Ashley trotted around again and her smile hadn’t faltered. I picked up a trot assuming Ben would do the same, but I didn’t hear Blazer’s footsteps behind me. As I turned to check on him, I could see why Ashley was grinning. Ben was adjusting his stirrups, but he, at least, looked magnificent. He sat straight and commanded an impressive presence on Blazer. My heart actually, finally, did a little flutter of appreciation.
Now, that was nice. Very nice.
I thought Ashley would fall off her horse when Ben rode Blazer with such effortless ease. They picked up a canter and worked the arena both directions doing perfect figure eights at the other end. I enjoyed the sight, but Ashley was having trouble breathing.
“Ben, let’s try a few of these jumps!” Christopher said as he sped toward the nearest roll-top.
“I’m in!” he said, and they flew over several of the jumps before we could rein them in.
“Guys, there’s a lesson coming, we need to go outside,” I said, smiling at their enthusiasm.
“So, what do we need to know about this foxhunting stuff?” Ashley asked.
“Show us the trails, and then we’ll take you on a mock hunt,” Christopher said. “Just give us an idea of where they are and how they run, you know, property lines, and I’ll take it from there.”
We took the horses to the trails, and Ashley guided us all over the barn’s land at a trot. She showed the guys where the jumps were and the boundaries, and we stopped on a hill overlooking a lake. It was warm again now, and I was wishing that we could go for a swim. Not here, though; no one ever swam in this lake. We would have to talk Ashley into letting us jump in her pool later.
“Ok, ladies, here’s the plan,” Christopher grinned, and my stomach did a little nervous flutter. There was an evil, mischievous glint in his eye that I recognized all too well, being the gullible youngest of three girls and the one most tormented by older sister treachery.
“You three follow me. Ben will remain in the rear in case one of you runs into trouble,” he said. “Keep a horse’s distance between you and the rider in front. The faster we go, the more distance you’ll need to stop. I bet they don’t teach you that in the arena.”
He started off at a trot – I was not expecting that – and Ashley followed. Then me – then Ben. I eased Viva back with no problem. As soon as I was feeling smug about this whole thing, Christopher bolted and took off with such reckless abandon that I was nearly unseated by Viva’s explosion beneath me.
Bonfire was on top of Christopher, and he shouted for Ashley to back off. She tried to comply, but Bonfire was not at all relinquishing his hold on the bit. At what felt to me like a full gallop, Bonfire approach Christopher. He moved Sonny in front of Bonfire, reached out his arm, and grabbed his bridle to slow him. Ben was laughing uncontrollably, and I was so startled by this commotion that I had to remember to breathe. We had broken into a clearing, so we were now all together rather than in single file.
“Only five minutes into the hunt, and we already have a runaway!” Christopher laughed. I didn’t think that was funny at all and neither did Ashley. Ben’s eyes were laughing, too, but he had enough sense to keep his mouth shut.
“Are you all right?” he rode up to Ashley and put his hand on her arm. She melted and bit back the anger I saw her want to direct at Christopher that flashed in her pale blue eyes.
“Yes, quite,” she lied. “Let’s try that again. But this time, Christopher, a little warning, please?”
“Yes ma’am,” he grinned. “Same order.”
We flew all around the trails, but in much better form this time. Viva was hard to hold, but I managed to keep her behind Bonfire. Ben was behind, in perfect control. School horses certainly do have their benefits on the trail.
Bonfire was in no way settled, for he would rather have been in front of Christopher. It was a real testament to Ashley’s skills that she contained him so well. All in all, I thought we’d done great for our first attempt.
“Now,” Christopher said as we returned to the lake, “just multiply that times ten, and you will know what it feels like to foxhunt.”
He has to be kidding. No way could we go faster and be safe. Maybe we should rethink this weekend. Ashley was thinking the same thing, but we said nothing.
“Enough foxhunting practice,” Ben said. “Let’s swim. I’m burning up.”
Christopher gave him a conspiratory wink and said, “Good idea, I’m in.”
We were back at the hill overlooking the lake. They dismounted and removed the saddles, their hard hats, boots, half-chaps, and… their shirts. Very, very nice. Like Indians they slipped back onto their horses’ backs and walked them to the water.
“What are you nuts doing?” Ashley asked, a little breathlessly. I think she’d just now gotten her voice back after Ben stripped to his waist.
“Swimming,” Christopher said.
“With the horses?” Ashley asked, shocked.
“Watch this,” Christopher said, and I remembered a line from some comedian that said those were most redneck’s last lines….
But Christopher was no hot-dog redneck, at least, not here, not now. Sonny stepped confidently into the water going deeper, deeper, now up to his chest. He arched his long golden neck and stretched it in front of him over the top of the lake. At the same time, Christopher slid to his side and let him pull him across the lake to the other side. It was a magnificent sight. I had to try!
I jumped down and flung all my gear to the ground just like the guys, but kept on my shirt. Thank goodness I’d chosen to wear black today. Viva looked at me with great interest as I swung upon her broad back. She followed Ben and Blazer without protest, and before I knew it, she was pulling me, too, across the lake.
The cool water surrounded us, and I could feel her powerful shoulders moving, gliding beneath me. She was still touching the bottom of the lake, but I was already off her back letting the water lift me to the surface. Soon, however, she, too, was swimming toward Christopher and Sonny. I held her mane with my left hand and rolled onto my back, ducking my head briefly under, then tucking my chin as the water parted around me.
We swam all the way across – such a sensational feeling – then I felt her feet touch the bottom. I pulled myself onto her back and stopped her when she was chest deep. Ben was right behind me on Blazer, a huge grin on his face.
“So, neighbor, how was that?”
"That was the best feeling I've ever had on a horse!" I said. "You guys are nuts!"
“Come on, Ashley!” Ben called. “Just swim in your gear if you don’t want to get off!”
Bonfire was rearing in protest of Ashley’s insistence to stay on the land.
“No way! You all have lost your minds!” she shouted. “That lake is nasty!”
“I’ll go back and get her,” Christopher said.
“I’d like to see you try,” I said under my breath. This is not her thing, nor is it Bonfire’s. He’s not even wild about water jumps. I can’t believe he thinks he can push her into doing this.
“Let’s go help Ashley,” I said, as Ben swam over. “I’m worried about Bonfire.”
“They’ll be fine, but you’re right,” he said. “We don’t need to leave her over there alone if she’s not even going to try.”
“This is not Ashley’s kind of thing Ben,” I said, not being unkind, just trying to help him understand. “Her parents would be furious if they knew she even considered taking that horse into a lake. Trail rides every six months are about their limit of roughing it.”
“Such a shame – there’s so much more to riding than arenas,” he said.
I looked at him. Very nice. And he thinks the way I do about arenas. Such a surprise. Still no pitter patter, though. Why not? Maybe when this one kisses me that will turn my stubborn heart. Am I going to let him? I’m sure he’s going to try. Soon probably.
Swim – lovely floating, I could do this forever – and we glided like dolphins to the other side.
Ashley and B
onfire were much calmer now that we’d returned from the swim.
“Y’all are nuts!” she said, smiling broadly. “Next time you want to do that I’ll leave this maniac at the barn and just come watch.” At least she was willing to keep playing. I admired that in her.
“Ok, instructor,” I said to Christopher. “What else do we need to know about this foxhunting stuff? Have we passed?”
“We’ll definitely need a few more practice sessions,” he said, looking at Ashley hopefully. “And there are a few more details you need to know. If, you’re still game.”
“Of course we’re going to go foxhunting, Christopher,” Ashley said impatiently. “You haven’t scared us off yet. What else do we need to know?” She emphasized the last part of her sentence with plenty of drama complete with making her blue eyes huge and dramatic.
“Keep away from everyone else and their horses. And don’t talk to any of the Masters or staff. They’re really busy on that day. You can talk to them later, but not during the hunt. It’s ok if they speak to you, but don’t go chatting them up,” he said.
“Sounds like a bunch of uptight people to me,” I said.
“Not really, they just have a lot on their minds at the hunt. You’ll see,” he said. “It’s hard to explain. You just don’t want to cause a spectacle of yourself.”
When we returned to the barn, Robin threw a fit when she saw us soaked, but she was all smiles when we told her we had been swimming… with the horses. She, too, could appreciated the fun and freedom of a beautiful November afternoon with friends and oh so cute guys… and horses.
On the way home, I was quiet, for I was remembering Christopher’s words that the hunt would be like that – times ten. I was barely able to hold Viva today, and I certainly did not want to embarrass myself.
“Have fun?” Ben asked as we approached our neighborhood.
“Swimming was amazing, yes,” I said.
“Don’t worry about the hunt,” he said. Could he read my mind? “I’m going to make sure you have fun. You’ll be riding with me, and I’ll take care of you.”
“Thanks, Ben,” I said, and I meant it. He walked me to the door.
“See you at school,” he said and he gave me a brief hug – and walked away.
My parents had gone to some social function, so they weren’t home. I was exhausted, so I made myself a bowl of cereal and retreated to my room. The last bits of homework kept me up another hour.
Once completed, I opened Chesapeake, one of the books I was reading, and tried to follow the story. Within minutes, Mitchener’s descriptive passages lulled me to sleep.
In my dreams, Viva was pulling me across the lake – the water swirling around me – Ben was in the background, but Ashley needed him, and he was returning to her. Viva and I swam on – now in the ocean – across the surf – and on and on forever – happily together one evermore.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Chapter 5 - The Hunt
It looked and felt just like the video. We could be anywhere in the country – anywhere in time – transported by tradition and courtesy and horses and hounds on the notes of Classical tunes transforming fall trees into a cathedral and hounds’ voices into the choir.
Robin was right to direct us to the website. And I’ll never be the same.
Just thinking about how I felt watching and hearing and reading about a sport so foreign to anything I had ever known sent a tingle along my arms. I was somewhat comforted that the literature said the hunt was more about the chase than the kill, but there was always some possibility of bloodshed, mine even, and I was not so sure about that.
But the pageantry of this day replaced trepidation, for the moment. I had never seen so many beautiful horses, hounds, and guys, for that matter, gathered into one place. It felt splendidly military, and oh how grand the gentlemen looked. I worked extra hard to be ladylike in honor of the day.
After Sunday, the weather had turned much cooler and stayed that way all week. The November leaves reflected the sun like millions of light-catching mirrors. Pale gray moss shrouded the trees and softened the sounds of horses and chatter. Viva was calm, but nervous, and as taken with the scenery as I.
She had been clipped – Robin had had her own horse’s and the other four horses’ coats shaved to a hunt clip. The legs and a little patch of hair where the saddle sat were unshaven, but the rest of their bodies was clipped. This style of clip was used to protect the horses’ legs from brambles and branches. The body, being clipped, could be kept clean easier and would dry faster when the horse sweated. I could not imagine how that would matter, but I went with the program. The result was magnificent, and their bodies gleamed.
Robin had also had all their manes and tails braided professionally to ensure we all looked the part. We were scheduled for a portrait soon – my mother insisted – so I waited with Viva at the trailer before going to the breakfast.
All around me others were doing the same. Many were putting last minute braids in their horses’ manes or repairing damage done on the ride over. A horse next to our trailer had a side-saddle on it, and I could not wait to meet his rider. He was a pale gray with white mane and tail and looked immaculate. The saddle was worn with age, but oh, so very elegant. I could not understand how anyone could ride on such an unusual contraption, or why they would try. Maybe they had been injured.
In another section of the parking pasture, children were buzzing around on their ponies, pigtails flying, ponies prancing, many dropping their heads to graze and popping off their little riders. They were adorable, and I could not take my eyes off their antics. A poor harried trainer or parent was trying to gather them all into some semblance of order. She was administering what looked like liberal amounts of sedative to the larger ponies, and I though I saw her offer a shot of it to a parent….
Our turn for the portrait – Robin buzzed over and collected each of us so we could get a still portrait and a jumping one over the coop decorated with fall colors. Viva jumped a little too high, not too sure about the pumpkins, but we managed to get a nice photograph for the album.
The sidesaddle lady was next, and to my amazement, three other beautiful creatures all dressed exactly alike in their top hats and habits joined her. I now understood why they did it; they were breathtaking. The horses pranced, the gray by my trailer, a feisty dark bay shimmering in its new clip, another bright bay, and a palomino. All ladies except one, who looked a little younger, had on veils with their top hats. The younger one was wearing her hard hat. After the portrait, she popped over the coop like it wasn’t there and was followed by the pretty dark bay. Viva and I have to do that someday.
“Ashley, did you see them?” I said.
“Nuts – all of them,” she said. “But the outfits I can appreciate. They are certainly turning the heads!”
“We’ve got to try to do that,” I said.
“You go right ahead,” she laughed. “I’m not that desperate for attention!”
We returned our horses to the trailers, checked their braids, and walked over to the breakfast. There was a sea of scarlet coats, top hats on the gentlemen, wide-brimmed elegant hats on the ladies, and so much food I could not believe anyone could ever eat so much. It looked like a huge Thanksgiving breakfast feast – what a way to start their hunting year! I could not believe this was happening in Canton, Mississippi.
Photographers and reporters were everywhere. They were kicking off some ceremony, and people were being awarded things for something, then there was a hat contest and much joking and fun among not only the ladies but also the kids with their funny hats. The four sidesaddle ladies ran away with most elegant, of course, but many prizes were awarded, so few went away disappointed.
Christopher brought Ashley and me some orange juice and found us a table. He held our spots while we stood in line for omelets.
“I’m not sure I can eat, but I’m going to try,” I said. “Are you nervous?”
“Are you kidding? This commotion is nothing compared
to a big show,” Ashley scoffed. “We’ll be fine.”
Ben appeared having been called off to help Robin move some additional tables and chairs in for the hostess. “Fix me a plate, please,” he called over his shoulder.
“Got it!” Ashley said. “What do you want?”
“Yes,” Ben said.
Ashley grinned. “Don’t you think he’s the least bit cute, Elliott?” she asked.
“Of course he’s cute. Why do you ask?” I said.
“Because you’re all but ignoring the fact that he’s chasing you,” she said.
“Not for long I’m sure,” I said smiling. “You are much better at this than I am, and I can tell he’s in your sights.”
“Is it that obvious?” she asked, truly embarrassed.
“Yes. Back it down a little,” I said.
“I never in a million years thought I’d get boy advice from you of all people!” she said with a grin. “I’m not sure I’m going to take it.”
“You’re wise to consider the source,” I said, and we walked to our table.
Christopher had held our spots, but the table was already crowded with others. He introduced us to the hunt secretary, Bonnie Walters, who had a ready smile for all of us. Ben sat next to Ashley who proffered him his plate. She winked at me.
“We are so glad you could come with Robin,” she said. “I hope you will have fun today. Have all of you hunted before?”
“Ben and I have, but not the girls,” Christopher said. “Robin has us all in second flight, so we should stay out of trouble.”
“Girls, be sure to find me later and let me know what you think,” she said. “I’ve got to go check on a few things before the Blessing. Have fun. It was so nice to meet all of you.”
Mother and Daddy joined us after Bonnie left. They, too, were having a great time seeing friends and making new ones.
“I just loved that black hat with the foxes on it,” Mother said. “After you eat, let’s go check out the silent auction. Maybe even you will find something you like.”
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