The New Boy

[Millie Daveys]

Millie Daveys and Dreamcatcher
with
Josh Ville and This Means War

[/u]

Millie rode the young filly onto the track. She nickered softly and the hot air from her nostrils smoked as it hit the cold air outside. Cher looked around. They were the only ones on the track at this moment. Cher tossed her head high and giddily reared a little. Millie sat quietly in the saddle and lifted her hands forwards as to not pull on Cher's mouth. The chestnut filly jerked forward repetedly, jerking to sudden halts how and then. Millie sat confidently, even if she was being thrown around a little, and waited for the filly to calm down.

Josh had just mounted Ans. He made his way to the entrance of the track as he noticed Millie's horse acting up. He joked with Ans, saying that he better not embarrass him like that today. Josh directed Ans over in the direction of Millie and Cher, but decided it would be best to keep a little distance. He walked up behind Millie, clearing his thoat to make her aware of his presence. Millie's eyes shot to take a quick glance at Josh, before taking her concentration back to Cher. Need a hand? Josh joked. Millie's face dropped, she wasn't impressed. No, said Millie sternly no thankyou. She was a little embarrassed that Cher had decided to act up the first time her and Josh were working together. Josh shook his head and urged Ans forward a little to keep up with the giddy chestnut.

Ans began trotting on his toes a little, Cher seemed to be rubbing off on him a little. Josh rolled his eyes and tried to calm Ans, a fall was the last thing he needed right now. He took his eyes away from the colt for a second to check Millie and Cher out once again. Millie had reined the chestnut filly in and had her under control. She danced down the track a little still, but a little bit of spark was always good. Without saying a word, she pushed the newly grade five filly forward into a trot. Josh realised that they seemed to be pulling away abit and as Ans quickened his striding, he pushed him forward in to a quick trot to catch up.

The pair of horses and riders made their way simultaneously down the straight side of the track. Josh kept glancing over in Millie's direction. She blanked him and focused on Cher. Millie was a hard cookie to crack. Josh was a little baffled by her, but it made him even more intrigued to find who was behind the mask. What're we doing then? Josh spoke to break the almost silence, apart from the movement of the dirt beneith them. Millie looked at him properly for the first time since they had arrived at the track. She pulled Cher back to a sudden halt and Josh quickly did the same, a little shocked by her actions. Well, today isn't for the horses. Millie said. It's for you. A little confused, Josh raised his eyebrown. He shrugged his shoulders and looked for more from Millie. You need to prove to me how good you really are. Sure you won that yearling from the Intrepid sale, but your riding skills and bidding skills may be at different ends of the spectrum. If you want to keep that yearling, you've got to earn it. Josh was a little taken back. He thought he had that colt for sure, after all it was him who had wanted it and gone to the sale to win it. The game's not so easy is it? Josh smiled a little, looked at the ground and shook his head. Millie really did drive a hard bargain. Well, at least he knew what he was up against now. Millie smiled back, knowing that Josh had been shook back into reality and got down of his high horse.

Millie pushed the fiery filly into a walk, trot, canter. The filly lowered her head a little and gave a little buck of excitement. Josh followed up behind in a more controlled canter with Ans. After a short canter, Josh's cheeky personality seemed to come back to life. He urged Ans on a little, so that he would overtake Millie and Cher. As he flew past, he stretched out his arm and slapped the back of Millie's helmet. Millie looked to the side, shocked. Josh's face dropped as he saw Millie's expression, he wasn't sure how she would react now. As he saw the smile begin to take over her face he laughed and took the lead, shouting as he did so, Come on then, show me what you've really got! Three furlongs to the finish line, loser makes the brews. Millie was captured by his cheeky smile and was a little struck for words.

Seconds later, she urged Cher into a gallop. The two horses ran side by side for a hundered yards or so until they reached the next furlong marker. Three furlongs started now.

Josh liked Millie, but he was determind to win today and show her that he was worth it. Ans took the lead a little, only a head or so. He was confident and had age over Cher, however Cher had the advantage of a recent, confidence boosting win and Millie as her rider. Where as Josh had never ridden Ans before in his life. The colt settled into a rhythmic pace infront of the filly and he seemed to be oozing confidence today after a recent lack of it. Maybe Josh would actually be a good influence on the colt. Millie had seen something in Josh and this is why she wanted him to ride Ans, to try and relight the spark.

Josh glanced back at Millie and Cher behind him. Both horses were quite settled in their paces now and were focused on the race, even if Millie and Josh were not paying 100% attention. Millie couldn't focus fully, no matter how hard she tried Josh kept grabbing her attention, even when he did nothing. He was a good rider that's for sure and Millie regretted ever doubting him for a second. As they were only running three furlongs, as the first furlong marker passed Millie brought Cher up level with Ans. For a minute they battled, see-sawing back on forth with the lead. Though Josh soon settled Ans and as he did so Cher seemed quieten down a little too.

The horses ran quietly and focused. Soon they flashed by the two furlong marker, head to head. They were in the final furlong now. Josh turned to Millie, Cya later! he said cheekily. He winked at her just as he urged Ans on. Ans dropped his head and reached out with every stride. Millie turned bright red, before also urging Cher on after a slight delay. Ans had a good length on Cher, though she wasn't going to let this go easily. Cher was a young, yet tough filly who battled for her desires. With every stride she seemed to gain more and more speed and gained ground towards Ans and Josh. Ans was running strong and managed to hold the lead. As they flew past the three furlong marker, Ans held the lead by half a length, with Cher finishing closely behind him.

Ans seemed to strut his stuff after his victory. Cher wasn't too beaten down after her loss and seemed confident in her self still. Josh smiled, happy that he had grabbed victory and that he had proven him self. Not too bad. Millie said as she rode past him. She smiled so he couldn't see, and headed back to the barn with nothing else to say. Josh knew that she approved, he followed her back to the barn, staying back a little, happy with Ans. He had high hopes to bring out his winning side.

1,319 Word Count

[/size]