The Eventer's Club 2: Junior Year

Chapter 17:

Evelyn's POV:

" We're running out of time "

I sighed in frustration as I laid back in the grass of A.M.P.S garden, not caring if I got grass stains on my uniform.

We were down to the wire, one week left.

One week until Christmas vacation

One week until Ash either left or stayed at Holloway

...One week for our little group to find Beauty

The police had given up

The stable staff had given up

Even my parents seemed to have given up

" We know this is hard... " They had explained to me. " But we think it's best to just move on... "

I had known they'd been hurting when they spoke but without the police covering most of the ground, and the riders, grooms, even Darla just wanting things at Holloway to get back to normal, even I was starting to lose hope that we'd never find the black gelding.

" Tell us something we don't know... " Alex replied as he ripped up the grass under his hands.

Caroline stared up at the clouds. " I hate to be negative...but how do we know New Moon is still in the area? "

Edwin shook his head. " he wouldn't have gotten out of the province, or even the country...Mr. and Mrs. Holloway had set up security at all airports and mandatory trailer checks on all major highways "

" But if Beauty was taken in the middle of the night, he may have already been packed up into a trailer and taken... " I replied. " I mean, the police don't have any solid evidence... "

" You guys sound like the battles been over since it started! " Leah suddenly spoke up. " Everyone else may have given up, including Ash, but that just means we can't! "

" Leah, no offense, but it's easier said than done... " Jake chimed in.

" No, it's not! " Leah replied. " We do have a piece of evidence " she turned to look at me. " You ripped a piece of fabric off the thief's sweater "

I shrugged. " Okay, yes, but I gave it to the police for evidence... " my eyes suddenly widened. " ...But not before I took a picture! " I quickly pulled out my phone and pulled up the photo of the fabric I had taken the day after Beauty was taken.

" So, we know what we're looking for! And Jake, Ash and Eve know the area around Holloway better than anyone! " Leah turned to look at Edwin next. " Edwin, I know you, and you probably have a notebook filled with suspects and possible motivation the thief would have for taking Beauty... "

Edwin turned red, slowly pulling a notebook from his bag. He opened it up and placed it in the middle of our circle so we could all see.

" Motives were easy to come up with...suspects, not so much... " I glanced at his writing, each page the scribbles became messier and messier.

" ...Well, I guess we won't know the suspect until we catch them... " I felt some hope flutter up in my chest. " ...But...if we're going to do this...we'll need to go out and ride... " I looked around. " All of us... "

Leah bit her lip. She was nervous when it came to being around horses. She preferred to stay on the sidelines, but if we were really the only ones left who were trying to find Beauty, we would all need to ride out through the woods. We wouldn't be jumping...but Leah, Caroline, and Edwin would at least need to be able to walk, trot and possibly canter...

" I'm in... " Edwin spoke. " It'll be nice to get back in the saddle "

I smiled at him, then looked at Caroline. " ...What about you, daydreamer? "

She looked down from the sky, her face still having the far-off look she was known to have. " ...I suppose...if it means we have a chance to fix Ashleigh's emotional levels...her chi is very negative... "

I giggled quietly as I nodded. " That just leaves you miss overachiever... "

Leah met my gaze. Her normally fair skin was pale.

" I know you're scared, but we'll find you a really calm, collected horse- "

" Forget it, I'm in, no need to negotiate! " Leah replied, smiling. " For Beauty and Ash, I can do anything! "

We all smiled.

We had one week to teach, Leah, Caroline, and Edwin riding and to find Beauty.

I just hoped we could make it in time

Before Ashleigh left Holloway...possibly forever...