The Perfect Frame

7

"Carter! Where's my hairnets?" I yelled from the tack room.

Horses were loaded. It had been decided that I would trailer Amy's horse. Jett was having a fit because he hates the trailer. It only took me twenty minutes this time to get him to go in. Ebony is a pro and as long as there is hay or some other food, she complies. I had Cujo in the car and all my tack that Jacoby and I put in there yesterday. Everything had been planned out. Except for my stupid hair nets.

"I'll give you one of mine. I just really wanna get going," Amy said while scrubbing her boots.

I groaned, "Fine,"

The drive was long for all of us. Carter tried feeding me but I could almost never eat during a horse show. We started to see some more trailers on the road as we got closer. These people looked like they had money. The fancy trailers with names on the side. Sponsors. Clean everything.

I wasn't not happy with what I have, just intimidated.

The horse ring was huge. The barns out here were so much nicer than ones I've ever been in.

We pulled in and found a nice spot under some trees. I made sure we had enough space for Carter to set up his tent. I also wanted to be away from other people. When you have an abunadance of horses, being too close is never a good idea.

"I'll get the horses out and tied up. You two go get signed up," Carter volunteered.

Amy and I walked up and took a copy of each of the patterns. Lynn had already picked out which classes we were going to do.

2020 was my number. Amy got 4020.

I thought we picked out cool numbers.

When we got back to our trailer, Carter had Jett and Bouncer, Amy's horse, tied to the trailer and muching on hay. He was currently trying to put the tent up. Cujo was panting on the front seat of the truck.

"Hello, girls! Glad you're on time. The rest of the team is going to be here soon." Lynn came out of nowhere.

Behind her, Jacoby stood, smile on his face. I could feel my cheeks strain as I smiled back.

Their trailer pulled in and a good distance away. By that time, Carter had the tent set up and chairs. He was drinking a cold pop and had his legs crossed.

I was working on Jett's tail, having his mane already done.

Arms snuck around my waist, making me jump and cringe in delight. I giggled and held onto them with my one hand, as the other was busy.

"Better get on soon. Lynn wants team pictures and your class is soon."

I just turned around and looked at him to find him already doing that.

"When'd you become my show shceduler?" I joked.

He chuckled and pecked my forehead before letting me go. He came up close to me and took the tail out of my hands.

"Go get him ready. I'll finish this,"

"You know how to do a braid?" I was surprised.

He gave me a "Really?" look. "My mom's been a horse trainer my entire life. I've picked up on a few things."

I shook my head and went into my trailer to get my tack out. When I came out, Jacoby was mostly done. I put my saddle and everything on before going back in to get my helmet.

"Carter! Where's my block?"

He had on his sunglasses but with his mouth, I could tell something was wrong. He forgot my mounting block. I'm only about 5'3'', Jett is about 16.2 hands. I need a block.

"Here," Jacoby came around, out of nowhere, with his hand out.

I put my knee on it and he was a pro, lifting me enough to swing my other leg around and successfully geting onto Jett.

"Go warm him up with the rest of the team. Amy will be there in a moment."

I listened and checked myself first. I had a small dot of dirt on my white breeches but I would survive. My jacket wasn't too hot on yet. I had my gloves in my pockets and my boots were freshly polished thanks to Carter.

My sister was sitting in the middle of the arena, talking to Jocelyn and Hannah. There weren't very many girls riding and I took it as an opportunity to warm Jett up.

Jett was very interested in everything except work right now. He wasn't looking at the jumps enough for me to actually jump anything. He also wanted to visit all the other horses, ocasionally getting too close to a mare who had to problem trying to kick him.

"Sorry!" I called out and tried to move Jett around.

I heard chuckles and giggles behind me. I knew who they were and they were fuel to my fire.

I gave Jett and swift kick and set him in line for the highest jump in the arena. I wasn't sure how high it was but I knew I was going to try. My serious face was on and I jiggled the reigns a bit to get his attention. He noticed and perked up immediately.

Squeeze,

Kick,

Two-point.

We soared up and over it. I could hear a knick of his hoof on the rail but we cleared it. I gave him a good pat and tried to calm him down.

I got him down to a trot and went into the middle of the arena with the rest of my "team".

I gave a smug smile and walked Jett up to Amy and her horse.

Take that, priss.

The show day continued. I can proudly say that when Jett and I got into the arena, he didn't totally freak out about everything.

Six classes.

Five ribbons.

Two blue, three red.

One fall.

Some girl, with a fancy horse, kept beating me. I wasn't too upset about it because she looked like she really loved her horse. That and she was better than me. Her horse was more experienced. She was calm here. She beat me and it was fair. I wasn't angry.

I was very happy that Lana didn't win.

I was done showing for today. But Amy still had some to go. Eden came to support even though her show was tomorrow. So, I changed into some shorts and a tank top, ran a brush through my hair, and walked to the ring.

Since this wasn't Lana's first show, she was in a lot more classes than I was. This was an open equitation class. I wasn't sure why there was only a few other people in there with her but they were only doing circles.

Amy found her way to me. We watched together.

"All riders, please extend your canter,"

Lana put leg on her horse and she kicked, something she clearly wasn't expecting.

I could hear her mutter as she rode by, clearly not happy with her horse.

"Riders, please halt your horses."

She stopped a foot away from me. She wasn't happy and was jerking on her mare's mouth.

It didn't surprise me to see her on the ground a few moments later. While her mare took off and tried her best to get away from Lana. Smart horse.

"Skyler! Do something!" Lana yelled to me, one of the first times using my name.

Surprised, I moved. I climbed through the fence and watched her mare come towards me. I threw my bands up hoping to wave her off. She saw me and slowed down, huffing in the process. I grabbed her by the reins and followed Lana out of the ring.

For one minute, just one moment, it looked like we could related. She called to be in her time of need. It was then I realized, maybe my sister and I weren't so different. She needed somebody, I had Carter. I never saw my mother, and I'm starting to think she didn't either. I miss my father. She never met hers'.

Maybe, we weren't so different after all...