Star Gazer

by Chris Platt

  Her mother raised a doubtful brow. “Are you sure this isn’t an excuse to get more time with your horse?”

  Jordan blew her nose and wiped her eyes. “You know I want to spend as much time as I can with Star, but if we have to sell her, then I want her to go to the best place possible,” Jordan reasoned. “If we can get her back to pulling again, then someone who knows what to do with her will buy her. At least that way Star would have a better life.” She looked down at her hands. “Mrs. Cannon seemed to mean well, but I don’t think she can provide the right home for Star…especially with that little monster kid around.”

  Her mother thought about it for a moment. “Okay, Jordan,” she said. “You have a good point. And if you can get Star back into top shape, someone will pay more for her, and you can put that money back into your savings account. Mrs. Cannon said it would be a while before they can make an offer. That will buy you a little time.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Jordan still felt rotten about the prospect of Star leaving, but she had a mission now. Star had to be restored to a great pulling mare so she didn’t end up as a pasture ornament—or worse, as a victim of that horrible Cannon boy.

  Jordan spent the next several weeks learning everything she could about driving draft horses. Daniel, Jacob, and especially Mr. Miller were excellent teachers. They sympathized with her having to find Star a new home and promised to help as soon as Star Gazer was ready to work.

  Tommy still gave Jordan a bad time about her driving skills, but she tried not to let it bother her. His time of community service for the Millers was almost up, and he wouldn’t be around there much longer. Still, she could hardly wait for him to go. She was tired of hearing him brag how his dad was going to beat everyone at the log-skidding contest. He only boasted to her, never when they were within earshot of Jacob or Daniel.

  One lazy sunny day, when Candy was behaving perfectly, Jordan begged Mr. Miller to let her take the mare for a few laps around the pen by herself while they went to harness the other horses. She wanted to prove to herself that she was good enough now to stand on her own. He agreed to a few extra minutes, so Jordan and Candy slowly plodded around the arena, enjoying the perfect day and the sense of freedom. Jordan tried to imagine what it would be like to drive Star like this.

  Jordan was deep into her daydream when she heard something whiz through the air. Candy suddenly sparked to life, grabbed the bit in her teeth, and took off at a run.

  Jordan’s heart leapt into her throat, and she grabbed for the reins. The cart careened around the corner on one wheel. “Easy, easy!” she called to the runaway mare while she tried to get Candy back under control. They made three laps of the arena before Jordan was able to pull the horse to a stop.

  Jordan sat in the cart, her hands trembling on the reins. A movement by the barn caught her eye, and she looked up to see Tommy standing there with his arms folded and a satisfied smirk on his face. He gave her a snappy salute before he turned and went back into the barn. Jordan had a feeling if she could search Tommy right then, she’d find a slingshot in his pocket.

  She debated on telling Mr. Miller, but she knew she couldn’t prove anything. Tommy would soon be gone anyway. She’d heard he was going to work at the feed store. His dad had probably pulled a few strings to get him that job. If he treated the customers the way he treated her, though, he wouldn’t last long.

  Jordan climbed down from the cart and secured the reins, then walked to the front to lead Candy by the bridle. The runaway incident had been scary, but it was most alarming to her that it had taken her so long to get things under control. Jordan realized that she was very lucky she hadn’t been hurt.

  She heaved a big sigh as she led Candy through the gate. She knew her horse skills were getting better—everyone but Tommy said so. But this accident really showed her just how much more skill it was going to take to keep a big draft horse under control. Once they got up a full head of steam, drafts were a force to reckon with and nothing like the small horses she had ridden in the past. Jordan thought about Star Gazer and her shoulders slumped when she realized she still had a long, long way to go.

  eighteen

  Between driving lessons and odd jobs, Jordan worked hard on Star’s feet. The abscess finally healed, and with the daily regimen of hoof oil, vitamins, and good feed, Star’s hooves were finally long enough. They called the farrier and had him put on the shoes.

  A few days later, Jordan caught Star Gazer bucking and playing one evening when the weather was cooler. It was a good sign, and she liked seeing Star play. But part of her worried what would happen if the Percheron tried any of those rodeo antics when she rode or drove her. After the runaway accident with Candy, she had a newfound respect for the power these draft horses had.

  Jordan had been trying hard not to let Star take advantage of her, but every now and then, the big mare took it into her head to do things her own way. And when that happened, Jordan couldn’t stop her.

  Jacob had explained it like this: “Horses in a herd have a pecking order and they all know what it is. The top horse bosses all those below him and the last horse gets bossed by everyone.”

  Right now, Jordan was at the bottom of the pecking order. She was going to have to find a way to be the top horse in their little herd of two.

  Dr. Smith stopped by to examine Star late one afternoon and declared her ready for light exercise. “Just be very careful with those feet, and keep her off the rocks and hard surfaces like pavement,” he said. “This mare’s doing great. We don’t need a setback.”

  Jordan agreed. They’d worked too hard to have something go wrong now. Every night, after the hot Michigan summer air cooled, she and Nicole took their horses for walks by hand in the pastures surrounding Jordan’s house.

  Jordan even bought a long rope called a longe line so she could trot Star in a wide circle over the soft grass surface of the small side pasture. She tried it once in the big pasture, but Star Gazer pulled the rope out of her hands and took off to the other end of the field to graze. Jordan was scared to death that the one of the mare’s hooves might hit a rock in her headlong flight, causing her to come up lame again. But fortunately Star wasn’t injured. From then on, they worked in the small fenced-in pasture so the draft couldn’t go far if she got away from Jordan.

  Gradually, Star Gazer got used to the routine and she behaved much better, but Jordan couldn’t help wondering how Star had come to have such disregard for minding her owner. To win pulling competitions, she had to have behaved well at one point. What had Tommy and his dad done to her in the last year she’d been on Sutton Farm?

  As the days went by, Jordan grew restless with the walking routine. She dreamed of riding Star, and taking her to the Millers’ place to begin driving her in a cart.

  The morning the veterinarian finally pronounced Star sound enough for heavier exercise, Jordan went straight to the laundry room, where her mother was taking sheets out of the washer. “I think today’s the day, Mom,” Jordan said. “I want to ride Star Gazer.”

  Seeing the worried look on her mother’s face, Jordan rushed on with her explanation. “It’ll be fine, Mom. Nicole is coming over to help in about twenty minutes. You can stand by with your cell phone ready to dial 911 if it makes you feel better.”

  Jordan glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’m going down to brush Star now. Jacob loaned me one of their bridles.”

  Knowing how long her daughter had waited for this moment, and sensing that arguing would do no good, her mother just sighed. “What about a saddle?”

  “Everyone says Karina rode her bareback,” Jordan said. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll bail off at the first sign of trouble.” She crossed her fingers and hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

  Her mother kissed her on the top of her head. “Better pack a parachute, honey. That’s a long way down. As soon as I finish up here I’ll be right down to help.”

  Jordan pulled on her riding boots and grabbed the helmet she’d purchased at a local garag
e sale. She couldn’t shake the jittery feeling that had set in the moment the vet had proclaimed Star ready to ride. She’d waited for this moment for so long. She just hoped it would be everything she dreamed of, and not a disaster. What if Star decided not to cooperate? She took a deep breath and headed to the barn.

  Star whinnied and bobbed her head when she saw her. “You’re excited, too, aren’t you girl?” Jordan readied the bridle and got out the brushes. As she groomed Star, she looked at her tall back. Getting up there was going to be a problem, but if she could coax her over to the haystack, it would just be a matter of sliding onto her back.

  “Knock, knock.” Nicole peeked through the barn door. “Are you ready to go?”

  “I’ve still got to bridle her,” Jordan answered. “And we’ve got to wait for my mom to get here. She’s bringing her cell phone with 911 on speed dial.” They laughed.

  Jordan pulled the bridle off the hook and approached Star, not sure what to expect. If the mare raised her head to avoid the bit, that wouldn’t be good. “Okay, girl, here we go.” She held the leather headstall in her right hand and the bit in her left. For a moment Jordan had a feeling that Star was going to resist. Then the big mare lowered her head and twitched her lips, looking for the bit. “Good girl,” Jordan crooned, slipping the bit into Star’s mouth and pulling the bridle up over her ears.

  She led Star out of the stall and over to the haystack in the middle of the yard. Nicole held Star’s reins while Jordan climbed the haystack, preparing to mount. She took a moment to steady her nerves. She wasn’t afraid of the mare—well, maybe just a little nervous. But she was really excited to finally be riding her.

  When Nicole had Star in position, Jordan spoke softly to her horse and slipped her leg over her side, then settled onto her broad back. She sat up straight and marveled at the feel of being so far off the ground. This was even better than riding King. This was her very own horse!

  Star shifted under her and Jordan felt her pulse quicken. She adjusted the leather reins in her shaky hands. Relax, she chided herself, remembering that several weeks ago she wasn’t sure if Star would ever be able to walk without hurting herself. And now the mare was carrying a rider, waiting to go for a run!

  “Well?” Nicole said. “Is it really cool?”

  Jordan grinned. “It’s really, really cool.”

  “Should I just let you go,” Nicole asked, “or walk out with you?”

  Jordan tensed her shoulders, then let them go. “Better stay with us until we get out of the yard and I feel a little more confident.”

  Just as Jordan slowly walked Star, her mom appeared. “Oh, my, you’re already up,” she said. “Are you okay? Wait, let me get a photo!”

  Nicole and Jordan smiled for the camera. “Can I get Dakota and ride with you?” Nicole asked. “Or do you want me to keep walking beside you?”

  “I think I’m okay now,” Jordan replied. “I’ll do a couple of circles while you get Dakota, just to make sure I’ve got good turns and stops.”

  Jordan’s mom sucked in her breath. “Yes, please tell me you have brakes on that horse. Otherwise, it’ll be like riding a tractor with no way to stop it.”

  “We’ll be fine, Mom. You worry too much,” she said. But the truth was, she was a bit worried herself. If Star decided to do things her way, there wasn’t a lot Jordan could do. If she decided to run away to the other side of the field, like she had a few weeks ago when she was longeing her, it would be like sitting on a runaway freight train. It would be wiser to begin in the small, enclosed pasture.

  Jordan asked Star Gazer to circle to the right. The mare pulled a little on the bit, but she made a good circle to the right and then to the left. She even stopped and backed up when asked. Jordan couldn’t have been happier. No words could describe the feeling of sitting on top of such an awesome horse. Everything about a draft horse was bigger and better than those horses she’d ridden during her riding lessons in Los Angeles. She walked another circle, moving with the rocking motion of Star’s steady gait.

  Nicole mounted up and rode Dakota next to Star Gazer. The mare nickered to him and the two horses touched noses. Mrs. McKenzie opened the gate to the small pasture, still looking a bit cautious, and closed it behind them.

  Jordan sat up straight and proud. After all the waiting and all the problems, she was finally riding Star Gazer!

  After several successful rides, Jordan made plans with Mr. Miller about driving lessons for Star Gazer. He picked the mare up the following morning. Jordan was glad to have her off their property so Mrs. Cannon couldn’t swing by and visit her whenever she wanted. The woman had called back twice to let them know she was still interested and to explain that building a shelter was taking longer than they had expected. Jordan was glad for the extra time.

  When they arrived at the farm, Jacob and Daniel already had their horses harnessed. Candy and Suzie were hooked as a team, and King and Duke stood nearby in sturdy old harness. That meant Jacob planned to practice log skidding today.

  Jacob came to help unload Star Gazer. “Heard you’ve been riding her,” he said. “It’s going to be another big day today when you get to drive her for the first time.” He walked Star to the harnessing area.

  Jordan practically skipped behind him. Just the thought of driving Star sent butterflies twirling around inside her stomach. The mare had been pretty good to ride so far, and her feet hadn’t seemed to bother her. But several times Star had taken the bit in her teeth and walked to a tall patch of grass to munch. Jordan knew she needed better control, but she hadn’t wanted to punish the mare so soon.

  “Dan and I rigged some harness for you,” Jacob said. “His dad had some old team harness sitting around gathering dust so we made it into a single for you. Wait here and keep Star company. I’ll go get it.”

  He returned in a moment and placed the equipment on Star’s broad back. Jordan helped him hook all the straps and straighten the harness, proud that she could now do this without making a mistake. When they were finished, Jacob handed her the reins. “Here’s your horse. Back her out of here and we’ll go to the front paddock. Mr. Miller set up some cones so you can practice.”

  “Great,” Jordan muttered. More of the dreaded orange cones to run over. She fussed with the long driving reins, getting them set just right in her hands. The excess rein lay over her shoulder, arranged so she couldn’t become entangled in it.

  Jordan stared at the big backside of her horse. Star turned her head, trying to see around the leather pieces that sat at eye level on the bridle. Jordan was sorry they’d had to put blinders on Star, but she knew it was important to keep the horse focused just on what lay before her. Some horses spooked when they could look around at the scenery and the load they pulled, so blinders were standard on most harness.

  Star hadn’t shied at anything when she’d ridden her in the pasture. As soon as Jordan could afford to buy her own bridle, she’d get one without blinders.

  “What are you waiting for?” Jacob asked.

  “I don’t know,” she said, realizing that she’d been stalling. “I’ve waited a long time for this moment, and now that it’s here…I guess I’m kind of nervous…maybe even a little scared.”

  Jacob’s head snapped up in surprise. “Scared? But you’ve been driving Candy for weeks, and you’re doing well. What are you afraid of?”

  Jordan shrugged, remembering the runaway disaster with Candy. She had decided not to tell anyone about that, but it lingered in the back of her mind. “Lots of things,” she answered. “What if Star doesn’t want to do it? What if I’m not good enough? She can be kind of headstrong sometimes. What if she drags me around like she does when I’m walking her?”

  “I’ll help you, Jordie,” Jacob said with a sympathetic smile. “Back her out of here and I’ll walk along beside Star until you’re comfortable. She can’t go very far in that paddock.”

  Jordan didn’t find that very comforting. Candy hadn’t been able to go very far either, but the
speed they’d reached in that little paddock made it a Do Not Repeat event in her mind.

  Jordan lifted the reins to back Star. The mare hesitated only a moment before she began to work her way backwards. She stopped when she stood free of the harnessing station.

  Standing behind Star Gazer, Jordan pulled herself up tall. This is it, she thought as she readied the reins. A million things could go wrong, but a million things could also go right. She squared her shoulders, then smooched to Star and gave the command: “Walk up!”

  nineteen

  Star immediately started forward and Jordan’s spirits soared. She took long steps to keep up with the mare’s big walk as she guided her toward the paddock where they would work. She couldn’t help but grin. Driving Star Gazer was so awesome!

  Jacob opened the gate for her, and Jordan steered the big Percheron through the opening.

  “Start her around the corner cones and practice keeping her on the outside fence, just like you do with Candy,” he said. “Mr. Miller is coming to help. I’m going to go get some more cones.”

  Jordan guided Star over to the fence and made a lap clockwise around the paddock. A cone had been set in each corner, about ten feet off the fence line. The goal was to keep Star between the outside fence and the cones when going around the corners. She kept her hands light, like Mr. Miller had shown her, and kept a good feel on Star’s mouth. Jacob had taught her to communicate with her horse not only by voice command, but also by contact with the bit.

  Mr. Miller entered the paddock and stood in the middle. “This time around, I want you to do a complete circle of the cones when you reach each corner,” he said. “Let’s see what kind of steering power you have with this mare.”

  As they approached the first corner, Jordan thought about what she needed to do. Envision the task you’re going to perform before you get there so you know exactly what you need to do, Jacob had told her during her first lesson. She went over the cues in her head.