Best Enemies

by Jessica Burkhart

  Callie nodded. “That’s true.” She looked toward the stands. “And Jacob’s here.”

  I nodded. “He was definitely watching.”

  We let the horses walk on a loose rein to the arena and we waited for our parents, friends, and Mr. Nicholson to get seated. My eyes settled on Mr. Nicholson’s leather-bound folder. He’d been writing notes during all of our tests. What had he written about me? I didn’t have long to wonder, because Mr. Conner walked up to us.

  “Your jumping order has been determined,” he said. “Heather, you’ll go first. Then, Jasmine, Callie, and Sasha. Heather, you may start whenever you’re ready.”

  Heather trotted Aristocrat into the arena and let him into a canter. She pointed him at the first vertical and Aristocrat took it with ease and cantered toward the second jump. Heather and Aristocrat cleared jump after jump, not even coming close to knocking a rail.

  I shook my head in amazement. I’d worried that Mr. Fox’s behavior would have rattled Heather. But it looked like it had actually fueled her drive to do better. Aristocrat and Heather’s futures were on the line, and the way Heather was jumping, she wasn’t putting either of them at risk.

  Heather finished her ride and the cheering started the second Aristocrat’s hooves hit the ground. Heather rubbed Aristocrat’s neck and trotted him out of the arena. She slowed him to a walk as she passed us.

  “That was amazing,” Callie said to Heather. “Mr. Nicholson was impressed—I could see it on his face.”

  Heather started to smile at Callie, but caught herself. “Duh, Harper.” She dismounted and led Aristocrat a few yards away.

  I watched Jasmine and Phoenix enter the arena. Callie and I were silent as Jasmine and Phoenix started. Jasmine didn’t make one mistake. She encouraged Phoenix when he needed it, urged him when he started to slow on long turns, and never wobbled on landings. She even finished the course a few seconds faster than Heather, though timing wasn’t a factor today.

  “That’s going to be tough to beat,” Callie said. She adjusted the reins and prepared to ride Jack into the arena.

  “You can do it,” I said. “You’ve totally got this.”

  Mr. Conner nodded to her and she sat still for a second before urging Jack into a trot. She let him into a canter and pointed him at the first jump. I crossed my fingers that she would make Jasmine’s ride look awful. Over the twelve jumps, Jack did everything Callie asked. He didn’t knock a rail or come close to touching the faux brush with his hooves.

  But something—not anything technical, but something — was off. Jasmine’s and Heather’s rides had been fiery. But Callie’s ride had lacked the usual Callie sparkle. It could have been anyone else’s ride. And that wasn’t like Callie.

  When she finished, she rode over to me and rubbed Jack’s neck. “Not one rail down!” she cheered.

  “You were amazing,” I said. “I’m so proud of you.”

  Callie dismounted and looked toward the stands. “You’re going to do great. I’m taking Jack over by Jacob and I’ll watch from there.”

  Before I could respond, Callie led Jack in Jacob’s direction. Jacob climbed down from the stands and hugged Callie. After watching them for a few seconds, I looked away and went back to concentrating on my own ride.

  Mr. Conner motioned to me to come to the arena entrance. I trotted Charm up to Mr. Conner and he patted Charm’s neck.

  “Have a good ride,” he said. “Don’t rush the jumps and stay relaxed. You’re going to do great.”

  I tried to smile, but I was too nervous. Instead, I nodded and rode Charm into the arena. The course usually seemed endless before I got started, but by the second jump, I was always ready for more.

  I tapped my heels against Charm’s sides and gave him rein. He moved into a collected canter and headed for the first jump—a simple vertical. Charm jumped it and stayed calm as he took the next two verticals—both three feet high—and then cantered toward the first oxer. I let Charm’s pace quicken a notch to give him speed to get over the spread. He sailed over the black and white rails of the oxer and landed almost without a sound on the other side.

  We turned back, took a brush jump, and then tackled a vertical with yellow rails and flower boxes on the sides.

  Charm flicked an ear back to me as I gathered him before the double combination. This was one of the trickiest combos. I started counting strides. Five, four, three, two, one, and now! I let Charm go and he bounced over the first jump, took two strides, and surged into the air for the second half. I listened for a rail to fall behind us, but the only sound was Charm’s hooves pounding the dirt.

  Charm, not even winded, leaped the oxer, second brush jump, and a vertical with blue and white rails without pause. Three jumps left, I thought. We’re almost there! I didn’t let myself think about the final jump—a triple combo.

  I angled Charm in front of a plain red and white vertical and rose in the saddle. Charm jumped and landed, but gained too much speed before the next obstacle. I did a half halt and he responded by slowing and not rushing the last vertical. He huffed when we landed and swished his tail, knowing we were close to the end.

  He cantered around the final turn. My brain was already on the combination. Don’t mess up the combo. We were thisclose to a clean ride. Then, Charm’s stride faltered. He pointed both ears away from me and his once forward, smooth canter became bouncy and uneven. I squeezed my legs against his sides and moved the reins in my fingers. Charm was getting bored on the last long turn. The first jump of the combination was strides away—there were seconds to get his focus.

  I shifted in the saddle, forcing my weight down, and I tapped Charm with my heels. We turned toward the first jump and he started to regain momentum.

  We’ve got it, I thought. He’ll make it through the triple.

  At just the right moment, Charm propelled himself over the first jump. But he landed too close. There wasn’t enough room in between jumps to increase his speed. Charm tried to jump the second part of the combination, but his knees knocked into the rail. It tumbled to the ground.

  I had no time to obsess—the next jump was right there. Charm, with a gallant effort, pushed off high into the air and fought to clear the last part of the triple combination. I was sure he’d take down the rail with his back hooves, but he managed to get over it. We landed on the other side and the rail stayed in place.

  No one else had knocked a rail. I tried not to look as disappointed as I felt. Patting Charm’s neck, I looked up into the stands at Eric.

  Good job, Eric mouthed.

  I managed a smile and nodded. Remember what you just told Callie, I reminded myself. Mr. Nicholson had seen Charm and me jump before. And I couldn’t forget that cross-country was next. The only scary spot would be the creek, but I was ready.

  Mr. Conner stepped in front of the stands. “Thank you all for watching our jumping round,” he said. “We’re going to take a break for a couple of hours to rest the horses and riders. Please feel free to grab lunch on campus and meet us back at the stable entrance at two.”

  As everyone started to descend from the portable stands, Mr. Conner walked over to us. “Wonderful job, girls,” he said. “Your hard work was evident.”

  Everyone but Jasmine smiled. She looked as if someone told her she was an amazing rider every day and this was old news to her.

  “Mike and Doug will cool and water your horses,” Mr. Conner said. “You may get lunch with your parents if you like, but please be on time to start.”

  I hugged Charm, and as I handed his reins to Mike, Paige and Eric ran up to me.

  “Omigod,” Paige said, grabbing me in a hug. “You were sooo awesome! I have no idea how you get over all of those jumps without knocking them down. And you never got confused about what jump to take.”

  I hugged her back. “Just like how I don’t get how you can make a lemon meringue pie without burning it or messing up the ingredients.”

  Eric squeezed my hand. “That was such a great ride. I nev
er would have been able to get Charm over that triple combo after he stopped paying attention. Amazing, Sash.”

  “Thanks. I’m so proud of Charm.”

  I looked over his shoulder and saw Mom and Dad starting to make their way over.

  Don’t panic, don’t panic! But I didn’t want them to meet Eric yet. Think of something!

  “Uh, Eric, Mr. Conner waved at you,” I said.

  “He did?” Eric asked, looking over at Mr. Conner, who had his back to us.

  I nodded, feeling my face go pink. “He just turned and motioned for you. He must need your help or something.”

  “Okaaay. I guess I’ll go talk to him. Catch you later,” Eric said.

  Phew.

  Mom and Dad reached us just as Eric found Mr. Conner. I crossed my fingers that Mr. Conner would find something for Eric to do that would keep him busy for a while.

  “That was a gorgeous ride, honey,” Mom said. “You and Charm looked so good together.” She handed me an old jacket to cover up my show coat. I had a habit of spilling lunch on my clothes during show day.

  Dad held up his Nikon. “I took lots of photos. Gram and Grandpa are going to love them.”

  This was kind of a big day, so I’d let him slide on taking lots of pics. Just this once.

  “Do you want to get lunch with us, or wait here?” Mom asked. “If I know my daughter, I bet she wants to stay close to Charm and let us bring her back something to eat.”

  I laughed. “You might know me just a little, Mom. Burger and chocolate milkshake?”

  “You got it,” Mom said. She knew I needed my energy food before cross-country.

  “Can we get you the same, Paige?” Dad asked.

  “Sure,” Paige said. “Thanks.”

  Mom and Dad started for the cafeteria and I watched until they were far away from Eric.

  “Let’s go sit in the hayloft,” I suggested. “I’ll text them where we are.”

  Paige and I started across the yard to the stable. As we walked, I looked for Heather, Callie, and Jasmine. Jasmine and her parents had vanished—probably going off campus for a fancy lunch or something. By the arena, Mr. Fox was talking to Mr. Conner. Heather stared at her boots, not even glancing up at Mr. Conner.

  Paige saw it too. “But look who’s coming,” she said.

  Julia and Alison hurried over to Heather—they knew she needed a rescue. Heather walked away with them, leaving Mr. Conner to handle Mr. Fox.

  30

  WHO’S THE LIAR?

  THE TWO-HOUR BREAK BLEW BY AND AFTER Paige and I had stuffed ourselves with burgers and milk-shakes, Eric found us to say good luck before my final round. I said good-bye to everyone and went to hang out with Charm. We needed a few minutes alone.

  I stood with Charm in his stall, my arm draped over his neck. I’d taken him from Mike and had led him back in here. Charm kept shooting longing glances at his hay net.

  “Sorry, boy,” I said. “You can’t eat right now. After today, you’re going to have a few days off. And then, we’ll either spend the summer working together at Briar Creek in Union or we’ll go to YENT camp.”

  Just saying the words “YENT camp” made me smile.

  “We better get out there.”

  I tightened Charm’s girth, then bent down to check his leg wraps. On our way down the aisle, I grabbed my protective vest off the hook and buckled it on. Mom, Dad, Paige, Eric, and the rest of everyone’s friends and family were all waiting at the finish line. Mr. Nicholson was out on the course by an undisclosed jump to watch.

  Heather, Jasmine, Callie, and I mounted our horses and rode them up to Mr. Conner.

  “Sasha, you’re going first,” Mr. Conner said. “You may begin in one moment. This is the last round. I want to see safe rides out there.”

  We all nodded. Charm was made for cross-country. Even though it was the end of a long day and he had to be tired, I knew he’d put everything into this round.

  “Sasha, please head to the starting line,” Mr. Conner instructed.

  Charm danced sideways, tossing his head and almost prancing to the line. He was so ready. But was I? I’d walked the course twice and knew Charm could get over all of the jumps and make great time, but I worried about the creek. I shook out my hands. Don’t think about that now. I’d deal with it when Charm and I were there.

  I pushed down my heels, sank my weight into the saddle and gripped the reins—readying myself in case Charm bolted. Mr. Conner raised his arm above his head, then dropped his hand. When his hand went down, I loosened the reins and Charm surged forward, almost throwing me back in the saddle. I held him at a medium canter, not wanting to let him burn out before we even got started.

  Charm jumped easily over two brush fences and trotted uphill. When we hit level ground, he broke into a canter and jumped an old gate with blue paint peeling off the wooden planks. His strides were rhythmic as he cantered toward two hay bale jumps, the first lower than the second. I’d always half-expected Charm to try and snatch a mouthful of hay in midleap. But he tucked his knees neatly under his body and got over the hay bales.

  I slowed him to a trot and leaned back in the saddle as we started down the hill. The grass changed to dirt and we trotted into the woods and along a winding path. Charm eased around a sharp corner and had two strides to straighten out before he jumped a log pile.

  “Good boy,” I said. I tried to keep the nerves out of my voice. The creek was one jump away. Charm tugged on the reins, asking for more, and I let him out a notch. He gathered himself and launched over a small fallen tree that Mr. Conner had left blocking part of the trail.

  I urged him with my hands, encouraging his momentum so he’d keep going right through the creek.

  We trotted down a slight incline and Charm approached the bank. The dirt softened and I stopped posting to sit to his trot while he moved forward. I drove him with my legs, but tried not to clamp onto his sides.

  Charm’s ears started flicking back and forth, but he didn’t weave. The clear creek water flowed over the shiny pebble rock bed and the few sunrays that had broken through the trees bounced off the water.

  A stride before the creek, Charm hesitated and started to sink his weight backward. “No, you’ve got it,” I said. “C’mon!”

  Charm seemed to trot in place for a second before bounding into the creek. Water sprayed into the air, soaking the lower half of my breeches and trickling into my boots, but I didn’t care. Charm plunged through the knee-deep water and trotted up the bank, shaking his mane as he climbed up.

  “Yes!” I cheered. “You did it!”

  For a second, I wouldn’t have cared if Charm ran out or refused a jump after that. He’d conquered his fear of water and he would be more confident every time we did cross-country and made it through a creek.

  “Ready to finish this?” I asked. I gave him an extra inch of rein. “Let’s go!”

  Charm started to canter and his hooves pounded the dirt as we swept down the straight part of the trail out of the woods. We reached the clearing and were only jumps away from the finish line.

  Charm jumped two rails held by old feed buckets and bounced playfully when we landed. He was feeling proud after the creek.

  We cantered up to a row of old tires and Charm jumped them, hitting the ground inches away from the obstacle.

  “Two more,” I said. “Then we’re done!”

  The reins had worked up a white foam against Charm’s sweaty neck. His breathing was getting heavier, but he didn’t slow for a second. Charm jumped a tall hedge and didn’t come close to touching the leaves below.

  “Almost there,” I told him.

  All that separated us from the YENT was the stone wall. Charm asked for more rein and I let him into a faster canter, knowing he needed a boost to get over the final jump. I started counting it down.

  Three.

  The last jump before the YENT.

  Two.

  A summer at home, or at camp.

  One.

  Ch
arm rocked back on his haunches and pushed himself into the air. His back rounded and his forelegs snapped under his body as he arched over the wall. He landed on the other side and cantered away from the jump.

  “Omigod, Charm,” I said, pulling him to a trot and then a walk. “You were perfect!”

  I hopped off his back and hurried to loosen his girth. His nostrils flared pink and his chest heaved. But he shook out his mane—he knew he’d been amazing.

  “I love you so much,” I said. I hugged his neck and walked him over to Mr. Conner.

  “Fantastic, Sasha,” Mr. Conner said. He knelt down and ran his hands over Charm’s legs. “Let’s get him back to the stable and Mike will check all his vitals. You can run back to Winchester to change for your interview with Mr. Nicholson.”

  “Okay,” I said. “Thanks.”

  Mr. Conner went back to the course and I smiled when I saw Eric.

  “Mr. Conner told all of us not to bother the riders before their interviews,” Eric said.

  “You’re not bothering me,” I said. “But I do have to take Charm back to the stable.”

  Eric looked at Charm. “Yeah. He looks tired, but he was amazing. You guys killed it!”

  That made me feel a little less exhausted. “Thanks. Really.”

  “It’s true. I’d walk you to the stable, but Mr. Conner told me to stay here in case he needs help.”

  “Okay,” I said. “I’ll meet you at the Sweet Shoppe.”

  I started to walk away, then realized that my parents and Eric would want to hang out with me after the interview.

  “Eric?” I said. “I forgot—my parents will be there after and… I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

  “Why would I be uncomfortable?” Eric asked.

  “Because you’d have to meet them and I don’t want you to feel pressured or anything. If you want, I’ll text you when we’re done or something.”

  “They’re your parents,” Eric said. “I want to meet them.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. See you at the Sweet Shoppe?”