When we reach the meadow Tamara and her group of friends are already there waiting for us. "Here I thought you wouldn't have the nerve to race me, but I see you just wanted to see how much of a loser you really are." Tamara taunts me. "Oh and look at that, they're so poor all they has to wear is dirty overalls!" All of the girls start laughing at us.

"What did wolves raise you? You don't even have shoes on!" One girl points at Ruby.

"Oh Emma I'm so sorry, did Ruby's wolf family take you in too since you have to run around in your bare feet?" An older girl asks me.

"Of course they were raised by wolves! They don't even ride with saddles on!" Tamara laughs at us and the other girls join in.

"They're just jealous that daddy won't sell them our best ponies." Red says.

"You can keep your stupid mules, I just got Edward, he was imported from Europe." Tamara boasts proudly. "So are we gonna start this thing or do you just wanna give up now?"

"Where are we racing to?" I ask getting straight to the point.

"See that tree? We're gonna start from here, go around the tree and on the way back jump over the ditch and finish back here. The first one to cross the girls back here wins, it's simple."

The girls stand on both sides of us, Tamara's friends cheering for her and only Ruby cheering me on. "Red can call the start since they're more of you guys."

"Whatever, you're still gonna get beat so badly I'll be the clear winner."

"Ready?" Ruby asks and we bother nod to her. "Ready… Set…Go!" She yells and we both take off.

I lean over Quincy's neck and let him have the rain just as daddy taught me. It gives me butterflies in my tummy to feel the wind in my hair and Quincy under me. Tamara starts to pull ahead of me as we get closer to the tree. I slow Quincy to a canter as we round the tree as Tamara still keeps her pony galloping.

Her horse's feet slip on the wet ground and they stumble. Though they regain their balance and easily catch up to us. "Ready to get left in the dust?" She asks and her pony pulls away from us.

"Let's get 'em Quincy." I whisper into Quincy's neck. He seems to understand me and we start catching up. Just as we reach the ditch, Tamara's pony stops and sends her flying into the muddy ditch. Quincy just leaps over it and we cross the finish line.

"Yeah Emma! I knew you could do it!" Red shouts to me.

Tamara leads her pony to the finish line and I see she's covered in mud. "Stupid pony!" She shouts. "This is your fault!" She points to me.

"It isn't my fault your pony dumped you and I won, you challenged me, if you can't handle losing then don't challenge me." I say simply. "Come on Red let's go."

We went to Granny's later and stole cookies and carrots out of the kitchen before going home. When we put the ponies away and started up the worn out trail from the house to the barn, momma and daddy were waiting for us on the porch.

"Emma what did you do." It was a statement not a question.

"Tamara's parents just called us saying she was thrown and got her cloths muddy." Momma says.

"It wasn't my fault it was her pony that threw her. She challenged me to a race I didn't do anything!" I say defensively.

"Emma you could've been hurt…" Momma said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want Tamara to go with Neal to the dance."

"Is that what this is about?" Daddy says. "Don't worry about boys, they're gross. Do you know what they have?" He asks and we shake our heads. "Koodies!" He yells and picks us both up screaming to get away from him.

"Come on girls your mother's making dinner, and we have blueberry pie for desert." Daddy carries us into the kitchen.

That night we ate so much pie daddy carried us up to bed and I never felt better.