Finding Eva

Chapter 3 - Flame

"Come on Flame,boy" I coo for the thousandth time.

His head snaps up, he looks at me through how liquid brown eyes.
"Come on baby, it's okay I'm just gonna catch yah"
I talk quietly and I approach the beautiful buckskin horse.
I've been trying to catch him for the last hour or so. With no luck.
Flame pricks his ears forward and I slowly approach him. He looks at me with interest, carefully watching my every move.

"Snap"

I look down to see that I've stepped on a stick and snapped it clean in half. Flame takes off to the other side of the paddock in fright.

Sighing I make my way over to Flame who is now eating grass contently, like the stick incident never happened.

Flame, yeah I know how cheesy it is to name a buckskin horse that, and because of what Lorraine said yesterday.
But Lorraine told me as much as she new about Flame. He used to be a show jumper, and a really good one at that. His show name was 'spitfire showdown'
soooo what did you expect?.

I also found out why he was so terrified of everyone.

***Flashback to the day before***

I sat down on the large comfy couch. As Lorraine made us some coco. The room was simple with a few photos of past students and their achievements. I remember when I was little all we ever wanted was to make it on the wall, we didn't want to be Olympic riders and have the paparazzi fanning all over us. We wanted to make it onto Loraine's old living room. To have a photo of us up there.

"Here you go, that will help warm you up, it's freezing outside" Lorraine say as she hands me a steaming mug of coco.
"Thanks" I say taking a sip of the delicious hot coco.
Lorraine takes a seat across from me, and sips at her hot chocolate.

"Now I don't know much about Flame unfortunately. I found him in an action I went to, the dog man wanted him. I couldn't let the poor thing be sent to slaughter, there was something in him that touched me, and I would never be able to live with myself if I let him go to slaughter." Lorraine paused to take a sip of coco.
"I asked the previous owner as much as I could about Flame, but he said he didn't know much.
He had taken him in to his ranch, after there was a accident outside his place. Where the car and float was hit by a truck. He said he tried everything to try help the horse, but nothing seemed to work. He used to be a top Grand Prix horse, but not anymore. He doesn't trust a soul no more"
Lorraine sighed,
"I honestly don't know if it was smart if foolish idea to buy him and give him to you, I know you are capable of working with him, I just don't know if there is any hope left with him..."

***End of flash back***

I still don't know what to think of Flames story, I just wish I could help him.

Flame lifted his head as I approached him, letting out a soft nicker.
Deciding to take a different approach to catching him. I sit down on the grass a couple of meters away from Flame. The grass is still slightly wet with dew.

I sit there, quietly start to talk to Flame. I let keep my voice quiet and soft. After a while Flame becomes relaxed and starts to get curious, walking over to me he starts to sniff my boot.
"Good boy, Flame. I'm not so bad now am I" I slowly raise my hand and stroke his face.
Flame jumps away in fright, and stairs at me. I start to talk to him again, giving him words of praise and comfort. After a while he realises that I'm not going to hurt him. He walk up to me, nudging his head to my hand. I sigh softly and star to pat his head. I laugh quietly, a massive grin spreading second my face.

Clipping the lead rope on I manage to lead him to the round pen. It took me an hour of bum shuffling to the other side of the paddock. Not wanting to risk scaring him.

I take the lead rope of and let him wander around. My heart is beating so fast, and adrenaline is pumping through my veins. I stand there bewildered that he let me get so close that him and lead him away.
I leave him in peace and decide I'd better do my barn chores before the sun goes down.

I walk to the stables and grab a wheelbarrow and pitchfork, and start to clean out the stalls.
My mind wanders to all the events that have happen in the last couple of days. My mother is sending me across the country to an academy that I will be leaving for in a couple of days. I now have a horse who is terrified of everyone. And who will be sent off to Phillips Equine Academy tomorrow....
I pray that it goes well and doesn't end up terrifying the poor horse even more.

I wipe away the sweat that begins to trickle down my face as I finish up the last of the stalls. Dumping to poo into the pile around the back .
I jump on my bike and ride home. A small sigh escapes my lips and I bike around the corner.
I'm not looking forward to the days ahead.
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