Chapter 4

Amy and Lou stepped outside into the cool morning air. It wasn't until then that Amy could see the damage caused by the storm. Leaves and debris were scattered all over the ranch, making it look like it was the middle of autumn. Large puddles of muddy water dotted the ground, causing the surrounding dirt to turn to mud. The surrounding fields glistened in the morning rays, making it look like a thousand diamonds had fallen into the grass over night. Luckily no major damage was done to any of the visible buildings and fences.

Focusing her gaze on the unfamiliar truck and trailer in front of her, Amy saw a man that could only be Mr Bruce with a young girl standing beside him. They were talking to her grandpa Jack who seemed to be back from checking the storm damage. A quick cast around confirmed that Caleb must still be out. Grandpa must have seen the visitors and headed back, leaving the new stable hand to finish the work. The old cowboy's laugh boomed across the open air, putting a smile on Amy's face as she turned towards Lou.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she noticed her older sister sitting on the porch bench pulling her heels off.

"What?" Lou replied, "You don't think I'm going to go out there in these shoes are you? My whole outfit will get completely ruined. Hey could you go back inside and grab my gum boots? There just beside the door."

"Sure, no problem." Agreed Amy before turning and heading back inside. She was relieved when she spotted her own gum boots lying next to Lou's exactly where she said they would. Grabbing them, Amy headed back outside.

"Thanks," smiled Lou as Amy passed her the boots. She shuffled over, giving room for Amy to sit down too. They both sat there in silence as they struggled to pull the rubber over their feet. Amy's foot stomped on the wooden boards as the force of her foot slammed into the bottom of the shoe. Standing up she jumped up and down on each leg, repositioning her feet into the most comfortable spot. Lou soon stood up and did the same. Amy, checking to see if her sister was ready, stepped down off the porch and headed towards the small group gathered beside the vehicle.

Getting closer, Amy could hear shuffling and what sounded like panicked snorts coming from inside the trailer.

"Ah Amy." Her grandpa said, seeing her approaching over Mr Bruce's shoulder, "There you are."

"Yes, here I am." Amy replied as Mr Bruce and the young girl, who Amy now assumed was his daughter, turned around. Standing only a metre from them, Amy studied the two visitors more closely.

Mr Bruce was slightly shorter than Grandpa Jack with thinning light brown hair and matching brown eyes. He was wearing crisp blue jeans that looked like they had just been bought this morning with a black leather jacket over a light grey button up shirt. Coupled with the shining cowboy boots, Amy guessed that his outfit cost more than the last horse they bought. Deciding not to make a judgement to quickly, she turned her gaze on his daughter.

Looking around 14 years old, she hand long curly red hair pulled back in a ponytail, brown eyes like her father's and some freckles scattered across her nose. With cream coloured jodhpurs and a sky blue polo shirt, her ensemble looked even more expensive than the man's standing next to her.

Smiling, Amy stepped forward and held out her hand.

"Nice to finally meet you Mr Bruce," She said warmly.

Mr Bruce shook her hand in return.

"Please, call me George," he said before turning towards the girl, "and this is my daughter Liesel."

Amy offered her hand towards her, who quickly shook it before letting go. Amy noticed that the girl didn't even make eye contact with her or smiled. She just stared coldly over her shoulder.

"And this," he continued, placing his palm on the horse trailer, not seeming to notice the cool greeting Liesel just gave Amy, "Is Rubies Flame." A loud whinny came from inside, like the horse was confirming that, that was indeed her name.

"So, what's exactly wrong with her?" Amy asked following the group around to the back of the trailer.

"Well, as I said over the phone I bought this mare at an auction about a month ago. If I knew what she was like, I never would have bought her. It took three hours just trying to get her into the trailer then the same day we brought her home, she jumped the fence and ran away. Since then she has gotten out multiple times. We've had to keep her confined in a stall. "

Amy frowned as she thought about what he just told her about the horse. She felt herself slipping into familiar territory as her head processed all the information she just heard.

"Why did it take so long to load her?" she asked, choosing the first question that came to mind.

"That's another problem all together," replied George as he placed his hands in his belt hoops. "She won't let anyone get near her. She runs to the other end of the paddock whenever she sees someone step out of the barn and when we kept her in the stall, she would run right over them, trying to get out."

"I guess we won't keep her in a stall then." Amy joked. She continued on with asking another question, wanting to get more information about the horse before they unloaded her.

"If you don't mind me asking, Mr Bruce, sorry, George," she corrected herself when she saw him start to stop her, "Why did you buy her in the first place? I'm told that you own a very respectable Eventing stables."

Smiling, indicating that he didn't mind at all, he answered, "I try to go to these auctions as much as possible. You can find a lot of hidden talent in there going for a bargain price and when they brought Rubies Flame out into the arena, I immediately saw potential. I thought she looked perfect for Liesel here, especially since the owner said that the horse was previously trained and competed in the Eventing world. I did a quick check and saw that it was in fact true. I even read that a teenager, just a couple of years older than Liesel rode her. Looking back, the only warning sign I can see is that when they brought her out, she broke from her handler and started doing an extended trot around the edge. I just thought she had a bit of spirit and was showing off for the crowd."

It was here when Liesel decided to make her presence known.

"Oh, please dad!" she said, rolling her eyes, "I could tell she was a nutcase as soon as you brought her home! She almost trampled Derek when he brought her out of the trailer. You said you were going to buy me a new expensive horse that was going to win me ribbons and instead you brought me a mentally retarded mare that has a mediocre knowledge in dressage and can jump a fence. I'm going to wait in the car."

And with that outburst she turned around and stormed around to the passenger side door and slammed it shut.

"Sorry about that," Apologised Mr Bruce, looking embarrassed from his daughter's tirade, "She's been a bit upset ever since we brought the horse home and with Ruby chewing up more of my money than I can afford I'm having to sell her, but word seems to have gotten round and nobody wants to buy."

"No need to apologise," replied Jack, "I had a daughter of my own and helped raise these two here."

He grinned as Lou elbowed him in the side and Amy just roller her eye's, choosing to ignore his comment and continue with business.

"Let's get this horse out shall we?" she asked, feeling sorry for George, who seemed like a genuinely nice man who had to deal with a difficult daughter, "I think we've been keeping her long enough."

Mumbling in agreement the group went about organising how best to get Rubies Flame out of the trailer without injuring her or anyone else. With the mare not wearing a halter since no one could get close enough to her to put it on made it a little easier to plan the unloading. So, as Amy went to open the round yard gate, Mr Bruce backed the trailer into the opening stopping with the back of the trailer just entering the fenced area. With Amy and Lou standing at the ready on the gate, Mr Bruce, behind the wheel and Grandpa and the just returned Caleb at the trailer door, they were ready to go.

George called the signal to go, looking in the side mirror as Caleb and Grandpa Jack grabbed a door each, and with a nod of the head, pulled the doors open. As soon as a gap big enough appeared, a horse as red as the afternoon setting sun burst out of the trailer, immediately running straight to the other side of the pen. Prancing around on her hooves, she eyed the people as they pulled the car out and closed the gate behind them.

Amy stood on the fence, watching the horse take in her surroundings. Eyes wide and her coat gleaming in sweat, she watched the movement of everyone as they went about closing up the trailer. No white markings were visible as she paced uneasily along the fence. Turning away from her, she stepped down off the railing and made her way towards the group. As she reached them, Caleb was just shaking hands with Mr Bruce in farewell.

"So, she's all yours." George said turning to Amy.

"I'll take good care of her." Replied Amy as they shook hands.

"Please call me if you need anything and of course when you make some progress."

"Of course," Amy said smiling, 'And please, feel free to stop by anytime to see her."

"Won't mind if I do," he said before turning to say farewell to Lou and Grandpa Jack.

They all stood together as they watched Mr Bruce hop into his car and drive off, pulling the empty trailer behind him. As the cloud of dust settled, the four of them turned and watched a streak of red flash by the railings of the pen.

"Looks like you got your work cut out for ya," said Caleb, watching Rubies Flame race around the yard.

"I think I'm up to the challenge," Amy replied as she strode towards the fence. Pulling herself up she watched as the chestnut mare raced to the other side of the yard, fearful of the stranger on the other side. Gazing at this distrustful horse, Amy knew she would help her, help her mend whatever happened to her in the past that caused her to be so fearful of everyone and everything.

"Don't worry," she whispered, her voice, floating on the air. Rubies Flame flicked her ears forward, and Amy smiled, knowing that this is what will bring her comfort and peace from her reeling emotions and in that moment she thought of Ty, without any pain or anger seizing hold, only warmth.