Dotty’s Story – Chapter Eight
By mosquito
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23rd Jan 2011 •
3,292 views
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11 comments
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But Dotty didn’t want to run, but she didn’t have a choice. Every day it was the same. Wake up early, and head out to the track and try to run, and try to stay away from Solo. Dotty didn’t see Solo much, and never on the track. It seemed like they weren’t out there at the same time anymore, but she’d see Solo coming back from her workouts, snorting and sweaty. Solo never failed to shoot a nasty look her way. Some days were different; Dotty would just canter quietly around the track. She always liked those days, even though they always ended up with her going into the big metal stalls on the track, standing around, and then cantering out when they opened. Some horses hated it; Dotty could see them rear and kick and dig their hooves into the sand. She didn’t understand what all the fuss was about, but maybe it felt different for bigger horses. Dotty didn’t mind; the stalls seemed pretty spacious to her.
Whenever the girl asked, Dotty always tried to run on the track. Memories was getting frustrated with her, shouting at her to get over it and get galloping, and even the girl started to urge her on more, although she never raised the whip. She’d sure shake it at Dotty though, but Dotty never felt it. She wished she could explain to them how she felt. How she really wanted to run, but she just couldn’t. Not after what happened to Maryanne.
One day Dotty woke up and she sensed something was different. She went out to the track, but Memories wasn’t with her. She and the girl just jogged and cantered for a while, but then they didn’t go to the stalls. They just went back to the barn. Jimmy was strangely quiet. Usually when he hosed Dotty off he would sing, but there was no sound from him today. He put Dotty back in her stable and disappeared for hours.
After lunch Jimmy came to get her. He had a saddle and bridle, but they weren’t her usual ones. He led her to a new stall, in a short row, where he brushed her off and tacked her up, still without his usual chatter or a song. Just like the first day, he stopped, took her firmly by the head, and Dotty could see the same serious look on his face.
‘This is it, Dotty.’ He said. She could feel his hands shaking a little bit on her cheekpieces. ‘This is your big day. But it doesn’t matter how you go, as long as you come back safe. Just try your best; no one can ask you for any more. Your best will always be enough.’
Dotty looked back at him. It had been a long time since she’d heard those words. She really would try her best today, whatever they asked of her.
He led Dotty out to where a smartly dressed but small man was standing, talking to the old man she recognized from the farm. She hadn’t seen him for days. The small man nodded, and before she knew it Jimmy had him up and in the saddle. He seemed a little heavier than the girl, but not much.
‘Not far to fall on this one at least’ he said, and chuckled. Jimmy turned around. ‘Not funny.’ He said. I don’t care what you heard, but you just get her back safe. She means the world to those kids.’
‘I hear she’s not too steady on her feet.’ The rider said. ‘Any truth to that?’ Dotty winced.
‘None whatsoever.’ Jimmy said, looking straight ahead.
Dotty stepped out onto the track, and she could feel the tension building. An older horse came up alongside, and his rider reached over and grabbed Dotty’s rein. She didn’t know why, she wasn’t going anywhere.
‘Just take it easy,’ the old horse said. ‘This your first race?’
So that was it. A race. A real race. Dotty really wasn’t sure she was up to this today. She almost closed her eyes and tried to imagine herself back in her stable.
‘Watch it!’ the old horse said. ‘Watch where you’re going!’
‘Sorry, sorry.’ Dotty said. ‘I just don’t know…’
‘You don’t need to know.’ The old horse said, a little more reassuringly. ‘Just follow instructions, do as you’re told, and try your best. Nobody expects much first time out.’
Dotty felt oddly reassured by this, but somehow she thought everyone seemed to expect quite a lot of her. As the cantered along past the grandstand, Dotty looked at all the faces watching her. The stands were pretty empty, not like the days when she could almost feel the stable walls shake with the roar of the crowd. But that meant some faces were easy to spot.
There was Maryanne, in a wheelchair, and with her were Connie and Daniel. This changed everything.
As they reached the starting stalls, Dotty slowed to a walk, and the old horse moved away. ‘Good luck Shorty!’ he called to her. She kind of wished he could stay with her for the whole race. The horses were moving quickly into the stalls, and soon it was Dotty’s turn. She stepped quietly into the stalls, and the gates closed behind her.
‘Well, well.’ She heard the horse next to her say. She’d know that voice anywhere. It was Solo. She heard Solo chuckle briefly, and as Dotty took a deep breath and thought things just couldn’t get any worse, the bell rang, the gates opened, and they were off. |
Related: Dotty's Story - Chapter One, Dotty’s Story - Chapter Two, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Three, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Four, Dotty’s story – Chapter Five, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Six, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Seven, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Eight, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Nine, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Ten, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Eleven, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Twelve, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Thirteen, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Fourteen, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Fifteen, Dotty’s Story – Chapter Sixteen, Dotty’s Story - Chapter Seventeen - The End,
More In This Category: Horse Fiction
More From This Author: mosquito
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Breegirly
AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! I have fallen in love with this.... when's the next chapter coming huh huh huh huh???
AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! I have fallen in love with this.... when's the next chapter coming huh huh huh huh???
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Jan 23, 2011
• 2,263 views
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L u n a r
I love Dotty's story. :) Thank you so much for taking the time to write it and please, Keep it coming!
I love Dotty's story. :) Thank you so much for taking the time to write it and please, Keep it coming!
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Jan 23, 2011
• 2,441 views
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MontanaMountain
i love this story you should make it in to a book i cant wait to hear the next one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
i love this story you should make it in to a book i cant wait to hear the next one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
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Jan 23, 2011
• 2,271 views
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Padfoot Designs
Gah!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOO!!!!! I hates when story's end like that! I can't wait for the next one!! Nice 'hook' and the beginning and defiantly at the end :)
Gah!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOO!!!!! I hates when story's end like that! I can't wait for the next one!! Nice 'hook' and the beginning and defiantly at the end :)
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Jan 23, 2011
• 2,285 views
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Riders Up Ranch
these chapters are so well written they bring tears to my eyes :) I just can't wait to find out how the race goes!!!!
these chapters are so well written they bring tears to my eyes :) I just can't wait to find out how the race goes!!!!
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Jan 23, 2011
• 2,368 views
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Finally There
Man! You need to publish this! =) I LOVE it!
Man! You need to publish this! =) I LOVE it!
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Jan 23, 2011
• 2,247 views
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Madeirey
What BrenLOLHorse Said!
What BrenLOLHorse Said!
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Jan 23, 2011
• 2,244 views
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Pink Pony
i love dottys story its really good!!! when is the next chapter!!!
i love dottys story its really good!!! when is the next chapter!!!
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Jan 24, 2011
• 2,271 views
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No Walkin Farms9
Oh. Have to find the next one fast. Love it!
Oh. Have to find the next one fast. Love it!
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42 days ago
• 2,260 views
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May 9, 2011
• 2,422 views
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Jun 18, 2011
• 2,400 views
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