Disclaimer- no, I don't own any of the 7th heaven characters. Leave me alone!!

           Right. Sorry to all my readers for taking such a long time to type this up! I fell off Penny (the horse I lease) and sprained my wrist, then I had to go to a horse show, then I got a TON of homework, then my uncle passed away, and I needless to say I was in a state of depression and didn't want to write. But! Finally, I give you the next chapter! Enjoy J

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          Annie sighed and placed her purse on the kitchen counter, and brushed back her hair. She was bracing herself for what was sure to be Ruthie's longest complaint speech yet. "Oh come on honey, it wasn't that terrible! It was Archer's first time at a show." She started off, placing a soothing hand on her daughter's shoulder. Ruthie looked up at her with a scowl. "You're just saying that because you're my mother, and it's your job to make me feel better. But I think we both know just how terrible it was." She spat. Annie recoiled her hand. "No, I'm saying it because it's the truth. And don't you dare speak to me in that tone ever again!" Ruthie rolled her eyes. "Sorry. But you just don't understand anything about horses and riding. Didn't you see the way Archer jumped? It was like there was a forty foot jump in front of us instead of a 2'6 vertical! Oh, and we can't forget the way she refused that one jump. Whoa boy that was something special. I did terrible, and that's that." She grabbed a cookie off a plate, and retreated to the comforts of her room. 

       Once nestled comfortably in the nook of her bed, Ruthie reflected on the days events. Her flat classes had gone ok. Not as well as she had wished, but good enough for her to feel happy about. She did beat Erica, so that was always a plus. But that one jumping class kept replaying in her mind. It was like she was back on Archer, feeling her steady beat, and the drumming of her heart all over again. She watched as that one jump, a simple vertical with two poles in the front and back appeared. She could feel Archer tense up, her muscles quivering, and her eyes darting for the nearest escape. They cantered on. It happened like lightning. Archer panicked, and bolted to the right, leaving Ruthie behind. She fell back in the saddle, powerless. The sharp ring of her phone shattered Ruthie's daydream. "I got it!" she yelled, and pounced on the phone. "Hello?" "Hey, it's me." Ruthie smiled slightly.

"Hi Michelle. What's up?"

"Eh, nuttin much. I just wanted to talk about the show."

"I was just thinking about that. The part where Archer and I bombed the jumping course."

 "*sigh* Why are you thinking about that? You should be thinking about Clover and Candice's classes instead. They were amazing!"

 It was true. Clover rode her horse like they were walking on cloud nine. Elegance was her middle name. She and her horse went together like a ball and bat. Just the way they walked screamed beauty and grace. As for Candice and her horse, speed had nothing on them. They whipped around that jumping course like nothing. They made a team of nothing but pure strength and daring. They took her breath away. "You're right. They were great, weren't they? But I still can't help but think about how I messed up that show. It was pathetic. If I were a good rider I wouldn't have let Archer shy like that." She complained, resting her head on her hands. Michelle laughed. "Don't complain to me! Just get yourself read for the next show! I hear Erica's doing all the same classes you are." With that, she said good bye and hung up the phone. Ruthie sighed, placed the phone back in it's cradle, and resumed her sulking.