"Hey, get up, "Cole whispered.
"Why?" Tel mumbled sleepily.
"I want to show you something"
"What time is it?"
"Early"
Tel rolled out of bed, surprised to see that it was only three A.M.
"Follow me," Cole instructed.
Tel followed without protest, she was too tired. Cole led her to the stables, opening the door with a key he got from who-knows-where.
"Tack up Dance Man, only saddle and bridle, were going for a ride."
They finished at the same time and mounted outside, Cole leading the way.
"I have archery at ten, so don't make me late."
"Don't worry, so do I, we'll be back," he replied smugly.
Dance was horrible on trail. He jumped, bucked, reared, and threatened to take off. Tel was used to this but it sure woke her up.
" Joba said to exercise the horses as they are only out once a week, so why not ride for a while? We wont get in trouble," Cole said as he rode out a buck.
It seemed that he was as good a rider as Tel, which meant he was great, but riding a horse that is constantly trying to throw you off can be quite a workout.
Cole slowed down a bit to walk side by side with Tel. They rode on for about another hour in silence, when the trees opened up to a beautiful clearing with a large clear pond in the center.
"Its beautiful!" Tel cried out.
They dismounted and let their horses roam. Cole came up to Tel.
" I brought breakfast."
Cole set up the picnic as Tel roamed around the clearing. She was to mesmerized to realize that Cole was looking at her. She soon went back to the blanket and had breakfast. Tel thought it to be about seven so she wasn't worried about time.
"I'll race you to the other end of the clearing," Tel challenged getting up.
"On horse?" Cole asked.
Tel was already mounting. Cole got up and jumped on his horse. They went to the edge of the forest and faced the other end.
"On my count," Tel said.
"I don't think so."
"Don't you trust me?"
"3.2.1.0!" Cole shouted.
But Cole had started on one and Tel on zero. Cole was ahead, but not by much, and Dance Man soon overtook him. Tel won by a yard. Dance seemed mellow at the walk, but any faster and he lost it and wanted to run with the wind, and Tel had no intention of stopping him. They raced all the way back to the mansion, untacked, and then realized that they had left the blanket there.
"Well get it later, now off to archery," Cole said as he gave her a slight nudge.