"You don't have to take Star home, Jack said.
"Yes I do Jack. I won't allow your charity." They walked up to the barn together Marion was feeding the horses, Amy was there too. She stared up at the horses she reached out to pet one of them. Jack and Lisa entered the barn.
"Have you come to check on your horse?" Marion said not looking up from the feed she was scooping into a bucket.
"No, I've come to bring him back to Fairfield."
"But I've made so much progress," protested Marion, "Star's not ready to go home yet! She could even enter a race if you gave me a little more time."
"She could?" Lisa asked, "But I still wouldn't have anyone to ride Star." Tentatively Lisa approached Star she ran her fingers through Stars' mane. Star snorted softly
"I've never been able to get that close to Star and she still be so calm," said Marion, "You two have a real connection."
"I don't know," said Lisa, "We used to race together."
"How come you stopped," asked Marion. Lisa was silent for a moment she stroked the horse main. Finally she spoke.
"Years ago when I was riding Star there was an accident the vet didn't think Star could survive, the doctor didn't know if I would survive. After that Star was never the same." Lisa was silent for a second before adding, "Neither was I," so softly only Jack could hear
"I think you should try riding Star again," Marion said. "Star is much calmer around you and I think he would see that racing again is okay if you rode him."
"I don't ride any more," said Lisa.
"Maybe you should," Jack said. Lisa looked into Star's hazelnut colored eyes Star snorted and swished her tail.
"Maybe just around the paddock," said Lisa. Her heart hammered as Marion saddled the horse and led Star to the paddock. Jack followed them quietly telling Lisa that it would be okay but she barely heard him. She mounted Star and felt the familiar feeling of the leather reigns in her hands. She held the reigns her knuckles turning white she sat up straight, unmoving.
"Relax," said Marion. Slowly Star walked around the paddock after a couple laps Lisa began to feel more comfortable. Star sped up to a canter and Lisa smiled remembering how much she had loved racing. Soon she slowed Star down and dismounted.
"I missed this," said Lisa still holding onto Stars reigns.