Briarsridge Riding School

Chapter 32

I hosed Delilah off, watching as riders slowly got their horses ready for a group ride. My time has been 1:30, which wasn't too bad. Delilah snorted, and I snapped out of my trance. I patted her down with a towel before leading her back to her stall. She nickered gently and I patted her, sneaking a treat from a nearby horse's bin before locking the stall door. It was still early in the morning, so I easily dodged the few riders circulating in order to get back to my tack room. From the other end of the barn, I could hear Kermit and Gatsby nickering. I sighed, looking out the door before brushing hair out of my face. I grabbed a water out of the mini fridge, just as someone else busted into the room. She looked vaguely familiar, and she locked eyes with me.

"Heeey Scarlett! How's it going?" Her over-enthusiastic voice instantly reminded me of who she was.

"Hi Alice!" I continued walking towards the door. Alice opened her locker, continuing the conversation.

"Have you gotten a horse yet?" She asked, and I shook my head. "Hm, I'll have to remind Branden." I let out a quick laugh.

"It's okay, really. I'm enjoying the two school horses I'm riding now." She gave me a long, hard look before closing up her locker.

"Okie dokie, if you say so!" She spread another cheery smile on her face.

"How do you know Branden anyway?" I asked, taking a step away from the door. She laughed, crossing her arms.

"I worked for his dad until I enrolled here. Brandon and I have practically grown up together." I nodded, a small smile creeping across my face.

"Oh ok, cool." I left the tack room, wandering over to Gatsby's stall. He nickered at my arrival, and I unlocked his stall, slipping in and patting his neck. His left hind foot was slightly cocked, and his ears were in a relaxed forward state, I rubbed him for a while more, eventually, reaching down to stretch out his legs. I bent down to each leg, stretching it before putting it back down. I finished three, picking up his last foot.

"Hey there stranger." Brandon's voice startled me, and I looked up, dropping Gatsby's hoof straight onto my foot. My face contorted in reaction to the pain, but I managed to wave. "I see you managed to get out of the smelly situation you were in last night." I glared at him, and he laughed. "Hey, I texted you like 15 times to see if you wanted out."

"Twenty times actually." I retorted, able to talk again, even though I could feel the bruise forming my foot. I reached down to finish stretching out Gatsby. "Where's Luke?"

"In Mr.S's office. Him and I walked down here together, but Mr. S pulled him aside with such fury he didn't even have time to give me a pleading look." I laughed, setting Gatsby's foot down and walking outside the stall, locking it behind me.

"Hey, you helped him. If he gives you up, you're both going to have stall duty for a month with no rides." He looked at me, and I laughed, walking to Kermit's stall.

"Are you doing the schooling show?" He asked, and I nodded.

"I think I'm supposed to be showing Kermit, one of the Intermediate riders is using Gatsby for their dressage portion." I unlatched Kermit's stall, rubbing him before reaching down to stretch his legs.

"Yeah, I'm showing a friend's horse in the jumpers but that's it. I'm trying not to overload myself, especially since it's a schooling show so I don't need to do as many classes as a rating show. Plus, it's my first show of the year." I nodded in agreement.

"I'm honestly not sure what I'm showing in, I want to say most likely hunters." I ran my hand down the last leg, feeling that something wasn't quite right. I ran my hand down again, and then again, still feeling the same thing.

"What's up?" Brandon asked, walking into the stall. I moved aside so he could feel Kermit's leg. "Woah, there's something way off there." I nodded. "I'll go get Mr. S." He read the concern on my face. "I'll see how quick we can get back, depending in if he's done yelling at Luke or not." He grinned, and I gave him a small smile in return, showing him I appreciated the effort. I grabbed my water bottle from the outside of the stall, guzzling it down and putting the empty bottle back on the outside. I looked at Kermit, rubbing his face and ears. The sun had officially risen, the light shining through the cut-out windows of the barn. There were no riders buzzing around, and I could barely hear the riders below.

In a few minutes, Branden and Mr. S came up the ramp, a disgruntled Luke following close in tow. Mr. S walked into the stall, and the boys stayed outside. I could feel Luke's eyes burning into me, but I ignored his looks and focused of my trainer, who was running his hands down Kermit's leg.

"There's definitely some heat here. I'm going to call the vet, I think you need to go back to your room or get some breakfast. I'll text you when the vet has any results. Until then, don't worry about coming back to the barn." He gave me a stern look, cutting off all questions. I swallowed nervously, exiting the stall. Branden wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I put my weight slightly onto him.

"Kermit will be fine. He probably just tripped and agitated his foot or something." Again, it was a failed attempt, but I gave him a grateful look. Luke stood on my other side, giving me pleading looks. I glanced at him, and he slid over to Branden's side. We walked down the ramp onto the first floor, and I did my best to look ok. I had a massive headache, so I let my hair down from the ponytail it was in, my hair now reaching to my low back. Luke opened his mouth, and I looked at him.

"Hey Scarlett, I'm super sorry.. um for the thing. I was just doing it so you'd lighten up." I held his gaze. "I should have come and gotten you." I nodded.

"Mmmmhmmm. I'll talk to Mr. S." I gave him another look before we walked out of the barn.

"So I heard a certain Scarlett hasn't had breakfast yet." Brandon remarked, looking at me. I slid out of his grasp, wedging myself between the two boys.

"I had an orange ." I replied, which earned a scoff from Luke.

"C'mon, let's get you some real food." I laughed, despite the raging concern in the back of my mind. We walked to the bakery, and the boys rushed ahead for the door, a brief standoff occurring before I walked in between them and opened the door, holding it wide for them.

"Come on in ladies." I said, and they filed inside. We sat down at a booth, the boys trading glances between each other and me. The glances between each other were slightly more angry than those directed at me. A barista came over and took our orders, and Branden gave her his student card. We sat in silence, and I couldn't take my mind off of Kermit. Luke looked over at me.

"I'm sure he'll be fine." I looked at him, narrowing my eyes.

"I'm so glad you think so. Also, thanks for locking me in a manure covered stairwell." He scoffed, laughing a little.

"I thought we were over that. What's done is done." He returned to a serious state.

"What's done is done?! I fell asleep in a pile of horse poop!" Luke grinned deviously, but Branden slapped him in the arm.

"I'm sorry, as I said, I thought you'd lighten up!" I stood up from the table.

"Well you obviously aren't upset. And I know I said that I would talk to Mr. S, but you get what you deserve." I stormed out, sitting down on a bench opposite the store. I could see Branden yelling at Luke through the window, but I looked away. Eventually, Branden came out, with my food.

"Hey." He said softly. I looked at him slowly. "I brought you your food." I nodded in thanks. "Also, you have an email." He handed me my phone, and I turned it on, unlocked it, and took a breath.