Diana Love is a 16 year old who loves horses. She has one and it's name is Dream Maker; he is a Morgan.
She is the best horseback rider in the world but she has no clue that she is the best one!!!! Her trainer is the bset trainer in the world; his name is Hugo Reeves.
She lives on Martha's Vineyard, MA. She loves to ride Dream Maker by the sea.
She has one brother, a dad, a mom, a dog and a dove.
Diana and Dream Maker can talk by using their eyes. Only Dream Maker, Hugo and Diana know about this.
Diana's mom, Cate Love, was the best horseback rider before Diana was born.
As Diana was cleaning Dream Maker's tack, Hugo came in with a twinkle in his eyes. Diana looked up and smiled and went back to her work.
"I was thinking that you need some competition, and so how 'bout trying out for the US team?" he asked.
An ear-piercing cry filled the barn. "You mean aiming for the Olympics this summer?" asked Diana.
Hugo smiled and nodded and said, "The tryouts are going to be in Boston in 3 weeks, so I guess that cry is a yes."
Those three weeks went by so fast for Diana. She woke up at 5 a.m., did some schoolwork and ate. Then Diana had a lesson from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day!
The last day of the three weeks was up and Diana was eating with her family. "We have all decided to come along with you to Boston," said Mrs. Love.
"Yeah. To see you lose," joked Joe.
Diana gave him a "don't start with me" look. "Great! That would be so cool," answered Diana. "Is Dad coming, too? With his work and all he has so little free time," said Diana, in a low and sad voice.
"Yes, he is going with us," answered Mrs. Love excitedly.
After dinner, Diana said, "I'm going to see Dream Maker before bed."
"Okay, sweet pea, don't stay out there long - you need your rest," said Mrs. Love from in the kitchen.
Diana took it slow heading towards the barn. The wind was soft and played with her loose hair. As Diana opened the barn door, a whinny came from it. "I'm coming," said Diana in a low voice. She went right up to Dream Maker.
"Well, we have not had a good conversation in a long time," said Dream Maker.
"Well, I'm sorry but we have been so busy the last month," answered Diana.
"I think that we are going to be on the USN team!"
"It's USA."
"Oh, yes, the USA team - because I'm great and I'm perfect in every way."
"Just a little prideful, don't you think?" laughed Diana.
Then a voice came from the house. "Diana, time for bed, dear."
"I'm coming!" cried Diana, and ran back to the house.
Diana slept awhile and got up about 9 p.m. and loaded Dream Maker into their trailer. Everyone was in their truck but Dad. Joe honked the horn about five times til Dad came stumbling out of the house with arms full of stuff.
"Dearest, we aren't staying in Boston for a long time, only about three days," said Mrs. Love.
"Still, if we break down or need help we can e-mail or call someone," said Mr. Love.
Diana and Joe looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
Diana soon fell asleep and did not wake up til they were in Boston. The arena was next to an inn so they found a parking spot, let Dream Maker into a stable and went into the inn to register.
"Your room is 29 - take the stairs, then take a left, and the 20's rooms will begin," said the host of The Inn.
Next half of the day went by slow and boring to Diana.
Next morning, Diana got up and ate and got dressed in her riding outfit. As she was buttoning her shirt, she noticed that her hands were shaking. There was a knock on her door.
"Come in."
Dad came in. "Hugo is ready to go to the tryouts. Just wanted to tell you I love you even if you don't make it."
Diana ran over to her dad and gave him a bear hug.
***
"Well, this is it!" said Dream Maker as she got on him, but Diana said nothing.
As she was warming up Dream Maker, she heard someone cry, "Hey, Di!" There was only one person who called her Di, which was Patty Scale. Diana looked her way and smiled and said in a clear voice, "Good morning, Patty. I had no clue you were trying out."
Patty gave a look of "oh, that jerk" to Diana. Then there was a loud voice over a loudspeaker. "May all the riders come out of the ring, please."
Diana trotted over to Hugo. "When am I going up?" asked Diana.
"They are doing it in alphabetical order and you go first. Diana's throat tightened up so that she could hardly breathe. "Breathe, Diana, breathe," said Hugo in such a soft voice. Remember, if you get the highest score it is the better," said Hugo.
Then the speaker said, "May Diana Love please come into the ring?"
Diana straightened up, put her heels down, and walked into the ring with confidence. Then, an old man came to her and said, "Are you ready, Diana?"
Diana nodded.
"You are so young," said the old man, who was a judge.
Then the speaker said again, "Please do your jumping pattern at a gallop."
She pushed her feet into Dream Maker's body and started. She moved her body with her horse and took the first jump. Oh, yes, she knew it was perfect, and she smiled.
She went off two jumps with just one leap. She heard the other people murmur in amazement. Then came the last jump. It was high, but that did not stop Diana and Dream Maker. They took it head on and cleared it by five feet. She slowed down Dream Maker and stopped next to the old man. "I never saw anything so beautiful in my life," said the old man. Diana looked at the scoreboard. Her score was 6.10 and she had made it around the ring in 30 seconds with no errors or faults.
Diana was overjoyed, and she clapped her hands and patted Dream Maker. Diana looked at her family and friend and all of them had smiles that reached their ears. "Now," said the judge, "you need to show us your Dressage pattern.
"Okay," said Diana, "and she went to the entrance again and waited for the judge to give her the sign. "Okay, Dream Maker, one more time," she said.
"Please begin." And Diana was off.
Diana said in her head, "walk 20 spaces, halt for 10 seconds, back up 5 steps, start cantering, turn corner... Good job, Dream Maker! Extend canter, gallop around the ring two times and stop at judge."
The judge nodded his head and said, "Very well done, Diana."
Her score was 10 points, the highest you could get.
"You did an amazing job!" said Hugo and her family. They were waiting for the final score of who was going to be on the US team. Finally a young lady with black hair came in and gave out the final scores on paper. Diana ran over to the lady and asked for one. As she took it, she could see her name on the paper. She was the first one on the list! Oh, yes, she wanted to dance, so she did - around and around in circles til she was dizzy and couldn't see.
"Diana, it's time for your interview with Newsweek," said Mrs. Love, interrupting her thoughts. Mrs. Love gave her a phone.
"I really hope this guy will have short qustions. I'm just so tired," replied Diana in a gloomy voice.
"Hello, Diana, my name is Liv. How are you?"
"Oh, just fine."
"How do you feel about winning so many medals, Diana?"
"Well I always knew that if I gave my best I would get far, Dream Maker and I. We are so overjoyed. I can't put it into words, if you know what I mean."
"Everyone heard that Patty Scale tried to cut you off as both of you were taking a jump. How do you feel about this?"
"Let's just say that Patty and I do not have a lot in common."
"And that other thing she said when she said that Dream Maker had rabies?"
"This is not true and I hope that I can talk with her about this."
"So you hate her?"
"No."
"Well, why not?"
"I think the word 'hate' is too strong word to use."
"So why don't you hate her she made you get third place for that!"
"Third place is not a bad place! Just going to the games is something big."
"Oh" A long pause. "So you've been hanging out with Michael Phelps?"
"Yes we have. He is so funny and I like his look on life."
"You like him?"
"Yes as a friend."
"Just like a friend and nothing else?"
Diana was getting quite tired of Liv's questions. "Yes." Diana got a sick feeling that this was not Newsweek.
"Is this Newsweek?"
"Oh no, this is Teen People."
"Oh, okay!" Diana thought, "oh Jesus, help me to show You through me."
"So do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, I do not have one and I'm not looking for one."
"Oh, really, I guess I have to go - bye!"
"Good-bye, have a nice day."
As she was hanging up, she heard Liv say, "well that was a waste of time."
Diana sat down and closed her eyes.
"Diana, you know I really do not like taking jumps anymore," Dream Maker said in her mind.
"What are you saying, pal?" Diana almost yelled that.
"I just don't like it. How 'bout if you get another horse JUST FOR JUMPING?"
Diana was too tired to answer. She would wait to get back home to talk about this.
When Diana got off the plane there was about 50 people waiting for her. "This is crazy," said Hugo rolling his eyes.
"There's Dad and Joe," said Mrs. Love trying to be heard over the cries of "Diana come over here!" "Diana, we love you!" "Look, there's Diana!"
All of a sudden Diana had a flashing light go off in her head!!!! Diana know she was the best horseback rider every!!