Bree's Challenge

Chapter Eight "Nightmares and Parties"

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own made up characters!

"You're a disgrace. You always have been." He snapped, glaring at me. And then he stepped towards me with his hands outstretched. I gasped, falling back.

I shot up in bed sweating and looked around my room. No one was here. Just me. I was in my room at Uncle Gene's house on Whitebrook Farm. Kentucky. I put my hand on my chest and felt my racing heart. Everything was okay. I repeated it several more times before I got up and got dressed.

It was early still, only around six a.m. Sunday was a day of rest here at Whitebrook so everyone would sleep in until seven when they would be up to feed the horses. I was dressed in a pair of running pants, a sweatshirt, and tennis shoes. I was going to do something I hadn't done in a while. I was going to run. I grabbed my thermal headband to keep my ears warm as I ran and put a pair of gloves on.

Cold air hit me as the door opened. I stepped onto the track and took in the peaceful feeling of the farm. Mist rested over the pastures and the track and all was quiet. I stretched and then started jogging slowly down the track. My knee didn't protest thankfully but that was probably from all the riding I've been doing. I rode Cloud every workout except for the last one before the race. Ashleigh rode her then. I still rode Coffee a few days a week to exercise her and to give myself a break on riding racehorses.

The dirt was a bit hard from the cold and not being ran over this morning and I listened as each foot hit the ground. As I came around the last turn, my head was clear of all my bad thoughts and nightmares. It was just so beautifully peaceful here at Whitebrook that my mind wouldn't let me think anything bad.

I had made another lap when I noticed a figure standing at the opening. Chad's brown hair was nearly hidden by the winter hat he wore on his head. He was holding a cup carrier full of what looked like coffee cups. "You're up early!"

I slowed and leaned against the pole. "Couldn't sleep...in…any…longer." I managed to get out. I took a deep breath. "Decided to take a run to wake up."

"How's your leg feeling?" Chad handed me a nice hot coffee. I shrugged.

"Fine. I warmed up before I ran." I took a sip of the coffee and enjoyed the warmth it brought. "Oh my God, this is so great."

"At least someone is appreciative." Chad smiled and then he sighed, handing me a local racing newspaper. "Cloud made the front page, under Wonder of course, but so did we."

"What?" I asked him frowning. I opened the paper. Whitebrook Filly takes the distaff. A little farther down into the article was a picture of Chad and I holding hands watching the race with the caption Trouble in Townsend-Whitebrook Paradise? "Oh my God. Are they serious? I was also holding onto to Mike and Len not just you!"

Chad laughed. "Don't take it too seriously, Bree. They're just trying to get nosey readers to buy their paper."

"What will Brad think about this?" I worried. Would he think there was something between Chad and me?

Chad snorted. "Please, he knows I can't compete with him. Looks, money, horses."

I placed my hands on my hips, a bit offended, the anger rising in me. "Is that why you think I date him? Because he has money?"

Chad started backtracking with flushed cheeks. "No, no! That's not it, I'm just saying…well…"

"Chad, you're a great guy. So, what you don't have all the money in the world or a barn full of horses. You're funny, nice, a good rider, a good horseman, and you're so laid-back. What's not to like?" I looked down as he smiled, feeling embarrassed. "Don't let it go to your head though."

"I'll try not to." He gave my shoulder a squeeze. "You want to head in for some breakfast? I'm sure Gene is getting ready to fire up the griddle."

"Sure." I smiled at him, following him towards the house.

…..

"I feel so stupid." I muttered to Mike and Gene as we got out of his truck. I wore a dark blue long slim dress that Brad had sent over, gift-wrapped, with a note. He had bought it for me, for tonight. And he loved seeing me in blue apparently.

"Me too." Mike grumbled, even though he wasn't as dressed up as I was. He wore a pair of khakis and a pressed white shirt. I'd take that over this dress. He sighed. "Look at that tent."

A big white tent sat on the lawn of Townsend Acres. Cars lined the driveway. "There's so many people here." I said, a bit panicked. "And I'm the competition. We're the competition. This is going to be awkward."

Mike chuckled. "Yeah, but as long as we praise Wonder and Prince and Townsend Spring enough, they shouldn't glare at us too much."

"Oh you two, calm down." Gene rolled his eyes at us.

I giggled and Mike threw his arm around my shoulders as we entered the big tent. There were green and gold tablecloths with green and gold decorations. Townsend Acres' colors. There was a band playing music and a small bar, a buffet in another corner. People were dressed up, way more than I or Mike were.

"Mike! Bree! Mr. Reese." Ashleigh appeared in front of us in a light pink dress that brought out her hazel eyes. Her hair was up in a sophisticated bun, with tendrils of hair hanging loosely around her face. "I'm so glad you're here!"

Ashleigh hugged us all, holding onto Mike longer. "Brad's been looking for you." Ashleigh told me as we walked past people and tables. "You're sitting at the Townsend table, Mike, Mr. Reese, and I will be sitting with my family."

I made a face at that. "I was hoping to sit with you guys."

"Still feeling nervous about being the competition?" Ashleigh chuckled and I nodded a bit. "Don't worry, just compliment the horses and no one will ever know you're the competition." Ashleigh winked and Mike laughed. I rolled my eyes.

"Bree!" I glanced over to see Brad waving me over to him. I motioned towards him.

"I think I'm being called away. I'll come find you guys in a while." I walked over to Brad and joined him.

"You remember Russell and Stacey, right?" Brad's friends from homecoming, I remembered.

"Yeah, from homecoming." I replied, sliding close to Brad. "You both look so amazing." Stacey was dressed in a pale yellow dress that hugged her curvy figure and her blonde hair almost matched it perfectly. Russell wore dark blue slacks and a white button down shirt.

"Thank you, Bree, so do you. I love that dress." Stacey reached out to touch it gently. I felt a bit weird but had to admit, I loved touching the dress myself. It was silk and so smooth.

"Thanks, Brad gave it to me as a gift, he has great taste." I reached up to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, by the way." I whispered into his ear.

"You are more than welcome, beautiful." He whispered back, with his arm at my back. I made distracted small talk with Stacey as Brad and Russell talked.

"There she is!" I heard Clay's voice and turned to greet him. He hugged me tightly before Brad's mother stole me from him.

"It's so good to see you both." I told them, noticing the few couples behind them. "Congratulations on Wonder's win yesterday. And Prince came in such a close second! What a wonderful finish for Townsend Acres. Oh! And what a beautiful thing you did for Ashleigh." I placed my hand over my heart. "I nearly cried with her."

Clay smiled fondly. "Ashleigh's put a lot of work into Wonder and raising her. She fully deserved it. A wonderful girl she is."

I felt Brad slide his arm around my waist as he came back into the conversation.

"Bree, when will be Cloud's next race?" Angela, Brad's mother asked, placing her hand on my shoulder. I could tell I was the center of attention, everyone waiting on my answer.

"I'm not sure." I answered honestly. "Uncle Gene and I haven't talked about it yet, I think we want to give her a rest after the Juvenile. She's done better than I ever expected and I think she deserves some time to be a young horse in the pasture."

"Good, then Townsend Spring can stomp all over the field of horses for now, while Cloud rests." Clay winked at me and everyone laughed. I smiled at him-I was glad they were being a good sport about it all.

"Townsend Spring is an amazing filly. She's got the heart and power to become a great racehorse." I smiled thinking of Wonder as well. "I mean, you have a lot of amazing horses here."

Clay smiled at me. "As does your Cloud. Did you all know that Bree went into a sales barn—and never having been a horse owner before—and bought a winner like Cloud?" I saw the shocked glances at me and blushed. "That's why she's my new horse picker." Clay chuckled, reaching over and squeezing my shoulder. "We have our first appointment next week." Clay winked at me.

Brad touched my arm and nodded towards the tables where people were lining up. "Let's grab some food."

A little while later, I glanced over where Mike was sitting with Ashleigh. His glance met mine and I made a face at him. He grinned, knowing I'd rather be there. I loved Clay and Angela but I really wanted to be at Ashleigh's table.

"So how about that article, hmm, Bree?" I was pulled back to the table as someone said my name. I realized it was one of the wives of Clay's friend. I tried to remember her name but for the life of me, I couldn't.

"Which one, Ma'am?" I asked respectfully, thinking over all the articles I had read about Cloud's win and the Townsend's luck with their horses.

She smiled at me, but for some reason, I felt as if she wasn't being friendly. "Is there trouble in the lovebird's paradise?"

Heat flooded my face as I realized she was talking about the article Chad had shown me. Brad hadn't said anything about it at all—I had been happy—but she had just brought it up here, in front of Brad and his parents.

Brad slid his arm around my shoulders and kissed my cheek. "Of course there isn't, right Bree?"

I smiled gratefully at him and nodded. "Never." I answered, still feeling a bit hot. "Chad, who was in the picture with me, is a close friend of mine. He's also best friends with my cousin, Mike. They apparently didn't know the times I was holding onto Mike—or Len, our stable hand. Honestly, I probably would have held the hand of a stranger during that race." I let out a laugh and several people joined me. "It was so nerve-wracking."

That was the end of that but I still felt the need to say something later as Brad and I walked Prince back to his stall after the festivities. "You know that's all it was right?"

Brad glanced over at me, confused. "What are you talking about?"

I frowned. "Me holding onto Chad. You know that it was just because the race was killing me. You know there's nothing going on between me and him right?"

Brad said nothing as he handed Prince off to one of the stable hands and I felt a nervous twinge. Brad turned towards me and took my face into his hands. "Bree, I know that's all it was. Do not worry about it. I'm not." He kissed my forehead. "Don't let that woman's question or that article make it something."

I sighed in relief and put my arms around him. "Thank you."

He leaned down and I moved forward to meet his lips. I felt as if there was little better than kissing Brad. He was quite good at it—something that should bother me but didn't—and he was always gentle. Once again, Ashleigh's words ran through my head—about how Brad had changed. And I was so glad he had.

…..

I watched as a few of the young horses played in the field—including Cloud. It had been a little over a week since the Breeders' Cup races and Cloud was enjoying her time relaxing. A snort beside me reminded me that another horse wanted my attention.

Coffee pushed against me with her nose and I laughed. "Okay, okay, we're done with your grooming. I'll be right back."

I grabbed her tack out of the tack room and saddled her up. Since I was giving Cloud time off, I was riding Coffee. The ground was pretty hard so I was going to ride her over the track as Mike had went over it with the tractor this morning because other horses were still in training.

I unclipped Coffee and mounted her outside. "Good girl." I murmured as I got settled in the saddle. We walked to the track, warming up. Coffee's ears always pricked up whenever we got near the track and I knew she probably missed her racing days.

"Don't worry girl, we can take a short run once we've got you warmed up." I reached down to rub her neck. I was riding Coffee in a Western saddle, which felt huge after riding in the small exercising saddles we used around here.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and grabbed it out, holding the reins with my left and the phone with my right. Your phone service will be cut off at midnight tonight. I stared at the text from the phone company. What the heck?

Then it hit me. My "dad" had cut off my service. I shoved the phone angrily in my pocket and pushed Coffee into a jarring trot. Say no to giving him money and he cuts me off? Fine. I'd buy my own stupid phone. I'd pay my own phone bill.

I pushed Coffee into a run, feeling like I wanted to scream. I thought about everything in South Carolina, everything that had happened to put me here in Kentucky. Coffee was flat out running now and I leaned into her run.

I just needed to get out of my head.

…..

Chad POV

I watched as Bree and Coffee ran around the track. Something was wrong—Coffee was at a breakneck run, dangerously running. I frowned, thinking she needed to slow down.

I started to raise my hands, to shout at Bree that she needed to slow down—though it'd be almost useless as she was on the other side of the track—when a thundering boom sounded. I watched in horror as Coffee shied sideways, panicked at the noise, and Bree went the other way.

Coffee galloped forward but I was watching Bree, who was on the ground. She wasn't moving. "Len! Somebody! Come quick, it's Bree!" I shouted and took off running towards Bree. I cut through the turf track, my heart pounding, thinking of how hard Bree had probably hit the ground. They had been flat out running.

It seemed like an eternity, but I reached Bree. She was curled into a ball but I could see she was moving. Rocking, it seemed like. I slid down on my knees beside her.

"Bree! Bree, you okay?" I asked as I put my hands on her shoulders. I panicked as I saw the tears running down her face. "God, where are you hurt?! What's wrong?"

"My leg." She cried, clutching at her left leg—the leg she had fractured previously. "Chad, it hurts."

I heard someone behind us and saw Len, his face panicked. "You alright?"

"She hurt her leg, the one that's still healing." I updated him and he frowned.

"Anything else hurting? Can you move everything?" I helped Bree go through moving everything and Le and I nodded in relief. "Okay, let's get you up."

Len and I each grabbed one of her arms, helping her to her feet. She paled when she tried to put weight down on her left leg. "I got you." I told her, sweeping her up. She was a bit heavy, but I could carry her. "Let's go."

…

Bree POV

"Dr. Russell to the ER, Dr. Russell to the ER." I sighed impatiently as I sat in a bed in the Emergency Room and listened to their pages.

"Can't I just go home?" I complained to Chad, who sat in a chair at my side, with Len on the other. They were waiting with me until Uncle Gene and Mike got here. "The doctor already said it was most likely just inflamed, not fractured again."

Chad rolled his eyes. "No Bree, you can't. We have to be sure and that means waiting for the X-rays. Plus you still have that headache."

I groaned. "Of course I have a headache. I fell off my horse and hit the ground."

"All the most reason to get checked out, Miss Bree." Len patted my hand and leaned against the bed rails. "Once the doctor declares you're fine, we'll go home."

"Bree!" The privacy curtain slid away and Gene's face appeared. "Are you okay?"

I grabbed his hand as he and Mike rushed in the room. "I'm fine, Uncle Gene. Really."

Gene looked towards Len for confirmation. Len shrugged before answering. "The doctor thinks it's just swollen but took x-rays to confirm. We're waiting on the results."

"What happened?" Mike asked, sitting down beside Chad. I sighed and leaned back against the pillow.

"I was riding Coffee on the track, letting her run when there was a big boom. I don't know where it came from but it spooked her and I fell." I answered, closing my eyes, reliving it for a moment.

"Police are still working on finding out exactly what the boom was." Chad commented, pointing towards the TV in the corner where the News was playing. Apparently the sound had been heard all over the surrounding farms and homes.

Our conversation was interrupted by the doctor's return. "Good news, Bree. Your knee is not re-fractured, only inflamed and swollen." Dr. Russell smiled at me and took in everyone. "You must be Gene."

"Yes, Sir." They shook hands.

"She'll need to rest it a bit over the next week or so, no strenuous activity, no riding, preferably bed rest if she can for the first few days. I can write her a note for school if you'd like."

An hour later, I was discharged and on my way home. I tried to keep my grumbling to myself about my discharge instructions. No riding? Bed rest? Ugh.

"I'll be right back." Gene told Mike and I. We were stopped at the local pharmacy to get my medication and some ice packs. I was supposed to prop my knee up and ice it to help with the swelling.

I sighed and laid my head against the window. "This sucks."

Mike looked back at me sympathetically. "I know it does, but honestly you're lucky it was just inflamed and not re-fractured. You'll be good as new in a few days. It could have been a lot worse."

"I know…" I picked at a stray thread on my pants. "And Coffee is okay, so I can't complain too much."

Mike chuckled. "Leave it to you to worry about the horse."

When we got back to Whitebrook, I wanted to go see Coffee but I was forced into the house and into my room. "But I just want to see her and let her know we're okay. Make sure she's okay." I argued with Uncle Gene as he helped me prop up my knee with a pillow.

"She's fine, Bree. Len assured me that she was perfectly fine. A little spooked but she'll get over it." Gene placed the wrapped ice pack on my knee and looked at me sternly. "Now you need to rest so you can heal. I know you're itching to be out of the bed but this is necessary."

I sighed loudly but laid back against my pillows as Uncle Gene left the room. It was only seven in the evening but it was so dark out that it seemed much later. I had spent entirely too much time at the hospital.

My bedroom door was open and I could hear Uncle Gene on the phone with my Dad, telling him everything. Save it, Uncle Gene. He doesn't care what happens to me. I thought bitterly to myself.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know was jolting awake when someone sat down on my bed. I blinked and Brad's face came into focus. He was dressed in his school uniform and his hair was slicked back. His expression was a mixture of concern and relief.

"Hey you." He said softly, pushing a stray hair out of my face. I smiled sleepily at his touch. "I just heard about the accident this morning. Why didn't you call me?"

I shrugged. "I didn't want all the fuss over me…and I was afraid it could be more than swollen." I admitted something that had plagued my mind the whole time on the way to the hospital and waiting for the X-rays. I narrowed my eyes. "How did you hear about the accident?"

Brad smiled. "Mike called me. I could tell it was the last thing he wanted to do but he did. He suggested I might want to stop by this morning before heading into school."

I felt a rush of love for Mike, my cousin, who hated—well disliked—Brad but had called him, for me. "That was very nice of him."

"It was." Brad agreed. "Do you need anything? Water? A snack?"

"An prison break." I joked, moving myself into a sitting position. I winced as my muscles protested the movement. I hadn't thought about if I would be sore. But of course I would be, after falling on the ground at that speed.

"Where does it hurt?" Brad asked, his hands frozen. Wanting to help, but not wanting to hurt me any.

"Everywhere." I groaned, sinking back with a sigh. "Guess you gotta figure that you might be sore when you fly off a thousand pound animal into the dirt." I glanced at the clock, noticing he was going to be late if he didn't leave soon. "You should probably get going. You don't want to be late for school."

Brad frowned. "I wish I didn't have to go. I'd rather stay here with you."

I smiled. "I wish you could but I can't have you playing hooky and having your parents think I'm a bad influence on you."

Brad snorted. "Please, my parents love you." He seemed to think for a moment then leaned down and kissed me softly. "Text you when I get to school."

I suddenly remembered my phone and it being cut off. "Actually…my service is kind of off, so that won't be possible. But call me later?"

"I'll stop by to see you later." He promised, kissing my forehead. I watched him leave, feeling trapped in my room. I was stuck here. For days.

As the day went on, Uncle Gene helped me as much as he could. He brought me breakfast and lunch in bed, found some racing magazines I could read, and opened my curtains so I could see outside, see what was going on.

I tossed another magazine down and tried not to feel frustrated. It was only a couple days, I told myself.

Uncle Gene came up a while later with the house phone. "Bree, your dad is on the phone for you."

I crossed my arms and stared out the window. "I don't want to talk to him."

"Bree…"

"No, I'm not talking to him!" I shouted, feeling my face heat up from the anger. "Screw him!"

Gene looked shocked and held the phone up to his ear. "I'll call you back, Gerald."

"Bree Elizabeth Wilson, what has gotten into you?" Gene asked, his tone scolding. He sat on the bed beside me.

"Do you know why he came up to watch Cloud's race?" I looked at Uncle Gene, feeling defiant. "He didn't come up to support me or cheer her on. He came up to ask for money, Uncle Gene and because I didn't give it to him, he cut off my phone yesterday. So I don't care if he wants to talk to me, he can forget it." And it wasn't just that, it was so many other things…things I didn't want to think about.

Uncle Gene looked at me with sadness. "Oh, Bree, when did he ask for money?"

"The night that Cloud won the Juvenile." I answered stiffly. Uncle Gene grabbed one of my hands and squeezed it.

"That's why you were so quiet when you came back in. You were upset." Uncle Gene said, realization coloring his tone. "Did he say for what?"

I sniffed and rolled my eyes. "The mortgage payment is behind and the car's about to go. Cloud is winning so much money, he just thought he'd ask for a little bit of it. But he doesn't deserve it, Uncle Gene, not after—" I cut myself off before I said too much.

Uncle Gene frowned and concern replaced the sadness. "Not after what, Bree?"

I pulled my hand out of his. "Nothing, Uncle Gene. Just nothing." I muttered. He was quiet and he finally patted my hand before getting up.

"I'll be just outside if you want to talk. Just give me a holler out the window and I'll come. You can talk to me about anything, Bree. Anything."

I listened to his retreating footsteps and my vision blurred from the tears in my eyes. I wanted to tell someone the truth, tell someone about what had really set on the chain of events that led me to coming here…but I couldn't. It would just cause trouble.

…

A/N: Hi Readers! Hope I still have some readers hanging on out there! I apologize for not updating sooner. Life has been crazy…it's always crazy it seems! I am going to try to be a better writer and update more often in all of my stories but no promises. I will try to update as much as I can!

I hope you liked the chapter and will share your thoughts with me on it by reviewing! I know it's not much but I hope it's enjoyed!

Thanks, as always, for being my readers! 3

QuinnandSethsgirl15