Trickster

Chapter Six

The girls all look relatively comfortable, even Brenna. Zoe has the best posture, and Maggie is doing well, too. Sunita and Brenna are getting bounced a bit. They climb up the long hill behind the barns. David can see Mr. Quinn mount Starfire and begin their jumping exercises in the ring. He and Starfire look like they’re one animal, turning, cantering, leaping, and landing.

Linda stops at the top of the hill and says they’re going to continue along the top and down the other side. It’s a gentle slope. Zoe asks when they’ll get to jump, and Linda says it’ll be a while. All the horses start to follow Linda’s horse as he steps forward. Brenna’s horse doesn’t move. Blitzen stays put.

David teases that maybe she should say please. David and Trickster step closer, and Blitzen flattens her ears and skitters sideways. She stares at Trickster, swaying her head to look at him. David moves to tie Trickster up. He’s making Blitzen nervous. David steps a few steps away and looks for something to tie him to, but there’s nothing nearby.

Brenna suggests getting Linda. But David confidently says he’s got this. He leads Trickster to a clump of grass and tells him to take a munch while he helps Brenna. Trickster snorts and lowers his head to nibble.

David goes back to Brenna, and Blitzen steps sideways again. He laughs, and says Blitzen just likes to walk sideways. Brenna says she doesn’t want to go sideways, she wants to go forward. David shakes his head and retorts they don’t need Linda. They just have a stubborn horse. It’s a perfect match. Brenna scowls.

David lowers his voice and suggests that Brenna doesn’t like this. When she doesn’t respond, he asks if she’s afraid. She admits she’s a little scared. But he can’t tell anyone.

David says her secret is safe with him. But she has to act naturally. Hold the reins loosely, look straight ahead, tell Blitzen to walk, and kick a little. Be confident. Brenna, determined, follows his advice. Blitzen takes a couple hesitant steps forward, and then keeps going. Maybe David could teach lessons this summer. Teaching isn’t hard. David says Blitzen’s a good girl, and gives Blitzen a smack on the rump.

Big mistake. Blitzen hunches her back and takes off through the woods, with Brenna bouncing in the saddle. Brenna calls for help. David screams to pull back on the reins. She calls out again. She can’t make Blitzen stop. They’re heading for the woods. David turns around. Linda can’t see them. They’re alone.

Trickster lifts his head, whinnies, and suddenly breaks into a gallop in pursuit of Blitzen. He looks like a turbo-charged horse, running like wildfire. He thinks he’s racing.

Brenna screams for help. One of her boots has slipped from the stirrup and she’s dropped her reins. She’s holding on tight to the saddle horn, but isn’t balanced. If she falls, she could break her neck! What should David do? He can’t catch up to them. He also can’t leave to get help.

David screams for help. Blitzen swerves this way and that way. Trickster tries to follow and stumbles. He keeps running, but not as fast as before. He’s hurt his leg again. David shouts at Brenna to pick up the reins, just as she disappears into the woods. Trickster follows.

Nobody is coming to help. David sprints toward the woods, trying to make his feet fly. He enters the woods and sees Trickster chasing Blitzen. Brenna, miraculously, is still on the horse. Suddenly, David hears hooves thundering behind him and he jumps out of the way just in time to see Mr. Quinn rocket past on Starfire.