Get Back On

Chapter 3

"When do you want me to take you over there?" "Whenever you're done." She smiled and nodded. I sat on the barstool and sipped on milk. "You can do it Sam, you know him and he knows you. Besides you do have the gift.I just stayed silent and stared at the counter top. She finished up and wiped her hands on the cloth and wrote a note for Bing. I limped up to my room quickly and got my aromatherapy oils for Storm.

She was already in her silver BMW and I grabbed my slides so I could change into them and climbed into her car. We pulled up at the stable and she parked the car. "No matter what Paige, don't stop believing in him or you." I nodded and opened the door. "I love you." "I love you too."

I looked around the parking lot and saw barely and vehicles. One being Jakes. The sun was barely up. I trudged into the barn and went to the tack room. I grabbed Storms leather halter that had his name plate and his red lead rope. I slowly made my way to his stall. He was pacing but when he saw me he lunged. "Knock it off." I shouted.

His ears went back and and paced. I opened the door and he bolted toward me. "No stop it." I said sternly. While he stood still for like a millionth of a second I slipped the halter over his head. He half reared. I pulled on the lead line. "Easy boy." I said guilty. He made his move and bolted out of the stall and dragged me down the aisle and out of the barn. I jerked hard on the lead rope. "No!" He looked at me wide eyed. We fought all the way to the round pen where I would do join up with him.

I opened the gate quickly and unclipped the lead rope and he bolted inside. I slowly climbed over the rail and went into the middle. He charged at me. I threw the end of the lead at him and stepped out of the way. "Away!" He bolted around the ring running.

After at least thirty minutes he still wasn't showing signs or tiring. "What happened to us?!" I shouted at him. "It wasn't my fault!" "It wasn't my fault." I kept screaming at him. Hot fresh tears fell down my face. Wait. He started to slow down and his ears were twitching. Join up! I turned my back toward him and closed my eyes. I heard soft footsteps hit the sand. Next I felt hit breath on my neck.

I turned around and there he was. Storms eyes were still wild and had plenty of fire in them. I slowly put my arms around his neck and buried my face in his mane. "I'm so sorry boy." He nudged me with his nose and I smiled. "Your a good boy." I clipped on the lead rope and admired the gigantic horse. Storm stood and 18 hands and was extremely intimidating. "Come on boy lets get you cleaned up." It's been six months since he was touched so you can imagine what he looks like.

I turned and looked up to see Jake (dressed in his usual jeans boots and tight T-shirts) leaning up against the rail with a smiled and a look of shock. I smirked. "Hey cowboy can you open the gate.?" He opened the gate and I led the spooky, jumpy horse through. "I honestly can't believe you did that." I smiled. I rubbed underneath Storm's forelock where his white star was. "It's different every time you do it. I honestly can't believe it every time."

He just shook his head. "I heard shouting." I turned to see Kate running out of the barn. She stopped and her jaw dropped at the sight of the giant monster and me. "You did it." She screeched. Storm jumped a few steps back. "Easy boy, you're ok." I rubbed his neck. "Sorry I can see he is still very sensitive." I nodded. "It's fine he'll never be calm I'll just have to deal."

I led Storm back to his stall, unclipped the halter, and shut the stall door. "Paige, you got through to him. That's the hardest part." I nodded. Storm was now pacing his stall. "Go get Image ready you have dressage practice in 15."

I went to Images stall and put her halter on and put her into crossties. I brushed her over quickly and tacked her up. I brought her into the huge arena and saw Jake sitting with Kate at the rail. As soon as we got into the ring Image thought now would be the good time to rear. "Easy girl you're ok." I rubbed her forehead and brought her over to the mounting block.

She sidestepped and rolled her eyes. "Hey knock it off." I managed to get her to stand still long enough for me to get on. As soon as my weight hit the saddle she took off. Memories of the accident came into flashes. My screaming and the pain in my knee. His whining and Lou, Bing, and Parker's shouting. I yanked hard on the reins only to be thrown onto her neck. "Hang on Paige." I heard Kate's voice. Image reared and I put my weight onto her neck.

"Please." I said quietly. Once she landed she stood still. Kate ran over along with Jake and grabbed the reins. I slid off only to be brought into Jake's arms. "You're ok Paige." I was still trembling. Kate looked at me and did a small smile. "Let's call it quits today. I'll go put her sheet on and turn her out."

I pulled out of Jake's arms and walked out of the arena. I went to Storm's stall and sat infront of the door. I brought my knees up to my chest and ran my hand over the cuts on my wrist. I had a part and it was dark. There was no light at all.

I felt warmth beside me and saw Jake sitting down beside me. And of course he saw the cuts on my wrist. "Promise you me you will not do this again." I smirked. "I don't make promises I can't keep." He grew irritated. "What are you doing here anyway?" "What happened in the ring?" I leaned my head back against the stall. "Just stop acting like you care."

I got up and brushed my jeans off. "You can't keep pushing people away when they want to help." I glared. "First of all I don't need help and I have to push people away ok I don't have a choice."

There were just things I liked to keep to myself. And there was no way he could change into a nonmanwhore.

(Storm pictured)