My Second Chance

Chapter Fourteen

The next few days went by as a blur. I didn't do a lot. I was still so upset about Dad. I didn't ride, I barely talked and I couldn't even bring myself to eat Elizabeth's delicious food. The only person who I could talk to was Chloe. But the fifth day after the funeral, I was sitting upstairs Mac, Daisy and Buddy when Chloe came up the stairs and said," How would you feel about riding Buck?"

I stared at her, not really sure if she meant it. He and I had developed a very strong bond over the last couple of weeks and, now, he would come to me when he was called and had even let me sit on him.

"Doesn't he need to be trained," I asked.

"Yes," Chloe replied," I thought that you might want to do it. You haven't been out in ages. Yes, I know I'm trying to put Ava in foal so I thought it would be good for you to get out and do something."

I sighed and grinned at her. She was very good at trapping me in a net. Not that I didn't want to ride Buck, but the thought did make me feel nervous and even a little bit scared but I pushed that feeling to the back of my head.

"Okay," I grinned," When do we start?"

"If he doesn't walk on, then flick him behind his legs," Chloe said from the fence.

We were in the lunging paddock now, and I was lunging Buck. So far, he was doing very well and was trying his best. He was wearing a lovely leather saddle which Chloe had fitted to him earlier. She said that she had never seen a saddle that had fitted so nicely. It was like it was made for him. Buck was walking around in circles now, tossing his head proudly. He was such a show off! We made excellent progress that day. Chloe told me that I might be able to ride him by the end of the week. I was so excited at that thought, it even bought my appetite back. When we went into the house that evening, I found myself eating lots and lots. I was so full by the end of the meal, I could barely move. I could just about get up to my room, collapse onto my bed and go to sleep. The next morning, I woke up early. I jumped out of bed, fully refreshed. I ran down to the barn to greet Ava and Buck. I mucked out both of their stables and I groomed them both. As I was finishing, Chloe came in on a Cleveland bay gelding called Mickey after checking the horses on the far side of the farm.

"Shall we go for a ride?" I asked.

"I'm really sorry but I've got the farrier coming this morning to see some of the horses," Chloe said, getting off Mickey and putting him in his stale opposite Buck," But you can go if you want. I know a great trail on the hills. You can't get lost."

I was disappointed but I nodded at Chloe's suggestion. She took me into the tack room and on the wall hung a huge map of all of the trails around here. Chloe was right; the trail was an easy one so I decided that it would make a nice ride. I tacked Ava up and we went down a small path which led to the back of the farm and the hills. It really was beautiful up there. I made a mental note to ride Buck up here when he had been backed. I nudged Ava on and we walked over the hills and the beautiful scenery.