“What do you think, Lexi?” Lola asked.
She remained quiet for a moment, looked down, then a little side glance towards Bianca. But Lexi finally spoke up, “Maybe they just forgave her. They really missed her. And loved her.”
“That’s exactly right,” said Lola. “Of course, the parents loved both daughters equally, but they forgave. You know girls, in this life people are always going to do bad or stupid things. And sometimes people change. They might do something dumb or mean this year or this day, but then at a later time, they’ve changed into a nicer person. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s up to us to forgive. Don’t we want to be forgiven when we mess up?”
Both girls remained silent. Carli nodded. “Boy, have I made some doozies along the way. Sometimes I’ve had friends forgive and sometimes not, but we all work hard to do better next time, I think.” Except for her mother. Carli would never have a chance to mend that bridge. Would Michelle have ever changed? Carli needed to stop dwelling on the past.
“And the most important thing,” Lola continued, “the real meaning of this story is that Jesus already forgave us for everything—our past, our present, even our future mistakes. All we have to do is talk to Him about what is bothering us, tell Him we’re sorry, and He’ll be there with open arms. He wants to welcome us home. So, it’s up to you. I think God sends people into our lives to help us sort out our troubles. That’s what Carli and I want too. If we can help you girls with anything, we hope you’ll feel safe in coming to us.”
“We all share a love of horses, and we want you to know this is a safe place. We hope to become friends.” Carli added, “Thank you, Lola, for that great story. What did you girls think?”
“It’s all a dumb fairy tale,” Bianca spouted. “People hurt you and they’re out for what they can get. There’s no knight in shining armor. There’s no God on his white horse to rescue you. And I’m sick of this cleaning. I want to go home.”
With that, she threw her sponge into the soapy bucket and the dirty water splashed all over the other three. She jumped up and ran out of the saddle house.
Carli stood to follow her outside. If this was a sign from God, she had no idea how to react or what she should do. Maybe her riding school idea was destined to fail before they even got through the first day.
Chapter Eighteen
Carli grabbed a lead rope and brush and hurried out of the saddle house to follow Bianca. Something about the Prodigal Son story had upset her. Seemed there was no lack for drama on the riding school’s opening day. But Carli wasn’t giving up yet. These girls were going to ride a horse before they went home, if it was the last thing she could do.
“Have you met Mouse?” Carli called out to Bianca who stood in the pen. She hadn’t walked into the road yet and didn’t have her cell phone out, so she wasn’t calling her mother.
Carli slipped a lead rope over the gray gelding and led him closer to Bianca. “Now that we have our riding gear in ship-shape condition, it’s time to brush your horse. Wanna give it a try?”
Bianca glanced at Carli and then watched Lexi and Lola emerge from the saddle house. Lexi gave Sally a scratch and began to brush her back with firm, short strokes creating puffs of dust as she worked.
Without a word, Bianca took the brush from Carli. Her frown decreased as she concentrated on her work. Carli worked on Mouse’s mane as Bianca brushed his neck.
Carli’s heart swelled as she watched the transformation on the young girl’s face. Stress was leaving her, even if only in little bits. All was at peace again, at least for the moment. The power of horses to calm and soothe is a mighty thing.
Bianca suddenly jerked her head around to watch Lexi.
“Hey, I want to brush that horse.” She walked over to Lexi and Sally. “Move!”
Lexi didn’t back down. “Just wait. I was here first and I always work with this horse. You've got Mouse.”
Bianca shoved her shoulder against Lexi. “You can’t hog everything.”
Lola watched with her mouth open. So much for peace. Carli froze in place with a curry comb in hand, trying to figure out what was happening.
Lexi stood her ground. That set Bianca off and she took both hands and shoved her. Lexi stumbled back, regained her footing, and charged.
In seconds they were rolling on the ground, pushing and grabbing each other’s hair. Profanities and name-calling spewed from both girl’s mouths.
As they were spinning and tumbling around, Lola and Carli dove to separate them. “Now, just a minute, girls. Stop that! Get up,” Carli said.
“You’ll spook the horses.” Lola wrapped her arms around Lexi’s waist and pulled her back.
When both girls scrambled to their feet, held back by Lola and Carli from taking another swipe at each other, their clothes were dirty as well as their faces. But no blood as far as Carli could see.
“She started it!” Lexi hollered. “I was just minding my own business brushing Sally. I knew I shouldn’t come to this thing. Y’all are just a bunch of losers.”
“You’re a poser. You don’t know a thing about horses,” Bianca said. “Think you’re so cool in those combat boots and all. You’re just a wimpy b----!”
“Hold on,” Carli stepped in. “No cursing. One of our rules, remember?”
“You can go to h-e-double-el with your rules,” spouted Bianca. “I told you I didn’t want to be here.”
Carli took a deep calming breath. “We’re not going to ruin the time we have
