Barbie, Teresa, and Christie sported tan riding pants, Cavalleria Toscana riding jackets, and velvet black helmets as they stood in the outdoor riding arena. It was a beautiful riding day the sky looked like sherbert filled with oranges and pinks. The stable was close to the shoreline of the beach that a salty sea fragrance filled the air.  

Teresa had just finished up brushing Salt & Pepper her Friesian Stallion, while Barbie fed a carrot to Buttercup. Their long glistening mains sparkled in the sun with stray strands floating in the autumn breeze. Christie knotted an emerald ribbon on Sugarplum’s tail after she finished braiding it again, catching any stray strands that had fallen out of place. The hooves of the horses had rainbow gemstones adhered to them with a safe-for-horses formula used specifically for Halter Class shows that they frequented.

After Marshmallow finished chomping on an ambrosia apple, Teresa mounted him and made her way towards the open fence at the corner of the arena. Barbie with Buttercup, and Christie  with Sugarplum, followed slightly behind Teresa. They were headed to the coastline to gallop in the sea foam and then travel further down the coast to enter Tidewillow Forest which was about 25 miles from the stable.

As they began to cruise towards the coastline, the Pacific Ocean glistened and sparkled with the sun just beginning to dip below the horizon. The horses traveled swiftly and synchronized together into a beautiful harmony kicking up dust and debris from the dirt trail leading through the Valley. The valley was full of seaside daisy’s and California poppy’s. As they approached the shoreline the sea mist engulfed them and brought a cooling moisture to their skin.

Teresa was following behind Christie and Barbie and as they made their way to the opening in the trees of Tidewillow Forrest, she pulled the reigns on Marshmallows harness that slowed him to a stop.

“Goodbye!” Christie shouted to Barbie and Theresa. They shouted back, but their voices sounded like whispers trailing in the distance.

Theresa shivered as a cooler breeze escaped the Tidewillow Forrest and blew her hair gently behind hour shoulders. Guiding Marshmallow toward her the beach now, shells bursted under his hooves as we made his way past the large rocks being bathed in the tide. She begrudgingly inhaled the sea air as she scanned the coast line for Jared.

Marshmallow halted and Theresa dismounted him giving him a command in Russian that meant stay. Jared was facing her about 30 feet in the distance his blonde hair loosely fastened in a pony tale, with the strands framing his face tucked behind his ears.

As she approached him she placed both her hands on his chest and he took them in his holding them tightly to his body.

“You thought you wouldn’t come?” Jared said in a cruel taunting tone.

Theresa looked off to the side trying to think of an excuse and then looked back into his eyes without saying a word.

‘I’ll go’ she whispered.

She turned around, walked away. She got back on her horse Marshmallow, rode off into the sunset and lived happily ever after.