[c o n t i n u e d] from stable

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

<sub>I walk into the dorm and take the elevator, I pull the key from my back pocket and step off. I walk to our door and open it.

Hey!

I yell and walk into my room, slipping on sweatpants and a hoodie. The are both blue and read "American Saddlebred National Champion" I plop down in the recliner and grab the phone

I'm going to order pizza, what do you want on it?!

I grab a brush from the table and brush throuugh my hair before throwing it up in a pony tail.</sub>

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>Her voice woke me up.

"Ah, man she's here."

I knew she couldn't hear me since I could barely hear my-self think. I turned the T.V. down, just in time to hear her question.

"Cheese."

I said. I soon layed back on the bed and closed my eyes. Pain takes a big amount of energy out of you.</sub>

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

I walk up to her door and knock on it

Grace, if you're hurt that bad, go to the hospital, if not, let's go somewhere, it's only 6:00. C'mon, get up off your a$$ and get to the hospital if you're in that much pain

I turn and go back to the couch, plopping down. I turn on the TV, reruns of Saddlebred nationals. I bet Manny and I are on this one. Academy classes, I'm amateur. I glance out the window, the trainers and grooms are back. I glance back to the TV as the phone rings

Hello

It's the groom's voice. I begin to frown

Okay, I'll be right down

I slip on my black a blue DC's and yell

Grace, get down here! Kanta's really sick!

I grab my key off the counter and run out the door, slamming it. The stairs will be quicker, I fly down the and out the door of the dorms, I arrive at Kanta's stall. He lays, his rain sheet covered in bedding. His nostrils are flared and hihs eyes are closed. The groom moves aside and I enter the stall.

Hey buddy, everything is going to be fine.

I stroke his neck and glance up at the two grooms outside the stall.

Why are you still here? Go call the vet

I kneel near his head and gently open his eyelids. You can see the whites in his eyes, he is in pain. It doesn't seem like colic, sos I won't get him up. I stand and walk out of his stall. I check the other two horses who were in his paddock. Gladiator is fine, but Shortie is acting strange, before I know it, he is down too. Thhey could have gotten into something in the paddock, but why wouldn't Glad be sick? I go back to Kanta's stall, he obviously is in much greater pain than Shortie. I stroke his neck and talk to him. I've got it, the could've gotten into something, and they are dominant over Glad, so he wouldn't have followed him wherever they were. I take out my cell phone and call the dorm, trying to get Grace down, no answer, she is probably still in bed, feeling sorry for herself. I glance up, Manny is peering at us over the wall.

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>I limped out of my room. I watched as she ran out. I let out a sigh, and heaved on my large jacket. I threw my hair in a messy pony and threw a baseball cap over it. I soon limped out behind Reagan.

I arrived at the stable and saw the horse down. I watched Reagan lay over him.

"Get up, and get the horse up."

I stated. I grabbed a lead rope and threw it to her.

"Walk him around the arena. Bring water into the arena and water him down to."

I pointed to a hand.

"Go grab that horse, and do the same."

I grabbed a few flakes of hay and threw them in the arena. I then grabbed Nitro, he was pretty dominate. I turned him loose into the arena and waited for them to bring in the horses.</sub>

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

I put my hands on my hips

How do you know its colic, why would they both have it?

I roll my eyes and throw my jacket on. I follow her into the arena

You would just be draining their energy if it isn't colic. I suggest you don't do that.

I bet I'm more of a vet than her. I interned with one I hook the lead rope to his halter and stand him up. It's a bad idea, they're not rolling. I put my ear to his barrel and listen, normal stomache noises. It's not colic.

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>"Well, then let him lay."

I hiss at her. She challenges me with everything. I thought. I soon took the whip and cracked it. Sending, Nito into a fast gallop. I turn to face Reagan.

"It'd be a good idea to get the other horse inside out of the rain and get their wet rainsheets off. Now wouldn't?"

How stupid can she be? I snap the whip again, as Nitro came in to eat. I send it into another crack as he starts to kick up his heels.</sub>

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

<sub>I roll my eyes, she moved in today and thinks she's queen of the world.

They were both inside

I hiss, before adding

You'll kill them if you sit here and crack the whip and make them run, if they're poisoned or something.

I watch Kanta. I finally grab a lead rope and stop him, hooking it to his halter. I begin walking him at a slow, consistant pace

If anything, this is better than running their guts out

I glare at her. I'm so asking for a dorm change, and it won't be me moving out.</sub>

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>I glared at her, and threaten to snap her with the whip. She had no right to push me around. I was not going to take it either. She was either going to accept me or I was gonna have to beat her into submission. (lol...inside joke).

"I was making Nitro run. Not your horse."

There was no point in fighting fire with fire. I threw the whip on the ground and threw my hand up. I let a whistle leave my pursed lips, and felt Nitro's steady breath down my neck. I smiled and turned around and touched his neck.

"C'mon bud."

I cooed to him. I soon walked out the gate with Nitro following close behind me. I grabbed his halter lying on the ground and slid it on. I then grabbed his mane and swung up. I quickly tied the lead rope on his halter like reins and squeezed and kissed. I felt him lurch under me and take off down the aisle.</sub>

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

I suppose we have to be friends, considering we are going to live together for about the next two years. I glance at the stable hands

Are you going to just stand there? Take care of these horses.

I snap. Manny already has his sleezy, sheet, and blanket off, the stable hands where going to put him on the hot walker, so they undressed him. I grab his bridle from the rack outside his stall, and slip it into his mouth. I quickly fit all the straps and swing up onto him, while he is in his stall. I kick his barrel and he lunges out of his stall, galloping down the aisle after her. I almost let go of his reins they are so loose. I dig my heels into his barrel as we near them, getting to the end of the barn. A few horses reach out and try to nip Manny. He throws his hind legs up, sliding a little bit on the concrete

Manny, quit!

I yell at him and smack his neck lightly. He's really fast, having less weight and more leg than Nitro.

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>I hear her coming. I spin Nitro around, he can do quicker turns, since he is a barrel horse. Lets hope. I squeeze tighter, and I feel my-self lower to the ground. I then feel us flying threw the air. I look up ahead and I see a dark mass.

"Crappppp."

I mummble. I throw my legs on his rump. Good thing he's smooth. I intangle my hands in his mane and lower my-self as he goes into the forest.</sub>

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

Manny takes of after him. Lowering. He's faster, because of his long legs. Great...Tall. Here we go. I press myself against his muscled neck. His legs pump faster as his muscles ripple. I feel leaves brushing against my head. He slows, I glance passed us, we're right on Nitros rump, I pull him to the side, so we don't get kicked. We should be hitting a fence, so we'll have to veer left or right. If we veer right, we will come out near the beach, if we veer left, we'll have to go through the forest, to another fence, then we'll be on the outskirts of the property, and this one is barbwire.

Grace, go right!

I yell as I see the white vinyl fence coming up.

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>Think she is gonna boss me around. I thought to my-self. I jerk Nitro to the left. I turn around and see branches overhanging. To low for them to get through unless she is risking to get cut up.

I turn around and lower my-self to Nitro. Now, I'm just along for the ride. I feel him go faster and faster. Lower and lower to the ground.</sub>

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

<sub>I roll my eyes and speed him up so we're near Nitro

You're headed straight toward barbwire!

I yell and glance down, where the low hanging, sagging barbwire is. I turn Manny to the left, just before we hit it, I slow him to a fast canter, glancing back at Grace.I don't see her. I turn him and begin cantering him back where we turned

Grace? Why doyou have to be so stubborn?

I yell more to myself than her.</sub>

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>I give a kiss and feel Nitro fly over the barbwire. I slow him down to a walk. Then to a stop. I slide off and walk him where I can no longer see the barbwire. I then swing back-up and go towards the woods nearby.

"This is the natural way."

I say to him. There were no plastic lights. Just the light of the moon.

"Now, I can think."

I sigh to my-self. I let out a small laugh. Reminicing on times with Jacking, Big Ben and Rambo.</sub>