He took the stairs down two at a time and used his socks to slide across the hardwood floor in the kitchen. Hearing no sounds in the house, he assumed his father was at the barns and that his mother was at the local nursery. Emily Evans was blessed with a wonderful green thumb, and was constantly buying new plants and expanding her flower gardens.
David wrote a note telling his mother where he would be and left it on the kitchen table. He then quickly made himself a peanut butter sandwich, pulled his paddock boots on, grabbed an apple and raced for the broodmare barn.
He met up with Jack Tyson, the breeding manager, right outside the barn. �How�s Coco doing?�
�Wonderful! We�re about to take her and the foal out in a paddock. You�d never know how hard it was on her just by looking at her.�
David grinned broadly. �Good.� He took off running into the barn and almost ran right into Riley Jackson, the head groom for the mares.
�Slow down there, partner!� Riley laughed. �Coco and the foal aren�t going anywhere.� He laughed again at the expression of mock impatience on David�s face, then stepped out of the way. He handed David the lead shank in his hand, and David continued on down to Coco�s stall.
Coco was waiting for him. She nickered happily when she saw the shank in his hand, knowing that meant she was going outside. David smiled. �Hey, girl,� he greeted her. Coco stuck her head further over the stall door and nudged David�s shoulder. �Yeah, I know. You smell the apple, huh?� He reached up with one hand and scratched under her forelock while he slipped into the stall. Coco was something of an escape artist at times, particularly when she wanted out.
David clipped the lead to Coco�s halter, then peeked around her to get a look at the little colt. He was staring curiously at David, his warm brown eyes bright with wonderment. His little brush tail was swinging furiously, and David couldn�t help but laugh a little. He was so cute!
David reached the door, unlatched the stall, and led Coco outside. The colt began to scamper along behind her, then stopped abruptly when he saw the door was open. Coco turned her head and whickered encouragement to him, and he tentatively stepped forward. When his hoof made contact with the concrete, he jumped back, his big eyes registering surprise.
All of the grooms were now watching, and without fail every one of them burst into laughter. Coco whickered again, a little stronger this time, and the little colt stepped forward again. David began slowly walking outside towards the paddock area, and the colt reluctantly followed his mother out of the barn.
When they reached the grass, he stopped again. �Come on, silly!� David called. �It doesn�t bite.� The little colt stepped forward slowly, placing each hoof very carefully. He finally followed Coco into the paddock and began exploring his new surroundings.
David unclipped the lead and started walking towards the fence so he could climb out. But he found the little colt blocking his way. �What do you think you�re doing?� David asked.
The colt cocked his head and stared quizzically at David, as if to say �Who, me?�
�You�ve got a name now, if Mrs. Davenport says it�s OK. I�m going to call you Sunny.� David slowly reached his hand out, let Sunny sniff at it, then started scratching his chin. The colt sighed blissfully and seemed to be smiling. Then he pulled back and lipped at David�s fingers.
�He seems to be full of spunk,� a voice commented.
David turned to see Mrs. Davenport standing at the rail. �He is. And gorgeous too.�
Mrs. Davenport smiled. �And let me guess, you already have a name picked out.�
David nodded. �Riviera Sunshine.� He turned back to Sunny, who was now exploring the fence line, but still staying very close to David and Coco. Coco was now grazing, keeping a watchful eye on Sunny. David walked over to the fence and perched himself on top of it.
�I like it,� Mrs. Davenport agreed. �It suits him.�
David turned and looked at her. �Really?�
�Really!� Mrs. Davenport smiled, then turned and walked back towards the barn.
Ben Evans chose that moment to go over to the fence and watch the new colt scampering around. �You in love?� he asked his son.
David nodded. �He�s perfect.� He turned slightly. �Can I ride him?�
Ben laughed. �We�ve still got a ways to go before he�s ready for that.�
David rolled his eyes, then changed the subject. �Who�s that guy back there with Mrs. Davenport?�
The owner of the farm, Mrs. Polly Davenport, was standing over by the barn with a tall, handsome man in a three piece suit. She was holding his hand.
�Rumor has it, he�s her fianc�e.� Ben looked over at them.
David�s jaw dropped. �You�re kidding?�
Mrs. Davenport�s husband had died 4 years earlier in a plane crash. Since then, Mrs. Davenport had rarely left the farm, only attending local races and functions. �I wonder where they met, and who he is,� David said.
Ben shrugged. �Who knows? I�m sure we�ll find out sooner or later. And, I think Courtney just got here. Take the Riv out for a ride and burn some of his energy off.�
David grinned, jumped off the fence and raced up to the house. Sure enough, his best friend Courtney Williams had just arrived with her mother. �Come see Coco�s foal!� he shouted.
Courtney�s face split in a wide smile, and she jogged over to David. She was slightly taller than him at 5�5�, with long, raven black hair that she kept in a French braid. Her green eyes never failed to attract second and third glances when she was out with David. Neither of them had been able to figure out why they were so green either. David had said once they looked like real emeralds.
The two friends perched on the fence and watched the foal frolicking around. �He�s beautiful, David!� Courtney breathed. �What�s his name?�
�Riviera Sunshine.� David stretched his fingers out as Sunny came bouncing over to him again, begging for another chin scratching. He eyed Courtney suspiciously before deciding that he really wanted his chin scratched again.
�He�s so cute.� Courtney�s smile widened. �And he�s obviously taken with you too.�
�Yup. You�re being upstaged by a horse.� David looked over at her and grinned cheekily. Courtney punched him playfully on the shoulder and shook her head.
�I�ll always be upstaged by horses.�
David just nodded his agreement. �Dad said we need to go riding.�
�Really?�
�Uh-huh. He said the Riv needs to be worn out. He�s too rambunctious right now for his own good.�
The two said good-bye to Sunny and Coco, and then headed for the stallion and training barns to get their mounts. David groomed and tacked up the Riv, while Courtney retrieved her favorite mount, the chestnut Little Miss, known around the barn as Missy. She�d had a so-so racing career, and had been unable to carry foals to term. So she had been completely retired as a pleasure and pace horse.
The Riv was a striking blood red bay, standing right at 17 hands. He had no markings, and still carried himself like the champion he knew he was. David thoroughly enjoyed the times he was allowed to ride the Riv, which wasn�t very often. So he was determined to get the most out of this ride.
He led Riv over to Courtney and Missy, and the two mounted up and headed for the trails that wound around the lush countryside behind the stables.
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
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