Wild and Free

Chapter 14

The show was coming up fast, each day getting a little more anxious, a little more busy. Cloud and I had been practicing since I could walk well, and we were getting good. Almost blue ribbon good.
Cloud and I were loping around some barrels when Drake strode up to the fence and hung his hands over the middle rail.

"You guys are doing well!" he called, though I wasn't really paying attention. "Like you could probably win in some classes, what are you showing in?" He yelled again.

I stopped in front of him and gasped. "We are gonna do barrels, poles, a flat class, and maybe a herding class?" I listed the classes out. "If I can get Cloud to learn quick enough we will do a herding class but it all depends."

"Hmm," Drake scratched his head looking at the sky. Dark clouds were rolling in and I smiled.

"We haven't gotten rain in forever! It will be fun!" I laughed and Cloud flicked her ears anticipating a command.

"I just hope it will be gone before the show." Drake mumbled.

I nodded and asked Drake to set up some poles and grab a timer. "Ok ready?" I asked.

Drake nodded then screamed "Go!" Cloud and I surged forward reaching the poles in a matter of milliseconds. Cloud understood immediately weaving skillfully through the poles. We reached the end, spun around and came back. The second to last pole Cloud bumped but it didn't fall, thankfully. We stopped in front of Drake and I patted Cloud happily. "17.53 seconds!" He exclaimed patting Cloud's muzzle.

We practiced for another hour until Cloud was sweating and my hair was plastered to my face. Drake had watched and helped out too. Although he had left halfway through, he came back riding Destiny just as I had finished practice.

"Shall we go on a trail ride to cool both of you off?" He asked looked both of us up and down. I thought for a moment, back to when it was raining and I was looking for Cloud.
"Earth the Beca?" Drake called waving his hand in front of my face. Blinking back into focus I stared at him in confusion. "I know what you were thinking about and its not going to happen again. I'm here, Cloud is fine, everything is-" I knew what that last word was going to be and before he said it I rolled up my pant leg to show my stitches scars. He stopped and stared a my leg. I pulled the pant leg down and sighed.

"Sorry, I'm just- nervous. I don't want what happened to me to happen again. Fine lets go, can we just stay away from that part of the forest?" I asked. Drake nodded and we started in the meadow.

"Shall we take the hill path? Where we first saw Cloud?" He asked. I smiled and nodded just as I let Cloud take off, a race to the top had begun! Cloud stayed a few strides ahead until the log I had jumped Destiny over loomed ahead. Drake smiled as he soared over, I tried to slow Cloud to go around but she wasn't listening. Just as we reached the log I braced myself for her to stop, but to my surprise she jumped. Stunned I looked in confusion at Cloud, she tossed her mane and quickened into a gallop. We caught up to Drake and I laughed as Cloud sped ahead of Destiny. We slowed as we neared the top, then once we reached it I stood up in my stirrups and cheered. Drake came seconds later.

"Nice race!"

"C-Cloud Jumped the log!" I stammered adrenaline coursing through my body.

"Wait, What?"

"Yea, I tried to move her out of the way but she refused to move and jumped!" I screamed excitedly. Drake laughed and clapped as we continued down the other side of the hill to a small stream. We had the horses wade in the water to drink and cool off as Drake checked his phone. Suddenly Cloud's head shot up from drinking and she gave a high pitched whinny.
"What's wrong Cloud?" I asked anxiously. Her ears flicked back and forth then she strode out of the water.
"Drake..." I said quietly.

"I'm coming, lets see whats up." I loosened Cloud's reins and she broke into a trot then a canter. We passed the side of the hill and she stopped. There in front of us was the herd of wild horses, Cloud whinnied and all the horses heads shot up. I glanced back at Drake and he stood stunned. I looked back to see a large dark bay stallion walking cautiously forward. Cloud took a few steps forward too until they reached each other. The stallion saw me, but decided to ignore me and pay attention to Cloud. She lowered her head nickering and pawed at the dirt. They both nuzzled each others necks and 'groomed' their manes. Finally, the stallion studied me, he didn't seem to disapprove of me, but he wasn't entirely excited. Cautiously he nudged my leg, then gently bit it. Cloud whipped around and bared her teeth at the bay. He backed up, suprised, and nickered. He tried to come around to my leg again, but Cloud gave a warning whinny then lunged forward and bit the bay on the shoulder. The bay flung backward and bowed his head, not trying to approach me again. Cloud walked towards the herd and they all nervously gave her room. A small paint trotted up to Cloud and nudged her muzzle. Cloud nudged the paint back and continued walking. She stopped suddenly, turned her head, sniffed my leg as if to see if I was okay, then continued. The bay stallion now walked next to Cloud, but not touching me. She seemed okay with this. At the end of the herd she turned, as did the stallion, whinnied, reared, and finally dropped her head and shook her mane. Then she walked back to Destiny, any horse trying to follow got a warning neigh. As the herd stood and watched Cloud started back the way she came with Destiny following.

"What was that?!" Drake exclaimed. Cloud, who was calmly walking down the hill towards home, didn't act as she had just seen her old herd.

"I don't know, but I think that bay was her mate." I commented looking as the clouds rolled inward.

"And she, she protected you! Like you were her foal! It was amazing, I got it on video!" Drake spoke fast. I laughed and nodded then let Cloud's reins loose and laid on her neck as she walked. She snorted and continued to walk. A fat drop of rain hit my nose and I looked at Drake.

"Time to hurry!" I said then pushed Cloud into a trot.

By the time we had gotten to the barn, it was pouring and we hurried to the barn. I quickly dried off Cloud, gave her an apple, then put her away. I was starting to shiver from the cold as Drake finished.

"Hey. Maybe you should go inside and get some new clothes." He gently brushed my wet hair out of my face. He was shivering too but was trying not to.

"Okay I will be right back, do you need clothes?" I asked poking his t-shirt.

"Nah, I got some in the truck" He smiled, his shaggy hair curling into his eyes. I nodded and we both ran to get changed. Once I had my sweats on, I grabbed 3 blankets and ran to Cloud's stall. Drake was already there in a new pair of jeans and a t-shirt. He smiled and grabbed one of the blankets from me and ran to the sawdust pile. I followed as he had set one of the blankets on top of the pile. I wrapped myself in one and sat down, leaving the extra one for Drake. He sat down and put the blanket up to his waist. He put both hands behind his back and closed his eyes. I stared at him, noticing all the details. How his muscles in his arm flexed, the way his hair dried, even the way his eyelashes curled upward. He opened his eyes and caught me staring, fiercely blushing I looked away thankful for the darkness.He gently took my face and turned it towards him. He smiled cooly and gently kissed me. We stopped and I, wrapped in my blanket, snuggled closer to him as we watched the rain through a window. Drake rested a arm on my shoulders as I watched the rain. As the room got darker I slowly started to close my eyes and snuggled closer to Drake. The last thing I heard from Drake was "Good night Rebecca."

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END! Ok so I was thinking of starting a new book (About horses obviously!) and wanted to know if I should or not! I would alternate on updating each. So what do you think? Yay or nay? (Not giving away description because I don't want my idea to be taken!)