Sonrise Stable

by Vicki Watson

  As they all laughed, Kristy leaned back in her chair. “Carrie?”

  Carrie sat staring at the fire and didn’t respond.

  Rosie waved her hand in front of Carrie’s face. “Anybody in there?”

  “What?” Carrie turned suddenly toward Rosie as if coming out of a trance.

  “You’ve been awfully quiet,” Kristy said. “Of course, with this noisy bunch, it’s hard to get a word in edgewise. Would you like to share those deep thoughts with us?”

  “Umm,” Carrie hesitated. Rosie is so lucky to have a family like this. I don’t even know who my parents are. Why does Grandma have angels helping her and I don’t? And why can’t I ever seem to say what it is I’m feeling?

  Carrie could sense everyone staring at her. All she could think of to say was, “You have a nice family.”

  Kristy put her arm around Carrie. “Since you’re an honorary cousin now, I guess that makes you an official member of this big, crazy family.”

  Hebrews 13:2

  Proverbs 14:12 NKJV

  Chapter 18

  Draw Me Close To You

  Carrie leaned against Kristy’s side. The Jacksons weren’t her real family, but it was fun to pretend that they were.

  Lisa stood and pulled out a large, black case from behind her chair. She took out her guitar and strummed a praise song. Everyone sang along. When that one ended, someone called out another title.

  Carrie loved to sing. She wasn’t familiar with all the songs, but she joined in on the ones she knew.

  “One last song,” Lisa announced. “Draw me close to You,” she began, and everyone joined in.

  “Never let me go.”

  Carrie knew this song, but for the first time she began to think about the meaning of the words. Grandma’s story about Satin rejecting Kezzie popped into her mind. She remembered Grandma saying that God was the Father who would never abandon her.

  “You’re all I want,” the song continued. “You’re all I’ve ever needed. Help me know You are near.”

  Carrie was surprised to feel tears forming in her eyes. She quickly brushed them away and looked around to see whether anyone was watching. Her heart was beating so rapidly it frightened her. Is that You, God? Are You really here?

  She didn’t hear a voice, but something stirred in her heart. Places inside that she had kept tightly closed for years, began to unfold like a flower’s petals in the warm morning sun. She stared at the fire. What was happening to her?

  “Come on, Carrie.” Rosie tapped her on the shoulder. “Everyone’s going to bed.”

  Carrie jumped. The others were leaving the campfire.

  “Are you all right?” Rosie shined her flashlight toward Carrie’s face. “You’re sure acting strange tonight.”

  Carrie blinked, throwing her hands up in front of her face to block the glaring light. “I’m okay.” She silently followed the rest of the girls to the tent.

  “I’ll be right next door if you need anything.” Kristy zipped the tent shut when the girls were all inside. “Don’t stay up too long.”

  “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m beat.” Rosie yawned, unrolled her sleeping bag, and stretched out on top of it. Lauren, the twins, and Carrie arranged themselves around Rosie in the small three-person tent. It was a tight fit, but none of the girls were very big. Soon after they prayed together, it grew quiet.

  Carrie raised her head and looked around. It seemed everyone was asleep but her. She lay back again, eyes wide open, staring at the stars through the small mesh window in the top of the tent. God, are You out there? Do You really care about me?

  She loved her foster parents, Judy and Ross, but it wasn’t the same. Why couldn’t she have a father like Rosie did, without the ‘foster’ part in front of it? Was God really the Father she had always wanted?

  She heard Rosie breathing deeply beside her. “Rosie,” she whispered.

  More deep breathing.

  She tried again, poking at her friend’s shoulder. “Rosie.” “What?” Rosie answered groggily.

  “Are you asleep?”

  “Could I answer you if I was asleep?” Rosie rolled over toward Carrie and propped her head up on her elbow. “What’s wrong? Do you have to go to the bathroom?”

  “No, it’s not that. Remember when you told me about your pony, Jet? How she died saving Scamper’s life. You said it was like Jesus dying for us.”

  Rosie nodded.

  “I understand it now. I felt God close to me tonight, like the song says.” Carrie scooted over beside Rosie and leaned forward so their heads were almost touching. She quietly explained the way she had felt when sitting by the campfire.

  “Did you pray?”

  “No.” Carrie shook her head. “Pray about what?”

  “When you decide to follow Jesus, you’re supposed to say a prayer.”

  “What do I say?”

  “Tell God you’re sorry for your sins and that you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.”

  Carrie wanted to do everything properly, so she bowed her head, and Rosie did the same.

  “Dear God, I’m sorry for all the bad things I’ve done. Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to follow You now. Thank you, God, for being my real Father.” Carrie sniffed and wiped away the tears that came to her eyes. She waited for a moment until she could speak again, then added, “Amen.”

  Rosie looked up.

  “Was that okay?” Carrie asked.

  “Perfect.” Rosie hugged Carrie and lay back down. “Mom and Dad and Grandma and I have been praying for you for a long time. I’m so glad you’re a Christian now.”

  “I feel kind of the same, but different too. It feels like Christmas Eve—you know, when you’re so excited right before something fun happens.”

  Rosie yawned and nodded.

  Carrie stared out the tent window at a star that was shining brightly against the dark sky. She smiled. It felt good to have her very own Father now.

  “Goodnight, Rosie.”

  There was no answer.

  ***

  The aroma of freshly-brewed coffee, eggs, and bacon drifted through the air as Rosie and Carrie marched arm- in-arm to the breakfast table the next morning. Grandma glanced up from a pan of scrambled eggs she was stirring. The girls stopped in front of her and stood silently.

  Grandma paused and looked at them more closely. “What have you two been up to? You don’t usually have such big grins this early in the morning.”

  Carrie beamed, but didn’t say a word.

  “Don’t you notice anything different?” Rosie asked.

  Eric and Kristy walked over and stood on either side of Grandma.

  “Let’s see. You haven’t dyed your hair, and you’re too old to lose a tooth,” Grandma said.

  “You swapped clothes?” Kristy guessed. The girls shook their heads.

  Eric shrugged. “We give. What’s the big secret?”

  “Carrie became a Christian last night!” Rosie blurted out the news before Carrie had a chance to speak. “I thought you’d be able to tell just by looking at her.”

  “Oh, Carrie, that’s wonderful!” Grandma dropped her spatula and hurried around the table to give her a hug. “I’m so happy for you!”

  “You should have woken us up last night to tell us,” Kristy said.

  The rest of the family gathered around to congratulate Carrie. She was embarrassed by all the attention. The warmth she felt spreading over her face matched the warm feeling in her heart.

  They sat down to breakfast, and Eric prayed. He thanked God for the food, their family, and the horses, but most of all for the miracle of Carrie’s salvation.

  Carrie didn’t know how it could get much better than this—with Rosie as her best friend, being able to spend time with Rosie’s family, and now becoming a Christian. She was smiling so broadly that it was hard to eat her breakfast.

  After another day of riding and hiking the trails around the campground, they packed everything up and returned to
Sonrise Stable. Carrie was sad that Cousins Camp had come to an end. Her new friend, Lauren, left that evening with her parents to return to Texas.

  Everyone had enjoyed the week so much that they agreed Cousins Camp should become an annual event—and Carrie was invited to join them.

  Chapter 19

  County Fair

  Rosie plunged the sponge into the bucket of sudsy water and sighed. “It sure is hard to keep Scamper clean.”

  The girls were bathing the horses in preparation for taking them to the county fair.

  “You’re lucky—Kezzie only has that narrow stripe on her face. Scamper’s patches and stockings always look dingy. He seems to like being dirty.”

  “I’ll help you in a minute.” Carrie ran a comb through Kezzie’s wet mane. “I’m kind of nervous about the show. I’ve never been in a real horse show before—only the Egg and Spoon race we had a few weeks ago at Cousin’s Camp. And I wasn’t very good at that.”

  Rosie paused with her hand on Scamper’s neck. Soapy water from the sponge dripped down her arm. “You’ll do fine. Kezzie’s been shown so many times, she’s an old pro at it. This will be my first show with Scamper, so I’m kind of nervous too.”

  Carrie frowned. “I wish my mom, I mean Mrs. Judy, could come to watch me, but she gets tired so easily, she doesn’t think she’ll be able to make it, and Mr. Ross has to work.”

  Rosie felt sad for her friend. She couldn’t imagine not having any family there when she showed Scamper. “I’m sorry, Carrie. My dad will record the show. Your parents can watch that. And Mom, Aunt Julie, and her kids will be there to cheer for both of us.”

  “It’s okay.” Carrie wiped the wet comb off on her jeans and dropped it into the tack bucket. “Where do you need help with this dirty boy?”

  After the two scrubbed Scamper until his white patches sparkled, Grandma inspected their work. “Those are certainly two prize-winning horses!”

  “I hope so.” Rosie walked around, examining her horse one last time. Scamper had to look his best for the fair. She had already picked out a spot for the trophy she hoped to win— right beside one her mom had won with Ebony.

  Grandma waved the girls toward the horse trailer that was parked by the barn. “Let’s get them loaded and over to the fairgrounds. They’re supposed to be in their stalls before seven tonight.”

  Rosie looked at the truck and trailer—overflowing with tack boxes, a wheelbarrow, hay bales, buckets, grain, saddle racks, pitchforks, and more—everything she and Carrie needed to ride and care for the horses during fair week. She hoped they hadn’t forgotten anything.

  Scamper hopped into the trailer after Kezzie, then she and Carrie climbed into the back seat of the truck. They were on their way!

  Fifteen minutes later, they pulled through the gates at the entrance to the fairgrounds. Butterflies began to flit around in Rosie’s stomach. She enjoyed the fair, but she wasn’t sure how Scamper would react to all the commotion.

  Grandma slowed to a stop, rolled down her window, and handed the horses’ health papers to the livestock inspector. He glanced over them, handed them back, and waved them on without saying a word. Grandma drove slowly on the narrow gravel road that wound around the fairgrounds and found a space to park near the horse arena.

  When she jumped out of the truck, it seemed that Rosie had entered another world. Everyone on the fairgrounds was busy doing something or rushing somewhere. People continued to pour in, driving all sorts of vehicles—from rattle- trap rusty pickups to gleaming duallies with shiny aluminum trailers—bringing in livestock of every kind: tiny bantam chickens to huge draft horses.

  Rosie smiled at the clamor of animal voices—mooing, crowing, gobbling, oinking, and whinnying. It sounded like the animals were as excited about the fair as she was.

  Carnival workers were still assembling the Ferris wheel. It looked funny without its top half. The midway rides didn’t appeal much to Rosie. Although she didn’t like to admit it, many of them scared her, especially the ones that flipped people upside down. And the ones that weren’t scary, sometimes upset her stomach. It was more fun to ride Scamper.

  One thing did have the power to lure her from the livestock area of the fairgrounds—the food on the midway. She liked it all, but barbecued, shredded-chicken sandwiches were her favorite. She sniffed and smiled. It was starting to smell like dinnertime.

  Carrie poked Rosie in the side. “What do we do now?”

  Rosie jumped and turned her attention back to their truck and trailer. “Oh, yeah. Let’s get the horses into their stalls.”

  The girls unloaded and led Scamper and Kezzie into adjoining stalls in a big blue-and-white tent similar to the ones used for circuses. There were three horse barns on the grounds, but there were so many entries that the additional horses would be housed in the rented tent. Rosie would have rather been in a barn, but the tent would have to do.

  They spread shavings for bedding and gave the horses hay and water. “That stall on the corner is a tack stall.” Rosie pointed to her right. “We’ll share it with the kids who have horses next to us. Let’s get our saddles from the truck and put them in there.”

  They returned a few minutes later, each carrying a saddle on her hip.

  “Outta my way!” A tall, thin teenage boy darted into the tack stall ahead of them and placed his saddle right where Rosie had planned to put hers.

  “That’s my spot,” he warned her.

  “Um, hi, Billy.” Rosie remembered him from the previous year’s fair. She motioned to Carrie. “We can put our stuff in the other corner.”

  Carrie followed Rosie back toward the truck to unload more equipment. “Who was that? He sure was grumpy.”

  “Billy King.” Rosie rolled her eyes. “He’s a good rider but not the friendliest person in the world. He won the Pony Pleasure class last year on Bandit. I’ll have to beat him if Scamper and I are going to win our trophy.”

  “At least you and I won’t compete against each other, since Kezzie shows in the Easy-Gaited class.”

  “Maybe we’ll both take home trophies this year.” Rosie handed Carrie a bridle and a pair of boots.

  Carrie shrugged. “I just hope I get through the class without messing up. I don’t want Grandma to be disappointed after she’s spent so much time teaching me.”

  “Grandma won’t be disappointed. She always says it’s not about winning. It’s about doing your best.”

  “I’ll try to remember that.”

  Rosie searched through the truck one last time to see whether there was anything else that needed to go into the tack stall.

  When they entered the tent, Rosie looked around for Billy, but he was already gone.

  Carrie dropped her boots and riding helmet in the tack stall and looped Kezzie’s bridle over the saddle horn. “Now what?”

  “Let’s look around at the animals, then we’ll come back and ride.” Rosie led Carrie on a tour of the grounds. The fair wasn’t officially open yet, so the only people that were there were other exhibitors. The girls avoided the amusement rides and wandered through the sheep and cattle barns on the opposite side of the fairgrounds, stopping to talk to a few friends who had brought animals to the fair. By the time they returned, several riders were already practicing in the arena. The girls saddled up and led their horses out to join them.

  “You’ll have it easy.” Rosie opened the gate, and they entered the arena. “Kezzie’s been here before, so she won’t even blink at the rides.”

  Rosie closed the gate behind them and mounted Scamper. “This is all new to him. Most people don’t have a Ferris wheel on their farms to practice near—not even Grandma.”

  “That’s an idea.” Carrie smiled. “We could put it right beside the barn.”

  Rosie watched to see how Scamper would react to the other horses in the arena. His head was higher than usual, but he was listening for Rosie’s signals. She looked over at Carrie. “What did you say? Put what?”

  “The Ferris wheel! We
can put it right beside Grandma’s barn!”

  Rosie shook her head. “You’re crazy. Why don’t you suggest that to her when we’re done? At least the rides don’t start running until tomorrow. Scamper doesn’t even notice them now, but when they’re moving and their lights are flashing, he’ll probably think an awful monster is after him.”

  “We have a whole day before the show,” Carrie said. “Maybe if you ride him enough, he’ll realize the Ferris wheel monster won’t hurt him!”

  When Rosie saw her parents walk up to the arena gate, she trotted Scamper over to them. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.”

  Eric put a foot on the bottom board of the fence and leaned forward placing both arms over the top rail. “How’s our boy behaving?”

  “Good so far. But I’m kind of worried about the carnival rides starting tomorrow.”

  Eric rubbed Scamper’s forehead between his eyes. “You’ll be brave. Won’t you, buddy?”

  “I could ride him first tomorrow,” Kristy offered.

  Rosie knew her mom was a better rider, but this was something she wanted to do herself. He was her horse after all. “Thanks, Mom, but I want to try it.”

  “Okay. Hurry up and finish your ride so we can go home,” Kristy said. “We’ll have to be back here bright and early tomorrow morning.”

  Rosie patted her stomach. “What about dinner? I think some of the concession stands are already open. It certainly smells like it.”

  “We’ll grab a quick peanut butter sandwich when we get home.”

  “Aw, Mom. I was thinking about something more healthy and nourishing.”

  “Like one of your favorite shredded-chicken sandwiches?”

  Rosie grinned and nodded. She could taste the tangy barbecued chicken already.

  “Tomorrow,” Kristy promised.

  Chapter 20

  Billy and Bandit

  After they settled the horses in for the night, Carrie went home with Rosie and her family. She was spending the week with them since the girls would be together at the fair most of the time.