They didn't talk much about the horse as Samantha and Tor arranged for payment and transport of the colt. His name was Eye Of The Storm, he was a skittish and timid colt not far off from starting his 2 year old season, if he proved to have any potential in racing where Leah would jockey him. If not then Luke would either train him for Whisperwood or his own personal use. It was all very simple and Abby went back to ignoring horses and her bad dreams.
The huge stallion brought his hooves down on Lily's head then turned to look at her, his eyes filled with rage, leapt towards her and lifted himself up to crush her as he had done Lily. Abby screamed and she felt the hooves shatter bones. Screamed again as he reared up to finish the job, someone echoed her scream but the crushing impact never came. Abby opened her eyes to see a trembling dark bay colt. Storm turned to look at her and in this mixed up world of her dreams, his message was clear. I won't hurt you.
Feeling shaken Abby got up and dressed, this routine was getting tiring, though at least the nightmares were different; they'd always been the same before. Maybe now they'd keep being different until they ran out of ways to be different and stopped all together. The thought was so random and without sense but Abby let it cheer her up as she walked out to the kitchen.
"Hey Abby, we are short on hands to day. Think you could help out just a bit today"
Abby glanced up at Luke and agreed grudgingly. Leah, sitting at the table looked up surprised. "Not even a complaint"
Abby just glared at Leah and that's when Leah noticed her pale face.
"Are you still have nightmares", she asked more sympathetically.
"No", Abby lied and walked out.
There weren't any lessons booked until later in the day but there was still a lot to do. Leah was riding Dreamer quickly going up to Whitebrook to exercise ride the horses and prepare for the race she was entered in tomorrow with Whitebrook filly Mist Maiden.
Luke was riding Gunsmoke over a small course of jumps. The solidly built gelding refused twice at a warm up cavaletti then reared up before finally jumping it and the rest of the course with ease. Abby watched him then thinking about her dream walked over to Storm's paddock. The colt that'd been grazing quietly jumped as she approached then walked slowly over to the fence, he hesitated warily and Abby smiled. "I'll keep my promise, I won't hurt you either", she whispered. Storm flicked his ears at the sound of her voice and touched his nose to her hand before moving close enough for Abby to rub his soft coat. It was like a foal's fluffy coat and Luke had suggested that Storm was slower to grow into himself than other horses.
The thud of a restless horse reminded her of her job, since she'd refused to be involved with the horses; she'd been assigned to muck out the arena and empty stalls, the only job good enough for her. Her mum wanted her to lead Truffle in a lesson too but Abby put her foot down, though the small, round pony wasn't anything like a thoroughbred, if she accepted one horse her family would never give her any peace.
She was walking back when she heard Luke asked if Leah had time to try out Storm before going to Whitebrook. Leah agreed and they headed towards Storm's paddock. Abby lurked around while they prepared him for light exercise and Leah mounted him. Leah was the first to notice her watching, for the first time Abby could remember, she smiled at her.
"Hey Abby, I saw you were actually looking at the horses today"
Abby didn't reply but she watched Leah ride Storm around. The colt pranced nervously and wouldn't do a thing Leah asked, backing up when she told him to walk forward and darting nervously from side to side. Finally he reared up and nearly flipped himself right over and Leah got off shaking her head.
"He's terrified of people", Leah sighed and shook the reins in annoyance as the horse tugged back. Luke sighed too.
"Abby can you take him back to the stall"
Leah looked surprised. "Don't be crazy"
"Yea Luke, I'm not touching him"
"You were touching him before", Luke teased.
Abby brandished her poop covered shovel and Storm nearly flipped, trying to pull away from Leah.
"ABBY!" Leah yelled which set Storm off again. "You are the most horse unfriendly person ever"
"Your not much better right now", Luke took the reins and pressed his hand to Storm's nose, the colt lipped it softly and shook himself. "You have to get back on him you know"
"No, you do it, I can handle the buckers but rears freak me out"
"Coward, thought we were gonna make him a racehorse"
Abby got bored off the conversation and walked off, time to go on the computer and do her homework, maybe call some of school friends; they were good people, not obsessed with horses.
"So I reckon we could go to my place after, Mum might take us to the movie's plus Ella and Loggy will definitely be coming, don't know about Cassie yet"
"I'll ask my Mum, don't worry, I'd love to come"
"Knew you would", her friend Sophie laughed. "I'll see ya at school tomorrow then, how's the homework going"
"Nearly done, let be guess, you haven't started"
"Got it right there, do you think you could call Cassie for me, my dad won't let me ring, don't know what's up with him right now"
"Well as long as you can accept calls…"
"Yea, yea, so with the homework"
"Soph!, you just said bye to me remember"
"Oh, that's right but"
"I'll see ya at school tomorrow"
"Hey", Sophie sounded indignant.
"Leah's just walked in, I got to go"
"But what about the homework"
"Procrastinator", Abby sang.
There was a sigh at the other end of the line. "Ok, I get it, I'll ring Lauren for help and pretend I'm still talking to you, that's why the phone didn't ring, uhuh"
"Sophie…"
"Yea"
"Bye"
"Bye Abs"
…
"Hey, you still there?"
Abby put the phone down and smiled before turning back to her homework, just one more question.
Current events.
Stupid Kentucky school.
Abby looked up. "Leah, can you help me with my homework?"
Can you tell I was the same age as these characters when I wrote this...
