High Hurdles

by Lauraine Snelling

  “Hey, Mom, I forgot to ask. There’s a jumping clinic coming up at Wild Horse Ranch in Napa, and Bridget thinks it would be good for me and Major to go. What do you think, can I?”

  “Can you afford it?” Lindy let Robert pull her up from the sofa. She smiled up at him with one of those gooey looks DJ was coming to expect from the two of them.

  “Well, I’m trying to save for a Crosby—that’s a good make of jumping saddle. I was kind of hoping maybe you could swing this.” DJ clamped her bottom lip between her teeth.

  “You know the rules.” Lindy adjusted her slacks. “You can go only if you can afford the time and the money.”

  “How much is it?” Robert looked from mother to daughter.

  When DJ told him the amount, he reached for his wallet. “Why don’t you let me get this one?”

  “No.” One word from Lindy stopped him in the act.

  He turned to her, surprise written across his handsome face. “But why?”

  DJ bit her tongue to keep from telling him how she felt. Because my mother always has money for her things, but mine don’t count. Get it?

  “Because I can’t afford it, and I’m raising my daughter to be a responsible person who earns her own way.”

  Robert started to say something and stopped.

  “DJ understands.”

  Yeah, right! Sure I understand. DJ felt like yelling. She had no time now to earn extra money. Other kids baby-sat. She and Amy had given pony parties for kids’ birthdays during the summer, but now her time was all taken up with school, the Academy, and home chores. Her mother was the one who didn’t understand.

  Or maybe she doesn’t care. The thought shocked DJ into continued silence.

  “Well, why don’t you let this be my gift to DJ?”

  DJ felt a stirring of hope.

  “That’s very nice of you, but no thank you. DJ, don’t you have homework to finish?”

  “No, I’m done.” DJ knew that had been the signal for her to leave the room, but instead she dug in her heels. She still might have a chance if she played it right.

  DJ sneaked a peek at Robert. His smile had disappeared along with his wallet. Questions pounded in her head. What was wrong with Robert’s giving her a present? Lindy had already accepted several gifts for herself: a bracelet, a designer scarf, and a program for her computer. So why was it okay for her mother to get presents, but not her? A hangnail on DJ’s right thumb itched to be chewed off. She dug at it with her finger.

  “Say good-night, DJ.”

  DJ did as she was told, barely holding back from stomping up the stairs.

  This was one of those nights when she wished with all her might that Gran was still living in the same house. Gran would be able to explain her mother’s actions to her—they made no sense at all to DJ. She knew she could call Gran and talk about it, but somehow the phone wasn’t the same as sitting at Gran’s feet. She needed Gran’s gentle hands on her hair and the smell of roses and Gran saying, “Well now, darlin’, I think we should pray about this and see what God has to say about it.”

  DJ tried. “Heavenly Father, I don’t understand my mother at all. Sometimes I don’t even like her.” She stopped. She shouldn’t say such things even though she thought them a lot. But her Sunday school teacher had said God knew people’s thoughts even before they spoke them.

  DJ shuddered. Some of her thoughts sure weren’t the kind she wanted God listening in on.

  What was the Bible verse Gran had given her recently? She wrinkled her forehead, hoping that would make her remember. Something about God answering our prayers. She’d have to ask Gran because DJ sure needed some answers right now. She moved on to all the “blesses,” including Robert and the Double Bs. “And, God, thank you for finding Grandpa Joe such a neat horse. Amen.”

  How on earth was she going to earn the money for the clinic?

  Both DJ and Amy were out of breath when they spun into the Academy parking area the next afternoon. They spied Joe’s Explorer immediately.

  “Is he here yet?” DJ pelted into Bridget’s office. “Where’s his stall?”

  “Should I ask who ‘he’ is?” Bridget looked up from her charting with a smile. She raised a hand to cut off DJ’s questions. “Outside stall, next to Major. I figured since Joe feeds both of them in the morning, we should make it as easy as possible.”

  “What do you think of him? Didn’t we do great?”

  “He is everything Denison said he was. Now Joe has to decide if he will train Ranger himself or hire a trainer.” Bridget waved the girls toward the door. “Go on before you wear a hole in the floor.”

  The girls dashed across the lot and jogged down the sandy barn aisle. Horses nickered on either side, and one slammed a hoof against the wall with a squeal.

  When they found them, Joe had one of Ranger’s hooves propped on his knees to pick out any compacted manure and dirt. The crosstied sorrel stood quietly, showing that he’d been trained in being handled.

  “He’s beautiful, Joe.” Amy and DJ stopped at the stall opening.

  Joe stood up and, stroking the gelding as he walked, joined the two girls.

  “I’m pretty pleased myself.” He rubbed up behind Ranger’s ears and down his neck. “He and I are going to get along just fine, aren’t we, boy?” Ranger reached his nose out to sniff the girls, who stood still for his inspection. Ears forward, he sniffed at DJ’s extended hand. She turned it over to palm a horse cookie for him.

  “Now you’ve made a friend.” Joe continued to stroke the horse as he talked. “Denison said Ranger has a weakness for sugar lumps, but cookies and carrots are definitely better, right, fella?” Ranger nosed DJ for another treat.

  “Have you ridden him yet?” Amy asked.

  “Nope, he arrived not more than an hour ago. I figured I’d let him get accustomed to the stable first and ride tomorrow morning when the arenas aren’t taken up by you kids.” He picked up a brush and stroked down the already gleaming shoulder.

  Next to them, Major nickered and tossed his head.

  “He’s jealous.” Joe nodded to his former horse. “I kept telling him you’d be by pretty soon, but he didn’t believe me.”

  DJ switched her attentions to the bay. Major nosed the pocket where she always kept his treat. She dug out a cookie and let him munch. “See, that wasn’t your treat I gave away. That young sprout may be getting all the attention right now, but that’s because he’s new.”

  “And pretty.” Amy moved to Major’s side and stroked his dark neck.

  Major whiskered DJ’s cheek and made her giggle.

  “You just wait a bit, and I’ll be back to get you.” DJ gave her horse one last ear rub and stepped back. “Got work to do. Behave now.” The horse tossed his head and nodded as if he understood everything she said. “See ya, GJ.”

  “You going to braid his mane and tail for the show?” Amy asked.

  “No, not for the training show. But for the one in December I will. Just think, that will be our first big show. Mine and Major’s, I mean.”

  “You think Joe will enter that one?”

  “He could, in halter class at least. Even halter showing would give Ranger a feel for the crowds and activity.”

  They stopped in the door of the barn when they heard an angry voice coming from the south side stalls.

  “I don’t have to listen to you, you stupid jigaboo! My dad is going to talk to Bridget and get me assigned to someone with some real horse sense. Everyone knows niggers don’t have no sense a’tall.”

  “Listen here, Tony, I have my assignments, and I do them. You have been assigned to me, and that places me in charge. Now get back there and redo that stall. We don’t allow people to pitch fresh shavings on top of dirty ones.”

  “If you’re so all-fired worried about doing things right, you do it.”

  DJ and Amy peeked around the corner just in time to see Tony shove the handle of the manure fork at Hilary. She wasn’t prepared, and it knocked her on the shoulder befor
e she could stop it.

  “I have better things to do.” Tony made a rude gesture and strode down the aisle to where his horse stood looking over the gate of its stall.

  DJ debated. Should they go to Hilary, or was it better to let her friend handle this alone? In the end, she signaled Amy, and they headed back to their side of the barn.

  “Well, that sure shows our plan isn’t working.” DJ slammed her hand against the wall. “How can we help Hilary?”

  “Short of dumping a ton of hay on that . . . that creep. Why’d he ever choose to come here anyway?”

  “Because Bridget is such a good teacher, that’s why.” DJ rubbed the palm of her hand to remove the sting of slapping it on the wood. “Why didn’t Hilary shove the handle right back at him? I would have. I’d have picked it up and bashed him over the head with it. Nobody but nobody’s ever gonna get away with calling me names like that. Should we tell Bridget?”

  Amy shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “You know what? I talked about this with Gran and Joe, and Joe said just ignoring Tony wasn’t enough. He said we need to compliment him when he does something right. Can you beat that?”

  “Yeah, as if he’s going to do something good. Get real.” Amy picked up a grooming bucket. “I’ve got to get going, or I won’t have time to work Josh. DJ, something’s got to get better around here, or Hilary will leave—and I wouldn’t blame her a bit.”

  By Friday, DJ’s butterflies were in full flight. All she could think of was the show coming up the next day. Even though it was only a schooling show, this would be only the second time she showed Major, and she was going to enter Patches, too. All that plus coaching her three students and helping wherever Bridget needed her.

  “Would you like to join us in class, DJ?” Her history teacher eyed her curiously over her glasses.

  DJ could feel the heat begin at her collarbone and race up her face. “I . . . I’m sorry.” If only she could slither down under her desk and out the door.

  “Please join us on page ninety-three and read from the second paragraph.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” DJ found the place and rose to her feet. She heard someone snicker behind her. Now even her ears burst into flame. Reading aloud forced her to keep her mind on the lesson.

  “Thank you,” the teacher said when DJ reached the end of the section. “Next?”

  DJ sank into her desk. At least she hadn’t been asked a question on top of the reading. How embarrassing! If Bridget caught her daydreaming like that, she’d have had to do extra stalls.

  The barns were in a flurry that afternoon with everyone bathing the show horses, then grooming them till they could nearly see their faces in the shiny hides. With two horses to prepare, DJ felt as if her arms would drop off by the time she finished. The white blaze on Patches’ face shone like new-fallen snow when the sun struck it.

  “You know, if you could behave as well as you clean up, you’d have it made.” She slapped his rump to keep him from leaning on her while she picked his hooves. “You know all kinds of tricks to make my life miserable, don’t you?”

  The gelding snorted and twitched his tail, catching some hairs in DJ’s mouth. She spit them out and brushed others off her head. “Sometimes I wonder about you, and other times I know you’re rotten clear through.”

  “I really should be helping you so I learn how to do all this,” Mrs. Johnson said from her position at the gate.

  DJ flinched. Here she’d been saying bad things about the horse, and the owner was standing right there. Stupid horse, why didn’t he warn me? She finished with the hooves and came around to drop the pick into the bucket. “You could keep brushing him and comb out his mane and tail.”

  “Sure.” The woman ducked under the gate, picked up both brushes, and set to work. “We bought a leather halter and lead shank for tomorrow. He looks real good in it. Maybe next time I can show him—in halter at least.”

  “Sure thing.” DJ started to leave. “You’ll be here in the morning for loading?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” Mrs. Johnson stopped brushing. “DJ, I keep meaning to ask. How is Andrew coming with Bandit? Is he getting over the fear? We’ve been talking about it a little, but he doesn’t say much.”

  “He’s doing better. I guess sometimes it’s hard to talk about.”

  “I would love to see him entered in a show, and I just know he would enjoy riding up in the hills.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” DJ had her doubts about Andrew ever wanting to show, but she wouldn’t voice them now. “See you in the morning.”

  DJ headed for Major’s stall. Joe had washed the big gelding earlier in the day, so he only needed grooming. She glanced up to see clouds of red reflecting the setting sun. How could the time pass so quickly?

  “You go check on your students—I’ve got everything under control here.” Joe paused in his brushing of the big bay as DJ walked up. Major leaned against his ties, half asleep.

  “Thanks.” DJ turned and headed back to the barns. The girls should be in soaping their saddles by now. The three had all gotten soaked on the wash racks but helped each other so all the horses were clean and blanketed. They reminded DJ of her and Amy back when they were younger, all excitement and giggles.

  “My arm’s gonna fall off.” Krissie groaned when she saw DJ. “This saddle is so big.”

  “Not really. It just seems that way when it’s soaped up.” DJ checked the carved designs on the skirts. “You better get the soap cleaned out of here. It’ll show up white in the daylight.”

  Krissie groaned again. “I’d rather wash my horse any day.”

  Angie looked up from her bridle. “DJ, do you feel sick the night before a show?”

  DJ nodded. “I got yelled at in school today because I was thinking about the show instead of history.”

  The three girls giggled. “Did you get detention?”

  “No way. I wasn’t that bad.” DJ inspected the work of all three. “Looks pretty good. You need to be here by 6:30 A.M. to load your horses.” More groans. “Sorry, but that’s part of showmanship. And make sure all your clothes are ready tonight, too.” It felt like a century since DJ had started showing, but it had only been three years. “Shine your boots, and—”

  “Get plenty of sleep!” The three shouted in unison.

  DJ tapped Krissie on the head. “Smart mouths. Any questions?” When they shook their heads, she glanced over at the cars where their mothers waited. “Good, then you better hustle. See you in the morning.”

  DJ headed back toward Major’s stall. Tony Andrada appeared in the side aisle.

  “Hi, DJ.”

  DJ looked the other way and kept walking.

  CHAPTER • 9

  “Stuck-up!”

  The name-calling hurt, but DJ kept right on going. No way would she say anything to Tony—not after the way he had treated Hilary. No matter what Joe said. Besides, DJ sure hadn’t seen him doing anything right. If only she could shut off the part of her that made her feel lousy when she was being less than honest. Tony hadn’t been mean to her. He only had this thing against Hilary because she was black. Had he been mean to Maria, a girl with a Hispanic heritage? And what about Amy? She was a Japanese American.

  She shut off the thoughts, said good-night to Major, and after snagging Amy from the tack room, headed home. Would her mother be home or out with Robert? She sure was spending a lot of time with him.

  “You want to ride over to the show with us in the morning?” Amy asked when they reached her house. A discussion about Tony had kept them occupied all the way home. As usual, there were no solutions, only more problems.

  “If your dad doesn’t mind.”

  “That’s a silly thing to say. Why would he mind?”

  DJ shrugged. “Okay, see ya.”

  No car in the drive, no lights on—obviously no one was home. Was that good or bad? DJ put her bike away, checked for messages—none—then wandered up to her room. Maybe her mother had left a note on the bed again
. No such luck. The phone rang just as she was getting sandwich fixings out of the refrigerator.

  After a greeting, Gran continued. “Lindy phoned to say that Robert called her and asked if the two of you would take care of the twins for the weekend. Robert was called out of town unexpectedly, and the boys’ nanny already had plans. Lindy’s gone into the city to pick them up.”

  “But I have the show tomorrow.”

  “She knows that. I’ll help tomorrow if needed.”

  “I thought you and Joe would be at the show, too.”

  “We will. Maybe we’ll bring the boys along with your mother. We’ll work something out. I said the boys could come here, but Lindy thought this might be a good idea. This way, you can see how you all do together.”

  DJ felt a shudder start at her toes and reach her ears before blowing out the top of her head. Robert wouldn’t be there to calm them down. And her mother’s patience level lately had been nonexistent. Some weekend this was going to be. After saying good-bye to Gran, she wished she’d asked to come spend the night there. At least it would be quiet.

  She ate, then wandered up to Gran’s old room. Since the bedroom set had moved to Gran’s new home, the room was empty. DJ got two sleeping bags down from the storage closet and two pillows from the linen closet. After spreading them out on the floor, she tried deciding what would help the boys feel at home. A radio? No, too old. Stuffed animals? Sure. She took a couple of bears and a pony off the shelf in her room and set them on the sleeping bags.

  In spite of her best intentions, the boys ended up on the floor in DJ’s room.

  “Okay, knock it off. I have to get up early.”

  “Us too. We help you.”

  DJ groaned at the thought. She hung over the side of her bed to watch the two boys, still bright-eyed and wired. “Do you two ever wind down?”

  They shook their heads as if strung together.

  “Well, you better now. No more giggling, no more talking, and don’t snore.”

  At that, the giggles erupted again. DJ had used her sternest voice, but making them laugh made her feel giggly, too. How could she resist?