Love, Ryder

Chapter Fifteen - Steps Into The Future

Ail's POV

Dear Ail,

Sorry, I haven't written to you, I've been really busy and this whole thing is kind over overwhelming. And I think that me winning so often might be going to my head a little bit. I miss you a lot though. How are them horses of your's, I saw your runs on Bird and Maple from the last weekend, they were on Facebook. Maple looks to be going good, so does Bird. I'm in New York at the moment, I've never been here before and it's just like in the movies. If not better. I'll post some photos of it next time. Have I told you that I'm also a photographer, well not so much one that takes photos of people but I like taking photos? Have a camera and everything, I pack it in my bag everywhere I go. I don't think I have told you that. Anyway, I think that from New York we go to Boston, I've never been there either. This whole PBR thing is really exciting. I hope that you're well Ail, I'll see you soon. 

Love Ryder

I sit down on the couch in the tack room and sip my coffee once I place the letter down on the small side table. There is a sage stick burning in the corner of the room, it seems to feel fitting. Not a clue why though. It was nice to finally hear from Ryder considering it has been two weeks since he left for his big PBR job. I'm proud of him. I just miss him. 

∞

I let Bird, Token and Maple out into the back paddock for a run and I take Apache into the main stable. I tie him to the hitching rail outside the tack room and begin to saddle him up, nothing seems to faze this boy. I take the old aqua saddle pad and place it on his back then place my NFR qualification saddle on his back and do the cinch up. I find an old pair of aqua medicine boots in the boot box and wrap them around Apache's front legs, then take the hackamore and put it on him. The wild look has now gone from him and he's starting to look quite nice with all the love and care he's getting. 

∞

Apache follows behind me as I lead him to the round yard. I take the reins and tie them around the horn of the saddle and begin free lunging him. He lowers his head and trots around the ring with my command of stoping and speeding up. I put my hands up and he changes direction without hesitation. 

''Stop,'' I say and Apache stops trotting and walks over to me. I untie the reins and hold them firmly in my hands while I throw my leg over him and sit down in the saddle. Apache stands still and his ears are forward. I don't feel scared on him, I trust him. 

He moves off my leg as I ask him to go right in a circle, I don't ask him to bend in or do any fancy tricks. Just walk. Baby steps.