A/N 1 - hey all! Hope you enjoy this chapter - this is probably one of my favorites.

A/N 2 - horse terms:

Barn name - the name you call the horse around the barn. For example, if you're horse's name is Equal Sign, you might call it Sign, Equal, Pal, etc.

Registered name - a horse's full name. For example - My Little Equal Sign.

CHAPTER FOUR
(Chapter title - Rachel & Matilda)

Rachel relaxed in Matilda's saddle as the two of them went over a dressage pattern.

The dressage instructor - a kind African-American woman named Tayla - smiled as she watched Rachel and Matilda.

"You girls are looking great. Rachel, how long have you been riding?" Tayla asked.

"Since basically I could walk. I've always loved horses" Rachel said, patting Matilda's neck as they finished the dressage pattern.

"I can tell. You're a skilled horsewoman and she's a beautiful horse. How long have you had her?" Tayla asked.

"I've owned her for two years. I got her from a couple who's son was going off to college and couldn't take Matilda with him, so they gave her to me for my birthday" Rachel said, walking Matilda around the arena to cool her down, "I did chores for them around their barn and rode their two horses to show them I was responsible."

"Nice" Tayla said, "what are your plans with her?"

"I'm not sure. I would love to do dressage with her until I retire her, then I was hoping to breed her" Rachel said, "then I would raise her foal to do dressage and maybe show it."

"Those are some big plans" Tayla said.

"It's always been my dream to have a stable full of horses to do dressage, jumping, barrel racing, along with other things. I also wanna have some horses I can train for people with disabilities" Rachel said.

"Whatever you do with your future, it sounds wonderful" Tayla said, smiling, "do you wanna try your pattern again with music?"

"Sure" Rachel said, getting Matilda to the center of the arena and waited for Tayla to play the music.

Rachel smiled as the opening notes to Homeland from the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron came on. This was the perfect song to do dressage with and Spirit was one of Rachel's favorite movies.

After Rachel had done her pattern, she saluted Tayla and waited for any feedback Tayla had for her.

"That was perfect" Tayla said, smiling, "you're free to stay and watch the other riders or you can go."

"I'll watch, if you don't mind" Rachel said, exiting the arena at a walk. She saluted the next rider, which was Lily.

"Good luck" Rachel told her friend, smiling.

"Thanks. You guys were great, by the way" Lily said as she entered the arena.

Rachel smiled and dismounted Matilda. She took off the mare's bridle and put a halter on so Matilda could graze while Rachel watched the rest of the riders.

Once Lily finished her pattern, she and Rachel headed to the stable together, leading their horses.

"What are you up to today?" Rachel asked Lily as she put Matilda in her stall, taking off her saddle, saddle pad and lead rope.

"I think I have barn duty. Why?" Lily asked.

"I was gonna check out the rabbit show on the midway, since I don't have any other classes today" Rachel said, "I can't believe in four days camp will be over."

"I know" Lily said, frowning, "I'm having so much fun and learning so much."

"Me too" Rachel said, "if anyone asks where I went, tell them I went to check out the rabbit show on the midway."

"I will. Do you have your phone with you?" Lily asked.

Rachel nodded, turning her phone back on, since she had turned it off for dressage class. She started heading for the midway when she saw had a missed call and a voicemail. She decided to listen to the voicemail, hoping everything was okay.

"Hello Rachel, it's Sasha. Just wondering if we could get together when you get back from horse camp - your parents told me you were there. I would've gone, but I don't have a horse, lol. Anyway, give me a call when you get home" a girl's voice came on the other side of the line.

Rachel rolled her eyes - Sasha was a friend from school. Rachel had regretted giving Sasha her number - the girl was super clingy and didn't have many friends. Sasha also had some special needs, so Rachel cut her a little bit of slack.

Rachel decided to call Sasha back as she walked towards where the rabbit judging was, showing an attendant her wrist band.

"Hello?" A familiar voice answered on the second ring.

"Hey Sasha. It's Rachel. I can't talk too long, since I'm about to see a rabbit judging-thing. I'm just returning your call" Rachel said, "how are you?"

"I'm doing good. I miss you and Matilda. How is she doing? How are you doing?" Sasha asked.

"Both of us are doing good - we're doing dressage. I was wondering on the last day of camp, if you can make it up here, if you would like to see the dressage showcase I'm doing, then stay for the fun classes. I would let you ride Matilda, if you want" Rachel said.

"I would love to! Let me ask my mom first - I'll be right back" Sasha said, going to ask her mom. She picked up the phone a few minutes later, "mom said yes. She's coming too, if that's okay."

"Of course. The more the merrier" Rachel said, "the judging is about to start, so I'll talk to you later, okay? I'll see you in a few days."

"See you in a few days! I can't wait to see you! Give Matilda a hug for me" Sasha said.

"I will. I'll talk to you later, honey" Rachel said, hanging up the phone and watched the rabbit judging.

By the time the judging was over, Rachel was ready to head back to the barn. She exited the barn and walked up to the barn, her stomach dropping as she saw the vet in front of Matilda's stall. She ran up and watched the scene in front of her.

Matilda was on her side, her breathing shallow. She kept biting her side, sweat darkening her black coat.

"What's happening?" Rachel asked the vet.

"She had a severe colic attack. Thank God I got here when I did" the vet said, "what has she eaten today?" He asked, looking over his shoulder at Rachel.

Rachel listed off what Matilda had eaten that day.

"Huh, none of those would cause the colic. I want you to get her up and walking up and down the aisle. Call me the moment she has a bowel movement" the vet said.

Rachel nodded, feeling tears in her eyes as she walked her beloved horse up and down the aisle, stopping Matilda biting her side, "no, sweet girl."

The other horses poked their heads over their stall doors, curious as to what was happening to their friend.

Just before the vet left, Matilda had a massive bowel movement.

"Good. That means she's going to be okay" the vet said.

Rachel cried into Matilda's mane, giving her horse a tight hug.

Marshall cleaned out Matilda's stall for Rachel.

"Thank you" Rachel said, her voice hoarse.

"You're welcome" Marshall said, watching Rachel put Matilda back in her stall, "since we're not in the same classes, you can ride Irish Whiskey any time."

"Thank you" Rachel said, "Sara said that it's okay to ride Rainy Day if I wanted. She enrolled me in a bareback walk/trot class this afternoon."

Marshall nodded, patting Matilda's neck, "you gave all of us a good scare."

Matilda snorted and sniffed Marshall's pockets, hoping he had treats.

"Oh no, young lady" Marshall said, laughing, pushing the horse's nose away from his pocket.

Rachel couldn't help but laugh, "okay, Tilda. Come on."

Matilda snorted and swished her stubby tail before walking to a quiet corner of her stall, her butt to them.

"I think she's telling us she wants to be alone" Rachel said.

"Agreed" Marshall said as he and Rachel exited the stall.

Once they were outside the stall, Rachel hugged Marshall.

Marshall smiled as he hugged Rachel back.

Rachel broke out of the hug, smiling a tiny bit at her friend.

"I'll let you get Rainy Day ready for her class" Marshall said.

Rachel nodded and went to the tack room and found Rainy Day's bridle and brushes, along with her hoof pick.

Once Rainy Day was ready, Rachel used a mounting block to get on the pregnant mare.

"Please go easy on me" Rachel said, finding her center. She gently squeezed Rainy Day's sides, "walk on, girl."

Rainy Day snorted and began walking to where the walk/trot class was.

There were three other people in the class. The instructor smiled and opened the door for Rachel.

"Hello. You must be Rachel and Rainy Day. I'm Misha" the instructor - a short man - said, "go ahead and find a spot on the rail. Do you know how far along she is?"

"She's eight months pregnant" Rachel said, going to find a spot on the rail.

Misha nodded, smiling. He turned to the rest of the students, "okay, since Rachel is a little late to class, can everyone introduce yourself and your horse?"
Once introductions were made, Rachel and the other students - Owen & Oreo, Alexandria & Favorite, and Noah & Red Rosie - got their horses into a trot, making sure to keep a horse length between them and the horse in front of them.

"Sit the trot, then if you can, post, rising and falling with the leg closest to the fence" Misha instructed the four students.

After class, the students cooled down their horses on foot.

"Is she yours?" Owen asked as he walked by with Oreo.

"No - she belongs to my 4-H leader. My horse - Matilda - had a colic attack yesterday, so I'm giving her some rest" Rachel explained.

Owen nodded, "she's really pretty, as is her rider."

Rachel blushed, "you're sweet."

"I'm serious" Owen said, "want to go to the midway with me today?"

"I would love to, but I want to check on Matilda, then I think tonight, all the campers are playing Flashlight Tag" Rachel said.

Since it was still light out once classes ended, the camp divided into two teams to play Capture The Flag.

Rachel and her team ended up winning.

Since Rachel and her team won, they got extra bracelets to go to the midway at night and ride as many rides as she wanted.

It was close to ten at night by the time Rachel and her teammates arrived back at the camp, happy with the time they spent with one another.