Read Online Liberty and the Dream Ride by Stacy Gregg - Free Book Online

the racetrack was over a kilometre, enough to tire a racehorse, but Comet came past the post without breaking a sweat. Issie sat up a little in the saddle to slow him, but Comet didn’t want to stop now. He continued to pull on the reins, demanding to be let loose so that he could go faster. Watching from the sidelines Avery waved Issie on to go around again. She gave him a nod then leant down low over Comet’s neck and urged the skewbald on.
    She was balanced up above the withers, rocking in perfect rhythm with the pony beneath her as they completed the second circuit. Avery waved them on again, and Issie actually clucked the pony and put her legs on to ask for even more speed. Comet responded without hesitation, and the thunder of his hooves on the track became faster and louder, pounding like the blood in Issie’s veins as they stretched out in full gallop. They had ridden three kilometres when they passed the marker once more and this time Avery signalled with his hands to slow down. Issie sat back in the saddle and strengthened her grip on the reins. The pony was snorting and trembling from the thrill of the run and at first she had trouble convincing him, but she spoke softly to Comet and eventually the skewbald trotted, before taking a final lap at a walk to cool down. By the time they came back to join Avery Comet was swinging along with his ears pricked forward and looked keen to do it all over again.
    Avery looked pleased. “He’s fitter than he’s ever been.”
    Issie dismounted and ran up her stirrups. “He felt great out there. You were right Tom, he just needed to blow the cobwebs out. He’s ready for this – I can feel it.”
    Comet was much more settled by the next morning and when Avery arrived at the stables he instructed Stella to tack the skewbald up in his dressage gear ready for a solid schooling session.
    Issie mounted up and Avery walked alongside her as they headed out to the arena, outlining his plan for the final three days of training before the competition began.
    â€œWe’ll do some schooling today, but let’s not run through the actual dressage test. Comet is smart and we don’t want him to learn the sequences off by heart, or he’ll anticipate your next movement and may change paces too soon. I’ve booked the showjumping arena tomorrow for three p.m., and we’ll pop him over a course with a lot of twists and turns just to get you both in the groove again. Then on Thursday he can have a light schooling session after he’s passed the trot-up…” Avery’s sentence trailed off as he looked over towards the dressage arenas and saw Tara Kelly and Marcus with Liberty saddled up and ready. Standing beside them was a distinguished-looking middle-aged man in a pinstripe suit.
    â€œLooks like Liberty’s owner has arrived,” Avery said.
    Mr Valmont was not alone. Two men, both dressed in suits and wraparound sunglasses, stood back and waited behind him while he talked with Tara and Marcus.
    As Issie and Avery walked past with Comet, Tara called them over and did the introductions. “Tom Avery and Isadora Brown – this is Mr Valmont.”
    â€œCall me Tyrel,” Valmont said as he shook hands with Avery.
    Issie noticed that the hand extended to Avery was perfectly manicured and a diamond-studded watch hung round its wrist. Everything about Tyrel Valmont oozed wealth and success, from his sleek silver-grey hair, to his sparkling white teeth and tanned skin.
    He exposed those perfect teeth now as he smiled at Issie. “I think I owe you a debt of thanks, young lady. Marcus was just telling me that you had a hand in keeping my mare out of trouble in Rio Rancho.”
    â€œI’m just glad that she’s safe,” Issie said.
    â€œSo am I,” Valmont said. He looked at Liberty. “This mare is a key asset in my stables and I wouldn’t want anything else to go wrong.” Valmont looked