False Gods: The Show Jumper's Challenge

The moon was nearly full, surrounded by a shimmering veil of light. The warm dampness from the earth rising in a mist hovered in swirling wisps a few feet over the field in the cold night air. Cory and Epiphany rode past the glen where the deer had been, now empty, and trotted back down the path to the barn. She was glad she had left the lights on. She hurried to untack Epiphany, rub her down, and leave absolutely no trace of her having been ridden tonight. The wind was picking up. It rattled the barn doors in their tracks and sent wisps of hay and leaves scuttling down the aisle. Some of the horses stirred and circled in their stalls. Before she left for the night, Cory tossed another flake of hay in to Epiphany and slid her stall door shut.

She leaned in and whispered to the mare, “Tonight was our secret. I won’t tell about the stallion you’ve been visiting, if you don’t let on to Vee that I rode you.”