It's Complicated

Chapter Four

   My horse and mother still haven't returned when I get back, so I stow the fork and wheelbarrow in the shared tack stall and go to roll up Starr's bandages like I had originally planned on doing. I shake the loose shavings off the white, thick quilts before rolling them up snug and putting them in the small reusable bag I keep hanging from the stall. I then proceed to grab one of the purple wraps and tie the non-Velcro end securely to the horizontal bars of the stall. I walk backward until it's stretched out then start to roll it up, making doubly sure that I'm rolling it the right way and that it's tight enough. There is nothing quite as frustrating as trying to wrap a horse's legs at the end of a long day when your supplies are dirty and not re-rolled correctly. When I get close to the end, I untie it and roll the rest up against my thigh.

   I get through two more and have just started the last when my mom and Starr come back. Starr gently nudges my shoulder as he walks past and into his stall.

   "How was he?" I ask as I slowly make my way across the aisle, rolling up the wrap as I go.

   "He was very well behaved." She answers, slipping off his halter and allowing him to go back to munching on his breakfast. I nod, not really expecting a different answer. He's always the perfect gentleman, no matter where he is it or what environment he's in. I'm constantly told how lucky I am to have a horse that is that level headed.

   "Hey team." Jo calls as she approaches, coffee mug held tightly in one hand. A chorus of "Hey Jo"s follows, ending with Starr whinnying loudly, making us all laugh. "Okay, Aaron, you're first up again today so get dressed and tacked up and head down to the ring. I'll be down soon to walk the course with you and warm you up. Kylie and Dani, you're 0.90m jumper starts at 10:45 so I want you, Dani, to have Iconic down at the ring no later than 10:30. You'll have time to warm up after we walk so don't worry. Kylie, you're near the beginning so I want you on and warming up by ten. Abby, your's starts at noon and you're the fifth last rider, so be there by 11:50 to walk, watch a few, then come back here to tack up Starr. The 1.0m class is the biggest so I don't want you actually on until 12:45. Everyone good?"

   She looks around to make sure we all understand the plan for the day. We all nod. "Good. Last day guys, let's go out with a bang." I graciously sit down in the camp chair that my mom has already set out for me by Starr's stall door. Grabbing my drink, I take a few long sips before setting it securely in the cup holder on the left arm of the chair. This is my least favourite part of horse shows. Waking up early to look after my horse followed by all the hurry up and wait. I glance at the time on my phone. 7:45. I have a very long time to wait.

   "Hey, Dani! Wanna go watch Aaron?" I ask the red head across from me. She glances up from her phone and smiles.

   "Sure, I just gotta finish this text to Vic. He wants to know what time to be here to watch me ride." I subtly roll my eyes once she diverts her attention back to her phone. I've never understood the girls who always drag their boyfriends out to shows. I've only ever had one boyfriend but we were never attached at the hip. He never even got to come out and watch me ride in lessons. We only dated for about four months and it never got serious at all. I was always too busy with the horse and he got sick of always being put second in my life. The breakup was clean and mutual but we completely lost contact, which is too bad. He was a good guy, just not for me. Last I heard he was dating one of the girls who used to be on the cheerleading squad in high school.

   "Okay, I'm ready." Dani announces as she stands up, slipping her phone into her jeans pocket. I follow suit, pausing to look back at my mom.

   "You're good here keeping an eye on things?" She nods, taking a sip of her tea as she settles into her camp rocker. "Perfect. Okay, let's go. Thank Mom!" Dani and I set off toward the ring.