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CSLimeWriter

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Later that night, 12:02a.m.

          Sorry about cutting off earlier. My little brother, Jesse, fell off the sink and mom didn’t know if he’d broken or sprained his wrist. Dad walked into the scene just then and he was the one who decided it was just a sprain.

          IT took me awhile to get back to my room to write the rest of my story because mom decided that, while she took care of Jesse and dad and Aaron cleaned up some kind of medicine that Jesse had dropped, it was my turn to do the laundry. Laundry; that late – it was nearly eleven o’ clock!

          Anyway, back to where I left off…

          … I re-latched the gate behind us and gasped when I turned around. Ten feet in front of us stood the most beautiful horse I’d ever seen. Its coat was a shimmery black and the mare had a white blaze down its face.

          Next my eyes laid sight on the person grooming the beauty; his strokes were short but strong. He wore a pair of blue jeans, a sky-blue shirt that fit him perfectly, and brown boots. When we got closer and he stepped into the light I saw that he had dazzling green eyes and wavy brown hair.

          Pushing the stall’s lock in place he turned to us, smiling, and said, “Hey, I’m Max. You must be the Birches?” He offered his hand first to mom then to me.

          Mom smiled back and said, “Yes, I’m Mia Birch and this is my daughter Rebecca. Is Helen around?”

          Max’s eyes sparkled at me before he called out, “Mom! The birches are here.” He led us down past rows and rows of stalls and then stopped in front of the tack room. Pushing the door open he said again, “Mom?”

          Helen Bleak is petite with short sandy-blonde hair and a smile showing perfect white teeth. Right then she was wearing boot-cut jeans, heeled black boots, and a shirt that had RideIn Stables Manager printed neatly on the upper-right.

          “Hello, Mia.”

          “Thanks for letting Becca do this, Helen.” The two moms embraced each other and I stood awkwardly next to Max until Helen turned to me.

          Flashing her stunning smile she said, “We’re glad to have you. Now, if we can all troop out of here” – the tack room was quite small for four people to fit in – “I’ll show Becca the horse she’ll be riding.”

          I didn’t have to be told twice and in my excitement I bumped Max out of the small room. Embarrassed, I didn’t meet his eyes but waited for mom and Helen.

          The horse manager led us to a stall down to our far left. Peering inside I saw a brown mare with white stockings and a bald face. Inwardly I was disappointed; she wasn’t nearly as gorgeous as the black mare. But I didn’t show my true feeling. Hey, I shook myself; at least you get to ride period!

          “Her name’s Topaz,” Helen told me as she led the horse out of its stall. She smiled as I stroked the mare’s nose. “I think you two will get along fine. Mia, I have some papers I need you to sign...”

          “Topaz,” I murmured leaning my face against her neck. “That’s an odd name.” I saw a movement to my right and suddenly noticed Max leaning on the wall, one foot up against it, arms crossed in front of his chest.

          “It is odd,” he agreed, walking up to me. “Her mother’s name is Ruby.” He lovingly ran his hand down her face then kissed her nose.

          I watched him a few moments then said, “I guess Ruby has a red coat and mane?” Before I could say anything else Max laughed; a deep, hearty with his head dipped back. I couldn’t help but grin too.

          “That’s funny,” he said. “And no, actually, her coat is a glossy dark brown. Ruby, red…” he walked away, still chuckling, and soon the only thing I heard was Topaz’s breathing, my own, and occasional snorts from all the horses.

          Turning my attention back to Topaz I stroked her nose the exact same way Max had. “Who cares about your name,” I whispered to her. “It’s special; just like you.” In the next few minutes of running my hands down her nose, face, neck and mane, I felt closer to her. I know that sounds weird, but it’s the truth; I guess you could call it bonding.

          Suddenly Topaz started jerking her head up and down and pulling against the two ropes strapped onto her bridle which held her between the walls. I had no idea what she was doing and just then she jerked her head up so hard I fell backward onto the ground; Topaz’s front legs right in front of me.