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The day passed by slowly for Cassidy Norton, and most of it was spent sitting at her desk, staring out the window. In front of her sat her journal, open to the page containing the list of horses. Her eyes watched the mustang in the corral as he paced circles around the arena. She could see the sharp flick of his tail and the puffs of dust rising off the ground with each step he took. Sighing heavily, she looked down at the list. Cassidy twirled the pen around her fingers for a moment before clicking it open with her thumb. She scratched out the name Pepper, shaking her head. "Too temperamental..." she thought aloud, "Wouldn't want Sue gaining any of her bad habits." Three names remained on the sheet, and Cassidy thought of each horse as she read them. "Jinx," she murmured quietly, thinking of the short little pony. Jinx was full of spunk and cheek. He would certainly make a playmate who could keep up with Sue, but how would Sue react to his sass? "Beaux," she moved on. Beaux was an old and gentle appaloosa. Cassidy had used him to gentle horses in the past and it had worked well, but she was hesitant in this instance. If Sue reacted badly to the older stallion, Beaux was too gentle to fight back. Worse, he was too old to take the punches. Cassidy scratched out his name fervently. "Goose," Cassidy spoke the last name with a sigh. Goose was her brothers old roping horse. When he went off to college to be a chiropractor he left Goose behind. Cassidy tapped his name with the pen point softly. Goose was young and able. He was sweet but still willing to do the work needed to get the job done. But still, Cassidy resented the idea of using anything that had to do with Jeremy, no matter how much it could help. Groaning, she threw herself back into her chair. "What am I going to do with you?" she murmured to the gelding in the corral.
Hours past before Cassidy finaly forced herself out of her seat. She took a final glance down at the list. Her options were down to Jinx and Goose, and she still was unsure of who she was going to pick. She made her way towards the barn, passing the corral where Sue had stopped to look at her. His big brown eyes followed her all the way into the stable. A palomino head craned over the stall to look at her. Cassidy rubbed his muzzle softly. "Hello Goose," she murmured. The palomino bobbed his head before looking out at the corral. He neighed softly out to Sue who neighed back. "You like him?" Cassidy murmured quietly, taking Goose's halter off the hook. Slipping the halter over Goose's head, Cassidy opened the stall. Goose walked out, waiting by Cassidy though he looked at the new arrival in curiosity. "Want to go see, huh, boy?" Cassidy said patting his neck. She clucked her tongue lowly leading Goose out to the corral. Sue moved cautiously along the wall, avoiding Cassidy but curious of the new horse. He pawed the dirt before rearing playfully.
Goose stood patiently, as Cassidy opened the gate. Minding Sue, she led Goose in and let him off his halter. Closing the gate, Cassidy watched as the two sniffed each other before playing as if they had known each other forever. A small smile spread over her face as she watched the two horses, and for the first time in the competition, she felt confident that she could, and would, do this.
Later that night in her room, Cassidy pulled out her journal and began to write.
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