Nothing But Horses

by Shannon Kennedy

  “Have you ever tried corralling six puppies and putting them into a bag while the mom dog goes nuts trying to protect her babies? Caine couldn’t do it by himself, regardless of what he claims now. It’s just common sense.”

  Dave put a hand on my shoulder. “You should go into police work when you graduate from high school, Sierra. That’s brilliant. I’ll pass it onto the prosecuting attorney. Caine is out on bail now, but he may have spent enough time in jail that he might want to make a deal to avoid going back.”

  “He still won’t rat out his cousins.” I opened the back door. “He’s scum, but they’re family.”

  Chapter Nine

  Shamrock Stable, Washington

  Christmas Day, 11:45 am

  It took a few minutes to dry off the dogs. Queenie knew the drill, so she was patient while I got the snow off her legs and paws. My new pup thought attacking the towel and chewing on me was just part of puppy business. Drying him required a lot of hugs, because he was majorly cute. Plus, nobody was here, so it couldn’t be held against me. By the time I finished and the three of us made it to the kitchen, Dave had a cup of coffee. He and Grandpa were talking football.

  Autumn had taken the bags to the living room to unpack the gifts and put them with the others under the tree. Mom was arranging a bouquet of long-stemmed roses in one of Grandma’s vases. I liked Dave. He knew animals and had sense enough not to bring poinsettias into a farm-house. They were gorgeous, seasonal flowers but deadly for dogs and cats.

  Once everyone had their favorite beverages, we still hung out in the kitchen while Grandma finished checking the turkey in the oven. She had given Mom and me “The Look” when we voted for pot-pies and volunteered to do most of the cooking. This was the place to be on a farm since it was the biggest room in the house, always warm and comfortable. We saved the living-room for TV watching, visitors and the occasional big sleepover. Turkey checked, we followed Autumn back to the tree for the gift exchange. She’d turned on the holiday lights and the twinkling bulbs made the room bright and cheery.

  Since she was the youngest, she delighted in passing out presents. One for me, one to Grandma, another to Grandpa, then Mom and finally Dave. Queenie came next and my puppy. Once everyone had a gift, Autumn tore into her package. She pulled out a new pink striped saddle blanket.

  While she squealed and wrapped it around her shoulders, I untied the ribbon on the box I held. The tag said it was from Vicky. I knew she didn’t have a lot of money, so I hoped she hadn’t gone hog-wild. Since her parents’ divorce, she pretty much ran her mother’s household and they were on a strict budget. I peeled back the paper and revealed a hand-sewn, fleecy green pad. It wasn’t big enough for Nevada.

  What did Vicky have in mind? Or should I say, who? I narrowed my eyes and studied the tri-colored pup pulling on the corner of the carton near him. “Come here, you. Let’s see if you fit.”

  He ignored me. I slid out of my chair, dropped to my knees and spread out the pad. Then, I plucked up the puppy. He growled, but it was my turn to ignore the complaints. I put him on the fleecy, thick blanket. It was perfect. He took up less than half of the space.

  “I think a bunch of you were in on this conspiracy,” I said.

  Mom smiled sweetly, too sweetly. “What is it that you always say, Sierra Morn? Christmas is about secrets.”

  “I say, love, but secrets works too.” I ruffled my collie’s thick, fuzzy fur. “What’s next, Autumn? Any more presents?”

  She waved at all the boxes and packages around the tree. “Lots and lots and lots! We’ve barely started. Is everyone ready for another one?”

  By the time we made our way through all the gifts, I had amassed a mountain of presents. Clothes, new riding boots, a saddle blanket for Nevada, coffee-cards, a Hunger Games DVD and a Katniss Everdene doll from Dave. How did he know she was my hero? I hadn’t even told Mom that. And she didn’t have a clue I’d seen the latest movie five times, whenever I could slip away from the farm to make the afternoon matinees in Marysville.

  I had supplies for my un-named puppy, a nylon collar, a harness, leashes – long and short ones, brushes, a crate, toys for him, perfume and a pink basketball from Tom. What was he thinking? I felt a little guilty because I hadn’t given him a present, then when I saw the bright, rosy color of the ball again, I got over it. Talk about the world’s dumbest present. Did he think I’d take it to practice? No way!

  Autumn and Queenie were sorting through the two huge piles of presents near them to find the best of the new doggie toys. Grandpa wound his way past them to pick a manila envelope off the tree. He came back and handed it to me.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “One more present,” Grandpa said, “from Grandma, me and Santa.”

  “Really?” I waved my hand at the gifts I already had and the puppy curled up by my feet. “I think I have enough.”

  “Oh, you’ll love this one, Sierra,” Mom said. “It’s something you’d never ask for, but we both know you need.”

  Since she apparently was on board with whatever my grandparents had in mind, I went for it. I unsealed the envelope, peeled back the flap. Something rattled inside so I shook out the set of keys. “What’s this?”

  I stared at them for a moment, and then recognized the emblem on the fob. “It’s for the Subaru.”

  “Your Subaru,” Grandpa said.

  “What? No way.”

  “Yes, way,” Grandma said. “Grandpa and I discussed this before we left Arizona. We felt you needed some options when it came to school. You’re a very responsible girl, Sierra.”

  “Too responsible,” Grandpa muttered. “She should be dating, having fun, being a kid. Not worrying about so many things. That’s your momma’s job.” He shook his finger in my face. “I’m paying the insurance on that car. It doesn’t mean you speed or get tickets or cruise Colby like my little Shamrock.”

  “Cruise Colby?” I glanced past him to where my mother sat on the couch next to Dave. Her face was as bright red as her hair. Had she really gotten in trouble for driving up and down the main drag in downtown Everett? “No way. Mom, did you actually do that?”

  “I don’t want to discuss it.” She struggled to sound ultra-dignified and elbowed Dave when he snickered. “Shut up. I was grounded for months when Dad caught up with me. He took away my keys and I had to ride the bus with a bunch of losers who made fun of me the rest of my junior year. Pay attention to his rules, Sierra Morn. If he has to come back to Arizona to deal with you, I’m hiding in the barn.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good plan, honey.” Grandma sounded like the voice of sweet reason, but I knew better than to trust that tone. “Your dad helped build those barns. He’ll be able to find you and if he thinks you failed your kid, he will track you down, Rocky.”

  I giggled, feeling utterly silly and safe with my ridiculous family. I made a T with my hands. “Whoa, folks. I won’t be cruising anywhere. This will make it easy for me to go to school and stay late for basketball practice. I can take on more outside students too. Rhonda wants me to come help Eddie with their new horse.”

  “Let me arrange that, Sierra,” Mom said. “We don’t want to step on other stable-owner’s egos, so I’ll talk to Lisa and make that happen. While I do, I want you to sign up for the teen choir at church and dog-training classes with your puppy.”

  “Those won’t make Shamrock any money,” I protested.

  “I’m not arguing with you, Sierra Morn. If you want to take on more outside clients, you will also take time for yourself and have fun.”

  “Besides, you can promote the barn at church and obedience class,” Grandma said. “You have to think outside the box, honey. Your customers come from all walks of life.”

  “Round them up everywhere,” Grandpa agreed. “Sounds like a winner to me.”

  It didn’t to me, but it was Christmas after all. Once my grandparents headed south, I could convince Mom that I didn’t need time to be a kid. I was her partner at
the stable and I could do more for the business now that I had a car. And what a car! I could go everywhere in that four-wheel-drive Subaru!

  I nodded. “Okay, I’ll do the kid thing.” I had to be honest, so I still added. “Well, I’ll try to do it. Deal?”

  The rest of the day was just as much fun. After we fed a late horsy lunch, Dave, Grandpa and I played a little basketball in the carport. We had to negotiate around the motorhome, but it was okay. We only hit it a couple times and Grandma didn’t catch us, so we were cool. Dave was good, but I was better. Grandpa played dirty and that was okay since I knew all the tricks he taught me. Shoot-around was more fun when I didn’t have to hold back and be a good sport.

  With some dirt on it, the pink basketball didn’t look so girly. I shot one last basket with it and then dribbled it on the concrete when we went to meet Autumn. She was out with both dogs, the three of them racing in the snow. We all wound up in the mud-porch at the same time. I shrugged out of my coat, hung it up and grabbed towels to dry off dogs. Grandpa left us to it and went on into the kitchen to see what we could nab for a snack break before the big dinner.

  Dave helped Autumn with Queenie and I did my new buddy. He so needed a name, but my brain was a complete blank. I didn’t want to call him, King. It seemed too obvious, even if it did go with Queenie. Besides, if someone tried saying, “King-ie” which sounded too much like ‘clingy,’ I’d undoubtedly die of laughter. Not a good thing with a new dog. I picked him up by his hairy armpits and stared into his beady little eyes. “You need a name and I’ve got nothing. Nada. Zip.”

  He slurped my cheek with his tongue and I snuggled him tight. “Yuck! I been kissed by a dog.”

  “Snoopy?” Dave asked, hanging up the towel.

  “Sierra and Snoopy?” I shook my head. “No. That’s too sitcom cute.”

  “Charlie,” Autumn said. “Everybody knows Snoopy is Charlie Brown’s dog.”

  “Now, that could be do-able,” I said, eyeing my new companion. Another puppy kiss sealed the deal. My dog had a name. “Charlie, how do you feel about finding doggie lunch?”

  That evening while Grandpa and Grandma helped Autumn set up her new Horse-opoly game on the kitchen table, I made turkey sandwiches and served up different wedges of pie. Marie Callendar had really come through for us again this year. We had pecan, pumpkin and my personal fav, Dutch apple. Mom and Dave were outside doing the doggie walk. I figured he would probably do more than that, but I wasn’t going to ask if he ever kissed her. Some things were just gross and none of my business.

  The landline rang and Grandpa answered, then passed me the phone. “It’s Robin. Tell her she got a paint job out of me, but that’s it.”

  I laughed and did. “So, what shop are you taking your car to for that paint job?”

  “None!” Robin sounded totally appalled. “Most of the companies around here use cheap products and barely splash on one coat. I’m painting it myself when everything else is done. Brianna and I talked last night. She’ll order in the Presidential blue from her wholesaler when I’m ready.”

  “Does Grandpa know that?” I asked and continued slathering mayo on bread. “Or should I tell him?”

  “He knows,” Robin said. “We figured it out yesterday. When he and your grandmother come for spring break, she’ll help with leadership camp and we’ll paint my car. If it needs more work, we’ll do it after school gets out for the summer.”

  “What is leadership camp? Eddie said something about it after the party, but I didn’t have time to ask him.” Focusing on what was important, the stable, I layered up turkey on the pieces of bread. “We usually offer advanced sessions when we start in the summer and then discount the cost for those students who want to return and help teach newer campers. We’ve never offered camp during spring break, just lessons, trail rides and pony rides.”

  “Okay, well Vicky and I were talking about starting a new program with your mom. We suggested that you should train your more advanced students to be peer counselors during spring break. Then, I can work at the car lot this summer and you’ll have kids who know what they’re doing when you start camp in June. Rocky said she’d discuss it with you.”

  “Not a bad idea. That’s why you get the big money. How was your Christmas?”

  Robin brought me up to speed on everything she’d received and given to her family. Then, she asked about the puppy. “How is he doing? Did you like him? Was it a total surprise?”

  “Charlie’s fine and I love him. How did you guys manage to get him here without me noticing?”

  “Dad smuggled him in yesterday when you went off with us to the barns.”

  “No way.” I finished up the sandwiches. “He was in on this?”

  “We all were,” Robin said. “You should know by now how fussy I am about where my critters go. They can’t live with just anyone. Now, it’s your turn. What else did you get for Christmas?”

  I shared my list of holiday loot and she laughed like a loon when she heard about the pink basketball. She demanded that I bring it and Charlie when I came to train her horse. I agreed to the road trip for my puppy, but I didn’t commit to the ball. With my family as an audience I couldn’t ask if I should come up with a gift for Tom. I didn’t want to come off like a jerk who hadn’t thought of him at all. But, I hadn’t. I’d wait to ask until I got to Robin’s place.

  * * * *

  Shamrock Stable, Washington

  Friday, December 27th, 1:30 pm

  It had warmed up yesterday and the snow continued to melt. It wasn’t a fast thaw and that meant we didn’t have to worry about flooding. The creeks might be a little higher so after they finished lunch, I didn’t turn horses into any of the more distant paddocks. Instead, I chose the ones closer to the barns. Mom, Autumn and Grandpa had gone off to visit the neighbors and deliver homemade cookies. Grandma had opted for a chance to watch TV and take a nap.

  Queenie and Charlie followed me to the arena and I put him in the tack-room while the horses left the building. Queenie helped me drive out the different herds. She knew her job and later she would teach it to my pup. For now, he had some growing up to do. Robin had told me that my collie was about twelve weeks old and Dr. Larry said he would reach his full growth potential as long as he got plenty to eat for the next nine months. It made sense to me. We went through the same thing with young horses. Like I learned in 4-H, if foals didn’t get sufficient nutrients during their formative years, it stunted their growth. I sure didn’t want that to happen to my new dog.

  Once the horses were out for a few hours, I released Charlie from doggie jail. He and Queenie raced up and down the barn aisle while I collected grain buckets and put them out of the way until supper time. I topped off the water tubs. The more I did now, the less there would be to do this evening during night chores.

  As I walked up toward the house, I spotted horses running and bucking in the snow. They obviously needed the exercise after being locked inside for almost a week. I spotted Dani and her au-pair, a woman in her late twenties, coming out of the office. I waved to Dani and went to join her and Louise. Charlie bounded through the snow, yipping in excitement, Queenie right behind him. He seemed to love company.

  “Hi,” I said. “What’s up? How was your Christmas?”

  “You really don’t want to know.” Dani bent to pet my puppy who licked her fingers. “He’s adorable. I wanted one of his brothers or sisters, but it didn’t work.”

  “Your parents agreed it wasn’t a good time.” Louise sounded more British than ever, the words clipped off as if she bit each one. “You travel so much with them that it means the dog would need to be kenneled.”

  “Charlie has a crate,” I said, “but it’s only when he needs quiet time, not for days.”

  “Louise means the dog would have to be boarded somewhere.” Tears sparkled in Dani’s eyes. “It’s okay. I’ll just play with your puppy or Vicky’s or Robin’s. I’m lucky I have Lady. Normally, I never get what I want and I’m accustomed t
o that.”

  “You are a very lucky girl.” Louise folded her arms and gave Dani a stern look. “Now, go feed your carrots. We have to meet your parents so we only have a half-hour to stay here.”

  Wow, it looked like somebody had a really horrible holiday, but I couldn’t say that to Louise. Instead, I managed a weak smile. “I’ll go with her.”

  “That would be nice.” Faint concern rippled across Louise’s face and landed in her dark gray eyes. “If it was up to me, it’d be different, but her father made the decision. No pets.”

  “Okay.” I watched her turn and walk back into the office, pulling out her cell phone. In her black raincoat and spike-heeled boots, she wasn’t ready for a stroll to the paddock where Lady and Charm moseyed. Charlie trotting beside me, we hustled to catch up with Queenie and Dani. She was dividing carrots between the horses when we arrived. I stood next to her, pretending not to see the tears that slipped down her cheeks. “What’s wrong?”

  “The usual.” Dani held out a long, skinny carrot to Lady. The bay mare nabbed it quick before her son got it. “My parents were stuck back East and barely got a flight home today so Louise and I were on our own for Christmas. She was all snarky because they’d promised her a trip to England this year to celebrate with her family. She’ll still get to go, but not until they’re home for two weeks and it means she won’t see all of her relatives.”

  “Well, that sucks.” I scooped up Charlie before he could slide under the fence and pick a row with Charm. That was a problem with herding dogs. They were always ready to go to work and put the livestock somewhere whether it needed doing or not. The collie pup wriggled for a moment and then settled down, swiping my cheek with a raspy tongue. Queenie sat beside me. “Did you get anything you wanted in the way of presents?”

  “How do I know? We couldn’t open any of the gifts my folks left at the house, not when they weren’t home. Louise and I went out to a movie, then to a restaurant for dinner.” Dani sniffled and fed another carrot to each horse. “I told my folks that I want a puppy, someone to snuggle and love when they’re gone all the time. My mom told me that it didn’t make any sense. I’ll be going to college in two years and what would I do with the dog then? I couldn’t take it with me and Louise will be leaving for a job elsewhere.”