Chapter Sixteen
I realize now what Lockhart’s been priming me for. There’s a competition of sorts between masters and their pony slaves. Because Lockhart has his indoor paddock, it’s the perfect place to hold the event, although it’s often still miserably cold outside. It’s just the middle of April and spring won’t really break out for another month.
I discover that my master is quite fussy about the details. I’ve been practicing arduously with the cart for nearly two months, carrying heavier and heavier loads. In that time, my shoulders have become stronger and my heart beats more steadily. I work in earnest on this, since it seems the more effort I put into the task, the more I ride Willow in the afternoon.
On the Saturday of the event, Lockhart wakes me himself. Rather than feel the
