Vanessa's POV:

As soon as I could I marched Win out of that arena and back to the stable.  Ms. Festor wasn't there, I didn't know where she'd gone.  I huffed in annoyance.  Now I'd have to untack Win before I could find Challenger.

I ripped the bridle off his head and hastily undid his girth, all the while thinking about that gray gelding.  

I was replaying the image of the blue ribbon and sash around his neck, only with me in the saddle instead of Tessa.  

Course, I knew Tessa wouldn't just give up Challenger, not with his potential.  But I was prepared to offer whatever it took for him to be mine.   

I pulled his saddle off and plunk it down in its place.  Just then Ms. Festor comes striding up with a drink in her hand.  

I feel like growling at her but restrain myself.  "Could you please finish taking care of Win?  I want to see about that gray gelding."  

She raised an eyebrow.  "Another event horse?  But you just bought Medallion-"

I lifted a hand, my irritation showing through.  "I know, I know.  We just aren't compatible, okay?  I'm selling her."  

Ms. Festor bit her lip.  "Alright, if you're sure."  

"I'm sure," I said firmly.  

With that I grabbed my phone and left, searching the stables for a gray gelding that just might be my ticket to fame.  

Tessa's POV:  

"No."  

"But ma'am-"  

"No means no."

I crossed my arms.  "Challenger is a very sensitive horse.  I make it look easy to ride him, I know, but trust me, it's not that easy.  Look, sir, you're not the first person to make an offer to me, and you won't be the last."  

The man in front of me sighed.  "Well, if you're sure."  

"I'm sure."  

"Good day, Ms. Wellen."  He tipped his hat like a regular gentleman and left.  

Lacy watched him go.  "Wished you acted a little more interested Tessa, I wonder how high he would have gone."  

I stroked Challenger's neck protectively.  "Not high enough."  

I sighed and turned to mom.  "Shall we load the horses?"  

She nodded.  "Yep, we've got to get going if we want to get home before dark."  

I untied Challenger and lead him around.  He had to load first because we were going to drop Lacy off at her place before going home.  We clomped up the ramp and entered the dim trailer.  

Mom locked in the divider, and I tied him up and patted his neck.  "Be a good boy.  I'll see you when we get home." 

I ducked under the divider and hopped off the trailer so Lacy could load Russo.

Just then I heard my name called.  "Tessa Wellen!"  

I looked up to see the second place winner of the Training division walking quickly towards me.  Inwardly, I groaned.  I had hoped we'd leave before she could catch us, or that she'd given up interest.

Outwardly I put on a politely curious face.  "I'm Tessa Wellen.  What do you want?"

She let out a breath and brushed back her hair.  "I'm glad I caught you before you left," she said.  "I thought you'd be in the stables."  

I shook my head, wishing she'd get straight to the point, but answering anyway.  "Our place is only forty-five minutes from here.  It was cheaper to just trailer in each day."  

She cleared her throat.  "That makes sense.  Congrats on your win."  

I gave her a dry smile, knowing she probably didn't mean it.  "Thank you, but I know you didn't hurry over here just to say that.  What do you want?"  

"Are you the owner of Challenger?"  

Here we go again.    

"Yes.  Well, technically, my parents own him, but I have full rights over him."  

"Including the authority to sell?"  

A tiny part of me was highly tempted to lie and say, "No."  Let mom and dad deal with this. 

"Yes, including the authority to sell.  I take it you're interested in him?"

"Yes."  Before I could stop her she launched into what seemed to me to be a pre-planned essay.  

"I know you've probably heard many offers for him, but I can assure you that mine is the best one.  Challenger is a wonderful horse, and I know I can develop him to his full potential."  

Several thoughts ran through my head.  Best of everything except riding and training.  Oh, so she thinks he has potential?  Can't argue there.  

But the one that stood out was, "Who says you can develop him to his full potential and I can't?"

"Tessa?  We need to get going," called dad.  

"Okay," I called back.  

"I'll give you my phone number-" Vanessa began as she pulled out her phone, but I cut her off.  

"I appreciate your interest, I really do, but Challenger is not for sale.  And quite frankly, no offer of yours is going to be good enough."  

I had thought my tone pretty harsh, but she was unfazed.  "You haven't heard it yet."  She held out her phone.  

I gave her a slightly annoyed look and took it.  "I'm serious.  He's not for sale."  

"Like I said, you haven't heard the offer yet." 

Suddenly, I realized that this girl had probably heard the sentence, "He's not for sale and he never will be," a thousand times.  And probably the majority of the time she got the horse she wanted.  Either way, she wasn't going to be deterred.   

"Tessa!" Mom's voice floated by.  "Tell your new friend good-bye, we've gotta go!"  

Hastily I entered my number into her phone, instead of the other way around.  I held it out to her.  "Sorry, I've got to go." 

She nodded and took the phone.  "Bye."  

Vanessa's POV:

I had nearly panicked when I saw Tessa load Challenger in the trailer.  It'd been so close to my fear, that Challenger would leave before I could find him.

Tessa had immediately rebuffed my attempts, but I knew better.  She would not be able to resist the offer that I was going to make.  She struck me as the type who deeply loved her horse, and hadn't yet realized that part of the horse business is buying and selling at will.  You couldn't allow yourself to get attached.  

I should know that better than anyone.  

I blinked fiercely.  After three and a half years, the memory still stung.

I shook it off.  It was over, the deal was done, there was no going back, and I'd learned a valuable lesson.  A lesson I had promised I would never learn again. 

AN:  So, this is where Tessa and Vanessa first meet.  They're such different characters *rubs hands gleefully*  What do you guys think is the 'lesson' Vanessa is referring to?