Margie's POV

After riding Grand Warrior I felt sure my decision to give up Sand was the right one. Warrior was so full of energy and had the speed of a lightening bolt. When I looked at his clocked time it was amazing, especially since he wasn't even breaking a sweat. When his week with Co-co was up I felt disappointed. I was going to miss Warrior; he was such a good horse! At least it was my father's job to trailer him home. I was going to go as well and see Warrior's home and his owner.

I walked out towards the paddock where Warrior and Co-co were peacefully grazing together. I stopped and smiled as Warrior lifted his head and gently nudged Co-co's cocked ear. She let her head shoot up playfully and Warrior gave a half rear. Co-co squealed-I think in delight-and took off galloping through the pasture. Warrior kicked up his heals and followed, catching up at amazing speed. By now I wasn't at all surprised at his speed. Warrior easily matched Co-co's pace and she skidded backwards then leapt into another direction; galloping off again. Warrior turned his head and looked, then, with a spark in his eyes, took off once again.

The two chased eachother time after time, each time Warrior caught up to Co-co, she would skid around and take off in another direction. I hated to intervene in their fun, but it was time for seriousness now. As I unlatched the gates both horses stopped instantly and turned to gaze at me. I reached for the red halter. Instinctively Warrior started towards me. He and Co-co both knew that the red halter was Warrior's and the blue one was Co-co's.

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Co-Co's POV

Once Margie picked up the red halter I felt crushed. I knew today was Warrior's last day with me. Now it was over. He was leaving. My head hung low, I followed Warrior up to the gate and Margie slipped the red halter over Warrior's ears. Margie led him through the gate but when I tried in vain to slip out as well she held her hand up and pushed me back, slamming the gate unexpectedly. Taking the chance to stall, Warrior reared up as if in shock. I knew he was acting, but Margie fell for it. "Whoa boy…" she soothed. Warrior ignored her and landed on his hooves with a thud. Margie kept whispering words, but I could not hear her. Warrior calmed down and Margie loosened her grip on the lead rope. I saw a flash in Warrior's eyes, then he jerked his head; causing the lead rope to also be jerked out of Margie's foolish hands. Warrior took off towards the track. I neighed hopefully, but Margie flew after Warrior. I knew she couldn't catch up to him, no horse on earth could do that! Warrior approached the track's fencing and skidded. He could have jumped the fence easily had he been experienced, but he was not. He was about to start around the track's edge when Margie's father appeared out of no where and grabbed the halter on Warrior's head. Warrior jerked his head up, trying to free himself, but Margie's father was stronger than Margie and held fast. Margie caught up and I saw her father scowling for a few minutes, then handed the lead rope over. Margie walked off so that I couldn't see her or Warrior anymore.

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Margie's POV

I loaded Warrior onto the trailer and then sat patiently in the truck for my dad to get in. He checked the trailer doors then hopped in and revved the engine. Silently we drove out of the drive and pulled onto the road, towards Warrior's home, which was an hour away. The first fifteen minutes of the drive were silent. Then my dad finally spoke up. But what he said was not what I wanted to hear at the moment. "Margie, at least we got a good breeding in." I knew where this was going, just a boring talk about why I shouldn't be sad about saying goodbye to Warrior. "I know Dad." He sighed impatiently. "So you shouldn't be this glum." "Well I am." I was irritated. No matter what he said, I would still be 'glum.'

After that the rest of the ride was quiet. I didn't feel like talking about Warrior and Dad was probably to annoyed to talk now. I fell asleep, how I'm not sure. My head was spinning with sadness of bidding farewell to Warrior. When I woke up again we were driving down a high class concrete drive towards a huge stable facility and house. We stopped beside one of the many stables and a few hands walked over and took over. I got out and watched them unload Warrior. He tossed his head up and down and neighed. A few answering neighs came from the barn we parked by. I could tell Warrior recognized his home. I gave one last look and then he disappeared with the hands into the barn. Dad got out of the truck and a tall man walked towards us. I assumed he was Warrior's owner, considering he was dressed nicely and seemed to like asserting himself. Dad and the man shook hands then the man spoke. "Did everything go okay?" He had a friendly smile on. "Yes, yes everything was perfect. Thanks again Mr. Gifford." Mr. Gifford nodded again. "Where is Sand?" I blurted. Mr. Gifford turned and smiled again. "She is out in a pasture right now, with a few other mares. She has been doing fine." I nodded my head. Mr. Gifford seemed to be someone who knew enough about horses, so he wasn't just saying that. Then I asked, "Are you Warrior's owner?" It was a very stupid question. Mr. Gifford brightened though, "Actually no, few people bother asking though." He chuckled, " My daughter is Warrior's owner." He had a daughter! "May I see her?" "Margie…we shouldn't intrude like that." Dad interrupted. Mr. Gifford's gaze tightened, "She is in bed." "Why, it's late." I commented. "She has cancer, and is feeling down today." Guilt seared through my conscious. Mr. Gifford continued though, "You may see her. She enjoys company." At that I felt better. Maybe I could make her feel better! My Dad gave a hesitant glance but I followed Mr. Gifford into the humungous house. It was well built and just as fancy on the inside as the out. He led me up two fleets of stairs and then pointed at a elaborate door with a horse head painted on it. He held out his hand and opened the door; I walked in and saw a girl laying in bed. On the walls was another mural, but of many horses who were grazing, galloping, jumping, and any event you could think of. But on the wall above her bed was the most beautiful painting of a black horse with roses over his back, after a victory on the track. I knew it must be Warrior. The girl sat up and gave a weary, yet friendly smile. "Hi." I said first. I liked to be the first one to say 'hi'. "Hi, I'm Lauren, and you are?" She had her father's assertive attitude. "I'm Margie, my mare-" Lauren interrupted knowingly. "-just got bred to Warrior?" I nodded with a grin. "Yep." "I liked Sand a lot. She was so pretty. I felt bad for my father asking to take her instead of money." I gave a sigh. "Actually if he hadn't liked Sand we wouldn't have had enough money to pay for the fee. We wanted the breeding because we hope the foal will be able to earn us money on the track, and then we can restore our dignity. Co-co is the only horse we own now." Lauren comprehended the information. "Well, then I hope the foal turns out good." I nodded. Then there was an uncomfortable silence. I started a new conversation, "So how old are you?" "Twelve and a half." She smiled proudly but then her face fall. "But I won't live another year…because of my cancer." I felt so bad for her now. "Can't you get treatments?" Lauren shook her head. "I've gotten just about everything I can. But nothing works. I've had this cancer since I was only five. I'm lucky to have lived this long." I didn't know what to say. I wished I could give her some sort of medicine that would just make the cancer go away and never come back. I thanked God I didn't have cancer myself.

"How old are you?" Lauren asked, breaking my thoughts. "I'm thirteen." Lauren nodded with bright eyes. We talked for a long time. Lauren was really nice, and I felt bad that she was dying. If she was healthier we could be great friends!

"Maybe I could come back sometime." I said after we laughed about a story I had told. Lauren bounced up and down in her bed. "That would be so great! Does this mean…we're friends?" Wow…her cancer was so bad that she couldn't even get out enough to make a friend… "Of course! I'll be your friend." I smiled reassuringly. Lauren brightened and her eyes twinkled. "I haven't been able to call someone a friend for a long time." I felt so bad for her. "Well, you can start with me now." Just then my Dad came in, nodded at Lauren, and told me it was time to go home. "See ya soon Lauren!" I said. I turned to leave, but Lauren's voice stopped me. "But when will you come back?" I looked at Dad, but he was already walking down the hallway. "Here, write your phone number on my hand and I will call next weekend." Lauren smiled, got out a pen, and scribbled a number onto my palm. "See ya!" Lauren called as I bounded after Dad.

A/N: Yes I know, not much of horses in this one, but it's necessary phor the rest of the story! Please people, review!