Heart of the Stone Cowgirl

Chapter 9 - Coach

^^^CAPTAIN^^^^

"You actually got on that rogue horse?" Angel's voice was full of surprise, but also, annoyance. I winced at the tone.

"He didn't put a hoof wrong," I hedged, looking at the floor. This chick didn't know much about horses, but she knew enough that you don't get on a horse like Neptune without some serious skills beforehand.

Angel through up her hands in her disgust. "But you could have! This year is about getting into uni, not risking it all by getting on some crazy horse!"

"He's not that bad," I tried, but my voice wasn't even heard from my crazy friend. She had a point, I was risking my study through riding Neptune, but at the same time, it was good for both of us. He needed work, and I needed a competition horse.

She gave me a dead pan look and I sighed. "Kira, I don't know much about horses, I admit, but seriously, even I know you shouldn't do something like that on your own."

"I wasn't! I had Lucas there." The first time, at least. But Neptune was improving so dramatically that I couldn't wait to get him on the circuit. Ok, maybe that would be a tad fast, after all, the reason Ranger and I didn't actively compete was my anxiety levels, but maybe Neptune could help that, being the true bred competition horse, he was.

Angel hung her head, breath heaving in anger. "I'm just worried about you, K."

I smiled and pulled her in for a hug. "I'll be fine, Angel. Don't you worry about me, Neptune is a good horse, he just doesn't know it yet. Hasn't had the chance to show people."

She allowed a small smile to flit across her lips. "I guess."

The moment was ruined as Isaac made a disgusted sound behind us. I released my friend and turned to face the threat. "That's just gross," Isaac made a pretend puking face.

Angel's face flushed, but I just frowned. "Is it wrong to hug a friend? Or are you disappointed because you have no friends?" I honestly don't know where that came from, because in the next second, I was flat on my back, air pushed out of my lungs.

Isaac leered down at me, Ian's hands clenched to fight. I winced as I tried to suck in air, but a foot held onto my chest prevented most of the air reaching. "You'd do well to learn your place, Hurst," he spat down at me.

Angel had her hands over her mouth as she watched, and I just glared up at Isaac, daring him to continue. Isaac grinned manically and released the pressure, standing above me. "I don't have to kill you, that idiot horse you picked up will do the job for me," and he just walked off, laughing with Ian.

I groaned and looked to Angel, who was recovering and offered her hand for me. I accepted it, wincing as I lifted myself onto my feet. Angel offered support and I leaned heavily on her body for balance, something I didn't experience very often.

"They're serious jerks," Angel commented, holding my arm softly.

I groaned. "Sometimes I wish Micah had beat them to it," I grimaced at the new pound in my head, from lack of oxygen and landing on it.

Angel shook her head, "She wouldn't have, she doesn't have it in her to kill you."

I scoffed. "I wouldn't be too quick to say that, her whole family hates my guts not only because I'm a Hurst but because I tried to show her up," I groaned, putting my head in my hands as my vision spun.

"That's not true, you're more than a Hurst a you know it. Besides, everyone knew that wasn't why you were doing it," Angel said confidently.

"Oh? Why was I doing it then?"