Sundancer

by Shelley Peterson

  Abby looked at Bird and pointedly asked, “Will you ride in the classes, Bird?”

  Bird nodded with a confidence that she didn’t feel.

  Abby turned to the purple-haired lady and asked, “Jewel, can we give it a try? If he takes one wrong step, we’ll take him home. He should have a second chance before he’s blacklisted.”

  Jewel looked at her. “If it was anybody but Abby Malone asking, I’d say no. But let me try.” She took her cellphone from her pocket and dialed.

  “Joe? It’s Jewel. I’m over at Abby Malone’s trailer with her and the horse. He’s completely cool. Abby wants another chance before we put him on the list … No, of course she won’t be riding, she can barely walk … there’s some girl named Bird up on him now … My recommendation? Give it a shot … Great. Thanks, Joe.”

  Jewel gave Abby the thumbs-up. “There’s a hunter class on now. Three-foot jumps. Come with me.”

  Hannah returned the cheque to Jewel. Abby handed her riding jacket up to Bird, who quickly put it on and buttoned it. Hannah reached up and tied the cardboard number over the jacket. Then she squeezed Bird’s hand and wished her good luck.

  Bird felt her stomach suddenly go queasy. She took a deep breath. She stroked Sunny’s neck.

  Okay, Sunny?

  I’m okay, Bird girl. Are you?

  Yeah, so far. Just so you know, the jumps are clean.

  It doesn’t matter. I won’t touch them anyway.

  But if you do, nothing will happen. No pain. Nothing will hurt you. If you touch them, they’ll just roll off onto the ground.

  If you say so.

  I say so, Sunny. Cross my heart and hope to die.

  Okay.

  Finally, Sundancer’s mind was clear of stress. Her job was to get him around the course at a steady pace. The class would be judged on form and rhythm. They had to look good.

  Jewel led the way to the hunter ring, then spoke to a man with a clipboard. She held up four fingers.

  “We’re four away,” said Hannah. “Are you ready, Bird?”

  Bird nodded. She noticed two girls in riding attire peeking at her and giggling. Suddenly, she felt self-conscious. Abby’s jacket was too big for her, and she wasn’t wearing this year’s cool clothes. It didn’t help that she wasn’t part of the show crowd. When they peeked again, she smiled at them. One was ashamed to be caught, and the other gave her a superior look. Bird decided to let it go. She had more important things on which to concentrate.

  Abby said, “Bird, you’re a brave girl. No one else in this park would’ve got up on Sunny after what they saw him do.”

  Bird smiled at Abby. And that would be the correct instinct.

  They watched as a boy on a dark bay horse was completing the course. Bird thought it had looked perfect.

  He didn’t get his lead fast enough to the fourth jump. Sunny, you saw that?

  Of course.

  Bird smiled. She had no idea.

  They watched the next competitor go in. It was a woman on a dapple grey. Again, Bird thought they were perfect.

  She lands hard. Falls forward. Looks bad.

  You’re very critical.

  So?

  Bird laughed. This was fun. Abby and Hannah looked up at her.

  “What’s so funny, Bird?” asked Hannah. “Are we missing something?”

  Bird nodded yes, and patted Sunny’s neck.

  Two more riders completed their rounds. It was time for Bird and Sundancer. They trotted in.

  Bird felt a calmness and confidence in Sunny. She halted and nodded to the judge. Sunny started a lovely, easy canter on his left lead, before Bird had time to ask. Bird was merely a passenger.

  They went over the first jump, a white oxer with shrubs inside. They landed lightly and rode five easy strides to the next, which looked the same. They jumped it, then cantered twelve collected strides to the next hurdle, a green picket fence with red impatiens. Four strides, then another green picket fence. Now they turned left and came down the diagonal line of three blue verticals. Sunny kept his pace light and even, like clockwork. After the line, they turned right and took the opposite diagonal line, which was two yellow and white oxers, then turned left and finished over the two that they’d jumped first. Eleven jumps in all, and Sunny was perfect. He landed on the correct lead every time. He kept a perfectly steady pace.

  Bird patted his neck. Holy, Sunny. That was brilliant.

  Correct.

  You vain thing!

  Put up with it.

  Hannah and Abby were dumbfounded. They clapped and cheered and rushed to Bird and Sunny.

  “Amazing!” exclaimed Abby.

  “Well done, Bird,” said Hannah proudly. “Good boy, Sundancer!”

  Sunny felt proud, and looked it. His tail was high, his head was up, his ears were pricked. People came around to praise him, and Sunny accepted it all with equanimity.

  Jewel appeared, smiling broadly. “Abby,” she called out. “He passed the test with flying colours. He’s off the list, but he must continue to behave. Consider it a warning.”

  Abby nodded. “Thanks, Jewel. We really appreciate it.” She turned to Bird. “There’s a jumper class in fifteen minutes. You in?”

  Bird asked Sunny. Are you in?

  Bring it on.

  Bird nodded.

  “Good girl!” Abby grinned. “I sure learned today who can ride this horse.” She ran off to put Bird in the order for the jumper class.

  Bird felt elated.

  Julia rushed up. “Bird! Bird! We got here just in time to watch! Mr. Gilmore and Mom and me! You were awesome!”

  Sunny stretched his neck to the little girl and gave her a sniff. She hugged his head and rubbed his ears. “Good boy, Sunny! You were totally awesome!”

  There was an announcement in the hunter ring. The judge called out the winning numbers. Bird heard her number called. She took off Sundancer’s saddle and gave it to Abby, then led the gelding at a trot around the hunter ring with the other seven winners. The boy on the bay won fourth. The woman on the grey got third. Bird waited while a man on a roan accepted the second-place ribbon. Sunny won first.

  Bird grinned happily while Sundancer had the red first-place ribbon hooked onto his bridle. He acted like it happened every day. They trotted proudly out of the ring to wild applause by family members. Sunny stopped dead. His head dropped to his knee, and he bowed to the ground. People started to cheer.

  “Let’s get over to the jumper ring, Bird,” said Abby. She had come running, and was out of breath. “We’ve got to learn the course.”

  I hope you’re good at memorizing, Bird girl.

  I hope so, too.

  12

  THE TALL MAN

  I look good when I’m fixed up.

  Sundancer and Bird waited for their turn outside the jumper ring. This class was judged solely on jumping clear within a predetermined time. Form and prettiness counted not one bit. So far the competitors had been riding at a good pace, but there had been many poles down, and quite a few time faults. Bird studied which angles to take and which corners to cut to make up time without pushing Sunny too fast.

  Bird felt tension mounting in Sunny. She stroked his neck and cooed to him, but the horse only became more nervous. Bird feared that he might have another meltdown.

  Speak to me, Sunny. Why are you so tense?

  I’m not sure I can do this, Bird girl.

  Why not? You’ve jumped higher than this.

  That’s not it. I cannot tell which jump is next.

  You mean you haven’t memorized the course?

  Whatever.

  Sunny. Please relax. I know which jumps to do, and in which order.

  What if you forget?

  I won’t forget.

  What if you do?

  We lose.

  She felt his body bristle. Bird girl, I want to win.

  So do I, but this is our first time. Let’s just go in and have fun.

  I need to win.

  Su
nny, can you let me ride you like a normal horse? Most horses don’t memorize the course.

  Most horses lose.

  Bird patted his neck again and laughed quietly to herself. Sometimes she found him very funny. She’d have to work at relaxing him, and help him learn to accept winning and losing equally. Bird also realized that no other rider would have been able to explain things to him, or understand what upset him. He would have panicked — and probably bolted. All because he hadn’t memorized the course.

  Bird studied the course again. It was complicated, she had to admit, but she was on top of it.

  Her number was called.

  Trust me, Sunny. I know the course.

  I hope so.

  You jump, I’ll steer.

  Deal.

  They rode in and Bird nodded to the judge. She wasn’t sure whether or not it was required, like in the hunter ring, but she didn’t want to be penalized for anything as trivial as that.

  Hannah, Eva, Stuart, Julia, and Abby were lined up at the fence. Even Paul had stopped by during a break from his veterinary duties. Bird glanced at them. She didn’t want to be distracted so she ignored their waves of encouragement. Sunny enjoyed the attention and showed off a little with a cow hop and a buck.

  Cool it, Sunny.

  What’s the harm?

  Pay attention.

  Didn’t you say we should have fun?

  Bird smiled in spite of herself. She asked him for a canter and they rode through the timer. The first jump was blue and white and oddly angled, but Sunny soared over it. They turned hard left to the brown oxer at a brisk pace, took it, then steered right. They got braced for the red striped in-and-out. The water jump was next, then the triple. After racing the water jump, Sunny slowed just in time to collect his stride.

  You pushed me at that water! Don’t do that!

  Sorry.

  Now we have a problem. Just let me go, and grab my mane.

  Okay.

  She let his reins loose. He popped the first of the three jumps, added a chipped stride to the second, but had his act together by the third. Bird breathed out with relief.

  There, I fixed it. No thanks to you.

  Good boy, Sunny.

  Number six was coming up fast. It was a rainbow-coloured optical illusion. Sunny sprang over it hugely, unsure of which pole was on top. They landed almost past the point where a turn could be made, so Sunny sat back on his haunches, pivoted, and headed to the line of four jumps.

  Now, that was my fault, Bird girl. I overjumped.

  But you fixed it.

  The difficulty of this line was that each jump was a different height, but appeared the same. Horse and rider might assume they were equal, and many of their competitors had made a mess of them.

  Let me do this, Bird. Look up over the entire line, chin up, and stay still. Don’t look at the jumps. Close your eyes if you have to. Give me the reins. Heels down.

  Sunny leaped and cleared the first. He landed, then took a stride, and another. He leaped higher for the second, higher yet for the third, then easily sailed over the last with no rails down.

  There were two more jumps. Bird headed left for the white oxer. Sunny pulled right, toward the green skinny. Bird tugged back.

  That’s not it, Bird girl.

  Yes it is, Sunny. It’s marked eleven. I see number twelve behind it.

  The horse before us went to the green jump next.

  He was wrong.

  You better be right.

  As they flew over the white oxer and cleared the last jump — a tricky narrow thing — by a foot, Bird wondered how many people had to argue with their horses. Now they moved as fast as they could through the timer. It was done.

  Abby rushed to the gate and congratulated Bird.

  “Fabulous ride! Great time, too. You’ll be in the ribbons again.” Bird flushed, and hugged Sunny’s neck.

  Were you right, Bird?

  I was right.

  Good. Then we won.

  Their cheering section of Julia, Eva, Stuart, Hannah, and Paul joined them. Together they watched the last entrants make their trips.

  Nobody’s even close.

  Don’t get too smug, Sunny. Pride cometh before a fall.

  I thought summer cometh before the fall.

  Puns, now? Give me a break. She gave him a pat on the neck, happy to see him so relaxed and cheerful.

  Again, Bird and Sunny were called in for the ribbon presentation, this time mounted.

  Word had gotten out that there was a new horse to watch, and the stands were full. When the red first-place ribbon was hooked onto Sunny’s bridle, he reared straight up, then dropped and bowed. People stood and cheered.

  The eight horses did a victory lap around the ring with Sundancer leading. He showed his stuff proudly. He tucked in his chin to flex his neck, and shot his tail straight up. Sunlight danced on his sleek, coppery coat. His feet barely touched the earth.

  Bird looked at the stands for the first time, and saw the smiling faces and supportive waves of her family. Happy tears filled her eyes.

  IT WAS TIME TO go home. Sunny had performed well and it had turned out to be a good experience. Bird was excited with the day’s results. She walked Sunny back to the trailer and took off his tack. She rubbed him with a big blue towel.

  Did you have a good time, Sunny?

  Yes. After the first bit.

  Do you want to do this again?

  Yes. I like to win.

  Abby brought one bucket of water for him to drink and another to sponge him down. Hannah had a bag of fresh carrots, and fed them to Sundancer one by one.

  Suddenly the big chestnut tensed. Bird felt a prickle of apprehension. Cody, under the truck, growled.

  “Good afternoon, ladies.”

  The Tall Man I told you about. Sundancer began to shake. Get me out of here. Now.

  Come with me, Sunny.

  Bird began to walk away with the big gelding on the shank.

  “Where are you going?” the Tall Man asked. Bird kept walking. “Hey!” She didn’t look back.

  “She doesn’t speak,” said Hannah defensively. “She’s just cooling out the horse.” She looked at the man, noting the dark sunglasses and brimmed hat that hid his face. He was very tall and lean, in his mid-forties, and had an athletic build. A small brown-and-white Jack Russell terrier shadowed his every move.

  “Is that Sundancer?” the man asked.

  “Yes,” answered Hannah.

  “I came over to take a look at him. I watched him today. He did well.”

  Abby and Hannah relaxed, and smiled at him.

  “Thanks,” said Abby. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Abby Malone.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “And I’m Hannah Bradley,” said Hannah. “Have we met before?”

  “Perhaps. The horse world is small.”

  Hannah was surprised that he didn’t offer to introduce himself. She was compelled to ask, “What is your name?”

  “Elvin Wainright.”

  Abby and Hannah exchanged glances. “The trainer for the Owens’ stables?” asked Abby.

  “That’s right.” His wolfish smile made the women uneasy. “Sundancer looks a whole lot like a horse we raised.”

  Hannah swallowed. “Is that so?”

  “Yes. A horse named Prince Redwood. Sire was California Dreamin’ and dam Princess Narnia. A valuable horse.”

  Hannah repeated, “Sounds very valuable to me.”

  “I think you know where this is going, ladies. Don’t play dumb.”

  “Mr. Wainright,” said Hannah, irritated. “If you have something to say, please speak your mind.”

  “The horse you people call Sundancer is actually Prince Redwood, and he belongs to Owens Enterprises.”

  “That’s not my understanding.”

  “You must return him.”

  “I’m not prepared to do that.”

  “You are in big trouble, Hannah Bradley. Big. trouble. You will hear from ou
r lawyers tomorrow morning.”

  The Tall Man turned to go.

  At that moment, Paul, Stuart, Eva, and Julia appeared at the horse trailer. They wore happy smiles on their faces.

  “Where’s Bird?” asked Paul. “We came to congratulate her on her beautiful ride.”

  “For that matter, where’s Sundancer?” Stuart asked Hannah. “Mr. Wainright,” called Hannah. “Before you phone your lawyer, I’d like you to meet some people. This is my sister Eva, my niece Julia, my friend Stuart, and my vet, Paul Daniels.” She waited while the penny dropped. “Paul, Mr. Wainright tells me that I’m in big trouble because of Sundancer.”

  Paul spoke first. “Elvin Wainright?”

  “Yes. Dr. Paul Daniels?”

  “Yes. I’m the veterinarian that your stable manager called to put down a horse recently.”

  “I don’t recall.”

  “I’m not your usual vet. I wondered at the time why I was asked to do it, so I spoke to you on the phone. You told me that the horse was insane, a menace to all, and needed to be euthanized for safety reasons. That was the conversation, word for word. Ring a bell?”

  Elvin Wainright looked uncomfortable. “Not at all.”

  “In that same conversation you told me that you’d never before had the misfortune to train a horse as ‘evil’, and you wanted him dead ASAP.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Then you have a bad memory, Mr. Wainright.”

  “Regardless. The fact remains that this gelding is Prince Redwood and the property of Owens Enterprises.”

  “Were you not aware that I was given, for no money, this horse that you wanted destroyed?”

  “No.” Elvin’s eyes narrowed. He shifted his weight.

  “Your manager was under the impression that you were more than happy to get him off the property. He spoke to you about the matter that same day, before I accepted the horse. I was in the room at the time.”

  “That’s news to me.” Elvin adjusted his hat and pulled back his shoulders. “At any rate, you have no proof. I have all his papers. I have his blood samples on file. You have nothing but your story.”

  Bird and Sunny returned from their walk. They casually sauntered up to Elvin. Bird slowly and deliberately handed him the lead shank.

  I’m doing what you asked, Sunny. I don’t want to know what you have in mind.