The Horse By The Picket Fence

Chapter 15

Prince crossed the wire, winning. Again. We had ordered silks and decided that Teddy would be his jockey, he was more than happy to agree. After taking them out of the box and Teddy trying them on we then put them on Prince who looked dashing in his silks. 

"I think is ready for his first race," Brian says smiling.

"I think your right."

"I can't remember a time I wasn't."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," I say giving him a grin.

He laughs it off and rubs his hands together.

"I was ready to give up on him." He admits quietly.

I look at him not saying anything.

"I am glad I did not."

"Me too."

Teddy is cooling him down, this was his 3rd time riding him.

"I LOVE HIM!" He shouts over to us.

"You're not supposed to tell us that Shortie!"

"Whatever." I hear him say.

We laugh and go to meet him on the track. 

"His stride was great," Teddy says.

I nod.

"Where should we put him in first?"

Brian pauses to think.

"Let's take him to Del Mar."

I nod, deciding not to question Brian. Teddy hops off Prince and a groom takes him to his stall. I look to the sky hoping I was ready for his maiden run.

***

Teddy spent the entire three-hour drive singing the milk song.

"68 bottles of milk on the wall-"

"TEDDY! STOP WE ARE HERE!" I yell at him.

"Finally," Brian mutters.

Teddy laughs and looks out the window. The race grounds were smaller than other I had been to, but I had to remind myself this was his first race. We park and hop out of the truck to unload the trailer. We drop down the ramp and tap Prince letting him know to dismount. When he doesn't I start to get the concerned.

 Something is holding him and he pulling as hard he can. Ace calmly walks out the trailer and waits for his friend. Prince starts to get agitated. I jog to the front of the trailer and try the front the door. It is jammed, my pulse quickens, my hands grow sweaty. I try the handle again, it still won't budge.

"It is jammed!" 

Brian jogs over and tries the handle, it still won't move. Prince was starting to make loud distress noises.

"We have to get in there," I say running my hand through my hair.

Brian starts to pace.

"The top!"

"What?"

"The top of the trailer has a hatch that we could open and climb inside."

"How the-"

"Shhh, I have a plan."

"Dear Lord."

"Teddy!"

"I am not going to the top of the trailer."

"Come on!"

"No."

"Please?" Brian says.

"N-"

"Teddy, get your skinny butt up there and help the horse," I snap.

"Fine." 

Teddy grumbles something and Brian gives him a leg up. After falling a couple times Teddy finally made it to the roof. There was some fumbling around and we then heard the door open.

"I got the sunroof thing open! Now what?"

"Climb down onto Prince's back," Brian says looking up at Teddy.

"How about no?!"

"GO!" I yell at him.

"He is being crazy," Teddy whines.

"I don't care."

Teddy says something, but I can't hear him. He slowly eases down into the trailer.

"Is he ok?!" I call out to Teddy.

"He shipping halter in badly stuck, I can't untangle it."

"Do you have a knife to cut it with?" Brian says.

"No, why would I have a knife?"

I hear Brian mutter something.

"Give this to him," He says handing me his pocket knife. 

Giving me a leg up I start to climb the trailer. Prince loudly screams.

"What did you do?!" I yell at him.

"Nothing!"

"Jesus."

I climb faster until I reach the top of the trailer.

"Here is a pocket knife," I said reaching down to hand it to him.

Teddy leans back grabbing the pocket knife, I hear sawing and then Prince runs out. A groom catches him and Teddy walks out behind. We all breath a sigh of relief. Prince is walked into the stables, he is still breathing heavily, that poor horse will need therapy.

"Thanks, Teddy."

"It's fine. As long as he is ok," Teddy gestures to Prince who was getting his shipping boots and blanket removed.

I nod and we walk toward him. A groom slips on his halter and stall blanket and then leaves.

"You gave  us a fright Prince."

He snorts and tosses his head looking around. I take a look at his competition, almost all of them were bay.

"Those horses are trying to beat you," I say, whispering to him.

Prince snaps his attention on me. His eye lock with mine and I continue to talk.

"Tommorrow you can run however you like, but you have to know those horses are trying to beat you."

Prince huffs a warm breath of air on my face.

"People have doubted you, underestimated you, but I believe in you, Prince. Tomorrow show them you are royal."

Prince looks away and at the other horses. I give him a pat and walk towards Teddy who was waiting for me beside the doors, he knew better than to ask me what I had said to Prince.

"The race is 1/4 of a mile, he should be able to run full speed with that right?" I say to Teddy and Brian who started walking with us.

"Yeah," They say.

"Try to get him going keep him in the front," Brian says to Teddy who agrees.

"Who should we be worried about?"

"Kool Kid and Chasing Chances are also front runners, and fast ones."

I nod and we hop in the truck and drive to the hotel. I breath a sigh of relief hoping nothing else would go wrong.

================================Sorry! Forgive me? These late updates are killing me please just bear with them. Thanks you guys are the best. Please vote comment so I know what you think.
~Luckypaws13