Chapter 1

"Oh stop it," Rhea said and bent over to pick up a rubberband that her horse, Lightning Strikes, just knocked onto the floor. As soon as she bent over, Lightning snapped around and grabbed Rhea's long braid of blonde hair. Rhea straightened and held still. "That's cheating." She gently got her hair out of Lightning's mouth, then turned around and gave Lightning a stern look that made the 4 year-old mare shiver. Rhea re-braided the section of Lightnings mane that was messed up and continued down the mare's neck.

Once the whole mane was braided and plaited, Rhea stepped back to check her work. The mare looked nice. Rhea then grabbed a cloth and went over the mare's coat again. She then put a blanket over the mare back and fastened it up. After untying the Light, she walked the mare to the trailer in the front of the barn. Light went into the trailer willingly and stood quietly while Rhea tied her. She shut the back of the trailer and walked back into the barn. She grabbed the tack she would need and grooming equipment.

After sticking it in the backseat of the truck, she hopped into the drivers side and shut the door. She started the truck and took off slowly. She could feel Light moving around and finding her balance. Once Light had her place, Rhea sped up. She turned onto the main road and headed quickly toward the showgrounds. Rhea watched the scenery as it went by quickly, keeping one eye on the road. The road was clear, that was good. The show started at eight, it was seven now. The sun had just come up about an hour ago.

She pulled up to the showgrounds fifteen minutes later. Lightning was getting excited, Rhea could feel it. She found a place and parked. Killing the engine, she hopped out and shut her door. She went around to the back of the trailer and opened the back. Lightning whinnied from inside and pawed the floor of the trailer.

"Easy, baby." Rhea used a calm voice and approached the mare. Light stood calmly as Rhea untied her. Rhea led the mare out and tied her to the side of the trailer, taking off the blanket. She quickly grabbed Light's tack and tacked her up. The mare cow-kicked when Rhea reached to get the girth. Rhea calmly tried again and Lightning stood still. After finishing with the saddle, Rhea grabbed the bridle. She slipped the halter off the mares head and around her neck. When Rhea lifted the bridle, the mare's head flew up.

"Hey now," she said in annoyance. She pulled on the lead line until the mare's head came down. She slipped the bit in the mare's mouth and put the bridle on, fastening the throat latch. She removed the mare's halter from her neck and put it in the truck. Lightning looked perfect. Rhea shed her sweats revealing cream coloured breeches and a fancy overcoat of ebony black. "Okay, we're going to go get our number and you're going to behave. She led the mare toward the officials tent, passing horses of every colour. Bays, browns, blacks, greys, whites, chestnuts, Pinto, Paints, sorrels, and many more.

There was a line when they got to the tent. The lady in the front was causing a fuss, holding up the line. In front of Rhea there was a young man with blonde hair and lightning-blue eyes. He was dressed in snow-white breeches and a red overcoat. Then Rhea's attention went to his horse. Her jaw nearly dropped at the site of the animal. The gelding was white. Pure white, not a single out of line hair on him. His mane was plated, just like Light's. Not a single hair stuck out. Rhea really envied the close-touch jumping saddle on the horse's back. She dreamed of flying over fences perfectly with a horse like this one.

Rhea was so into her dream that she didn't notice Lightning nibble on the gelding hindquarters playfully. The gelding cocked a hind leg angrily and snorted. The young man who owned the gelding had turned around and looked at Lightning. She nudged the gelding this time and made him kick. This scared Lightning, making her rear, dragging Rhea out of her dream and ripping the reins from her hands. Rhea fell backwards onto the ground and watched fearfully what Lightning was doing.

The mare spun on her haunches and galloped off. The young man did a flying mount and galloped after Lightning. Rhea was completely lost at what was going on. She got up and dusted herself off. She looked around for Lightning, finding her in the jumping ring, messing up every jump another rider and mount were trying to jump. She even crashed the water jump. Eventually an event official caught Light and with a very angry look on his face said, "Who's ANIMAL is this?"

The young man that had raced after Lightning, dismounted and came forward.

"She's mine, sir." he said in a British accent. He grabbed the reins.

"You and your mounts are disqualified from this event. Sorry, but you can't have horses running loose and ruining things." he said, giving everybody that angry look that everybody cowers from.

"Yes, sir. I'll be on my way." the young man said and mounted his gelding again, leading Lightning over. He stopped in front of Rhea, leaned down and gave Rhea Light's reins. "My name's Eugene Sapphire. Here's your mare. Lovely animal." he said with a charming smile then turned and rode off. Rhea sat there in disbelief. She knew she had recognized him from magazines and TV commercials, but never did she imagine that she would get to see him in person, much less talk to him.

"Eugene Sapphire," she repeated to herself as she walked back to her trailer. Eugene, was the owner and trainer of Sapphire Thoroughbred Estates(c), a famous Thoroughbred breeding and training farm. Biggest in Kentucky. She admired him and his way with horses. She kept updated on Thoroughbed racing as much as she did the progress of STE's racing schedule. Usually every time she watched a race with Eugene and one of his mounts in it, they won. All because of the way Eugene communicated with his mount.

She tied Lightning to the side of the trailer and began untacking her. The maredanced around and tossed her head. "Lightning, stop it. If you want your carrots, you have to behave. No, stop it." Rhea said as Lightning kept trying to walk off. Rhea heard a quiet laugh behind her and froze. Lightning's ears perked and she looked at something behind Rhea. She turned slowly to see Eugene standing a few feet behind her, watching her.

"Do you hold conversations with dogs and cats also? What did she say to you? 'No'?" he said with a wink and smiled at her. "Is she okay?" he asked with concern. Rhea slowly turned back around to hide her blushed face.

"She's fine. Still on her toes though." She said and finally got the mare's bridle off and halter on. She stuck the bridle in the backseat of her truck and went to get the saddle. The mare continued her ritual dance of 'Don't Let Rhea Get It'. Finally, with Eugene's help, the saddle finally came off. Rhea stuck that in her truck as well, turning the pad upside down so it could cool off. They left the mare tied and sat in some lawn chairs near the trailer to keep an eye on her.

"She's a lovely animal. Headstrong, smart, too smart...playful, that should cover it." Eugene said in a low voice, more to himself than to Rhea.

"Yep, too smart for her own good." Rhea said in agreement. They sat for at least an hour talking and laughing about certain horses, races, or shows. They laughed so much they scared other horses that passed. Eventually a show official had to ask them to quiet down or leave.

"Well, I better be off. Stuff to do back at the farm. Nice meeting you Rhea," He stretched out his hand and smiled at her. She happily shook his hand and smiled back. After he left, she got up and went over to Lightning and rubbed the mare's ears gently. She then checked Light's flanks to see if she was cool.

"That's better. Come on." She said softly to the mare and untied her. She led Light into the trailer and and tied her. Rhea walked out of the trailer in time to see Eugene drive by. He waved in a friendly way and she waved back. "He was pretty nice." she commented to herself and locked up the trailer. She made sure all of Light's tack was in her truck and got in. She sighed happily and started the truck. This would be a day to remember.