Sorrel Hill: The E.V.E.R. Tournament |COMPLETED| (BK1)

Chapter Twelve

(That's Atlantic Black)

Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise - Alice Walker
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        ~Convincing Equines~

  I woke up the next day to Hannah shaking the life out of me. I groaned, I was still unaware of my surroundings as I was still a little dazed. I think I hit Hannah, but she stopped shaking me with a groan.
  I changed and showered, a little tired from last night's events but nonetheless okay. We all went to breakfast, Lylla had gotten mine. They were serving eggs and gravy biscuits.
  I gladly ate mine, then walked to the barn. Jack wasn't his normal perky self today, in fact he was rather sleeping the whole time I was in the stall. I walked over to the training arena with Jack, May, was checking roll.
  All of us here, I smiled at Emily who did the same. May had set up one water jump, two hedge jumps, and one jump toward we jumped through a wall with a gap in the middle big enough for ourselves and our horses. I got into position as she began to read the names of order.
  Jack and I were first. I gently kicked him, he instantly began loping. We jumped straight over the water jump, it wasn't very wide though. We easily soared over the hedge jumps. Jack loped, I counted his strides, as we neared the keyhole jump.
  Jack leaped, I leaned forward holding my body perfectly. We landed with flying colors. That was pretty much the rest of the lesson, jumping through keyholes.
  Jack was put back in his stall, and I ran over to barn five. Angel was once again in the lead, easily twenty legs ahead.
  I waited for Lylla to finished, and she trotted Angel over to me. Lylla dismounted, instructing for me to mount, which I did. I was actually able to control Angel by myself this go around. Although we were only walking, I was still proud of myself.
  I finished up with Lylla, racing over to my Mustang's barn. I found her pacing along the fence line outside.
  She held her head and tail, strutting her stuff. I quietly walked into the stall, then where she was in the paddock. I was greeted by warning signals, as she tossed her head.
  She was full of the mare attitude. I sat down watching her. She was very spooky, but also curious. She had a muscular build, a whitehead with red ears, and the rest of her was pattern nicely. I wonder what I'd train her for.
  Barrels? Pole bending? Jumping? Dressage? Western pleasure? I wasn't sure yet, but she would definitely be beautiful in western pleasure. I wasn't quite sure what to name her yet.
  I had several names in mind, but none of them seemed to scream out at me. I watched as she was now walking along the fence line. She was round in her middle, had a strong build, curious, clever, and breathtakingly pretty.
  She definitely held a promising future with whatever she did. That's it!!!
  Promise! That'll be her name! "Hey girl, what do you think about the name Promise?" I asked her. She stood still, glancing at me. She tossed her head, stomping, and went into a bucking spree along the fence.
  Okay, now that, that's taken care of! I sat out there for about two hours, before deciding to go and get Jack.
  I returned with him, Promise was trotting up and down the fence line excited. Jack had his ears pointed towards her, eager. I smiled before walking him in the pen, and letting go.
  He walked over to her, they exchanged scents. I was happy to see that Jack was ranked over Promise. He walked over to me, not seeming much interested in the hyper filly. I grinned and rubbed on him, stroking his neck.
  Promise was standing closer to me now, interested in what Jack was doing.  Jack pushed my arm lovingly, I patted his jaw.
  His pearly white star showing brightly. I snuck a glance at Promise, who was just five feet away. I inwardly squealed. I sat down in the tall grass, Jack began to graze beside me.
  My hands, having no other
thing to do, pulled grass blades out of the ground. I felt air on the back of my neck and froze. A soft bit of fur brushed against it, sending shivers down my spine.
  Promise's nose ran down my back, barely touching me. She was just trying to figure out what I was, and if I meant any harm.
  Jack watched closely, just incase she tried anything. A warm feeling erupted through me, seeing how much he really cared for me.
  Promise then explored the top of my head, getting a little braver. She wiggled her top lip against my head, tickling me. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from giggling.
  Slowly I took out my phone, put it on selfie mode, and snapped a few dozen pictures as Promise roamed my head.
  I then put my phone up, and Promise ventured to my shoulder. To my surprise she opened her mouth and began licking it. I swear I showered this morning!!
  Her tongue was smaller than Jack's and her mouth was too. She was quite a small girl. Standing at 14 hands, but she was stunning. I would consider her a pony, but due to the fact of Arabian in her. She's classified as a horse.
  Promise brought her head up and I could feel her warm breath against my cheek. She brushed her face against it, before going to gaze a few feet away.
  I fought hard not to squeal or jump in excitement. I decided that would be all today. I grabbed Jack and lead him back to his stall.
  I needed to find other horses for the E.V.E.R. Tournament. I had already talked to Lylla, Xavier, and Will about letting me use their horses. That just leaves team roping. No one had a good roping horse, so I headed over to barn seven.
  I walked into their indoor arena to find the team ropers warming up their horses for the lesson. Everyone had different lesson times.
I saw several different horses. But, I paid attention to one in particular. 
  A black Appaloosa with her white patch over her rear end. She had a blaze, one sock on her front and another on the back. She was stunning! My eyes were glued to that mare.
  The rider was a very pretty girl. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. Her mare was showing everyone else up.
  A boy with brown hair, ran his horse first. They were in boxes, the chute in the middle with the steer. Everyone cleared the area. I got my camera ready, starting the video.
  The steer got a head start, then the boy and his chestnut pintaloosa charged. He swung his rope and roped it around the steer's horns. He then turned to the left, exposing the steer's hind end.
  The girl quickly swung her rope, as her appaloosa stayed in pace with the steer. Her rope tightened around the steer's hind legs, sending the steer to the ground. Seven seconds on the clock.
  They let go of their ropes and high fived each other, their trainer ran out and untangled the steer. Sending it out of the arena, handing them their ropes, then pushing another steer into the chute.
  Their horses were breathing heavily, they walked them out of the arena and dismounted. The boy took his horse away, leaving the girl who was rubbing on her mare.
  I didn't waste anytime, walking over their confidently. "Who are you?" I asked in a friendly manner. The girl looked up at me, "Bethany, yours?" "Kiley, nice to meet you. I was wondering if I could use your horse for the E.V.E.R. Tournament?"
  She grinned at me, "How come? There are plenty of other ropers around, who's your partner?" She raised an eyebrow.
  Oh right! It's team roping, not solitary roping! "Great, I don't even have a partner. Could you be my partner?" I asked anxiously. She thought about it, "How can I be your partner if we would only have one horse? You need to find another horse, then we can chat about it." She then turned and left.
  Ugh, really! I sighed, yeah like I'm going to find another horse... I was walking out of the arena when the trainer came up to me.
  "Sorry, I just can't get anyone to take him. Can you please, take this blue roan stallion! He's a roper, but no one's interested!" He begged.
  I couldn't buy another horse, or I wouldn't be able to get Angel. "Ummm, I can't buy another horse now, sorry." "Can you just look at him? You don't have to buy him, I just need someone to work with him. I'm too busy to do so."
  I nodded and he lead me to the stallion. My eyes were instantly attracted. He was such a pretty roan, black face, legs, ears, mane, and tail. He was such an unique color as well. I did have an extra stall right by Jack. "Okay, deal," I said, as he handed me the stallion's lead rope.
  I was then informed that he was a Quarter horse, blue roan, team roper, seven years old, his name was Atlantic Black, standing at 15.1 hands, and is a super smooth ride.
  Leading Atlantic Black, I started to question myself. Is it really smart to be involved with all these new horses? I mean I already had Jack, but now I have Promise and a temporary Atlantic Black. At least Promise is going to be sold at the mustang challenge, so I won't have to worry about her much. But, I'm also trying out Angel, and I want to try more.
  I put Atlantic Black into his stall, he was nickering as I turned and left. I laughed at his deep voice. Going to the dorm to get ready for the nights events, I called my parents. "Hey Mom, hey Dad," I said tired. They picked this up at once, "Honey, why so whipped out?" Mother asked.
  "Well... I'm taking care of Jack, breaking a mustang, learning to ride a racehorse, and just talked myself into taking care of another horse I barely know." I sighed.
  Dad furrowed his eyebrows, "Three horses, eh? That means you're not trying anymore?" He wondered. "Oh don't worry I still am. Promise, my mustang, is going to be sold at the mustang challenge, and Atlantic Black, the horse I know nothing about, is just temporary for a team roping trainer," I huffed.
  They nodded and told me about their day. I eventually hung up the phone and showered. The night went by fast. Everyone was tired, due to the crazy events in the last days.
  I went to sleep early, dead to the universe.

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A/N: new horse and new possible skill! What do y'all think of Bethany not being Kiley's partner until she has a horse... or is there another reason? I'm so excited to explore the new horse!!!!