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When Friendships Falter and Crumble
Chapter 3: Let the Games Begin
Previously…
Sarah let out a sad sigh and laid back down on the grass.
"Lovely night, isn't it?" She jolted upright and turned around.
She looked back and saw Alma. She scooted over and let her sit down next to her. The two looked up the starry sky.
"What are you doing out here? I'm sorry if I woke you," Sarah apologized.
"No, you didn't wake me. I was thirsty and was getting a glass of water. I saw the bed you were on empty, and I started to worry. But then I looked out the kitchen window and saw you sitting back here all alone," Alma explained.
"Oh, ok. Just as long as I didn't wake you up, then I'd feel bad." The two were silent were quiet for a few minutes.
"So, what are you doing out here?" Alma asked breaking the silence. Sarah's mind suddenly went blank. She didn't want to tell anyone about her crush on Josh because she was afraid of everyone laughing at her for it.
"I-I just felt l-like coming out here," she said stumbling over words.
"It's because of Josh, isn't it?"
"N-No. Th-that's not the case at all."
"Chica don't try lying to your friend. I can read you like a book. I knew that you've had a crush on him ever since you two reunited. Every time you're around him you can't help but feel that connection between you two. So don't lie, chica. I know."
Sarah started to blush. Alma giggled watching her act like this. She had to admit that this side of Sarah was one that was interesting because she has never thought of Sarah being that kind of person to be crushing on someone that quickly. She placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay. I'm sure that he feels the same way," she said smiling because she knew the secret.
"I hope so. Thank you, Alma."
"De nada, you're welcome." They got back up and walked back to the house and went back to sleep.
The next morning Will was the first one up to feed the horses. Josh followed in close behind, Bailey came up after him, then Sarah, Molly, and Alma and finally the twins Zoey and Chloe. They grabbed the horses and took them to the trailer, hooking each one up one by one. Josh turned around and whistled loudly for Shep and Teeny to get in the trailer. The two came running and jumped inside ready for the ride and upcoming competition. Will and Bailey shut the trailer door and everyone hopped into their cars and pulled out towards the Horse Park 3 miles away.
They finally got there and the girls instantly started cheering making the boys' ears ring.
"All right, all right. Calm down. Oh, hold on second," he said reaching into his pocket for his cell phone. Will had sent him a text saying the number of the barn the horses were staying in. He looked up and right there was the barn. Huh, that was quick, he thought to himself.
He pulled the trailer into the unloading area. Will and Bailey opened the trailer door and unloaded the horses. He pulled around and parked it behind the building. The others joined him around back and started to unpack the tack.
The horses started to chat in their stalls.
"Wow. So this is the Horse Park they've been talking about," Chili said.
"I must say this is a really nice place," Calypso said.
"Yes, it would appear to be that way," Shep said.
"Oh goody goody. This is gonna be so much fun," Teeny said.
Will, Sarah and the others came back with the tack and placed it in one of the vacant stalls.
"I'm gonna go turn in our registration forms to the office. Anyone coming?" Josh said. Sarah almost instantly agreed. He and Sarah went out to the judges' office to give them the forms needed to participate.
"Wow. It feels so good to be home. I can't wait for the competition tomorrow," Sarah said with an eager look.
"I honestly can't agree more. Since it is tomorrow, we may go on a trail ride later tonight," Josh said.
The two arrived at the registration office and handed the lady working it the forms.
"So you are riding with Horseland Stables?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Sarah replied. Two more kids came in and pushed past the two.
"Yeah, we're here for Stanhope Academy," one said. Her name was Talia Bentley, rider from Stanhope and rival of Alma. The other was a boy named Mark Roberts, who was the biggest rival of Bailey, Will and Josh.
"Aw man. And to think that this was going to be a fun competition. Guess you two ruined it," Josh moaned.
"Ugh. Whatever," Mark grumbled. If there was one thing about Mark that they didn't like, was that he wasn't a man of many words.
"Well, time to go back and inform them that the devil's spawn has just arrived," Josh said. He and Sarah walked out. The two had overheard them talking about a trail ride later tonight; they even heard where it was. The two looked at each other and grinned at each other and nodded heads.
Later that day, the group got their horses saddled up and headed out on a trail that Josh and Sarah were familiar with. Sarah took the lead with the others galloping close behind.
Josh was lenient but only because he had a gut feeling that something wrong was going to happen. Still he galloped towards the front of the pack to keep an eye out. He suddenly saw something in the pathway.
"Sarah! Hold on!" he shouted. Sarah immediately brought Scarlett to a halt. Josh quickly dismounted and tied Dotty to a tree. He removed a small pistol from the holster attached to his belt loop.
Taking the lead, he cautiously walked forward with a piece of wire with a small weight and held it in front of him. He felt the wire tense up. He signaled the others to stay back. He backed up and took aim at the small wire pulled tight across the path and pulled the trigger.
The shot echoed through the woods and the wire snapped. Suddenly a giant tree trunk fell from the hillside and rolled onto the path, cutting the others off from going any further.
"Just as I thought: this place has been rigged with traps. We'll have to go back around and head back to the stables," Josh said.
"But it was only the one trap. How do you know that there maybe more?" Bailey asked.
"Don't you remember, Bailey? Josh and Sarah said that Stanhope was here. They must have rigged this trail to try and injure us to destroy our chances at competing," Alma said.
"She's right. It's not safe. Let's go back," Will said. They hopped on their horses and headed back down to the stables.
Meanwhile, Mark and Talia were standing on the hillside overlooking the trail.
"Drat. It failed," Mark said.
"Indeed. That was strike one. We'll have to try harder," she said smirking and walking off.