A Horse for Kate (Horses and Friends Book 1)

by Miralee Ferrell

  Pete began rocking in his chair, and the humming increased in intensity. She’d upset him again. He was so sensitive to everyone’s emotions. For the hundredth time, Kate wished her little brother could communicate like other kids his age.

  Mom held out her hand to Pete. “Come on. Let’s go in the living room and read a story. Kate’s fine, Pete. She just needs to talk to Dad for a bit.”

  Pete pushed back his chair but didn’t take Mom’s hand as they left the room.

  Kate settled into the chair Pete had left. “I didn’t mean to upset him, Dad.”

  “I know. It’s not always easy having a little brother who’s autistic.” Dad leaned over and gave her a quick hug. Then he walked to the cupboard, took down a mug, and poured himself a cup of coffee.

  “It’s not easy for any of us, but I still love him.” Kate didn’t know why she felt so defensive. It wasn’t like Dad had said anything wrong.

  “Sure, we all do. But it’s hard seeing him struggle and not be able to let us know how he’s feeling other than humming or rocking or speaking an occasional sentence.”

  “He’ll get better when he’s older, won’t he?” Kate clenched her fingers until the nails bit into her palms.

  “The doctor thinks so. He’s young, and he’s made a lot of progress since he was diagnosed. He’s talking more now than he was a year ago. Therapy helps a lot.” He winced. “I’m sorry most of our extra money has to pay for that, and you don’t get the special things you want. I’m sure it doesn’t seem fair.”

  Once again tears stung Kate’s eyes, but this time it was due to shame, not frustration or anger. “I guess it doesn’t sometimes, but then I think about what it would be like if I’d been born with autism instead of Pete, and I realize how lucky I am. Then I feel rotten for complaining about not getting a horse.”

  “Have I told you lately how proud I am that you’re my daughter?” Dad drew her to her feet and wrapped her in a bear hug.

  She snuggled close for a minute before pushing away, embarrassed. “I’m getting too old for that, aren’t I?” She grinned up at him.

  “Not in my book, you aren’t. Tell you what. I’ll put some thought into how we can get you back into the horse world here in Odell.” He held up his hand when she opened her mouth in excitement. “That doesn’t mean getting your own horse, but maybe we can work something out. Give me a few days, okay?”

  Kate tried to smile. Dad meant well, but she couldn’t think of anything that would be nearly as good as getting that mare. She’d fallen in love the moment the horse took the first carrot out of her hand. “Sure, Dad. Whatever. Guess I’d better finish the dishes.”

  He didn’t reply further but headed toward the living room.

  As Kate watched him go, all her earlier thankfulness at being born without the problems her brother had trickled away. She wasn’t going to give up. Even if she didn’t get a horse for her birthday, she’d figure out a way to fulfill her dreams one way or another.

  Chapter Five

  Kate and Tori raced across the soggy front lawn, each intent on getting to the house first. Kate vaulted onto the front porch. “All right! I won!” She pumped her fist in the air as her friend skidded to a halt beside her.

  Tori glared at Kate’s legs. “Not fair. You’re at least two inches taller than me, and I swear most of it is in your legs. You need to run track. I bet you’d beat everybody.”

  Kate shook her head. “I might have long legs, but I don’t have the heart to sprint around a track and try to win a race. The only track I’m interested in is a show arena.”

  “Huh?”

  Kate punched Tori lightly on the arm. “Horses, you goof. You know, showing? Jumping?”

  At Tori’s blank expression, Kate stopped. “What? You’ve never gone to a horse show? Ever?” She opened the front door and waved Tori in first.

  “Nope. My parents aren’t exactly rich, you know. And I’ve never hung around anyone who loves horses as much as you do. I’ve never even ridden on a horse.”

  “Whoa! No way!” Kate stared at Tori. “Never? I mean, I knew you weren’t supercomfortable around them when you didn’t know how to feed them carrots, but never?”

  “N- E- V- E- R.” Tori’s chin firmed in determination. “And it never occurred to me to want to either. Clear now?”

  “Sor-ry.” Kate smirked, then sobered. “Really. I wasn’t trying to make fun. I guess I’ve loved horses for as long as I can remember, so it’s hard to imagine someone who didn’t grow up wanting the same thing.”

  “Well, I didn’t.” Tori tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulder as she glanced back. “But now that you mention it, it might be fun. If it isn’t a big horse and I don’t get dumped. What’s a horse show like? I’ve been to lots of football and basketball games at school, and my little brother’s T-ball games.”

  Kate bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. She’d already insulted Tori enough. The last thing she wanted was to hurt her friend’s feelings. “Uh, it’s nothing like any of those. Want to go with me? There’s a big show here in Odell early this summer. I researched it on the Internet yesterday. It’s a hunter-jumper show that’s on the approved circuit.”

  “Huh?” Tori wrinkled her nose.

  “Never mind. It just means if you place, you get points that accumulate along with points you earn from other shows. But the ad said the one here is outdoors in a field south of Odell, on the way to Hood River.”

  “Okay, sure. We better get in there. Your mom hollered that it was time for cake and presents ten minutes ago.”

  “Yikes!” Kate grabbed Tori’s hand and sprinted for the dining room. “I almost forgot it’s my birthday. Dad’s going to eat all the cake if we don’t get in there fast!”

  Kate and Tori halted in the doorway of the dining room and gasped. Streamers and balloons exploded in color all over the ceiling and walls. A big sign colored in block letters and proclaiming HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATE! hung above the far window. A cake shaped like a horse head sat in the center of the table, with thirteen candles running down the length of the mane.

  “Awesome, Mom! Who made the cake? And when did you have time to decorate without me knowing?”

  Mom chuckled and glanced at Dad. “I had a little help while Tori kept you busy outside. Pete even helped with the balloons, didn’t you, buddy?”

  Pete eyed all the various colors. “Thirteen balloons for Kate. Three yellow, two blue, two red, four pink, and two green.”

  Kate and Tori applauded. “Thanks, Pete! You did a great job.”

  He pointed to the left of the cake. “That’s a horse. Now Kate has a horse.”

  Kate’s heart stilled. “Yeah, it sure is. What are those next to the cake?” She waved her hand at the stack of presents, praying her little brother would keep talking.

  He didn’t meet her eyes or follow where she indicated but started to gently rock in his chair.

  Dad patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, honey. He’s fine. That was more than he usually says, and he’s been in a happy mood the entire time we’ve been decorating. Do you want to open your presents first or cut the cake?”

  She’d been staring at a big box behind three or four smaller items. “If everyone isn’t dying to have cake first, I want to see what’s in that box.” She glanced around the room at the smiling faces. “In all of them, actually.”

  Mom pulled out a chair at the head of the table. “Take a seat, then, and let’s get started. I’ll admit to being pretty excited about that box myself.”

  Dad held his finger to his lips. “Nan, don’t give her any hints.”

  “I’m not, John. But I can’t wait to see what she thinks.”

  Kate dragged a chair close to the table and leaned forward. “Do I get to open it first?”

  Tori twisted a strand of hair around one finger. “Uh, do you mind if you wait an
d leave it for last? I’m afraid you won’t want to see mine after you open the big one.”

  “You know what it is?” Kate stared at her friend and then at her parents, who grinned back at her. “You do! Fine,” she said with a dramatic flourish, “which one do you want me to open first?”

  Tori grabbed a gift bag with a pink bow on the handle and thrust it under Kate’s nose. “Mine. Please.”

  Kate laughed and grabbed the bag. “Want me to guess?”

  “No, silly. And don’t shake it, or it might break. Just open it.”

  Kate slit the tape that held the top closed and peeled back the heavy folds of tissue. “Oh, cool!” She withdrew a delicately molded horse figurine. “It’s beautiful! And it looks like that mare we found last week. Where did you get it, Tori?”

  Tori dropped her eyes, and a flush colored her dusky cheeks. “You’re not supposed to ask questions like that.”

  Kate blinked, not sure what to think. Then, spotting a tiny chip on the base, she understood. Tori’s family didn’t have a lot of money, and any gift would be a sacrifice. Tori might have gotten it at a discount store or even a yard sale, but it didn’t matter. “It’s perfect. I absolutely love it! Thank you!”

  Tori’s warm brown eyes lit with joy. “I’m glad you like it. I was kind of worried.”

  “Silly. How could I not love it?” Kate tossed her friend a grin and then tore into the next two gifts—a box of her favorite chocolates from Pete and a small, framed horse print from her parents. Grandma and Grandpa Ferris had sent a gift certificate and a new T-shirt with a horse logo.

  Now the oversize box sat alone on the table, and Kate’s fingers itched to open it. Her family hadn’t given her the slightest hint what it might be. It wasn’t big enough to hold a horse, so she didn’t have a clue. “Can I open it now?”

  Mom nodded. Dad went around the corner, hefted it from where it sat, and placed it in front of Kate.

  She stood and leaned over the box, rising on her toes and bouncing. Slowly she tore off a large strip of the pink polka-dot paper, only to reveal a regular cardboard box with no lettering or hint of what might be inside. With sudden resolve, Kate tore into the rest of the wrapping, removing it in a matter of seconds. She eyed the seam secured with what appeared to be an entire roll of tape, and spluttered, “Wow! Who sealed this thing, anyway?”

  Her brother patted his chest. “Pete.”

  Kate’s mouth gaped, and then she snapped it shut and swallowed. “Good job, buddy.”

  Dad handed her his pocketknife, and she slit the tape and grabbed the two flaps, popping the box apart. Still no clue. A ream of newspaper packed the entire top. She dug beneath it until her fingers touched something hard. She shoved the paper aside, grabbed hold of the item, and hoisted it up and out of the box.

  “Awesome!” She squealed the word and almost dropped the present in her excitement. “An English saddle … This is the best present ever!”

  The smiles on her parents’ faces almost lit the room. “We hoped it was the right type. The lady at the store in The Dalles said this should be the right size for your height and weight.” Her mom’s forehead crinkled. “I hope you don’t mind that it’s used. She said it’s good quality, and all the fittings are there.”

  “No problem. A used saddle is already broken in. Now all I need is a horse to put it on.” Kate lifted her eyes toward her parents, only to see the delight fade from their expressions. “I didn’t mean it like that, you guys. I mean, this is perfect. Thank you so much!” She had no idea what she’d do with a saddle and no horse, but this gift only served to strengthen her determination. Somehow, someway, she’d get her wish.

  Chapter Six

  Kate ran from her bedroom and snatched the ringing phone from its cradle in their living room, wishing yet again that her parents would allow her to have her own cell phone. They didn’t really have the extra money, and neither saw it as a necessity, but she felt so out of it at school. A lot of kids had their own phones and spent breaks or lunch texting or surfing the web. Maybe she’d put that on her Christmas list.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, it’s Tori.”

  “What’s up?” Kate settled into the deep cushion of their sofa, still amazed that God had brought her a friend so soon after they’d moved here.

  “You got anything planned today? Are you done with your chores?”

  “Yep. Mom’s working with Pete, and Dad ran to Hood River. I decided to stay home. What’s going on?”

  “Since it’s not raining, I thought you’d like to go for a bike ride. My mom said it was okay, and there’s something I want to show you.”

  Kate’s ears perked. “Cool. I’ll ask Mom, but I’m sure she won’t care. Want to head over?”

  “Yep. Be there in fifteen.”

  “Great. I’ll be ready.” Kate set the phone back in the cradle, happy she’d gotten her chores out of the way early and even more thankful it was Saturday. What could Tori want to show her? They’d been back to visit the mare a few more times during the week after her birthday, but no one seemed to know anything about who owned her or where she’d come from. Frustration nipped at Kate, but she pushed it away. No time to get grumpy now with Tori on the way and a secret adventure looming … Well, she hoped it would be an adventure. She’d love a mystery to solve or for something exciting to happen.

  Right on time Tori knocked on the door, and Kate rushed to answer it. “Mom said it’s fine, but she doesn’t want me gone more than a couple of hours. She also wants to know where we’re going.” Kate rolled her eyes. “You know how parents are.”

  Tori slumped. “Aww, I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  Kate’s mom walked into the entry. “I thought I heard Tori’s voice.” She gave the girl a quick hug. “It’s good to see you.” She glanced from Kate to Tori. “So you’d like to keep your destination a surprise from Kate, is that what you mean?”

  Tori nodded, and her dark brown ponytail bounced on her shoulders. “If that’s okay, Mrs. Ferris.”

  Mom half turned toward the living room and pointed. “How about you follow me and whisper what you’re doing. Then I’ll know and Kate won’t. Will that work?”

  Tori’s eyes shone. “Sure.” She shot a look at Kate. “No eaves­dropping.”

  Kate gave a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am!”

  But when Tori and her mom started talking in low tones, Kate almost broke her word. She stopped herself in time from tiptoeing to the doorway. She didn’t want to disappoint Tori or ruin her surprise. Even more than that, she didn’t want to break her word to her new friend.

  It felt like forever, but it was probably only a minute or two later when Tori reappeared. “Ready?”

  “You got that right!” Kate wrenched the door open. “Lead me to it, girl.”

  Tori bounced down the porch stairs and grabbed her bike, wheeling it toward the gravel road fronting Kate’s yard. “Hurry up, or I’ll leave you behind.”

  “Fat chance of that!” Kate jumped aboard her own bike and pushed on the pedal, excitement making her catch her breath. “Which way are we going?”

  “To the left, and that’s all I’ll tell you. Follow me, and you’ll see soon enough.”

  They pumped up a slight rise, standing on their pedals to crest the top, and then coasting down the other side. It was harder work on gravel than it would have been on pavement, but Kate didn’t mind. She’d discovered since moving here that she loved living in the country. It wasn’t even as bad at school as she’d expected, now that she’d met Tori. Kids like Mia, the blonde girl Melissa, and several others still weren’t friendly, but she hadn’t been harassed or bullied like some kids she’d known at home. Not that she hadn’t seen a little of that in her weeks at Odell, but overall most of the kids were decent.

  Tori slowed her pace at the bottom of the decline and squinted over her shoulder. “You co
ming?”

  Until Tori hollered, Kate hadn’t realized that she’d slowed to a crawl to gaze out over the nearby field of horses. “Yeah. Sorry!” She pumped her legs to catch up. “Where to now? I love this ride. My favorite stable is up around the next bend. They’ve got some awesome horses.”

  Tori grinned but didn’t reply, just jerked her chin forward and pedaled faster.

  Kate dug in and increased her pace, dying to know where they were headed. Tori had never acted so mysterious. Before, Kate had been the one to suggest going for rides or visiting the mare they’d found, so this was kinda weird.

  After they’d ridden over a mile from home, Tori slowed her bike at the gravel entrance to the large equestrian barn, and Kate skidded to a stop beside her. “Tori! What’s going on? We’re really going in here? This is too cool!” She brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. “I’ve been wanting to visit, but since I don’t own a horse, I didn’t think they’d let me. Do you know someone who has a horse boarded here?”

  Tori planted both feet on the ground, straddling her bike. “I guess I’d better tell you now. I hope you aren’t going to be upset with me. I’m not so sure this is a good idea now that we’re here.”

  Kate stared at her, wondering if Tori had lost her mind. “Of course it’s a good idea. It’s great! Why would I get mad because we’re at the coolest horse barn in the area?”

  “I saw an ad in the paper that they need people to clean stalls.”

  Kate’s heart skipped. “Awesome! I told Mom and Dad I want to get a job and save money for my own horse. This is perfect.” Her joy faded as a new thought struck. “If you want to apply, I won’t, Tori. You saw the ad, so I shouldn’t butt in. I hope you’ll be able to get the job.”

  Tori shook her head. “That’s not the deal. They need more than one person, so you can apply too, but it’s not a paying job. Well, it doesn’t pay money. They’ll let people work in exchange for board or lessons. Neither of us has a horse to board, but I was thinking, maybe …”