AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Melody’s eyes widened in surprise, a mix of excitement and curiosity flickering in her gaze. “Wow, that’s amazing news! Do you think he’s ready for something like that?”
I nodded eagerly, my enthusiasm bubbling over. “I think so. Ashlyn has been working with him tirelessly, and he’s been responding really well to her training. It’s a big step, but I have faith in both of them.”
Melody’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with pride. “I’m so happy for you, Stephanie. It sounds like things are really coming together for you and Phantom.”
I nodded, pride swelling in my chest. “Yeah, it feels like we’re on the right track. And who knows? Maybe this will be the beginning of something truly incredible.”
“But what about Ashlyn?” she asked, her brow furrowing with concern. “Do you trust her completely?”
I paused, a flicker of doubt creeping into my mind as I considered Melody’s question. I hesitated, my mind swirling with conflicting thoughts and emotions. “I want to,” I admitted, my voice tinged with uncertainty. “But there’s something . . . off. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I feel like Ashlyn is hiding something from me.”
Melody’s expression softened with understanding, her eyes filling with sympathy. “Trust your instincts, Steph,” she advised gently. “If something feels wrong, it probably is. But don’t jump to conclusions just yet. Maybe there’s a good reason she’s keeping things from you.”
I nodded, grateful for Melody’s wisdom and support. “You’re right,” I conceded, a sense of relief washing over me. “I’ll keep an eye on things, but I won’t let my worries cloud my judgment. Right now, I need to focus on Phantom, on making sure he’s ready for the derby.”
Melody nodded in agreement, her smile encouraging. “That’s the spirit, Steph. We’ll figure this out together, just like we always do.”
“All right! Let’s get down to business,” Melody said, a determined glint in her eye. “The derby’s a week away, so we need to make sure everything’s in order.”
I nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline at the thought of the upcoming race. “Agreed. First things first. We need to get Phantom registered,” I replied, mentally running through the list of tasks
ahead. “Then we’ll need to practice loading him into the horsebox. He’s been a bit hesitant lately, and we can’t afford any hiccups on race day.”
Melody nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. “And we’ll need to schedule a vet check to make sure he’s in top form,” she added, ticking off items on an imaginary checklist.
I sighed, the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. “There’s just so much to do,” I murmured, feeling a knot of anxiety forming in my stomach. “And that’s not even counting the financial aspect. The entry fees, the registration costs, the vet bills, the travel expenses . . . . It’s all adding up, Melody.”
Melody’s brow furrowed with concern as she reached out to squeeze my hand. “I know, Steph. But we’ll figure it out together,” she reassured me, her voice steady and reassuring. “We’ve faced tough times before and we’ve always come out stronger on the other side. We’ll find a way to make it work.”
Her words were a balm to my frazzled nerves, and I felt gratitude for Melody’s friendship wash over me. I knew that we could overcome any obstacle that stood in our way. And as we continued to strategize and plan for the upcoming race, I felt a renewed sense of determination to see it through to the end, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
14
ASHLYN
The morning sun cast a golden glow over the ranch as I led Phantom out of his stall, his powerful frame gleaming in the light. His coat was sleek and glossy, a testament to the hours of grooming and care we had poured into him in preparation for the upcoming derby. As I swung myself into his saddle, I felt a surge of excitement in my veins. Today was another training day, another opportunity to see what Phantom could do on the track.
Phantom moved beneath me with a grace and agility that never failed to impress. His muscles rippled beneath his coat as he pranced eagerly, his hooves striking the ground with a rhythmic cadence that echoed through the quiet morning air. With each movement, I felt a deep connection forming between us—a silent bond that transcended words and language.
As it was still the beginning of our ride, I focused on guiding Phantom through a series of exercises designed to improve his agility and responsiveness. He responded eagerly to my commands, his ears pricked forward in anticipation as we navigated obstacles with precision and skill. With each successful maneuver, I felt so proud. Phantom was not just any horse to me. Instead, he had become a partner, a friend, and a companion on this journey toward greatness.
My choice of training journey for him might be somewhat unusual for a racehorse who is usually sent to the track and knows nothing but the track and his stall, but I liked that Stephanie and I both felt differently than that.
We felt Phantom would be happier if he lived a full and varied life and if he was happier, he would give his best performance on the track. That was the theory anyway.
We picked up speed and Phantom’s powerful strides carried us effortlessly across the open expanse of the ranch. I needed to keep his running fitness levels high. I had ridden in races before so I was no stranger to it, but I wouldn’t call myself a racing jockey. I had competed (and won at a decent level) in all disciplines over the years from barrel racing and bronc riding- I was an accomplished cowgirl- to the more english equestrian pursuits of Dressage and Eventing. I had started life as a cowgirl so that was always where my heart lay, but I was enamoured with the beauty of horses from the different disciplines. So over the years, I learnt to ride the english way and I spent time with some of the best riders in the world in the different disciplines. I always had a fondness and a skill for the difficult horses. And there always are difficult horses, whatever you are training them for, whether it is racing or dressage.
The wind whipped through my hair as we thundered along, the rush of adrenaline fueling our every move. In that moment, there was nothing else in the world but the two of us.
With each passing moment, I felt more alive, more in tune with Phantom and the world around us. His movements were fluid and graceful, a testament to his natural talent and the countless hours of
training we had put in together. I couldn’t help but smile as I felt his power and strength beneath me. He felt strong and fit and I felt happy with the progress we had made. I slowed Phantom to a gentle trot, allowing him to catch his breath. He tossed his head playfully, his eyes shining with intelligence and spirit. In that moment, I knew without a doubt that Phantom although he might have never run a race yet, he was the fastest horse I had ever ridden, and I was grateful for the opportunity to be his partner in this journey.
Then my heart skipped a beat as I saw the horse trailer, a looming presence in the distance. Before I could react, Phantom sensed it too, his muscles tensing beneath me, his ears pinning back in alarm. In an instant, he exploded into action, his powerful hindquarters propelling us forward in a wild burst of speed.
I clung to the reins, fighting to regain control as Phantom bucked and twisted and then bolted, I was entirely unable to slow or stop him. It was the worst situation I’ve ever been in- the fear of Phantom falling and hurting himself (and probably me) was vivid in my mind as I hauled uselessly at the reins and tried to slow him. The world blurred around us as we raced across the open expanse of the
ranch, the wind whipping past my face in a dizzying whirl. With each stride, I could feel the fear and panic coursing through Phantom’s veins, his instincts urging him to flee from the looming threat. But I refused to let him succumb to his fear. I would let him give in to the chaos unfolding around us.
