With a thump I fell on the dirt underneath Thunder's hooves and he whinnied at me as I sat. Brushing the dirt from my legs I stumbled to my feet my backside aching and near the fence Pru and Abigail snorted with laughter until Lucky stared at them.

"That was a good try, Mia." Lucky told me and I just turned my head staring at her until she cleared her throat. "Maybe we should take a break."

"It wasn't a good try. I've been trying to ride like you and Spirit for a day now and it's not working. At this rate I might as well give Thunder to Grayson." I muttered and he lowered his head nudging my back and I sighed, rubbing his nose. "I don't mean it, Thunder. Maybe we can get the next train out of here."

"You can't do that, Mia. You said your parents won't let you leave the city if you run back home." Abigail reminded me and I closed my eyes pressing my face to Thunder's forehead. Noticing the way Pru and Lucky were glaring at her she coughed. "You could live in the forest and hide from Grayson. No...wait we tried that with Lucky and it didn't work."

"What Abigail's trying to say is that we can try again after we take a break." Pru suggested but I just shook my head, pulling myself up onto Thunder's back.

"Thanks anyway but I'm just going to go for a ride and then head back to the hotel." I answered, Thunder breaking into a trot as I held onto his reins. We headed into the forest just outside the town and once he reached a hill Thunder slowed, hearing me sighing.

"I know I shouldn't have let my temper get the best of me, again but Grayson just made me so mad. But it wasn't right to make a deal with him especially where you're concerned, Thunder. You're the best thing that's happened to me since my birthday." I apologized and he whinnied, pawing at the ground after I climbed down onto the grass below.

As I looked over the hill I felt a little better staring at the herd of wild horses as they grazed a short distance away. "Never seen wild horses before. Wonder if they're part of Spirit's herd?" I said my attention fixed on them for so long I didn't notice someone walking close by until I heard a laugh and I jumped, turning around to find a familiar face sitting atop a dark gray horse.

When he sniggered I snorted at him watching with my eyes narrowed as he climbed from his horse's back though his smirk faded the second Thunder put himself between me and Grayson, stomping his hooves close to Grayson's boots.

Grayson's eyes widened and he quickly stepped back out of range bringing a small smile to my lips at how close Thunder had come to stomping his feet flat. Recovering Grayson gave me a cold smile. "I thought you'd be practicing for the big race not looking at wild horses." Grayson smirked looking past my shoulder at the herd grazing. Once he looked back at me he chuckled. "Though when you lose I suppose I could sell you a new horse...for the right price." He added and I stepped forward tilting my head back slightly to glare at him.

"I already have a horse but thanks for the offer." I told him through gritted teeth and he just shrugged strolling back to his horse. After he climbed onto the saddle his horse, Xerxes turned back to find me standing beside Thunder.

"Not for much longer I'd wager, Mia. Now you'd best be getting home before it gets dark. Wouldn't want you getting lost and losing my horse." Grayson answered and I bit back a curse as he rode away laughing.

"There's no way that I'm letting anyone take you, Thunder especially not that...that..." I trailed off unable to think of a word good enough to describe Grayson until I heard three female voices and I shook my head as Pru, Abigail and Lucky rode up the hill towards me. "Let me guess. You heard all that?" I asked grimacing when I received nods from both the girls and their horses.

"I would have let Thunder stomp him flat." Lucky told me and I managed a weak laugh until I remembered I had less than a week to be good enough to beat Grayson and that brought a grimace to my lips. "Look you still have six days to train. You'll get better trust me."

"Yeah but good enough to beat Grayson in a race?" Pru answered and I shook my head, knowing in my heart that years of riding experience couldn't be taught in a week. "I shouldn't have said that." She admitted as we rode back towards town but I just shrugged knowing the truth.

"No you're right. I can't learn everything I need to know in a week. It takes years to be an experienced rider. Plus I should never have bet Thunder in the first place. It's my own fault." I told them later after they offered to keep Thunder in the barn alongside their own horses. Sitting on a hay bale I rested my head in my hands thinking.

"You only need to beat Grayson and how hard could that be? Thunder just needs to ran faster than his horse." Abigail told me and I chewed my lip not really listening.

"I managed to beat him with Spirit so you can too." Lucky offered as I stared at Thunder who whinnied at the other horses. "Though it took a lot of effort."

"I get it. I'll just have to spend the next six days training as much as we can." I replied, already feeling a little better about our chances. Though the very next morning as I headed to the barn to pick up Thunder, now dressed in a white shirt and black pants I heard hooves approaching and I jumped back as Xerxes shot past me Grayson laughing at how close I'd come to being knocked over.

Shaking my head I brushed the dust from my pants as I hurried towards the barn determined to beat Grayson in a week's time though when I pushed open the doors I frowned finding only Thunder in his makeshift stall. Noticing me he grinned pushing over the stall's door before he headed over to me and I laughed as he pushed at my back with his snout.

"I'm happy to see you too. Wanna go for a ride?" I asked him and he whinnied, waiting patiently as I grabbed my riding gear. We left the stable and Thunder broke into a trot heading towards the forest a short ride away. After a few minutes I looked down at Thunder and he slowed until I grinned at him, lightly tapping my feet against his side. "You can run you know and I promise I won't fall off this time." I told him and he snorted immediately breaking into a canter and I gripped the reins finally relaxing as he carried me into the forest.

As Thunder raced along the grass I laughed finally enjoying the freedom I had while I was in Miradero. We spent hours out there and after Thunder stopped at a stream to drink I climbed down from his back looking around at the trees and the blue sky above us.

"It's good to just get out and spend the day together. Too bad we don't get to enjoy our freedom back home." I said to Thunder, laughing when he jumped into the stream splashing me with water. "Oh it's on now!" I laughed as I jumped into the water and Thunder snorted now totally drenched.

We played together until we were soaked and as I sat on the grass Thunder shook himself, lying beside me into the warm sunshine. "Yeah it is really nice spending time together. I hope we can stay here even after the week's up." I sighed, leaning against Thunder and he nodded.

"Now isn't that sweet? But you won't be so cheerful when you lose to me." Grayson commented and I groaned rubbing the bridge of my nose as he walked into view.

"Are you following me or something because if you are that's really weird." I complained as Thunder glared at Xerxes who just rolled his eyes. "Now can you move? I was enjoying that sunshine until you blocked it." I added but he didn't move and I snorted, pushing myself to my feet before I crossed my arms.

"For your information, Mia I'm on my way back to my ranch. Some of us need to earn a living." Grayson replied not moving until I pushed past him. "Besides I just came by to see how your practice was going." He added as Thunder nodded towards Grayson and then the stream and I grinned giving my horse a quick nod. Noting the smile Grayson frowned at me focusing on me instead of Thunder who carefully walked towards us darting forward once Grayson finally noticed him.

Thunder reared up so suddenly that Grayson stumbled back losing his balance and with a yell he fall directly into the water behind us. When he ended up falling on his backside drenching al four of us I couldn't help laughing as he glared at me then Thunder my horse whinnying water dripping off his hat. "That's for following me. Besides I'm going to beat you in that race just you wait and see, Mr Grayson." I laughed, climbing onto Thunder's back and as we raced away Grayson glared at our backs.

"Oh you'll pay for that, Mia. Count on it." He growled as he climbed to his feet, pulling off his hat before he dumped the water out of it.