Chapter Eight
“Mia, are you sure you want me to leave you so early?” Mom said the morning of the show. “There’s nobody else here.”
Mia nodded. “I’m sure, Mom,” she said. “I need some extra time with Diamond.”
“All right,” Mom said. “Dad and I will be back later. We’ll be watching for you!”
Mia waved as Mom drove away. But as soon as the minivan was out of sight, she frowned.
Diamond still wouldn’t let her bridle him. It was so frustrating! She’d been so careful. She hadn’t made one careless mistake. And he’d made so much progress.
But she couldn’t ride him in the show if she couldn’t get his bridle on. And something told her that Maren wouldn’t be around to rescue her today.
Diamond pricked his ears as she slid back his stall door. He nuzzled her pocket for his treat. She quietly patted his neck.
“Big day today, boy,” she told him.
He crunched his carrot noisily. Little bits of orange fell from his lips.
“I need some help, okay?” she said to him. “I need you to trust me.” She looked into his huge brown eyes. He gazed back calmly.
Mia grabbed the grooming box. She curried Diamond’s coat until it gleamed. Then she combed out his long mane and tail. She lifted the saddle into place and buckled the girth.
She could hear other riders arriving. They were loudly talking to each other. Stall doors clanged everywhere.
Sky’s face appeared at Diamond’s stall door. “Hey!” she said. “Trixie rolled in the pasture. She’s got dried mud all over her. How’s Diamond?”
“Great,” said Mia. “He hasn’t tried to bite once. But then again, I haven’t tried that yet either.” She nodded toward the bridle hanging outside the stall door.
“Remember what Maren said. He just has to trust you,” Sky reminded her.
“I know,” Mia said.
“Got to go. I have to start washing Trixie. See you in the ring,” Sky said as she waved goodbye.
Mia took a deep breath. She lifted the bridle off the hook. Diamond eyed the bridle suspiciously.
“Just you and me now, boy,” she muttered.
Mia draped the reins over Diamond’s neck. She steeled herself. Then, carefully and slowly, she fit the bit into his mouth. She brought her hand up over his forehead. This was the hard part.
Diamond didn’t move. He stood, tense. Mia sensed he was about to try to jerk away. But instead of getting tense in return, she forced her body to relax.
Her hands were soft and steady. She murmured, “There now, there now,” over and over.
Mia felt the muscles in Diamond’s neck relax. Then he actually lowered his head a few inches. This was it! Mia knew she’d only get one chance. If she didn’t get the bridle on the first time, she wasn’t going to get it on at all.
Mia put her hand on Diamond’s long, velvety ears. He held still. She could feel his breath whooshing in and out. It was hot on her arm. She slid the bit into his mouth. No problem there.
She slowly reached her hand gently up his face toward his ears. She slid the headstall into place over one ear. She expected him to jerk away. But Diamond didn’t move.
Now the other ear. There it was! She did it! Mia smoothed his forelock. She buckled the throatlatch. She stood back, breathing hard. She did it!
Diamond looked back at her as if he didn’t believe what had just happened. Three days ago, Mia would have hugged him around the neck. But now she just patted him calmly.
“Good boy!” she said in a low, happy voice.
Just then she heard Maren call, “Okay, riders, let’s go!”
Mia buckled on her helmet. She took hold of Diamond’s reins. It was showtime.
