Rules for Riders
By Natalie Scott
Published August 2014
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.
Available for sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in eBook and paperback.
Excerpt:
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.
Scott’s
debut novel, Rules for Riders,
is a fast and furious, coming-of-age story set in the world of equestrian
riding.
To learn
more, go to http://www.nataliescott.com/
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