Stone Creek Academy: Faith

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The next week passed in a hurry. Brandon and I often chatted in the halls or studied together after our lessons. All of my time was taken up by studying and riding.

It came to be Thursday. Thursday meant that in exactly one week I would be showing. To alleviate some stress, Brandon and I agreed to practice together in one of the grass arenas by the woods.

"Ready boy?" I asked Beau, giving him a once-over to make sure everything was in its place. Deciding that we were ready, I smoothed on another coat of lip gloss and lead Beau out front. After I had settled myself into my saddle, I let him walk on a long rein to the agreed ring.

Brandon was already inside. Amber moved fluidly, her striking chestnut tobiano coat making the pair hard to look away from. I walked Beau into the arena as Brandon guided Amber over a short vertical. Naturally, I couldn't find a single fault.

"Remind me why you're practicing?" I queried, letting Beau move into a sweeping trot.

"I should say the same to you," Brandon answered, slowing Amber down to a walk. My entire body tingled as I felt his eyes watching me.

"I'm the one desperately in need of improvement. If you get anything less than first next week I might have a heart attack and die," I said sincerely.

"No, have you watched yourself ride lately? You're not half bad," Brandon replied. I nudged Beau into a canter.

"Not half bad? Thanks," I responded, my voice oozing sarcasm.

"That's not what a meant! You're a really good rider," Brandon blurted out, laughing.

"So then you think I could beat you?" I challenged, performing a fantastic flying change with Beau.

"There's one way to find out. We race on the dual trail. Winner gets bragging rights, loser has to take the other out for dinner after break," Brandon agreed. We walked the horses out of the arena and headed for the racing trailhead.

The dual track was a set of perfectly identical cross country courses that the eventing riders often raced on during their lessons. Every jump, every hill, every distance, was exactly the same down to the millimeter. I'd seen an article on it in a magazine before coming to Stone Creek.

"Ready?" Brandon called, halting Amber at the start of the left trail. I lined up Beau in front of the right trail.

"Go!" I shouted, kicking Beau forward. We bounded into the woods, hopped a low stone wall, and were off. Turning a corner, we were presented with a trakehner, which Beau attacked with ease.

Leaning forward, I whispered encouragement to him as we galloped up a hill, jumping a short log pile on our way up. Although the hill had been safe to gallop up, I had to slow Beau to a fast canter to hop down the series of bank jumps on the other side. On the last bank jump, we splashed into a shallow pool of water.

As we plowed our way out and then leaped a brush fence just two strides after sliding up the muddy bank, I recalled Coach Mike telling me that Beau's owner had done eventing with him. Even being a hunter/jumper for a little while hadn't decreased Beau's fantastic condition. He was barely blowing.

"Come on boy, we got this!" I shouted as we tore out of the woods and into a meadow. Just one more jump stood between us and victory. Beau raced flat out at the creek, and because it was so thin, barely had to jump at all. Looking under my right arm, I saw Brandon a few strides behind us on the other course. If we could hold this pace we would win for sure.

My heels drummed against Beau's sides, and in return he gave me one final burst of speed. It was enough to win. We crossed the finish a handful of seconds before Brandon. Both horses were breathing hard now.

"It looks like you won, Regina," Brandon said with a grin. I couldn't help but grin too. We were so going to kick some major booty at the show!