Comeback (19 page)

ItsAna:

This makes a lot of sense, L.

Bri~xo:

Thanks 4 telling us something so personal. Rlly. U
already have ur test memorized 4 tmrw, right?

Laur
:

Yep. Bc it's a schooling show, Mr. Conner gave
any of us doing
dressage the option of having someone call the
moves, but I wanted to memorize my test like I would for any show.

ItsAna:

Wouldn't expect anything less from you.
Now, go back and
read what you just wrote.

What? I did what she said.

Laur
:

Okay . . .

ItsAna:

U already have the test *memorized.* That means
u've DONE it. Many, many times.

Bri~xo:

Exactly!! Thank u, Ana! See, Lauren?? There won't
b any surprise moves. Nothing Wisp can't do. Nothing that u haven't done
recently. U've already chosen EVERY move for the test. & if ur memory is
still as crazy-sharp as it was when u were here . . . you're
set. Just do the test.

I sat back against my desk chair. It had taken a long IM chat with my
besties from home before the obvious had been pointed out to me. I
never
would have come to that conclusion on my own.

Laur
:

Don't even know what 2 say. I didn't even
think abt that. Not 4 a sec. Doesn't mean I'm not still scared, but it
makes me feel a zillion
x a million better that I know exactly
what 2 expect when I enter the arena. Thank you!!!
I owe you both.
Big-time.

Bri~xo:

Don't worry. We'll collect. J So glad u
feel better!! YAY!

ItsAna:

Happy 4 u, L!! U r going to enter ur classes tmrw as
Lauren Towers, intermediate rider for CCA on Whisper.
Doesn't that sound amaze?

Laur
:

It rlly, rlly does. I can't thank u guys
enough.

Bri~xo:

Unless u want 2 talk more, go drink ur tea & get
some sleep. A & I will b thinking abt u tmrw & my phone will b glued 2 my
side.

ItsAna:

Mine 2. U can do this, Laur.

Laur
:

*giant hugs* Okay. Going to log off and do exactly what
u said. I'll let u know how it goes!

ItsAna:

U better!! Xx

Bri~xo:

B waiting by the phone.

I logged off and took a big sip of tea. It felt good in my stomach, but
nothing compared to what Ana and
Brielle had just told me. I had
two of the best friends in the entire world, and I couldn't wait to see them. More
immediately, I couldn't wait to make them proud tomorrow.

I shut off my computer, put my tea on my nightstand, and looked at Khloe.
She smiled, blinking sleepily at me.

“Your friends make you feel any better?” she asked.

“So much better,” I said. “I think I'm actually
sleepy.”

Khloe tossed her issue of
Young Rider
to the
floor. “I'm so happy, Laur. You're going to be amazing
tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Khlo. I know you're going to shine in your classes. I
can't wait to see.”

We smiled at each other, double-checked our alarms, and turned off our
lamps at the same time. I closed my eyes, afraid to see flashes of my accident. Instead
I envisioned the first moment I saw Whisper. She'd been held by a groom, tacked up
and ready for me to ride. I knew, deep down, before I'd even settled myself in the
saddle, that she was special. But was she for
me
? It
didn't take me long to find out.

After I'd bought Whisper, I had several conversations with Kim, my
old riding instructor at Briar Creek, about her young age—she was only
five—and how it was both a wonderful opportunity and a challenge. Kim had been
advising me through the entire buying process, and she'd put
her SOA (seal of approval) on Whisper.

Whisper was younger than most horses who competed at the level I had on
the show circuit, and she hadn't had much experience in the show circuit. None at
the level that Skyblue and I had reached. Kim had told me the reality that it would take
years of training to make Whisper a solid event horse. She saw the same beauty that I
did in the situation—I'd get to train and grow with Whisper.

Not one image of Red Oak entered my mind before I fell asleep.