Horse Stone (Book 1 of Ilyrian Series)

Chapter 71

"How do you want me to do the course?" I asked, choosing to ignore Vanar's comment. I pulled at the reins and had him slow down until he stopped moving, facing her. "I think that we should do it only one time so that we can get Shadow cooled down, cleaned, and back into his pasture before I get him some food."

"That's no fun," Vanar grumbled. He flicked his tail, annoyed and chewed at the bit before he snorted and shook his head. "We should do it multiple times."

Serena nodded, and I knew that she was ignoring Vanar like I was. "You have worked him out for a while, and I think that we don't want to get him too overworked so that you can't ride him tomorrow."

"I'll be fine tomorrow even if we do this many times," Vanar groaned and lifted his head. "Let us have some fun, Serena."

"I think I have my mom's old riding stuff that I can use on him tomorrow when I ride him again. Do you think I can ride him outside of the arena tomorrow when I do ride him?" I raised an eyebrow in question, praying that she would say yes.

An amused smile appeared on Serena's face while she nodded, and I grinned while my shoulders sagged with relief. "You can," she confirmed. "Make sure to take a buddy with you, though. I don't want you to go out by yourself just yet."

I nodded, understanding where she was coming from, before I looked towards Liam and raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to be my buddy?" I asked. "You and Gallant?"

Liam nodded and smiled. "Sure," he said. "I can go with you on a ride tomorrow." He paused and cocked his head while he studied me. "When do you want to do it?"

I looked down and fiddled with my reins while I blushed. I had no idea why I was being so bashful about the fact that I have to go to therapy tomorrow with him, but I was. I mean, he knew that I went to therapy and that I was having problems. "Um... can we do it after my therapy session tomorrow?" I asked and looked at him through my eyelashes.

Liam's smile turned softer, and worry filled his eyes while he nodded. "Of course," he said. He cocked his head while he studied me. "Are you being bashful about having therapy?" he asked, and I hesitated but nodded. "Why?"

I shrugged and cleared my throat. "I don't know..." I said. I cleared my throat again and shifted in the saddle, getting very nervous. I licked my lips and looked at the saddle, not wanting to meet his gaze any longer. "I just... I don't know. I just am?"

Liam's smile turned into a frown, but he nodded anyway. "You don't have to be, ok?" he asked. "I mean... there isn't anything wrong with going to therapy." He paused and studied me, and I could feel his gaze on the side of my face. "Is it helping you?"

"Some," I admitted. I looked at Serena before I looked at him. I didn't know why, but I was more nervous about what she thought than Liam, even though I knew that she wouldn't do anything to me, unlike someone we knew. "Can we talk about this later?" I asked, and he nodded but frowned, concerned.

Serena looked between us and frowned. Sadness filled her eyes, and I had a feeling that she knew that I didn't want to talk about whatever in front of her, and I couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

Worry flickered through Liam's eyes while he looked between us before he cleared his throat and focused his gaze on me. "Why... don't we start the course?" he asked, changing the subject and gestured towards the waiting course. "I think Serena knows what you should do first." He looked at Serena with wide eyes, and she looked back at him with a blank look in her eyes. "Well..?" he asked and raised an eyebrow.

Serena blinked and blinked again. Realization flickered through her eyes, and her eyes grew wide. "Oh, right, right," she said. She cleared her throat, and a blush appeared on her face. "I want you to do the cross rails first," she said, pointing in the direction that she wanted me to go in. She looked at me to make sure that I was following along.

I nodded and stayed silent. I fiddled with the reins and took a deep breath to relieve some of my nerves. I was excited and yet nervous about doing this, for this was the first time that I jumped Vanar.

I had no idea how he would react and hoped that he was an angel going over the fences. Heck, I wouldn't mind if I had to fight him over them, but I did want him to be a jumper because that was one thing that I loved to do.

Serena pointed to the diagonal line, and I looked at them and then at her. "After the cross rails, I want you to go over the diagonal line and then twist towards the vertical and then the jump set." She gestured to the way that she wanted me to go. "When you are done with that, I want you to go back on the diagonal, jump the first jump before bending to the crossrail going to the fence."

I nodded. "Is there anything else, or is that it?"

Serena cleared her throat and shifted on her feet. "For right now, that is it. After that, cool him down and then lead him back to his pasture. Do you want to rinse him off down there?"

I nodded and stayed silent. I did not want to deal with the girls of this place any longer, and I knew that they were going to do slight jabs at both Vanar and me because I didn't do what Mrs. Treat had said and had gotten off of him.

Vanar nuzzled my foot. "We will show them," he promised. "You will get stronger and let what they say roll off your back. Right now, we can do what makes you comfortable. Ok?"

I rubbed his neck in thanks and cleared my throat before I looked at Liam. "Can you get Shadow's halter, please?" I asked. "I hope that they haven't moved it."

Liam nodded and furrowed his brows in concern. He cocked his head and studied me, his eyes bright. "Are you wanting me to put up his saddle and bridle after you are done?" he asked, and I shook my head, no.

"I think Serena has a place for it." I looked at her, and she nodded, knowing full well what I wanted to do before I looked back at him. "I am going to be bringing my mom's old stuff for him tomorrow, but this was a good set to use for today."

Liam frowned and cocked his head further. "But why aren't you going to keep using it?" he asked. "It's very elegant and fits both you and Shadow."

I smiled and blushed, feeling pleased that he liked it for us. However, I shook my head sadly. "It's something that can not be used often," I said. "At least for right now."

"Why not?"

"Can't say," I replied. I smirked and winked tiredly, and Liam raised an eyebrow in question. "It's a secret that I got to keep from my dad."

"So don't say anything in front of him?" he asked, and I nodded in confirmation. Liam smiled and nodded. "Of course," he said. He held up his right hand and crossed his heart with his other hand. "Your secret is safe with me until the day that I die. I promise."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help but smile a little, happy that he would keep my secret about the saddle. "Shut up," I said, and I couldn't help the little laugh that came out of my mouth. "Just... shut up."