“I’m not the best. I’m the worst!” Terry burst out. Her parents exchanged a startled glance as she sprang up from the table and ran out of the kitchen.
They hurried after to find her sprawled face down across her bed. “The lesson was awful,” she sobbed. “Everything went wrong! I was late. Tic-Tac almost got kicked by another horse because of me. I took the wrong canter lead. I just know the Captain hates me!”
“Did Captain Riskin yell at you?” Mr. Allen demanded.
Terry sobbed harder. “Dad … you don’t understand.”
“I sure don’t,” he returned. “We send you to a fancy riding school and look how you come home. I won’t have some German so-and-so upsetting my daughter. I think I’ve thrown away good money. In fact, I’m going to call Riskin and tell him you’ve had enough.”
Terry sat up abruptly. “You can’t” she protested, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “Captain was right. I did make all those mistakes. Please, don’t make me quit.”
“But, Terry,” her father reasoned, “I won’t have you carrying on like this. I think you belong back at the Martins. At least you never came home in tears.”
Terry looked at him in desperation. “Please, let me go back to Briar Hill. I promised.”
“Who did you promise?” Mrs. Allen asked.
“Karen and Tic-Tac,” Terry told her. “Please. It’s important. I can’t just quit and let them down.”
Mr. Allen shook his head. “Terry, it’s not worth all this upset just to learn to ride a horse.”
“You know your father’s right,” Mrs. Allen said gently. “We gave you the lessons at that stable so you’d have fun this summer. But, this doesn’t look like fun. Let’s call a halt to it before you get in any deeper.”
“Please,” Terry pleaded a final time. “I’ve got to prove myself that I can do it.”
Her father was doubtful. “I don’t know. I think it’s a mistake to continue.”
“If I can’t meet the stable standard then I’ll quit,” Terry promised. “No arguments. Honest, but I have to try.”
He hesitated, but finally nodded. “Okay, Terry. If it means so much to you, take another shot at it.”
She jumped off her bed and threw her arms around him. “You’re the greatest!”
“That’s more like my girl,” he chuckled, rumpling her hair.
“I don’t know about anyone else,” her mother said, “but I could go for some peppermint ice cream.”
Terry grinned sheepishly. “Guess I am pretty hungry.”
“Race you to the kitchen, Terry!” her father challenged. With that, they both tore down the hall, shoving each other out of the way to be the first to the table.
The rest of the week, Terry focused all her concentration on the riding lessons. With each day, the positions and drills that Captain Riskin demanded grew easier for her. Although nearly nine weeks remained in the course, she began to dread the end of August.
“Wish I had a job,” she confided to Karen one morning during grooming. “It wouldn’t matter what it was. Just so I could save enough money to take lessons here in the fall.”
“When I was your age, I got my first job working for Captain,” Karen told her. “He might hire you if he heard your reasons.”
The idea startled Terry. “I couldn’t just ask Captain.”
“Why not?” Karen asked. “There are forty privately owned horses boarded here besides the school horses. Captain always needs someone to brush them and clean tack since the grooms are often busy with other work.”
“He’d never hire me,” Terry assured her. “With all my mistakes, I’m lucky he lets me stay in the course.”
“You’re wrong,” Karen disagreed. “He likes you because you keep trying. Tell you what – I’ll put in a good word for you.”
“I don’t know,” Terry said doubtfully. “Even if he did hire me, how would I get home at the end of the day? The bus leaves right after our class session, so I’d miss it if I stayed late. My parents both work, so I can’t get a ride from them.”
“I still think you should ask Captain,” Karen persisted. “Maybe I could drop you off on my way home. It’s not far out of my way.”
Her offer was a tempting solution. “Okay,” Terry finally agreed with a smile. “Thanks.”
“I’ll talk to Captain today,” Karen said. “You can apply for a job tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow!”
Karen walked away, ignoring Terry’s protest. “Why put it off? Now, get to work! You’ve got a dirty horse to clean.”
That evening while her parents were watching television, Terry shored up the courage to ask permission to work for Captain Riskin. Ever since they had threatened to stop her lessons, neither had seemed very enthusiastic about Briar Hill.
“My lessons are going a lot better,” she began hesitantly during a commercial. “Captain says I may even make a good rider some day.”
“That’s nice,” her mother said. “I’m glad you’re happy with the improvement.”
Terry shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “I really hate to quite in the fall. I know money is tight and lessons are expensive, but maybe if I got a job, I could earn enough to keep riding at Briar Hill.”
Her father raised an eyebrow in her direction. “What do you have in mind?”
“Well …,” Terry faltered. “Karen thought I should ask Captain for a job at the stable.”
Mr. Allen frowned. “You want to work for him after the way he’s treated you?”
“But it was all my fault,” Terry reminded. “He’s been really great to me lately.”
Her father shook his head. “I not sure it’s a good idea.”
“I don’t think a big stable is the place for a young girl to work,” her mother added. “Too many bad elements hanging around.”
“Karen has worked there since she was thirteen and she’s not a bad element,” Terry protested.
“Still don’t like the sound of it,” her father grumbled. “There’s plenty of work that needs doing around here. Why don’t you cut the lawn or wash windows if you want to make some extra money? I’ll be happy to increase your allowance.”
“It won’t be enough to pay for lessons at Briar Hill,” Terry reasoned.
Mr. Allen thoughtfully rubbed his chin. “Even if I agree to let you do this crazy thing, how would you get home? Your mother and I wouldn’t be able to pick you up.”
“Don’t worry,” Terry assured him. “Karen doesn’t live far from here. She offered to drop me off on her way home. Please let me at least try.”
Her father threw up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay! If it means that much to you go ahead and gives it a try.”
The next day after the lesson, Terry waited nervously outside Captain Riskin’s office. All the other Summer Camp students had left on the bus, leaving her alone in the barn foyer. Despite Karen’s encouragement, her confidence was rapidly fading. “Why should he hire me? He barely knows me and I haven’t made a very good first impression.”
Just then Karen came out of the office. She winked at Terry. “Don’t worry. He won’t bite. Go on in.”
Terry watched Karen disappear into the tackroom wishing she could stay for the interview. Taking a deep breath for courage, she knocked on the office door.
“Come in,” the Captain called.
Terry slowly opened the door. Captain Riskin was seated behind a massive oak desk. She thought he looked sterner than usual as he peered at her over the top of black rimmed reading glasses.
“What is it?” he asked impatiently when she failed to speak.
Terry forced herself to meet his penetrating blue eyes. “I hoped that maybe…,” she faltered. “That maybe you’d hire me for the summer. I’d be happy to do any sort of stable work.”
“Why do you want a job?” the Captain pursued.
“I love riding here and want to stay on in the fall,” Terry answered, encouraged he was interested enough to ask. “My parents paid for Summer Club, b
ut after that I’m on my own.”
Captain Riskin nodded thoughtfully. “I see. But, can you clean tack? Are you quick enough to groom and tack up a boarder’s horse to their expectations?”
“Yes, sir,” she quickly assured him. “I had experience at the barn where I rode before Briar Hill. No one ever complained about my work. Please just give me a chance to prove myself. ”
“Karen has discussed this matter with me,” he told her. “I value her opinion. She speaks highly of you. I personally have noticed that you are a hard worker even when things don’t go so easily. I very much like that quality in a rider, so I think I will give you a try.”
Terry couldn’t believe her luck. “Thank you!” she exclaimed. “You won’t be sorry. I promise.”
The Captain chuckled at her enthusiasm, but quickly covered up his smile. “I need a girl to do exactly the type of work I mentioned. Would you be satisfied if I pay you with free fall lessons in exchange for your work?”
Terry’s eyes widened with excitement at the suggestion. “That’s perfect!”
Captain Riskin stood up and shook her hand. “Then we have an agreement. Come with me now and I will show you your duties.”
He led Terry to a tackroom identical to the one the Summer Club students used. Rows of immaculate saddles and bridles hung on orderly racks along the walls. In the center of the room stood a wooden saddle cleaning stand that resembled a thick sawhorse. Suspended from the ceiling at shoulder level was a three-pronged bridle cleaning hook.
Captain Riskin opened a wooden cabinet on the wall. “Here you will find cleaning supplies – saddle soap, neatsfoot oil, silver polish, sponges, rags and a pail.”
He lifted the pail from the cabinet and left the room. When he returned, the pail was full of warm water. He set it beside the saddle rack and rolled up his sleeves.
Terry watched in amazement. She had never envisioned him doing menial stable work. He seemed too proper to clean a dirty saddle.
The Captain put the saddle on the rack then took a small, stiff brush, a waxy bar of glycerin saddle soap and a sponge from the cabinet. “I will show you how I want the saddles at Briar Hill cleaned.
“First address the saddle pad.” With quick, hard strokes of the stiff brush, he brushed the loose hair and dirt from the underside of the fluffy lamb’s wool pad.
Terry watched closely as he then moistened the sponge, squeezing out the excess water. After rubbing the sponge against the soap, he carefully worked it across the surface of the saddle from top to bottom. Terry noticed tiny beads of perspiration spot his forehead, but he heedlessly wiped them away with the back of his sponge hand.
“If the leather becomes stiff, oil it,” he directed. “Also, always inspect for broken stitching or wear cracks in the leather. These must be repaired immediately to prevent accidents. You will repeat this same careful work and examination with the bridles. If you find any problems, tell me or one of the grooms.”
He returned the clean saddle to its proper wall rack. “Are there any questions?”
Terry hesitated and then shook her head, confident that she could repeat his performance.
“No?” he chuckled with surprise at her quick assurance. “If you are so certain of your skills, let me see how well you understand.”
He placed a dirty saddle on the cleaning rack then handed Terry the sponge. She thoughtfully fingered the damp sponge, trying to remember Captain Riskin’s exact steps in cleaning his saddle. She began by brushing the pad until all the matted hair was removed. When it was fluffy again, she turned her attention to the saddle, careful not to get too much water or soap on the fine leather.
After ten minutes, Terry finally put down the sponge, looking expectantly up at the Captain. She thought she had done a good job, but knew he would review her work with a much more critical eye.
Captain Riskin silently inspected the saddle, probing into the tiniest creases for overlooked dirt. He finally nodded his approval. “Not bad for a start. I think you will do well at this job.”
Terry smiled with relief. “Thank you. You can count on me.”
“Starting tomorrow after class, you will clean tack as well as groom some of the privately owned horses,” he explained. “It will not be all fun. The owners are often a bit unreasonable, but they pay for the right. Report to Sonny after class tomorrow. He is the head groom for the boarders’ horses. He will tell you what work is needed. Now I will introduce you to a few of the owners who are here today as in your work you will have some interaction with them.”
Terry followed him to the sunny stable yard where three women and a man, all clad in riding clothes, stood talking.
“Good afternoon,” Captain Riskin called pleasantly. “Did you all have a nice ride today?”
Terry recognized the man and the oldest woman in the group as the Kirks. Mrs. Kirk smiled and nodded. “Paul and I had a wonderful trail ride. The horses couldn’t have been better behaved.”
“I was supposed to go with them, but Pilot’s still a bit lame,” the second woman complained with an angry pout. “It’s been a week since the vet did blood work and took x-rays, but I still haven’t heard the final results.”
“I will call Dr. Wolf today,” Captain Riskin patiently assured her. “In the meantime, I have a nice filly that you can ride until Pilot is sound.”
His offer seemed to pacify her. “Well…,” she hesitated. “I guess that will be all right.”
“I’d like a lesson tomorrow,” the third woman spoke up. Even though the afternoon was warm, she wore a stylish navy cotton riding jacket over tan breeches. “I can’t make Ming stop tossing his head when he canters.”
The Captain nodded thoughtfully. “I think it is because you hold your reins too tight, but we will work it out tomorrow. Is two o’clock convenient, Mrs. Nash?”
The woman’s small, red mouth remained expressionless. “That would be fine. It’s a very frustrating problem.”
Captain Riskin put his hand on Terry’s shoulder. “And now I would like to introduce Terry Allen. She is one of my new Summer Club students. She will also be working for me in the afternoons after class.”
He turned back to Terry, but before he could continue the introductions, an inhuman screech sounded from inside the barn. Terry and the others spun around in alarm to see a small, gray cat streak out the door and vault up the big oak tree in the stable yard. Close behind scurried a chubby, blonde-haired child. She ran to the base of the tree, stretching out her hands towards the terrified cat.
“Kitty! Kitty!” she cried in a high, shrill voice.
“Who’d ever think such a little cat could make such a racket?” Mrs. Kirk laughed with relief.
“Come here, Cynthia,” Mrs. Nash called. “Leave the kitty alone, honey.”
The child scowled as she reluctantly turned away from the tree. Mrs. Nash draped her arm around her daughter. “How often must Mommy tell you not to tease the kitty?” she scolded gently. “It scares her. Now promise you’ll be a good girl and not ever do it again.”
Cynthia stared at the ground and stubbornly shook her curly head.
“If you promise,” Mrs. Nash coaxed, “I’ll get you a special chocolate sundae on the way home.”
Cynthia looked up, her face assuming an angelic smile. “Okay, Mommy. Promise.”
Mrs. Nash kissed Cynthia’s forehead and gently patted the seat of her red cotton jump suit. “That’s my girl. Now go play. Maybe Sonny will let you help him.”
“I do not think that is a good idea,” Captain Riskin was quick to advise. ‘It is hard for the grooms to work with such a little girl under foot. Best you keep her with you.”
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Nash disagreed.” Cynthia knows not to get in the way. Besides, it’s never too early to learn about horses. My parents introduced me to the barn as a youngster.”
Cynthia grinned at her mother and skipped back into the barn. Terry was amazed at how easily the child got off. She remembered uncomfortably how her parents had
driven her mistakes home with a firm spanking, never a bribe. She doubted Cynthia would keep her promise to leave the cat alone. Glancing up at the tree branch where the cat still cowered, she hoped it had the sense to stay put until Cynthia and her mother left for the day.
Terry quickly adjusted to her new job. Although cleaning tack to the Captain’s exacting standard was hard work, she enjoyed it. The rich smell of the saddle soap and the smooth feel of clean leather between her fingers never ceased to satisfy.
Although the other Summer Club students usually went home on the bus after the morning lesson, most of the private owners showed up to ride after lunch. The majority of the boarders were friendly to Terry and chatted with her about their horses, making the afternoons pass quickly.
On Friday of Terry’s first week of work, Sonny came down with a virus. Captain Riskin gave Terry a new work schedule that put her in charge of grooming Sonny’s horses as well as cleaning their tack. According to the schedule, she had to tack-up seven horses at specified times as well as bathe and cool them out if the owners wanted help when they finished their rides.
“I must be doing okay if Captain trusts me with the boarders’ horses,” she thought confidently looking over the schedule.
Her first assignment was a sleek, black pony that belonged to a little girl who took private lessons from Karen. Because the pony was small and very manageable, Terry easily had him ready five minutes early.
It wasn’t until Terry reached the fifth horse that she ran into trouble. When she lifted the saddle across the chestnut’s back, she discovered the girth was missing. “Darn!” she muttered, hurrying back to the tackroom to find it before the owner arrived to ride.
She frantically searched both tackrooms without luck. “Now what?” she worried, looking at her watch to see that only fifteen minutes remained to groom and tack-up two more horses.
Just then the owner of the chestnut horse with the missing girth entered the barn carrying a brown paper bag.
“I’m so sorry your horse isn’t ready,” Terry apologized, hoping the woman would understand her dilemma, “but I can’t find your girth anywhere.”
Tic-Tac Page 3