“Antonia, don’t flip out over this. Elfin Dance has a little cold. He’s not deathly ill. And Snow White is running around happily. Besides, the two of them are next to each other—they’re snuggling their noses together as though they were a couple.” Both girls had to giggle again.
It really had been a super idea to put the two horses together. Every time Grandpa came into the stable, he thought Antonia was caring for Snow White; and Elfin Dance and Snow White liked each other so much that Antonia felt extremely happy watching them stand together, muzzle to muzzle.
On the fourth day, Dr. Kemper said that Elfin Dance was healthy again.
“You should keep him busy now, Antonia. This bundle of energy definitely needs to move after being forced to rest for three days,” said Maria. Then she added, “You must promise, though, that you won’t take him out for a ride and that you won’t leave the farm. Maybe you can try lunging him first. That calms many horses.
“You’d better stay on the course, too, otherwise it’s too dangerous. Leona, Caroline, or John should always be nearby in case Elfin Dance rears up and throws you off. And watch out for Grandpa!” Grandpa, thank goodness, was away a lot these days.
Antonia followed Maria’s instructions for several days. Elfin Dance slowly became more and more used to her. At the same time she wanted more than anything to ride him in the open field. Maybe if Papa came along she could? Or perhaps even Felix or John? Then she could try to take a real ride! She begged and begged and also showed her father how well she and Elfin Dance got along with each other in the riding arena. Finally, she got him to agree, but only if Felix came along as well.
When Leona and Caroline heard that, they wanted to come too, so an hour later, they all left the farm together. They first rode into the woods. The ground was soft and gave way under the horses’ hooves. Antonia sat lightly in Elfin Dance’s saddle.
“This is a dream!” she shouted as she felt Elfin Dance’s forward-thrusting strength under her. Her father rode ahead of her and Felix behind. They continued on over the fields at a gallop. Leona and Caroline could hardly keep up because Elfin Dance was so fast. Even though he was headstrong, he responded to the slightest pull on the reins or squeeze from Antonia.
Antonia happily spread her arms out for a moment and sucked in the warm and heavy afternoon air deeply.
“Tomorrow we’ll jump a few rounds,” promised Caroline as they made their way back to the Rosenburg farm. “I’ll set up the hurdles soon.”
The group hadn’t even reached the farm before Maria came up to meet them. She was very upset, waving a letter in her hand. Sweat was running down her brow as she called to them, “Marcel Bonhumeur is coming tomorrow! Marcel Bonhumeur is coming tomorrow!”
Antonia didn’t understand Maria’s agitation. Everything was all right. Elfin Dance was healthy again; she had taken good care of him, after all. And Cascara and Asseem were doing really well.
But then it came to her in a flash. “How dumb am I?” She hit herself on the forehead. And all of a sudden she broke out in a cold sweat! Of course, she had taken good care of Elfin Dance, but not Mr. Sonnenfeld, who was really supposed to have looked after him. Supported by a crutch and wearing a thick bandage, he’d been limping around the farm since yesterday, and mounted on Elfin Dance, he would not make a good impression.
Despite the heat, Antonia’s whole body was trembling as she climbed down from Elfin Dance. She, Leona, and Caroline rubbed the horses dry, cleaned their coats and hooves, took the animals back to the stable, and gave them what they needed for the night. Now all they could do was hope that the next day everything would miraculously go well. None of them knew how they should handle the meeting, least of all Maria. Maybe Antonia could stay near Elfin Dance so that he’d at least remain calm? But as soon as the idea came to Maria, she rejected it.
Antonia and Leona didn’t sleep all night. They stayed awake, not just out of concern for the upcoming visit, but also because the warmth and increasing mugginess had become more and more unbearable. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of a cool breeze. Then suddenly a flash of heat lightning interrupted the darkness. Something was brewing, laying heavily on them, but it didn’t storm and the heat just intensified.
Not until the next morning did threatening black and sulfur-yellow clouds gather in the sky. Today of all days.
“I cannot believe this,” said Maria, distraught. An ever-approaching rumble could be heard, and the heat blanketed Rosenburg Farm like a sauna. Everyone knew how nervous horses could get in severe storms. Whenever there was a storm, all farmhands were constantly busy calming the animals, rubbing them dry again and again, and encouraging them by talking. They longed for the first crack of thunder to sound.
“But please, don’t storm at the exact moment that Mr. Bonhumeur pulls in,” sighed Maria. “Please, please, not then . . .”
All the hard work they’d done on the farm for all these years was now in danger of being destroyed by all these unfortunate circumstances.
But the heat shimmered on and on mercilessly, and the little black storm flies settled in everywhere. The horses swished their tails, their skin itched, and they stamped in their stalls. John, Felix, Leona, Caroline, Antonia, and Maria had already spread out a whole mountain of towels that were damp from drying off the horses.
The increasingly oppressive heat bothered everyone, but it was the most uncomfortable for the horses. They either dozed, incapable of moving, or woke with a start, jumping wildly and hitting the doors as if, with their keen instinct, they were sensing the still distant thunderstorm’s approach.
Then finally, around noon, Mr. Bonhumeur drove up. The waiting was over. But despite his name, Mr. Bonhumeur seemed to be in a bad mood already as he climbed out of the car. Was it also because of the heat?
Maria led him around the Rosenburg Farm, showing him the modern stalls, the new indoor riding arena, and the show jumping course. She did this with great composure, although Antonia sensed her tension. Maria was used to giving a big performance at auctions and competitions, so she chatted cheerfully.
Mr. Bonhumeur looked everything over wordlessly. Again and again he wiped his face with a huge colorful handkerchief. “Zees ees really zome ’orrible weazzer,” he moaned.
At last he asked to see his horses, whom he’d actually never laid eyes on before.
John and Felix came riding up from the stable on Cascara and Asseem. The horses pranced nervously. Again and again they pricked their ears and threw their heads back and forth. The dreadful stormy air made them jittery and easily startled. There was nothing to be seen of their usual very self-assured and powerful demeanor. Mr. Bonhumeur was quite taken with the elegance of the horses nevertheless.
But then came Mr. Sonnenfeld on Elfin Dance. Antonia held her breath, stayed near both of them, and tried to maintain eye contact with the gelding.
Mr. Sonnenfeld tried his hardest, but it was obviously difficult for him to ride with his injured foot. He sat stiff in the saddle, like a beginner who was afraid of falling.
It was almost like a comedy routine. But the whole business was much too serious for that. Elfin Dance had his ears pricked, and the whites of his eyes were clearly visible. He was looking at Antonia now. But again and again he kicked his hind legs and turned around and around, as if he could possibly get rid of his clumsy, annoying rider. Maria swallowed and fiddled with her handkerchief, and Papa gave a little cough. Antonia really just wanted to jump out in front of Elfin Dance and help calm him.
Mr. Bonhumeur stood there with his mouth open. “Mon Dieu,” he shouted over and over, obviously annoyed. What was he supposed to think of such a performance? He was used to witnessing the best riders on the most elegant horses.
And when Antonia went up to Elfin Dance and whispered calming words in his ear, that was the last straw for Mr. Bonhumeur.
Once again he yelled, “Mon Dieu, what ees zees? Zose are zuh trainers of my valuable ’orses? Such fantastic stables and zenn such ’orse
manship? And, ma petite girl, get away from zat ’orse! You are just making ’eem nervous!” And he waved his hands as if Antonia were a pesky fly. “Tomorrow I am taking my ’orses from zees farm back to Frahnce.”
Maria and Mr. Rosenburg intended to reassure him. But before they could, the thunderstorm let loose with a deafening racket. Antonia had never experienced anything like it. The sky was pitch-black, and fat raindrops—then sheets of rain—pelted down. It was as though someone had opened a floodgate. Lightning flashed, and at the same time, a huge clap of thunder boomed over the farm, as if it wanted to knock the house and stable down. Again and again lightning sliced through the sky, which was black as night, and that’s when chaos ensued.
At the last second, Felix and John had been able to jump off the horses’ backs before they reared in panic.
Mr. Sonnenfeld, however, could hardly hold on. He thrust Elfin Dance’s reins into Antonia’s hand and waved John closer, grimacing in pain.
“You two take over,” he shouted, and Antonia’s father immediately rushed to help.
Mr. Bonhumeur ran back and forth with no idea of what to do, yelling, “My ’orses, my expensive ’orses; take care of my ’orses! And get zees girl away from my ’orse. I weel be so ’appy when we go back tomorrow to Frahnce!”
Felix managed to handle Cascara and Asseem, but when Mr. Bonhumeur tried to snatch Elfin Dance’s reins roughly from Antonia, he got the shock of his life!
The gelding reared up, neighed wildly and loudly, rolled his eyes, and galloped away. Neither Antonia, John, nor Mr. Bonhumeur could hold him.
“Elfin Dance!” Antonia called after him. “Elfin Dance, stay here!” And she ran after him as far as the meadow. He stopped then with his head up.
Antonia could faintly hear Maria telling Mr. Bonhumeur soothingly, “Let them be, Mr. Bonhumeur, and don’t worry about it. Nothing will happen to Elfin Dance.”
As if in slow motion, Antonia approached the excited gelding. Impetuously he ran from right to left, thrashing with his head and snorting loudly.
“Easy does it, my dear. It’s just a storm, and it will stop soon. You don’t have to be afraid. I’m with you. Just come to me,” said Antonia in her musical voice.
She repeated this over and over until she finally got through to Elfin Dance. He pricked his ears and trotted up to Antonia. Antonia took his reins and continued talking to him soothingly. The gelding reacted to her words and stood in front of her, as focused as if the storm were already far away. John stood behind Antonia.
Now, in order to calm Elfin Dance, Antonia began to lead him around slowly in a circle, as if lunging. And every time a flash of lightening split the dark clouds, or thunder rolled, she spoke to him all the more urgently.
And throughout it all, Elfin Dance walked around in a circle. In a steady voice, Antonia told him everything that was happening. She spoke to him as she would have spoken to a little child, and Elfin Dance walked to the rhythm of her words.
Antonia’s wet hair fell in thick strands onto her face. Her T-shirt and riding pants were also stuck to her.
At last, the storm slowly moved on. The thunder was just a distant grumble now.
Elfin Dance’s coat, wet with rain, shone like silk as one of the first gentle sunbeams pushed through the clouds. An almost ghostly quiet lay over everything. Or was it soft, fluttering fear? But fear of what?
Would Mr. Bonhumeur take Elfin Dance away with him? Would Antonia lose her new friend? She didn’t even want to imagine what else would happen when word got around that Rosenburg Farm didn’t properly look after the horses in its care. How many riders would then remove their horses from the farm? She also knew that she’d miss Elfin Dance. The gelding had grown on her so much.
Elfin Dance got nervous once again. But he listened closely to Antonia’s words and stood still in front of her after one of his laps.
“Elfin Dance,” said Antonia, taking his head carefully between her hands, “my big boy, my wild child!”
Elfin Dance pranced again on the spot, finally calming himself down.
Maria approached cautiously and gave Antonia a big, dry towel. Elfin Dance briefly averted his gaze. Eventually he nudged the towel in Antonia’s hand with his mouth, as if he wanted to say, “Now rub me dry.”
Antonia took it and stroked carefully over Elfin Dance’s head, back, flanks, and then farther down his legs. At last, she threw the towel over him, because she knew he liked it.
A slight tremor passed through his muscles and Elfin Dance let her stroke his crest. Antonia ran her hand over his forehead, nostrils, and jowls. “My good boy,” she whispered. “Now we’re slowly going to go home.”
She took his reins and led him back to the farm. Maria and Mr. Bonhumeur were waiting.
“Magnifique,” murmured Mr. Bonhumeur. “Antonia, show me ’ow you would ride heem.”
There was nothing else Antonia would rather have done. She adjusted the girth, while Elfin Dance turned to her and almost tenderly stroked her arm with his nostrils.
Then she gently swung onto his back.
It went fabulously. She rode a few laps; he jumped easily over the ditch; they changed the pace. Elfin Dance’s talent and temperament were apparent with each step—he pressed forward and was able to demonstrate his strength and ease in every little jump.
“He’s something really special,” whispered Maria, “and has such elegance.”
Mr. Bonhumeur looked him over with a big smile.
“Antonia,” he began softly. “Antoinette ees a—’ow do you say—merveilleuse rider, and Elfin Dance ees a character, oo la la!”
“Marvelous,” said Maria.
“Antonia ees a magician.” And for the second time he smiled. “Zuh girl ees a magician like my Juliette, a real miracle.”
Maria was happy. She knew that Mr. Bonhumeur had a daughter named Juliette, who was about the same age as Antonia.
“Yes, really,” he repeated. “Eet ees a miracle.”
“Antonia, the horse whisperer,” said Maria.
“Zat ees right,” he answered. “Antonia, zuh ’orse whisperer.” And after a pause, he tapped his head and added, “We ’ave to do somezing, mademoiselle. We must zink it over. A plan ees developing; eet ees developing in my ’ead, oo la la.”
All’s Well That Ends Well
The next day the sun shone brightly. It climbed over the red roofs of the Rosenburg Farm and bathed everything in its warm radiance. Even though it seemed like it would be another hot day, the air was clear and felt pleasant after the storm.
Just like every morning, the stable bustled with activity: feeding, mucking out, grooming, and riding. But it all seemed more relaxed and cheerful than usual.
Antonia and Leona had slept deeply. They had fallen into bed dead tired after the excitement of the day. The storm had raged on for quite a while. It had taken some time after that before the horses settled down and all traces of the storm were gone. Even Mr. Bonhumeur had vigorously pitched in. It wasn’t until late, after he had made sure his darlings weren’t lacking anything, that he left the farm and had gone to the hotel where he was staying. “I weel come again tomorrow morning and we weel talk wiz more peace and quiet? Somezing must be done. I ’ave a plan,” he said before leaving, tapping his head again.
“I wonder if he’ll really take Elfin Dance, Cascara, and Asseem back to Frahnce with him today?” Leona said as they sat at breakfast. Antonia laughed at her imitation of Mr. Bonhumeur. “All horses get scared in that kind of storm. As somebody who knows horses, he must be aware of that. And besides, he saw how well you got along with Elfin Dance.”
Leona rubbed her itchy nose. Was that a sign?
“Yes,” answered Antonia softly. “But I’m just ten. He won’t leave his valuable horses with a ten-year-old just because I was able to calm Elfin Dance yesterday.”
At that moment, Mr. Bonhumeur drove onto the farm and was immediately welcomed by Maria and Alexander Rosenburg. Then, at his request, he was taken to the
office. Grandpa came along as well, and the door closed behind the four of them.
“What do you suppose they’re talking about? Hopefully Mr. Bonhumeur isn’t bringing legal action against Papa for breaking the contract.”
“Nah,” said Leona soothingly, “he definitely won’t do that.” She rubbed her snub nose, which was red by now. “I just have a feeling about it. He talked about a plan.”
“What kind of plan is that supposed to be?” Antonia sputtered, almost furious. She was on edge. If Elfin Dance was taken away from them . . . only now did she realize how bad that would be. At that instant, she touched her little elf charm in her pants pocket. Was it a sign? Oh, nonsense, it was a piece of rose quartz and nothing more.
Antonia and Leona walked toward the stable. “As long as the four of them are hunkered down in the office, this is probably the last chance I’ll have to say good-bye to Elfin Dance,” said Antonia. She had been imagining what it would be like to train Elfin Dance, especially now that Snow White was no longer able to compete. But would she ever get used to riding another horse? If it was Elfin Dance, then yes! Most certainly! With him, she could imagine being able to achieve her dream of a career as a show jumper.
All of a sudden Leona was clinging to her arm. “Hey, we’ll just kidnap Elfin Dance. What do you think?” Did Leona really mean that, or was she just trying to cheer Antonia up with one of her crazy ideas? Antonia wasn’t sure, but, after a moment of confusion, she had to grin. Leona was always able to help take her mind off of difficult situations.
“And exactly where should we take him? To your house or to the garage?” That thought made both of them giggle.
“Yeah, it’s not a bad idea. And then the newspaper will say, ‘Horse kidnapped. Where did the evil kidnappers take it?’ And suddenly there will be neighing coming out of our garage.”
“Just picture it. We’d have to bring hay and concentrated feed to your house on our bikes. That would hardly attract attention in town. Old lady Mueller would crouch behind her drapes and get all wide-eyed. Then she’d have something new to gossip about at the hairdresser.”
Antonia, the Horse Whisperer Page 4