A Saved Friendship (cont'd)
By Eowyn HorseCrazy

Chapter Four:

“God, help me!” I prayed, as I biked slowly towards Rae’s house.  I’d almost told Dad and Mom that I couldn’t do this... but I really missed Rae.  And if I wanted things to get cleared up, I had to do my part.  My stomach was tied in knots, as I approached the Devine’s dark green acreage.  When I got to the yard, I jumped off my bike and leaned it against a big oak tree.  I walked slowly to the barn, and then stopped.  I felt like turning back.  Going home.  But, I needed Rae to forgive me… and she needed to realize how wrong she was. 

I took a deep breath and walked in.  I heard the steady swishing of a body brush as I walked quietly down the stall way.  A horse whinnied beside me and startled me.  I looked over to see a palomino mare looking at me, curious as to whom I was.  Wondering who she was, I reached out and patted the sleek neck.  It felt like bunny fur.  The mare sniffed me, and I blew into her nostrils; she blew back. 

“You sure are a sweetie!” I said quietly, stroking the mare’s golden neck.  “Who are you?  Did Rae get a new horse?” 

“What are you doing with my horse?” a voice cried behind me.  I spun around to face a tall, slender girl wearing a black cowgirl hat, brown cowgirl boots, whitewashed jeans, dark blue shafts, and holding a saddle blanket.  Her wavy blonde hair was pulled back in a wavy ponytail, and her pale blue eyes matched her long-sleeved flannel. 

“I said what are you doing with my horse?!” she repeated. 

“Oh… um… I was…” I stammered.  I never talk clearly when I’m nervous.  

She shoved past me into the stall.  “Oh my gosh!  I cannot believe this!”  The girl smoothed down the mare’s hair on her neck. “You’re in here messing up my horse’s coat!” 

“Beautiful horse you got there,” I managed to say, trying to ignore her comment.  “She’s really sweet.” 

The girl looked at me like I’d just said her horse was the ugliest and meanest thing on the planet.  “Did I ask you?” she asked snottily. 

“No... I was just commenting,” I replied, a touch of sarcasm in my voice. 

She snorted, “Whatever!” 

I gritted my teeth… something I always do when I‘m trying to control my temper.  “You know where Rachel is?” I asked, trying to sound calm. 

The girl looked at me doubtfully for a second, and then replied, “Yes.”  She threw her saddle blanket over the mare’s back, and then grabbed the saddle off of the stand outside the stall. 

“Where?” 

She plunked the Western saddle on the mare and threw the stirrup over the saddle and cinched the girth.  I wanted to get in the stall and do it myself; she was way too rough.  “Well?  Where is she?” 

She finished with the girth, pulled the stirrup back down in place, and stepped up by the mare’s head.  “She’s in saddling Chakotay.  Why do you want to know?” 

“I need to talk to her.” 

The mare laid her head on the girl’s shoulder, and the girl slapped her mare’s nose.  “Dumb beast!” she shouted.  “Ruining my brand new shirt!  Uh!  Slobber and chewed up food!”  She brushed off her shoulder, and the poor mare held her head high, wondering what she did wrong. 

“She was just saying she trusts you!” I snapped. 

“What do you know?” she asked sarcastically. 

“That you’re the dumb beast!” I muttered as I walked away.  

When I came to Chakotay’s stall, I peeked in, not wanting to spook him.  Chakotay was standing in his stall with his saddle blanket on, looking very bored. 

“Hey, Chak, is Rae riding you today?” 

“Elisabeth?  What are you doing here?” Rae’s voice shouted behind me.  

Why is everyone acting so weird?  Is it a crime to be in my friend’s stable?  

I turned around and faced her.  “Hi, Rae, I want to ask…” 

Rae shoved past me into the stall with Chakotay’s saddle.  “I have a friend over, Elisabeth, and I don’t have time to listen to you.” 

I almost started crying.  “Rae… I need to talk to you!” I pleaded.  “Just one minute!  Please?” 

Rae smoothed the saddle blanket down before putting the saddle on and cinching the girth, totally ignoring me.  I finally couldn’t take it anymore.  My stomach felt like there where colts bouncing around inside. 

“Rachel May Devine!” I said harshly, like I was scolding her.  “Rachel, I don’t care whether or not you listen to me!  I’m just going to talk!  I’ll follow you around the barn until I’m done talking if I have to!  So… I’m sorry I offended you, but my parents even said what I said was right!  We can’t be angry with Jesus, because our mare died.  God sent his own son to die, and Jesus didn’t get angry; He did as His Father wanted him to!  And God loved His son!  Just like we loved Keeta!  So… Rae,” I said, my tone softening as I watched her slide the bit into Chakotay’s mouth and put the headstall in place.  “Please!  Let’s be friends again!  Not enemies!  Please?” 

Rae looked up at me, her face cold and hard.  “I have a friend over, Elisabeth.  We’re going riding.  I already said I don’t have time for you.” 

“Can I come back tonight?  When she’s gone?” I asked, swallowing warm tears. 

“No.  She’s spending the night with me.  That’s why her horse is here.  We’re having a sleepover, and I wanted her mare over so we could go riding.  Now, excuse me…” 

Just as Rae went to walk out of the stall with her horse, I heard the clip-clop of horse hooves and the clonk-clonk of boots behind me on the concrete floor.  I turned around, knowing that the snotty girl was behind me with her palomino mare. 

“Oh.  You’re still here, huh?” she said, addressing me.  

“Hey, Janie, how’s Goldie?”  Rae asked the girl. 

“Being a brat, as usual,” she answered.  

“Oh?  What’s she doing now?” Rae straightened Chakotay’s forelock.  Rae and this girl where totally ignoring me. 

“Dirtying up my brand new shirt, blowing her stinky breath in my face…  laying her head on my shoulder!”  The girl looked at my tear-stained face and smirked. 

I stared at the ground, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. 

“Hey, Rachel, who’s that?” the girl asked, looking at my ratty T-shirt and old, black skirt.  I always dress really shabby when I come to the stable because it’s so dirty. 

“Oh...”  Rae walked past me and stood beside the girl; their shirts, shafts, jeans and hair a perfect match.  “That’s Elisabeth Atwood.” 

The girl laughed, revealing a set of pearly white teeth.  She looked me up and down as if I were a horse she was considering purchasing, and then checking me as unsound. 

“And who’s that?” I asked, mimicking the girl’s snotty voice.  I was pretty proud of myself; it sounded a lot like her. 

“This is Janelle Peterson.  Her parents are the owners of River Rider Ranch.’’ 

Janelle sniffed, sticking her nose in the air slightly.  “And my horse here always wins 1st Place in shows.  Her name is Sophisticated Glamorous Girl.  I am an excellent rider.” 

“Yeah, well, I don’t really care,” I said, not wanting to be around her anymore.  I was itching to say, 'What a lousy name for a horse!' 

“Rae,” I said, “I’m not wrong.  And, you’re my only friend!  Can we please be friends again?” 

Rae looked from Janelle to me hesitantly and then said, “Gotta get.  See you!”  They mounted and rode out of the barn. 

I dropped to the barn floor, pulled my knees up to my chin, and cried.  All the tears and anger and sadness I had been holding onto for the past 24 hours slipped out and left me with nothing but emptiness and confusion.

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