Mystery at Brightfields

Chapter 5.

"No. Absolutely not, Zoe." said Maggie. "This is not only paying for one horse, its paying for two!"

"Mom please, she needs us. She isn't going to survive if we don't step in. I can't let her go now." Zoe started. "Please. She just needs a chance. After the baby is born we can find both of them a home."

"But everyone is going to be attached both of them at that point and I'll be paying for this foal for the rest of its life!"

"Mom, I promise. This is temporary, just until the baby is born" Zoe adds.

Maggie sighed. "I'll think about it, okay? Give me a couple days. In the meantime, do you think you have some spare time tomorrow to come with me to look at some houses? There are two on the island that are up for sale that I think can fit our budget."

"Sure mom. Just let me know when. I'll probably have a training session with Marcus in the morning and then I'll be free afterwards."

"Great! I'll check with Rosie too. I want to find a place that is going to be a home for all of us and is going to fit our needs. No more sharing a room with Rosie like you did in LA. You guys needs your own space." says Maggie.

"Sounds great mom. I'm just glad you and dad decided to stay on the island. I was just going to live in a cardboard box." laughs Zoe.

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After dinner, Zoe went up to her room and sat on her bed. She opened her computer and started doing some research on pregnant horses. Over 10,000 hits on google. It was going to be a long night.

Zoe's eyes started to get heavy around 12:30. She remembered how early she had woken up that morning and crossed her fingers she was able to get a full nights sleep tonight. Reaching for her phone, like she had for the last month, she texted Pin goodnight. She needed him here more than anything. He would know exactly what to do for Layla.

They had been so distant since he was away. Zoe had received a few phone calls and texts the first few weeks but they slowly started to become almost non existent. Now, she was lucky to receive a 2 worded text every few days. She hoped it didn't mean anything for their relationship...or whatever it was between them. It wasn't quite established before Pin had left. She wished she would have said more. But maybe now was too late.

But it was Pin. And he was always quite quirky.

Zoe fell asleep dreaming about riding double on Elvis. She smiled.

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8:15am. The alarm on her phone beeped.

Zoe awoke slowly, slapping at her phone on the nightstand to get the alarm to go off. Finally a full nights sleep. It definitely made the morning much easier.

She pulled herself out of bed and reached for a clean pair of breeches. It was her purple pair. Her favorite pair. It always seemed to make the day feel better when she had her purple breeches on.

Which was good. Considering Zoe needed all the luck she could get at this point.

"Ay sleepy head!" Gramps called at Zoe as she was walking down the steps. He was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee reading the local paper. Mom and Rosie must have already left for the morning.

"I was starting to think you weren't going to wake up. Figured you needed the rest though."

"Thanks Gramps. I'm headed to the barn. See ya later!" Zoe picked up an apple from the bowl on the table and smiled when he winked at her.

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There was a few more people at the barn at this time of morning. Zoe's first stop was Layla, who was eating a fresh pile of hay. No foal overnight, so that was a good sign. Zoe gave her a mint from her pocket, which Layla took skeptically.

"You better start liking people Layla. There are plenty of people here that like you!" she whispered to the mare.

Next stop was Raven. Who was always happy to see her. Zoe pressed her forehead on Raven's nose and sighed. "Ready to have a good ride, boy?" She went to the tack room to grab her grooming and her tack. She lead Raven out to the stable yard and got him ready.

"Zoe!" called Becky "Are you going to ride?"

"Of course, Becky. I'm not just tacking him up for fun!" Zoe laughed.

"Wait up! Jade just got here. We can come train with you!" Becky said, opening Bob's stall door.

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"Alright you three. We are going to try something different today to help with some transitions and some individual horse movement. Becky its right up your wheel house...we are doing some dressage tests. Just some simple intro tests that are walk trot canter, but it should keep your horses paying better attention to you. And its good to give them a break from jumping every once in a while." Started Marcus. "I know you all have been riding around all of the letters in the arena and today we are going to use them. First thing first. Enter the ring at A down center line, once you are between B and E, this is called X, stop your horse square and facing towards the end of the arena. Jade first, Zoe, then Becky"

Their lesson continued, they ended up doing some 20m circles as well as working on a lot of transitions. By the time an hour and half was up, both the girls and their horses were sweating.

"Cmon Marcus. You murdered us. Like I'm dead. Bob's dead. We're all dead and I don't think my legs are ever coming back." said Becky breathing heavily.

"Agreed. Pretty sure I hate you right now Marcus!" said Zoe

"Major agrees!" added Jade.

Marcus laughed. "But look at your progress! Think how you guys begun the lesson and compare it to now. All of your lines were straighter and you circles were rounder. This is essential for jumping. It will help with your angles and lining up with the jump. You guys will be thanking me your next shows. I can guarantee it."

"Doubt it." said Becky. "Pretty sure I won't even make it until then, because my legs will disown me."