High Hurdles Collection Two

by Lauraine Snelling

They left for the show on Friday as soon as Hilary got home from summer school. They wanted to get to Sacramento before the traffic got bad. DJ rode with Joe, who pulled the four-horse trailer, while Hilary and Tony rode with Bunny in her new motor home.

  “You could have ridden with the others if you’d wanted.” Joe tipped his head back toward the vehicle following them. They’d been on the road about an hour.

  “No, I’m perfectly happy here.”

  “You could have stretched out on the bed there, more comfortable to sleep.”

  DJ stretched and let her left arm fall to pat her grandfather’s shoulder. “Sorry, I didn’t plan on sleeping like that.”

  “Have you noticed lately that whenever you get in a car, it’s not long before you’re asleep?”

  DJ shook her head. “Nope, hadn’t thought about it.” She stared out the windshield. She had been tired lately—for a long time, if she was honest. “There’s just too much I want to do, I guess. Sleeping isn’t one of my top priorities.”

  Joe glanced at her and shook his head. “Getting enough sleep is important for a growing girl.”

  “Huh. I’ve been this tall for two years now. I think I quit growing.” She lifted one bare foot, leaving her sandal on the truck floor. “Except for my feet. I need new boots again. Mine are too tight.”

  “There will probably be a good selection in the vendor booths under the grandstand at the showgrounds.”

  “I didn’t bring that kind of money with me.”

  “I did.”

  “Joe, you can’t keep buying me things. I have money in my savings account.”

  “Why can’t I?”

  “Because.” She didn’t want to say that her mother got tight-lipped when others spent large sums of money for her daughter.

  “Just consider them part of my investment.”

  DJ groaned. Somehow she would keep him away from the boot booth. She would stay away, as well. “That’s why I hate to tell you some things. You and Robert and Brad.”

  “Darla Jean Randall, do you ever ask me for anything?”

  She thought a moment. “Sure, for rides from school, taking care of my horse in the morning, coming to shows with me like today, all kinds of stuff.”

  Joe shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. Things, like stuff. Like boots or a CD or a book or—”

  “You could buy me an ice-cream cone.” DJ giggled at the look on her grandfather’s face. “Okay, a milk shake, then.”

  She laughed out loud when he pulled off the freeway at the next exit and into a strip mall that housed an ice-cream store. By the time he’d bought milk shakes all around and they were back on the road, DJ was still laughing. She alternately sucked on the straw and shook her head.

  “See!” She hoisted her milk shake container. “That’s just why I try not to say anything.” She giggled again. “Besides, did you see the surprised look on Bunny’s face when we stopped?”

  “Well, if you don’t like yours, I’ll finish it.” Joe set his drink back in the cup holder. “Man, that hits the spot. Good idea, kid.”

  Later, when they could finally unload the horses at the show barns, Herndon walked to his stall as if he were king and everyone ought to bow. He nickered and then whinnied at the responses.

  “You big show-off,” DJ said, a firm hand on the lead shank. “Knock it off.” She jerked gently when he whinnied right in her ear. She watched the numbers of the stalls and led him into the one that corresponded with her entry pass. She swung the door shut behind them before removing the lead shank so he could explore the box stall. As he sniffed in the corners, she checked the depth of the sawdust and looked for any nails sticking out from the walls.

  Bunny took the stall on DJ’s right, Hilary on the left. Next to Hilary was Tony, and then their tack room, which they would have to decorate. As soon as the horses were fed and watered, the four riders started moving in the tack boxes. They hung the sign and the royal blue draping, then hooked the brass-toned nameplates on the doors and swept the floor of the tack room.

  “There, that looks good.” Hilary dusted off her hands. “Now we can exercise the horses before everyone else is here and needs the arenas, too.”

  By the time they’d ridden, visited with riders they’d met at other shows, and eaten dinner, night had fallen. The tempo at the grounds didn’t abate, however, as the line of rigs entering the gates stretched down the road. This A-rated show had a top reputation; therefore, the classes would be large and running in three rings from 8:00 in the morning until 8:00 or later at night, then start the same on Sunday and run until it was finished.

  “Okay, you all have your things ready for in the morning?” Bunny looked to each of her teammates and waited for their nods. “Good. Then let’s get out the soda and chips. I brought UNO to play this time.”

  DJ looked around the teal and gray interior of the new motor home. Everything matched, from the furniture to the curtains and carpets. Like the girls were really roughing it to stay in an outfit like this one. DJ caught Joe’s glance and rolled her eyes.

  He grinned back and began shuffling the cards.

  Talk got around to what the kids wanted to do with their lives. Hilary laid a card on the pile before answering Bunny. “I’m taking pre-law. Finally declared my major last week. I wasn’t sure if I wanted a business degree or not, but I realized I want to help make things better for people. Law is one way to do that.”

  “That’s a hard major when you spend so much time on the road with your horses.”

  “I know, but …” Hilary smiled at Tony and DJ. “We three are going to be on the Olympic team someday, and if it takes me longer to get through college and law school, that’s just the way it is.”

  “What about you, Tony?” Joe gathered in the hand after playing his last card.

  “No fair,” Tony grumbled. “I hate playing games with you. You always win.”

  “You’ll be a senior this year, right?”

  “M-hmm. I told my dad I’d like to be a rich playboy, and he said I’d have to find someone else to support my lifestyle—he couldn’t, and wouldn’t, afford it.” Tony shook his head. “Sheesh, like I was asking for the moon or something.” His grin said he was teasing.

  “So what did you decide to do?”

  “Marry rich.”

  Hilary socked him on the shoulder. “That’s supposed to be a girl’s line, you nut.”

  “Well, s-o-r-r-y. We can’t all be like DJ. Already a successful businesswoman, and she’s only fourteen.”

  “Almost fifteen.” DJ played her card.

  “And she already knows what she wants to do.” Bunny slapped her card on the table. “If I were that kind of artist, I’d go for it, too. I get more compliments on that drawing you did of Felix. I have it hanging over the mantel in the living room.”

  DJ felt the heat begin to color her neck.

  After two more hands, Joe declared himself the winner. “Time for lights-out. I’ll call you all at 5:00, right? Come on, Tony.”

  DJ groaned along with the rest. No wonder she was tired all the time.

  Saturday afternoon Herndon acted like all the applause was just for him. But he’d really earned it this time. Two blue ribbons and a rosette for

  Equitation in their flatwork. When they took only a second in Hunter on the Flat, the people in the audience made their displeasure known.

  “You and that horse sure look mighty pretty out there, little lady,” one of the spectators said when she exited the arena.

  “Thank you.” DJ stroked Herndon’s sweaty neck. Now, if we can work together like this over the jumps tomorrow.

  They were first out on Sunday morning. DJ caught sight of Bridget, who couldn’t come until today, sitting with Bunny and Hilary in the stands just when they called her number.

  “Okay, big guy, let’s just forget everything and give it our best.” DJ signaled him to a trot and pointed him at the first jump, a simple post and rail. “Keep him between your hands and legs, ride
aggressively, look to the center base of the next jump.” DJ could hear Bridget’s voice in her head. Straight on. Three, two, one, and they were flying. Her heart soared like Herndon’s body. They landed perfectly, and with Herndon’s ears pricked forward, they cantered toward the oxer. Around to the in and out, straight on to the brush, each time sailing like they’d never had a hesitation or doubt in their lives. At the last fence, a triple, Herndon landed, then flicked his tail and gave a grunt.

  DJ wanted to stand in her stirrups and shout to the heavens like Pat Day did when he won the Kentucky Derby. But she kept her cool and her seat and trotted out of the arena.

  Thank you, God. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  “That was magnificent.” Joe smiled up at her.

  “Now, if we can only do it again.”

  Chapter • 5

  That’s our number.

  Joe patted DJ’s knee. “You can do it, darlin’, you can do it.”

  “Th-thanks.” Though the endearment was Gran’s, even coming in a male voice, it comforted DJ. She sucked in a deep breath, let it all out, repeated the action, and signaled Herndon into a trot. To anyone watching, DJ appeared totally in control, professional far beyond her years. All she could think was a wish for her butterflies to give it a rest.

  The jumps had been raised four inches. Herndon flicked his tail and pointed his ears. They led into a canter, straight for the first jump. As they cleared it with a foot or more to spare, DJ could feel her cheeks crease in a wide grin. Her horse was having just as much fun as she was—and they were a team.

  The chicken coop looked larger but not enough to slow them down. “Easy, fella,” she sang to his twitching ears. Herndon responded by releasing even more power, and they sailed over the jump. DJ wanted to scream and shout, but she kept her focus right where it belonged—at the center base of the next jump.

  Too soon they were done and cantering out the gate. The applause broke out, ebbed, then swelled again.

  Were those tears in Joe’s eyes or just watering brought on by the dust?

  “That was prettier than any picture I’ve ever seen.” The big man took hold of Herndon’s reins and pounded on his neck. He grinned up at DJ, shaking his head. “Man, that was pure symphony.”

  DJ patted Herndon’s neck, wanting more to throw her arms around it and squeeze. “What a round! Joe, I’ve never felt quite like that before— like we could jump the moon if someone would harness it for us.” She thumped on Herndon’s shoulder. “Way to go, horse, way to go.”

  “When you get something right, you go all the way.” Joe squeezed her hand. “And to think your dads missed this. What a shame.”

  “There’ll be more. I can tell.” She shifted in the saddle. “How about holding him while I run for the rest room? All that soda …” DJ dismounted as she asked.

  “Sure, but you better hustle.”

  “I will.”

  There was still one more jumper to finish the round when DJ returned to the practice ring.

  Tony rode up beside her. “So we go again.”

  “I know. You two looked great out there.”

  “Thanks, but you are stealing the show. That horse loves to jump. You can see it in every muscle.”

  “Thank you.” DJ took Herndon by the cheek straps of the bridle and looked him straight on. “You are one awesome horse, you know that?”

  Herndon snorted and raised his head to snuffle her cheek. DJ felt the tingling clear down to her toes. “That tickles.” She patted him once more and mounted. Herndon had actually acted as though he cared about her. Maybe they were getting to be friends after all. And Tony was right; the big gelding loved to jump. He was a show-off from the nails in his shoes to the tips of his ears, including his long eyelashes. She thought again of Tony’s comments. Sure was a big change from when he first came to the Academy. From redneck to nice guy. Wow!

  “Thanks, GJ. I sure do feel better.” DJ trotted Herndon around the practice ring, along with the three other contestants who’d jumped perfect rounds.

  “Way to go, you two.” Hilary leaned on the fence rail, Bunny beside her.

  Bridget nodded, her eyes sparkling. “I told you so.”

  DJ waved and kept Herndon to an even pace.

  “All right, folks, we’re about ready for the next round of jumping. Number forty-three, DJ Randall on Herndon, will be jumping first.”

  DJ patted Herndon’s neck one last time and signaled a walk over to the closed gate that led into the arena.

  The steward at the ingate smiled up at her. “It’ll be just a minute or two if you want to go around again.”

  “Thanks.” DJ reined Herndon to the side and kept him moving. When the gate swung open, she turned back and trotted through. Applause greeted them, but DJ only had eyes and ears for the first jump. Up four more inches. Now it was beginning to show. Please, God.

  She signaled a canter, and like an arrow heading for a target, they approached the first jump. Three, two, one … DJ could feel her horse gather himself and catapult them into the air. Controlled, rounded, focused. She could have picked a star from the sky like an apple from a tree. After a smooth landing, she looked to the next jump when he lifted off. Her hands followed up his neck as she arched over his withers.

  DJ looked around the corner to the next jump, and Herndon landed on the right lead. “Easy,” she murmured as he picked up speed. At the triple, they seemed to hang in the air forever but touched ground in perfect time and on to the next.

  No tick marred the perfection of the round, and the applause let her know that the audience appreciated their efforts.

  DJ could hardly think for the wonder of it. All her life she’d wanted to jump, and here she was with an incredible horse and the jumps flowing beneath them like water under a bridge. And like the bridge, her horse held power beyond her understanding.

  DJ dashed the moisture from her eyes before she got to Joe, who waited off to the side. Her butterflies did cartwheels, but now she didn’t care. They were doing them all in formation like a well-trained ballet troupe.

  “You want something to drink?” Joe clamped a hand on her knee.

  “Water”

  “Here.” Bunny handed over a bottle.

  “Thanks.” DJ chugged it, letting some dribble down her chin. Up until now, she hadn’t realized it was getting hot out. She wiped her forehead and listened for the next number. Tony trotted up to her.

  “That was some ride.”

  “Thanks.” She patted Herndon’s shoulder again. “He’s having a good time.”

  “That’s obvious.”

  Just then they heard a crack and the sound of a falling bar. The groan from the spectators told what had happened. While the rider finished the round, he was now out of the running since DJ had jumped a perfect round.

  “Good luck,” she called as Tony trotted toward the gate.

  He waved back at her and entered the arena when his number was called.

  The least I can get is third place. DJ turned Herndon so she could watch Tony jump. Like her and Herndon, they looked to be having a good time. As he launched over the jump, the tick sounded loud, but the groan from the stands turned to relief when the bar only wobbled and stayed in place. Tony made a brow-sopping motion as he came out of the arena.

  DJ laughed when he trotted up to her and rolled his eyes. “Close, huh?”

  “Yeah, I dropped him.” Tony patted his horse’s shoulder. “Sorry, big guy. That was my fault. I won’t do it again.”

  They both trotted around the ring while waiting for the last entrant to complete her round. A bar falling on the final jump knocked her out, too.

  Tony and DJ grinned at each other. “Well, it’s you and me,” he said. “Someday we’re going to be like this at the Olympics. The final jump-off.”

  “So we just do our best. Good luck.”

  “And to you.” Tony cocked his head. “Loser buys lunch?”

  “Get your money out.” DJ nudged Herndon to a trot, and
they completed another circuit of the practice ring.

  “Heavenly Father, thanks for the ride so far, and please help us continue to do our best.”

  Trotting into the ring, DJ looked across the jumps. She’d never jumped that high before, in competition or practice. She trotted Herndon in a circle and signaled a canter as they headed for the first jump. Three, two, one. Like shot from a catapult, they left the ground and soared through the air.

  DJ forgot the height of the jumps. She forgot everything but the next obstacle. Each time Herndon launched himself in the air, she cheered within. When they cleared the stone wall, it was like she woke from a trance—she’d been so focused on what they were doing that nothing else existed.

  The audience clapped and cheered, and once she’d cleared the gate, DJ let herself hear them.

  “Wave.” Joe stood beside her. DJ did as he told her, all the while shaking her head.

  “I can’t believe we did that. Joe, those jumps looked big enough to … to …” She couldn’t think of the words. “What if we have to go again?”

  The applause told her that Tony had entered the ring. She was almost afraid to look.

  On one hand, she didn’t want him to knock a bar down, but on the other … the thought of jumping even higher sent DJ’s butterflies into a frenzy.

  She could hear Tony’s horse grunt with the effort. “Go, Tony, you can do it!” They ticked on the oxer, but the bar stayed in place. She groaned with the other spectators and breathed a sigh of relief when they cleared the next jump.

  “Come on.” Joe gripped her knee, his eyes on the ring.

  She’d almost let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding, when the crack made her sigh. Down went the bar, and Tony cantered out of the ring.

  “And our winner is DJ Randall on Herndon.”

  DJ patted Herndon’s sweaty neck and trotted back into the arena. Her first blue ribbon in jumping at a big-time show like this. She accepted the blue rosette with a smile fit to split her face.

  “Congratulations, young lady. That was some fine jumping.”

  “Thank you.” Waving the rosette, they trotted back out. She grinned at Tony as he met her going in. “You owe me.”