Even More of my story!

Chapter Six: Success

It was the middle of July, hot and rainless. the sun shone high in the the sky, baking the ground, and burning the grass. The horses stood listless, trying to avoid the awful heat.

Today was Saturday. It was the day Kit was to ride Indigo. She and Jen both agreed he was ready, and Kit, of course, was always ready for a challenge like this.

she stood in the barn stroking the little horse and feeding him carrots she had pulled up from the back garden. She whispered to him and kissed his velvet nose. He just snorted, and sniffed her raggy jean pockets, hoping to find more carrots.

"What are you doing, Kit?" asked a young voice from inside the doorway. It was Becca. Maggie was there also, shielding her eyes from the hot sun.

"Oh, I'm just getting ready to ride indigo." replied Kit "I just wanted to talk with him a bit before I try to though. It's so much easier to ride a relaxed horse!"

Becca gasped. "He's gonna buck you into the next county!" she said seriously, sucking her thumb.

"Is he now?"

"Yup. I'm sure."

"Oh Becca!" cried Maggie, laughing, "The next county is pretty far!" Then, throwing Kit a smile, she said, "Indigo will probably just buck into the next town."

Kit sighed and rolled her eyes. "Does nobody believe in me?" she asked laughing.

"Yeah, I think you'll do it." said Josh, coming in, leading a hot Rapido behind him "You prove us all wrong every time. Usually making us all look pretty foolish!" he added with a laugh. "You can probably stay on."

"Probably?" asked Kit "Just what I though! Nobody really believes in me!"

"Can I watch?" asked Becca, pushing her light hair away from her well-tanned face. "Please?"

"Sure!" replied Kit, reaching for her woolen blanket, "Just as long as you don't get too close, ok?"

"Yeah! So when you fall off, you won't fall on me!" cried Becca

"Yeah, sure."

When Indigo was ready, Kit grabbed the reins and led him out into the sunny yard, where Martha, Julia, and Jen, were talking.

"I'm ready!" said Kit "You want me in the round-pen, right?"

"Yup." said Jen, getting up, and heading over to the large pen. She swung open the heavy metal door and waited for them to enter.

Kit turned to Indigo, and gave him a gentle pull with the reins. Indigo stepped forward, and they walked smoothly into the round-pen. They stood there for a minute, Kit focusing on what she had to do, and Indigo eagerly awaiting whatever she had in mind.

Everyone else climbed up the metal rails of the pen, and hung on the sides of it watching.

Kit laid her hands on his saddled back, he didn't care. kit pulled her foot into the stirrup, he turned his head. "Easy. easy. Easy now." she whispered, reaching for the front of the saddle. Then, smoothly, and ever so gracefully, Kit pulled herself up onto Indigo's back, and slipped neatly into the little English saddle.

Indigo flinched, and laid his ears back. Kit gathered up the long braided reins, and slipped her boots into the stirrups.

Indigo stood still, as if thinking about how he should react.

Kit whispered something to him, something soft, and pet his strong neck. He shifted his weight and lifted his head, then snorted loudly.

"Come on, Indigo, walk on." she asked Indigo turned his head, trying to look at Kit. Everyone who was watching, looked quietly upon the horse and rider. Could Kit really have done it?

Indigo then put his hoof forward and took a step. "Good boy!" He took a few more. "Yes, Indigo! Yes!"

The small group watched in awe. Kit cast them all one of her smiles, as if to kindly say, "I told you so!"

"Way to go, cow-girl!" cried Maggie, as Indigo walked about the ring.

Becca just sucked her thumb, watching with admiration. "She did it, Josh." she said, tugging on his shirt "She really did it."

"I know. It's really something isn't it?"

The rest of the afternoon Kit worked with Indigo. Never once did he buck or rear. The next day was even better. And it wasn't too long before Indigo was trotting around and around in the pen. And, after a little while longer, he let Josh ride him, and then Jen, he probably would have let Maggie ride him too, but she didn't dare try.

But there was no doubt who is his favorite rider was. Kit was his best friend.

The second she came walking into the driveway every morning, he would come galloping up to the gate, whinnying and prancing about. Kit could never sneak past Indigo's watchful eyes and ears. Kit was "his girl" and she knew it. It was clear she loved the little horse as much as he loved her.

Lauren Wellch stopped by soon after Indigo was tamed again. She couldn't even recognize him.

"And you did it all by yourself?" she asked Kit in amazement

"Yeah, just about." answered Kit

"And how old are you?"

"Fourteen."

Lauren shook her head in astonishment.

"There's nothing I can't do with him now." said Kit honestly "The possibilities are endless. He's sweet. Real sweet."

Lauren was at a loss of words. "Well, whatever you're doing, keep doing it!" she paused "You know, Kit, what you just did with Indigo, retraining him, people pay money for that, a lot of money."

Kit laughed. "I'm fourteen!"

"I know, but that's something to think about in the future."

"I'll keep it in mind, ma'am." said Kit, stroking Indigo's neck.

"Do you mind if I ride him real quick? Just to see what he's like?" asked Lauren "He wouldn't mind, would he?"

"Not at all! Go right ahead!" said Kit, handing over the reins.

Indigo behaved like a perfect angel for Lauren, even trotting and cantering. Lauren soon returned after a few laps around the barn-yard.

"Beautiful!" said Lauren, dismounting, "I must admit, I envy you for owning such a wonderful horse! And to think I once considered putting him down!"

"He's not mine." sighed Kit "He's all Jen's."

"Oh! Really?" asked Lauren, clearly puzzled "Just the way he acts around you, and you with him, it all looked like he was yours."

Kit nodded sadly. "Yeah, I know."