The next morning was a Sunday, and Tessa had lined me out the night before as to what would happen that day.  She and her family left for church as soon as they finished the morning chores.  I could help with morning chores if I chose to, and when it came time to leave for church, the choice was mine to stay or to go with them. 

The morning was the same as last time, only there was a greater sense of urgency.  As Tessa had told me the night before, the Wellens were serious about getting to church on time, and did everything in their power to make it happen.  

Part of me was wondering why they didn't do the later service instead of the first service at their church, but I suppose they had their reasons.  

After feeding, it was time to much stalls.  Despite the fact that I hadn't mucked that many stalls in my lifetime, I still knew how to do it and assisted Tessa.  

Like with feeding, I discovered how oddly enjoyable it was.  Taking a dirty stall and transforming it into a comfortable, clean place for a horse was satisfying.  There was something that was more fulfilling about working for something instead of just having it handed to you, as I was finding out.  

It was a lesson I had though I'd already learned; I worked like crazy to be at my best to win.  But somehow, this was different.

Tessa had obviously mucked stalls many, many more times than I had.  By the time I'd finished one stall, she'd completed two.  And her stalls also looked neater than mine.  

"So, you do all the mucking out yourself?"  I asked her as we walked up to the house.  I hadn't seen her parents helping us out.  

"In the morning, oftentimes yes.  But I don't have to do it in the evening, mom and dad do it then."  

"Ah, okay."  

Tessa glanced at the clock on the wall as she pushed open the door.  "Thanks to you, I have  twenty minutes to get ready for church instead of my usual ten."  She grinned back at me.  "Have you decided if you're coming or not?"  

I shrugged.  "I guess I'll come."  I had no desire to be left in an empty house by myself and figured what was the harm?  

"If you don't have anything to wear besides riding clothes, I can lend you something.  Although, I don't have much in the way of that sort of thing myself."  

I followed her up the stairs.  "I think I have something."  I had packed one outfit in case we went somewhere.

"Alright, see you in fifteen."  Tessa shut the door to her room and I went to mine. 

My outfit was a flashy red blouse with designer jeans.  I didn't where that type of thing often, but I think I wore it more often than Tessa did.  I had thought myself completely dedicated to the sport, but Tessa seemed to be even more immersed.  

After changing and applying light make up, I grabbed my phone and wallet, then stepped out into the hall.  

Tessa was already there.  She had a little light make up on, which I'd never seen on her before.  A long beautiful turquoise shirt that reached mid thigh floated around her.  The change was so different from her usual that I blinked.

She looked up from her phone and her eyes widened.  "Wow Vanessa, you look great."  

"Thanks, you do too."  

She chuckled.  "I think this is the first time we've seen each other without riding clothes on."  

I laughed with her.  "Yeah, I think it is."

Tessa looked down at her phone as another text came in.  "Lacy and I usually ride together on Sundays, so I'm assuming you want to join us for that."  

"Oh yeah, totally.  At your place, right?"  

She nodded.  "Sometimes we go to her's, but today we're just going to be doing some light jumping in the outdoor."  She smirked at me.  "Well, she and I are.  We don't know about you yet."  

"Is that a challenge?"  

She shrugged and pocketed her phone.  "Maybe."  She winked and then turned to go down the stairs.  

Church was not as bad, nor as boring, as I had expected.  This book focuses on my journey with Medallion, and so I will not talk about what happened there here.  But suffice it to say, it gave me a lot to think about, and challenged me, as had pretty much everything on this visit.  

We picked up lunch in town, then went to Star Run to get ready to ride.  

I gratefully shimmied out my nice outfit and into some breeches.  Sometimes I liked being dressed up, but always I was glad to change back into what I was used to.

Tessa said that on Sundays, the stable wasn't as busy, it was Saturdays that were the days they were overrun.  

She was right, there was only one other girl there besides us.  She was tacking up a pretty chestnut that reminded me of Win.  

"Hello Hazel," Tessa sang out as we walked in.  

She looked up from tightening the girth.  "Hey Tessa."  Her eyes landed on me with curiosity. 

"This is Vanessa Ireden, she's visiting with us for the weekend.  Vanessa, this is Hazel Simpson."

Hazel eyes opened wide as she recognized me.  "Say, I remember you!  I saw you once at an event.  You trounced everyone in your division."   

I didn't know which event she'd was talking about, but I smiled and nodded.  "Were you competing?"  

"Oh no, I was just there as a spectator.  But I remember you distinctly because you rode so fast and furiously."  

"That sounds like Vanessa alright," Tessa said as she grabbed both Challenger's and Medallion's halters.  "We're going to be riding with Lacy in the outdoor arena and do some jumping, are you going to join us?"  

"If you don't mind."  

Tessa handed Medallion's halter to me.  "Alright, see you then."  

The friendly interaction between Hazel, Tessa, and myself was another stark contrast to Vantage Point.  I had rarely seen that type of friendliness, much less interacted with it myself.  

Medallion was turned out in a paddock by herself.  She and Coco seemed to be making friends through the fence when I walked in to fetch her.  

Medallion let out a squeal of indignation and turned away from the grulla pony with a huff.  Spotting me, she pricked her ears forward.  

"Are you being mean to Coco?"  I said as I walked up to her.  "Be nice, I don't want to be kicked out of Star Run because of you."  

She shook her mane.  I smiled affectionately and rubbed the little white spot behind her ear before putting her halter on.  "Tessa thinks I can jump you today, but I'm not so sure.  However...  I haven't ever jumped you before and I'm really curious to see what you feel like."  

I buckled the halter.  "I guess...  If you're good-  No, if we're good, maybe we could try it?"  

She shook her mane again and snorted. 

Bubbling Lacy showed up on Russo just as Tessa and I finished tacking up.  "Hey guys! Lovely day isn't it?  Vanessa, it's good to see you here!"  

I smiled at her.  "You too, Lacy, you too."  

"Oooh, you got miss pretty, sassy girl here with you.  Medallion, right?  Are you going to jump her today?"  

"I don't know yet.  Maybe, if everything goes well."  

"It will."  Tessa let down her stirrup.  "You'll see."  

I tightened the girth up one more hole.  "I hope so."  The more I had thought about jumping Medallion, the more I wanted to. 

Hazel had been kind and already set up a mini course in the arena.  She was cantering around on her pretty chestnut.  I could tell she knew what she was doing.  

"Hello Hazel!"  Lacy bellowed out.  

She looked up.  "Hey Lacy!"  

Once again, I was struck by the friendliness everyone showed to one another.  Lacy was analyzing how Hazel rode, or Hazel didn't look with envious eyes at Tessa.  They were not in competition against one another, in fact, they looked like they wanted to the other to succeed.  

Suddenly, I knew that even if all I did was walk around on Medallion, they would still be happy for me.  They wouldn't pushing me to jump because they were judging me for doing too little, they would push me because they truly believed that Medallion and I could. 

AN:  Who remembers Hazel?  I honestly had no plans to bring her back into this but figured why not.  Who knows, maybe she'll end up getting a book of her own ;)  

The unnamed chestnut she's riding happens to be this pretty boy (click the link in the inline comment) photo submitted by Katniss_Rue_Mellark 

Link to photo ---> 

I did feel this chapter was bit too much of a filler, but I do want to show Vanessa can make friends, she's not a meanie ;)  Just jaded.  

Anyhow, thank you for reading!