Disclaimer : I don't own the Mighty Ducks - Disney and the NHL do. I don't
own the horse Caliopie - the makers of 'The Derby' do. I don't own the
Characters Dorice, Sanka, Joy and Winston - Disney does. I do however own
all other horses, the ranch and other characters.
Chapter 4
CHARLIE'S P.O.V
The next morning, Julie awoke us all before dawn. She had been up at the very least an hour and had her breakfast, so whilst we were having ours, She was rounding the horses up.
"What's with the early ness"! Goldberg complained after breakfast as we waiting by the coral where Julie was tacking all the horses up in western saddles apart from Caliopie who kept her English saddle.
"Well, you want to go on an early morning ride don't you and if you don't hurry up the sun will be up before we even get to the best spot to see it come up". Julie replied.
Before we knew it, Julie had us all mounted and quickly jumped on herself. Hardly any of us talked like usual, I couldn't decide whether it was because they were all still half asleep or whether it was because the woods were that peaceful that they felt they needed to be quiet. I don't really know how Julie found her way around, it was pitch black and I could only make out certain objects which I found rather difficult when we had to duck to get under the low hanging branches even though Julie warned us that they were coming.
"We just have to climb this hill and then we'll be there, but it's a little rocky so give the horses plenty of rein and lean forward slightly. If you feel unsteady hold onto the pommel ok". Julie warned us as she headed up the hill.
I was rather happy that I'd made it to the top, I hadn't particularly enjoyed any of the trek up the hill, it was steep and rocky and although Dolly was doing most of the work, I couldn't help but think one wrong step would send us tumbling back down.
We got to the top just as the sun began rising. It was a gorgeous site as the sun penetrated the low mist that had covered the valley like a blanket beneath us. Watching as the sun swallowed the shadows in it's light was like staring at a painting like the ones you'd see in art galleries and museums.
"Julie this is beautiful". Connie gaped. I looked around at the others faces and noticed even Portman was stood watching in ore.
"I used to race Sanka and Derice up here nearly every morning, we all set off together but each went on our favorite paths to see who got here first". Julie said.
"Who won"? Fulton asked.
"We all did at some time or another, but we never really noticed because by the time we got up here the sun was just rising".
After the sun had risen, we set off back down the hill. Not my best part of the ride this morning, but luckily the side we went down wasn't as steep as the side we came up. At the bottom, we went on various paths until we reached a field of long grass. Where Julie stopped.
"I promised you all a canter and it's even better now because your in western saddles". Julie told us. "You all sure you want to do this"? She looked at us deeply. We all nodded in reply. "Shorten your reins, get hold of the pommel now, lean forward a little if it helps and have fun. Some of them might race with another if they can but just stay with it, they'll stop when I do ok but if you need to stop pull on your reins and they will.". Julie warned us before walking a few steps before signaling Caliopie into a canter then she went into a flat out gallop. All the horses followed simultaneously.
Dolly went straight into a canter but she soon felt as though she was going even quicker. Julie was quite in front but all I could think about was the wind blowing in my face and thudding of Dolly's and all the horses around me hooves. I started to watch more intently in front of me, just as I looked up, I saw as if in slow motion Caliopie jump to the side slightly and Julie flying from the saddle onto her side. I immediately began slowly Dolly and she stopped just before I reached Julie who was now stood looking quizzically toward the bushes. We had all managed to stop and had jumped off to Julie. Caliopie was walking back slowly after Julie had shouted her.
"Oh, Julie, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you jump. I was just coming your way to see if you'd let me ride with you and your friends". A voice spoke as his body emerged through the bushes on horseback.
"You knew exactly what you were doing. Both you and I know that Caliopie would have jumped when she heard you in the bushes". Julie let go of Caliopie's reins and walked briskly over to Robbie who might I add had a sly grin on his face.
"Well, I'm so sorry your not a good enough rider to stay on when your horse shies at something". He replied. Suddenly Julie reached up and grabbed his shirt and pulled him harshly off his horse onto the ground.
"I hope to God one day, someone does that to you and you seriously hurt yourself. You are so lucky it was me that fell off because if it had been one of these guy's and they got hurt, I'd have killed you". She let go of his shirt and walked away, retrieving Caliopie from Dwayne's hand and remounting followed by us all.
"I won't fall off though, I'm a good enough rider not to aren't I". He retorted getting back up.
"Yeah right". Julie answered.
"Fine, I'll prove it. Race me up the field and that'll show who's the better rider".
"That won't show who's the best rider, it'll only prove which horse is fastest". Julie snapped.
"Ok, cross country, my place at noon". Robbie snapped back equally harshly as he remounted.
"Fine, I'll see you at noon". Julie glared and began walking away. Then turned to us. "You ready to finish your canter"? She smiled weakly toward us, then turned all her attention on Caliopie.
I glanced at the others quickly before preparing ourselves to continue the canter. I could tell by the concerned looks on their faces that they felt the same way as I did, they were concerned about Julie and the way she had simply agreed to compete against Robbie even though she had turned him down many times previously. At the top of the field, Julie stood waiting for us to catch up, I mean her horse was a thoroughbred and went miles faster than any of our horses.
"Julie what was all that about? Are you aware you just agreed to compete against that jerk"? Connie was the first and bravest to bring up the subject.
"It's time once and for all to put that bastard back in the hole he crawled out of". Julie fumed.
"Your just doing exactly what he wants. He's probably gonna have people hiding in the bushes like just now". I argued.
"I fall off I get back on, So what"!
"Julie you could get seriously injured". I countered her argument.
"Charlie, you know what? I don't care anymore. I have to do this for myself. Now please just drop it". Julie almost snapped at me and hastily made Caliopie walk on.
It wasn't long until we got back to the ranch. Julie hadn't said another word since our run in with Robbie and she remained so when we got back. Un- tacking in silence and cooling Caliopie down more than enough. We left her to it knowing anything we say would fall upon deaf ears.
"Hey guy's, what's up with Jules"? Derice asked us as he and Sanka watched Julie.
"She's agreed to compete with that Robbie". I blurted out.
"Huh. What's brought this on"? Sanka asked.
"Well, we were cantering up this field and Robbie was hid in the bushes and Caliopie shied making Julie fall off. Julie and Robbie had this big confrontation, Julie even yanked him out of the saddle then she agreed to go up to his place to compete on his cross country course". Connie filled them in.
"Go Julie". Sanka laughed.
"Shut up Sanka. She can't go up there". Derice said the last bit rather sternly.
"Exactly what we said but she wouldn't listen". I agreed as I watched Derice walk over to Julie.
OHHH will Derice manage to talk her out of it?? PLEASE R&R!!!!!
Chapter 4
CHARLIE'S P.O.V
The next morning, Julie awoke us all before dawn. She had been up at the very least an hour and had her breakfast, so whilst we were having ours, She was rounding the horses up.
"What's with the early ness"! Goldberg complained after breakfast as we waiting by the coral where Julie was tacking all the horses up in western saddles apart from Caliopie who kept her English saddle.
"Well, you want to go on an early morning ride don't you and if you don't hurry up the sun will be up before we even get to the best spot to see it come up". Julie replied.
Before we knew it, Julie had us all mounted and quickly jumped on herself. Hardly any of us talked like usual, I couldn't decide whether it was because they were all still half asleep or whether it was because the woods were that peaceful that they felt they needed to be quiet. I don't really know how Julie found her way around, it was pitch black and I could only make out certain objects which I found rather difficult when we had to duck to get under the low hanging branches even though Julie warned us that they were coming.
"We just have to climb this hill and then we'll be there, but it's a little rocky so give the horses plenty of rein and lean forward slightly. If you feel unsteady hold onto the pommel ok". Julie warned us as she headed up the hill.
I was rather happy that I'd made it to the top, I hadn't particularly enjoyed any of the trek up the hill, it was steep and rocky and although Dolly was doing most of the work, I couldn't help but think one wrong step would send us tumbling back down.
We got to the top just as the sun began rising. It was a gorgeous site as the sun penetrated the low mist that had covered the valley like a blanket beneath us. Watching as the sun swallowed the shadows in it's light was like staring at a painting like the ones you'd see in art galleries and museums.
"Julie this is beautiful". Connie gaped. I looked around at the others faces and noticed even Portman was stood watching in ore.
"I used to race Sanka and Derice up here nearly every morning, we all set off together but each went on our favorite paths to see who got here first". Julie said.
"Who won"? Fulton asked.
"We all did at some time or another, but we never really noticed because by the time we got up here the sun was just rising".
After the sun had risen, we set off back down the hill. Not my best part of the ride this morning, but luckily the side we went down wasn't as steep as the side we came up. At the bottom, we went on various paths until we reached a field of long grass. Where Julie stopped.
"I promised you all a canter and it's even better now because your in western saddles". Julie told us. "You all sure you want to do this"? She looked at us deeply. We all nodded in reply. "Shorten your reins, get hold of the pommel now, lean forward a little if it helps and have fun. Some of them might race with another if they can but just stay with it, they'll stop when I do ok but if you need to stop pull on your reins and they will.". Julie warned us before walking a few steps before signaling Caliopie into a canter then she went into a flat out gallop. All the horses followed simultaneously.
Dolly went straight into a canter but she soon felt as though she was going even quicker. Julie was quite in front but all I could think about was the wind blowing in my face and thudding of Dolly's and all the horses around me hooves. I started to watch more intently in front of me, just as I looked up, I saw as if in slow motion Caliopie jump to the side slightly and Julie flying from the saddle onto her side. I immediately began slowly Dolly and she stopped just before I reached Julie who was now stood looking quizzically toward the bushes. We had all managed to stop and had jumped off to Julie. Caliopie was walking back slowly after Julie had shouted her.
"Oh, Julie, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you jump. I was just coming your way to see if you'd let me ride with you and your friends". A voice spoke as his body emerged through the bushes on horseback.
"You knew exactly what you were doing. Both you and I know that Caliopie would have jumped when she heard you in the bushes". Julie let go of Caliopie's reins and walked briskly over to Robbie who might I add had a sly grin on his face.
"Well, I'm so sorry your not a good enough rider to stay on when your horse shies at something". He replied. Suddenly Julie reached up and grabbed his shirt and pulled him harshly off his horse onto the ground.
"I hope to God one day, someone does that to you and you seriously hurt yourself. You are so lucky it was me that fell off because if it had been one of these guy's and they got hurt, I'd have killed you". She let go of his shirt and walked away, retrieving Caliopie from Dwayne's hand and remounting followed by us all.
"I won't fall off though, I'm a good enough rider not to aren't I". He retorted getting back up.
"Yeah right". Julie answered.
"Fine, I'll prove it. Race me up the field and that'll show who's the better rider".
"That won't show who's the best rider, it'll only prove which horse is fastest". Julie snapped.
"Ok, cross country, my place at noon". Robbie snapped back equally harshly as he remounted.
"Fine, I'll see you at noon". Julie glared and began walking away. Then turned to us. "You ready to finish your canter"? She smiled weakly toward us, then turned all her attention on Caliopie.
I glanced at the others quickly before preparing ourselves to continue the canter. I could tell by the concerned looks on their faces that they felt the same way as I did, they were concerned about Julie and the way she had simply agreed to compete against Robbie even though she had turned him down many times previously. At the top of the field, Julie stood waiting for us to catch up, I mean her horse was a thoroughbred and went miles faster than any of our horses.
"Julie what was all that about? Are you aware you just agreed to compete against that jerk"? Connie was the first and bravest to bring up the subject.
"It's time once and for all to put that bastard back in the hole he crawled out of". Julie fumed.
"Your just doing exactly what he wants. He's probably gonna have people hiding in the bushes like just now". I argued.
"I fall off I get back on, So what"!
"Julie you could get seriously injured". I countered her argument.
"Charlie, you know what? I don't care anymore. I have to do this for myself. Now please just drop it". Julie almost snapped at me and hastily made Caliopie walk on.
It wasn't long until we got back to the ranch. Julie hadn't said another word since our run in with Robbie and she remained so when we got back. Un- tacking in silence and cooling Caliopie down more than enough. We left her to it knowing anything we say would fall upon deaf ears.
"Hey guy's, what's up with Jules"? Derice asked us as he and Sanka watched Julie.
"She's agreed to compete with that Robbie". I blurted out.
"Huh. What's brought this on"? Sanka asked.
"Well, we were cantering up this field and Robbie was hid in the bushes and Caliopie shied making Julie fall off. Julie and Robbie had this big confrontation, Julie even yanked him out of the saddle then she agreed to go up to his place to compete on his cross country course". Connie filled them in.
"Go Julie". Sanka laughed.
"Shut up Sanka. She can't go up there". Derice said the last bit rather sternly.
"Exactly what we said but she wouldn't listen". I agreed as I watched Derice walk over to Julie.
OHHH will Derice manage to talk her out of it?? PLEASE R&R!!!!!