Call of the Horses

Chapter 26

The rest of the day went by in such a blur that by the time Elecia came into the barn I was tired as.

"Hey, everyone's gone home. You okay?" she asks me. She sits down on the hay bale next to me. I must of been sitting on that hay bale for an hour or so if the kids are already gone.

"Where's Jackson?" I barely whisper.

"He came back and told us that Josh's parents will deal with him. You did the right thing Darcy"

"Tha- what. Who's Darcy" I sound shocked but I still try and lie out of this problem.

"Oh come on, give it up. After Josh came out with what he said, I could see the resemblance. So I did some background information and sure enough... perfect match" she waves her phone screen in front of me.

A picture of myself on a swing in a park stared back at me. I remember that time, my foster mum took that photo. Dad had been cooking sausages over in the barbecue area while I smiled like a four year old on candy drugs.

"You'd make a pretty good stalker" I chuckle.

"Thanks, I've been practising"

I shoot her a concerned look which makes her laugh uncontrollably.

"I'm kidding! God I'm not that psycho. Come on. Jackson, Ethan and Izzy are going soon" she says standing up, pulling me in the process.

We walked out of the barn and across towards the round yard. Josh's horse was lying in the sand, sniffing at a beetle.

"Hey look who decided to come out of hiding" Izzy laughs.

"Yeah, sorry I took so long" I stare at the ground, hoping my apology would work.

"Well, we better be off. See you guys later" Ethan farewells, however keeping his eyes on me the entire time.

I wave them goodbye and soon Elecia too is getting in her car and driving away back down the driveway.

"So...want to go for that ride?" Daniel asks me, leaning up against the railing.

"Ok" I reply, rather venomously.

I turn on my heel and march over to Scoot, tacking him up quickly. I swing up into the saddle and trot out of the barn. I halt Scoot in the far paddock, waiting for Daniel.

Daniel and Yin trot out of the round yard, slowly getting faster, turning into a canter. They rush past us and I urge Scoot into a gallop.

*   *   *   *

I lay on the grass, my long hair creating a halo of swirls around my head. My hands clasp over my stomach, my body rising with every inhale I take.

Daniel lies next me, even though I'm looking at the shapping clouds in the periwinkle blue sky, I can feel his eyes watching me like a hawk, and when he thinks I'm watching him, he adverts his gaze upwards.

"So, how was your day?" He asks, rolling over onto his side.

"Well, you know, I got lied to, saw my first fight and a horse being abused. So an eventful day if you ask me" I reply.

"Well then...wait, who lied to you?".

"You really don't know?" I exclaim, sitting up straight

"Know what?" He faces me, concern etched into his face, fake concern.

"You lied to me! I remember everything from last night. You were trying to keep it a secret

But hey, I always expected the guy to have my first kiss would be a heartless jerk!"