Through the trees, [Con]

[jillaroo]

Samantha sat daydreaming in the warm afternoon sun. She ran a hand through her damp brown hair, wishing she had thought to bring a hat. Lightning made it clear he was eager to be off, tossing his head impatiently and chomping at the bit. His grey coat was covered in a light sheen of sweat, but the heat didn’t seem to be bothering him. Samantha leaned back and rested a hand on his rump, smiling broadly as she looked down at her horse.

Lightning’s muscles rippled and his coat gleamed in the bright Kentucky sunshine. Samantha was stunned to see the change in the horse. He’d settled into life here in Kentucky and Samantha realised with a start, so had she. She felt a guilty pang as she thought suddenly of her parents back in Nevada. A wave of homesickness swept over her, but she shoved it to the back of her mind, turning her attention instead to the trail ride with Averie.

“Where is Averie?” she wondered out loud as she reached forwards and gave Lightning’s neck a quick pat. The horse snorted, bored with waiting. Samantha smiled ruefully. “And what has happened to your manners?” she asked, rolling her eyes as Lightning let out a loud whinny. “Someone been rubbing off on you, huh?”

[freebird]

Averie appeared from the barn area, leading her large chestnut gelding towards the trail area. His leather bridle stood out from his bright chestnut coat, along with his bright blue saddle pads standing out from his copper coat. Averie was now donning regular jeans and a tank top, and her helmet was looped around her arm. Stopping the gelding slightly away from the paths, she tightened the girth one last time & pulled down the stirrups. She quickly threw the reins over his head, buckled her helmet up, grabbed a handful of mane along with reins and swung herself into the saddle. Anyone smaller than her would of had difficulty mounting his 17 hand high frame, but since she was 5 foot 8 inches, it was not difficult for her.

Nudging her gelding forward slightly, she kept a firm hold on the reins and spotted Sam rather easily. She smiled, and clucked for a slow trot, starting to post towards the other girl. Winsome Adante picked up his legs delicately and bowed his neck, trotting over to the girl. Once they got closer, she slowed him back to a trot and looked over at the girl. "Hey Sam!" She smiled, leaning down to pat her gelding on the neck and asking him to halt.

[jillaroo]

Samantha’s face brightened when she saw Averie riding towards them. The other girl sat easily on the big chestnut, and Samantha thought the two made a good pair. She ran her eyes over the girl’s jeans and singlet, surprised she hadn’t changed into something more suitable for riding.

Lightning stood calmly, but he pinned his ears when Averie halted beside them. Samantha clucked her tongue and jiggled the reins. One ear flicked forward, and he looked warily in the direction of the other horse. The other ear came forward then, and Samantha couldn’t help smiling.

“I think you’ve given Lightning a complex,” she said jokingly, as she leaned forward to pat her horse. The small grey snorted as if in agreement with his rider, and Samantha giggled. It felt good to just hang out. Averie seemed like a lot of fun, the kind of girl Samantha would like to have as a friend.

Samantha gathered her reins and glanced over at Averie. “I thought we might do the Rocky Ridge trail today,” she explained to Averie. “Though that’s if you think you’re up to it?” she added with a mischievous grin.

[freebird]

Dan did nothing more than flicker back his ears briefly when the other pinned his when they halted beside him. Averie looked over at Sam and smiled. "Ahh crap, I'm sorry. I didn't know he was going to do that" Smiling, she reached down and patted Dan's neck and looked back up at Averie again.

The little gray gelding she sat upon seemed like it was a perfect kind for Sam and she was glad that everyone seemed to have a perfect horse for them. Not that she really knew of course, but that's the way it seemed. When Sam mentioned the Rocky Ridge trail, she grinned in agreement. "Let's go!" Nudging Dan slightly with her heels, she pointed him towards the trails.

[jillaroo]

Lightning began to walk, and Samantha let the reins drape loosely, letting him pick his own pace. Averie was in the lead as they started down the trail, and Samantha was close behind.

“So, how did you get into horses?” she asked as they rode. The trail widened so they could ride two abreast, and Samantha asked Lightning to speed up. The horse flicked back his ears and started to trot. They pulled up level with Averie and Dan, and Samantha flashed the girl a grin.

She was enjoying herself. The trails weren’t like this back home. In Nevada, you could ride for miles until you reached one of your neighbours. But Samantha didn’t mind. In Nevada she hadn’t had any friends her own age to trail ride with. Lighting seemed to be having fun too. His ears flicked in every direction, and he tossed his head, wanting to go faster.

[freebird]

Averie looked over and grinned at Sam when she rode beside her. She knew Sam's little mount was probably working harder to keep up with her gelding, and she watched as the gelding broke into a trot to catch up. Hearing the gelding trotting beside him, Dan tossed his head lightly and pranced sideways. Averie leaned forward slightly, patting his neck firmly and kept her seat balanced as the gelding continued to dance sideways. "Easy Danny boy.. easy.."

She gathered him up slightly, asking his pace to get slower. Sam's gelding was easily much smaller than Dan, but was doing an awfully good job at keeping up with the gelding's long strides. When Sam asked how she got into horses, she looked over at the girl and smiled again before answering. "I was actually a pretty quite girl growing up. I really did not talk too much, and my parents thrust me into anything they could to peak my interest. I was intrigued by the relationship a horse and rider could have."

She tailed off, before looking at the girl again. She was enjoying herself on the trail, and Dan certainly was as well. Glancing over in her direction again, she smirked. "What about you? How did you get into horses?"

[jillaroo]

Samantha nodded sympathetically. She couldn’t imagine her parents pushing her into anything. Well except maybe college, she thought wryly. Averie’s question broke through her thoughts, and she found herself stumbling over an answer. “My family owns a big spread down past Elko in Nevada. I was practically riding before I could walk. I couldn’t imagine not being around horses...” She realised she was babbling, and she closed her mouth abruptly.

The trail opened up onto a grassy field, and Samantha turned to Averie, the corners of her mouth twitching as she bit back a grin. “Race you to the other side?” she challenged, thinking she didn’t sound like the Samantha Hale she knew. But she’d been under so much pressure these past few months, it was time to just let her hair down and have some fun.

Samantha dug in her heels, and Lighting took off before the other girl could reply. She enjoyed the feel of the wind in her face, and part of her wished this moment could last forever. But they reached the end of the field all too quickly, and she felt a flash of regret as she pulled the horse up.