Riding to Win

by Bonnie Bryant

  Carole stared at it for a long second. This was it. With this handshake, she would know that the deal was final. Starlight wouldn’t be hers any longer. He would belong to Tanya, for better or for worse.

  Then she remembered the other side of the equation. When Starlight belonged to Tanya, that would mean Carole would be free to go about making sure that Samson would soon belong to her. She grasped Tanya’s outstretched hand in her own and pumped it firmly. “Deal.”

  Soon after that, with a flurry of good-byes, the Appels left the stable. Carole slumped against the wall outside Starlight’s stall, feeling deflated and empty and a little sick. She had done it. Starlight was really going. Even though she’d been preparing herself for this feeling ever since she’d made the decision to sell her horse, she still couldn’t believe how much it hurt. She couldn’t even bring herself to glance into Starlight’s stall, to see his familiar quizzical expression and big liquid eyes, the lopsided white star splashed across his face. She rubbed her eyes hard, willing herself not to break down and cry. This wasn’t the time or the place for that. Keeping her fingers pressed against her eyelids, she took several deep, gulping breaths, trying to settle her stomach and her heart.

  “Carole?”

  For one crazy moment, Carole had the wild idea that it was Starlight himself who was calling her name in that low, tentative voice. Her eyes flew open, and she saw Ben standing in front of her, looking worried.

  “Oh!” she exclaimed, feeling a blush steal over her cheeks. “Um, I was just—that is, I—”

  “I know.” Ben took a step closer. “I saw her leave. Are you okay?”

  Carole looked up at him, surprised to find that instead of having its usual guarded expression, Ben’s face was open and worried. She stared into his dark eyes, wondering what he would say if she told him the truth. That she wasn’t okay—she felt sad and confused and guilty and even, strangely, a little angry, and she wasn’t sure how to handle it. It would be nice to talk to someone who might understand what she was feeling. And for some reason, as he held her gaze with his own, she thought that Ben might understand. More than that, she realized that she wanted him to understand.

  “Well,” she began hesitantly, still not sure what she was going to say. “I—”

  “Carole!” a gleeful young voice interrupted from the end of the aisle. Carole glanced away from Ben, startled. A moment later Maxi raced up and flung herself at Carole, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Guess what? Callie taught me how to make Krona lift up his foot.” Behind the little girl, Carole could see Callie hurrying down the aisle.

  For a split second, Carole caught Ben’s eye again. But she could see that it was already too late. The moment had passed. The curtain was down again, and his expression was closed and remote.

  Eleven

  After a week of mostly cloudy, drizzly weather, Saturday morning dawned miraculously sunny, clear, and cool. Carole arrived at Pine Hollow early, and so had the other four competitors. Max and Red were there, too, already looking harried.

  Carole got right to work on Samson’s grooming, but she had trouble concentrating on the task. Her mind kept wandering to the strange, restless dreams she’d had the previous night. A few had been typical preshow jitters playing themselves out, but most of the dreams had involved Tanya and Starlight and sometimes Samson. Carole couldn’t remember many of the details, but the dreams had left her feeling unsettled and vaguely apprehensive.

  I’ve got to focus, Carole thought, blinking at the big black horse in front of her as he shifted his feet, obviously bored with standing still while she worked on his mane. She patted him and spoke to him soothingly, and he settled down, though she could tell that he was still feeling a little impatient. He was real, and this was no dream. She had a show to get ready for, and she wasn’t going to get everything done if she wasted time worrying about some stupid dreams.

  Deciding that the best way to snap out of it was to think about something practical, she turned her mind to the clothes and equipment she would need for today’s show. She knew that Samson’s tack and equipment were all ready and packed—she’d checked and double-checked it the day before, and checked it again first thing that morning. Besides, she knew herself well enough to realize that if she was going to forget something, it was more likely to be something for herself than for her horse. As she continued to work steadily on Samson’s mane, she ran down the list out loud. “Good breeches. Good boots. Shirt, jacket, gloves …”

  By the time she finished her list and was confident that she’d remembered everything she was going to need, thoughts of the dreams were starting to recede. Carole didn’t have time to think about them anymore. There was too much to do.

  Somehow, everybody got everything done. Carole emerged from the bathroom, where she’d splashed most of the dirt and sweat from her face, just in time to hear Max and Red pulling two of Pine Hollow’s horse trailers around to the front of the stable. Hurrying outside, Carole found Stevie watching, hopping excitedly from one foot to the other.

  “It’s almost time!” Stevie said cheerfully when she spotted Carole. “Ready to go show those snooty show-circuit folks what Pine Hollow can do?”

  Carole nodded, trying to remember if she’d packed extra hairbands in case the one she was wearing broke. “I think so.”

  “Don’t just think so!” Stevie playfully poked Carole in the chest. “Know so!”

  Carole grinned. So far that morning she’d only seen Stevie a few times in passing. But now she could tell that her friend was in an excited, giddy mood. And who could blame her? “Okay,” Carole said with a professional-looking military salute. “I know so. Sir!”

  Max hopped out of the Pine Hollow station wagon, which was pulling one of the trailers, and spotted them. “Where are the others?” he called.

  “I think they’re all still inside,” Carole replied. She’d seen Denise in the bathroom brushing her teeth. George was in the tack room. And as far as she knew, Ben was still in Topside’s stall, whispering to the bay gelding in a language only horses could understand.

  Max glanced at his watch. “We’d better start loading soon,” he said. “I’m taking this trailer, and Denise can drive the other one.” He nodded toward Red as the head stable hand climbed out of Denise’s truck, which was hitched to the second trailer. “Red’s going to stay here to take care of morning chores and look after the other horses until the other hands get here. He’ll join us at the show grounds a little later.”

  Carole just nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she caught Stevie rolling her eyes. Max had gone over all this several times yesterday, and again first thing this morning. Still, Carole didn’t blame him. Better safe than sorry. “I’ll go tell Ben to bring Topside out,” she offered. “You want to load him first, right?” At Max’s nod, she turned to hurry back into the building.

  The next few minutes were taken up with loading the horses. Topside was the most experienced show horse in the group, and a calm and reliable loader, so Ben had no trouble leading him up the ramp into Max’s trailer. Next, Denise brought out Talisman. The lanky chestnut was younger and more excitable than Topside, but he entered the trailer willingly enough, standing quietly in the stall beside the older gelding. George’s Trakehner mare, Joyride, was known to be difficult to load, and it took a few minutes to coax her up the ramp and get her settled. But George was patient with her, and with the others standing by to help, the tricky task was accomplished without too much trouble.

  “Okay,” Max said as he helped Ben swing the trailer door shut. “We’re going to get going. Will you be okay loading Belle and Starlight?”

  “Samson,” Carole corrected quickly.

  Max smiled. “Sorry. I’m so used to you and Starlight traveling as a pair. Well, you know. Anyway, Red and Denise can help you.”

  “We’ll be fine.” Stevie shooed him toward the station wagon. “Go already.”

  As soon as Max drove down the driveway, with Ben in the car bes
ide him, Stevie and Carole went inside to get their horses. As Carole led Samson out of his stall, she could see that the black gelding was alert and feeling frisky. “That’s right, big guy,” she whispered as they moved down the stable aisle. “It’s the day we’ve been waiting for.”

  She felt a thrill of anticipation run down her spine, making her shiver. All those hours of practicing and training were about to pay off. When she and Samson stepped into the ring, she knew they would be ready to give it their best shot.

  Soon the horses were safely settled in the trailer, and Carole and Stevie were crowded into the long front seat of Denise’s truck. “Ready to hit the road?” Denise asked as she turned the key in the ignition.

  “Let’s roll,” Stevie said gleefully. She let out a whoop as the truck’s engine roared to life. “Yee-hah!” she cried.

  Carole laughed, her spirits rising as her friend’s excitement rubbed off on her. She couldn’t totally forget what she had to do later, after the show was over. But she also knew there would be time to feel sad about losing Starlight then. Right now, she wanted to savor every moment of her first big show with Samson.

  I can’t wait, she thought as the truck rumbled down the driveway. Even if we don’t win a thing, I’m sure this show is going to be one of the greatest experiences of my entire life!

  “I think it’s cute that you’ve finally discovered your maternal instincts, sis,” Scott said, spinning the steering wheel to take the turn into Pine Hollow’s driveway. “It’s about time.”

  Callie rolled her eyes. Scott had been teasing her all morning about her baby-sitting duties. But she didn’t really care. She was looking forward to spending time with Maxi during the horse show. “You’re just jealous because nobody wants to hang out with you at the show,” she informed him. “You’re lucky Maxi and I are letting you tag along.”

  Scott grinned good-naturedly as he brought the car to a stop in the parking area. As he unhooked his seat belt, he glanced toward the main stable building. “There’s your tiny admirer now,” he said.

  Callie looked over as she gathered her crutches. Maxi was sitting on the wooden bench outside the stable’s main entrance, her legs swinging an inch or two above the hard-packed ground. Callie opened the car door and called to the little girl.

  “Callie!” Maxi cried, hopping down from the bench and rushing toward the car. “I thought you’d never get here.”

  “We’re here now,” Scott said cheerfully. “Now all we have to do is grab Lisa and we can go. Is she here yet, Maxi?”

  Maxi nodded. “She’s with Red. They’re looking at Prancer.”

  Callie checked her watch. “We’re a little early,” she told Scott. “Let’s give her a minute.” Lisa had called the evening before to suggest that they all ride over to Colesford together to watch the show. Normally, Callie was sure that Alex would be part of the group, too. But because of his grounding, he was riding over to the show with his parents and younger brother.

  Callie and Scott spent the next few minutes chatting with Maxi and enjoying the breezy but sunny autumn morning. But after their meeting time came and went and there was still no sign of Lisa, Callie offered to go inside and find her.

  Leaving Maxi chattering to Scott about all the horse shows she and Krona were going to enter someday, Callie swung toward the entrance. As she often did lately, she tested herself by putting most of her weight on her right leg before setting down the tip of the crutch. No doubt about it, she thought with satisfaction. I’m not going to need these stupid things much longer. I told Dr. Amandsen I’d be walking on my own way before January!

  Pushing those thoughts out of her mind for the moment, she pushed open the stable door and hurried across the entryway toward the aisle where Prancer’s stall was located. As she rounded the corner, she spotted Red O’Malley coming toward her.

  “Hi!” Callie called, a little surprised that he hadn’t left for the show with the others. He and Denise had been a couple for years, and Callie was sure that Red would want to watch her performance. “What are you still doing here?”

  Red blinked and looked up, seeming a bit startled by her greeting. “Oh! Hey there, Callie,” he said. “I’m supposed to head over to Colesford soon. Just have to take care of a few things first.”

  Callie knew that Red had been working for Max longer than any of the other staff, and he often stepped in when Max was busy or away. At the moment she couldn’t help thinking that the responsibility was weighing on him heavily—he looked tired and worried. “Have you seen Lisa?” Callie asked him. “Maxi said she was in here. She’s riding over to the show with us.”

  “Actually, there’s been a slight change of plans,” Red said, rubbing his face with one freckled hand. “Prancer’s running a fever, so Lisa’s going to stick around until Judy gets here. I’ll give her a ride to the show when I come.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Callie felt a twinge of concern for the pregnant mare. Still, she was sure that Judy Barker would know what to do for her. And she didn’t blame Lisa for wanting to stay and wait for the vet. It was obvious how much she cared for Prancer. In her place, Callie would have done the same thing. “Well, I guess we’ll see you both later, then,” she told Red, already turning to head back outside. “And tell Lisa I hope Prancer feels better soon.”

  The first class wasn’t scheduled to start for some time, but the show grounds just outside the town of Colesford were already bustling when the Pine Hollow trailers arrived. Carole’s heart hammered in her chest as she looked out the truck’s windows and tried to see everything at once. They had entered via a narrow dirt drive, passing a sign reading Competitors Only. Soon they’d come through a small stand of thick forest into view of the huge, open area of the show grounds. In the distance, Carole spotted the tall bleachers that surrounded the main competition ring. She had only been to the show grounds once before, when a traveling circus had set up there, but she imagined that the rows of wooden booths outside the main ring were probably bustling with vendors selling programs, food, and souvenirs. At the moment, though, Carole was a lot more interested in the area just beyond their truck. Several good-sized practice rings were laid out in a wide, flat field. Countless horse trailers and vans were lined up in the parklike stable area on the near side of the practice rings, while across the way Carole saw a line of long, low wooden stable buildings that she assumed were to house the competitors who’d come from far enough away to have to stay overnight. Everywhere Carole looked, horses and people and dogs were moving around, stretching their legs and getting ready for the big show.

  “Wow,” Stevie said, neatly summing up the entire scene. “I can’t believe we’re really here.”

  “Believe it, ladies,” Denise announced, carefully steering over a rutted stretch of the dirt road and peering out at the numbers flapping from the trees they were passing. “Because it’s true. Now help me find our section.”

  Carole pointed, spotting an open space to their left. “There,” she called. “I see the other trailer just ahead. See?” She waved at George Wheeler, who had just spotted them and was waving both arms over his head to signal to them.

  Denise braked just enough to allow a frisky corgi to race, barking, across her path. Then she drove toward George, who stepped back to let the truck pull into the spot beside Max’s car.

  “We thought you’d never get here!” George exclaimed as Stevie rolled down the window to greet him.

  “Hey, they wouldn’t start the show without us,” Stevie said breezily, leaning out the window to look around. “Where are Max and Ben?”

  “Ben’s walking Talisman to settle him down,” George said. “I don’t know about Max. After we got the horses unloaded, he saw someone he knew and took off.”

  Carole was hardly listening. She poked impatiently at Stevie until she finally climbed out of the truck, and then Carole hopped out after her. Hurrying around to the back of the trailer, she swung open the door and stepped inside. Samson and Belle were standing quietly, only th
eir pricked ears revealing their curiosity about what was going on around them. Carole smiled as she looked at Samson. Even in the dimness of the van, she could tell that he was alert and spirited. He was just as ready for today as she was.

  A little while later, all the Pine Hollow horses were settled in their temporary quarters. Max was still nowhere to be found, so Carole and Stevie decided to take a quick look around before it was time to warm up and get changed.

  They strolled down the row of vans and trailers, checking out the competition. Carole recognized a number of horses and riders from shows she’d attended in the area, and a few from seeing them on TV and in equestrian magazines. She and Stevie wandered all the way to the edge of the wooden buildings, where many stables had hung signs or flags outside their blocks of stalls.

  Carole scanned each stable name as they walked. “It’s hard to believe we’re going to be riding with people from places like Five Springs Farm—that’s Garrett Shanahan’s stable’s name.” She pointed to the sign they were passing at that moment. “He’s that awesome show jumper from Canada,” she told Stevie. She shook her head in disbelief. Garrett Shanahan had been on the circuit for years, and he had always been one of Carole’s heroes. “I mean, just think of it. Me, riding the same course as the famous Garrett Shanahan!”

  Stevie shook her head and grinned. “That’s not what’s hard to believe,” she said. “What’s really hard to believe is that my parents have given me a whole day of freedom from my grounding. I don’t even have to think about chores until tomorrow.”

  “Except stable chores,” Carole corrected with a grin. But she was still thinking about Garrett Shanahan. She glanced around, hoping for a glimpse of her idol. But the only person in view was a wizened old stable hand. “I wonder what horse Garrett will be riding in Open Jumping?” she commented. “That real famous jumper of his—you know, Cloverleaf, the big bay with the funny spot on his forehead—just retired. At least that’s what I read.”