Hi everyone Hope you are having a great week.
My story is about three teenages who are orphaned. They are left to deal with the hurdles of life, running a family business and keeping alive family traditions. Along the way they learn of their fathers deceit, they deal with friction between the oldest sibling doing his best to keep the family together and a strong willed youngest sibling who resents her brothers authority. Her resentment gets her into big trouble, made even worse by the fact that she knows that her brother is right. Ashley disappears after deliberately going against her family's wishes. Time passes and she returned to her family but things have changed, she has both mental and physical issues to deal with.
I wish to thank you all in advance and would greatly value any feedback offered - good or bad
HERE GOES:
Her eyes flew open, her alarm blaring. Ashley's left arm shot out as she hurried to hit the snooze button. 'Bugger that
better not have woken grumble bum', Ashley said holding her breath as she listened. She heard nothing indicating that her
oldest brother Anthony (who slept in the next room) had heard her alarm. 'Thank god for these solid stone Wall's,' Ashley
heaved a huge sigh of relief.
' I feel like I've barely slept a wink, 'Ashley said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She had tossed and turned most
of the night, unable to get the arguments out of her head. Even now, thinking about the cheek of her boyfriend and oldest
brother, both of who had forbidden her to do what she loved – ride her colt, made her angry. It made her even more
determined to defy both of them.
'
'How dare they, who do they think they are?’ Ashley said feeling her anger and frustrations building as she stewed over the
previous nights arguments. Ashley was the spitting image of her late father, a determined spirited young lady who hated
being told what to do, particularly by her oldest brother. Ashley and Anthony fought often; usually it did not bother her but
last night's arguments upset her more that she realized.
Ashley lay back on her bed, staring up and the decorative cornices and the numerous posters of horses around her room.
She loved her room, its beautiful high ceilings gave her room a specious feeling she loved. Ashley needed space, when she
was not out with the horses she spent a lot of time in this room, it was her sanity. This room held so many beautiful
memories, the way her parents use to come in just before bed and read her a bed time story. Those were the Day's Ashley
said. 'It had been almost five minuted since her alarm had woken her and it would sound again at any moment,' she
reached out and turned it off.
'On my god, I can't believe I forgot. Today's our big day. Today's the day Moon Dancer starts his training.' Ashley jumped
up, her excitement growing. ' I've been so looking forward to this Day,' Ashley said as she hurriedly dressed.
Moon Dancer was special to Ashley; he'd been give to her on her fourteenth birthday by her parents, just weeks before
they were killed tragically in a horrific car accident, also claiming the life of their youngest daughter Amy.
Now dressed Ashley tiptoed across the hardwood floorboards, finding it hard to contain her excitement. She opened the
bedroom door just enough to peer through, making sure the coast was clear. She smiled to herself. Slowly she crept out
into the hall, closing her bedroom door behind her. She headed towards the stairs. Whilst passing Anthony's bedroom door
her left foot slipped on the polished boards, she almost let out a scream as she lost her balance. Relieved to have regained
her balance she'd forgotten about the loose floorboard right outside her brother's door, and placed her foot right done over
it. It creaked loudly, Ashley froze desperately listening for any tell tale sign that Anthony had heard, but luck was on her
side again. Anthony had not woken.
With riding boots in her left hand, she tiptoed down the stairs, through the family room and out into the courtyard. Ashley
sat on the side on the water feature to slide her boots on, breathing a huge sigh of relief. She'd done it; she had made it
out of the house without being caught.
Ashley whistled to herself as she skipped down the drive towards the stables. She loved the feeling of the cool breeze
blowing against thebare skin of her face, specially at this time of morning. It was so refreshing.
'He'll be so angry when he finds out what I am up to, but i don't care.’ Ashley let out a little giggle at the very thought of
how she'd outsmarted Anthony. 'Who does he think he is anyway, He's my brother, not my father? ' Ashley clenched her
fist in frustration.
'He makes me so angry at times, he treats me like an irresponsible child, and the way he orders me around, it's wrong. I'm
almost sixteen years old, not six. I can look after myself ',Ashley said feeling frustrated.
Half way along the stunning oak lined driveway Ashley paused, taking in a deep breath filling her lungs with fresh air. ‘I love
this time of morning; it's so beautiful and peaceful.’ . Ashley whispered into the wind knowing that she would never get
tired or looking at the rolling green hills and magnificent one hundred year old oak trees which framed the whole length of
the drive way. The trees always are always beautiful at this time of year; their leaves had started changes from the
lovely pale green onto their vibrant autumn colors. As she skipped off towards the stables, a fine trail of fog was visible
trailing behind her in the crisp morning air.
Ashley opened the gate to the stable yard; her whole body was tingled with anticipation. 'Dancer, I can't wait to take you
out, we've been waiting so long for this day to come.' Ashley pulled her woolen hat a little more over her ears. '
Everything is so peaceful and quiet at this hour of the morning,' but not for much longer Ashley thought to herself. The
sound of the chain of the gate alerted the horses that someone had arrived. The sound of horses restlessly moving around
in the boxes was like music to her ears.
The feed room door creaked as she pushed it open, as she reached in to turn on the light switch to the yard horse's heads
started appearing over top door. The horses nickered to Ashley. 'It is so nice to hear all your welcomes guys. I'm sorry
but someone else will have to feed you this morning, Tom will be along in half an hour or so. I've got something very
special to do this morning.' Ashley took a step towards the tack room but could not help feeling guilty about not feeding
the horses; she looked at her watch then turned around and went back into the feed room to grab the feeds. She couldn't
carry all the buckets and her phone at the same time so she rested her phone on the ledge of the white board, allowing her
to carry more buckets and get the feeding done faster. Ashley added a little water to each of the feeds then whizzed
around extra fast tipping them into each of horse's manger, giving everyone a quick pat. Ashley looked down at her watch
as she walked back towards the feed room.
'Bugger, I'm later than I wanted to be. I need to get out of here now before someone turns up.' Ashley said tossing the
empty feed bucket back into the feed room deciding that she would wash them out when she got back. In a hurry to get
going before Tom or Anthony arrived down at the yard, Ashley left her phone sitting on the ledge in the feed room. She
pulled the door behind her skipping across the yard to the tack room. Salina nickered at Ashley as she passed her box
stretching her nose out for a pat. 'I'm sorry girl, not this morning Ashley streaked her forehead. Someone else will be along
shortly to take you out.'
Ashley stood on her toes to reach about the doorframe of the tack room to grab the door key sliding it into the lock, her
hands shaking in anticipation. Sometimes the key would stick in the ancient brass lock; she had to jiggle It a little before
the lock clicked open. Ashley pushed on the door, she had to apply a little muscle to the big sold old door before the door
swung inwards. ‘I must remember to spray oil in the lock to make it easier to open; I've been meaning to do it for Day's'
Ashley said.
In her hurry, Ashley left the old brass key sitting in the lock, instead of replacing the key where it belonged. Ashley pulled
the old frayed rope cord, instantly the room lit up. She made her way to the back of the tack room, lifting dancers bridle
from its peg and removing its cloth cover, her fingers tingling as she touched the softness of the black leather. Ashley
looked up at Dancer's black leather training saddle, feeling the smoothness of its English leather. 'Only be a matter of days
before I ‘m using you too.' Ashley said .Quickly she replaced the saddles dust cover and left the tack room, pulling the solid
heavy wooden door closed.
Moon Dancer stretched his glistening liver chestnut neck towards Ashley, nickering a generous welcome to his mistress. '
Hey Moon Dancer, today's your big day boy. Today is the beginning of your career as a racehorse. You're going to be
great, I know you are.’ Ashley said patting his gleaming neck.
Moon Dancer's warm breath tickled Ashley's hand as he stretched his head towards the bridle she was carrying in her right
hand. He nudged her hand as she worked on the stubborn catch on Dancer's door. 'Hold on a minute boy, I have to get
this open before we can go anywhere. ' The impatient colt nudged her hand again before lowering his head for her opening
his mouth for Ashley, allowing her to slip the metal bit between his teeth, and the soft leather of the bridles headpiece over
his warm ears. Eager to get out of his box Moon Dancer pushed the solid wooden door with his nose before Ashley had the
throat lash fastened. ‘I know you love going out Dancer, but you have to wait for me. Ashley, also eager to get moving
wasted no more time, knowing that in under thirty minutes they yard would be buzzing with activity.
'Oh Dancer, I'd love to be riding you out, but I do think it's best not to push Anthony too far today, he'll already be angry
enough with me when he finds out that I defied him.' Ashley led her colt across the u shaped cobble stoned stable yard and
out along the drive, heading towards the gate and out on to theroad. Side by side, Ashley and her colt walked along the
tree lined driveway. Moon Dancer snorted and sidestepped a little as a little grey fluffy rabbit hopped across the drive in
front of them. ''Easy boy, it's only a little old rabbit. He can't hurt a big strong colt like you ‘. Ashley said laughing at him.
Out on the road now they turned right, heading towards the entrance to the bridle path, which lay a hundred meters or so
along the road up to the right. 'What a lovely morning, I can't wait until it warms up even a little. Oh well, we'll just have
to warm ourselves up wont we Dancer.'
Looking up into the pale blue sky, Ashley noticed the sun starting to appear in the distant horizon. There was not a single
cloud in sight. The glorious sound of the wild birds singing made this time of morning even more magical. For no more than
a few seconds, Ashley closed her eyes and listened to the sounds around her. The clip clop sounds of Dancer's hooves on
the hard surface of the dirt road made her smile. Finally their day had come.
‘I've been so looking forward to this day for such a long time. I love this time of morning Moon Dancer, it's the only time of
day we get time to ourselves,' Ashley reached up to stroke the colts warm neck. Ashley could hear a car coming along
the road hurrying to reach the bridle path before it passed, hoping ,if it were Tom on his way to work, they'd be out of the
sight before he passed. Ashley asked Moon Dancer totrot a few meters so they'd be off the road and out of sight in time.
He bounded sideways almost pulling the reins through her fingers. 'We are feeling good today, aren't we boy? '. Ashley
smiled up at the big horse. Tom's car passed. Ashley frowned thinking back to the arguments she had with Anthony and
Mike the previous night. Ashley could feel herself becoming agitated just thinking about it. 'I won't let them this time away
from us too. It's our special time, ours and only ours Dancer.'
Now safely onto the bridle path, Moon Dancer was beginning to stride out with an airy spring in his step, happy to be out
again after being cooped up in his stable for many months. Ashley's short leg soon began to tire; she was having trouble
keeping up with Moon dancers long energetic strides. It wasn't long before she started to become short of breath. Ashley
spotted the park bench a few meters ahead. She had brilliant idea. 'Dancer, I know I said that I wouldn't ride you today
but the way you're going you are going to pull my arms right out of their socket. Please be good to me boy,' Ashley said
and she lined Moon Dancer up parallel to the park bench. Ashley threw the reins over his head and climbed up onto the
sturdy bench. She laid half her weight over his back just to see what he would do. The chestnut colt seemed a little
nervous, sidestepping a little. Ashley got down and lines him up again, this time he seemed more settled. Wasting no time;
she climbed straight on, grabbing a handful of mane.
Thanks again everyone
