Horsing Around

By Anna G Berry

For years Gemma and her mother lived like vagabonds, moving from one place to the next. It was fine for a while, but Gemma secretly longs for a place to settle and make some friends. When her mom gets a job that finally puts them both in one place for more than a couple of months, she's excited. This was exactly what she'd hoped for. At a high-end stable there's a boy who makes adjusting easier. He talks to her, makes her laugh and sometimes she wonders if they can be more than friends. She also makes friends with a shy girl at school and a football jock, who has high interest in being more than just friends. When what starts out as a fun trail ride turns into a lost girl in a storm. It's up to Gemma to find her, will she be able to find her before the storm gets worse?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna G Berry
• Release date: Aug 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201661748

Book preview

Chapter One

Time to move to a new place and a new barn. I hated moving, but my mother got a better job in a different city. Ever since my dad passed away, we moved around, jumping from one place to the next. I really hoped this is the last time. As we put the last box in the back of the moving van, I climbed into the front seat. I looked at our house that we lived in for about five years one last time and let out a sigh. I really liked it here; I did not have many friends, so it made it easy to leave. I liked the house and the stable where I rode at. It was a very friendly place. I had three people who I was close to there. Those girls were my only friends, I hope they can visit me once we get settled in. While I go to the new house and new city, let me introduce myself. My name is Gemma Wilson, I am sixteen. I have brown hair and light brown eyes. I was always the odd one at school, always into horses and not so much into boys. I’ve had a boyfriend here and there, but that is it nothing too serious.

Folsom was just an hour away from where we lived. It was a beautiful city, there were a lot of homes that had land with horses on them. I always dreamed of having a house with land to have my own horse on, where I can wake up and see them out of my front door. There were also a few barns in the city as well, one of them was my new barn. The name of the new barn was Hunter Corner. Good thing about it was that it had a horse that I would be leasing. The horse was a twelve-year-old, Oldenburg mare. She was a jet black with all four white socks. She stood at 17hh’s and was gorgeous. I always rode Quarter Horses; never did I think I would ride something so beautiful in my life. I was extremely excited for it.

My mother and I arrived at our new house; it was a cute two bedroom, light blue farmhouse with white pillars and a cute little fence too. I entered the house to see that the living room was a small and cozy. The kitchen, which was right behind the living room, was surprisingly open and roomy. The bedrooms and bathroom were down a hallway right off the living room that you could look down it from the front door. I walked down the hall to find the bathroom was in between the two bedrooms. My mom’s room was towards the back of the house and mine was the one in the front of the hallway, closer to the living room.

I heard my mom enter the house with a box, the moving truck must have arrived. I put my things in my new room and went out to help. It took about almost two hours to unload the truck.

We can unpack everything tomorrow, for now let’s get what we need out and we can head to the barn, My mom said as she unpacked a box that was labeled Kitchen.

Okay, I can help in here if you like? I asked her.

No, no, go find the box labeled bedding in your room and start making your bed. She grabbed a pan before her head disappeared under the countertop.

I made my way to my new room. I found the box my mother told me to start with. I grabbed the sheets; they were my favorite colors, a dark blue and grey. I started making my bed, when I was done with my bed, I began unpacking my whole room. The only things I could not do was my books and ribbons, I was getting to excited to go to the barn. I decided to wait till tomorrow after school to deal with those. Good thing the moving guys put together my bed and bookshelves for me. I placed the boxes with my books next to the bookshelves. I changed into my barn clothes and walked into the living room to find my mom still unpacking the kitchen.

Mom, the barn? I asked as she popped her head up.

Oh, yes. Sorry I got so wrapped up with unpacking sweetheart. She grabbed the keys and motioned me to go to the door.

I let out a giggle and opened the door, we drove the short drive to the barn. When we got to the barn; it was much fancier than the last barn. I could see the jumping area was set up for someone. As we got closer, I could see there was a dressage area next to the jumping area. We park in the parking lot in front of the stable. I get out of the car and see a woman walking our way.

Good afternoon, my name is Kathy Smith, you can call me Ms. Kathy. You must be Gemma. Would you like to see Aspen? the woman asked as she held out her hand.

Yes, ma’am. I would love to see her! I said as I shook her hand.

Great, Mom you can sit in the office if you like. Gemma follow me, Ms. Kathy said as she turned around and walked towards the barn.

I followed her into the barn, it had a few twists and turns to Aspen’s stall. She was more beautiful than the pictures gave her credit for. Her coat shone like the night sky; her feet looked like she was standing in the snow. She gave my hand a lick which tickled my hand, I gave her a smile. I reached out and gave her head a rub, I then gave her good pat on her neck.

"Would you like to take