Sorrel Hill: Recovery Ranch (BK2) |COMPLETED|

Chapter Nineteen

  People don't change, they reveal who they truly are. - Unknown

            ~Back To Normal~

  I was up before everyone that morning! I dashed out to my beloved horses who awaited me. I ran to the wood fencing climbing over it see my drop-dead-gorgeous mustang!
  Promise was grazing with ease her eyes heavy and her breathing quick. She must of been running around earlier. I grinned widely seeing Allude and Estrella okay in the distance.
  "Promise!" Her head shot up, she looked at me with excitable eyes. She paused as if seeing if I was really there, satisfied she sprinted over to me. I laughed stroking her long smooth nose. She nudged my hands feeling my face with her lip. Her once tired eyes now filled with jovial delight!
  I jumped back, she reacted by showing me up with a playful rear. I took off across the paddock a red roan pinto happily following after me. Allude races over towards us wondering what his momma was doing. Estrella observed from a far not as motive as her brother. Allude leaped in the air kicking out his long back legs, the little foal prancing around.
  Estrella took off racing, nearly crashing into her brother. She nickered, her small voice only made my smile broaden. Promise loped she turned in front of me coming to a complete stop. I didn't slow not even for a second, we had practiced this over school. I had been teaching her a bit of Liberty.
  I jumped onto her back gripping onto her mane as she flew across green skies. Her spotted foals hurried behind us tossing their heads and swinging their hips in an attempt to land a kick on the other.
  Stretching my arms out I relaxed, my posture at its top game, and my legs holding onto her sides to keep from sliding off. I sat deep with her lope, her bony back didn't seem to sore me like it usually did. I was home with my girl reunited once again. Jack was my gelding, Promise was my mare.
  I rode like the wind nothing could stop us, we were invincible. I called over at Angel and Amaya who were standing under a few oak trees. Their heads instantly caught my eyes, they nickered loping over to the fence which separated them from Promise. I slowed Promise leading her to the fence line, I jumped over landing on my feet.
  Angel reared up nodding her head in surprise. Amaya snorted curling her lip up. She was such an odd ball. I took a moment to take in my speed demon of a Thoroughbred and my angelic survivor of a Quarter. They were memorizing, although Amaya still had a year before considered fat her coat shined for miles.
  Angel's lean body towered over Amaya but the two got along as if they were sisters. I hugged them both one around around Angel's neck the Other embracing Amaya's. I pulled apart sighing in admiration at the girls. Promise was still waiting at the fence line pinning her ears at the two fello mares. She didn't like sharing too much and apparently that included me.
  With a toothy grin I offered the bays a treat. Angel took it hesitantly while Amaya gobbled it down without a second glance. Promise perked her ears lifting her head to sniff the apple-like smell. I handed her a treat which she gladly accepted. I really wanted to do a session with everyone today and that was exactly what I was going to do.
  Ride Angel, Promise, Atlantic Black, and Jack. Halter Estrella and Allude, and lung Amaya. I took one more long stare at the beauties God had beheld before me, before driving to the tack shop.

                     *********

  "Do you think Remy would look good in green or solid black?" Hannah pondered inspecting the halters. Nathan groaned, "He's a horse it's not like he cares. Plus green on a show horse like yours? I thought you had better taste than that." I stifled a laugh as Hannah flared at the teenager.
  "Well I for one do care and Remy does too. I'm also getting one for Athos, so excuse me for being nice," she crossed her arms still scowling at Nathan. "I think solid black with a golden plate along the sides with the name 'Remy' would look nice," I concluded stroking a fine leather halter.
  Moving to the foal sizes I began my search. "Kiley." I turned around a halter flying for my face! I quickly caught it sending Nathan a glare. I looked down at the halter it was black but with blue fire on the ends spreading to the other side of the halter. Allude for sure! "Okay near death to the face thing forgiven," I smirked at Nathan who had a smug look plastered on his face.
  Rolling my eyes I walked over to Hannah who had decided to go with a black leather halter instead of the green. She squealed picking up a black halter with light pink ruby patterns sewed onto it. "Estrella would adore this!!" She shoved it to me. It was really pretty so I went with it. Nathan had grabbed a pink lead handing it to Hannah for Athos.
  I needed to go to the tack shop for halters so I asked if anyone needed to go too, turns out Hannah needed another halter and wanted to shop for Athos, Nathan needed more fly spray for his pinto which was actually his horse they just stayed at Recovery Ranch.
  Hannah disappeared behind another rack of halters battling with herself over a purple or pink one for Athos. Maybe I should talk Jessie into selling her the mare... hmm. I looked over the halters I carried in my arms they weren't too expensive which I loved! Nathan handed me another halter, I didn't even look down at it.
  "Nathan I don't need another halter, I've already got Allude and Estrella one," I reasoned but he didn't bother listening. "Just look at it why don't you, girls are so annoying," he mumbled that last part but it didn't go unnoticed. I made a mock-like face looking down at the I'm sure cheap halter.
  Whoa..... I have no words. There in my hands was a smooth chain halter. It had jewels hanging off the nose ring in breathing taking blues and reds. My breath caught in my throat, this was a crazy fancy halter. The chain was silver and cleaned, the jewels waxed and polished I could see my own reflection.
  It was probably the most fanciest thing I'll ever touch, and I own a multi-million dollar Hanoverian. The melt was cold against my warm skin sending chills down my spine.
  I flipped over the price tag, $1,000!!! $1,000 for a halter, geez that's enough for the farrier's bill! My eyes widened in shock, it's not like I didn't have the money for it. I did, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend it on a halter that I'll probably never find a use for other than to look pretty. 
  "What would I use it for?" I looked up at Nathan. "Probably a horse," he said like it was the most obvious thing. I rolled my eyes, "I don't know..." Nathan huffed, "Do yourself a favor and buy the dazzling, pretty, halter you're holding. I have a feeling you're going to need it. You also need to buy a leather lead rope, hoof shiner, coat shiner, mane n' tail conditioner and shampoo, fly spray, biomane products, a crop whip, and some treats if you want."
  I took a step back at all the numbers adding to my check, "Umm, what?" "Just do it, I'll pay for it with Jessie's bill he already knows what you're going to do," Nathan reached into his pocket whipping out his phone. "Uh, okay.... for what?" He raised an eyebrow but didn't look at me, "Stuff At the end." Before I could continue the interrogation he turned around but not before handing me a list of all the horsie things I needed.
  I shrugged oh well he's paying! I then raided the store probably diminishing all the shiner products I could get my hands on.

                 **********

  I returned with a truck full of equine necessities as Nathan put it. Hannah and Nathan helped me carry all the supplies in but none of them said a word about what it was for. After about an hour of prodding them for answers I gave up. Seeing as Nathan had no trouble ignoring me last year and Hannah's will to never ruin a surprise, I found it impossible to get them to talk.
  After they left I went straight to Promise's paddock. I had the tiny halters around my arm. Walking up to the babies, I slipped on the halters the pink ruby one on Estrella and the blue flame one on Allude. They tossed their puny heads rearing, hoping, bucking, galloping, anything they could do to try and escape from the halters.
  They were unsuccessful to my luck, but were very moody after that. I scratched my little blue roan pinto's ears. Allude loved his scratches especially behind his dark ears. I used my other hand to scratch Estrella's butt, she leaned into it turning her head around in delight. I laughed at the little blue, red roan pinto.
  They were so silly but so full of life, it was overwhelming. Out of all the mustangs I could have picked, out of all the camps I could have gone too, and out of all the havoc I've been through for these horses. I wouldn't change it for the world, not even for Secretariat himself. Yes I at least know who that racehorse is, well and ChainBreaker.

A/N:

What do you think Nathan has planned? I'm sooo glad Kiley's back home.

Writing about the cattle drive 24'7 was getting a little tiring, as if I was walking continuously through a desert in the middle of the day.  Wired image I know, but I think it got the point across.

  Ben in the last chapter though😍He's one of my favorite characters just because of his awesome personality!

Who's y'all's FAVORITE character?