Heartland

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen: Back in the Saddle

Amy approached me after I was done jumping and I was brushing out Sky.
"The fall finale is in two weeks," she said.
"You entered?" I asked.
"Yeah, you are too," she replied.
"I don't have enough points," I told her.
"Briar Ridge is hosting another competition this weekend. If you get first you'll have enough points to enter," she urged.
"I'd better call Ashley," I said. Amy hugged me.
"I knew you would!" she exclaimed as she left the barn leading Spartan. Maisie came running into the barn and got Chance out. She started saddling him.
"Where do you think you're going?" I asked.
"For a ride. Caleb told me they found a herd of wild horses! I want to see them and he's going to show me," she said as she finished saddling Chance. She led him out of the barn.
"If only she knew those were the horses that killed her sister," I said to myself.

Ty came down from the loft after his nap.
"Can we talk?" he asked. I put Sky in her stall.
"Sure, what about?" I asked.
"Us," he replied.
"No," I said. I turned and started to walk away, he grabbed my wrist and spun me around to face him.
"We have to Tara. I can't stand being with you after Bria," he snapped with tears streaming down his face.
"Ty, please," I cried.
"Don't even try," he said. I'd never seen him cry this much before.
"It wasn't my fault," I replied.
"You got lucky being able to ride while pregnant with Maisie, you shouldn't have been riding," he said.
"So you think it's my fault?" I asked.
"Tara! You've been around horses long enough to know that even the most loyal horse can be unpredictable," he yelled. I shook my head, not wanting to hear what else he had to say. I got Sky out of her stall and tied her lead rope to each side of her halter. I kicked her hard and we galloped down the Heartland driveway. As I rode away I heard Ty yell in a tear filled voice,"Tara!"

I was riding on the trails when I came across the jumping course made of branches in the woods. When I finished the course I saw Amy on Spartan,
"Ty made this for me before the Fall Finale that I won. It was because of him that I ended up winning."
"That's so sweet," I said sniffing away tears.
"You guys broke up, didn't you?" she asked.
"Yeah, for good," I replied.
"I'm sorry. I was riding on the cross trails and you rode by. I had to follow and then I saw you crying. I kinda figured," she admitted.
"I'm sorry if I scared you." I apologized.
"I knew it was you because I don't know someone stupid enough to jump without a saddle to hold her on, but you and Sky are the same person. You clung to her and she brought herself to you. It's amazing," she admired.
"Thanks," I replied.
I rode home by myself. Amy said she wanted to stay and practice. When I got back I saw Jack moving my things into the house. I rode up to the house and tied Sky to the fence rail.
"What are you doing?" I asked. Maisie came out of the house and grabbed a suitcase.
"I'm moving Maisie and you into the attic. Ty told me that it would be for the best if it was this way," Jack replied.
"Okay," I said, agreeing with Ty. I grabbed a suitcase and carried it upstairs. Two new beds were put up there along with a new dresser and wardrobe. There was a desk as well and an award case. On the far side, that I wouldn't be using, there was some storage.
"This is perfect Jack. You didn't have to buy all new things," I said.
"Yes I did, you deserve it," he urged.
"Thank you," I replied.
"It's no problem. You're welcome," he said as he left. Lou came up with the last suitcase.
"How do you like everything?" she asked.
"I love the view of the place," I said admiring the full ranch view out of the window my bed was under. Maisie was already unpacking her things into the bottom two drawers of the dresser.

After Maisie and I unpacked, I went outside and lead Sky to the barn. Ty was cleaning Sky's stall.
"How long is it gonna take you?" I asked.
"I'm done," he replied as he took the wheelbarrow and led it away from me. I put Sky into her stall, I took her halter off and hung it on the hook outside the stall. I saw Spirit and decided to work a little. I grabbed a saddle and took it out to the round pen. I went into the barn and got Spirit, I then led him to the round pen. I got him to join up and then I laid the saddle on his back and secured it loosely. I slipped his halter off and put on a bridle. And then I began to run him around the round pen so he could get the feel for the saddle. I stopped running him and gave him a treat. I tightened the saddle a bit, then opened the round pen's gate, and Spirit galloped crazily out.
"Tara!" Amy yelled. She had just came back from riding Spartan. Spirit was bucking and kicking trying to throw me off. He started galloping down the driveway.
"Jump off!" I heard Jack yell from the barn. I slid off Spirit and landed on my stomach. I watched Spirit gallop away. Jack and Amy ran up to me.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked.
"I'm fine," I replied. Just then, at the worst time possible, Spirit's owner came driving down the driveway.
"What the hell is my horse doing loose? I came to check on him and all I find is an unqualified little girl training my horse. I'll be changing his trainer," she yelled.
"Where did you buy Spirit?" I asked her after Jack and Amy helped me up.
"Off the rodeo circuit, why?" she asked.
"Thanks for telling me that! That's why he won't saddle you dumb shit! I get the saddle on him and then he starts bucking? I could've died! And you're here yelling at me for being unqualified! If you search Tara Cohan it shows how many prize winning Texan horses I've trained! Not even Texas horses, prize horses from all parts of the US! You didn't think that Spirit being an ex bucking bronc wasn't important information for me to know? If anything, I'm charging you for the last week and you're lucky I don't press charges for this! Come back tomorrow for your damn horse! Now git! I'll go catch the stupid thing," I yelled. I stormed off to the barn and saddled Sky up quickly. I then galloped out of he barn and right past Spirit's owner, close enough to the point that she had to move out of the way to avoid me hitting her.

I found Spirit grazing along side the rode a long ways up. I got a lead on him and led him out of the ditch. I tied him to Sky's saddle horn and started back for Heartland. Hopefully his owner has already left.

When I got back his owner was gone. I tied Sky up to the hitching post and led Spirit inside. Amy took him for me.
"That was awesome, what you said today," she said.
"Thanks. I don't stray from saying what needs to be said," I replied.
"I know Tara." She laughed. I left and got Sky. I led her into the barn and unsaddled her. I brushed her out and then put her in her stall. I hung her tack up perfectly. Amy had just put Spirit away, she got a text.
"Dinner's ready. From Lou," she read aloud.
"Sweet! I'm starving!" I exclaimed.