Andi's Trick Riding Friend

By, Toriana H.

 

Part 1

11 year old Andi Carter leans against an oak tree by the creek at her special spot drifting off to sleep. All of a sudden a loud  “Howdy!” brings me out of my sleep and makes me jump.

“Oops, sorry for startling Ya” the girl says apologetically.

“That’s okay” I mumble as I’m looking the girl up and down, she was wearing old overalls and she had bright green eyes with long dirty blond hair in one sloppy braid running down her shoulder. I also noticed a really pretty Sorrel horse tied up next to Taffy.

“I’m Caroline, Caroline Kent” She says “But, Ya can call me Carrie, least whys all my friends back at home do” Carrie reached out her hand, I took it with a grin “Howdy Carrie, I’m Andi Carter!” I say “where are you from?”

“Well me an’ my folks just moved here from New York”

Wow, I thought, I remember Ms. Hall talking about a far away place across the US called New York she always used to say ‘if anybody ever comes here to California from there, well that’s a very LONG journey, Children’ “Wow” I say aloud “ that’s mighty far”

With a quick nod of her head Carrie changed the subjected “Do Ya like horses?”

“Me? Are you kidding? My folks own a ranch a few miles that way.” I say pointing towards my home

“Ya like racing?” My new friend asks

“I sure do” instantly liking this girl and then we raced to the horses, mounted and gallopen into the distance.

Part 2

Without warning while we were trotting along a few days later Carrie stood up on her horse in her saddle, which earlier she introduced her horse as Butter cup.

“Wow” I say as she does a little jump, still on her horse. I glance at Buttercup who was completely unfazed. Show off I think

“Me and my Folks are trick riders” Caroline says to my stunned face and then she giggles “What’s the matter, you and your folks never seen trick riders before?”

All I can do is nod my head that we had. A little shocked at what a show off this girl was being.

“Wanna see some more tricks?” she asks and I slightly nod again. “Alrighty then, just stay right there” Carrie tells her horse to Lope and then just grabs her horse’s mane and then she spins round her saddle two times before stopping abruptly

“what’s the matter?” I ask as Carrie dismounts and picks up her horses hoof

“Buttercup threw a shoe” She answers “Pa’s gonna tan my hide, he always says not to trick ride if we are not at home”

“Well Blakes livery stable, in town, can shoe her for you and there are cheap, but they do a good job!” I say “Well I guess we are going to town” she mumbles rudely

                                 ******************

 That night I lay awake thinking about trick riding wouldn’t that be so cool to do that. I mean think about it! I mean Carrie was being a little bit of a show off, I thought. Then I fell asleep dreaming about trick riding.

  

Part 3

 “Mornin’ Andi” Greets Mitch a few days later as I walk in the dining room

“Andi, we need to talk” says Chad sternly 

uh oh I think when Chad says that that means I’m in trouble. I think did I miss any chores the last few days…. Oh no!! Chad had asked me to scrub out the water troughs yesterday and make sure I had exercise one of the horses, Suger. And I forgot both, because I wanted to go out and meet Carrie. Why did I want to meet that show off girl? I ask myself 

“Andi, this the second time this month you have forgo—“

“Chad” Mother broke in “could this wait till after breakfast?”

Chad glares at Andi, then turns back to Mother “Sure, Mother” He says.

Then I turn back to my now cold flapjacks.

                           ********************

 After breakfast Chad brings me into the sitting room for a Chit chat. After the harsh scolding and reminder not to forget my chores again or else no riding for 3 days, I race to the barn. I rush through all of my chores and make sure I didn’t miss any before I saddle Taffy and ride towards Carrie’s new ranch, which she had showed me around the day before. 

I tie Taffy up to the hitching post and then knock on the door.

“Oh Hello Andi” Mrs. Kent greets me “Come in and I’ll go get Caroline”

I nod my thanks and step into their house.

A few minutes later, Carrie walks in frowning, I stand up.

“Hi” she mumbles and I wonder what’s wrong  “My Pa found out Buttercup threw her shoe and that I was trick ridin’ and he told me I can’t ride all week” she says as a tears form in her eyes “I’m mighty sorry for being a show off” she says “I reckon you don’t wanna be friends with a show off  girl, ugh?” A tear trickles down her face.

I immediately regret my hasty thoughts even if they were partly true. The bible says to treat others the way you want to be treated (even in thought) and I sure wouldn’t want anyone thinking of me as a show off.  

“Oh Carrie” I start “I will admit I did think you were a little bit of a show off, but I still wanna be friends!”

Carrie looks up with hopeful eyes “Ya do?” she asks

“coarse I do silly!” I say back “ and you sure are a mighty fine trick rider”

“thanks!” she says beaming “I could show you a few of the basic things, if you want?”

“Really? I would love that” I say happily “but….”

“what?” she asks “it’s not scary” 

maybe he would let me do it?? I think. “No it’s not that I’m scared” I start   “there’s just one hurdle…..My brother, Chad” I say sadly.