Overcome

Chapter Twenty-four

I sit in my chair, fully dressed in barn clothes. I'm wearing my knock off tailored sportsman breeches, ariat tall boots, and a teal short sleeved polo. Its finally May and hot out. I don't even know why I got all "dressed up" to go ride. I really don't like it. It makes me feel like a spoiled rich girl. But today, I just felt like it.

It's really early to be leaving but if I want to jump we have to leave at 11:30. It's risky knowing mom went to bed only an hour ago.

Justin walks in and nods gesturing that Its okay to leave. We both walked quietly out of my room and down the stairs without breathing. It almost feels like that if a feather lands on the floor, mom will wake up.

We walk out of the house and Justin is laughing.

"Wha- why are you laughing?"

"You really want to be in a movie don't you?

"huh?"

"you always make something like a mission."

"I'd rather be on a mission then grounded for a lifetime!"

"You should be a actor"

we get in the car "Don't tell me what to do" i smile.

"I can tell you to do whatever I want. Orrrrrrrr..... I tell your mother what you've been doing for the past 5 months." he says joking.

"ohhhhhh blackmail. I'm so scared!!"

"You should be. All it takes is one sentence."

"I have dirt on you too. So this isn't a one way streak."

"ohhhhohohohh. What do you have on me?"

"Well, lets just start with the fact that you dated Emily."

He tries to keep a straight face "I told you, that was a very bad time in my life. Probably the worst"

"oh, really?"

"Yeah, that's probably the worst blackmail someone could ever get!"

We both laugh as Justin pulls into the parking lot. We set up a simple course, outside, diagonal, outside. Simple Hunter. I know I used to ride in the Jumpers but right now, I like taking it easy, counting strides, making Harry look perfect, and having the judge (which is Justin) think it's an effortless ride.

"Tack time" I say once we are done with the courses. Justin and I turn the corner out of the ring and my knee hits the corner of the tack box and I fall to the side. Instead of hitting the ground I land in Justin's arms. That freaking, stupid shock wave thing went surging through my body and I blush. "oh, ah" I push I push myself up and he's laughing.

"You okay?"

"Fine"

"I don't get it" he chuckles.

"Get what?" I start making my way down to Harry's stall and a little annoyed that he's still laughing.

"You get on a horse and be the most greatest rider in the world yet you can't even walk two steps without falling or hurting yourself."

"I was born to be on a horse and never be on the ground" I smile realizing that his statement is true.

We each take a brush and start grooming Harry. About halfway through I switch to a soft brush and start at his neck again.

"Greatest rider huh?" I say to break the silence.

"Yeah, if you don't kill yourself on the ground first"

"That could be a possibility..." we laugh and start tacking.

Justin instantly goes into trainer mode when he steps into the ring.