Sorrel Hill: Recovery Ranch (BK2) |COMPLETED|

Chapter Ten

The quality of the gifts depends on the sincerity of the giver. - Ann Patchett

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       ~Surprise Of A Lifetime~

  We drove for another three hours, Jessie had turned some music on and we sang and danced to it for a while. He still wouldn't tell me anything about the surprise or whatever, I'm sure it's nothing important and it's just a trick.
  Arriving I found my mind blown. Trailers were everywhere, there was a giant race track in the middle of two huge stands. I was so excited!!!! Jessie parked the truck and turned to me, "Don't get out of the truck till' I say. Okay?" Why? I already knew it was one of my horses. "Fine, but why?" "Well you see, there's this thing called a surprise."
  I rolled my eyes sighing loudly. He laughed at my dismay, then jumped out of the truck. I'm supposed to wait in the truck.... but for how long? I looked in my rear view mirror, a horse's shadow was casts due to it being lead to the other side of the trailer. I smiled seeing QuickSilver and Don't Blink being tied up to the trailer. My fingers tapped the arm rest, I was beginning to become impatient.
  Sure I'm great at patience with horses, but when it comes to surprises... let's just say glaring becomes my natural face. The truck honked, startling me! My eyes were wide as Jessie was laughing away opening my door. "Do you want me to send you the photo or video?" I only scowled at him, "You're right, both is better."
  He was still just a laughing, "Come on." I got out of the truck following him around the trailer. What I saw made my heart skip a beat. I was frozen in place, shock and awe covering me. Before me stood a beautiful seal bay Thoroughbred, and not just any Thoroughbred. Angel.
  She nickered, recognizing me. I couldn't move, astonished. She wore a purple halter with silver writing printed. Finally walking up to the mare I read the halter,

  "Surprise!"

  I wrapped my arms around Angel's long sleek neck. Inhaling her horsey scent, my grin as wide as a frisbee. She pressed the underside of her head to me, as if she was hugging me as well. I moved back, rubbing my hands along her smooth dark coat.
  "Surprise!" Jessie said coming over to us. Looking at him I said, "Y-you bought A—ngel? Why?" He gave me a bored look, stroking her neck. "Well, after you wouldn't shut up about her during the racing lessons, I decided to look her up. She wasn't in the best care with another owner, so I bought her." I couldn't believe it, Angel the horse from camp. Right here in front of me. I moved from her to Jessie, "Well she will win a lot of races for you." I was glad I could see Angel again, even though she wasn't mine it felt good. "I'm sure of it, but not for me," He looked at me for a moment as if I was missing something. "You're sister?" I guessed. That got me another smart look. I didn't think I was that bad at guessing.
  "I don't know I'm not a psychic." "It doesn't take a psychic to guess." I turned my attention back to Angel examining her. She had lost a little weight, her eyes weren't as excitable as last summer. "Her last caretaker raced more than they fed her," Jessie explained, walking on the other side of her. "Who is she going to if it's not you or your sister?" Of course it could be John or the other family members. He looked at me grabbing a lead rope from the trailer, "You know for someone who can figure out Magic's problem. An animal that can't talk, and turn her to be a fairly well jumper. Sure has a hard time guessing what her surprise is." I didn't understand, my surprise was seeing Angel today. At least I don't have to worry about being a detective when I go to college.
  He sighed giving up, "She's your horse, smarty." What? surely I didn't just hear that. Angel the racehorse who won thousands of hundred of dollars, who I've been obsessed with since racing lessons, is my horse. MY horse. I had a puzzled expression cast over me, I listen to all the sounds around me. My hearing wasn't fogged, my vision isn't blurry, I couldn't have heard wrong. Maybe it's all in my head and I'm imagining it? Yeah that's it, that's the only reason this is happening. I returned back to reality seeing Jessie waving his hand in front of me. "Welcome back to Earth," he smiled, still not receiving a response from me.
  I touched Angel's shoulder, she's real. "Mom, Dad, Kiley's broken." I gave Jessie a sharp glare, "Nevermind!" he shouted behind me. "Wait she's my horse?" I couldn't fathom my own words. He gave me the most stupidest look imaginable.
  "Yes Kiley, the great Angel-With-A-Devil-Side is yours, all yours. Not mine. Not John's, not Linda's, not Nicky's, not Racheal's, not Lola, not Lucas, not Daniel, not Sky, not Vallery, not even mine." I scowled at him, "Firstly you didn't have to name everyone, secondly you already said your name."
  "I ran out of names..." he mumbled, walking over to me. He handed me the lead rope, standing there. I was shocked silent, Angel was mine, really mine. The lead rope was new and waxy in my hands. It wasn't the normal materialled rope either, it was the leather coated in polish. Angel was a power house, a feisty girl, Jack's little crush, and a legend as far as anyone knew.
  Her sire being a descendent from Secretariat his name Secret-Angel. Her dam a descendent from Treasured Judy, her name Playing-With-The-Devil. The Thoroughbred who had everyone's eyes on her while she raced.... was mine. Although I know it's true, my mind still can't get around it.
  I blinked my eyes coming back to the real world. Only to see Jessie shaking a whip cream bottle. Before I had the chance to run, he took the cap off and my face became a snowman's dream face. "How did you do that in three seconds?" I demanded wiping some off with my sleeve.
  He shrugged putting some in his mouth. One look at my fiery eyes had him racing away, I ran after him no way was he getting away with this!

                    *******

  About an hour later we had both changed clothes and began warming up the horses for jockeys. We had warmed Don't Blink and Cash Out, now on QuickSilver and me Angel.
  Angel was the definition of a perfect mare Thoroughbred. She ran with such smoothness it was barely bumpy. We were currently stopped at the gates, Jessie beside us. "Ready?" He smirked at me. "Right now I am, hurry up before I change my mind!" I urged.
  With one click from Jessie both QuickSilver and Angel charged. Wind slashing into my eyes, my hair flying everywhere from the openings of my helmet. QuickSilver was neck and neck with Angel. Jessie was grinning like crazy, but he was most certainly focused.
  We passed the straight rounding the curve. Angel's stride lengthened as they fought to get in lead. Finishing the curve we were converted to another straight. Angel and Quicksilver were cooking each other, neither backing down, neither slowing down. Both at full speed sprinting to the finish.
  By now I noticed we'd caught everyone's attention, the directors even started narrating us. Saying things like, "Angel-With-A-Devil-Side's in the lead- oh wait QuickSilver caught up." The surrounding sounds were silenced.
  All I heard was Angel's heavy rapid breath. The pounding of her hooves as they digged into the dirt. The wind howling as it tugged at my small body. I felt a familiar feeling that only occurs racing... freedom. I thought back to every time I've felt this.
  The very first time I met Lylla and Angel, the second time I raced her, the third time I raced her for the tournament. Racing on Jack the other night against Samergia, and speeding on QuickSilver at lessons. I don't think I'd ever get used to how I felt when racing.
  We rounded the last curve, each horse giving their all as we neared the finish. Angel and QuickSilver were tied, I held on tight as she gained speed. QuickSilver quickened his speed, pulling a few strides ahead of Angel and I.
  "Come on girl!" I whispered to her, she nickered stretching her black legs. The finish came all too soon, QuickSilver had won by six legs. Angel began to slow the further once we passed the finish. Coming to a stop Jessie trotted over to us.
  "Geez she is fast, she might even beat QuickSilver one day." He looked at Angel as if for the first time. Taking in her sweaty display, her rapid breathing, the shine in her coat, the darkness of her mane, her fiery brown eyes. I patted Angel's sweat drenched shoulder as if saying 'good job'.

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A/N: GUESS WHO'S BACK???? That's right! It's the one and only ANGEL!!!