Free Destiny by chance: A Contemporary Romance Fiction Novel by Margaret Ferguson Page B

bridled her and led her from the paddock. 
    “Hi,” a small voice said.
    Destiny turned with a start.  “Hi.” 
    “I’m Sydney.  I’m eight,” she smiled, her arms behind her back.  “What’s your name?”
    Destiny knelt by her side.  “I’m Destiny.  But you can call me Dee.  We met Friday night.  Remember?”
    Sydney nodded.  “That’s a pretty name.”  She studied Destiny for a moment.  “Are you going to ride Daisy?”
    “Yup,” she smiled.  “I was just about to saddle her up.”
    “Can I ride with you?”
    Destiny looked around.  “Well, I don’t know, Sweetie.  Where are your parents?”
    “My dad had to go out of town.  Usually, we go to church on Sundays.”
    Jessie walked around the corner.  “There you are, little miss.  I was looking for you.  I thought you went to gather eggs.”
    Sydney took the basket from behind her and held it up.  “Here they are.” 
    Destiny looked down.  “My, you gathered all those yourself?”
    Sydney nodded excitedly.
    Jessie took the egg basket and hugged Sydney to her side.  “You remember our grand-niece, Sydney?”
    “We’ve officially met,” Destiny replied.
    “Can I go riding with Dee?” Sydney asked.
    “Well, Honey,” Jessie said, uncomfortably.  “Miss Destiny usually rides alone.”
    “Has she ridden before?”
    “Almost every week,” Sydney interrupted.
    Destiny looked down at the young girl, then up at Jessie, who nodded.  “Surprisingly, she’s pretty good,” she began.  “But, if you would prefer to ride alone, I can take her out after breakfast.”
    Destiny looked down at Sydney, who pleaded with her eyes, and smiled.  “Sure.  Why not.”
    Sydney beamed, calmly walked to the tack room just two stalls away, and took out a bridle.  The young girl walked three stalls in the other direction, opened the door, and less than a minute later, walked out with a pony bridled.  All under the watchful eye of Destiny and Jessie.  Sydney looked at the women.
    “Well,” Destiny grinned, turning to Jessie.  “I guess we’ll see you in a little while.”
    Jessie winked at her and then turned to Sydney.  “Little lady, you had better use your manners.  Miss Destiny is the senior rider here, so if she gives you any instructions, you listen, you hear me?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “And I want you back by ten.  That way Miss Destiny can have some time to herself.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “And she has my phone number, so no shenanigans like last time, okay?”
    “Yes, Aunt Jessie.” Sydney waited patiently for the instructions to end so she could ride.
    “You sure about this?” she turned back to Destiny.
    “Absolutely,” she replied, looking over at Sydney, anxiety brimming in the child’s eyes.
    Jessie leaned over and kissed her niece on the head.  “Best behavior,” her aunt whispered, loud enough for Destiny to hear.  She stood up and turned to leave.  “I’ll keep my cell phone on,” she said to Destiny, with a glance to Sydney.  Jessie patted her coat pocket, then turned and walked toward the main house.
    Sydney looked up at Destiny.  “You ready?” she asked.
    Destiny raised her eyebrows, a little taken aback by the boldness of an eight-year-old.  “Sure.”
    Sydney led, and Destiny followed back to the tack room.  Sydney tied her mount, like a pro, to the boards beside her and then slowly ran her hand over his back and flank.  Then she slowly picked up each hoof to check for pebbles or rocks.  Destiny watched the child carefully look over her mount to assure that he was fit to ride.  Then Sydney looked up at the woman expectantly.  Destiny slowly tied Daisy beside the pony and checked over her in much the same way.  When finished, she walked to the other side of her horse.  Sydney had already saddled Peanut and was tightening the cinch. 
    “Can you please help me make sure it’s tight enough?”
    “Sure, Honey.”  She stepped over and checked the cinch, which was