Rules for Riders, by Natalie Scott, was published in August 2014
and is available for sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in eBook
and paperback. Genres: Young Adult / Romance
Synopsis:
Rules for Riders is a fast paced coming-of-age novel set in the competitive world
of equestrian riding.
After a near fatal riding accident, Bebe Barkley is banned from riding
and sent off to boarding school. There, she meets her roommate and fellow
equestrian rider, Finn Foxley. The girls devise a scheme to get themselves
kicked out of boarding school in order to return to the world that they love.
Once back on the circuit, former friends become deadly rivals.
Bebe's handsome trainer, Billy O'Reilly, gives her seven rules to
follow in order to successfully compete. Through a series of tragic events,
both girls are forced to abandon their dreams of Olympic gold. Bebe ventures
down a dark road of self-destruction as she breaks every rule Billy taught her,
only to be forced to relearn them in order to reclaim her life. Rules for Riders is a tale of lost
dreams and the struggle to create new ones.
KING
CHAPTER 1
I can still remember the first time I saw
him...
He’s seventeen hands high, a dark bay,
almost black, a white star on his forehead, and four white socks on his hind
legs. I’m fifteen years old when I spy King bucking and rearing and giving the
grooms a terrible time. I think he’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I point straight at him, “I want that
horse.”
My father (otherwise known as the Colonel)
rolls his eyes. “No, he’s wild. You just want him because he’s difficult like
you.”
We’re at our neighbors, the O’Rileys, on a
crisp Sunday morning. Jim O’Riley owns Starlight stables and is one of the best
horse trainers in Connecticut. Jim winks at me. “For God’s sake, Colonel,
everyone knows you made a ton of money in the stock market. Let her have the
damn horse.”
“I said no,” shrieks the Colonel, remaining
unconvinced. “Besides, who’ll train her?”
“I will,” Billy O’Riley, Jim’s oldest son,
steps forward. His clear green eyes stare straight at King. “He’s a warm blood,
sir, from Holland. We just bought him.”
The Colonel growls at Billy. “Listen son, I
don’t care if he’s from friggin’ Japan! For God’s sake you’re only a couple of
years older than my daughter.”
We all stand there watching, while his face
turns bright red with rage. There’s no way in hell he's going to let me have
this horse now. That would be too perfect. Instead, he shocks the pants off of
me!
“Fine, but if you break your neck, don’t
blame me.”
First thing the next morning I race over to
the O’Rileys. By the time I reach the stables, I’m out of breath. Billy’s busy brushing
down his horse, Stargazer. I walk over to King and stroke his mane. Then I pull
a sugar cube out of my pocket. “Hey, boy.”
Billy looks up. “That’s funny, he doesn’t
usually take to people so quickly. So let me guess, you want to take a ride?”
God, I’ve been riding since I was six!
Okay, I admit it— Billy’s a hottie. I’ve had a crush on him forever. But it
makes me crazy the way he still treats me like a little kid. He leans closer
and places his hands firmly on his hips.
“Bebe, if I’m going to train you, there are
rules for riders. The first one’s commitment. Without it, none of the other
rules exist. If I agree to train you, you’ve got to give me 100 percent.”
I stare right back at him, giving him my
best killer smile. “I’m all yours!”
For the next few weeks, he insists I do
nothing but flat work. He hardly lets me ride across the yard without making
sure I am doing it properly. Unlike the Colonel, Billy brings out the best in
me and plays down the worst. Whatever I lack, he teaches me with infinite
slowness; guiding King and I so we both gain confidence.
“That’s right. Keep your back straight,
hold your head up, shoulders back.”
I learn from Billy that difficult horses
become easy once you know how to handle them. With Billy’s training, I’m right
on course. The Colonel’s threats don’t scare me. Instead, they fuel me, making
me even more determined to succeed.
A few days later, I get to the stables
early for some quiet time with King. Billy sneaks up behind me. I can feel his
breath against my neck.
When I turn around, he has an amused look
on his face. “So, do you finally want to take a ride? Isn’t that what you’ve
been dying to do—jump every fence this side of Connecticut?”
I have this wild urge to hug him. Instead,
I saddle up King. “C’mon, boy.”
King and I take off.
“Tell me what you’ve learned when you get
back!” Billy shouts.
About the Author:
Natalie Scott grew up in Melbourne, often referred as the
cultural capital of Australia because of its great restaurants, trendy cafes
and great shopping! Natalie developed a love of books when her fourth grade
teacher read the book Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis.
In high school Natalie devoured the classics, her favorite
being Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger. At University she studied
English Literature and Communications, though she will openly admit to spending
a lot of time at the college pub where she liked to make up outrageous stories
before traveling extensively through Europe and the United States.
Throughout her travels, she fell in love with sunny California where
she attended classes at UCLA Writer’s Program. Natalie also attended numerous
writers’ conferences including Santa Barbara, San Diego State and Grubstreet.
She was the recipient of the Outstanding Fiction award given at the
Southern California Writers Conference. In her spare time, Scott worked as a
spokes model for companies including the AMC Network,, We Entertainment,
Hasbro, Adobe and Sony.
The Aussie gal is a foodie who loves Vegemite and currently resides in
Scottsdale, Arizona where she enjoys sharing her passion for food, enjoys
exploring new restaurants, happy hour, traveling, and a passion for books and
fashion.
Natalie Scott’s debut novel Rules for Riders was published in August
2014.
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