Tessa's POV:  

I took my time responding to Vanessa's amazing offer.  It was the best one I'd ever heard for him.  The highest before now had been 8,500.  And she said she was willing to go higher.  

But it wasn't good enough.  

I'd seen how she rode.  And I knew the way she rode wouldn't work with him.  At best, she'd admit she was wrong and sell him back to me.  At worst, he'd be passed around from buyer to buyer, before finally being deemed useless.  And after that...  I didn't want to think about what could happen.  

It seems cliche to say that only I could ride him.  That wasn't true.  It was only I that knew the way to ride him.  And the funny thing was, the more he and I grew together, the more sensitive he became, the more it was that only I could ride him the way that he wanted to be ridden.  

He started out sensitive, and while the classical method had allowed me to ride him despite that, it'd also made it so that it was harder to ride him if you didn't know how.

At any rate, I knew Vanessa's way would not work with him.  I had a feeling patience and tact were farther down on her list of preferred training methods than what I would like.  Which was normal in the competitive world, sadly, but it would not work with Challenger.  

I pondered all of this as I went about my day after the show.  Finally, after riding two client horses,  I sat down at the table during lunchtime and read Vanessa's text all over again.  

I knew it had to be driving her crazy that I hadn't replied yet, but what excuse, or reason, could I give?  I did not want to offend her by saying what the real reason was, that she couldn't ride Challenger.  She'd take that the wrong way.

And even if I explained what I meant by that,  she'd still not like it.  

I sighed, and rubbed my forehead as I set the phone down and picked up the grilled cheese mom had made for lunch. 

"What's up?" Asked dad.  

"I don't know how to reply to Vanessa's offer."  I bit into the grilled cheese and the warm melted goodness made me feel slightly better.  

Dad gave me a shocked glance.  "You're not actually considering it, are you?"  

My eyes widened and I vigorously shook my head.  In my hurry to speak I nearly choked.  "No dad, not at all!"

"Well then, what's the problem? Just say no."  

"But what reason do I give?"  

"What reason do you have?"  

"Well, for one thing, they'd never work well together.  I just know Vanessa would be too harsh with him, and then he'd rebel, and a cycle would start.  Vantage Point would just become a gilded cage.

"But I don't want to tell her that.  It might offend her.  I'd prefer not to make an enemy out of her, or seem stuck up."  

I took a huge gulp of milk as dad asked, "Got any other reasons?"  

I set the glass down.  "Well, there's the other obvious one.  I love him too much to sell.  But I think that'd probably anger her to."  

"What're you guys talking about?" Asked mom as she walked in with three more grilled cheeses.  

"What reason I can give Vanessa when I tell her I'm not selling Challenger.  I don't want to tell her that she couldn't ride him, although that is true.  And the, "I love him to much," reason would probably make her mad."  

"So? They're your reasons and they matter to you."  Mom sat the plate down.  "Just tell her no, and if she asks why, give her those two.  Who cares if it makes her mad?  She asked for it."  

Dad smiled at mom.  "You're so right, hon."  He then proceeded to snatch another grilled cheese off the plate.  

"But you only love me for the delicious grilled cheese I can make," countered mom playfully.  

Dad feigned hurt.  "I'm upset you think so little of me, my dear.  I don't just love you for your grilled cheese."  He leaned forward.  "I love you for that delightful strawberry smoothie you make, mind whipping up one or two?"  

Mom swatted him.  "Oh, quit it," she said, but with a smile.  

I giggled at them.  "Okay, okay.  I'll text Vanessa after lunch."  

And that's what I did.  

Tessa:  Hello Vanessa, sorry for being long in getting back to you.  Thank you for your generous offer, it's the best I've heard yet, but the answer is no.  Hope you have a good day.  

I clicked my phone off and hoped that would be the end of it, but knew it probably wouldn't.  I stood up from the table and grabbed my helmet.  I then waited for a pause in my parents conversation.  

"I'm going to take Challenger on a trail ride with Lacy here in an hour or so."  

They looked up.  "Okay, be safe, take your phone, and have fun," admonished mom.  

"I will.  Bye." 

I walked out of the house, putting on my helmet and clipping it under my chin.  I heard a Pop! from my phone, and knew that was Lacy's set notification sound.

I pulled it out and read the message.  

Lacy:  Grooming Russo now, going to be a little late.  

Tessa:  K.  Did he roll?

Lacy:  Of course.

Tessa:  Challenger probably did too, if that makes you feel any better.  

Lacy:  A little.  Have you texted that gal yet?  

Lacy knew I'd been putting it off. 

Tessa:  Just did.  I didn't have a good reason to give her that wouldn't make her mad, so I didn't give one.

I grabbed Challenger's halter from his stall door and put it on my shoulder.  I'd finally gotten rid of that nasty green and orange one.  Now he had a crisp burgandy nylon halter, with a matching lead rope. 

Lacy:  That will probably still make her mad.  

Tessa:  You're probably right.

I reached Challenger's paddock.  "Ugh.  Aww."  

The 'ugh' was for the dirt and dried mud that was clinging to Challenger's coat.  The 'aww' was because Challenger and Colorful had reached over the fence to groom each other.  I hastily snapped a picture of it and sent it to Lacy.  

Tessa:  Look, I found Challenger and Colorful grooming each other.  

Lacy:  Cute!  Be there in half an hour. 

Tessa:  K. 

I stuck the phone in my back pocket and unlatched the gate.  "Challenger," I sang out.  

He broke from grooming Colorful and came trotting up to me.  "Good lad,"  I said as I fed him the treat in my hand.  Colorful came up alongside the fence and I gave him a treat too.  

"Hey Tessa!"  Lacy called as she came walking up on Russo to the barn entrance on Russo.  

I looked up as after attaching the girth to Challenger's saddle.  "Hey Lacy, be out in a minute."  

"I guess he rolled?"  

I groaned.  "Yep."  

Five minutes later I had bridled Challenger and we were on our way down a trail.

Lacy walked Russo along on a fair loose rein, while I had a short rein on an alert Challenger.  Russo's calm demeanor helped sooth Challenger.  

We talked about the show the day before, of riding, horses, and other things, but mostly horses.  For the most part Challenger was a good boy, he even began to relax a little.  That is, until we came across a weird shadow.  

He stopped dead and snorted at it.  I rolled my eyes and circled him.  "Come on, Challenger."  

As we worked our way over it, I couldn't help but think about what Vanessa would do to get him going.  And I knew, no matter what she offered, I would never sell Challenger to her.  

AN:  This chapter is all Tessa's POV.  True to herself, she doesn't want to anger or offend Vanessa.  Do you think her hesitation is warranted?