The Matchmaker Mare

Two

Sweat beat down my forehead as I faithfully ran the course again for the 500th time as Jake told me too. I felt bad for only practicing for a few hours yesterday and felt I had to make up for it today by working extra extra hard and more determined. Of course, Mischief wasn't all too happy with me, although as a loyal horse, she followed all of my orders. Finally, both me and Mischief breathing heavily, Jake called me over for a quick conversation and an update on how my show jumping is coming along.

"You're working very hard Holly, and I am proud of you. We should go in and get some water and talk real quick and then get back to training." Jake said as he started walking back to the house. I met him at the front door after putting Mischief in her stall and making sure she had enough water.

I chugged down a huge cup of water to give my lips some moisture and clench my thirst. Finally after I am rehydrated, I start off the conversation. "So, how are we looking out there, me and Mischief?" I ask.

"You look fine. There is room for improvement though. You need to pick up speed going over each jump, you're too slow. You need to recheck your posture in the saddle, it could use some work. And I have a few more tweaks, but they can be figured out once we get back into the arena. Now, are you ready? Well hydrated?"

I let out a huge sigh and stood up straight. "Yes, I am ready." I say unenthusiastically.

"Why do you get so bummed every time we have to practice? This is our dream remember. We both want this." Jake said. Anger boils inside me. Really Jake? Our dream?

"Oh, you're so sure about that? When was the last time you asked how I felt about all of this? This whole show? Especially over Christmas? You think this is our dream? Because let me tell you this, show jumping isn't fun anymore. When I first started, everything about it amused me, but now? Having all of this pressure to win, not being able to spend Christmas with my family, I think this dream isn't mine anymore."

"Holly, I didn't mean to make you upset. But what do you mean this dream isn't yours anymore?"

"Exactly my point! You never even bothered to ask what I wanted to do, you just went right on ahead with what you wanted."

"Holly, I... I'm really sorry. It's just... well, we can't turn back now, we've worked so hard, Mischief has worked so hard for this!" I grunt and groan in anger while he says this, and I decided that fighting with Jake isn't worth my time right now, and I walk away, Jake tries to stop me but I urge myself forward.

"I've heard enough Jake. Just leave me alone." I sprint out the front door and into the barn, I find Mischief and grab brushes and start grooming her, it always calms me down.

"He just doesn't get it, Mischief. When was the last time he asked what I wanted to do?" Mischief grunts. "Yeah, not for a long time huh? I just wish he paid more attention to me than to our career." I wrap my arms tight around her neck and start to sob, not only for the show, but for all of those emotions I have been holding in, about the show, my grandparents, Jake, the ranch hand, and especially... my parents. Suddenly, I hear the rumble of tires coming down our long gravel driveway, truck tires. I squat down in the stall, hoping I wasn't heard, but that I could overhear any conversation going on. I know, eavesdropping is bad. But what can I say? Someone's gotta do it, and it is just part of who I am. All I hear is mumbling and whispering, and I stay silent in disappointment. The conversation stops, I don't hear anything for a long while, and I start to slowly creep up.

"Well, hello." Says a super strange boy about my age, he startled me half to death, making me hit my head hard against the wall, screaming.

"Ow!" I call out rubbing my head as if that would make it feel any better.