Two of a Kind

I woke up early to work with Thunder. I immediately got dressed in my show clothes and went out to saddle Thunder. I put my show bridle on him before leading him to the back to put my saddle on him. He was revved up to go. I've been winging the comps going with high scoring moves in about one to two minutes of time. I mounted up and rode to the arena. Once there I started working. Trying every trick I could. I slipped once falling into the dirt.

Thunder came back to me as I stood up and got back on. I continued to work with Thunder out of the ring doing odd tricks back to the trailer for breakfast. At the trailer, I tied Thunder to the side and went inside for breakfast. Case was sitting there with a cup of coffee in one hand phone in the other. "Where's beeves and butthead?" I asked. "Passed out. Stuck their underwear in ice last night and waiting to hear them call wondering where their underwear are." Case said.

"Cold butts for hot heads?" I asked. He snickered. "Something like that." He said. "Oh let me guess. freezing their balls off in hopes of them growing a new pair?" I asked. He busted out laughing. "Should have used that one to begin with." He laughed. Dad only shook his head. Alex rolled his eyes. "Hey can I put whipped cream on their faces?" I asked. "Blake'll catch you. Justin will sleep through it." "On a normal basis. They're passed out cold. Neither will know it happened." I said.

"Great point. A way to get back at my baby brother for being an a** in the first place." He said before leading the way out. I followed right behind. Once there I saw exactly what he meant. Beer bottles, whiskey bottles, vodka, you name it, it was in one spot or another either empty or partially full. He handed me a can of whipped cream and let me have at. I covered their faces in the stuff. It was empty when I was done.

I handed it to Case who tried to get some out, but nothing. He pitched it away and had me go out before slamming the door shut. "Run." He whispered. We both ran for my trailer. Once back he got a call from one of them. "Yeah. Nah. Seriously. How could I? I'm over at a friend's trailer having breakfast. No its not Jared's. What do you think a**hole? Your own fault bro. Get over it. You deserved it. Bye." He set his phone on the table and leaned back.

"They're ticked." He said. "Don't care." I said. "Oh and you should tell them to clean up their mess." I told him. "You know it was mostly Justin." He said. "Does this face look like it cares?" I asked. With all honesty I did care. He still cared even though he was an a** to me. I had to hold a poker face in front of everyone that wanted to know about the relationship. "Just letting you know that he took it hard when he found his clothes outside and realized that you wanted him gone." He said.

"Ok. They could have came to my room and asked to talk. They could have waited until I had came out of my room to talk about it. They didn't. That was their fault. They didn't want to talk. That's why I don't care. They didn't try to see why I was upset and Blake knew I was upset. He knew Justin had been being an a** to me. Yet he didn't do anything to try and change the outcome. He became one too when he left with Justin." I told him.

"Eat and get over to the ring." Dad told me. I ate quickly, brushed my teeth and went back out to take Thunder over. "So you wanted to talk?" Not now. I ignored him and continued walking. Once there I mounted my horse and waited for my turn. I was third out. "You seriously want to talk after that day?" He continued. I tried to ignore him. "I wouldn't be ignoring me right now." He almost yelled. "Then why did you ignore me that day?" I asked.

"It was that day that determined if you wanted to stay and you blew it. You completely acted oblivious to me and Blake both. He was the one that really knew my feelings for that day. After we got home he dropped my bags off then went to the bedroom where you were. I don't have anymore time to talk. I have to competition to win." I told him before riding off. I got to my spot and led Thunder in a tight circle before I was said to go.

I let Thunder run out full speed. I did my tricks ending with the tail drag and rode out of the ring. He was huffing for air. I quickly dismounted and shoved the saddle off. He was coughing. "Dad." I yelled. I stuck my ear to his rib cage. Not sounding good. "Dad!" Alex ran over. "What's wrong?" He asked. "He's not breathing right." I said. "Ok. I'll go get your dad and see if I can find a vet." He said.

Dad came running up. "When did this start?" He asked. "I don't know if it started during the run or right after." I said. A man came up with a bag. "Anything out of the ordinary?" He asked. "No. He ate like he was supposed to and was drinking." I said. He then pulled a stethoscope out. I held my horse while he listened. "He's got fluid in his lungs. I'm going to have to run a tube down his nose." He said. I again held him still while the vet stuck a tube in my horse. After sucking on the tube a few times fluid came out.

"That would be gastric fluid. Not good." He said. I knew there was only one thing to do. For the second time in two months I cried. "I'm going to the trailer." I told dad. I pretty much ran to the trailer. I curled up in the cleaned out trailer letting the tears flow knowing I had to lose my pride and joy horse. I had his halter in my lap. It took me two years to compete again with him. It took me two years to get back on. I don't want to lose my best friend and baby horse that I paid to have trained specifically for this.

I was pulled into a set of arms. "He's going to be alright Des. The vet said it will happen again and wants your opinion." Alex said. "I don't want my baby to suffer." I said. "I know." He said rubbing my shoulder. "It might happen on the road. It might happen when I'm not around. He's only ten." I said. He kissed the top of my head. I finally broke into rack filled sobbing. He continued to rub my shoulder. Dad came in. "Desiree. It's your choice." He said.

"I don't want my baby boy to suffer." I told my dad.