Heart of Flame – Chapter 2
FINALLY! A new chapter. I'm so, so sorry about the lack of updates - it was basically me being lazy, too many tests at school, and me needing to sort the plan out. Majorly! It's now all planned out, looks like we're going to have 12 or so chapters but could be more, as my stories tend to drag themselves out a bit .. thanks heaps for the awesome reviews:
Horse Diva, Akers2 (UPDATE TP! PLEEEASE!), ffgirlmoonie, GhostKitty00, Paine jnr. You guys make my day! Tell your friends, ok? I LOVE REVIEWS!
Here we go, Chapter 2. Hope you love it!
"A new place. A new life, Flamey. It's going to be different ... but we'll be together. A new place where you won't be scared. No one's going to hurt you there."
The horse huffed his sweet, hay-scented breath in her face, and she sighed in contentment, stretching her hand out slowly to stroke the broad white blaze that was splashed in his rich chestnut coat.
Flame tensed. His ears went right back, pointing like guns. His nostrils flared as he snorted softly, unsure.
Stop, something told her. Don't ruin it. But she couldn't. She'd waited so long to be with him again, to touch him and now … her fingers brushed his nose. And he disappeared.
NIKITA COSTELLO in bad fall at Cascade Finals
Seventeen year old star show-jumper Nikita Costello may be out of the running in her first horse Grand Prix season after a bad fall at the Cascade Circuit Finals, the last qualifier before the Horse of the Year Show to be held in September. Costello and eight year old stallion Salute the Stars were leading this seasons YR scoreboard – a pretty amazing achievement considering this is her first year on horses. Costello was in first place, the only one with a clear first round at Cascade with Anna Davis (Fire Wind) and Mark Johnston (Kalahari Mystery) both sitting on four faults. A nasty triple in the second round proved too hard for the pair as something appeared to spook Salute the Stars and he ran out sharply at the second jump. Unbalanced by the run out, Costello fell off, crashing into the solid jump stand and was knocked unconscious. Paramedics at the scene took her to hospital for observation after waking up but her prognosis is unconfirmed.
Father Paul Costello was noticeably disappointed, cursing as the horse ran out and rushing onto the course to make sure his daughter was alright after falling off. He had a brief message for the press – "Yes, we're disappointed, of course, but we have other competitors from Four Oaks Barn here and there's always next year. We're just proud of Nikita coming this far in her first season of Grand Prix."
The competition was won by Mark Johnston and Kalahari Mystery, also trained by Paul Costello. Johnston and Anna Davis also qualified for the Young Rider final at Horse of the Year. It is unconfirmed whether Costello will compete.
Amy was engrossed in the article about the show jumper. I wonder if that could have been me … if I'd kept Storm. Her eyes shifted out of focus as she imagined the powerful grey charging over the course at Horse of the Year. Storm could do it. I know he could. But … Heartland is what matters now. Not competing. Amy's glance shifted back to the article about Nikita Costello, to a photo. The seventeen year old looked tiny on a huge 17.2hh bay stallion, her face quietly glowing as she stroked the horse's neck. That must be her father, Amy thought, glancing at the solid man possessively holding the horse's bridle and smiling confidently.
She has everything … a show jumping career, her father there to help her …
A door banged and Amy looked up to see Ty entering the tack room with a saddle over one arm. He smiled as he saw her. "What are you up to?"
Blushing slightly – she didn't want him to see her daydreaming – Amy tried to slide the magazine out of sight. "Nothing ... really ..."
Ty knew her better than that. Coming over to the window seat where Amy was, he made her scoot over so he could sit down next to her. Picking up the magazine, he turned straight to the page Amy had been looking at. "Hmm … young rider of the year, hey? Dreaming about a certain grey horse, Amy?"
"Guilty." She smiled softly. "Not dreaming, not really. I know I should be over Storm by now but sometimes … I know I made the right decision, but I miss him."
Ty put his arm around Amy and squeezed her gently. "It's ok … I understand. But believe me; this girl hasn't got it all." He turned to look at the date of the magazine, three months earlier. "She died. A few days after this – they said it was from complications from her concussion but … wasn't that bad. At least, I didn't think it looked like it on TV."
Amy's face filled with pity. "Poor girl. Imagine being that close and having such an amazing horse and then … just like that. All gone."
Ty obviously didn't want to talk about it anymore. Looking pointedly at his watch, he spoke. "Talking about gone … doesn't your bus get here three minute ago on average?"
Amy checked her watch and swore silently. "Ok, I'd better go. See you later!"
"So your new horse is arriving today, Ames?" Soraya asked her friend, winding a strand of curly dark hair around her finger.
Amy nodded. "Yep. Something isn't right thought … it's a different sort of case than what we've had before. This is … strange." She shrugged her shoulders. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see what's thrown at us …"
"I can't believe Lou's letting her stay with you! Normally she's so particular about the number of horses – and people – at Heartland at one time." Matt leaned over the back of his seat on the bus to talk to the two girls.
"Lou's gotten a lot better about that lately!" Amy laughed. "What with building the sleepout for Ty to live in, and also all the extra horses at the moment – she's being great. Although, I think it'll be different in winter, since they can't live out in the paddocks then."
"Speaking of that sleepout for Ty …" Matt grinned wickedly. "I'd be taking advantage of that if I was him!"
Amy slapped his arm, pretending to be shocked. "Matt! I don't know what you're on about … I'm only sixteen, Ty's only eighteen – we're not that stupid! Still," she added, her voice serious now, "it's great having him here all the time. We get to spend so much more time together."
Soraya looked pointedly at Matt. "Hmm, maybe we should build you a sleepout at my place …"
"Are you kidding?" Her boyfriend replied. "I'm going to be sneaking out to see this hottie that's going to be living at Amy's …"
Amy blocked her ears, grimacing. "Speaking of AMY'S … I'm going to have to leave the two of you to fight amongst yourselves – gotta get home."
As the bus pulled up to Heartland's driveway, Amy grabbed her bag, waved to Soraya and Matt, the hopped off the bus. As it pulled away loudly, she went over to the front paddock. Sundance neighed when he saw her and sauntered over to the fence, where Amy gave him a pat. "Don't worry, buddy, I promise I'll take you out for a ride with Ty this evening. Just gotta get this new guy sorted out, ok?"
Giving her pony one last stroke, Amy began making her way down the driveway to the house. After shouting hi to Lou and getting changed, she met Ty at the barn, and they got to work on mucking out the stables. Just as Amy put the finishing touches to the stable that was to be Flame's, she heard the loud engine of a horse truck outside. "Ty! New horse is here!" She called, then made her way back outside into the sunshine.
As she closed the barn door, the truck drove into the main yard and Amy got a glimpse of the girl in the passenger seat. Sitting straight and tall, her face was expressionless as she surveyed the rolling hills and valleys of Heartland.
The driver, an amiable, friendly man who had transported several horses to Heartland jumped down from the cabin and shook Amy's hand. "Nice to see you again, Ms Fleming."
"You too," she replied, helping him lift the ramp down. Loud snorts came from inside and Amy saw the horse for the first time. A bright chestnut with a fine head and an intelligent expression in his eyes, the gelding snorted as the light from outside hit his eyes.
"Isn't his owner going to come and unload her horse?" Amy asked the driver. He shrugged, looking uncomfortable.
"Guess not."
First impressions count … Amy mused. And this isn't a good first impression if she isn't even willing to unload her own horse!
Ducking under the partition, Amy untied the gelding, first letting him sniff her outstretched hands. I can't believe that awful woman thinks this horse is crazy …
The driver swung the partition out of the way and Amy led Flame quietly down the ramp. She stopped in the yard, throwing a scathing glance at the girl still in the truck cab. Her expression was still impassive, but Amy was sure she could detect a tremor of anger. Come and get your horse if you're so damn annoyed. But the girl made no move to get out of the cab. Amy shrugged, and began leading the chestnut into the stable without a further word to anyone.
Ty shot her a quizzical glance for a moment, and then went to speak to the truck driver as Amy disappeared. "What's the horse's full name?"
"Flame of Justice, apparently. But the girl says she calls him Flame for short. Now, if you'll excuse me ..." The man grimaced and pulled a folded wheelchair from the living compartment of the truck. Unfolding the thing awkwardly, as if he didn't know quite what to do, the man muttered to Ty, "They ask me to pick up a horse, I pick up the horse. But they didn't say anything bout a damned girl until I got there! And I couldn't back out then, already paid half an' everything – I've had to put up with her all the way from Montana!"
Ty watched, in a state of shock, as the man opened the girl's door and cringed. "I don't need your help," he heard her snarl. Shaking his head, the driver replied, "Look, girlie, we've been over this all the way from Montana – you gotta let me put you in the chair nicely, otherwise I'm going to push you out! I'm not taking you back with me!"
Things clicked into place in Ty's mind. Amy's glare at the girl who wouldn't get out to unload her own horse. Who couldn't unload her own horse. Awkward, or what? Ty mused. Then – oh, shit. "Um … I'd better go find Amy. I'll be right back …"
He found his girlfriend muttering as she clipped Flame's leadrope to the hook outside his stable. "Won't even come and unload her horse … yet she won't let him come here without her … load of – oh, Ty! Did you see her?" She unlatched the door and began taking Flame's float boots off.
"Amy … um, she couldn't unload the horse, 'cause she couldn't get out of the truck by herself. I don't know anything about it but … she's in a wheelchair."
Amy's jaw dropped. "Oh … shit."
"Yep. I said the same thing."
"Oh. Man. I feel so, so bad now. I was sending her death glares."
Ty laughed softly, attempting – unsuccessfully – to turn it into a cough when Amy glared at him. "I'll come out and apologise in a sec, I just need to check his legs."
She ran he hands gently over his muscled legs while Flame pulled contently at a full haynet. He had four white socks, and from what Amy could see he was fine even after a long journey. Checking his near foreleg, she noticed a scar about the size of a coin. It looked fairy recent and she ran her hands over it, wondering how Flame had got it. As she probed at the scar, he suddenly put his ears back and swished his tail warningly. Amy got the message, straightening up and stroking him.
"He doesn't like that," Ty observed.
"He's got a small scar there. I'll check it out later – I should ask his owner. God, Ty, do we even know her name?"
Shaking his head, Ty took her hand and led her back outside. Waiting for them was Flame's owner, sitting stonily in her wheelchair, facing away from them, out towards the paddocks. Amy felt her cheeks heat with a blush.
Ty looked for the truck driver. The man was back in the cab of his truck, and he waved, then pulled out of the yard, back down the driveway.
Amy spoke gently. "Look, I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean -"
"Is Flame okay from the journey? Are his legs alright?" The girl interrupted Amy brusquely, turning her wheelchair around. Amy got a good look at her for the first time.
She would have been pretty once, anyone could tell that. The girl's hair was a rich, dark brown that was almost black, her eyes a dark hazel colour, her skin tanned and olive. But she was thin, so thin that she was almost skin and bone, and her face was tired and haggard. Her eyes were dull, almost like she didn't care what she looked at. What's happened to her? Amy wondered, feeling pity for the girl who was to be staying with them for a month.
"Flame? Oh, he's fine. All his legs are okay, he's eating, he doesn't seem at all stressed from his journey."
The girl nodded, looking relieved, but her voice was still harsh and unfriendly. "You're Amy, right? The one who heals horses?" Amy nodded. "I'm Jazmine. Jazz for short."
Ty interrupted. "Nice to meet you, Jazz. We're going to do our best to help Flame." Jazz's face lost some of its anger, and almost softened for a moment. A weight seemed to settle on her shoulders and Amy could see how exhausted she was.
"Look, I know it's still early, but would you mind if I went to bed?" The question was addressed to Ty. Jazz ignored Amy completely. Understandable, Amy thought, after the way I treated her earlier.
Ty nodded, smiling at Jazz. "That's fine. You've had a long journey. Come over to the house with us, and Amy and I will help you get settled in." He looked at Amy, and she nodded, then followed him and Jazz over to the house.
What have we gotten ourselves into?
Well, hope that was good enough for you guys! I promise more will be coming soon - probably in the next couple of days if I get good feedback as I'm on school holidays at the moment.
AiS