Well hello :) So this is my first story, I posted it almost 2 years ago and just now realized how awful the grammar and spelling was, so I just spent the last day gong over it and fixing all the weird mistakes I found. Its still is not perfect but I sure hope its a lot better then it was! Over 15,000 people have looked at my story which is crazy! I really hope if you tried to read this story and just couldn't because of the bad spelling that now you take the time and give it one last chance! I had a reviewer that said they might want a sequel? Well I would be willing to do I just need ideas! So comment that! And I'm sorry lol some places in this story I wrote such weird monologue! But for the first time in two years can I say please read and review my story? :) Wow I sure missed writing but I will be back! :) ~Love always Karley!
My heart was racing. Over the noises of the raging crowd I could hear the announcer saying: "In lane 3 we have our very own 16 year old Karley Chase riding two year-old Storm! Boy, watch out for this crazy colt."
It was true, Storm was crazy. I had gotten him a year ago when I was 15. My dad got the crazy mustang for free from a man he knew. I never questioned him any more. Only six of us were racing, and, not surprisingly, I was the only girl.
This track was one I regularly raced on, but this would be my first time with Storm. Storm was being the normal jackass, but something seemed different. I didn't have a good feeling about this race. Storm was kicking the stall door, so I grabbed his bridle and gave 'em a jerk. Of course this just made him dance around in the stall. I leaned close to his ear. "Storm calm down." I could feel his posture settle a little.
The crowd started roaring as the gates swung open and the buzzer sounded. I couldn't hear any noises and had my eyes fixed on the turn quickly coming up ahead. Storm and I were now boxed in on the rail. I snapped my head to the right to see who was boxing me in, without warning storm let loose and we started weaving through the other racers. Storm was flipping out on me; it took everything I had to keep him going straight. A rider from behind me slapped Storm on the rump with his stick, immediately causing him to take a hard right and rear up. I tried to grab Storm's bridle, but I could feel myself sliding off toward the ground. I landed with a loud thud, which spooked Storm even more. But, by the grace of God, neither of my boots had gotten stuck in the stirrups. I watched people come over to me with a stretcher, and after convincing them my only injuries were a scrape on my arm and some soreness, they wrapped up my arm and cleared me and my horse to go. Although I wouldn't admit this out loud, not being able to breath had scared me to death, almost literally too.
"Come on buddy let's get you all cleaned up." I patted storm on the neck as we made our way to his temporary stall. I unhooked his bridle and slid it off, unbuckled his saddle and riding cloth, and then brushed out his shinny coat. Man, Storm was the blackest horse I had ever seen. He didn't have one white hair on him.
I patted his muzzle before going to the restroom and changing out of my dirty silks and into a pair of ripped jeans, and a blue shirt that I unbuttoned to the bottom of my chest reveling my white tank top. I made sure to tuck it in.
I grabbed my white cowboy hat, pulled on my trusty brown cowboy boots, untied my wavy, dark brown hair, and let it fall to my upper back. I strutted back outside. I never was too good in front of crowds, but I sure had one around my horse. Someone saw me approach and said, "Glory, there she is!" These guys were greasers, I could tell, but it didn't really matter 'cause none of them looked too dangerous.
"Um, hi." I said while walking into the stall. There was only about four or five guys, but they were making Storm cockier then he already was.
"Hey, we know the guy who hit your horse, and we just wanted to make sure you two were alright," The very handsome one said. I gave him a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, we're alright." I stroked Storm on the neck. I realized these boys were horse crazy, so I thought I'd show off my boy. I pulled a halter and lead rope on him and walked him out of the stall. The boys looked at him with gawking eyes. I didn't blame them. Storm was a big horse, very muscular and tall. "What's his name?" The older one asked. "Storm. Oh, and could you give a message to the guy who hit my horse?"
The smaller one mumbled "Dal," but no one answered, so I continued "Tell him to say the hell away from my horse." The guys gave me a questioning look, but a few nodded.
"What's your name?" The handsome one asked.
"Karley, what's yours?" I replied
"I'm Sodapop, that's Ponyboy." He said pointing to the younger one who was now stroking my horse. "He's Darry." Soda pointed to the oldest. "And finally, that's Steve." The Steve guy looked bored, but I got a quick nod from him, and a handshake from the others.
"Alright guys let's not intrude. It was very nice meeting you." Darry held out his hand so I shook it.
"Hey I'm gonna be in barrel race down at the rodeo if you want to come check us out." I smiled. I like these boys; they were nice. Sodapop smiled.
"I bet we'll see you there."
I smiled back before turning and leading Storm back into his stall.
A few hours had passed since I talked to those boys, and it was time for me and Storm to saddle back up and head down to the arena. Seeing as we were already on the fairgrounds, the walk wouldn't be long. "Come on storm." I was trying to get his bridal on, but he kept nipping me in the arm every time I tried.
"Need some help there girly?" I spun around, wondering where the voice came from. A handsome Soc stood there smiling at me.
"Thanks." I wasn't sure whether or not to trust this guy but I was running late and out of options.
"I'm Charles." He said while holding the now buckled bridal while I was trying to tighten Storm's saddle.
"Karley." I slid my foot into the stirrup and flung myself up onto my horse. I grabbed the reins and turned Storm in a circle. "Thanks." With that Storm and I trotted out of the stall and down the hall.
I ended up in the warm-up pin ten minutes before our turn. There were only about ten girls in this event, and I was fourth. I never got nervous, but the way Storm was acting earlier, plus the soreness all over my body meant that I was feeling some nerves.
Our event hadn't even been called yet, so I took Storm around the corral a few times. We started out at just a trot soon we were countering.
"Hey!" I slowed Storm down and looked around. Those boys from earlier were waving me over. I trotted Storm over.
"Hey." I said. Sodapop, I think, was patting my horse. "So what are you guys doin' here?" I only recognized the four that I had met earlier, but the other four I didn't recognize, and two of them I really didn't want to meet in the first place.
"Thought we'd come check ya out," Soda said cheerfully.
"Well, I hope I don't disappoint."
One of the other girls called to me, I think her name was Candy. She was a Soc. "Karley, come on! You're up soon!" Wow, she had a really high pitched voice.
"Alright! Hey, sorry guys. I've got to go. Maybe I'll see you around." I waved a goodbye as I trotted Storm over to the opening that connected the two corrals.
"Up next is 17 year-old Candy Mayfield riding Footloose!" The announcer boomed.
Candy didn't do too well. She finished the course in 21 seconds but with a penalty that backed her up to 25. "Fresh out the gate is Karley Chase riding two year-old Storm! Let's hope this colt got his act together after the fit he threw on the racing track earlier this evening!" The crowd gave a roar as Storm and I split out of the gate.
We took the first barrel with ease, the second one strong, but lost momentum as Storm got a little too low to the ground. My foot barely missed the barrel, and Storm bolted for the third and man we let loose! It was defiantly the fastest turn we'd ever run. The time buzzed as we hit back at the gate. Storm and I both were breathing hard as I looked at the time board. Shock over came me as it read 15.28 seconds. I threw my hands in the air and gave a hoot. The crowd was in an uproar. Storm felt my excitement, and he snorted before rearing back. This time I was expecting it, and I grabbed onto his mane and leaned forward. "Ladies and gentlemen, y'all better watch out for this crazy duo."
I was smiling like crazy once Storm and I hit the warm up corral. I hopped off him before saying, "I love you like crazy, storm." I gave him a peck on the muzzle. I grabbed his bridle and led him over to where the other competitors were.
"Oh my God! You were amazing!" Candy squeaked.
I laughed, "Thanks." I said with a smile, and found myself looking around the arena. I stopped myself, realizing I didn't really know those boys. Everyone was awarded ribbons. I got first, which surprised me, but then again I never had run a course that fast.
"Come on storm." We made our way to his stall.
"Oh my god!" Someone yelled, and I saw my dad and little sister running towards me. My little sister, Paige, gave me a running hug and jumped, wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. My little sister and I were very close, even though we had our differences at times. She had a very light personality; nothing bothered her, and she loved the world and everyone in it. Her light, sandy-brown hair and bright, grass green eyes fit her. She was small, only about 5'3 and 110 pounds. She was my 14 year-old sister and I loved her more than anyone in the world. I would protect her with my life⦠Then there was my dad. He was a good dad, considering. He had dark blue eyes, brown hair, and he was a cowboy. Not very big in size, but, man, he could handle any horse big or small. He worked a lot, so we never saw much of him. My mama' left us when my sister was one. I was only three, so I don't remember much about her; just that she was always bubbly, had dull-green eyes, and loved my dad. My parents were always in love so I never did figure out why she left and neither did my father.
Me? Well I'm different than everyone in my family. I'm about 5'6 and 145 pounds. I have a lot of muscles from working with horses. I'm quiet and calm for the most part, but when something's beefing me, you'll know. Like I said, I would protect my baby sister with my life. Technically, my family and I are Socs 'cause of the money we have, but we don't care. And my passion is horses, but I'm always game for a fight. I have paler skin and piercing aqua eyes. The look in my eyes has a warning to it, and I loved that.
My dad snapped me out of my thoughts. "Honey, we saw when you fell. Are you okay? We tried to get to you, but when we got to the stall you were already gone."
"Yeah I'm okay. Sore I guess."
"You did so amazing out there!" Paige squeaked.
Storm snorted. "Yes you were good too Storm." Paige said, rubbing his velvet smooth nose.
I led Storm into his stall; untacked him, feed him, and then walked back out. "Okay you guys, it's only about eight. Let's go check out the rest of the rodeo!" My dad chuckled. The rest of the night went good. We rode a few rides, ate some food, and watched some of the bull riding and cattle roping. Before I knew it, I was ready to sink into my pillow. Dreams overflowed in my mind, yet somehow I was brought back to those boys I had met earlier.
Thank you to my new beta Dally's TwiSider beautiful work! And again please keep reading!
