Chapter 4

Scott pulled up the driveway an hour later after I had called him.

"Where is the horse that you called about?" Scott asked walking towards me from his truck.

"In a hurry are we?" I answered with a question.

"Sorry…it's been a busy day. How are you Amy?"

"Fine. We got a new stable hand. Ty."

"Yeah?" He sounded interested.

"Yeah," I said it disappointed and Scott smiled.

"Oh."

"Anyway," We both start walking towards the barn where I left Cherry. "I want you to check on our new horse. I want to know what you think."

"Ok, what exactly do you think is wrong?"

"I kind of want to know if I'm right. Just look at all of his symptoms and…I don't know just look at him will you?" I got a little frustrated because I couldn't think of how to explain what I was feeling. Scott looked at Cherry for half an hour before making a diagnosis.

"I think she's blind."

"I knew it!" I sounded a little too excited. "Sorry." I pull at my shirt and look at my feet. Ty came from around the corner and I looked away.

"You must be Ty." Scott shook his hand and smiled. "I'm Scott, the vet."

"Oh…cool." I felt his eyes on me and looked up. We looked each other for a moment and then he walked away

"Huh." Scott started to put his stuff away.

"That was an easy horse."

"What do you mean?"

"I just got him here today and I already figured it out. Too easy almost." Scott just smiled and continued to clean up around the horse. Lou walked in then and immediately Scott straightened up and looked at her.

Gosh it's so obvious.

"Hey Scott," Lou said, cheerfully as always.

"H-hi." He sounded so nervous.

TORTURE!

"Is everything alright?" Lou asked as she slid her hand down Cherry's neck.

"I guess…not really," I reply. "She's blind."

"Oh, no!" Lou looked at the horse with her baby face and it made me giggle. I led Cherry into her stable and heard my phone ring. It was Soraya.

"Hello?" I said a few seconds later.

"Hey, Amy, do you want to go for a ride?"

"Um…" I looked over my shoulder and back at Cherry. "Sure. Meet me here in 20 minutes?"

"See you then." There was a click and I put my phone back in my pocket. I decided to tack up the horses now so that when Soraya got here we could leave right away. An old truck and trailer pulled up when I was finished and I walked out to meet them.

"Can I help you?" I ask the guy getting out of the truck. He wasn't very old, maybe Ty's age or a little older. He was cute but seemed a little arrogant and I could imagine that he called me for help.

"I called about dropping off a horse; Adan. He's having…" He seems to be embarrassed to say what the problem is; just as I thought. "Trouble with some stuff."

"Like what?"

"Everytime I ride him it's like he wants to kill me. He bolts, charges, stomps and everything I try just makes things worth if anything."

"Ok. I tell every client this before they sign the paper work, I can't make any promises. I do my best and that's all I can do."

"Ok," He says in agreement.

"Amy Flemming."

"I know." I give him a that-was-rude look. "What?"

"Usually when you introduce yourself the person does the same in return."

"Chase Powers."

"I know."

"Really?" He seemed happy.

"Nope, but I do now." I pressed my lips together and took the horse to the barn but stopped halfway there. "Lou's in the house, you and her can deal with the paperwork."

"Uh huh," I went back to the barn slowly.

"Hey Adan," I talked to him like I did with Spartan or any other horse. "What's going on with you? Are you scared of something?" He stepped backward as I tried to lead him into the barn.

"Hey…it's alright buddy." I hold the end of the lead rope and step into the barn. "Look, I did it, you'll be just fine." Just then Ty barrels down the steps and into me. I stumble but catch myself in time for Adan to jump up.

"Whoa boy…easy…it's ok." I slowly pull the rope closer to me as Adan calms down. "Easy boy," I pat his neck and then turn around to glare at Ty.

"What?" He said defensively. I just sigh and make my way to an empty stall. "What's wrong?"

"Well you kind of ran into me and you scared the horse."

"I know I did that but I mean what is wrong with the horse?"

"Oh, I'm fine. The horse though he's scared of everything. Including people who run into him."

"Can I help?" I look at him, surprised.

"You want to help?"

"Yeah…I work here now, right? Well I might as well get used to it."

"Get used to it?"

"Yes."

"Ok…I'll come get you when I'm ready to work with him." I smile as I say this. I walk towards Cherry and look into her stall. Something doesn't seem right, and it's not in her eyes. I'm not sure what to think but I go into her stall.

"You all right girl?" I pet her neck and my hand feels almost damp when I pull it away. I guess it's kind of warm outside and I was just working with her. I decide that I will check on her later today to see how she is doing. When I go outside I just happen to run into Chase Powers.

"Get everything settled?" I ask, just trying to be nice to my new client.

"Yeah. You busy?"

"Yes…kind of."

"Doing what?" He asked. He was kind of nosey.

"I'm working. So unless you have some questions you should go."

"I do have a question actually."

"Ok." I turn to him.

"Do you want to get a bite to eat tonight." Oh brother.

"No."

"Why not?" I walk away and go finish mucking the stalls out. Most people complain about mucking out the stalls but I honestly don't mind it, plus I don't have to listen to Mallory either complaining or singing! Plus for me! It was getting close to dinnertime so I went in to do my homework so that I could honestly tell Lou I did when she asked me at dinner.

Dinner was weird though, Ty was there. I was thinking that he would feed himself. Not that I care but it was just strange, and I could tell he thought the same thing. He was stiff and afraid to fix his plate. Grandpa grilled him with questions through the whole dinner while Lou and I tried to get him off of it. He thanked Lou and left right afterwards for the loft.

"Well he's quiet," Grandpa said.

"Because you were talking the whole time," I tried to defend him nicely.

"I was not," Grandpa said loudly. I just smile and take my plate to the kitchen and head out the door.

"Where are you going?" Lou said in her usual motherly tone.

"Night check," I say in an obvious tone.

"Have you done your homework?"

"Ugh," I say loudly and let the door shut. "Lou, I know I have to do my homework! You don't have to remind me every freaking day!" I walk out the door and know that she just wants me to answer. "Yes, ok, I did!" I yell behind me. The lights were still on in the barn as I opened the door.

"Ty," I yelled throughout the barn. I heard him coming down the stairs and turned around.

"Yeah?" He seemed too eager.

"Um…we do night check every night, grandpa wanted me to make sure you know everything to do."

"K." We went through all the horses and basically went down a check list.

"Any questions?"

"Um, you do this every night?"

"Yes." I expected another question but we both just stood there in awkward silence. "Is…that it?"

"Uh huh."

"Then, I'm going to go to bed." I smiled and did a little wave before closing the doors behind me. I read in my mother's journal before actually going to sleep. Or at least trying. I slept on and off for the next eight hours, but I got up early and went outside to do my morning chores. I might as well do something instead of lying in bed. By the time I was ready and had my chores done grandpa was just getting out of bed. I decided to get Adan out and work him in the round pin.

"Morning buddy," I try to say cheerfully. "We're going to do a little running this morning!" I had another hour until my bus came which gave me plenty of time with Adan. I hooked a halter and lead rope onto him and led him outside. He was already jumpy when I got there but as I led him through the gate he seemed to get even more nervous, as if he were claustrophobic. I hold the whip out with my right hand, the long lead rope in my left and he starts to walk; then trot and finally he runs. I push him and push him as I run along with him. I try to keep his pace even and in rhythm but he's always wanting to turn and slow down or speed up.

"Come on! Up!" I yell at him, and continue to push him but I can see he's getting angry with me, the way he is moving and the way his eyes are darting around and then at me. He jumps around and I don't realize Ty has just come out of the barn.

"Amy…" He says it warningly but it's like I've blocked everything out. I show him the whip but it just makes things worse now and he rears up, pulling the rope out of my hand. He starts to charge toward me.

"Amy!" This time he yells and he's running to the fence, jumping the fence, running towards me. He doesn't make it to me before Adan almost runs into me but I move before he can trample me. It all happened so fast I had no idea what was going on until he was just inches away from me.

"Amy, come on, let's get out of here."

So I know it's been forever since I updated but I've been having trouble getting into this story. I've written stories before but only my best friend has looked at them. If you have any ideas please PLEASE PLEASE tell me! Thanks.

LibbyLou22 – thanks for telling me that they are on YouTube. I had no idea otherwise I would've watched all the episodes. I've already watched the ones I haven't seen, probably why I haven't updated yet!

I know I've said this a million times but thanks for the nice comments, makes me feel good!