Sorrel Hill: Dancing In Rome (BK3) |COMPLETED|

Chapter Five

"If all my friends jumped off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them. I'd be waiting at the bottom to catch those idiots." - Unknown
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                   ~Reassurance~

     Promise followed me calmly to the big, freshly tilled, arena.  I found Tasha running a brush through a gray horse with a white coat's mane.  The mare's mane was a silvery color her tail a cream white.  Promise whinnied to the mare who returned the greeting.  Tasha turned and smiled, "Welcome, it's so good to finally meet you."  "The same to you," I shook her hand, way too apprehensive about this.  She brought me over to her horse.  "This is Kendra, she's a ten year old Andalusian, a whopping sixteen hands," she stroked the mare's neck.  I held my hand to the mare's nose, she nudged it with her lip.  "Why don't you tie your mare up?" I nodded, hard tying Promise's lead rope. 
     Tasha lead me to the center of the arena, Kendra following us both.  Promise stood with a cocked leg, her face turned to us. She then began to narrate what she did, which cues she used to direct to Kendra. I was filled with bewilderment as Kendra leaped into the air, her back legs kicked out behind her in a straight motion. She brought them back as she landed, I was shocked in amazement. The mare moved with such elegance and agilely it made me all the more pressured. Promise was no where near that level to preform such a trick. Tasha was quick to reassure me, "don't worry, Promise won't be learning that. Today we will work with the pedestal."
I nodded, Tasha dragged a fairly small pedestal to the center of the arena. She pointed to it with her whip, Kendra instantly walked over, she stepped on the pedestal with her front feet. Tasha clicked, Kendra then stepped onto it with her back legs, all four legs standing together on the small object. Tasha whistled, Kendra hopped off and trotted over receiving a pat on the neck. I took Promise from her previous position and lead her over as Tasha instructed. "Okay, first let her smell of it- yeah just like that. Oh- she doesn't even care about it. Now grab that crop whip and point to the pedestal." I struggled, but managed to do what she wanted. Promise was the least bit interested, she was nearly falling asleep.
     Tasha and I worked back and forth with her, Promise eventually followed our lead.  She did such a beautiful job, I was proud to call her mine. We finished shortly after; I was pleased with our session. I smiled at the thought of seeing my boy. I haven't been able to greet him all day. I walked swiftly to the stable with Promise just behind me. She wasn't in a hurry in the slightest bit. I couldn't blame her, stalls were never her strong suit. Once we reached her stable, I fed and brushed her off. I then, went straight to my chestnut. He had his neck over the stall door, waiting to greet me, "hey buddy, how are you?" He wiggled his lip as I stroked his nose. His antics never got old. "Want to go for a ride?" I opened the stall door, patting my stunning boy.
He stood calmly as I groomed him. I tacked him up and we exited the barn. There weren't any jumping obstacles, but there were fences. I smirked, Jack rode over to an outside arena. We warmed up a bit in there than finally gained some air. I lined Jack up, he zoomed to a steady lope. We drew close to the arena's fence. I saw someone out of the corner of my eye, but it was too late to stop. Jack and I jumped over the fence without a second thought. He whinnied quite happy with jumping. "Ms. Tyler, that was a beautiful performance," a woman called leaned up against the barn. Not in trouble... thank God. I posted as Jack trotted over to the woman in a gait full of elegance.
"I was hoping I would get to see the magnificent Jack Of Jumps truly such a wonderful horse. We have the show coming up this week and since this is a liberty show, do you think you could jump him bareback?" I had been bareback riding a lot, but not nearly as frequent jumping. I was still uncomfortable with it. A certain name etched into my mind. Maybe they could help? "Yes ma'am, that I can hopefully do." She grinned, "that's wonderful! Well, I'll leave you both too it." She left, leaving my heart racing with anxiety. I had another reason to ride now- stress. Jack and I leaned over the fences countless times. I approached a six foot fence. A breath left me as I leaned with Jack. His front feet left the ground, I was hovered over his wither. His body fled from the soil, soaring in mid-air. I stretched out my arms, in my two point position. The moment lasted for minute yet it was merely a second. I could feel him, his spirit, his mind, his body, him. I could feel the excitement within him, the fire in his soul, and the peace he radiated off of his effortless jumps.
I let my eyes close once we touched the ground. He took off at a gallop, but my eyes never opened. I trusted him. His body leaned to the right as did mine. He wanted to jump again. All I felt was the wind and all I heard was the horse. He picked up his pace, the power of his hind legs shot up into the air once more. "Wooooow!!!!" I shouted for all the world to hear out of a free feeling. We landed once more, I opened my eyes patting his sweaty coat. We jumped a few more times after that before our hour ride ended with the sunset. I unsaddled him and tended to both Promise and him. After I ensured their well-being I went to my house. I had only just showered before I remembered what the woman had asked.
I walked over, sat on my bed. I took up my phone and called Nathan. He answered on the second ring, "What?" I smiled at his bitter tone, "you busy?" He answered a short no. Such a nice guy, I thought sarcastically. "Remember when I first went to Recovery Ranch?" I could mentally picture him rolling his eyes, "unfortunately." "Well, I was asked to preform jumping but bareback... and I'm not sure how to be umm- comfortable with it and I don't know how to be," I said in one breath. He probably got none of that. "What I would do when I had an endurance race coming up- is instead of doing that counting thing or deep breaths... I would just focus on my partner. I would trust they wouldn't do anything purposely to hurt me." I stand corrected. "Thank you, I've been stressing so much over that. Are you coming this week?" He huffed, "both Jessie and Samantha is forcing me... kinda don't have a choice." I smiled at the mention of Jessie, "tell them they're awesome, but I figured you would really like the first performance. I watched the rehearsal today and immediately thought of you."
"Aww, you think of me?" He teased. "Don't worry, I've thought about everyone today," I reassured him. "In all seriousness though, Kiley, you'll be fine. Just trust yourself," his tone was soft. It was like a breath of fresh air. I had gotten in my head so much about it, it was nice to hear him say that. "Thank you, Nathan." "Yep." He hung up and I laughed, he was such a wild card no wonder Samergia and him got along.

A/N

Tah-dah! Anyone happy book three finally began? I am!