Blackjack pictured on top.

        I felt the wind against my face as I thundered down the course, approaching the final jump. The giant ditch yawned in front of me, a huge length of 5 feet, 3 inches. "Come on, Lady!" I shouted as she galloped bravely. She rose up to jump, and suddenly crashed back down. I tried to jump off, but it all happened too fast. I screamed as I felt the bones in my right leg break, getting crushed underneath my horse. Lady scrambled up, breathing hard, a look of terror in her beautiful eyes. The last thing I saw was people bending over me, then it all faded to black.

        I woke up with a jolt from my dream. I'd had this nightmare before. When my right leg got broken too badly, and it had to be amputated up to my knee. I could still ride using a prosthetic, though. Lady was fine, but I obviously couldn't ride for a few weeks. I sighed. "Oh, Lady. Why'd you have to go?" I asked no one. I felt something cold and wet in my hand, and when I looked down I saw my Italian Greyhound, Whistle. Whistle jumped up on the bed, and curled up next to me. "I wish we were in Montana, Whistle," I murmured, drifting off to sleep while petting her soft fur.

        I open my eyes, checking my clock. I had woken up only half an hour after I fell back asleep, and I hadn't been able to fall back asleep since. 4:38. I suppose I could leave a note for my mom, telling her that I had gone to Pine Road Stables early. I just wouldn't tell her how early. I got into my riding clothes and slipped out, putting the note on the kitchen counter and walking out the door.

        When I got to the stables, it was 4:50. I went to Faith's pasture, wishing she were there. Yesterday I had spent several hours looking for her, though it soon proved useless. Then I realized: Faith had done this before, back in Montana. She always came home, though. Faith wouldn't think of Pine Road Stables as home yet, seeing as she had only been stabled there for a few days. Oh, Faith! Why? I thought. I knew my theory was right, it was some sort of instinct. Faith was heading for Lakeshore, our old place in Montana.

        Of course, I had to go after her. And to do that, I needed a horse. Preferably one faster than Faith. I'd normally just use Lady, but she was gone, and I couldn't change that. Even in a car, there was no way I could find Faith. I couldn't even be completely sure that I was right, instinct or not. I couldn't help it. I had lost everything. My leg, my dad, my horses, my entire life. I began to cry softly, and once I started, I couldn't stop. Everything was too much.

        Apparently I had fallen asleep, because I woke up on the grass. I checked my watch. 6:26. I had been asleep for almost two hours, and now my back ached from sleeping on the ground. There was still no one around, so I sat back on the fence, about to call for Faith, before I remembered that she wasn't there.

        I sat quietly like that for a while, sitting on the fence, watching the horses. "Hey, Kennedy" I heard suddenly. I jumped and nearly fell off the fence in shock, but then I saw Parker sitting on the fence next to me. "Oh-hi!" I stammered, then wanting to smack myself in the face. I sounded so stupid! Parker flashed me a charming smile. "Sorry if I surprised you"

        "Oh, it's fine!" I said, recovering. "It's just been really quiet here for a while."

        "How long have you been here?" he asked, cocking his head a little.

        "Four fifty" I murmured.

        "That early?" he said, sounding surprised.

        "Yeah.. I couldn't sleep, but horses always help me relax. Back in Montana, I used to just go out and sleep on La-" I cut myself off, not wanting to say her name. I didn't want everyone to know that I was Kennedy Hawkings, famous eventing rider, quite yet.

        "Who?" It was clear he wasn't going to let me off the hook, and I couldn't just say 'Faith', because, Lady and Faith? They don't sound similar. At all.

        "Lady. She was my old horse, but my mom sold her when my dad died and we had to move."

        "Oh-I'm sorry, I didn't know your dad died." he gave me a sympathetic smile.

        "It's fine. I just miss Lady, and Faith, and everyone else," I said quietly.

        "Everyone else? More horses, I guess?" Parker said, and he'd probably guess who I was if I said too much.

        "Yeah, we owned a big stable. I only got Faith a few months ago, and my mom would only let me bring her and Whistle, my dog."

        "Wait-then why'd you say you missed Faith?"

        "She jumped out of the pasture. She's long gone. She did this a few times back in Montana, but she always came home. She probably still thinks of it as home, so my guess is that she's heading there. We couldn't catch up to her, because I'm not sure if I'm right, and she's gotten half a day's head start." I explained.

        "I'm so sorry, I can't imagine how i feels to lose all of that. Maybe Faith'll turn up somewhere," Parker said.

        "Yeah, maybe." I replied, not holding much hope though. Faith could be notoriously difficult to catch, especially if she could run in any direction.

        "Wait here," Parker said suddenly, hopping off the fence and darting away.

        Well, that was weird, I thought, wondering what he was doing. He probably just wanted some way to ditch me. My thoughts wandered as I gazed across the pasture.

        "Back!" Parker said from behind me.

        "Ah! You need to work on letting people know you're there!" I said, twisting to look at him.

        "Sorry," he said, giving me a sheepish grin. I noticed he was leading his dapple-gray mare-Feather, if I remembered right.

        "It's fine." I said, giving him a smile. "This your horse?" I asked, stroking the neck of the mare.

        "Yeah, Feather. She's really sweet. Normally I come out here to groom her or something, so I thought I'd grab her."

        "She's super pretty" I said, admiring the dainty Connemara.

        "Thanks, she gets that sometimes." Parker replied.

        Suddenly I heard a neigh, and I whirled back toward the pasture, nearly falling again. What is it with me and falling off this fence? I scolded myself, regaining my balance and jumping off into the pasture. I knew that voice. "Faith!" I called, starting to run towards where I had heard her neighing. I saw her light gold coat outside of the pasture, and quickly climbed over the fence to get to her. I noticed something red dripping down her leg. "Faith!" I shouted. She started to do this weird hop-limp thing to get to me. "Faith, no!" I said, not wanting her to injure herself more. When I reached her, I buried my face into her neck, sobbing. "Faith, I thought you were gone, girl!" I quickly bent down to check her leg. Her left front was scratched, but it looked fairly shallow. "Let's get you to the barn, girl," I told her.

        I had forgotten completely about Parker, who probably thought I was completely insane. Getting Faith inside was more important than finding him and apologizing, anyways. I managed to get Faith to limp into a stall, leading her by grabbing onto her mane. I hurried out to the tack room to grab my medical supplies. I managed to bandage the wound and put some cream on it to stop infection. (I'm not sure how to treat this so...) "She okay?" I heard from behind me.

        Parker was standing at the stall door, holding Feather's lead rope in one hand. "Oh, yeah. Faith just cut herself somewhere." I answered. "Sorry for running off like that," I murmured guiltily.

        "Nah, it's fine. You had to go get your horse. I would've done the same thing," he smiled.

        "I'll have to stay with her, I don't want her hurting herself more. Knowing Faith, she would find a way." I said.

        "You take care of your horse," he said understandingly. "I'll stay if you want" he offered.

        "You don't have to," I replied.

         "I want to." Parker gave me another grin, and quickly tied Feather in a slip-release knot and coming to sit beside me in the stall.

        "Thanks" I said, unsure of what else to say. I leaned back against the side of the stall, keeping an eye on Faith, making sure she didn't injure herself more.

        Almost without realizing it, my eyes closed. I was exhausted from everything. The world slipped away as I sunk into sleep.

I had no idea where to end this chapter so... yeah. This chapter actually has over 1,500 words! I'm super-proud of myself, even though it isn't that much. I hope you enjoyed! Live free and be happy.

Glorybringer1163