No Time for Horses

by Shannon Kennedy

  Before we got too carried away, Robin and Gwen jogged over to join us. They put their sport bags in the back seat. “I owe you, Gwen.”

  “Hey, if I ever get stuck with five little kids, you can pay me back.” Gwen waved for me to climb into the cab. “So, what am I doing with them?”

  Once we were all in the pickup and Jack started driving toward the elementary school, I explained about how to walk the kids home. When they arrived, they would change to play clothes, have their snacks and then settle down with homework. I’d already prepped a chicken-broccoli casserole. It needed to bake for an hour so she could put it in the oven. Salad makings were in the fridge. Laundry needed to be started. “You just take whatever’s in the washer and put it in the dryer. Then, throw a load of Chrissy’s diapers in. You have to use the hot water cycle.”

  Gwen nodded and kept making notes. “If we pass an espresso stand, can I buy them hot chocolates or something?”

  “They would love it.” I dug into my purse and handed her a twenty. “Here. Stop at that little grocery on the corner, and you can treat them. Get a little cup of sherbet or an apple juice for Chrissy. No chocolate. It gives her diarrhea.”

  “And when Mrs. Miller arrives, you leave,” Robin said. “Tell her the stats on dinner, laundry, the kids, and book it out of there. Wave bye-bye to the kids. But, hit the road immediately. Wait outside for your folks and your ride home. Otherwise, Mrs. Miller will start moaning and groaning about her ex-husband and Vicky abandoning her responsibilities. You don’t want to listen to her griping and whining. Don’t do what I do, which is tell her that she gave birth to those kids, not Vick.”

  “Which is why she wants us to stop being friends,” I said. “She hates everyone who stands up to her.”

  “And if we get there first, which is more likely,” Jack told Gwen, “I’ll run you home.”

  I pulled my keys out and passed the ring to Gwen. “Give them to Kevin once you’re inside. He’ll get them back to me.”

  “You got it.”

  Jack pulled up in front of the school. Robin, Gwen, and I climbed out. I headed toward the kids. Linda ran to hug me. “Daddy didn’t come today.”

  “Vicky always does,” Lance said, dragging his backpack toward me. “She loves us.”

  “Got that right.” I pointed to his coat. “Put it on before you catch cold.”

  “Told you she’d say that.” Kevin grinned up at the stocky, dark-haired man who stood next to him. “It’s why the kids call her ‘Mama Vicky’. She always fusses.”

  “Wait till they start calling you ‘Daddy Kev’,” I said to him. “I’ll laugh the entire time you whine and whinge about it.”

  Mr. Diaz didn’t smile. He eyed me and my friends. “I didn’t realize that you attended Lincoln High, Vicky. They have extraordinarily high standards.”

  “You should see the homework,” Robin told him. “We have tons of it, and there’s no getting out of it.”

  “What about the internship hours?” Mr. Diaz asked. “Can you make those up?”

  “No, but we look out for each other. It’ll be okay,” I said. “And now, we have to go.” I got the kids walking toward the street. Gwen and Robin joined us. When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw the teacher heading inside. I hoped he didn’t get in trouble for being late to his meeting.

  Cathy gave all three of us a long look. “So, who is staying with us today?”

  “Me,” Gwen said. “And your sister gave me money for hot chocolate.”

  That raised some cheers, and the twins immediately grabbed her hands. They started telling her the best place to visit. While she and Robin walked with the kids toward the daycare, I climbed back in the truck. Jack waved at the group as we passed them.

  “If I haven’t said I really appreciate everything you do, I’m saying it now,” I told him. “You’re amazing.”

  “I hope I still am after I tell you to start documenting this entire crap-fest,” Jack said. “Didn’t the head-shrinker tell you that your parents were supposed to step up? How many times have you been the adult in charge since last Thursday?”

  “I don’t know.” I began to count off the occasions on my fingers. “Let’s see, Rick tried to dump the kids on me Friday. He brought them back early Sunday. Mom didn’t get them at school on Monday. I had to take them Tuesday morning.”

  “Saturday night, we went grocery shopping again.”

  “Good point.” We were at the daycare, so I opened my door. “I’ll definitely start a list on the way to Shamrock.”

  Inside, Penny waved to me. I paused by her desk. “What’s up?”

  “I wanted to check with you about Black Friday. Did you plan to go shopping? Do you want me to reserve space for your brothers and sisters to stay here? I’ll open up at three a.m.”

  “My stepdad is supposed to pick them up on Thursday night and have them all weekend.” The two of us shared a look that said everything each of us thought. We were on the same page. Penny clicked the mouse for her computer, pulling up next week’s calendar. “Well, let’s iron out the details.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” I agreed. “Considering he bailed today and has been trying to dump them on me every chance he gets, we better have a back-up plan. I’ll call you if he actually comes and gets them on Thanksgiving.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Stopping to deal with the kids and getting them lined up to stay with Gwen meant we were a half-hour late to the barn. Robin had called Rocky, so she knew what was going on and that we were on our way. When we arrived, Sierra had just finished tacking up Summertime. She waved at me, and he nickered.

  “Hi,” I said, feeding a carrot to the Arabian. “I so owe you big-time.”

  “Believe me, it’s not a hardship.” Sierra tightened the cinch. “After our group meeting yesterday, I thought I might have been out of line suggesting you have some compassion for your mother. Mine can be a major pain in the butt, but she has never dumped Autumn on me 24/7.”

  “What about the horses?” I asked. “They need constant care.”

  “Of course they do. If one is sick, Mom’s right down here helping me nurse it back to health. Either that or I’m helping her. And when it gets to the middle of the night, she’ll send me up to bed while she walks a colicky mare. If I argue with her, she threatens to ground me because she’s the mother and I’m the kid. Your mom is lucky that you jump in as much as you do with your brothers and sisters.”

  “Not today,” I said. “I dropped them on Gwen, and she totally came through to help me.”

  “Well, if you get stuck on Friday nights during the rest of the football season or when basketball starts in January, call me. I’ll fill in for you.”

  “Aren’t you playing soccer this year?”

  “Yes, but the girls’ games are usually on Thursdays for my school.” Sierra waited for Summertime to finish his carrot then bridled him. “The guys play on Fridays. I’m available. Just call if you need me. And you’re more than welcome here on Saturday nights.”

  “What does Rocky say about that?”

  “It was her idea.” Sierra winked at me. “Well, not really, but I let her think it was.”

  I gave Summertime one last treat before I opened his stall door. “Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without my friends, and you two are the best.”

  * * * *

  Thursday, November 21st, 6:15 a.m.

  “I can’t believe the stunts you pull, Victoria Elizabeth.” Mom glared at me over her cup of coffee. “Darby told me you had a friend here when you weren’t even home.”

  “And I can’t believe you can drink a cup of that muck before you go to bed.” I wiped cereal off Chrissy’s face and then washed her hands. “What did you expect me to do when Rick ‘forgot’ the kids? Am I supposed to quit doing my internship for you two drama divas?”

  “If you do, you’ll flunk.” Kevin carefully put two empty cereal bowls into the dishwasher. “Mr. Diaz told us that your school is really hard. And if you flun
k three of your classes, they’ll kick you out.”

  “It’s a private school.” Cathy put a peanut butter and jelly sandwich into each of the lunch bags. “So, they won’t just pass you if you don’t do the work like our school does. You gotta pay attention if you wanta go to college.”

  “That’s right.” Lance brought over another bowl for Kevin. “And Mr. Diaz says if you want a good job, you haveta go to college, Vicky. And if you don’t have a good job, how can you help us go to Lincoln High or college?”

  “Excuse me.” Mom shot a nasty look at my youngest brother. “Why would she need to help you go there? I’m your mother. I’m in charge of your education.”

  “But nobody else does what Vicky does,” Linda explained. “She takes care of us. Even when she gets mad about everything and she can’t see her friends or play anymore, she still takes care of us. Of course, she’ll fix it for us to go to the best high school.”

  I glanced at my watch before my mother’s head exploded. “And now, we’ve got to hustle. Come on, guys. One more tardy and I’ll have Saturday detention.”

  I carried Chrissy to her stroller and tucked her inside. The four older ones scattered to grab coats and backpacks. We’d barely made the hall when Darby came out her room in a fleecy purple bathrobe. I gave her a polite smile. “Sorry if we were too loud. It can be a bit of an adventure in the morning getting everyone off to school.”

  “Aren’t they in elementary school?” Darby pointed to Chrissy. “And that one babbles more than she talks. She’s barely awake. She ought to be in her room sleeping. What’s she doing with the rest of you?”

  “She’s on her way to daycare,” I said. “And since I’ve got to be at school in a half-hour, they go with me. I drop them on my way. I had my internship yesterday, and that’s why my friend took care of them. Hope Gwen didn’t hassle you.”

  “No, of course not. She was a very nice girl. It surprised me to find a stranger here in charge, that’s all.” Darby moved to one side as the boys rushed to open the door for me. “So, what’s the plan today?”

  “School followed by counseling with the court-appointed shrink and then we’ll be home. Tomorrow, I have the barn again and Rick’s supposed to take the kids.” I pushed the stroller out to the porch. “Catch you later. Come on, guys. I have a food drive meeting today. Oops, I forgot. Cathy, would you grab me two cans of beets?”

  “Those are gross. I’m not eating them. You don’t like them, do you?”

  “No. I’m donating them to the drive. Hustle, please!”

  “Okay.” She dashed back to the pantry.

  “When you get home, Vicky, let’s coordinate our schedules,” Darby said. “I can jump in sometimes. If I don’t have the breakfast shift, the little one can stay home with me.”

  “Wonderful.” I bumped the stroller down the front stairs while Chrissy giggled over each thump.

  The kids ran after me. Kevin reached me first. “It’s my turn to push the stroller.”

  “All right. I know you’ll be careful with her.” He changed places with me. I took the cans of beets from Cathy and put them in my backpack. “What’s bugging you?”

  “Why is Mommy so mad about Gwen taking care of us yesterday? You had to go to Shamrock Stable. And Mommy wasn’t even home when you got back.”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “But those are very good questions. Why don’t you ask Dr. O’Hara today? She’s a smart lady. I bet she’ll know the answers.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Friday, November 22nd, 3:00 p.m.

  I didn’t have cheer practice today because we had another football game tonight, and Jack wasn’t a happy camper. His doctor hadn’t released him yet. That meant my boyfriend would be benched for the next couple of weeks. I felt sorry for him. He’d goofed up when he tried cleaning a stall a few weeks ago. Robin’s rescue horse didn’t like guys and poor Jack caught the brunt of it when she wasn’t around.

  He was a bit grumpy on the way to Shamrock Stable, but neither of us held it against him. I planned to have a quick session with Aladdin then help out with chores. My phone buzzed. Robin handed me my purse, and I dug out my cell. “Hi, Rick. What’s the excuse this time?”

  “I don’t make excuses. I’m just really busy at work with everyone trying to get snow tires.”

  “And I’m doing internship hours.” I repeated the fact for what felt like the umpteenth time this month. “Mom’s at the casino because she can work extra hours since you’re supposed to have the kids. Dr. O’Hara told you that you need to follow through on your commitments yesterday.”

  Utter silence and then he said. “Well, I’m not going to pick them up, and I don’t know what you’re going to do about it.”

  “Handle it because you’re not man enough to raise babies. You can only make them.” I ended the call and looked at Robin and Jack. “What?”

  “You are such a witch, and I mean that in the most respectful way,” Robin said.

  “Oh, you haven’t seen ‘witch’ yet.” I told her.

  I started by calling the school and leaving a message for Miguel Diaz, the kindergarten teacher, that my mom’s new roommate would be picking up the kids. Then, I contacted Darby, who told me she was already on the way. She’d moved the car seats from my mom’s rig to hers that morning. I finished by calling Ingrid O’Hara’s office and leaving a message with the receptionist that Rick had bailed on his responsibilities once again.

  Robin and Jack exchanged glances then eyed me warily. “What?” I demanded. “If I knuckle under to them, you two give me heartburn. Now, I’m standing up for me. If I don’t take care of myself, who will? And if something happens to me, who will look out for my sibs?”

  “Makes sense to me!” Robin told me and her older brother.

  Jack nodded. “She’s not a witch. She’s ‘the witch,’ and Rick better start calling her, ‘Ms. Witch,’ or she’ll send Robin and Dr. Larry out on a farm call, and we all know what veterinarians do in the spring to male critters.”

  “Anything else?” I asked, trying not to laugh at him.

  He flashed a quick grin at me. “Well, if the broom fits, ride it!”

  I elbowed him. “You’re so lucky I think you’re funny.”

  “That’s why you adore me.”

  “Well, that and the fact you’re amazingly cute, super smart, and…”

  “Please say you’ll stop now before I puke.” Robin bumped my shoulder. “It’s just icky listening to you fawn all over my jerk of a big brother.”

  “I like fawning.” Jack winked at me. “My ego needs it after Coach lectured me about Twaziem stomping me again.”

  “I don’t fawn,” I informed the pair of them. “I tell the truth as I see it.”

  Robin groaned and buried her head in her hands while Jack just kept smiling.

  When we reached the barn, we checked in with Rocky. Robin headed off to commune with Prince Charming. I went down to groom and saddle up Aladdin. I had a plan. If everything went well today, I wanted to ride him again. However, my time was limited. If that didn’t work out, I was good with it. I’d start slow and keep it that way. Rocky always told us to avoid do-overs if it was at all possible. I wanted Aladdin to progress, not regress.

  Lots of carrots later, I led him out to the indoor arena. I attached the longe line, and he began walking around me on a thirty-foot circle. I turned with him. Walking, then trotting, halting, backing, and side passaging. Change directions and repeat the gaits. A half-hour later, I added on the second line and did double longeing. After that, I moved onto driving. He was so incredible today, totally focused.

  I saw Sierra in her horse’s stall and waved to her. “I think we’re ready for riding when you are.”

  “It’s four-forty,” she said. “Let’s not push it. You don’t want to teach him that people can go kerplunk.”

  “You’re right.” I stopped Aladdin and petted him. “I’ll ride him on Sunday.”

  “We only do two trail rides,” Sierra said. “
There will be plenty of time to ride him more than once. I’ll pony you from Summertime, and we’ll take Aladdin to the big outdoor arena for schooling. He needs to learn how to work outside without freaking. It’ll be good for Summertime since he still thinks trees eat horses. I wish people would train horses to work everywhere, not just in the indoor arena.”

  “Good plan.” I led Aladdin toward the gate. “Sometimes, he starts doing so well that I want to do everything at once. Thanks for reminding me that we want to train him right so he’ll be able to work here for the rest of his life.”

  “That’s my mom’s plan too.”

  “And it’s a great one,” I said.

  After chores, we were on our way to Jack and Robin’s house when my phone went off. This time it was my mother. “Hi. What’s up?” I asked.

  “Darby called, and she has the kids at home. When will you be there to take over?”

  “Let’s see.” I paused and then said, “Sunday evening.”

  “Are you joking? I’m not laughing.”

  “Neither am I, Mom. I’m headed to Robin’s to shower and change for the football game. Then, I’m spending the night there. Tomorrow, I have a rec cheer competition, so I’ll be at the school by seven in the morning. Saturday night, I stay over at Robin’s again and go to the barn on Sunday for my internship. Rick needs to be a dad and keep his promises.”

  “And how do you plan to make that happen?”

  “It’s not my problem. Dr. Danvers tells me to own what is mine to own. You and Rick made those kids. I didn’t. So, I called Ingrid, and she will be on the phone to him by now. If I were you, I’d let him have the opportunity to ‘daddy-up.’ If he doesn’t, the judge will be ripping into him, not just the counselor.”

  * * * *

  Sunday, November 24th, 2:00 p.m.

  The first trail ride went super. We spent the first half-hour in the arena teaching our guests how to stop, start, steer, and balance on their horses. Then, we went out on the trails for the rest of their time. When we returned to the outdoor arena, I helped line up the different family groups on their horses for picture time. The kids were thrilled at the opportunity to lead their ponies into the barn, and the parents looked nearly as excited. As soon as they left, Sierra and I raced to check the tip jar on the corral rail.