The Horse, The Friend, and The Bad Boy

Chapter Four: The Race For Love

I hand Luna off to one of my students. Lucy hands Sierra off to one of my students. I hand Red off to one of my students. Lucy hands Jazmyne off to one of my students. I hand Thunder off to one of my students. Lucy hands Tempest off to one of my students. I hand Spirit off to one of my students. Lucy hands Seattle off to one of my students. I hand Warren off to one of my students. Lucy hands Victor off to one of my students. I hand Teeko off to one of my students. Lucy hands Isis off to one of my students. I hand Molly off to one of my students. Lucy hands Dandelion off to one of my students. I hand Daisy off to one of my students. Lucy hands Tally off to one of my students. I hand Texas off to one of my students. Lucy hands Devon off to one of my students. I hand Maisy off to one of my students. Lucy hands Suzy off to one of my students. I hand Black Lightning off to one of my students. Lucy hands Constantinople off to one of my students. I hand Star-Moon off to one of my students. Lucy hands Brownie off to one of my students. I hand Moose off to one of my students. Lucy hands Courtney off to one of my students.

Lucy was my assistant today. Usually, Betsy Coldhands is but she was feeling under the weather. I was teaching my students, whom all came from poverty, about how to trot and ganter. It was then, after our fourth or fifth lap around the arena, Asher rode up towards us. Smug, he rest his hands on the horn of his saddle, leaning forward and says, "None of your students truly know how to ride." "They're just learning," Lucy said. "Bullshit. If you aren't talented and capable on a horse the moment you sit on it, then you shouldn't even bother." It was then, Prince, the horse he was on, nodded and neighed in agreement. "What! That's not true..." Lucy said. He then turned to her and smiled. And soon, all of her criticisms melted away. He was like a statue. And it's hard to be mad... at a gorgeous piece of art. "It's true. I'm the best at riding and I've never been taught by anyone." Asher said. "That's enough from you." I finally say, building up the courage to talk. "I wasn't always good at riding, and now I'm pretty good. Better than you I reckon! Let's have a race. If I win, I get a kiss from you. A real kiss! Not that weird cigarette one you gave me... and you have to apologize!" "Okay. And what do I get when I win?" "You can have whatever you want." Asher looks at me and smirks. Rubbing the back of his neck, he then says: "Okay. If I win I want your virginity." Before I can say "fine", I choke on my own words. The thought of him and I sleeping together nearly made me want to find the nearest pillow. But this is not how I wanted it to go down... I didn't want to lose my virginity because of some dumb bet. So I say, "You're on!"

He smirks. After I dismiss the class, Lucy and I head over to the end of the farm, where there is a large trail that leads in the woods, and it circles back to the ranch. By the time Lucy and I got there, Asher was already leaning up against a tree, smoking. His horse, Prince, loyally waiting by his side, eating at some grass. I was on top of Princess. And Lucy was on top of Courtney. "Are you ready big boy?" I say, hands on my hips. He smirks then laughs. Flicking his cigarette to the ground, and stepping on it, he says: "Huh. By the time this is over, you'll be calling me daddy." 

We stand shoulder to shoulder, on top of our horses, at the start of the trail road. The road is wide enough for two horses, but that's it. "Ready?!" Lucy cries. Princess, calm and attentive underneath me. While Prince, like his rider, impatient. Scratching his hoove on the ground. Waiting for that word, and the kick from his owner. "Set!" Lucy yelled, her hand up in the air. I feel all of the blood rush to my legs and my thighs, and my hands tighten up. I lean forward in my saddle, as Asher does the same. His butt raised in the air, off the saddle. I look at him for a moment and think to myself: Now, that's an ass! Before I knew it, Lucy brought her hand quickly down and shouted: "GO!". And I was so distracted with Asher's behind, he was first to ram his heel into his horse, bolting off and taking the lead. Once I heard the hooff thunder, my reflex kicked in. And I too squeeze and kick my Princess to set her off behind Asher. We speed through the forest. Whipping by trees, and ducking under branches. Right before I was about to pass him, he dug his heel deep and made a b-line, cutting me off from passing him, yet still keeping his speed on the trail road. Every time I tried to pass him he would always find a way to get in front of me. It was then I noticed, he was wearing spurs. And my heart dropped. How dare he wear such things while racing? Not only was it cruel to the horse, but downright cheating! Maybe that's why Prince was so obedient... because he was afraid. And although I lusted for him, I also fear Asher Brooks...

It was then I called out "Cheater! Why are you wearing spurs!?" He turned to me and yelled "What?" However, because he was too busy looking behind him, he didn't see a branch. Wham! He was thrown off of his horse and hit the trail road. Prince, riding forward a few paces, before stopping and turning. It was only after I passed him, I realized what had happened. I stopped my horse and turned to him, dismounting her and running over. There he lies, with a bloody nose and black eye. Looking up from the ground towards the late evening sky. "Are you okay?! Oh my god!" I say, over him. Then falling to my knees right beside him. I placed my hand on his chest and combed my hair back behind my ear. He looks at me and smiles. Then begins to giggle. "You must really wanna fuck me. The finish line is less than a minute away, and here you are! Stopping to help your opponent! You must really be dumb." Most people would be mad if someone said that, but I couldn't help but smile, and giggle with him! "Making sure you're okay is less important than winning." "Is it more important than your virginity?" He asked, sitting up. "I- ah- I- ah- uh- I- I- uh- I- ah- I- uh- I- I-..." I stummer blushing, he then gets up and runs over towards Prince, and goes down the trail road towards the finish line. "No fair!" I yelled, and quickly hop on Princess, and we chase after him. As we're coming toward the end of the trail, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And Lucy, standing there, watching and waiting at the finish line. My heart sinks. "No, no, no, no, no..." I say to myself, we are less than ten seconds away from the finish line. And at this rate... he is going to win...

Less than twenty yards away from the finish line, he pulls back his horse. And I zoom by, crossing the finish line first. With Asher following behind, at a walk. "No.." He said, unconvincingly. He's such a bad actor! He then rode towards me, I shook his hand and said: "That was fun." "Sure was." He agreed. "I'm sorry for what I said." "I've already forgiven you," I smile back. "See you at school," He says, before then riding down towards the stables. "Wait!" I call out, and I quickly ride over towards him. From the top of Princess, I give him a kiss on the cheek. He looks back at me in surprise. His cheeks, blushing. Nearly as red as his bloody nose... his face was all scratched up, too... from the branch. And when I kissed him, I tasted a bit of blood. But, I didn't mind. His face was beet red. And then I said, "That's my prize for winning." 

Later that night, while listening to Rodeo by Lil Nas X, featuring Cardi B, I thought of the race. And how flustered he was when I kissed him. I'm sure he felt how I felt, every time he did something flirtatious to me. He could've won. I think about how he threw the race for me. Surely, he was joking about the virginity thing. Right? Why else would he throw the race... why would he throw the race, to begin with? That night, I went to bed thinking about how cute he looked. Rosy cheeks, and embarrassed. 

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