Briarwood Elite Riding Academy: Take the Reins

Chapter 17: How Could I Forget?

Chloe’s eyes gleamed dangerously in the dark and expression crossed between bewilderment and shock clouded her pretty features.

“Did you hear any of that?” Chloe snapped lowly.

I tried to glance over her shoulder at the stable-hand but Chloe was taller than me by a good couple inches.

“N-no.” It wasn’t a lie; I hadn’t heard anything she had said but the question made me feel guilty.

“What were you doing then? Stalking me?” Chloe advanced on me and quickly I noticed the stable-hand had disappeared into the darkness. “I know I’m like 150% better than you but stalking is a little extreme, don’t cha think?”

She was so close I could smell her vanilla perfume.

“I wasn’t stalking you.” I muttered; making eye contact with her and trying to exude as much confidence as possible.

Chloe let out a bark of laughter; “You get even more pathetic by the day.”

“What were you talking to her about?” I asked bravely; testing the shaky waters.

“Wow are you dumb? Do you think we’re gonna sit cross-legged and share secrets while braiding each other’s hair?” Chloe let out another ugly bark of laughter that made me flinch.

What did I think I was going to happen?

“Stay out of my goddamn business, Canada.” She growled; shoving her pointer finger roughly into my shoulder before pushing past me and sashaying into the night.

I let out a sigh before looking over to where I had seen the stable-hand. I considered for a moment walking in that direction and hopping to stumble into the same stable-hand but I dismissed it and followed a good distance behind Chloe to House White.

For all I know Chloe could have been bullying the poor girl and I just saved her from ridicule.

But something about the odd encounter made it harder to dismiss than that.

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The morning before the grand challenge I made a point of getting up extra early, skipping breakfast and heading straight to the stable.

Just as I had hopped when I entered the stable it was teeming with stable-hands; moving horses, mucking stalls, giving hay and grain and generally just hanging about.

They all gave me a puzzled look and I guessed that not even Sebastian was in the barn yet. Each of them varied in age, height and race but I made sure to give the girls longer, subtle looks.

“Do you need any help?” A lady in her early twenties with blond hair pulled back into a bun asked politely.

“Ugh yeah.” My mind reeled while thinking of a quick lie; “My friend, Chloe, told me to come find someone who works here.”

“Chloe? Is that that brunette girl that’s always down here with her friends?” The twenty-something year old queried.

That sparked a great deal of interest within me; so Chloe and her ‘friends’ come down her a lot. Maybe to talk to the stable-hand from last night?

“Yeah that would be her.” I said smoothly.

“Well she’s always talking with Gemma but it’s usually so private.” The stable-hand muttered; “I’d tell you where Gemma is but she has turned up for work yet.”

“No problem. I’ll catch her later.” I smiled easily feeling oddly triumphant.

“Listen though; I don’t know what you guys are up too but Briarwood doesn’t stand for secrecy and betrayal. Be careful and don’t get in trouble.” She advised.