Chapter Two: Going Back to School

I knew there would be a punishment for getting Lightning, I knew it. I put Lightning back in the barn with his rug on and went home to find my Mum sitting at the table waiting. We had a long conversation about how we could afford Lightning. Mum decided I could keep Lightning. She also said if I got a part time job and put all my saving towards Lightning she would pay the rest of the money if I needed any. The only catch was I had to go back to school, and stay there. "Bye Stacy!" my Mum called as I left home at six in the morning. I raced to the barn, fed, brushed and patted Lightning until six thirty. I took him out in the paddock and tied a long rope to his head collar. Then I tied the other end to the apple tree so he could wonder round and graze while I was at school. "Beep beep beep" went my watch, it was seven o'clock! I grabbed my bag and raced down the street to school.

When I finally reached the school gates I was greeted with the loud bell. I raced up the stairs and over to my class room. My teacher Mrs Stone was calling the roll. I opened the door to hear Mrs Stone call my name. "Here!" I answered racing down to the mat. Everyone stared at me, with their big googly eyes. I scrunched up my shoulders and looked at the floor. Mrs Stone dismissed us to our desks to get ready for maths. I sat at my old, brown desk and pulled out my maths book. I wrote the date and started to copy down the equations on the board. I looked up to see instead of equations pictures of Lightning and me. Suddenly I came back to earth as Mrs Stone called my name. "Ye...yes Mrs Stone" I said. "I asked you what your answer is to equation one" she said. I looked down at my blank page, I was dead.

"Ummmm" I muttered quickly working it out.

"She meant to say twenty six" said a voice. I turned beside me to see Taylor happily smiling. "Thankyou Taylor" said Mrs Stone. I rolled my eyes as Taylor started her small thankyou speech. All her friends said owwwwws and ahhhhhhhs the whole time. I just rolled my eyes waiting for the bell to ring. When class was finally over I raced out of class for our half an hour break. I raced outside school, down the road towards Lightning's paddock.

There I found him in the barn wearing his rug. I removed his rug and lead him outside, setting him loose to graze. Then when I was done I raced back to school, couldn't be late for science! When out session was over it was finally lunch time. I ate my lunch fast and eagerly waiting for the lunch bell to go. When it finally rang I tried to sneak out of school unnoticed. I was just about to walk out the gates when I heard her voice "And where do you think your going" laughed Taylor Smith. I turned round to see her, glaring at me followed by her small gang to back her up.

"None of your business" I said racing out of school.

"Mrs Stone" she yelled so I could hear. I rolled my eyes and ran towards Lightning's paddock. When I arrived I caught Lightning tacked him up and lead him over to the apple tree. Suddenly I heard giggling. I decided to ignore it and hopped on Lightning and slowly gave him a signal to go. He went into a frisky canter down the hill. We were nearing the corner when he suddenly spooked! Lightning went skidding on the wet mud barely keeping his footing. I screamed and hung onto his neck for dare life as he galloped back up the hill. Then I saw her emerge from the bushes. Her blonde hair waving in the wind.

"Sorry I spooked that pathetic thing you call a horse" she yelled as her gang started to follow her. Lightning reared as she came closer.

"Hahaha look she doesn't even know how to ride!" Taylor sniggered coming closer.

"Like you would know" I yelled patting Lightning on the neck. She raised an eye brow "Oh really. Bring your mule to Running Wind Riding Academy tomorrow after noon, if you're brave enough" she laughed. I felt anger grow inside me as she disappeared down the street with her gang. I calmed down and gave Lightning a small signal to go, he responded with a walk. Amazed I gave him a pat on the neck "Good boy" I said halting him. I tried it again, he walked. I gave another small nudge with my legs. He went into a slow canter. I took him to a walk again and slowly gave him a nudge with my legs. He tossed his head as if to say "Ha this is easy" gave a flick of his tail and trotted on. Then he continued in a canter then into a gallop, he was amazing! When it was time to go back to school I dismounted. Took off his tack, and let him out to graze once more. I guess going back to school wasn't that bad at all except for Taylor Smith being there!

The next day dragged on until the bell rang for school to finish. Mum had packed me some afternoon tea in my bag for when I went to Running Wind Riding Academy. I got Lightning and lead him down the street, it was too risky to ride him. We walked for a least forty five minutes until we came to Running Wind Riding Academy. It was a very fancy place indeed, show jumps were set up all over one arena, the other was a dressage arena. I lead Lightning up towards the stables where she appeared. "Excuse me, coming through" Taylor said. My jaw dropped as she walked towards me. She wore brand new riding pants with a collared top. She also wore a fancy black helmet and held a long black whip.

"So you're here. I didn't think you'd show. Well I'll cancel my class, go into the dressage arena meet you there soon I have to go get Whistle" she said walking off. I walked over to the dressage arena and mounted Lightning. I trotted him over to the water trough for a drink. He drank half then stood still waiting for a command. Suddenly I heard another horses hoof beats. I turned to see Taylor riding a beautiful steel grey stallion. He was in black tack with a red saddle blanket, he was about sixteen hands high and was beautiful!

"This is Whistle he cost me forty thousand dollars!" she boasted halting him in front of Lightning.

"Well how much did your horse cost" she grinned waiting for a pathetic answer.

"Ten dollars" I muttered.

"Ten dollars!" she yelled across the arena. My face turned red, I'd show her! I gave Lightning a nudge with my heels. He trotted calmly at a good pace. I saw Taylor watch in disbelief as I sat in the saddle and nudged him again. I felt his speed quicken as he started to canter, I cantered him halfway around the arena then I halted him right in front of Taylor.

"Not to bad for a ten dollar horse eh" I said smiling. She rolled her eyes and nudged her horse on. I watched her horse in amazement as he cantered around. I noticed a woman looking at me from the stables, I looked away turning my attention back to Whistle. He was muscular and handsome but I would never prefer him to Lightning.

"How well can you jump?" Taylor asked as she halted Whistle infront of me.

"I'm great" I lied smiling. I looked at my watch it was already four o'clock, the perfect excuse to leave.

Taylor glared at me as if she had read my mind "Your right you should be going by now I'll see your jumping skills on Friday, come in the afternoon at about five" she said cantering off. I turned Lightning and trotted him over to the exit of the place. It was Monday how was I going to teach Lightning how to jump in four days! Then I saw the lady I had noticed before she walked over to me.

"Hi" she stammered "Ummm hi, why have you been watching me?" I asked. The lady laughed

"Because your an amazing rider my dear! I'm Elizabeth, a friend of the manager of this place and I think you've got what it takes to ride here!" she said.

Gobsmacked I replied, "Are you serious!"

She smiled "Im serious, I'll have a word with Louise our manager she'll agree. Come back tomorrow put your horse in stall sixteen, oh and the tack room is a few stalls down from there. You'll have to pay a fifty dollar payment to keep your horse here every week but we have discounts on hay and things. Oh sorry dear I have to go, see you tomorrow" she said starting to walk off.

"Bye!" I replied feeling my heart beat faster. I hugged Lightning tight, we were in!

I took Lightning back to the paddock that afternoon, got him some apples with grass and got Lightning ready for the night. I got some stuff ready to be moved tomorrow morning and left the rest to take in the afternoon. When I finally left it was getting dark so I ran home. I told Mum about the woman and Running Wind Riding Academy, she wasn't pleased about how much we would have to pay money to keep Lightning there, but it worked up all the same cost as keeping him in the paddock because we got a discount on hay and things at the Riding Academy. After our discussion and dinner I went to bed with many thoughts about Lightning. I didn't know how in the world I was going to teach Lightning how to jump but I knew I could. I fell asleep after that and slept a dreamless sleep. "Beep Beep Beep Beep" went my alarm clock when I woke up the next morning. I reached my hand out of the covers and went to hit the snooze button. I pulled my hand back as the alarm continued to beep, I had set my alarm extra early and the snooze button wasn't an option. I pulled my covers off my head and looked at the alarm clock once more. It was five o'clock in the morning and it was time to move Lightning's stuff.

I got dressed, grabbed two big plastic bags and raced to Lightning's paddock. I folded up his blanket and put it in one of the plastic bags. I also put in some apples. I then put his halter, brushes and hoof pick in the other shopping bag, I was ready! I went out in the paddock and decided to make a start with jumping. So I grabbed some fallen bamboo sticks from the small patch of bamboo trees the neighbours owned to make trotting poles. I tacked Lightning up and trotted him between them. He trotted calmly over each one perfectly. I dismounted Lightning and let him graze while I grabbed four big rocks. I put two side by side and opposite them were the other two. Then I balanced two bamboo sticks over top of them to make a small knee hight jump. I mounted back on Lightning and cantered him at it giving him his head. He leapt over the jump about a meter high in the air. I hung on for dare life as he soared high into the air. We landed safely on the other side. I calmed Lightning down and gave him a pat on the neck after it. Then I tried the small jump at a trot, towards the jump and gave him less head, he jumped it more calmly, knowing I was in control. I then dismounted and made the jump higher to just below waist height. I mounted again and cantered at it, doing the same strategy. He jumped over it perfectly and cleanly he was like a pro. I did some more work at waist height then cooled Lightning off. I dismounted, untacked and let him loose to graze, it was school time. The day flew by and as soon as school ended I made my way to Lightning's paddock, it was moving time!