by Suzanne Weyn
“What are you working on today?” Taylor asked.
“Daphne, Mercedes, and I found some stuff in the equipment shed. We’re practicing a game called poles where you have to ride through the poles without touching them.”
“Is it hard to do?”
Eric nodded. “It takes practice. Are you going to be able to ride later?”
“Not today. I promised my mother I wouldn’t.”
Mercedes passed the door, leading Shafir on a line attached to the Arabian’s rope harness. “Plum’s here to work with her. Want to help?” she asked, stopping by the open door.
“Can’t,” Taylor replied. “Phone duty.”
“Okay. Don’t worry. I’ll stay close to her.”
Taylor swiveled around to look out the window. Plum stood by the corral gate with her arms folded impatiently, waiting for Shafir to be delivered to her. “Poor Shafir,” Taylor commented.
“Why do you say that?” Eric asked.
Taylor turned back toward him with a sigh. “Because he’s being leased by that Plum Mason, and she is the worst.”
“The worst what?”
“The worst horse trainer; the worst snob in the school; the worst human being on the planet — just the plain out worst.” Taylor told Eric about Plum’s history of horse deaths. “So we’re all acting as if we like her so she’ll let us stay close enough to protect Shafir from her.”
“Clever plan,” Eric commented. “So, you say this Plum is really horrible?” he said jokingly.
“Totally awful,” Taylor replied with a smile.
Without warning, Plum appeared at the office door.
Taylor and Eric exchanged quick, worried glances. Had she heard them talking?
“I want to put a real halter on that horse,” Plum demanded. “That rope thing is ridiculous.”
“I picked it because it’s light, and Shafir isn’t used to being tacked up,” Taylor said, defending her choice.
“Okay, so she’s already spent a whole day with it, now it’s time to move on. Where’s the tack room? I’ll pick a better halter out myself,” Plum said.
“It’s right behind you,” Taylor told her.
Plum glanced at Eric as if noticing him for the first time. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you over at Westheimer’s?”
“It’s not my day to work there.”
Taylor’s eyes darted between Eric and Plum. Did they know each other?
“I’m working on the rodeo games,” Eric added.
“For that stupid show?”
“It’s not stupid,” Eric insisted. “Too bad you can’t ride Shafir or you could be in it.”
“Oh, puh-lease. I only ride English.” Plum turned toward the tack room. “This is it?” she asked. “It should be called the tacky room. What a dump!”
Taylor ignored Plum; she was too stunned to speak. Raising her eyebrows and tilting her head, she looked pointedly at Eric.
“Plum’s my cousin,” Eric answered Taylor’s unspoken question.
* * *
Taylor ran a brush through Pixie’s mane while she waited for Mrs. LeFleur, who was giving her a ride home, to finish in the office. “I’m going to bring some hair detangler for you,” she told Pixie. “How do you get so knotted up?”
From his adjacent stall, Prince Albert whinnied.
“That’s my good boy,” Taylor praised him.
Mrs. LeFleur came down the center aisle with her purse slung over her shoulder, ready to leave. “I heard that his highness the prince had a breakthrough this afternoon,” she remarked.
“Yes, he did!” Taylor agreed.
“Do you think he’ll let anyone other than Dana and you ride him now?”
“I don’t know,” Taylor admitted. “It’s a good start, though, don’t you think?”
“An excellent start,” Mrs. LeFleur said. “We can have Daphne or Mercedes try him tomorrow. How are you all doing with Shafir?”
“I think she’s making progress. She wanted to play with us the other day. If she wants to play badly enough she might let someone saddle her.”
“I saw Plum trying to put a leather halter on Shafir today,” Mrs. LeFleur said. “She was having a great deal of difficulty, though. The rope halter is probably better.”
“I tried to tell her that.” Taylor put her brush back in the ranch’s curry kit and closed it. “A lot of people called about the rodeo games,” she commented, eager to get off the topic of Plum.
“I know. We will be extremely busy until next Saturday. Could you come tomorrow even though it’s not your regular day?”
“Sure!”
“We’ll have all sorts of horses here, food, events — such fun. And listen to this: I called Channel Twelve news and they’re sending a reporter to cover our event.”
“We’re going to be on TV?”
“Isn’t it exciting?”
“Very exciting,” Taylor agreed.
“So why don’t you seem happier?” Mrs. LeFleur asked.
“I’m happy,” Taylor insisted.
“Oh, no, you’re not. I can see it on your face. Something happened.”
“You’re good, Mrs. LeFleur,” Taylor said as she came out of Pixie’s stall, locking the door. “What happened is I made an idiot of myself in front of Eric. Did you know he was Plum’s cousin?”
“Really? No. I had no idea.”
“His name is Eric Mason.”
“Oh, dear. Can I assume you made some uncomplimentary remark about Plum?” Mrs. LeFleur guessed.
Taylor threw her arms wide in distress. “I told him Plum was the worst person on the planet!”
Mrs. LeFleur let out a short blast of laughter before resuming her serious expression. “Oh, my. How did he respond to that?”
“He said he knew she was a brat.” Taylor lifted her cane off the stall door. It felt good to take some weight off her bad ankle.
“So, it was all right?” Mrs. LeFleur asked.
They began walking together up the aisle toward the main center sliding doors. “I don’t know,” Taylor said. “She’s his cousin, after all; though I can still hardly believe it. They’re so different. I was so embarrassed.”
As they walked outside, Taylor was amazed to discover it was nearly dark. They got into Mrs. LeFleur’s green compact car. “We all make mistakes,” Mrs. LeFleur said consolingly as she started the engine.
“He probably hates me now,” Taylor muttered.
“Does it matter so much what he thinks?”
“I guess not,” Taylor said. But even as she said it, she realized it did matter — to her, anyway.
By Thursday, the swelling in Taylor’s ankle was gone, though it still hurt if she bumped it. As she stood before her locker and got out her notebooks, Taylor scanned the hallway, looking for Plum. Had Eric said anything to her? Taylor wondered if she should apologize to Plum or just pretend she’d never said anything at all to Eric.
Really, why should she consider apologizing to Plum? The two girls openly disliked each other. It wasn’t as though anything Eric told his cousin would come as a big surprise to Plum.
Only … maybe it would.
Was it possible that Plum really thought they liked her down at Wildwood Stables? If she believed that, it was understandable. Daphne, Mercedes, and Taylor had done their best to convince Plum of their friendship. Things should be different at Wildwood Stables. Taylor had said so herself.
Travis came down the hall and stopped at Taylor’s locker. “Hey, home girl. What’s shak-a-lackin’?”
Taylor squinted at him quizzically. “Why are you talking like that?”
“Just felt like it,” Travis explained with a grin.
“Travis, do you think it’s mean that we’re pretending to like Plum down at the ranch, even though we don’t?”
“Definitely. It’s like something Plum would do.”
“That’s cold,” Taylor told him. “I’m not like Plum.”
“Not in any other way,” Travis said with a
shrug. “You asked me what I thought, so …”
“Maybe it is mean,” Taylor answered her own question.
“But it’s Plum,” Travis reminded her.
“I know. And it’s for a good cause — to protect Shafir.”
“So, what’s the problem?” Travis asked.
“It just feels wrong all of a sudden,” Taylor admitted. “There could be a more honest way to protect Shafir.”
“You could try to really like Plum,” Travis suggested, “try to see her good side.”
Taylor and Travis looked at each other and let the impact of what Travis had just said sink in. “Naw,” they both said at once, shaking their heads.
“Not possible,” said Travis.
“Definitely not,” Taylor agreed.
* * *
Taylor felt so embarrassed by what had happened with Eric that she seriously considered not going to the ranch that afternoon. But she had promised Mrs. LeFleur she would.
Her ankle felt close to fine and Jennifer wasn’t home to object, so she went back to riding her bike down to the ranch.
As soon as she leaned her bike against the maple, Daphne hurried over to her. “Come and check this out,” she insisted, pulling Taylor by the arm. “You won’t believe it.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll see.”
Daphne led Taylor around to the side paddock just across from the outside stalls. In the middle, Plum sat on top of Shafir. The only tack was the rope harness and a horse pad.
“How did you get on her?” Daphne asked Plum, straddling the paddock fence.
“I was working with her in here and she started grazing near the fence, so I ran in and grabbed a horse pad, climbed the fence, and sat down,” Plum explained triumphantly.
“Did she give you a hard time?” Daphne asked.
Plum shook her head. “She just finally got used to me, I suppose.”
“Nice work,” Taylor said. But instantly she doubted her own motives. Was she being sincere or phony? No. She was being real — it was impressive that Plum had managed to get Shafir to cooperate.
“I told you I could do it,” Plum replied.
“Yeah, because she tried it our way instead of her way,” Daphne murmured under her breath.
“True, but at least she was willing to do that,” Taylor replied softly.
“You’re right,” Daphne agreed.
* * *
Later that afternoon, Taylor decided that, while still a bit tender and bruised, she felt well enough to ride. She was practicing quick stops with Prince Albert in the front corral as Pixie watched from the side. She had just reined Prince Albert to a halt when Rick drove in towing a horse trailer. Eric hurried out of the front seat and unloaded Jojo from the back. He walked him into the main building without glancing Taylor’s way.
A sickening lump formed in Taylor’s stomach. Was Eric ignoring her?
A second trailer pulled in, and Mrs. LeFleur came out to meet it. “We have a new horse boarding with us,” she called to Taylor. “Come see.”
Taylor rode to the fence near the trailer with Pixie meeting Prince Albert there. Mrs. LeFleur met her on the opposite side of the fence.
A bald man with a round belly opened up the back of the trailer. Out stepped a white gelding with black spots and a black-and-white mane and tail. “His name is Cody and he’s a Colorado Ranger,” the man told them. “He’s going to be a Christmas present for my daughter when she comes home from college at the end of the semester.”
“I know this horse!” Taylor realized. “I rode him over at Ross River Ranch when I was there with Daphne. It was the same day we met Shafir. He belonged to Mrs. Ross’s daughter.”
“She sold Leslie’s horse!” Mrs. LeFleur cried, aghast.
Taylor looked at Mrs. LeFleur curiously. How did she know the name of Mrs. Ross’s daughter? Did she know Cody, too? “Mrs. Ross said her daughter never rides him anymore,” Taylor explained.
“Still, Cody was a gift to her daughter.”
She did know the horse!
The man stepped toward them. “If anybody here wants to ride Cody, I’d like him to get the exercise,” he said. “My daughter will be away at college a lot for the next couple of years. She’ll only be home on breaks.”
“May I take him out for trail rides and use him for lessons?” Mrs. LeFleur asked.
“Sure thing. I think he’d love that.” The man shook hands with Mrs. LeFleur. “I’m Ed Myers, pleased to meet you.”
“I’ve ridden him; he’s a really well-trained horse,” Taylor mentioned.
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s what Mrs. Ross told me. Personally, I wouldn’t know,” Ed replied.
Mercedes came out from the side of the main building. When she saw the trailer, her eyes lit up and she ran over. “This is our new boarder, isn’t it? Oh, he’s gorgeous!”
“Meet Cody. Ride him as much as you like.”
Mercedes’ jaw dropped and her eyes went wide. “Are you kidding?”
“The only time you can’t ride him is when my daughter is home from college and wants to ride.”
“We’re holding a games event here next Saturday. Can I ride him in that?” Mercedes asked.
“Is she a good rider?” Ed asked Mrs. LeFleur.
“Excellent,” Mrs. LeFleur confirmed.
“Then sure thing.”
Mercedes jumped up and punched the air joyfully. “Yes! Yes! I’m going to be in the games event! I was dying to, but I had no horse. Now I have one!”
“Don’t worry, Ed,” Mrs. LeFleur said. “Mercedes is normally a very sensible girl. She’ll take good care of Cody.”
“Can I tack him up now?” Mercedes asked.
“I bet he’d love to be ridden,” Ed agreed.
Eric rode Jojo out of the main building. “Meet everyone over in the paddock. Today we’re practicing stalls,” he announced.
Mercedes led Cody toward the main building. “Wait for me,” she shouted to Eric. “I’ll be there as soon as I get Cody saddled.”
“Come on, Taylor,” Eric shouted with a wave of his arm. “We can get started.”
Taylor’s face broke into a wide smile. He wasn’t angry or giving her the silent treatment, after all.
With new excitement, Taylor headed Prince Albert to the corral gate with Pixie behind. Mrs. LeFleur opened it for her, and Taylor got into step beside Eric.
They walked together without speaking until they were clear of the main building and could see the paddock across from the outdoor stalls.
Plum was there posting up and down, riding Shafir at a steady trot. Taylor had to admit that Plum seemed pretty competent in her riding style. Plum also appeared to be the picture of an expert rider in her breeches, high boots, and domed velvet helmet.
“She’s brought Shafir along fast,” Taylor said.
“I know,” Eric agreed. “She’s set on entering the games event.”
“She said she wasn’t entering,” Taylor reminded him.
“Plum changed her mind after I talked to her last night. She’s determined to show everyone she’s a better rider than you are.”
Taylor’s stomach clenched. “You told her what I said?” she asked, feeling sick. Even if Plum was horrible, Taylor didn’t like the idea of hurting her feelings like that. “You know I feel badly about saying all that about her. Plus I had no idea she was your cousin.”
“I didn’t tell her any of that stuff. Besides, she knows you’re just putting up with her for the sake of the horse.”
“She does?” Taylor asked, surprised.
“Yeah, she thinks you don’t trust her with Shafir.”
“Then how come she’s so worked up about beating me?” Taylor asked. “What did you say to her?”
“I said I thought you were a gutsy girl, the way you got thrown like that and didn’t make a big deal over it.”
“Thanks,” Taylor said. “That’s all you said?”
“No. I told her I thought you were a lot of
fun … and cute.”
Taylor’s heart raced nervously as she looked at Eric, not knowing what to say next.
Prince Albert neighed and Taylor petted his neck. “I guess we should start practicing,” she said, too flustered to say anything else.
That night Taylor studied her image in the long mirror behind her bedroom door. Was she really cute? She’d never aspired to be cute; before today she had thought it was a dumb sort of word if it was used to describe someone over the age of six. Kittens and puppies were cute. Little kids were cute. But when Eric had described her as cute, she hadn’t minded at all. In fact, thinking about it at that moment made her smile.
Turning her face to the right and then to the left, Taylor tried to see herself as Eric saw her. He’d said she was gutsy, fun — and cute. Was she? It seemed as though he must be talking about someone else — but he’d said it to her!
Did it mean he liked her — liked liked her?
Or did he simply think she was some sort of adorable, spunky, Annie Oakley–type cowgirl?
And, either way, why should it bother Plum so much?
Eric must have told Plum he liked liked her. That was the only reason Plum would be so bugged about it.
Taylor got into bed. Picking up her cell phone, she found a text message from Travis.
HOW WUZ RANCH 2DAY?
GOOD. PRACTICED GAMES.
She put the phone down but a reply tone sounded almost instantly.
ANYTHING ELSE HAPPN?
NOT RLY. G2G. NEED Z’S.
OK. C U LTR.
OK. NITE.
Taylor switched off her phone and pulled her covers up. She felt as if so much had happened, yet she couldn’t tell Travis about it. The whole thing gave her a weird feeling. She didn’t want to think about it so she hurried herself off to sleep.
* * *
On Friday afternoon, Eric planned to meet up with Mercedes, Daphne, Taylor, and Plum in the pasture. The girls arrived before he did, each on horseback: Daphne on Mandy, Mercedes on Cody, Taylor on Prince Albert with Pixie alongside, and Plum on Shafir.
“You got the leather halter on Shafir,” Mercedes mentioned to Plum.
“Yes, it wasn’t hard,” Plum replied.
“Did you use the tips I gave you yesterday?” Mercedes asked.