It’s tough for me to motivate myself to get out of bed this morning. I don’t know if it’s the silence, which I never knew could be so loud, or the loneliness; but the house feels too big. The surrounding rooms dilute my emotions into empty corners, leaving me a little numb. I suddenly miss living with my mom and the smaller spaces of our old home.
I drag myself out of bed and get dressed to start the day with Finesse. Before I head out, I warm up some leftovers, but the flavors aren’t hitting me like they usually do. I guess my appetite has abandoned me, too.
Eventually, I give up on breakfast, which sits heavy on my stomach, weighing me down. I walk over to check out the community board Juanita told me about. I see she’s placed a flyer there advertising her skills. Her contact information is listed too. I’m tempted to type it into my phone and call, but I’m not ready to admit defeat. Instead, my eyes move to a more promising flyer. There’s a beginner barrel run competition happening today. I don’t doubt that Finesse and I could win it. I note the time and head to Finesse’s stall.
Tambara: Hey, girl! Are you ready to kick some ass?
I brush Finesse off, place her saddle, and we take off for the Equestrian Center in town.
Finesse and I stand staring at the entrance as I pause to consider whether I’m really ready for competition. I’m new to town, and a loss could look bad while I’m trying to fit in. But then again, I know who I am and what I’m capable of, so there’s no reason to hesitate. It’s time for the town to discover that too. I ride Finesse inside and look around.
The inside of the equestrian center is huge. Even bigger than when my family visited back when I was a little girl. There’s a lot going on. Booths line the walls—some selling gear and supplies, others offering t‑shirts and souvenirs, and several for signing up for events. It feels like a whole new world, and I’m not sure how any of it works, even though Mr. Xavier explained it to me a few times before he passed. I suddenly can’t recall a single thing he said. I guess I should have listened better. Instead, I’ll try to rely on what I learned from reading riding skill books.
After asking around, I eventually find where I need to go to sign up for the beginner barrel competition. Afterward, I sit in the audience to watch a few of the more advanced riders practice and compete, taking notes on things I can do when it’s my turn. After a few hours, a voice over the loudspeaker announces the beginner competitions. I make my way to the holding area of the arena and take my time getting Finesse ready. Before I know it, it’s our turn.
The rest of the competition is a blur. Finesse and I do exactly what we’ve practiced time and time again, and to the astonishment of the audience, we pull off a first‑place victory. Finesse and I leave the center a few hundred simoleons richer. I could get used to this.
While I’m standing outside trying to decide on my next move, a guy who reeks of authority approaches me.
Yves: Hey there! My name is Yves. I’m the designated horse trainer for the Equestrian Center.
Tambara: Hi. I’m Tambara.
Yves: Fine barreling in there!
Tambara: Thank you.
Yves: Then again, I wouldn’t expect anything less from Xavier’s horse.
Tambara: Well, this is my horse now.
Yves: Of course, of course. Shame what happened to him. He’s definitely gone too soon. But I’m glad to see Nessie in excellent hands. You know, if you learn to engage your abs by drawing your belly button up and toward your spine, you’ll have more stability going around the barrels. And maybe shorten your reins a bit. With those small tweaks, you’ll be winning bigger competitions in no time.
Apparently, this town is full of unsolicited advice. First, Juanita tries to tell me how to run my ranch, and now this guy wants to tell me how to ride. I open my mouth to respond, but then realize maybe this info will help. Not all tips are found in books. I close my mouth and choose a better response.
Tambara: Okay, thank you. I’ll do that. Uh, we were just about to head out. It was nice meeting you.
Yves: Before you go, Nessie left some droppings there behind you. I’m gonna need you to clean that up.
I turn and see a gigantic pile of manure on the ground behind us. There is absolutely no way I’m touching that.
Tambara: Finesse didn’t do that. We just walked out.
Yves: Nice try, but I saw her do it. There are shovels and bags inside.
I turn back to face the trainer.
Tambara: There’s no way you saw anything. Finesse has been here next to me the entire time. How could she have left a pile of sh*t several feet away?
Yves cringes as if I slapped him in the face when I say the s‑word. He watches silently as I place Finesse’s saddle on and mount her.
Tambara: If you want that cleaned up, you’d better find out who really left it. We’re out of here.
I tap Finesse a few times on her side with my feet, and she takes off, leaving the trainer behind staring at the pile of crap.
Finesse and I ride until I hear music. Curiosity slows us down as we approach a barn that looks like the kind of converted dance hall I’ve seen in old westerns on TV. I guide Finesse through the gate. There’s a woman dancing outside on the patio. I watch for a moment before realizing it’s Juanita. I leave Finesse to nibble on some fresh hay and head inside, hoping I can get a drink and find someone decent to talk to.
There’s a bar to the side and a few people on the dance floor, including a nice‑looking guy who immediately captures my attention. He notices me as soon as I notice him and introduces himself.
Damian: Hey there! I’ve never seen you around here before. I’m Damian.
Tambara: Hi Damian, I’m Tambara.
Juanita: She just bought the old Smith ranch.
Juanita says this suddenly as she walks in from the patio. This woman stays in my business. I have no idea why she felt the need to say that, but Damian gives a knowing nod as if this isn’t the first time the topic has come up. It makes me wonder if Juanita has been talking about me behind my back.
Damian: Nice to meet you.
Damian turns and joins the other dancers as Juanita steps away, still watching me. Whatever this is, I’m not letting it slide.
I decide to play nice and follow Juanita to the bar.
Tambara: It’s good to see you again. I think we got off on the wrong foot before. Can I buy you a drink?
Juanita nods and sits down on the other side of a red‑headed woman. They nod to each other, clearly friends. I order the drink and join them at the bar.
Tambara: I saw your flyer on the community board this morning. Did you decide to take that job you threatened me with?
The woman next to Juanita frowns, as if anything I’m saying is her business. She suddenly turns to Juanita:
Red‑Headed Woman: Oh, she must be—
Juanita looks at her, smirks, and nods. That’s enough for me. I leave my seat, because clearly these two aren’t interested in being friendly.
As I step away, the conversation between the red‑headed woman, Juanita, and the bartender grows livelier. A thousand simoleons says they’re talking about me. But let them talk. I own a ranch, and Juanita is begging to work at one. I lift my chin and straighten my shoulders, deciding the dance floor is a much safer and more welcoming place to be.
Damian is still there doing some sort of line dance. I watch him and a few others closely a few times before attempting it myself.
The steps aren’t that difficult, and with only a few missteps here and there, I’m dancing right along. There’s another decent‑looking guy on the dance floor, but like almost everyone else, he’s not paying attention to me. I’m not about to let any of that bother me. Maybe they don’t like me here, but I can make it very hard for them to ignore me.
I keep dancing and trying to enjoy myself, but the moment is cut short when Finesse suddenly decides to join the party by stepping inside the big open doors of the barn.
(Generation 5 Chapter Summaries)
Thanks for reading! Please hit the “like” button if you’ve enjoyed what you read! Keep scrolling if you’d like to leave a comment. 🥰
