It's Only 8 Seconds

Chapter Twenty Four

It was only one week later and it was finally River's first birthday, I couldn't believe that she was already one. It felt like it was just yesterday that I held her in my arms for the first time, how small she was. Austin sat on the lounge and sat her on his lap as I walked over and handed her a small box with her present inside of it. I watched as she tore at the paper with excitement. Austin smiled up at me as we both just watched and waited until she got to the gift and when she did the look of confusion was priceless. River's hands clasped around the small brown collar and lifted it up and out of the box.

''We got you a puppy, baby.'' I picked River up from Austin and walked over to the front door and opened it. Sitting there on the porch in the little pen was the black labrador puppy. Her happy little face smiled when River lept out of my arms and spiked the puppy up. It licked her face and she toppled over with the puppy, it jumped all over her. River's laughs were loud and made me smile more than ever.

Austin picked the puppy up at the pound, he saw it there and knew that he couldn't leave the poor thing. We discussed the matter and decided to gift it to River for her birthday, the two of them can grow up together. It seemed like the perfect idea and looking at the situation it was the right decision to make. 

Austin picked River up off the ground and I picked up the puppy, we took them both inside and let them play around in the lounge room. I made coffee and went out to check the horses while Austin looked after River. 

Bird looked happier than ever to see me as she sang out at my presence. Token, Apache and Juniper poked their heads out of their stalls and smiled with their bright eyes. I felt bad that I hadn't ridden any of them in a while, Austin had been teaching me on his Warmbloods and I had somewhat forgotten about the world I had come from. I walked over to Apache and Juniper who were in the far stalls. 

''Hey there,'' I said as I got closer to them, I hated that they weren't getting the attention and love they needed. I fostered both of them in and then took Juniper on knowing I had a new child and career I needed to pressure to make money. It was stupid and selfish of me to do that, to give these animals hope and then let them down. I had to do something about it and I knew I had no time anymore. So I called my mother.

''Hey, mom.''

''Ail how are you?'' 

''Good, umm. I had an idea. well, it's sort of a favour.''

''What can I do for you?'' I felt bad having to rely on my mom but in the end, this was going to help her as well.

''I've got two wild horses here, the ones I got of that man dad recommended me to. One of them is completely calm and I've ridden him around the barrel pattern a few times, but the other one has only been handled a few times. I just thought that maybe you would like to take them on, I don't have the time and I hate that there just sitting there going to waste.'' My voice began to tremble I poured everything into Apache when I got him and now I don't have enough time for him.

''I can do that Ail, it'll be a good project for me and besides, we have the room now that your father sold a few of the other horses. I'll be over in the next few days to pick them up. But I'll see you soon anyway. I've got to come over for River's birthday, remember?''

''Yes right, well that sounds good. I'll see you soon then mom.'' 

I crumpled on the ground in the tack room, with my hands over my eyes, the tears fell rolling down my cheeks and wetting my t-shirt. I didn't want to have to let them go, but I was in no place to be training horses again, those days are behind me. I didn't like to think that because I am still only twenty and I have my whole life ahead of me, but I have a family now too and that is difficult for me. I wiped my eyes and got up off the floor, I needed to go back inside and spend my daughters birthday with her.