Nothing But Horses

by Shannon Kennedy

  “Further,” Dave agreed. “If everybody was nice to their animals, I wouldn’t have a job and I’d be good with that. If a guy gave his horse treats all the way through saddling up, she might stop thinking that riding was going to be painful.”

  Oscar nodded. “I can do that. I will from now on.”

  “Great,” I said.

  Dave and I walked away. I glanced sideways at him. “You better let me tell Mom about Meredith teaching horse abuse, or it could backfire on you. Mom doesn’t like anyone trying to run the barn except us.”

  “Not happening, Sierra. When I see something wrong, I say so. Right now, it’s just a kid who could have misconstrued a direction that his instructor gave him. If I’m somewhere and I see danger, I react. I protect people.”

  “I know. That’s why we like you,” I said. “You take care of the four-legged people too.”

  “That’s my job and it’s why I like you.” The lines deepened around his mouth when he smiled and the humor landed in his eyes. “People like you make my job much easier.”

  For a moment, a lump grew in my throat. I had to swallow hard. None of my mom’s guys ever liked me. My last stepdad suggested I go to boarding school more than once. It cut me down to the bone, but I never said so. Instead, I was sarcastic and as nasty to him as he was to me. By the time he left, I’d have paid his rodeo queen to take him.

  I stepped back, blinked to control the tears and glanced around the ring. Mom had told the students to put a knot in their western reins and a few struggled with the concept. I went to help Eddie, but he did it by himself. I managed a smile. “Great job.”

  “Vicky says I have to pretend to be confident and Houston will believe me,” Eddie said. “Is that right?”

  “Absolutely,” I told the kid for the umpteenth time. “He needs you to be the leader of the herd so he feels safe.”

  I took a deep breath and thought about feed, vet bills and shoeing thirty horses. Thank heaven, the boarders paid the daily expenses for their horses. Then, I said, “I know you can do it, Eddie, or you wouldn’t be in the pre-owner group.”

  Chapter Five

  Shamrock Stable, Washington

  Sunday, December 22nd, 11:10 am

  As she finished up the first round of games for the beginning riders, Mom gestured to me and I hurried over to her. “What’s up?”

  “I’m going to have the intermediates and advanced ride together now,” Mom said, waving for the beginners to turn their horses to face her. “We’ll split the group after lunch. Otherwise, we’ll be late for the potluck and the gift exchange. Tell Vicky she needs Summertime now and she can do Aladdin in the afternoon.”

  “You got it.” I went over to the bleachers and passed the word. Autumn looked totally thrilled at the idea of riding with the big kids. Disappointment slipped into Vicky’s face for a moment before she blinked it away and pasted on her peppy cheerleader smile. She’d really worked hard with Aladdin and wanted him for the whole party.

  “It’s too big a group for a young horse to pay attention,” I said. “After lunch, we’ll get the beginners to speed up their games a bit and then we’ll definitely have time for you to bring him in the ring.”

  “Isn’t Summertime the one you said was afraid of everything?” Tom asked.

  “Yes, so he takes a confident rider.” I smiled sweetly at him. “You’ll want to watch how Vicky handles him. He’s your next horse.”

  Before Tom could say anything, I glanced over my shoulder and saw the riders dismounting. “Let’s go. We’ll help them put away the horses and then bring out the ones we’re riding.”

  In a few minutes, Nevada and I led the troop of four riders from the top barn down to the arena. When we arrived, he snorted at the line of three barrels we’d wrapped in Christmas paper. He shied at the row of plastic candy canes I’d tied to small cones. I jerked on the reins so he had to pay attention to me. “Oh come on, you’ve seen all this stuff before during the summer and at Halloween. I just holidayed it up for the party.”

  “Houston didn’t care about the toys.” Eddie told us from the sidelines as I walked Nevada around the ring, passing the group coming to sit on the bleachers. “What’s the matter with your horse?”

  “He likes to make things exciting,” I said, jiggling the reins. “He doesn’t deal well with change.”

  “I had students like that when I taught school.” Grandma found a place on the bench to sit with the beginning level riders. “It was worth my life to have a substitute because they always played “Sink the sub.” I had to tell them the consequences would be worse when I got back then the momentary pleasure of being stinkers.”

  “I don’t think telling Nevada that he has two lunch detentions will work.” I turned him in a small circle and led him forward. “Or a parent conference with his mommy for that matter.”

  “Try saying his mom will go to class with him all day,” Rhonda suggested. “Eddie hates it when I do that at his school.”

  “It’s embarrassing,” Eddie said. “My friends make fun of me for days.”

  “I can see that.” I spun Nevada in another circle. He danced and yanked on the reins. What a monster. I hadn’t even tried riding him yet. I heard Grandma talking to Grandpa, but I couldn’t pay attention to what she said. When I glanced back at our homemade grandstand, my grandfather and Dave were leaving the barn.

  The problem with walking Nevada when he didn’t want to manner up was that he knew he could use his size against me. I jerked on his mouth again. He had to focus. I wouldn’t let him break away from me and trample over top of the other riders, especially since Autumn was here with her Shetland pony. I didn’t want this fourteen-hundred pound moron to win.

  If I took him back to his stall, he’d learn that temper tantrums paid off and he’d continue bullying me for the rest of his Morgan/Belgian/Quarter-horse life. I was getting majorly ticked so his days were numbered.

  “You could tell him to be nice or Santa won’t bring him any carrots,” Autumn told me, her pony cruising placidly beside her. “It works on Dream.”

  Before I answered, I heard Grandpa call from the side gate. “Permission to join the class?”

  “Everybody stop and stand still,” Mom said. “Keep circling him, Sierra. Come on in, Dad.”

  The aluminum gate opened and Luchenbach entered the arena at a stately walk. I heard laughter from the bleachers as the students glimpsed Nevada’s mommy. Dave brought her over in front of my horse, reversing her so we could follow the giant red horse. The guys hadn’t taken time to saddle her—they’d just brought her down to the indoor arena on her bridle.

  “You are so busted,” I said, glaring at the four-legged brat who pranced next to me. “Now, everyone knows you’re a total chicken-goober.”

  My gelding nosed me, then stopped and stood quiet for the first time since the class began. I petted him, now that he wasn’t being a snot. “I’m so rationing your carrots.”

  Dave chuckled. “I’m figuring you can play ‘follow the leader’ and he’ll be ready to work independently after lunch.”

  “Sounds good,” I said. “He’s smart enough to know that I can’t thump him in front of an audience.”

  “I read somewhere that horses are as smart as three-year-old kids,” Dave told me. “Mine always knew when and where to safely pitch a fit.”

  I laughed. I had to admit the guy made me feel better, but not in an icky way. He reminded me of Robin’s dad who always jumped in to look after her. Mom instructed everyone to start walking around the ring again and Nevada followed Luke. She could have cared less about the brightly colored barrels and the candy canes. She was just happy to be part of the herd in the arena. She nickered at the crowd on the bleachers when they applauded as she approached.

  Mom called for a reverse and we all changed directions, circling the arena again. Nevada was totally calm now, even if his mom followed instead of leading him. In a few moments, we stopped again. Everyone else tied a knot in their reins, but
since I had a romal on mine, a long crop attached to the end of my reins, I didn’t need one. It wasn’t actually meant to hit a horse, but more of a noisemaker to move cattle when cowboys did stock work. However, when Nevada balked, the leather poppers came in handy to get his attention. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Dave position Luke’s. Did he plan to ride her bareback?

  I couldn’t blame him for not wanting to stay on the ground. She was a steady old mare. Still, a lot of folks wouldn’t want to try riding a horse for the first time in a game setting. What if she bolted or spooked? Hang on, this was Luchenbach. She hadn’t done either in years. The class moved on toward the mounting benches.

  Vicky was one of the first up on Summertime. She rode up to the far end of the arena, Autumn behind her on Dream. They immediately began leading exercises while the next two riders, Robin and Dani swung into their saddles. The other students continued the routine until it was my turn.

  I led Nevada next to the bench. Mom stepped up and held the right rein and my off stirrup. “What’s up? I can do this by myself.”

  “Humor me. I’m your mother and he’s doing his horse-show crap.”

  “Okay.” I swung up and settled into the saddle. I slid my feet into the stirrups and collected on the reins. “I’m ready.”

  “Good. Stay put until Dave is too.”

  I looked behind me and watched him vault up onto Luke’s wide back. He nodded at me. I reined Nevada toward the rest of the horses and he moved forward at a medium walk like he’d been doing it for years. Talk about a real comedian.

  We went through the warm-up of start, stop and turn circles faster than what the beginners could. After that, we rode on the left track, then the right. We lined up for games. Vicky held Summertime down to a slow trot which meant Autumn was the first across the finish line. When it finally got to my turn, I was against Dave. He would do the barrels while I weaved the candy canes.

  Mom went over and coached him through the introduction and how to play his game. He added something nobody else heard, but she smiled in a way that I’d never seen her do before. And I’d watched a ton of guys flirt with her over the years. Dave must have a pretty special line.

  I’d undoubtedly hear about it later when she shared with my grandmother, so I kept my mind on Nevada.

  He snorted at the red and white plastic canes. If I’d been down here by myself, I’d have nailed him either with my legs or the romal for his snarky attitude, but I didn’t dare. Like Grandpa said, “beginners and horses can always learn a lesson in mean, so be careful what you teach,” and I wasn’t setting a bad example.

  I reached down to pet Nevada’s red neck. “Hi, I’m Sierra and this is the best horse at Shamrock Stable, Nevada von Puke-stick.”

  The audience laughed and I smoothed my horse’s golden mane. “We’re playing Candy Cane Lane. We’re going to weave through the canes three times and beat Nevada’s mommy to the North Pole.”

  I hoped it would be as easy as I made it sound. Dave rode up to the first barrel and I sent Nevada after him and Luchenbach. Granted, we were side by side, not directly behind her and this time my horse focused on the job, not on acting scared of the horsy props. I used my seat to ask for a collected trot and Nevada flicked his ears. Then, he jogged a couple of steps.

  He wound through the canes, left, right, left, until we reached the far end of the line. We went around the end, then began weaving back. I noticed Dave mirrored us and wondered just what he had in mind. He was only supposed to go through the barrels once, but he went around the last one and didn’t cross the finish line. Instead, he rode through the row of barrels again while Nevada and I went back up the candy canes again.

  We made the last turn and I signaled for a trot. Nevada picked it up and jogged home beside his mom. We crossed the finish line and stopped at the same time. Lots of applause and Mom came over to me. She patted my knee. “Nice ride.”

  “What are you going to do about Dave’s time?” I whispered. “He didn’t play the game the right way. He should have just weaved the barrels one time.”

  Mom smiled and rested a hand on Nevada’s neck. “Oh, I’ll exercise some judge’s discretion and give him a special prize.”

  “Okay, as long as you don’t penalize him. He’s never been to one of our parties before.”

  “I’ll be fair,” Mom promised. “Now, let’s wind this up so we can have lunch. I’m sure the horses are ready to eat and I know the people are too.”

  Robin helped me feed the hay in the top barn. When we reached the indoor arena, we discovered that Vicky had just finished down below. Tom had stuck around to help her. He lingered to feed Shiloh an extra carrot, then passed one to her grown daughter.

  “Your horse has a lot of spirit,” Tom told me. “I don’t think I could ever handle one like him.”

  “I wouldn’t call it spunk,” I said. “Sometimes, I think he’s in major brat mode. He doesn’t mind small groups, but he really isn’t good in large classes.”

  “That’s one way to say it.” Robin heaved a sigh. “Whenever I see you or Vicky ride, I’m totally jealous. You can handle such obnoxious mounts and I don’t want to be on them. I hope Twaziem acts like Lady when you finish training him, Sierra. If he freaks like my brother’s horse, Nitro, or your Nevada, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

  “He has a completely different personality.” I slid my arm through hers and bumped hips with her. “Twaziem loves you, Robin. He’ll do anything to please you and he’s smart enough to know you don’t like the wild and crazy crap. This is only a phase. Nevada will straighten up soon. He’s just bummed with babysitting.”

  “Babysitting?” Tom asked. “What does that mean?”

  “He’s tired of carrying unbalanced riders,” I said. “He doesn’t want people yarding on his mouth. He’s smart. He’s figured out if he acts up, only advanced students will ride him.”

  Tom shook his head. “And some people think animals are dumb. That sounds pretty intelligent to me.”

  Chapter Six

  Shamrock Stable, Washington

  Sunday, December 22nd, 4:00 pm

  Santa Needs A Reindeer was the last competition at the party. It was a crazy galloping game of cone stealing, horsy tag where one person was ‘It’. Instead of chasing the other riders, the person in the middle tried to take their cone and position on the outside of the circle. The beginners played at a walk and trot. Intermediates tended to stick to a jog and lope, but when the advanced got going, we tore from a halt to a dead run. Nevada and Lady loved this opportunity to act crazy and Summertime was quick to catch onto the rules.

  He pranced up to Nevada and Vicky smiled at me. “Santa needs a replacement for Rudolph this year. Do you have a reindeer he can borrow?”

  “Sorry, I need all mine. Go ask Dave. He has lots.”

  Behind her, I spotted Dani and Emily exchanging hand signals. Vicky turned away and headed toward Dave sitting on a Luchenbach statue. I made eye contact with Emily and she nodded. We had a three-way switch going. Meantime the rest of the group looked fascinated by the conversation between Vicky and Dave. He wanted to know why she was the one looking for reindeer when Santa was the guy who actually needed them.

  Perfect timing. I eased up on Nevada’s reins and the big chestnut galloped toward Lady’s place, but she wasn’t there. She and Dani had already left. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Vicky spin Summertime and bolt for Emily’s cone. The race was on between her and Dani’s Quarter Horse. Just before they reached the spot, Lady pinned her ears flat back and gave Summertime an evil glare. He slid to a halt and Dani had the cone.

  “Score,” I yelled. “Dani’s safe.”

  “I don’t think so,” Mom intervened. “Dani, you don’t get to win by siccing your mommy horse on a gelding. You’re It next time.”

  “We could go again,” Vicky said. “It’s barely four and with everybody here, we’ll zoom through chores.”

  “I know we will, but it’s started to snow. We need to start o
ur barn work early so nobody gets stuck in bad weather, or on icy roads.” Mom started across our circle, pausing to talk to Dave. “And don’t think I didn’t see you stalling the person who was It so everyone had plenty of time to change places.”

  “He didn’t,” I said, but by the way he grinned at me, I knew he had.

  Wow, the gray-haired guy had some fancy moves. Mom always freaked when we got going in a high-speed, horsy version of the games she used to teach balance to new students. She’d thrown in a ringer, someone who looked like he couldn’t make his horse zoom, but had beaten the rest of us and kept the pace of Santa somewhat sane.

  I swung out of the saddle and took Nevada over to Dave who had just dismounted. “I can take Luke with him if you like. I lead the two of them together to paddock almost every day.”

  He stretched. “I’m a bit stiff, but I can take care of my horse. Thanks, Sierra.”

  “Up to you.” I tried to remember if any of my mom’s rodeo wanta-be cowboys had ever stepped up after riding to look after their animals. Nope, they generally figured either I was their groom or Meredith was. No wonder she had a bit of an attitude when Mom said she planned to date Dave.

  I led Nevada over to the side gate and Dave followed with my horse’s mom or dam. Dani slid into place behind us. Emily, Vicky and the other three students had geldings that lived in the lower barn. Mom had come back from talking to the beginners and intermediates to speak to her intern. I figured she was telling Vicky how well Aladdin had done in his portion of the games when we had to ride at slower gaits.

  The little bay Arab had come into Shamrock Stable with an attitude when we rescued him. I’d been afraid he was headed for a one-way trip to Canada and the closest slaughter-house. Mom wouldn’t sell him to a private home. A new owner could sue us for dealing in dangerous animals, especially since he spooked and dumped Vicky last month. Aladdin was too small for me to ride, so I couldn’t train him, but Vicky did an amazing job.