Dust Storm

Chapter One-Reagan

"She's coming today, right? I asked as I brushed Dusty, a young Belgian Warmblood with a warm brown coat that was caked in mud.

"Yep, 'round 'noon er somethin'," Paul, my best friend, drawled as he picked up Dusty's back left hoof and proceeded to give it a much-needed "hooficure", as he called it.

"She's twenty years old and still has to live with her aunt and cousin while her parents are away. Sounds like a snooty one if ya ask me," I said, stroking between Dusty's eyes. I gave him a much deserved a kiss on the nose.

"I heard she did somethin' bad and 'er parents don't trust 'er ta stay the whole summer at home by 'erself," Paul said. "Why the hell did Dusty have to roll around in the field right before the competition and after we bathed him just yesterday? I swear, this horse of yer's is a pain in the ass."

"Paul, he's still a foal. Cut him some slack!"

"He's not a foal. He's old enough to jump." Paul patted Dusty on butt lightly and he sputtered, getting spit on my shirt. Paul laughed as if to say "you deserved that" and I joined him.

I continued to brush Dusty as thoroughly as I could in the hour that I had before having to suit up for the competition. Paul hosed him down as Dusty protested the cold water with a snort. When he was finished, Paul began to put on Dusty's blue plaid saddle blanket and saddle. I finished brushing his long dark mane and put on his bridle.

"Picture perfect! Now I'll go change." I left the barn and headed down the path to the ranch house where I lived with Paul's family. Since my parents passed away, Paul's family has been so kind to let me live there under the condition that I helped out on the farm. I've since learned how to jump in order to win prize money to help keep the struggling ranch above water.

Entering the large foyer, I spotted Paul's little brother, Carson, tying on his tennis shoes. He was wearing a much-too-big cowboy hat that once belonged to his father.

"Hey, Reg, wanna go play with me in the garden? I'm going gather a bunch of flowers for mom and then go play with the goats."

"Car, I would love to, but I have a jumping competition this morning. Maybe later?"

"Ugh. Okay."

"Find Aunt Rose something beautiful!"

I proceeded up the stairs and put on my best riding outfit and fixed my hair in two long braids. Pulling up my boots as quickly as I could, I checked my watch and I only had fifteen minutes to get to the arena. My phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Reagan? It's Michelle. I need someone to fill in at the bookstore this afternoon. Your pigheaded boyfriend called this morning with a hangover and can't take his shift."

"Again?!" I exclaimed. "And you mean ex-boyfriend. I broke up with him a month ago. Wes was always getting drunk, so I dumped him. Why does he still work there?"

"I can't afford to fire him and wait for someone else to fill in."

"Is it because you have the hots for his dad?" I rolled my eyes.

Michelle was silent for a heartbeat, but finally admitted to liking Wes's father, who was the sheriff of our small town.

"Alright, ma'am, I can fill in. But I might have to come with Paul's cousin, because everyone else in the house is too busy and we want her to feel welcome. So I was going to take her for a ride this afternoon, but I guess taking her to work will work just as well."

Michelle thanked me and I hung up, grabbing my helmet from its place on the wall and ran back out of the house to the barn, where Dusty was waiting for me with Paul at his side, holding his reins.

"Summer just started and, already, my schedule is busy," I said.

"Welcome to Freeheart Farm," Paul said with a smile.

I mounted Dusty with a leg up from Paul and he handed me the reins.

"Wes have a hangover again?" he asked.

"My face is too easy for you to read," I said as I moved my reins to tell Dusty to gallop and we were on our way down the road to the arena.