Disclaimer- *sigh* I still don't own any characters from 7th Heaven
Authors Note: sorry it took me so long to update. I was getting ready for a horse show which was at another stable. Anyways, here it is!
"All walk please, all walk!" The announcer proclaimed over the intercom. Ruthie gulped, her heart beating rapidly against her rib cage. Oh so slowly, she squeezed Archer's stomach, and braced herself for the worst. But nothing happened. Archer lifted up her legs, and began to walk forward, as if nothing was happening, as if she was back home at the stables. Ruthie let out a silent sigh of relief. Suddenly, her stomach full of butterflies was vanished, and her head was clear of all terrifying thoughts. She straightened her back, and placed her hands in front of her, now feeling fully confidant. Out of the corner of her eye, she could make out the judge peering at her with a critical eye, slowly making its way up and down her and Archer. The arena was fairly crowded. There was a total of seven people in her class, counting Michelle and Laura. They were all riding grand horses, whose muscles shone with every left of a leg, or twitch of an ear. Archer was built like them, with a muscular build and precise reflexes. It was her attitude that separated her...Them...From the rest. The intercom crackled, and the voice pronounced, "All trot please, all trot!" Ruthie responded quickly, squeezing her legs again against Archer's side. The horse pricked up her ears, and picked up the pace with a certain air about her. At first, Ruthie did not recollect a time when the horse acted in such a way that she did now. Then, slowly, it came back to her. Archer was a show horse, the kind that you thought would never change. But then, surrounded by new and exciting things, the horse becomes different. It seems to know something is going on. That's the kind of horse that Archer was. Ruthie rounded a corner. As she did so, the judged signaled for a change in gaits. "All canter please, all canter!" Ruthie slide back her outside leg ever so slightly. Archer responded immediately, as if she understood English. 'This may be easier then I thought!" she said to herself.
Annie clutched her husband's arm tightly. This was her first time watching her daughter ride, and from a mother's point of view, it was extremely nerve racking. What if the horse bolted? What if it spooked? What if Ruthie went flying and cracked her head open? There were so many possibilities! She squeezed Eric's hand even tighter as the thoughts rolled in. She gazed at Ruthie now, admiring how she just seemed to connect with her horse. They flowed together, as if their minds were combined. It looked so natural. "Look at her. She amazing up there." She whispered to Eric. He nodded. "I know. She has a God-given talent." He added, staring at his daughter with awe. Next to them, Cecilia, Simon, and Lucy were all watching silently. It was near the end of the class now, and the judge had them line up facing her. She was jotting final notes to make her decision. Ruthie was in the middle of two horses, both of which were taller and much more elegant then her horse. The judge walked over to a booth, and handed the sheet to the woman working the intercom. The intercom crackled, and the voice of the woman boomed "We have the results of the walk, trot, canter, pleasure class. In first place is Laura Cambridge! Second goes to Rachel Shultz! Third goes to Michelle Seamann! Fourth goes to Ruthie Camden! Fifth goes to Erica Sanders! And sixth goes to Margaret Zeppo!" At the sound of Ruthie's name, the whole Camden family clapped wildly. Ruthie smiled slightly, and bent down to get her white ribbon.
~~~~~****************************** Jumping**********************************************~~~~
"Now Ruthie, I want you to pay special attention to the in-and-out. You should make it in only one stride. If you get two, that's ok. Remember, we're looking for speed, not dead on accuracy. Striding is important though, so keep it in mind." Candice prepped her, pointing out the important facts of the hunter course. Ruthie nodded, her palms suddenly becoming clammy. She was still a little steamed over her fourth place. Although the fact that she beat Erica was very sweet, she still wanted that blue. Candice noticed her student was not focusing, so she snapped her fingers sarcastically. "Ruthie! Try to stay with me here. You're on in less then five minutes. You'd better get on your horse and walk her around a bit to loosen her muscles." Candice told her, motioning for the stable hand to bring Archer over to her. Ruthie nodded again, and hopped up. Slowly, she gathered her reins. Candice patted her on the back encouragingly, and started to walk off towards the arena gate. "When are you gonna ride?" Ruthie called to her suddenly. Candice turned around and smiled. "After you and your friends are done with all your classes. Now, warm up!" with that, she turned back around and walked away.
She was now at the gate awaiting her turn to ride. Her heart was pounding so fast she thought it was going to jump out of her chest. Beneath her, Archer shifted restlessly, chomping in her bit and foaming at the mouth. The rider before her suddenly returned, looking triumphant. Ruthie gulped, and glanced at the judge for the signal to start. The judge nodded, and they sped off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, I'm trying out the cliff hanger idea…hopefully you have no idea what's coming. This had to be one of my longest chapters! Sad, I know. I hope you liked it!
~Camouflaged
