Mine

Chapter 6 "Lessons"

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my made up characters!

Tuesday, October 25th

"This thing right here is calling the frog. You must try to avoid hitting it always. This is a very sensitive place for a horse's foot and it hurts them. That's why you scrap out, towards the toe of the hoof, you won't hit the frog, and you're pushing everything away from their frog." I told my group of eight-year-olds. I was almost finished in teaching them how to properly groom a horse using Honor. "Are there any questions?"

They all shook their head no. "Alright, then let's go get some horses!" Katie said with a smile. We got all the horses in crossties and supervised, helping when needed, the kids groom their horses. Next, we went from stall to stall helping them tack up their horses. We checked over their work and they did well. They were quick learners.

We went into the indoor arena and helped everyone mount up. We went through how to hold the reins, how to stop a horse, turn a horse, back a horse and finally did a walk around the arena. At the end of the lesson, they untacked their horses and put them back in their stalls.

"What will we be doing next time?" Ellie asked as Katie and I showed them where the tack and brushes went.

"You will be doing some more walking, working on your balance and form, stuff like that." I told her. "It will be a few lessons before we get to trotting."

I could see the slight disappointment on their faces. "Don't worry, it'll still be fun!" I smiled at them. "And before you know it, you'll be trotting all over the arena. Now there's a bucket of apple wafer treats in the tack room by the fridge, why don't you get one to give to your horses?"

As the kids ran off to do just that, I met with the parents. "How'd it go?" Ellie's mother, Janice, asked.

I smiled. "Very good. They learned how to groom a horse, how to tack up a horse, how to hold their reins, turning, how to stop, walking, and backing up. Next lesson they'll be doing a bit more in the saddle so they should be happy."

"Elizabeth got on alright? She was feeling a bit anxious last night about riding." Jean, Elizabeth's mother, looked a bit nervous.

"She swung right up into the saddle." Katie reassured her. "No hesitation and she loved it."

"Good, that's good." Jean smiled. "She's been talking about how badly she's wanted horseback riding lessons for months."

I waved as my students left with their parents. In about ten minutes my other students would show up, my advanced beginners. We would be working over poles on the ground just to get them used to the horses they'd be riding before we started jumping.

As I looked towards the lowering sun, I was happy again that Katie had an indoor arena. We would be in a lighted arena that was out of the wind that was picking up. Katie and I put the horses that were needed for the next lesson into the stalls with crossties while we waited. When I heard cars, pulling up I went out to greet the students.

I got them into the barn and introduced them to their horses. Katie and I had matched horses to students last night, depending on their ability and what their previous instructor had to say about them. They all looked unsure for a moment.

"What's wrong?" I asked them, confused.

"Our old barn always had the horses tacked up when we came. We never had to groom or tack up a horse before." Hope said, a bit embarrassedly, to me. Katie and I shared a look. Of course, some lesson barns did do all the work for their students but Katie and I had already agreed that we wanted all our students to tack up their own horses. It was good for them to learn this and do it.

"Well I guess you're going to learn today!" I said with a smile. All the girls learned quickly, tacking up English was so much easier than Western, and we went into the arena. "Alright first we're going to warm up your horses. Take a lap around at a walk then a trot."

Katie and I stood in the middle watching as they warmed up. They all had good form and were taught well on their riding. So, we coached them through their paces and started trotting over their poles.

"Tighten your reins a bit Piper!" I called out. "That's good."

"Want me to set up a small cross rail jump? See how they do?" Katie offered.

"Yeah, I think we should. I think they can do it." Katie went and set up the jump.

"Katie has just set up a small cross rail jump for you girls. I want each of you to trot your horses to it and jump it." I could see the excited looks on their faces and they followed one another, leaving appropriate space between horses. Each one popped over, the horses just barely jumping over it since it was so small. Piper and Destiny needed a bit of work on their jumping position. "Piper, Destiny can you come here to the middle please."

Each girl did as I asked and I let Katie supervise the girls that were continuing. "Piper, I just need you to tighten your reins and come a little bit more off the saddle when he goes to jump. Destiny, you're doing great but want you to lean a bit more forward when she goes to pop over and keep your heels down."

Piper looked down. "I'm worried I'm going to pull too hard." She admitted. I smiled.

"And that's great you worry about that but you're not going to. He'll let you know if you do but you'll get a better feel for it the more you ride him. Don't worry you're riding great." I patted her leg. "All of you are and you're still learning. The more you ride, the better you'll get."

I watched them as they went around again and did better this time. I gave them both a thumbs up as they looked towards me. Katie sat up another jump right beside the first one so they'd jump the first then have to count strides and turn to jump the other one. The girls did good as they went over both jumps and I tried to give them each a little one on one advice and attention.

I could see from the corner of my eye a few mothers and parents standing there. Lesson time was almost over and I was a bit sad. I was having fun. I didn't want lessons to end just yet!

…..

Unknown POV

I watched my daughter as she stood in the middle of the arena teaching my younger daughter. Only she didn't know it. No one did. I admitted to myself that I knew who she was when I called about the lesson program at Sterling Stables. They were a good stable, great reputation, and I wanted to see her again. See how grown up she is.

And my goodness was she grown. Here she was almost graduated from college at her age, working already, getting out of the rodeo life her father loved. I had every newspaper clipping, every article, every bit of information about her winnings, every competition she entered.

She just didn't know and that was her father's fault. I shook my head with a sigh. Nothing I could do about it now and I needed to let it go. She was here and I could try to make amends with her without worry of anyone interfering. My therapist said to at least try but be prepared for anger.

I'm sure her father made up some terrible story. She probably thinks I up and abandoned her for her entire life. She didn't know how wrong she was.

I longed to hug her, to hold her, my baby. I wanted to hear all about her life. I was her mother after all.

…

I watched Joe alone as he rode around the arena. Katie had went off to help with the evening feed and I was finishing Joe's lesson myself. He looked as if he had never stopped riding as he posted to Hershey's beautiful trot. He said he just wanted to go through the paces today, no jumping, or anything. I agreed with that, after six years of no riding he should be taking it slowly. He was probably going to be a bit sore after today.

"Alright Joe, that's good. Let's go ahead and stop there for the day, on a good note." I called over to him. Joe pulled Hershey to a stop and dismounted, falling into step with me.

"So what did you think?" Joe asked as we walked towards the barn. It was full dark out now and we stuck to the lighted path.

"You did great. It's almost as if you never stopped riding at all." I complimented him. "You should be back to jumping and competing if you'd like in no time."

Joe smiled. "Thanks Molly, that means a lot to me."

"I'm just being honest." I said with a smile back. "But I think is something you always remember. You'll always remember the feel of riding."

"I think so too." Joe's shoulder gently bumped mine and I took a step to the right, away from him. "So how long is your internship?"

"Six months then I'll be finished with my classes."

"What do you plan to do after that?" He asked, coming closer. I felt a bit uncomfortable but didn't want to be rude by moving away.

I sighed. "I'm, ah, not really sure. Either stay here hopefully or find another job somewhere with a barn."

"Where would you go if you couldn't stay here?"

I shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe find something near here or maybe in another state. But I'm hoping to stay on with Katie."

"I think she'd be stupid to let you go." I felt uncomfortable again as he stared at me with his dark blue eyes. They were so focused on me.

Luckily, someone called my name. We both looked and I saw Kit walking towards us. I smiled, relieved that I could stop talking to Joe.

"Hey Kit! I'll be right with you after we put Hershey up." Kit gave me a thumbs up and a smile then went towards my apartment.

"Another student?" Joe asked as he watched Kit sit on my apartment steps. I couldn't help but smile again.

"Ah, no. That's my boyfriend." I told him.

"Oh, of course." Joe gave a half smile. I helped him get Hershey untacked and saw him to his car. He thanked me for the lesson and left. I waved at Kit, telling him to come to me, and then went to find Katie.

…..….

"So how'd your lessons go?" Kit asked as we ate the spaghetti dinner I had made.

"They were good. I love being able to teach the kids. They listen to everything I have to say and they're all so excited to be riding. The younger ones are more excited than the twelve year-olds because it's their first time riding but still they're all so excited and…" I sighed. "I guess it just makes me realize how lucky I was to be able to ride all the time and have my own horse."

Kit nodded. "I get what you mean. Living on a ranch, I was always riding horses. Working them, training them. We all sometimes take things in our life for granted." Kit lifted my hand and kissed it. "We should appreciate the things—and people—in our lives more."

I smiled at him. "You're so sweet."

"I try." He smiled. He took another bite of his food. "This is really good spaghetti."

I chuckled. "Thank you but it's nothing special, just noodles out of a box and sauce out of a jar."

"Well believe it or not, you can screw up spaghetti. Ask Jason." Kit grinned at me.

"Thank goodness he has Lynn." I shook my head and Kit chuckled.

"Yeah, but here next week we'll be back to eating fast food." Kit sighed.

"I grimace every time I think of what you're eating on the road." I looked up at him. "Are you going to be doing any local rodeos?"

Kit shook his head. "Not too many. Mainly in Southern California, Arizona, and Texas."

I frowned. "I can try to attend maybe one in Southern Cali. But I probably won't be able to come to many of them."

Kit took my hand again. "I know, Mol. I know, I understand. I'll try to make it home for Christmas but I probably won't be home for Thanksgiving. Mom has already told me to tell you that you have a place over there for the holidays or any time you'd like."

I smiled. "I'm sure I'll be spending a lot of time over there while you're gone. Your mother will make sure I'm not lonely."

"My whole family will. They'll make you feel like a part of the family." Kit smiled at me. I tried not to worry about him leaving. I would be okay by myself. I had Katie, I had his family, I had my students, and my riding. I would be okay.

…..

I stood in the cold November morning dressed in jeans with long johns underneath, a warm thermal shirt with a sweatshirt over it, and my boots as I said goodbye to Kit with his family. He and Jason were leaving early this morning to go to San Diego, California. Lynn had left to go home late last night and we were going to talk about planning a trip to see our men compete at one of the rodeos.

I watched as his family said goodbye with Jason and felt a bit weepy myself as I watched his mother try not to cry, as he got ready to leave. It was so hard Kit came to me last and he kissed me gently while holding me. "I'll try to keep in touch as we're driving and I'll call as soon as I get there."

I nodded, worried about speaking. I cleared my throat. "Okay, just be careful and good luck."

He gave me one last kiss and waved to his family as he got in his truck. Jason was riding with him since they would ride on the same circuit.

I stood there as the wind blew my hair around. It was cold and bone chilling but all I focused on was the truck leaving. I was nervous because two of the four people I actually knew outside of my Dad was leaving. I felt an arm go around my waist and looked to see Maxine standing there with me.

"We'll be okay honey." She gave me a squeeze. I didn't speak, just nodded. "You keep yourself busy and before you know it, he'll be home again."

"Is that what you do?" I asked her. She nodded.

"It's what you have to do." She sighed and then patted my back. "Any time you want to come over, you're welcome to. You can join us for dinner and definitely holidays. Or just if you're lonely." She smiled at me.

"Thanks Maxine. It means a lot." I told the older woman. "I'm sure I'll take you up on your offer."

And I was sure I would. I was going to be missing Kit while he was gone.

…..

AN: Hi Readers! I am so, so, so sorry! I'm sorry I haven't gotten it up sooner. I didn't finish it before Friday night and my boyfriend was over all weekend and I just didn't have much time to work on it. Add in housework and cookouts and it gets worse. But here it is and I promise I will have my next update for the next story up in a few(2-3) days.

What did you think of the chapter? Let me know in a review! My readers have been doing good with leaving reviews on multiple stories so I'm hoping I'll see some more : )

Thanks for reading! –Quinnandseth'sgirl15. My next update will be Stronger Than I'll Ever Be (A Criminal Minds Story).

If you haven't already check out my two latest stories, Sophie's Choice(KitxOC story), and You Are The Only Exception(A Phantom Stallion: Wild Horse Island Story. KimoxOC)