One Bay Later

Chapter 5

I woke up to find myself lying on top of the covers.  It had been a hot night yesterday and I was restless the entire night.  I sighed and rolled off my bed.  I walked over to my closet and flung it open.  I changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.  I hoped to work with Liberty today.  With my hair scraped back into a ponytail and secured tightly, I picked up my boots and put them on.  I strode out into the kitchen to find a small sandwich waiting for me and a note written by my mom:

Olivia:

Your father and I went out to the tack store.   After that I will go to Mia’s.  The sandwich is your breakfast.  Here are your chores for today:

-Lounge Skye

-Lounge Harmony

-Put Lucy and Jasmine in Pasture B

-Candy in Pasture A

-Muck out Lucy, Jasmine, and Candy’s stalls

Then the rest of the day is yours to ride Selia and work with Augotti’s mare.

Love,

Mom

I folded the note and shoved it into my pocket and ate the sandwich before heading out.  I swung open the door to the tack room and grabbed the lounge whip out of the corner and plucked off the lounge line that hung on a nail next to it.

I haltered Skye, the tall gray thoroughbred and looked over into Belle’s empty stall.  Belle was the mother of our only little foal.  I led her to the round pen and asked her to walk on the rail.  She did so.  Skye was normally Lauren’s riding horse.  I clicked and waved the whip to ask her to walk a bit faster.

“Good girl,” I praised.

I asked for a faster walk.  Then I changed directions.  She walked gently with even steps.  Then I asked for a trot.  She kept walking.

“Ta-rot on,” I said.  She tossed her head and I pulled a bit on the lounge rope, “Trot.”  I spoke in a low voice, but firmly.

Skye tossed her head and I couldn’t do this.  “Whooa, halt.”  She walked slower and slower.  She ended up halting.  I backed her up a lot then I clicked my tongue, “Walk on.”  Skye began walking.  “Ta-rot.”  She began trotting.  “Goood girl!”

“You are a good trainer,” a voice said.

For some reason, I knew it was our new neighbor.  He was sitting on his horse from yesterday and was next to the rail.

“Thanks,” I muttered, not glancing at him at all.

I kept her trotting around me in a circle.  He didn’t leave.

“Aren’t you supposed to be riding or something?” I asked.

“No,” he said nonchalantly, “I’m free to do anything I want.”

“Then why don’t you jump the fence again and rub it in my face that you are allowed to do as much riding as you want and I can’t,” I growled hotly.

“I didn’t mean it like that!” he protested.  I should've felt a pang of sympathy since he obviously didn’t know what I was talking about but I didn't.

“Waalk,” I said.  Skye slowed to a walk.  “Good girl!” I praised.

She reached the side where it was closest to the fence and her ears pricked straight up and she stared at the horse curiously.   The Cob also was curious about Skye.  I changed her direction and she again was curious and not attentive to my directions.  So I shot a glare at “Murray” and said to Skye, “Ta-rot.”  She trotted on.