Keeping Pace *Fern*

[Sonya Williams]

The sunlight felt good and the breeze was nice so, Sky had no problems sweeping out of her math class as soon as the bell rang. She envied the kids that were in equestrian classes during the last hour of the day since they always got to be the first ones on their horses but, none of the last hour classes were classes Skylar could take. With Solo being her only ridable horse and being trained only in western styles, it was impossible to ride in the last hour classes since they were mainly hunt seat and dressage classes. Still, Sky was pretty sure she made record time down to the barn where she found her babies waiting expectantly. Smiling to her equines, Sky paused to kiss each one on the nose and rub their heads.

Skylar's trained horse was a dusty buckskin mustang named Lone Ranger but better known as Solo. He was her western star and first love, the last gift her dad gave her before he divorced Sky's mom and made her come to FFA with her mom. The next stall was Skylar's appaloosa yearling, a leopard-spotted filly named Standing on a Hotspot. Sky usually just called her Hotspot or Hots but never Spots since there was a school appaloosa nicknamed Spots. It wouldn't be long before Sky would get to start training Hotspot with a saddle but for now she mostly did lead work with the filly.

"Ok I'm going, be right back" Skylar said, smiling and heading off for the tack room.

Grabbing Solo's battered western saddle, stock bridle and a long red nylon lead rope for Hotspot, Skylar headed back to the stalls. Unbolting Solo's stall door, Sky slid inside and started tacking Solo. The mustang stood quietly, munching oats while his girl tacked him. Accepting the bit and not puffing up his belly, Solo was very well behaved when it came to tacking but he was a horror when it came to bathing. With Solo saddled, Sky led him out of the stall and grabbed the lead. Clipping it to Hotspot's halter, Skylar led the filly out of her stall as well and swung herself into Solo's saddle.

With Hotspot trotting alongside the buckskin, Skylar rode out of the stable and headed for the Bella Terra trailhead. She didn't have time to ride the full trail but she could go as far as the Blackrocks before heading back to the barn. Hotspot needed to stretch her legs and Solo needed to keep in shape so, Sky set them off at a trot toward the trail. Hotspot paced alongside Solo easily, bobbing her head happily and swishing her tail. When they reached the trail marker, Sky stopped Solo and glanced back toward the barn. She thought she saw someone coming toward the trail.

[Fern McPherson]

"Hey boy," Fern cooed as she made her way to a stall at the end of the barn. A large black horse poked his nose out begging for a rub. Fern smiled and gave the Hanoverian a generous pat. She unlatched the stall door and wandered in. She tapped his stomach and grabbed a curry-comb. As she finished grooming him, he began to get impatient. Slapping his shoulder, Smokey ceased his hoof stomping. "Come on," complained Fern, "don't be a jerk".

Running to the tack room, she returned with his tack. A gleaming black leather saddle, a white saddle blanket with her initials embroidered in pink stitching, his saddle pad, martingale and reins. The reins shined after her tack cleaning yesterday. She let out a slight grunt as she adjusted his saddle. "Good boy," she smiled as she took of his halter. She pulled the reins over his head and forced the bit in to his mouth. She opened the stall door and walked out.

She breathed a sigh of relief as the breeze hit her. She pulled Smokey up to the mounting block and hopped on. She quickly adjusted her stirrups and started Smokey up the winding path. She gave him a long rein and quickly adjusted her stirrups. Shortening the reins, she squeezed and let out a small click with her tongue, prompting the horse to a steady trot.

[Sonya Williams]

Shrugging, Skylar turned to face the trail again. Must have been her imagination. Tapping Solo's side with her boot heel, Skylar set her and her babies off along the trail. The trail itself was the longest trail Firefly Fields owned and was used for the annual camping trip for selected students. It was a day long trail ride if you didn't stop and kept a good pace but it was usually drawn out to a two day trail ride during the spring though Skylar had yet to go on one of the camping trips. She'd never been interested enough to go since she didn't really know that many people despite being the school owner's daughter. Sky had Solo and Hotspot, they were all she needed most of the time.

Solo tossed his head with a snort, dancing slightly under Skylar. Sky tightened her knees for a moment and then smiled. "Alright boy, we'll do it your way. Just don't trip Hots ok?"

Clicking her tongue, Skylar leaned forward and tapped Solo's side sharply with her boot heel. Promptly, Solo took off at a brisk canter. Hotspot squealed happily and followed on her lead. Sky made sure the filly had plenty of leeway so she wouldn't get hung up or hurt herself in any other way. Skylar couldn't keep the grin off her face as she let Solo step it up to a gallop. He and Hotspot were roughly the same height though Hots would probably get a little taller before she stopped growing. While Solo was muscle, strong legs and a bit of bulk, Hots was slender legs, a narrow body and elegant head so, the filly paced easily with Solo, tossing her head happily. The little filly loved to run as much as Skylar did and Solo loved to work just like Sky. They really were three of a kind.

Rounding a bend in the trail, Skylar quickly reined Solo to a halt. The buckskin's hooves slid a little and Hotspot snorted unhappily at the sudden stop. Skylar sighed and half stood in the sturrips to get a good look at the trail up ahead. It was a low portion and the creek had flooded up and over the concrete bridge. Most of the time the bridge was well enough, looking like it was sitting on the water but a little storm like the one last night and it flooded over making it too slippery to gallop through safely.

"Geez. I'm going to have to tell mom about this" Sky muttered.

Trying to urge Solo forward the buckskin mustang didn't move. Instead, he raised his head and looked back along the trail. Hotspot followed suit, looking expectant. Sky turned in the saddle. She wasn't delusional! Someone was following them!

[Fern McPherson]

Once Smokey was at a steady trot, Fern gave him a brisk kick with her outside leg. As Smokey was extremely sensitive, this was all it would take. A whip with the crop would send him running for miles. Fern smiled and giggled a little as the wind hit her face and sent Smokey's mane flying. It was such a magical feeling, such a rush, impossible to get anywhere on land. Fern tugged on his right rein, sending Smokey on a sharp turn. Letting out a sneeze, Smokey faltered, sending him to the wrong lead. She reined him back to a trot and began up again.

After a few more minutes, Fern decided to give him a break. She tugged on the reins and let him walk. "Good boy," she cooed, and leaned down, patting his neck. She gave him a loose rein, confident that even on these trails, he would never stray. She dropped her feet out of the stirrups and took a look around. It was so beautiful here, so majestic, so... not Chicago. She was a city girl at heart, but it didn't mean she couldn't appreciate the country. Moving to Kentucky was a culture shock for Fern to say the least. Everything was different here. The people, the lifestyle, the scenery, everything. Yet she didn't mind it one bit. It was a good kind a different, a change of pace. Sure, she missed the blaring sirens and the skyscrapers that seemed to go one forever, but it was all worth it to be with Smokey much more than she ever could have.

She tightened his reins and shoved her feet into the stirrups, getting him to trot. The pace only lasted for a minute or so when she jerked on the reins. "WHOA BOY!" she shouted as he halted. "Um, is there a problem?" she asked the girl in front of her. Her horse seemed to be having some problems. Fern glanced at the flood up ahead and nodded. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

[Sonya Williams]

Skylar saw the girl galloping toward them and was about to jerk Solo's reins when the horse came to a sudden halt in front of them at a very vocal command from the girl on its back. Sky winced and saw Hotspot snort and toss her head, unhappy with the volume but at least she didn't bolt or squeal. Sighing, Skylar looked over at the girl with a smile that didn't falter much as she appraised the other teen. The girl didn't look familiar but she definately looked...different. Not many people around Kentucky dressed like this girl did but, to each their own and she had to remember a lot of her mother's students were from out of state. Just because she dressed like a cowgirl didn't mean everybody did. She was just weird and had no love of French dressage and English hunt seat. Sky was perfectly comfortable in broke-down boots, faded jeans with worn holes in the knees, a leather belt and a rodeo tour t-shirt with a buckskin cowgirl hat on her head. Then again that was what she was raised on and she was a barrel racer until she could find a partner for team roping.

"Nah, Solo's just a big baby about water" Skylar said, swinging out of the saddle.

Keeping hold on the lead rope for Hotspot and Solo's reins, Sky walked toward the flooded bridge and clicked her tongue encouragingly. Hotspot came willingly, prancing and showing off as she was known to do, splashing her hooves in the water and swinging her tail from left to right. Solo however, snorted and arched his neck, giving Sky a look that clearly said 'are you serious?'

"Totally serious boy unless you want to go back to your stall" Sky said firmly.

Snorting, Solo swished his tail, eyeing the unknown rider and then looking at Sky. Sky just clicked her tongue and gave his reins a light tug.

"It's not even deep, come on boy" Sky said, half exasperated. He was definitely a stubborn old cowhorse that was for sure. "You want to look like a wuss in front of a fancy English horse? Come on! Grow a backbone."

Snorting again, Solo tossed his head and tentativly crossed the water with Skylar leading until his hooves were once again on dry track across the bridge. Skylar patted his neck and smiled before looking over at the other girl.

"Hope you don't plan to ride the whole trail, it's kinda long."

[Fern McPherson]

"Nah, of course not," she laughed, "just out for my afternoon ride."

She assumed the girl was local, judging by her heavy accent. She squeezed Smokey and prompted him over the large puddle. Smokey waded through so carefully, it was as if he was scared to make a splash. Fern smiled at his cautiousness, silently thanking him for not making a mess. Once Smokey had made his way accros, Fern spoke.

"I'm Fern by the way," she smiled, "and this is Smokey," she said looking down and giving him a pat.

She continued walking, trying not to trail the other horses butt. "Both of your horses are beautiful," she complimented. Neither, however, were as gorgeous as her Smokey she thought smugly to herself, something she would never dare saying out loud. She noticed the girls saddle. Western, she shuddered. It was definitely not her thing. Too... bumpy and out of control for her liking. English required a hint of perfectionism, something Fern had quite a bit to spare. It required her to think, to be precise, it challenged her.

She moved up so that she was next to the girl. "I hope you don't mind me being next to you. Will it spook your horses? I don't want any trouble".

She didn't want to piss anybody off, it wasn't her thing either. Western and making people mad; two things that were not for Fern McPherson.

[Sonya Williams]

Skylar caught a faint hint of smugness just barely flitting across Fern's face when she complimented Hotspot and Solo. It took almost all of her self control not to frown and tell the girl to buzz off. She didn't like people looking down on her babies. Sure Solo was a bit rough around the edges but he was a mustang, rough and sturdy, a constant companion nonetheless. He wasn't there for looks, he was there to get the job done. Hotspot was a beauty all her own, a mix of bay, grey and white with a unique array of spots over her back, belly, sides and rump and baby blue eyes. At least her horses were more fun to look at than a flat black stick in the mud.

"Thanks" Sky said with false brightness. "The name's Sky. This is Solo and Hotspot."

Sky gestured to Solo and then to Hotspot. Hotspot bobbed her head and nosed at Sky's hand, snuffling expectantly. Finding no sugar cubes or carrots, the filly huffed noisily and swished her tail, standing still but looking dejectedly disappointed. Skylar chose to ignore Hotspot's little pouting session.

"They won't mind. Solo's made to work with others so he won't care and Hots is about as social as they come."

There was one reason Sky disliked Firefly Fields other than the fact she was stuck with her mom all the time. That reason? English riders with their nine hundred dollar saddles, thousand dollar pure bred horses and I'm-so-much-better-than-you attitudes. Hopefully this girl wouldn't be that bad but Sky distinctly wished she was riding alongside a cowboy or something chasing a calf or rounding barrels. Oh well. Beggers can't be choosers.

"Just to let you know the trail can get a little rough in some places. You might want to keep an eye on it or that high dollar pony of yours might turn his ankle. Hots did that last year when I led her out here."

Smirking slightly, Sky clicked her tongue and let Solo set off at a trot again with Hotspot alongside her. Sure Hotspot was going to be a partial English rider but that didn't mean she'd enjoy it. Hots was going to be her barrel racing queen when Sky was done with her. Sky always was partial to working horses. They were sturdy, strong, reliable and always so well tempered even when they were rearing and throwing around a dusty pen. Those high dollar horses always rubbed her the wrong way.

[Fern McPherson]

Fern was normally a pretty calm person. Actually, she was almost always calm. What was it about today that changed her usual demeanor? She was in a good mood, her horse was behaving, her classes went well, it as beautiful, but something was wrong. Although not much showed across Sky's face, Fern knew exactly what she was thinking. She was another one of those girls who had begged their daddy for a little cute horsie, and couldn't give a damn about any horse worth less than 20,000. Fern had been stereotyped this way one too many times, and never said a word. She debated whether to confront her, and decided against it. However, a clear look of anguish across Fern's face suggested she wanted otherwise.

She sighed at this assumption and simply patted Smokey on the back. So what if he cost a pretty penny. Sure it was nice having a high-class horse, but Fern just wanted to ride. Period.

"Yeah, Smokey's a good boy. I've trained him for...," she paused, counting silently, "six years now."

She smiled at the thought and gave him yet another pat. She shook her head, trying to get rid of her ill feelings. She didn't like disliking people. She truly didn't, but there was something about Sky... Maybe she should confront her? Nah, no point in adding any drama she decided, nodding her head. She let out another sigh and smiled, a fake smile, but a smile nonetheless at Sky.

[Sonya Williams]

Skylar knew the girl had caught on to her dislike but she let it slide. If the chick had that much of a problem with her and her 'tacky' western saddle and rough-around-the-edges horses then she could go on and trot back to the stable like the haughty princess she probably was. Shaking her head to herself, Skylar pushed the brim of her buckskin cowgirl hat back a little and focused on the trail. Being an experienced trail horse, Solo navigated easily enough since the trail didn't get rough until farther along and they wouldn't be going that far today. Blackrocks was the usual stopping point during the camping trip, that much Skylar knew for a reason. It was easy to find and marked more or less the end to a few hours of trail riding. She knew it from sight, having gone over the property with her mom when she'd been roughly twelve or thirteen, just before her dad had left. Back then she'd been riding a sweet gelding named Freelancer.

Solo snuffled softly as he picked his way along, bobbing his head slightly so his dark mane bounced slightly against his neck. Compared to the 'black dream pony' trotting alongside him, Lone Ranger did look rather rugged. His coat was burnt buckskin, no markings other than black stockings and a stature that was less height and more muscle. He wasn't the tallest horse in the barn, usually a hand or so shorter than the other fancy foreign breeds that students brought to the barn. Some of the school horses were impossible to stand and were part of the reason for Sky's disdain toward fancy breeds. The main one that set her off was Your Best Days, the Thoroughbred queen of FFA that made a habit of bullying Hots in the pasture. And people wondered why she didn't like Thoroughbreds more than other breeds? Huh. Kel could make anyone hate Thoroughbreds.

"If you're on the endurance team you might want to get to know this trail. They ride it a lot" Sky commented, not really paying too much attention to much.

She didn't know if the girl was interested in the club but she knew a lot of people enjoyed it the same way they liked her mom's anit-horse abuse rehab club. Skylar had never been involved with it but some of the school horses had been from that program and she had seen the results almost everyday while helping turn horses to the pasture on weekends as a part time stable hand. At least she got payed for it, even if her mom was her boss. Skylar stayed away from the endurance team most of the time since she really had no point being around them. Solo didn't ride English and even if she decided to train Hotspot in English, she doubted it would go beyond English pleasure.

[Fern McPherson]

"No. I'm not," she replied, anger in her voice. She bit her tongue and continued riding. Don't do it Fern, don't. She sighed and breathed heavily, trying to calm herself down.

"Look," she started. God damn it. She said it. She couldn't take it back now. She'd just have to deal with it. She didn't want to start anything, she truly didn't. But this Sky girl needed to watch it. Whoah. Was this coming out of Fern's... head? She was never like this. Never. An ounce of this behavior never seeped through. Why now? Regardless of the reason, she started and she couldn't stop herself now.

"I know what your thinking. That I'm just another one of those arrogant stuck up bitches," she bit her lip slightly, releasing slowly. "But, I'm not. I don't judge people. I don't think any less of you because your horses aren't purebreds. I don't think any less of you because you ride western. I don't." She winced at her words. She regretted every single one of them, but there was nothing she could do about it now. She would have to face the consequences, whatever they might be. God, why did she have to do that? Why did she have to be so stupid? She started breathing slowly, trying to calm her racing mind. Sky seemed to be a pretty hard-headed girl, an exchange of words couldn't bother her too much, could it?

"Think whatever you want of me, but don't judge me," she muttered, not said to anyone directly. She sighed and tilted her head back to the bright blue sky. She shut her eyes for a second and returned them to the trail ahead of her.

[Sonya Williams]

Skylar only half listened to Fern's rant. She was lightly offended when the girl automatically assumed her mounts weren't purebreds. They most certainly were. Pure mustang and one hundred percent Appaloosa. Still, Skylar didn't say anything about and just let the other junior rant before giving a nonchalant shrug and looking over at Fern with an appraising yet knowing gaze. This girl didn't know who she was. Didn't know how long she'd been around this school before even attending or how many snobby ass bitches she'd been around in her lifetime. Whoo boy, if only she knew. Skylar liked to think of herself as friendly but there were times when things just rubbed her the wrong way. Like when people looked down on her horses just because they were all-American and hadn't cost her an arm, leg and half her soul.

"In my experience around this place, little girls beg their daddies for pretty ponies and then think they should go to a private school just to get away from their parents and make out in the barn with their boyfriends" Sky said, looking at the trail ahead rather than at Fern. "They don't have the skill to be here but they have the money. Anybody in a cowboy hat or wearing anything less than eighty dollar jeans isn't worth shit and if you so much as look dusty you're a hick. Y'all come to Kentucky but make fun of anybody with an accent. Makes me sick. After a while you know what to expect and nobody's a surprise anymore."

Her last sentence was spoken softer, almost to herself. Only as she said them did she realize how true they were. She'd become able to tell likely disciplines and personalities just from the type of horse someone rode for God's sake! Thoroughbred owners had a need for speed, liked endurance and loved the track as much as they loved to gamble, fight and compete. Honevarians liked to jump, made good dressage horses and their owners had their noses in the air. Arabians liked to strut and be noticed, they were good for practically ntohing other than dressage and pleasure riding.

Wow...she really needed to get away from this place.

[Fern McPherson]

Fern was taken aback. She no longer regretted her words, in fact, she wished she had said more. Sky had taken this too far, and Fern would not let her step all over her. It wasn't fair. She wanted to enjoy the beautiful day, but instead, Sky was slowly ruining it bit by bit, moment by moment, word by word. Fern sighed loudly and shook her head. She bit her tongue again, a habit of hers and ran her fingers through her hair.

"That's god damn wonderful for you. But guess what? I'm not one of those girls. I don't have a boyfriend, I don't want one. I came here to get away from the city. It's too much drama, not to add more. My jeans are from Target. Yeah. I have money. Sue me, is that my fault? What gives you the right to judge me because of the horse I ride or the other girls around here," Fern huffed and continued, "News Flash. I'm not the other girls around here. Oh and please inform me when I mocked you, or made fun of your accent. I'd love to hear," Fern smirked at the overflowing sarcasm in her last sentence.

This is exactly why she got away from the city. She didn't want to live the spoiled lifestyle so many girls absolutely adore. She didn't want the drama. Instead, she got flung right back in to it. It was supposed to be an escape, not a reminder of why she came in the first life. Fern was at her breaking point. Her face was flustered and she was at the point of tears. Being with Smokey was the only thing keeping her from breaking down.

[Sonya Williams]

Skylar just rolled her eyes. She'd heard the 'I'm not the same" speech so many times she could probably mime it perfectly. It didn't matter where things came from. Sky knew the attitude and she knew that in the end, there wasn't anything that could be done about it but for whatever reason, her irritation with the girl melting like fog when the sun came up. She snorted a little and looked over at Fern with a smirk.

"If you wanted out of drama, city-slicker, you came to the wrong damn place" Sky said with a short laugh. "There's no place in the world without drama. This kind is just a little different than who slept with who. But really I do recommend the endurance team, I've heard the sponsor actually knows what he's doing. Our team didn't make it far last year in competition but Mr. Kesser didn't know a stirrup from a frying pan."

Skylar rolled her eyes at the memory of the addled teacher. He'd been an alright rider but...well he had made a better English teacher than an endurance coach so she had heard. He'd sat in for after school practice for the barrel racing class and had confused them so badly that Sky still wasn't sure why he'd thought eight seconds wasn't long enough. Huh. In competition, eight seconds was eternity and more than enough time to swing around three barrels in style, as Solo demonstrated whenever they rode in competition.

Hotspot snuffled as she paced alongside Solo, lipping at the buckskin's mane because she was bored. She wanted to gallop but Skylar wasn't letting either of her equines go farther than their current brisk trot. Snuffling impatiently, Hotspot butted her head against Sky's elbow and then lipped at her shirt. Sky raised an eyebrow at Hots.

"Sorry Hots. You'll get your gallop when we make the home stretch ok? I'd put you in the pasture when we get back but Kel is in there. Maybe I'll take her out, you don't fight with the others do you?"

Hots snorted, not really understanding but her reaction made Sky smile and pet her mane which made the filly a bit happier.

[Fern McPherson]

Fern sighed. This was going nowhere. She was only getting more and more pissed off, it wasn't even worth the fight anymore. Smokey was getting fidgety, and she knew she should probably take off soon. She took a deep breath in to finish her "speech".

"Look. I'm not like the other girls, and it really makes no difference to me what you think of me. I know I'm not like them, and that's that. However, you on the other hand are so much more ignorant than you could even fathom. 'She's from Chicago so she much be stuck up and rude!' Seriously? How old are you? Five? I give up trying to prove myself to others. If you finally decide to open your eyes, let me know. I'd be willing to ride again. Until then, bye," Fern shut her eyes and shook her head.

She had given up. There was nothing more she could do. She turned Smokey around, gave him a quick kick and cantered off. She did everything she could to keep from crying. She wiped her eyes and headed back to the barn.

[Sonya Williams]

Huh. Apparently the city-slicker didn't get the difference between when Sky actually mocked her and when she didn't. The endurance team suggestion had been honest but, oh well. If she was going to overreact and run back to the barn, that wasn't Skylar's problem. She had a filly to exercise and a stallion to keep in line. No need to go and add to the work load. Shrugging, Skylar patted Solo's neck and looked at Hotspot.

"What's eating her?" Sky asked the filly.

Hotspot snorted and bobbed her head but offered no reply in human language, not that Sky had expected one. In all honesty such a thing would probably seriously freak her out. Very badly freak her out. Plus, she would put a hundred dollars on that if Hots could talk, she would be extremely annoying and extremely talkative.

"That girl better toughen up if she's going to survive around here" Skylar muttered, spotting the Blackrocks up ahead. "Ok buddy, time to turn around and get on back. Still need to give you a bath and put Hots out to pasture."

Solo snorted and turned obediently, Hotspot following him on the turn and dancing impatiently. Skylar smiled and heeled Solo's side sharply. The mustang set off at a gallop at once. Hotspot whinnied and followed him, still managing to pace alongside the fifteen point three hand stallion with ease. Skylar smiled, knowing Solo knew the way home well enough that she could enjoy the scenery flashing by. She didn't know if she passed the city girl or not but she wasn't paying that much attention. She was just letting her horses go.

Hotspot's soft snorting breath and Solo's easy breathing where as familiar and relaxing to Skylar as anything else. She loved her horses and it was always fun to let them gallop, city-slicker troubles or no. If the girl couldn't take the bull she shouldn't ride in the rodeo. Sky was a friendly person but what's her face had just made a really bad first impression. Maybe if Sky saw her later she'd think about apologizing. Only if she got that world history paper done and didn't have to worry about other things. Her horses came before her friends and other students after all.