Chapter 3: Training

The next couple of weeks. Nellie and Laura were at each other's throats when it came to working on their Horses for their rematch race.

Laura practiced at home behind the barn. Pa helped but most of the time it was Mary. Ma very seldom came out to watch Laura ride.

Mary clocked Bunny from start to finish once Laura got her loosened up to run. She let her do a flat out run. Laura asked Mary, "How did Bunny do?"

Mary answered, "Laura she's doing great. She did a 1/4 mile in 48 seconds flat today! She needs a reward."

Laura agrees to giving Bunny a reward than pulls out a apple from her pocket and gives it to her Horse.

Mary pats Bunny on the head and says, "Laura she's ready for a cool down. I think she's had enough you don't want to over do her now."

Laura says, "I know, I was thinking of taking her to the creek to wash her off and cool her down."

Mary says "Sounds good! Let's walk her to the creek."

Laura asks, "Want a ride Mary? I promise I to go slow?"

Mary answers, "No, Bunny doesn't need any weight on her after a workout."

Meanwhile over at Nellie's place Nellie is working Sparks extra hard pushing Sparks almost to the breaking point being abusive and mean using a whip to get Sparks to go faster. Willie is helping his sister. Working with the stop watch. Willie doesn't like how Nellie is treating Sparks. Willie tries to convince Nellie, "Sis you are being too rough with Sparks!"

Nellie responds, "Shut Up! Willie he is my Horse!"

Nellie runs Sparks hard than Willie stops the clock when she rode Sparks right past him. Willie walks up to his sister. Nellie does let Sparks catch his breath and pats him a little on the neck.

Willie asks, "You want to know Sparks time Nellie?"

Nellie turns to face her brother and answers, "Sure I bet its good."

Willie says, "He did a 1/4 mile in 44 seconds."

Nellie says "That is slow! for him what is up with that?"

Willie mentions "You've been pushing him too hard." He's tired! You should let him rest."

Nellie says, "He's caught his breath now maybe I can try one more time."

Willie says, "I wouldn't Nellie your asking for trouble."

Nellie says, "No, He is my Horse and I'll do what I want to. I am changing the route. There is a vacant field over yonder and its a big place and I can get another ride in before supper."

Willie just shrugs he was tired of fighting with Nellie and decides to let her go. She begins again to ran Sparks fast and hard like usual. Nellie gets up speed and riding hard toward the vacant field. Sparks begans to sweat and getting really tired, snorting, tossing his head at his treatment from Nellie. Nellie continues to use the whip to make Sparks go faster. Nellie and Sparks gets to the vacant field. Nellie doesn't realize that the next feild was someone elses and it was fenced up.

Nellie was riding Sparks so fast and hard everything seemed look a blur until the fence came up with in inches. She couldn't stop Sparks in time and he hits the fence a barb wire fence no doubt. Sparks body hitting the fence with full force causing the fence to give way wraping itself around Sparks.

Sparks is whining and screaming in pain. Nellie fells off to the ground a few feet foward of where Sparks had ended up lying on the ground not moving.

Willie heard the noise and knew soemthing bad had happened he rushed to where Nellie said she would ride Sparks. When he got to the scene it was bad. Sparks was in a bad way lying on the ground with the barb wire wrapped around him, cut and bleeding. Nellie was on the ground out cold. Willie was trying not to panic.

Will they be able to help Sparks and is Nellie ok?

To Be Continued