This ain't no hobby...

Chapter 1: Getting to know Shelby Leeson

"Shelby you really have to get you butt of to school!" my mom yelled when she came into the barn for the eighth time that morning. I was busy brushing my horse Echo.
.
I was not in the mood to go to school, I don't fit in with any of the clicks, all the extra activities wil keep me from riding my horses and I just won't accept that.

At least I have Kelsey, she is my best friend since we started riding together at the age of 4. We are always together on weekends, either at their ranch or here on ours and al we do is RIDE!!

***

It's only me and my mom that live on our Ranch in Austin Texas. My dad died when I was 6, he was killed on duty in Iraq. Since my dad died my mom has been working as a waiter at Ray's Diner during the day and she picks up the graveyard shift as a nurse at our local hospital.

I have been training horses here and there as the time allows, for some extra money to help her out.
At the moment we have 5 horses on the ranch. Echo, Shelly, Mixy, Dakota and Bonno.

Echo is my cheecky palimino quarter horse, we grew up together and learned together, he is also 2013 to 2016's gelding of the year, that's excluding al our class achievements and other show performances. He is an allrounder as I want to do everything that you can do from horseback.

Shelly is/was my daddy's horse, she is a stocky chestnut ranch horse that just loves to work cattle. He named her Shelly cause that's what he always called me. I use Shelly to move the cattle from the pen to the field in the morning and bring them back in the afternoon.

Mixy is mamma's horse.Mixy is a Appaloosa mare about 14 years of age, but she is a good working horse. Mixy loves my mom, she tolerates other humans. We have a alright friendship but she won't take any nonsense from me.

Dakota is a wild quarter horse mare I bought of one of the local cowboys. He caught her close to his ranch and thought I would make a good horse out of her. It is weird to see a wild quarter horse as they tend to be a very calm breed.

Bonno the bay quarter horse stallion just showed up one night in one of our pastures. We asked around but he didn't seem to belong to someone so we took him in. I have been looking for a stallion to breed with.

I let Echo out and walked up to our house, it is a typical ranch house. Double story. My room has a balcony that looks out over the ranch.(I just love that). One of my favorite things to do is sit on the balcony and watch the horses play in the pasture.

***

As I get ready for school the smell of beacon and eggs entered my room.

"SHELBY!!! Breakfast is ready, get your ass down here!" came the call I was waiting for. I ran down the stairs at the speed of light, sat down at my usual spot, said my prairs and dug into the deliciousness.

"Honey, I think something is wrong with Mixy" my mom said with a little bit of worry in her voice. "She is walking around al mopey and she is coughing quite allot."

"I will check her when I come back from school mom, maby it's just flu." I said assuring her that she'll be allright
I gave my mom a hug an ran out the door to catch the bus.

***

Out of the bus and onto the grounds of the nonunderstandinghood of teenagers, also known as Austin High.

"SHELBY!!!!" Kelsey screamed as she came running towards me like a train. "Kels!! Wow.. it's been like what, 12 hours!!!" I joked.

As we walked to out lockers we had to pass the cheerleaders. They are friendly, but they don't understand the whole horsey life thing.

"Hey Shel and Kels, you up for a party tonight. My house, 8 o'clock" asked Camilia, the head cheerleader and I'd say the prettiest girl in school.

"Hey Cam, sorry something is wrong with Mixy and I have to check her, maby antoher time" I replied strongly. You could feel her roll her eyes.

"Yeah horsegirl you always say that but you never mean it cause everytime the damn horses get priority." she said but with a little bit of rudeniss in her voice.

It is nice of her to invite us to the party. Maby we can make it if Mixy is alright.

"Listen Cam, My horses is my life, okay, so offcourse they are priority, maby we'll make it by I can not promise anything." I told her and crossed my arms.

Camilia looked at me, scoffed, and walk off towards, guess who!! The Football Team!!.

"What's wrong with Mixy, Shelby" Kelsey sounded worried. She also rides Mixy when she visits our ranch without her horse.

"I don't know." I look at Kelsey. "My mom told me this morning at breakfast that she doen't look good, so I said I'll check her when I get back from school. It is probably just some flu." I answerd Kelsey.

Luckily I did a junior vet course a while ago so I would be able to cure my own animals, I also have a fully stocked Pharmacy in the barn.

"Can I come with you, I would like to see Dakota. Have you made any progress with her yet." Kelsey asked as we walked to out lockers.

"Yeah, I have got her in te round pen and got close enough for her to feel confident to approach me." I told her. "But I have not introduced the halter yet. I don't want to scare her."

"WoW Shelby, I wish I had knew how to tame horses like you do." Kelsey said and went into a state we call daydreaming.

"Kels, we have to get to class and your standing here day dreaming. I have told you over and over that I can teach you, but you keep chickening out." I snapped my fingers in front of Kelsey's face to get her back to reality.

"No Shelby you don't understand, what you do can't be taught. You have a gift." she answered.

I roll my eyes at Kelsey and start walking towards homeroom.