Two difficult jumps left to go.
The water jump on a show course was tough because horse and rider must clear the water on the other side of the jump rather than land in it. This course’s water jump had been placed between two vertical jumps, so the competitor had to leap vertically, then horizontally over the water, then vertically once more. This final series of jumps was where most competitors were racking up their faults.
Sarah leaned forward expertly over Rampage’s neck, encouraging him to stretch out over the water jump rather than jump more vertically. The stallion landed clean, neatly clearing the water.
The television announcer narrated quietly into his microphone. “One last jump, and the crowd is holding its breath. This is an amazing stallion that Sarah Tate is riding today. An advanced dressage horse who loves to jump according to his trainer, former gold medalist Skyler Reese. A clean round ensures Tate a place on the Olympic team… They’re up. Look at that horse jump. Wait, his back foot touched that top rail. It’s vibrating…No, it’s not going to fall!”
The crowd’s applause was deafening in the indoor arena. The Parker box was jubilant.
“We did it.” Jessica couldn’t stop crying. With one dream shattered, she’d awakened to another. And, strangely, everything felt right, as if it were meant to be.
Skyler grinned as she wiped away the tears of joy that ran down Jessica’s cheeks. They kissed and waved at Sarah.
Jamie was the only one with the presence of mind to jump from the box and run to greet Sarah and Rampage as they exited the arena.
The rest was a blur. The television crew gathered Kate, Skyler, Jessica, and Sarah together for a final interview, threading together a storybook tale from Jessica’s injury problems to Sarah’s last-minute substitution. Cameras followed Rampage to a small outdoor paddock where he was unsaddled and rubbed down before being turned loose to prance and shake his head for an admiring crowd.
*
Sarah was still beaming and singing Rampage’s praises when the group gathered at her house later that evening for a celebratory cookout. She chatted endlessly about which mares she would select to breed to the bay stallion after the Olympics while Matt barbecued his famous ribs over a slow fire.
It didn’t seem to bother him that he was the only male present at the party, and the women had long since decided they definitely liked the easy-going man. He sipped his beer and explained to Jamie the secrets of barbecuing ribs while letting her flip them for him.
Jessica sat with her injured leg propped in Skyler’s lap. Always enjoying any contact with her beautiful lover, Skyler absently performed a gentle massage along Jessica’s thigh and calf.
They all joined in the laughter as Kate recounted her visit to the showground’s clubhouse right after the trials’ conclusion. “I’ve got at least ten checks in my pocket for the Youth Equestrian Program,” she chortled. “That will teach those bluebloods to bet against Kate Parker.”
“Bluebloods? What do you think you are, Ms. Parker?” Laura teased.
“My daddy swore there must have been a blue collar in my mother’s bloodlines to produce a loud-mouthed tomboy daughter like me.” Kate laughed. “Mother said it was from his side of the family marrying too close.” Her story was nowhere close to the truth. Both of her parents had adored Kate and lavished her with love.
After filling themselves with beer and ribs, the group was tired and pleasantly reflective. It was Jessica who put a voice to all of their thoughts. “So where do we go from here?”
Sarah smiled at Matt. “Well, I can tell you that my life for the next few years is well mapped.” She slid her hand into his and laced their fingers together. “After Rampage and I win a gold medal, Matt and I are going to concentrate on starting a family. We love kids, and having Jamie around this week has made us realize our biological clocks are ticking. When I’m pregnant, I hope to be taking care of a top mare or two carrying a Rampage baby.”
Skyler held Sarah’s gaze for a moment. “I think you guys will be excellent parents,” she said. “I’m very happy for you, Sarah.” Jessica squeezed her arm to let her know she had said just the right thing.
Taking the opening in the conversation, Kate cleared her throat.
“Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you guys what Laura and I are planning.”
“You and Mom?” Jessica frowned slightly.
“That’s right,” replied Laura, reaching for Kate’s hand and pulling it into her lap. “We’ve stupidly wasted too many years apart and have quite a bit of catching up to do.” Adoration shone from her eyes as she gave Kate a slight nod to go ahead and reveal their plans.
“We both want to do a little traveling,” Kate said. “Up until recent years, Laura has been busy raising a daughter and running a public relations firm. And I’ve been running an equestrian center. It’s time we did something for ourselves.”
“What about the center?” Skyler asked, incredulous that Kate would be leaving Cherokee Falls.
“Well, what I’d like to do is turn the operation of the farm over to you two. Jess can be the farm manager, and you can run the Youth Equestrian Program,” Kate explained. “I know you have some ideas for expanding the program to more kids. You guys could move into my house. Do what you want to with it. It will be Jess’s house anyway when I’m not around anymore.” She raised a hand to forestall Jessica’s protest.
“When we come back from Europe, we may settle in a house at the beach,” Laura said.
“We’d just spend several months a year at Cherokee Falls,” Kate added. “I don’t mean to put you on the spot. Talk it over and tell me what you think later, if you want.”
“There’s nothing to discuss,” Skyler said after checking in with Jessica. “There’s nothing else we’d rather do.”
Kate whooped. “Then it’s settled.” She gave Laura a big kiss. “We’re packing our bags for Italy, sweetie.”
Jamie jumped up and gave Jessica and Skyler each a hug. “That’s so cool, you guys.”
“What about you, Jamie?” Matt teased. “Who was that cute stable boy I saw hanging around you yesterday?”
“Ugh. That was Tommy. I like horses, not boys.” Jamie wrinkled her nose.
“That will change soon enough.” Skyler laughed. “In the meantime, I’ve got plans for you, Jamie. You’re going to be the next professional rider I train to represent Cherokee Falls. I’m thinking the Junior Olympics would be a good goal.”
The girl’s eyes shone. “Really, Sky? Really? I’ll work hard every day.”
“Really, Jamie. It was Jess’s idea. She likes your riding form, and thinks she can make an event rider out of you.”
“This is the best night of my life!” Jamie exclaimed.
Skyler entwined her fingers with Jessica’s and gazed affectionately into her lover’s shining eyes. “I think there are going to be a lot of best nights waiting for all of us.”
About the Author
Jackson Leigh grew up barefoot and happy, swimming in farm ponds and riding rude ponies in rural south Georgia. Her love of reading was nurtured early on by her grandmother, who patiently taught her to work New York Times crossword puzzles in the daily paper, and by her mother, who stretched the slim family budget to bring home grocery-store copies of Trixie Belden mysteries and Bobbsey Twins adventures that Jackson would sit up all night reading. It was her passion for writing that led her quite accidentally to a career in journalism, and North Carolina, where she now feeds nightly off the adrenaline rush of breaking news and close deadlines. She shares her life with her wonderful partner, a very wise Jack Russell terrier, and “the cat” that made herself at home when Jackson and the JRT weren’t watchful.
cale(100%); -moz-filter: grayscale(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
Bareback Page 21