The Horse By The Picket Fence

Chapter 9

It had been a few days since we got out of the hospital. I came to a conclusion out of the whole experience that crutches suck. The doctor said I could get a boot in a few weeks and ditch the crutches. Teddy said I looked like an old man. I just laughed it off and planned my revenge.

 I hobble over to the barn Prince walked over to the stall wall and got a good look at me. Queenie followed and I took a treat out of my pocket. She nickered and went over to her water. Prince put his head down and rolled in his bedding, I grin watching him. He was so full himself, while I was in the hospital I did all of his paperwork, so he was all ready. In three months he would be ready to wean and I needed to get him a buddy. I hobble back to house and Teddy opens the door for me, I slump on the couch.

"We need a buddy for Prince."

"What why?"

"When we wean him, and someone to walk him to gate before the races."

Teddy thinks about it and agrees.

"I will drive." He says.

I nod and get in his truck, the trailer dragging behind us.

"I will pay for it," Teddy says looking at the road.

"I could not do that. You paid for the hospital."

"I want to, I want my own horse."

"But-"

"No buts, don't argue with me."

I sigh but nod.

"Don't feel guilty you are not taking advantage of me."

I look out the window, we near the auction and we walk around. I let Teddy look at the horses and a weanling catches his eye. His overo coat is covered in mud, his fur matted, but his eyes shine blue. This auction was definitely different than the one we got Prince and Queenie from.

Teddy looks at the info card, he is up to date on all of his shots.

"I love him."

I raise my eyebrow at the weanling, who was hiding in the back of his stall.

"Are you sure?"

Teddy huffs and we walk toward betting area.

"How do you know about this place?" I ask Teddy and we sit.

"My grandpa used to take me here."

I grunt a response which seems to satisfy Teddy. The auction starts and horses go and get sold when the weanling comes out no one bids.

"Don't you want him?"

"At the lowest price, I do."

"$500 that is low as we are going."

Teddy raises his card, the announcer looks relieved.

"$550? No? Ok, going once, going twice, SOLD!"

Teddy smiles and we go to pick up his horse. We load him in the trailer and he goes in quietly.

"He is really calm," I say trying not to spook him.

Teddy nods and shuts the trailer. 

We drive and I try not to think about the accident. Teddy's knuckles are white on the steering wheel and I pretend not to notice. We unload the horse and walk him to the wash stall. Teddy clips him and I sit on a hay bale and rest my arms. Teddy washes the mud off the colt's feet he shies away but eventually does not react. 

"Do you have a name?"

"Ace's Chance."

"That's nice."

Teddy laughs and runs his hands through Ace's mane. The horse nickers and closes his eyes. Prince comes over to the stall wall and looks up trying to get a glimpse of the new horse.

"Look, Prince, this is Ace," I say.

Prince nickers over to Ace who whinnies back. When Ace is done Teddy leads him out to the pasture. He then takes out Prince and Queenie and Prince and Ace play for awhile. Teddy and I go back to the house and watch them from the window. Teddy sips his coffee and watches his new horse. Ace looks happy and him and Prince run and race, Prince wins every time. 

Teddy looks through a magazine and I pick up the newspaper. The doorbell rings and Teddy goes up to answer it. 

"Sorry wrong address." I hear him say.

"Who was that?" I say when he sits back down.

"Some dude, I don't know."

I shrug and flip through the channels. I was starting to get bored so Teddy and I went back down to the barn. I lean against the paddock fence. Queenie was in the run in shed and Prince and Ace were still playing.

"Should we bring them in?" Teddy asks.

I nod and he goes to get the lead rope. He firsts gets Queenie who calls out to Prince. The colt quickly follows whining to Ace.  Ace tries to follow and comes out of the pasture with his friend. Teddy quietly curses and I hobble over to the weanling.

"Shh." I grab his halter and he stays put. 

My bruised fingers run through Ace's mane. He stays calm and Teddy comes back to take him in. When Ace walks away I stumble not realizing I was leaning on him. I follow behind and Teddy puts Ace in his own stall. All is quiet and what seems like forever, Teddy and I relax.

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This is a small filler chapter, but what do you guys think of Ace? He will play a bigger role further on so this is not the last you will see of him. Please vote and comment telling me what you thought about the chapter.

~Luckypaws13