The Unexpected Rebellious Act

Outside a tempting metropolis, peaceful farmland pasture stretched for miles teasing its workaholic guests. Photogenic Pederson Farley played the city nicknamed Gotham every weekday from nine am to five pm. When he came home to the rural open space his personality changed from pinstripes into proper equestrian attire claiming to be training or practicing.

This equine recreational activity replaced taking a boat out confronting choppy river wakes. Sometimes receiving ribbons or maybe trophy honors gave the gentlemen a positive social outlet.

Recently, accompanied by his trusting partner Pegasus, Pederson entered the local Grand Prix where all the barns registered at least one team to challenge the competitive course. This made the management who doubled as tack store feed suppliers satisfied while leaving the community feeling positive due to healthy relaxing communication dialogue.

Prepared and at the gate Pederson thanked the jump crew for opening the opportunity, enthused seeing the informally seated spectators enjoying the beautiful day. Over each obstacle Pederson went, one by one, clearing them with ease. Oxers, water hazards, double, triple combinations the pair encountered, never even touching a rail. Working together, finishing in the allotted time, the two returned accepting the added tiebreaking assignment displaying publicly a strong relationship.

When the class ended Pegasus and Pederson walked away with hardware attached to the bridle, waving towards the friendly crowd. Popping off transferring his beloved mate over to the handler, Pederson greeted the people who enjoyed the event.

Wanting a treat, the equestrian strolled over and walked through the vendor area interacting with the booth patrons. Suddenly, he saw a young girl sitting down providing ice cream to visitors.

“Mr. Farley, I saved a few for you,” she notified Pederson, “would you like one?”

Laughing a bit, seeing the therapeutic horseback riding banner promoted across the table, “we have donated to the organization every year, I guess I could enjoy some ice cream.”

Giving him a stern stare, the youngster replied, “now Mr. Farley, it is not the money that is important, it’s the respect that you help us build something that we all benefit from,”

“Do you ride?” Pederson inquired.

“I walk, trot around do shape patterns,” the child stated, “I do not do anything exciting like fly over fences.”

“Maybe one day,” Pederson encouraged.

“No, Mr. Farley, I will never jump,”

“Why not?”

“I do dressage.”

Smiling, Pederson put the wooden spoon into the frozen snack, before packing up and departing the grounds, acknowledged as a loudspeaker announced winner.

In scheduled fashion early Monday morning Pederson hopped aboard the train and accepted the daily successful business challenge. Since sundown came later the executive had time to school around with Pegasus.

Everything proceeded along routinely as the two enjoyed the late afternoon until Pegasus angrily erupted. Rearing up, letting out a hideous sound, the theatrical stunt ejected the rider from the saddle hitting the ground sending him into a dark unconscious state.

Time passed, Pegasus vigilantly watched out the stall window and despite Pederson’s car not driving up, a hired hand tended to the horse’s needs. Pederson spent many months in bed recuperating before hiding in the concrete jungle limping, wearing a suit.

Sitting in a restaurant entertaining a female associate the entreprenuer heard a question, “Mr. Farley,” the voice asked, “are you ever going to get back together with Pegasus?”

Peering up the lady companion, twitched her eye, “whose Pegasus? A girl at the club?”

“No,” Pederson softly spoke, “Pegasus is a horse.”

“Oh,”

Turning his attention to the disturbance, the diner noticed the wheelchair approach, “I know you, we had ice cream together,” he stated.

“Really,” the coworker noted.

“But you didn’t tell me your name,”

“You do not know her name? Pederson,” the colleague snickered.

“Denise, ma'am,” the adolescent clarified, “so out with it are you two getting back together again.”

Silently Pederson glared and Denise announced, “look I have this wonderful physical therapist riding instructor who could come over and you know assist the two of you find happiness. Your family did make contributions to our group, and we would like to return the favor with a little more than just ice cream.”

“I guess you all were always a good investment.”

After agreeing to get relationship counseling, Denise introduced him to the staff and the two did simple flat exercises, before performing patterns together civilly. Then Denise minus the wheelchair rode over aboard her mount, “are you ready to handle a trail?” She asked, “maybe take Pegasus back into the real world.”

“I think that is a great idea,” Pederson responded, and everyone headed into the woods.

“So, tell me, Mr. Farley,” Denise conversed, “what happened to your date? The other night.”

“Why do you ask?”

“No, reason, just curious,” Denise confessed as the two went off into uncharted waters.