Racing to a Chance Future chapter 6
Ronald kept glancing over at William as they made their way down to the stables. He was very grateful to him for doing this.
"Thank ya again." Ronald said.
William looked over at the blond and smiled.
"Happy to help. I know you'll do great." He said.
Ronald chuckled and looked down at his dirty, brown boots. It came as a sudden shock to him as he was nearly tackled to the ground by Murphy.
" 'ow it go, lad?" He asked as he released the blond so that he could breathe.
Ronald looked at Murphy and then to Will. He smiled.
"I got the jockey position." He said proudly.
Murphy chuckled and patted the blond's back.
"Well 'hen... we 'etter tack up Lightin'." Murphy said with a smile as he walked to the paddocks.
Lighting seemed to be waiting for them on the other side of the fence. He hung his long, sleek black neck over the side of the fence. Ronald smiled and scratched the thoroughbred's forehead as he snapped a lead rope on his halter.
"Ya don't 'ave to do 'at, Ron. I can tack 'im up." Murphy said, trying to take the lead rope from the blond.
Ronald simply shook his head and looked at him.
"It's fine. I may be a jockey now but I'll still help around the stables." He explained as he led the horse into the barn.
Ronald tied the lead rope on one of the stall doors and began grooming the horse. The blond's cheeks tinted pink as Will's hand brushed against his.
"I think he's clean enough." Ronald said as Murphy came back in, carrying a saddle smaller than what he was used to.
The blond took the girth and hooked it around the horse's body after Murphy saddled the black colt. He slipped the bridle on the horse. William glanced at Ronald for a second and gave him a quick look over.
"Come with me." He said and guided the blond into the tack room.
He handed Ronald a pair of riding boots and helmet. The taller teen flashed a smile as he watched the blond tuck his jeans in the boots and clipped the helmet on.
"Ya ready, Ron?" Murphy asked as he saw the two step out. Ronald nodded and was giving a leg up into the small, lightweight saddle. He held the reins and looked at Will as he led him to the track.
The track was huge and was the size as a regular race track. Ronald was surprised at how long the stretches were.
"It's a mile and a quarter long." William said as he slowly led Lighting to the starting gate.
Ronald was startled a bit as Lighting reared up his head as he approached the gate. Ronald patted the black horse's sleek neck, trying to comfort the colt. William yanked down on the reins slightly and turned the horse around and tried again. Lighting gave in and slowly entered. William smiled as he sat on the side next to the horse. He looked at Ronald.
"Good luck. I bet you'll do great." He whispered before kissing Ronald's cheek gently.
He handed him a pair of goggles. The blond slapped them on his face and smiled back at him.
"Thank ya." He whispered back as Will slipped out of the gate and jogged to the side to meet his father and Mr. De Lunca walking up the gravel road.
"Let's see how he rides on an actually track." Mr. Spears said as he pulled a stopwatch from his coat pocket.
William hopped the fence and watched.
Ronald let out a deep sigh and gripped the small tuffs of Lighting's pitch black mane as he leaned forward. He rose slightly from his seat in the saddle as he pushed his heels down to help him stay up.
The gate flew open and the young colt took off down the dirt track. Ronald felt a sudden rush as he felt Lighting's muscles surging from underneath him. He loosened the tight grip he had on the reins and let Lighting stretch his neck forward. Ronald heard the colt's hoof beats thunder down the track as he turned the first turn. His heartbeat began to become in sync with sound of the hoof beats. A smirk crossed his lips as he let the reins fall from his grip a bit more. He lifted his head up and leaned forward, edging the horse on. The markers seem to blur as Lighting surged passed them one by one until they passed the fourth and last marker.
Ronald sat down in the sat as Lighting almost immediately pulled into a slow canter. He turned the colt to the railing to face the three people waiting to greet them.
"One minute and thirty seconds. Not bad for a first full run." Mr. Spears said as he looked down at the pocket watch with its hands now frozen to show the time. "And without a whip too." William added, glancing over at Ronald.
He flashed a small smile at the blond as he patted the horse's neck.
"You have quite a talent with horses." Mr. De Lunca said as a smile crossed his lips.
Ronald couldn't help but smile at all the praises he was receiving. He glanced over at William and then at his father.
"So... whatda ya think?" Ronald asked as he patted Lighting's sleek black neck.
"I think he has promise. Especially with you riding him." Mr. Spears said with a smile.
"Thank ya sir." Ronald said as he hopped off the horse.
He held the reins in his hands as he felt underneath the blanket. He felt the heat from the colt's back as he stroked the black pelt and froze as he suddenly felt Will's hand brush against his. He pulled his hand out quickly as a small, unnoticeable blush crossed his cheeks.
"He a bit hot, father. Should we go and untack him and hose him off?" William asked as he looked at his father.
"That wouldn't be up to me. That would be up to Mr. Knox." Mr. Spears said as he glanced over at Ronald, "What do you think, Ronald?"
Ronald looked up at Lighting when he saw a certain determination and will-power gleam in the colt's big brown eyes. He looked over at Will's father and smiled.
"I think he wants to go around the track again, sir." He said as he hopped back on.
Mr. Spears chuckled and nodded as he reset his stopwatch.
William was very surprised at how well Lighting loaded into the gate the second time.
"He starts out great and seems to increase his speed as he makes his way down the track, especially when he's making turns." Mr. Spears said as his eyes flickered from the pocket watch to the horse and rider on the track.
"Ronald seems to edge him on and turn his body with Lighting and also gives the reins slack with every turn." William added to his father's comment as a smile crossed his face. His eyes locked on the two as they made their way around the third turn.
"They seem in sync with each other, both mentally and physically." Mr. De Lunca said as he continued to watch the pair. He looked over at William's father, who had glanced his way. The two shared no words and simply nodded to one another.
Mr. Spears hit the stopwatch and blinked as he saw the time.
"T-That's not possible..." he muttered.
William looked at his father's somewhat shocked face and glanced over at the time the stopwatch was at. His mouth was a gap.
"What was the time?" Ronald asked as he trotted Lighting over to the rail again.
"One minute and four seconds..." William said as he looked at the blond.
Ronald chuckled as Lighting pawed at the ground.
"And I think he's tellin me he's just warmin up." He said.
Mr. Spears glanced at Mr. De Lunca again before looked at Ronald.
"Even though these two runs have been his first... I think that we should test him in an actually race. There's a race for beginning colts coming up in a few days. What do you say, Mr. Knox?"
Ronald nodded as Lighting nuzzled him.
"I think he's ready." He answered.