Transformation: Day 8

Word Count: 48,134

Summary of Events:

Ian arrived at work to learn that the woman had called the school to ask Ian out to dinner, which had left the owner of the school unimpressed until Ian explained what had happened. Taylor, after dining with his aunt, packed the last of his things into his SUV and went to bed so he'd have enough rest to wake up at four in the morning, as he wanted to leave when no one would notice, as even though his maternal grandparents had seemed to understand his reasons, his paternal grandparents were mercilessly haranguing him. Elianne's dad was challenged by his brother to see if he could still ride an endurance course and, as expected, went off course, but wouldn't allow himself to be led back by his father, so Elianne, her uncle, and several others rode out to help catch her dad; shortly after they sighted him and made to cut him off he took off at a gallop and Elianne took a different trail to cut him off . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

Enya charged forward at a gallop faster than Elianne had ever ridden, the hot, fast, quarter-mile gallop that Enya’s breed was famed — and named — for.

Surging into the fork, Elianne was ready with a left heel to Enya’s side and a slide forward with her right hand to bring Enya’s head around quickly, which served to stop Enya and get her blocking the trail all in one.

Elianne’s sides heaved as much as Enya’s, and she felt tense as she heard the sound of galloping hooves approaching until finally Dad and Red charged around the bend.

Red, seeing the obstacle Enya presented, slowed immediately, and in spite of Dad’s vicious efforts not only slowed to a canter, but then a trot, and finally a walk, until he halted with his nose nearly touching Elianne’s knee.

Dad was quite upset, more than Elianne had ever seen him upset before, and tried to goad Red, who looked quite exhausted, to move, swearing at his horse in his efforts.

Elianne reached over and unfastened Red’s bridle. Red dropped the bit easily and seemed grateful for the relief. Elianne rubbed his forehead and the stripe down it.

Gramp appeared soon and looked astonished to see Elianne blocking the trail, but said nothing and merely haltered Red from the saddle and took the bridle, hanging it onto his saddle horn.

The rest charged up moments later and came up short, rather surprised.

“How did you get here Elianne?” Uncle Wade asked.

“There was a cutoff and I took it,” Elianne replied.

“You should’ve mentioned it,” Uncle Wade said.

“I’m sorry,” Elianne replied.

“See, I made it to the end!” Dad cried. “I made it!”

“No, you didn’t Quinn,” Gramp said firmly. “We’re down the west side of the mountains and halfway to Silver Creek.”

“But then how are Wade and Elly here?” Dad asked.

Elianne clenched her jaw.

“They rode out to help me stop you,” Gramp replied.

Dad looked shocked and crestfallen.

“These are the markers you passed,” Elianne said, holding up the left rein. “Do you see them?”

“Yes,” Dad replied.

She lowered the left rein and raised the right. “These are all the markers you did not pass.”

“There’s more,” Dad said.

“Yes,” Elianne said.

“It should’ve taken you an hour to complete that course,” Gramp said. “What has it been now, four hours?”

Uncle Wade radioed Aunt Farrah and was told that it was exactly four hours, seventeen minutes, twelve seconds, and seventy eight milliseconds.

Elianne looked at Dad. Tears filled his eyes and started streaming down his cheeks, but he said nothing.

“Take us up that cutoff,” Uncle Wade instructed. “I’m sure it’ll get us home faster.”

Nodding, Elianne turned Enya and led the way silently, although, as she rode, tears filled her own eyes and streamed down her cheeks; she wasn’t sad that Dad’s endurance riding career was finished, but she was devastated to think of how much more likely it’d just gotten that they were going to have to move into town, where she couldn’t keep Enya.