Mystery at Brightfields

Chapter 7.

Zoe reached for her phone. "I HAVE to call Pin!" she thought, and then pulled her hand back. No, she didn't have to call Pin. He wasn't updating her with anything in his life, why should she?

She called Becky instead.

"Beck! Ohmygoodness. You aren't going to believe it" Zoe started.

"Well. I was about 2 minutes away from passing out, Zoe. This better be horseome." Becky mumbled.

"Layla is Ravens half sister! They have the same dad! How does this even happen?! Where did she come from? Someone has to be looking for her, she has got to be worth a bit!" Zoe exclaimed.

"Ok. First off. Wow. That's indeed crazy. But secondly, people dump horses all the time. As much as I hate to say it, couldn't it just be a coincidence? Horses have tons of babies every year." started Becky.

"Coincidence? Becky you are sleep deprived. Go to sleep. I'll see you at the barn" Zoe laughed.

"Yeah yeah, okay. See you then."

Zoe hung up the phone disappointed that Becky didn't find that Layla being related to Raven was as crazy as she did. What are the actual chances? She decided to text Pin anyways, even if she was mad at him.

Z: Hey you. Crazy things happening here. Can't wait to see you and give you the update. Xo.

Knowing she wasn't going to get a text back. She decided to go to sleep. It was almost midnight and maybe if  she woke up early enough she could have the arena pretty much to herself again to think a bit more.

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This dream was different this time. 

Usually Raven was the leading horse and he was getting taken away from her, but this time it was Layla. 

Zoe was walking along the coast and saw a cargo hauler off in the distance. She ran to it and flung open the door. "RAVEN!" she called. 

It was empty. 

She heard a whinny behind her and she turned around. Layla was standing in the sand. Zoe approached her and Layla reared up.

"Please Layla, don't! The baby!" Called Zoe.

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What!? Zoe awoke with a start. Another dream. She grabbed her phone...0 messages. Of course. It was almost 5:15. She groaned. Better get up. The vet was coming again for Layla today and she was going to ultrasound her. Maybe she could get her mom to come out and see her and the ultrasound. It could help to convince her to help with the bills, possibly. 

Everyone was still asleep in the house so Zoe snuck downstairs, she left a note on the table that she was headed to the barn. 

It was still dark out when Zoe started her short trek to the barn. She remembered that she was going to look at houses with her mom that afternoon, so maybe it was good that she woke up that early. She needed some Raven time...and some Layla time too. 

The barn was quiet, as feeding didn't start for another 30 minutes. Most of the horses were laying down, including Raven. Zoe quietly entered his stall and sat beside him. She stroked his black head and neck wondering how on earth she had gotten so lucky. She had only started riding a few months ago and so much had changed. School started back up in a week. It was online school, luckily. The levels here were slightly different than in the states and she had been taking US history which would have put her very much behind in UK history. Both her and Rosie were going to continue their US education, but on computers instead of a classroom. They were both thrilled they didn't have to go to actual school this year. More time for riding for Zoe. 

Even though she wasn't under anymore pressure to make her and Raven their absolute best, it was still something that she wanted for them. And she wanted a show where they would actually beat Holloway for real and in front of every one. She didn't realize how much time had passed as she sat their thinking with Raven. Zoe heard the hay cart start to make its rounds so she decided to get up and start getting Raven groomed. 

"Holy crap, Zoe! You scared me. I didn't know anyone was here!" said Marcus. 

"Couldn't sleep" Zoe shrugged. She saw the concern in Marcus's face. "I'm fine, just worried about Layla. Also found out she is Raven's half sister. So that's been my night." 

"What?! How is that possible? What are the chances?" He exclaimed.

Thank you Marcus. That is the correct response. Becky must have been really tired :P

"I have no idea. There is nothing else about her online except her pedigree. Also found out she is 14, so there is quite an age gap between them. I just don't understand how no one is looking for her." 

"People have their own reasons. Maybe they think she's somewhere else, safe and happy and somehow she wound up here. Skinny and pregnant. It's hard to tell. Maybe we can ask Raven's old owners if she has any information. She had Raven's mother anyways." wondered Marcus. 

"That's brilliant! Marcus, that's really brilliant!"she went in to hug him, and he happily obliged. 

Oops. Maybe she shouldn't have done that. 

Oh well. Not like Pin cared anymore anyways.