Sorrel Hill: Recovery Ranch (BK2) |COMPLETED|

Chapter Sixteen

Your body can stand almost anything, it's your mind you have to convince. - Unknown

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              ~Past Of Pain~

  Atlantic Black, moved swiftly head to head with a bull. I held on to the horn still not used to wrangling runaway cattle. The bull quickly stepped to the left, but Atlantic Black was just as quick blocking the bull's getaway within milla-seconds.
  I gasped as both the bull and my so called calm horse took off. I gripped the saddle horn my knuckles turning white from my hold. Atlantic Black easily got in front of the bull once more, shoving him to the side. I was completely alert and still hanging on, I was afraid if I let go I might not be in such a comfortable seat anymore.
  Another cow this time a heifer ran from the herd over to her precious bull. Are you kidding me? Inwardly groaning I squeezed the saddle horn my entire body tensed. Atlantic Black tried and I mean really tried to keep hold of both of the cows, but he was struggling terribly.
  Out of the corner of my eye I saw a handsome bay Thoroughbred loping over with a very amused rider. Cash Out nickered to Atlantic Black as if to say, 'I'm coming to help'. Atlantic Black replies with a snort too focused on the cows to reply with a full answer.
  Cash Out reached us, he instantly locked onto the heifer not daring to let her out of his sight. He redirected her towards the herd before nibbling on her behind, getting a sassy head toss from the heifer before she joined the herd.
  Atlantic Black having seen Cash Out's method bit down on the bull striking at him, the bull immediately ran over to the cattle. I huffed leaning over in my saddle sweat running down my forehead. Jessie laughed at my position, "You think you held onto the saddle horn tight enough?"
  I let out a half laugh half exhale. Cash Out walked over to Atlantic Black each horse breathing into each other's noses. They were simply greeting each other, but sometimes things got rough when that happened. Luckily the boys didn't do anything and joined in step as Jessie and I rode alongside the cattle.
  Jessie patted his million dollar worth racehorse cowpony, yawning from the early morning. "You ready for another twelve hours of the good old cattle drive?" He took off his cowboy hat ruffling his hair.
  "I don't know if my behind can take it, it's been three days and I'm not technically western rider," I moved a bit of Atlantic's black mane to the other side of his neck. It had been two days since the episode happened with Peter and Chase. I kept my distance from them sceptical nonetheless but I didn't know them or whatever mess they were in.
  Everyone knew about the incident, now there were people scheduled for night watch. They slept in the covered-wagons some people had brought for anyone who got too hot or tired to ride. A few percherons pulled it. It wasn't a bad ride in the slightest, but I didn't want to leave Atlantic Black having to be ponied by someone so I wasn't going to ride in the wagon.
  "Well we just have five more days, then we have to come back but there'll be tricks and trailers to take. The horses will be dog-on tired when we get there so they'll ride back with us," Jessie looked at Cash Out who was breathing heavily from the cow affair. I smiled down at Atlantic Black patting his sweat coated shoulders.
  The groups have kinda become non-existent no one really stayed with their paired people, obviously since I was with Jessie right now. Will was chatting with a girl named Kelly, she seemed really nice I haven't had a full on conversation with her though.
  I smiled to myself seeing Luke and Hannah riding side by side talking about who knows what. Xavier wasn't too far from them he was conversing with Samantha, the two of them would make an excellent couple! Ben was laughing with Sky probably about some movie.
  Emily rode her beautiful pinto next to Toby Mackenzie, I thinks his name. Nathan was actually talking to some guy called Skylar and Eliza. I smiled at all my friends having a good time. I looked back at Jessie who was studying something behind us.
  I frowned turning my head to see Samergia galloping, leading her herd right towards us. I took out my camera videoing the beauty before me. The stunning mare ran her defined muscles rippling with every step she took. She tossed her head leaping into the air with such grace and elegance.
  I spotted a chestnut horse not too far behind her. He had a star in between his eyes, his mane was trimmed, and he was significantly taller than her. Wait, is that? No it couldn't be... it is! "Jack!" I shouted to the insane Hanoverian running with mustangs.
  His eyes landed on me he broke away from the herd racing towards Jessie and I. He nearly ran into us, stopping wasn't his strong suit. He stared up at me nickering, nudging my leg. "What the heck?" My mind was exploding! We had been traveling for three days, and here my champion jumper was just as full of energy as can be.
  "How did he? What? Huh?" I stuttered over my words dumbfounded at his appearance. Jessie inspected the tall horse, "Talk about a loyal horse." He reached over rubbing Jack's head. He looked at me amusement danced in his eyes, "Your horse is crazy." I nodded unable to speak.
  He traveled all the way here just to be with me. I feel crazy special right now! Jessie took the rope off his saddle horn gently placing the loop around Jack's neck. He handed it to me, giving the chestnut gelding a pat. I was mesmerized by Jack, he wasn't thin but didn't look normal width.
  Jessie kicked Cash Out the two racing over to one of the covered wagons. I waited with the demented horse wide-eyed at his arrival. Jessie came back with a rope halter and ten foot lead rope.
  I took them carefully fastening the halter and leadrope on Jack taking the rope off. I looked at the cattle who had gotten a ways away from us and clicked to the boys. Jack and Atlantic Black responded attentively walking alongside one another. "Dang, and I thought QuickSilver and I were close. Kiley, I found your boyfriend," Jessie said with a proud tone.
  I playfully rolled my eyes, "Now you need a girlfriend... how about Angel?" He looked up at the sky pretending to think before turning to me, "Nah she's way out of my league, she's too serious for me." I giggled, "Well you don't deserve Promise, she's an amazing mustang and one that won't go for a guy like you."
  He held a hand to his chest, "Ouch, that hurt Kiley, that really hurt. Plus Promise has babies that'll be complicated." We busted out laughing at our childish talk. I laughed even more when May turned around to see if we were okay. She smiled shaking her head before focusing in on the cattle. 
  After we finally settled down from our laughing fit I had a question I'd been dying to ask ever since I had my first lesson on Don't Blink. "Okay, question," I looked at Jessie who had a goofy grin across his face. "Shoot away."
  "How come you don't race?" He gave me an odd look probably not expecting that. I looked at Atlantic Black's neck, "I mean you loved racing QuickSilver against Angel and I. It's obvious to anyone that you love to race, so how come you don't?"
  I glanced back at Jessie who was looking off at Samergia's herd. He turned his head meeting my gaze, "You know ChainBreaker's old owner Leia?" I nodded knowing this was a hard topic, I don't think I've ever heard such a serious tone in Jessie's voice before.
  "A few years back ChainBreaker and QuickSilver was finally going to race to see which horse was the fastest. But during the last stretch Leia cut off QuickSilver and he ended up tripping," Jessie paused taking a breath. "He uh, went down rolling over me, Mom says it was one of the worst fall outs she's seen," he fiddled with his fingers looking back at Samergia's herd.
  "Anyway, after that I had three broken ribs, a broken collarbone, my neck was jacked up, my arm was fractured, my lung was punctured, and I had a major concussion." He sighed running a hand through his thick hair. His thumbs tapped on Cash Out's saddle horn, "After that I guess I just gave up racing, I started to race again; but every time I did I just saw the accident."
  I nodded my heart ached with sympathy, "I know how you feel." He looked at me waiting for my story. "When I was seven I had my first major accident. I was bareback riding Big Jake a twenty year old Tennessee Walker, he was such a sweet boy. My dog Shep started barking scaring Big Jake, before I knew it I was on the ground balling. I had a broken collar bone and a small concussion, I gave up barebacking that day."
  Jessie stayed silent, it was a comfortable silence more of a mutual understanding. I showed a weak smile before we both continued the long day's work.
 
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