked down the aisle with Northgate, or NG as he called him. He was already mounted, so I did the same. The doors were extra high in this barn, a luxury I wasn’t used to. Heck, this whole stable was a luxury I wasn’t used to. “Alright, I’ll take the lead. There’s this beautiful trail I’ve really been wanting to take you on. It will really get him going through everything, and you’ll have a blast with it.” I smiled and nodded, letting him go ahead. “That sounds perfect to me! He’s a good guy, I’m sure he’ll do great with the trails.” I gave him a good pat, and we set off.

The trail started really quiet. We had to go through one of the pastures to get to the woods, and when we did get to the forest, the trees were light. It was really quite silent, for being winter, there was little wildlife scurrying about. The frosty air did look simply beautiful against the trees though. A photographer would probably give an arm and a leg to see this place. “Jared, it’s gorgeous.” I mumbled. “Wow Krista, you really haven’t been trail riding … it gets a lot better than trees.” I thought my mouth would fall open. More beautiful than this? I was actually a bit jealous of Jared now. This was the norm for him, he could-and possibly did- see this every other day. It was really stunning. Northgate was looking grand as well.

I’d always been a fan of the big bay gelding. He moved almost flawlessly, and was muscled to the core. You could tell Jared had worked hard with his horse, in Dressage and Jumping alike. They also did Cross Country, and I knew that certaintly took a very, very fit horse. I was never one for solid obstacles, but I’d almost brave it if I could have Kiro looking like that. And … if I hadn’t had my accident. I suddenly noticed that NG had come to a halt, and Jared was looking back at me and Kiro. “In la-la land? Come up her, Kat, come see. Now this, this is gorgeous.” I rode up next to him, hoping Kiro would be fine with NG’s company. As soon as I saw what Jared saw, my reins fell from my hands, and my jaw fell from my face. “Oh my … Jared …”

It was probably the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen in my entire life. We stood upon a steep hill, looking down over a valley. There was a lake, crystal in color, with a cross country course wrapping around it. Stone walls, ditches, flowery jumps and hedges. Trees danced around the trail of jumps, stretching their bare arms to the sky. A light frost covered the grass, leaving the whole field in a subtle blue shade. The winter air and sky complimented the area perfectly, giving everything a clam, peaceful feel. The horses’ heat kept me from freezing where I was and never moving. Somebody nickered beneath us, and for just a moment my gaze was stolen from the breathtaking view. The horses were breathing into each other’s noses, seemingly perfectly content with each other. I said, with a breathy, amazed tone, “well looks like we have a friendship brewing here!” Jared laughed, then turned to me. “Haha, yea. They take after their owners pretty well, eh?” He grinned and leaned over, punching my arm gently. I returned the punch as we laughed a bit, looking from the horses, the view, to each other. I didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. Then Jared turned Northgate, and started to head down the hill. “Come on, Kat, let’s go try this thing out!” I stood there, not fully comprehending what Jared just said. “Uh … you mean …” He laughed again, and without turning called back, “The course, Krista, come on!” The course. Of jumps. Solid jumps. “Oohh, no …” I muttered to myself, before asking Kiro to make his decent down the hill.