Once she was away from the house, she started running. The morning was still, and the sun had just burst completely into a sky still tinged with pink. Several grooms were already feeding the horses and getting them ready to turn out. It was promising to be a beautiful day!
Samantha stopped running when she entered the barn area, and instead strode purposefully down the aisle of the training barn as if she belonged there. No one gave her a second glance. She stopped in front of her target, and just stared at him.
He was magnificent, a chestnut like his dam. Sammy traced her finger over the nameplate on the stall door, Wonder�s Pride, then returned her gaze to the colt. He had lifted his head from his feed bucket and was staring at her. �Hi there, fella,� she said softly.
The colt snorted, then stuck his nose back in his feed bucket.
�Didn�t take him long to steal your heart, I see.�
Sammy whirled around to see Hank, the head groom, standing behind her. �He�s beautiful.�
�That he is. But he�s got a nasty streak.�
Sammy rubbed her palms over the legs of her jeans, suddenly a little nervous. �Ashleigh said it was because of Brad Townsend.�
Hank nodded slowly. �She�s probably right. But don�t tell anyone that either of us said that. When he was yearling training, Pride was as sweet as his dam had been in training. Eager to please and a fast learner.�
�Could he be that way again?� Sammy couldn�t resist asking.
Hank shrugged. �Who knows? If Charlie were still alive, he�d be a different horse.�
�Ashleigh said that too.� Samantha turned her attention back to the colt. He�d finished his breakfast and was now pawing at the ground, impatient to be let out.
Hank handed Sammy the shank he�d been holding. �Turn him out for me, will ya? Same paddock as yesterday.�
Sammy took the shank and smiled hugely. This was going better than she�d hoped. She slipped inside the stall, clipped the shank to Pride�s halter and slowly led him out into the aisle.
His hooves clinged on the concrete as they walked out of the barn. As they stepped on the grass, Pride began prancing around. He arched his neck and flicked his tail as he caught sight of the white fence. He knew what it meant!
Sammy opened the gate and led him inside. She then unclipped the shank and Pride took off running across the paddock. Sammy pulled herself up on the fence and watched him. He had a long, graceful stride that ate up the ground.
Pride trotted back over to the fence to get a closer look at the new girl. She hadn�t once raised her voice at him, and seemed to think he was hot stuff. He stretched his nose out and sniffed at her boots, then her pants.
Samantha sat perfectly still. She wanted Pride to trust her more than anything. His head was now level with her, and very close. She slowly stretched out her hand and rubbed his forehead. His eyes closed and he came a step closer, obviously in heaven.
Sammy�s broke into a huge smile. They�d made an important step forward. �I�d love to stay out here with you all day, Pride,� she said softly. �But I have to get my own breakfast.� She stopped scratching and Pride bumped her knee with his nose. �I promise I�ll be back.� She smoothed h is forelock down, then hopped off the fence.
She glanced over her shoulder to see him staring at her, looking a little forlorn. Sammy made herself go back to the cottage, even thought she wanted nothing more than to stay with Pride.
When she entered the kitchen, she found her father making omelets for breakfast. �Morning, Dad.�
Ian kissed her cheek. �Morning, sweetie. What do you want in yours?�
Sammy went to the sink and started washing her hands. �Sausage and mushrooms.� After she had dried them, she pulled out the bread to make cinnamon toast.
The skillet sizzled as the eggs landed in it. �And where have you been this morning?� Ian asked.
�In the barn.� Sammy slid the bread into the toaster oven, then poured herself a glass of juice. �Ashleigh wants me to keep an eye on Pride since she can�t be here every day.�
�Really?� Ian flipped the omelet over and then turned to face his daughter. �Why is that?�
Sammy checked the toast, and seeing that it was done removed it from the oven and transferred it to a plate. �She�s worried about him, Dad. She thinks he�s scared and she�s starting back to college tomorrow.�
Ian was silent for a moment as he removed the omelet from the skillet and set it on the table. �She could be right, Sam.�
Father and daughter sat down. �Hank let me turn him out this morning, and I think he likes me.� Sammy sprinkled pepper over her omelet. Her father never put enough in it.
�How could he not like you?� Ian inquired, grinning. Sammy stuck her tongue out at him.
Ian grew serious then. �Promise me you�ll be careful, honey. He can be unpredictable.�
Sammy nodded. �I will, Dad. Promise.� She smiled at him, then continued eating her breakfast.
Chapter 3
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Thoroughbred Main
Story Corner Main