Stone Creek Academy: Faith

Chapter Twenty-Three

On Halloween, another horse came in for me to try. We'd only had a half-day of school, so by the time I slipped on my Sperries and headed for the stable it was only 1 o'clock. The sun had managed to wiggle it's way through the cloud layer in some places, so the temperature was hovering in the mid-sixties.

As soon as I stepped inside the oak and chrome accented stable, warmth and the smells of horse, hay, grain, tack, and manure enveloped me. Near my tack trunk, an almost black Thoroughbred gelding dozed in a pair of crossties. A striking chestnut and white pinto sport horse mare stood next to him, pawing anxiously.

I had just finished slipping on my Ariat Heritage tallboots when Coach Mike marched around the corner. "Regina, you're on Beau today. Meet me in the first indoor in 15 minutes sharp," He thundered. Someone had made him mad.

Strolling casually over to the Thoroughbred gelding, I noticed the silver nameplate on his leather halter read 'Ballou's Banshee' in elegant script letters, and 'Beau' in block print beneath. With a smile I extended my hand so the gelding could sniff it. Inhaling deeply, Beau snorted and nudged my hand playfully.

"I think we're going to get along just fine now, aren't we?" I crooned to Beau as he flapped his lip and tried to chew on the crossties.

"I don't believe I've heard that pick-up line before," a voice deeper than my own laughed. Startled, I stepped out of the crossties to see a boy standing my the pinto mare's head, rubbing her face affectionately. Thankfully, the mare had stopped pawing.

"Sorry, I meant my horse," I responded, patting the small white star on Beau's face. Beau bobbed his head with pleasure.

"Is he yours?" The boy asked curiously. He was handsome as all heck. Perfectly tanned skin, amber eyes, and bronze hair. He looked my age, which sparked my interest in him even more.

"Not right now. If I like him then he will be," I grinned, "This is Beau. Yours is a beauty!"

"This is Amber, and I'm Brandon. Do you know where the tack room is?" Brandon queried, sounding a little apologetic.

"Yeah, right this way. I'm Regina," I offered, leading the way toward the nearest tack room. Brandon seemed familiar, though I couldn't recall meeting him before today. Something told me I would've remembered him.

Together, we gathered our tack and began to get the horses ready. Beau was quite a gentleman and had excellent manners. As for Brandon, the tight bond he had with Amber was plain to see. I could tell they would be a formidable team in the ring.

"So I haven't seen you around here before," I started, glancing at Brandon. We were both meticulously brushing the horses' tails.

"I just transferred here today. I was dropped off just thirty minutes ago. Coach Mike's already mad at me. I was supposed to arrive this morning, but our horse van arrived late, so we left 3 hours after the time we should've left," Brandon chuckled, spraying Show Sheen into Amber's silky, snowy white tail.

"Wow, welcome to Stone Creek!" I exclaimed. That explained why he had needed help finding the tack room. I'd been wondering about that. "Do you know what riding team you're on?"

"Not yet. Coach Mike is supposed to test me in... Oh shoot! I've got to be in the first indoor in five minutes!" Brandon nearly shouted, causing Amber to startle and shy away a little bit. He patted her shoulder apologetically.

Glancing at a clock, I said, "Oh man, me too!" We finished tacking up the horses in silence, mounted up, and rode into the indoor arena together.

"Excellent, I see you two are already acquainted. Regina, since Brandon will be testing, I'd just like you to take the same commands as him and we'll use it as your trial ride. Ready?" Coach Mike boomed from the middle of the ring.

I nodded my head. For the next thirty minutes, Brandon and I sweated and carried out the actions Coach Mike tasked us with. Beau was amazing to ride! Like Rocky, he was pretty slender, but he had a very elastic, fluid stride and performed every gait and dressage movement with perfect obedience and success.

At the canter, Beau started to get quick, so I had to check his pace frequently. Once he settled into the gait though, Beau rounded his entire body and had the smoothest, most comfortable canter I'd ever felt. I saw potential to shine in all three rings in Beau, a trait Sonic had never truly possessed.

Soon, Coach Mike set up a course of eight jumps for us. I took Beau through the course, and he jumped everything without batting an eye. He tucked his knees, rounded his back, and was easy to see a distance on because his big stride was enormously adjustable. I was loving this horse so far.

Watching Brandon was even more fun though. He and Amber clearly had a very strong bond with each other. Brandon's signals were impossible to detect, and Amber made every jump look like it was the easiest thing she's ever done. Their timing, too, was impeccable. There was no way Coach Mike wouldn't put them on the advanced team.

"Advanced Brandon," Coach Mike called out when the pair finished the course. I'd known it. Leaning down, I gave Beau's warm neck a hug. He'd been an angel, and was definitely getting some treats for this!

"Coach, if you don't mind, I'm honored you think so well of me, but could I start on the intermediate team? I don't mean to insult your judging ability, but I'm not ready for advanced," Brandon admitted. My jaw fell open with shock. I clamped it shut firmly. I'd never seen anyone be so humble! Coach Mike had just told him he was a great rider, better than me, and Brandon had asked to be put on a lower team! Who did that?!

"Erm, sure, I guess. You'll lesson with Regina's group. Good day Brandon," Coach Mike stammered. He, too, looked thoroughly surprised. With a courteous dip of his head to Coach Mike and a quick smile for me, Brandon strolled Amber out of the ring.

"You do well with him," Coach Mike remarked, turning to face me.

"He's spectacular," I agreed, rubbing Beau's neck as he snorted loudly.

"I talked to your mother earlier today, as I had a feeling you and him would match up well. She was quite put out at this, but he's only available for lease. His owner was also in an accident and decided to lease him out until she was ready to ride again," Coach Mike explained.

"So he and I have similar histories," I remarked with a smile. Knowing he had been in the same position as I had made me feel even closer to the seal brown Thoroughbred.

Coach Mike nodded, "So you're interested?"

"Absolutely!" I half-shouted. Coach Mike dismissed me, and I rode Beau back to the stable. He was the perfect horse for me right now.

I gave him a kiss on his white star, then untacked him rapidly. After I had returned him to his stall, I fed Beau several treats, then locked my tack trunk. Turning around, I nearly smacked into Brandon.

"Whoa and hey! Sorry about that," I apologized, straightening myself out and taking in his adorable amber eyes, violet polo shirt that stuck to him like glue, and minty scent. Guiltily, I recalled how I had agreed to go out with James just a few days ago, and was supposed to meet him for a movie in an hour.

"Don't worry about it. I guess I'll be seeing you around, eh?" Brandon said, a smile walking over his face. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks.

"Yeah. See you tomorrow," I smiled. Before things could get more awkward, I turned and left the stable. I knew one thing for certain: I really, really liked Brandon. But, how did I deal with James, who clearly liked me enough to risk being rejected in public? I sware, boys were more trouble than an unbacked yearling!

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Picture is of Beau, will have images of Brandon and Amber up soon, keep checking back! Love you guys! <3 Which guy do you think Regina will go with? 8 chapters left! More up tomorrow!