The Eventer's Rodeo {starting again very soon!}

Chapter 6: Go Time

Back at Katie's trailer she said good night to her parents who went home for the night. She climbed into the bed next to me. I was messing around on my phone and she turned to me smiling. I looked at her with a concerned look. "What do you want?" I said plainly. "Oh nothing," she replied. "I just want to talk about this blushing I saw on your face tonight." I turned my phone off and rolled my eyes. "Really, you want to talk about that?" She smiled even bigger and nodded her head. "Ugh, fine." I said turning to her.

"Well you know, I have seen him a couple times before considering he's Justin's best friend. But I haven't seen him up close and actually talked to him. And he's really cute... And funny, and nice...." I realized I was staring out the window at the stars and blushing again. I looked back at Katie who let out a giggle.

We talked for another half hour before we both drifted to sleep.

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Beep. Beep. Beep.

My phone alarm went off at 6 am and I got up. I gently poked Katie's cheek several times trying to get her to wake up. Finally I just jumped on top of her and she woke up. "What could you possibly want at 6 am?" She said with some attitude still half asleep. "Can I take a shower?" She rolled over before falling back to her deep sleep, "Yeah sure, whatever. Mi casa es su casa, or trailer.. whatever." I laughed a little, even though she wasn't a morning person she still said things to make me laugh.

I took a shower and decided to go on and put my breeches on since I would be riding in a couple hours. I spent a couple minutes debating what color Polo Ralph Lauren shirt I wanted to wear for cross country. I finally settled on a bright aqua polo. I slipped on a pair of slick sweatpants over my breeches to keep them clean and plopped back on the bed.

Katie was still asleep. I shook my head and looked out the window. It was still dark outside, but I saw the sun just starting to rise. I drove to the Dairy Queen right outside the horse park and grabbed some breakfast. When I got back I heard the shower running and no Katie in the bed. "Bout time." I said to myself. I knocked on the bathroom door. "I got us some breakfast." I yelled through the door. "Okay, be out in a minute."

I started eating my biscuit as Katie emerged from the bathroom. "Let me feed Flash real quick." I nodded and continued eating.

After we finished eating we drove over to the barns and fed Cash. I dug in my tack stall for about 10 minutes looking for the cross country map. Ally pulled up and thank the Lord she had it with her. "Sorry I meant to give it to you yesterday after I looked at it." She handed it to me and I thanked her. "I've got to run home but I'll be back for warm up, I want you to walk the course at least twice." I nodded and she left.

I grabbed a Gatorade, "Lets go walk." I said to Katie.

Walking to the training course we ran into Justin. They kissed each other and I rolled my eyes. "Y'all need a room or are we gonna walk?" They laughed and we started walking again. "Let me call Austin and tell him to come." Justin said. I didn't really want this many people to walk with me but oh well.

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"Okay log, brush, ditch, roll top, stone wall... Ugh sixteen more left to walk." We were sitting under a tree waiting for some horses on course to go by. "There's 21 jumps in this thing?" Austin asked. I nodded leaning up on the tree trunk. "Alright next..." I scanned the map. "Sunken road."

We walked and dodged horses for another half hour. "Alright guys I'm going to walk it again, you all can go do whatever you want." Katie grabbed Justin's hand and said "Okay see ya.." She said as they both laughed and ran away. Austin just stood there looking around at everything. "You know you don't have to stay here with me." He looked back at me, "Oh well I'll stay with you and walk with you, keep you company." I nodded once, turned around and started walking.

He kept asking questions about everything, the jumps, eventing in general, but I didn't mind, I liked talking about my discipline. "How big are these? I can't imagine a horse jumping this high, I mean I know its possible but you know." I thought it was funny, he was awkward, but it was cute. "Well these are about 3 foot, 3 inches."

"Ok I have one last question." He stopped and I looked over at him, "Can I have your number?" I smiled and giggled. I nodded my head and he handed me his phone. "Thanks." He said.

After we finished walking. I checked the time. 9:36 am. "Shoot!" I slightly yelled. Austin turned and looked at me concerned. "My ride time is at 11:15, I need to be back at the barn in like 15 minutes before my parents get here and chew me out." I sat and thought for a second. "The only way I'm going to make it is if I run." I said. "Well I ain't running! I can grab my truck and-" I cut him off by grabbing the black cowboy hat off his head and put it on mine in a flirting way. I looked back at him and smirked. "I bet you'll run to get your hat back." Immediately I broke into a run toward the barns and looked over my shoulder laughing. "Hey!" He yelled and started running after me.

In less than 5 minutes we were still running but made it to the barns. I slowed down a little to a jog, out of breath. Austin caught up to me, wrapped his arms around my waist picking me up slightly so I stopped. He put me down and I turned around. Finally we both quit laughing. He looked down at me and stared into my eyes. "Now you don't mess with my hat." He picked it up off my head and put it back on his. "Even if you do look cute in it." I blushed a little turning away walking to Cash's stall.

I stopped at the cooler and got out 2 waters. I threw one to him as he sat down and looked across the alley way. The two girls from yesterday, they were talking and staring again. This time looking me up and down and to Austin, with scowls on their faces the whole time. He wasn't even paying attention so I just let them roll off my back.

I grabbed Cash out of his stall. I tied him in the cross ties and took his cooler off. I started brushing then moved to his hooves. I sprayed some show sheen and called him good. Right about that time Katie and Justin showed up. My parents came soon after them.

"Ok mom or dad, someone, grab the map and I'll tell you the course." My dad picked up the map off the chair. "Okay." He said. "Log, brush, ditch, roll top, stone wall..." I went on as I went into the tack stall to grab saddle pads. One reason I love cross country is you can pick any colors you want to ride in. From your outfit to saddle pad. My usual colors were navy, fuchsia, and aqua. "Coffin, down bank, water, water jump, up bank..." I placed my navy blue saddle pad with a fuchsia monogram and aqua binding on Cash's back, straightening it out. Then places my navy Ogilvy half pad with aqua piping and pink binding on top. I went back into the stall and slid my close contact saddle out from under my dressage saddle. "And finally the coop." I said ending my course. I placed the saddle on top, put on my 5 point, then tightened the girth. I put his bridle on then handed him off to Katie while I got ready. I slid off my sweatpants revealing my white breeches and put on my Tredstep boots. I put on my Point Two air vest and placed my skull cap on my head. I grabbed my gloves, crop and medical armband. "Okay Im ready." I said as I mounted. "Lets do this thing!" Ally said as she appeared behind me.

A/N: hey guys hope you are enjoying!! Im trying to make my chapters a little longer, please comment, vote and tell your friends!

Please go check out "The Rookie Mistake" by turnandburnbaby and "Hidden" {nash grier fan fic} by griers_chick. Thanks guys!!