"Well-" Ella began as she started to tell Lillie all about earlier that day and how her father came home. Lillie could tell she was on the verge of tears as she told her the full story.

When she finished Ella swiped her hand across her eyes to remove a tear lingering in her eyes. Dime noticing this rested his head gently on her shoulder and lifted his lip slightly brushing her cheek. She smiled and gave Dime a peck on his head. Lillie waved her hands in front of her eyes "Oh my goodness your going to make me cry!" She sniffled.

Ella laughed slightly as she finished brushing down Dime. As soon as she was finished brushing him down the riding teacher came into the stables where Ella, Lillie, and the rest of the girls were/ "Okay everyone. You can go out and do a quick bareback ride then come back in and load 'em up!" He announced.

She smiled at him as he walked out. Ella quickly braided Dime's tail back and lead him out to the pasture. She was the first one out here. Perfect.

She climbed onto his back gently. He nickered sweetly as he turned his neck to look at her. She smiled and tapped him slightly to get him to walk then she brought him into a nice trot. She smiled as her long bangs that didn't fit into her bun flew through the steady wind.

She smiled after a while she kicked slightly again and made a kissing sound, asking him for a canter, then just as quickly brought him into a gallop. She let out a whoop as they galloped across the giant field. That just pressed Dime forward more as he pinned his ears back trying harder and harder to go as fast as he possibly could.

Ella finally aloud herself to bring him back down to a trot slowly. She leaned into his neck as they trotted slowly back to the barn. When they reached the back entrance of the barn Dime stopped obediently. She smiled and slipped off him. She led him to the trailer and loaded him with ease. She tied him up slowly then closed his place up with the swinging door in the trailer so he couldn't get to anyone else.

After about twenty minutes everyone was loaded up and in the truck to begin to start driving to the show. Ella looked out the window as after an hour of driving they finally made it to the show arena. It was indoors. Yippe!

Ella smiled and got out of the truck with the others behind her as she opened the back of the trailor up and waited for everyone to get their horse. Finally she made it to Dime and smiled as she unloaded him. She tied him up outside the trailor and began to saddle him.

"Oh look mommy a horsey!" She heard a girl squeal behind her. She turned and smiled as she saw the little girl pointing at Dime. She looked back and saw her mother and father standed behind the little girl wearing big smiles and chuckling slightly. Ella picked up the little girl and let her pet Dime. Dime nickered quickly nudging the little girl. Ella laughed slightly and set the girl back down. "Thank you." Her father said politely grabbing the little girls hand. "No problem!" She said waving at them as they left.

Ella stroked Dime's neck as she put his saddle on then his bridal and leg wraps. She smiled as she untied him. and then snapped her helmet on. Even with the little girl incident she was the fastest one to have their horse saddled and ready.

Ella led Dime to a small empty area and climbed up on him clutching the saddle horn as she lifted herself up. She let go of the horn and held the reins in one hand. She began to practice her walk, trot, canter. Which was her event of the day. She practiced backing him which was easy for Dime but she still wanted to practice it. She breathed proudly and slipped off him for just a moment to stretch his legs one more time.

She turned around holding Dime's reins. She searched through the crowd of people who were in the bleachers to watch. Her eyes fell on her father. He sure as heck didn't see her but she saw him for sure even with her horrible eyesight.

Ella took a deep breath and climbed onto Dime again and began to line up with everyone else in her class outside the arena. She gave Dime a pat as they announced her class could come into the arena and start walking. She gave him a small kick to get him to walk.

"Oh look your back." She heard a snarky voice say behind her as she started walking around the arena. She turned and saw a mean girl from another school that she had met last time she showed. She rolled her eyes at her and continued to put all her focus into Dime as the people over the intercom announced to start trotting.

Ella easily got Dime into a trot sitting up straight and pushing her heels down in the stirrups. She smiled slightly at his grace. She grinned wildly as they announced the cantor. She brought him up into the canter circling the arena. She looked at the competition and saw Lillie in her class trying hard to get Twinkle to canter but couldn't get her to That seemed to be happening a lot of girls. Ella sighed for her and brought Dime back into a trot as they announced it. Ella passed a couple of people and continued as they continued kept announcing the different gaits.

Finally they were told to line up and they would be giving out the scores. Ella lined up Dime perfectly as the others began to trickle into their spots. The judges came behind each of them and asked them to back Ella did without Dime stuttering. She smiled at this.

Eventually the intercom came on "We are only giving ribbons to third to first everyone." They started out "OKay third place, Lillie Rigdon." Ella clapped for her friend. The judge came and gave her a small ribbon but she looked happy about third. She guessed she won because of her trotting and walking skills and she did eventually get twinkle to canter slightly. "Second place goes to Lucy Adams." They announced. Ugh that mean girl got second. Ella sighed. She probably didn't place at all then.

"And first place and the winner of the one thousand dollar prize goes to..." They paused then announced loudly "Ella Olympia!" The croud exploded in applause. Ella blushed slightly as she stared wide-eyed as they judge handed her an envelope bursting with bills. Ella laughed slightly as they put a sash around Dime's neck and he nickered lifting his head high. She gave him a big pat as her, Lillie, and Lucy did a victory lap around the arena. Ella was so blown away now she couldn't do anything but focus on Dime as he trotted gracefully around the arena. She rode him out of the arena and back to the trailer and slipped off him. Lillie came over to her and gave her a giant hug "Congrats! Dime was amazing out there!" She praised. "You did great too!" Ella spoke back smiling.

Ella walked Dime over to a field she had found once when she had come here. She slipped the money into her pocket and pinned the ribbon on her shirt. She sat down by a tree to the side of the field while holding Dime's reins loosely. He bowed his legs and head to her and she smiled widely. "Aw you little love bird." She said to him as she rubbed his forehead gently. "You were amazing big boy don't ever forget that." She whispered as he stood up and towered over her sitting frame and nickered. This was trust at its finest and she knew she could never lose this trust between him.

She looked over hearing leaves crunching and saw her father walking toward the tree. She grinned like a maniac as he sat by her and wrapped his arm around her. "Good job Ella." He praised her kissing the top of her head. Dime stomped his foot and huffed. "And you too." Her father added with a laugh. Ella leaned against him watching Dime. She took a deep breath. She looked at him slowly. "What?" He asked. "Nothing." She added.

They stayed like that for a while until He finally stood up and Ella followed his example and stood up slowly. Dime nudged her back slightly. She caught herself and smiled as she turned her head towards her Dime and nudged his head.

She smiled and led him to the trailer with her dad "Hey i'm parked over there okay? Come over there when your done." He said pointing towards his car and started to walk off. She was about to unsaddled Dime when a man approached her. She smiled at him and he did the same but it was forced. "Hey mind if I get your picture for the newspaper?" He asked "No problem!" She said thinking he would take her picture there but didn't he asked her to follow him because the lighting wasn't good-by the trailer.

When they reached a place where no people were he suddenly jumped at her and covered her mouth tightly and held her in place. Her eyes widened as she struggled to get away from the man. But the struggling stopped when she felt him point a gun at her head.

She stood stiffly trying not to cry. "Now you're going to come with me with ease is that clear?" He spoke in a husky voice that she recognized. She threw her head around to meet eyes she thought she would never see again. Joe Coggan. How did she not recognize him before! How could she be so stupid!

She watched in horror as he pushed her into an old rusty car and duck tape her mouth and tying her wrists and legs up. Then he got in the car and began to drive out she looked longingly at her father's car as they passed it. She needed to be in his car not this scum bags car.

She rested her head on the window sadly trying not to cry. She hated this so much. What a sucky birthday. And Dime, Oh he had to be so worried now. Ella sniffled as they drove up to an old barn in the middle of no where but she remembered every turn because she was going to get out of here at some point or another.

When they parked Joe opened her door and grabbed her and held her bridal style in his twig arms and carried her into the barn which had a computer set up. Joe set her down in front of the computer and smirked. He seemed to log into Skype and dial someone. He turned it where she would see who it was and the camera was pointed at her laying down frame.

Her eyes widened in horror as she saw it was dialing her dad. He turned the computer right as he answered. "Who is this?" Her father asked as Joe just wore a smug smile. "You have one month to pay me ten grand or she gets it." He said huskily. "Wait who are you even talking about!" Joe then turned the camera so it faced her. She groaned as she looked up and met his eyes. His eyes widened as he saw her. She screamed out for him trying to say dad in any way but the duct tape made it impossible.

Joe turned the computer so he faced it again. "Your time starts now and if I don't get my money in a month you'll see her dead." He said smiling at him. "If you touch her I swear you'll regret it!" He screamed madly. Joe turned the computer and grabbed his gun and pulled Ella close holding it to her head. "I make the threats not you got it? I will shoot her now if you're not careful." Ella's father stayed silent. Ella screamed trying to get away from the man. Ella locked eyes with her father scaredly. He softened his gaze as he looked at her.

One thing was clear though. He was going to try to get her.

Joe smirked and turned the computer stopping the gaze. He smirked "Maybe I will kill her now." He smirked and shot a bullet missing Ella by inches. The last thing she heard was her father screaming NO.

She cried slightly. This had to be the best and worst birthday in the history of birthdays.