Carmen's Veterinary Apprenticeship

"I can't wait to tell all of my Pine Hollow friends about my apprenticeship!" Carmen exclaimed.

Over at Pine Hollow that very same day, Daniel heard a knock on his bedroom door.

"I'm coming in." Deborah called.

Daniel was in his bed, he had a tissue in his right hand and the box of two ply tissues was on his end table toward his left hand side.

"Sorry I'm missing everything today." Daniel signed to Deborah.

Daniel sneezed and blew his nose in the tissue he was holding.

"You just need to rest off that bug," Deborah said to Daniel. "you will be out in the ring again in no time flat."

"I hope so." Daniel signed.

"I know so," smiled Deborah, "now, get some rest."

Daniel nodded and lay down getting comfortable.

And began to drift off.

Deborah got up and quietly left the room.

Later on in the lounge, Renee Wentworth, Wentworth Academy had been in her family for generations, was giving Amari a hard time.

"You are such a terrible rider, Becker," Renee said. "you should really stick to what you're good at, waiting on customers at JB's!"

That was when Esteban showed up, "Leave Amari alone, Renee!" he ordered.

Meanwhile in the tack room that day, Carmen and EJ were chatting while Carmen was mending Jupiter's saddle for EJ.

"I sure appreciate you doing this." EJ said as Carmen worked on Jupiter's saddle.

"That's what friends are for," Carmen smiled. "besides, a messed up saddle is a bad for Jupiter as it is for you."

EJ scowled slightly, "I'd sure like to know who thought it would be funny to try sabotaging my girth strap!" he growled. "they cut it nearly in two!"

"You're lucky you caught it before you mounted up." Carmen replied.

"Well I really have to thank Jupiter for that," EJ said. "I had to go get my helmet from the lounge after I tacked up, when I got back, he became fidgety and wouldn't let me step in the stirrup."

Carmen grinned, "Yep, Max said Jupiter was one smart horse! There, it's done." she said as she finished attaching the new girth strap.

"Thanks, Carmen," EJ smiled. "Doctor Carole has got herself one great apprentice."

Carmen beamed back at him.

"Thanks," Carmen said. "this is the way I love working with horses as opposed to riding them."

"Won't you have to do some riding at Wentworth?" EJ asked.

"Yeah, but that's okay," Carmen said. "I like a little casual riding once in a while. Just have no interest in all the competition stuff."

"I see," EJ said. "and if you're going to work with Carole, having some experience riding will be a good thing."

"That's what I think too." Carmen nodded.

"Brilliant." EJ said

Then Carmen began to smile again.

"Hey, what about you and Mirabel," Carmen grinned. "I heard through the Romani grape vine that you two had a date last night!"

"Yeah, we did," said EJ with hint of sadness in his voice as he put the saddle back on the rack.

Carmen's smile disappeared, replaced by a worried look.

"EJ. what happened?" Carmen asked

"I thought the date went really well," EJ said, sinking down onto the bench. "but then I went to see her earlier today and I saw her kissing her old boyfriend."

"WHAT!" Carmen thundered.

"Yeah," EJ said. "Mirabel never saw me, but I heard her telling her boyfriend that she only played up to me to make him jealous so he'd get back together with her."

Carmen looked furious, "MIRABEL AND I WILL BE HAVING WORDS ABOUT THIS!" she snapped.

"Oh, it's okay." EJ said, trying to calm her down.

"No, it's not," Carmen replied, giving him a gentle hug. "like I said, Mirabel is going to get a piece of my mind! She had no right to use you like that!"

That evening, Carmen had been invited to dinner by the De La Cruz family, where she confronted Mirabel about EJ.