“Yes, Ben, yes I’ll go with you, of course,” I stammered and looked down. He’s probably misreading my actions but I had to gather my thoughts.
“By the way, tomorrow’s hunt is ratcatcher,” he said.
Here we go again – he was throwing around all these terms and giving wardrobe instructions. Ashley would be mortified, too.
“Meaning?” I asked.
“Well, you being a beginner and all, you would be fine in what you wore today, but it would need to be cleaned,” he smiled. “A stiff brush will get the mud off; you’d be surprised.”
Good enough for a beginner. I stiffened at the thought. Nothing like being conspicuous in the wrong way – not me – no way. Even if I had to borrow something, I was going to look the part. I already saw that the right look is part of the attraction of this sport.
“What are you going to wear?” I asked, once again not believing I was discussing clothes with a guy.
“Tweed jacket’s about the biggest difference, and a regular tie,” he said.
That was not helpful. I couldn’t see me dressing like a professor and making that cute.
“What do other girls wear?” I asked.
“The same,” he said. Catching the look on my face, he added, “well, ladies can wear a man’s tie, but they can also wear stock ties – not usually white, but other colors. And the vest, of course, pulls that all together.”
Where was I going to find all those clothes in an afternoon? Lucky for me, I have two sisters’ leftover clothes and a mother at home. I definitely was not going to wear the same outfit tomorrow.
“What about tonight?” I asked, embarrassed that I had to ask.
“Jeans,” he said and flashed an errant grin, relishing my discomfort.
He does like pushing my buttons. Maddening.
In no time, we were at home.
“See you at 7:00,” he said. “Keep the stock pin.”
“Thanks,” I said, my mind already working on what to wear for Sunday. Already giving me jewelry. Thoughtful.
Mother met me in my room electric with questions. She was trying to let me start, but I could see the suspense for her was almost painful.
“Well?” she asked, perfectly plucked eyebrows raised.
“I don’t know where to start!” I beamed. “This was unequivocally the best day of my life!”
I could still feel the wind watering my eyes as Viva and I raced through the fields with her strong muscles surging beneath me. The thrill with just a touch of danger, well, probably more than a touch, going that fast with that many horses around you…the closest thing that could compare would be flying without a plane with thirty other people in semi-control around you, but I was not sure how much to say to her about that.
“Oh Elliott, at last!” Mother said. She was so happy, and seemed relieved, or something. “Did he try to kiss you?” Mother asked.
“What? No, well, not really, no, I wasn’t talking about Ben,” I said. But I knew he would have if I had given him any more encouragement – no need to reveal that. “I was talking about the hunt. Wasn’t it all just so…majestic? The pageantry – and we rode so…fast…for so long.”
Maybe I would not tell her just how fast and for how long. Her face fell, a little. “What about Ben?” Mother asked.
“Ben was great. We had a lot of fun…we did,” I added when she gave me that raised eyebrow look again.
“So?” the eyebrows remained in place.
“Mother, I don’t know,” I sighed, my thoughts now having to leave the hunt to have this discussion with her. I was not exactly thrilled to have to put my thoughts about Ben into words. “He’s cute. He really is, and very nice. I don’t know how to explain.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to,” Mother said. “Just be nice to him. He seems like a good guy, but there certainly is no rush. Just in case, though, your Daddy and I approve,” she smiled.
So he’d passed the test. Mother and Daddy, like all Southern couples, had an extended network that rivaled the military intelligence sophistication of a country. His mother must know someone who knew someone who knew what kind of law his daddy practiced, where they spent their vacations, down to where the family usually sat in church and whether or not they attended with any sort of regularity.
“We’re going out tonight,” I said, knowing I had reached the limit on discussing the hunt with her. Now it was her turn to be surprised. That’s so much fun to have one up on her. So rare.
“Really, but I thought…” she said.
“He’s taking me to the hunt party tonight. It’s really for the riders and the social members, not as many people should be there as this morning,” I said. “And we’re going hunting again tomorrow,” I threw in, making this more a statement than a question. Hope she’ll roll with this…
“Again? Well, ok. If you think Robin will be all right with you going twice. You said you ran around a lot. Is your horse in good enough shape?” she asked, not knowing at all about what she was talking about, but knowing she has the Mother-authority to ask – and the keys to whether or not I could go. I had not thought about asking Robin, or whether or not Ben could get Blazer again for Sunday. My mind had been just floating on the morning’s memories and plotting a way to go hunting again.
“I’m sure Robin won’t care, and Viva’s fine. Horses are made to gallop, Mother,” I said condescendingly, but with more confidence than I felt. But I’m not sure Robin would agree that my horse was made to gallop with reckless abandon through hill and dale at top speed. What would happen to all that arena work? I didn’t care, but I wasn’t sure how Robin would react.
“You are right, and I’m sure it will be fine if you’re with Ben,” she said. Thank you, again Ben. The boyfriend potential for him to her must be really strong for her to relinquish power like that!
“Now, Mother, I need your help,” I said.
“Mine?” eyebrows up with smiles.
I explained my wardrobe conundrum and she grasped the situation amazingly fast. That my mother could understand. In no time, she produced one of her own tweed jackets, from Harold’s, no less, and it was cut perfectly for riding. She picked up the light blue lines in the brown tweed with a blue toned silk scarf and with the help, once again, of the Internet and research, we twisted the scarf into an acceptable rendition of a stock tie. Ben’s stock pin completed the ensemble.
“You always take more time thinking about how you will look on that horse than getting dressed for dates,” Mother teased.
“Oh yeah – I have a date tonight,” I remembered and dodged an incoming pillow.
We pounded each other with pillows for a while enjoying the girl time.
“Mother, I did see something today besides horses,” I said. Not sure why I was bringing this up.
“Mmm…what could possibly have averted your attention?” she asked.
“I don’t know, really.” I knew exactly what I felt, just not how to explain this, to my mother. “After one of the gallops, we had to sort of pull over to for a guy who needed to get by. You know how glamorous they all looked. But he, well, when I looked at him it was like I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I didn’t think that really happened.”
Mother grinned, a devilish one for her, too.
“Did you get his name?” she asked.
“No, Ben was with me all day, and I couldn’t exactly ask him,” I said.
“You’re right. Is that the first time you’ve seen something like that?” she asked.
“Definitely, Mother, but it was more like I felt him than saw him.” Enough information for a mother, at least.
She smiled. “You’d better watch that one, Elliott,” Mother said. “Just because a guy attracts you does not at all mean he’s a match. It is hard enough to choose wisely with a clear head. I’m sure he has had that affect on others as well. Some of them do, you know. They usually know it and work it to their advantage.”
“I know, I know, you’ve told me that a hundred tim
es,” I sighed complete with the eye roll. “But at least now I know why you’ve said this so many times.” And I hit her with a pillow.
“Just remember, dear,” she said. “You are as beautiful as can be … inside and out. And on your horse, well, you are positively striking. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had not noticed you, too.”
We sat in silence for some time. She knew I still was pondering my thoughts and hoped for some more morsels.
“Did Daddy make you feel like that?” I asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
“Absolutely,” she said.
Aaaaaahhhh – I can’t go there.
I dropped my eyes.
“One more thing, Elliott. Your daddy did not make me feel like that at first. It took some time. Don’t rule out the Bens in the world. Give them a chance. Sometimes it takes time to know what you want, in a husband or match,” she corrected when she saw my face contort.
“No! Mother, I can’t think about marriage! I’ve not even had a real boyfriend yet. I’m just taking one step at a time. College is all that I can stand – then probably graduate school – who knows?” I stammered, now uncomfortable on this topic.
“Enjoy the process, Elliott. Life flings enough at you to have to handle every day. For me, things just get better every year. But it really helps to build on good choices,” she said sensing my tolerance for Motherspeech was at its limit.
Ben picked me up promptly at 7:00 looking as handsome as ever. He was polite, but did not make a fuss over us being alone, and we relaxed into a companionable silence. I was looking forward to meeting more fox hunters, but still drained from the morning’s fun.
The hunt party was in a clubhouse overlooking a lake. The scenery was beautiful, and it was hard for me to look away from the sunset and go inside. Food was everywhere – heavy hours d’ourves, drinks, and fox, horse, and hound décor covered the room. Although no one had started eating, I couldn’t resist. Seeing the food reminded me I was starving.
“Hey Ben!” Christopher called.
“You made it then. Hello Ashley,” Ben said.
“Ben, Elliott, meet Janice Black,” Christopher said. “She’s a whipper-in for the hunt. I just realized that we’re both at Millsaps.”
“Nice to meet you, Janice,” I said. “Will you be riding tomorrow?”
“Every time the hounds go out, so do I,” she said.
Sounded like a perfect life to me. “When do you find time to study?” I asked, already plotting how to keep hunting in my life through college.
“Oh, you get really good at leaving out everything else,” she smiled. “Except studying, of course. You should see my room!”
My stomach growled uncomfortably, and with Ben occupied I moved toward the food. Chicken, pork tenderloin sandwiches, mmmm, all a girl could want. I piled it on the clear plastic plate.
And then I saw it. Standing in a league of its own – a chocolate fountain surrounded by strawberries and other meager forms of fruit and such for dipping. Alone at the table, I moved toward the chocolate – ready to complete the ensemble, when my shoes caught on the carpet, and I stumbled. The piles of food on my plate plunged beneath the chocolaty surface.
Oh my. I was mortified.
After all, this was the hunt set – the very nest of the people that had presented the loveliest pageant I had witnessed in my veryspoiled-and-pampered life.
Dear heavens, I hope no one saw that. Glancing down I saw that my plate was clean, so no evidence of falling chicken. Thankfully, I had selected solid items that appeared to have submerged – completely, beneath the surface. No ripples.
My face was hot, but I still hoped no one saw – I could not feel anyone near. As I slowly looked up to scan the room for witnesses, I caught his eye. Him. No mistaking those eyes – even when he was not on a horse. There was a hint of a smirk on his face, and he looked away.
The chocolate fountain claimed more than my food that evening. Surely he was telling all to those around him – I was mortified. Thank goodness for my Southernmothers’ training. Poise came naturally amid disaster.
I lifted my chin, selected a few strawberries, dipped them in the sauce, and returned to my oblivious friends. No looking back.
If he was going to laugh at me behind my back, then at least I needed discover his name. Ben and Christopher had left to get Ashley and Janice drinks, so I felt safe in the inquiry.
“Janice, who is that guy in the corner with his back to me?” I asked, keeping the one with the green eyes that suck the air out of the room thoughts to myself.
“Oh, that’s Griffen Case with the Cantata Hounds hunt outside of Nashville. Fabulous, but as far as I can tell, not interested in girls.”
My heart sank. I tried to keep a straight face. It must not have worked.
“I don’t think it’s like that, though, but I really don’t know,” she said mostly to herself. “He helps William, the huntsman for the Memphis hunt, Big River Hounds, when he’s home, and this weekend is a joint opening meet, since our hunt is so new. They’re helping us with our pack.”
“So he’s from Memphis?” I asked. Now, Memphis was certainly not out of reach for the Mississippi social network. We always thought of it as the capital of the Delta, anyway. If this source didn’t turn up any information, I knew some who could.
“Yes, but he lives in Nashville now. I think he goes to Vanderbilt. He lived with an uncle in Memphis. I think he was adopted or something. No one knows what happened to his parents,” she said. “So, are you hunting tomorrow?”
“I can’t wait – yes! Today was the best ride I have ever had – especially when we were plastered in mud!” I smiled. That was way more information about him than I expected. It looks like Mother was right, as usual. He must have had that same effect on her, for her to know so much about him.
“A true foxhunter is born!” Janice said as she put her arm around me, and we joined the others for the horn-blowing contest.
On the back deck overlooking the lake, everyone who was willing swapped hunting horns and tried to out-blow each other in the contest. There was a prize for the longest tone, the most musical tone, and, of course, the worst sound.
As the host hunt, the Woodland Hunt’s huntsman Pete Sanders was the first to begin. He was relatively new to foxhunting, but he gamely stepped to the forefront with a mischievous grin and raised his horn. I was spellbound by the sound and his long, mournful tone took me back to the magical morning memories – what an exceptional day. Ashley and I were star struck by him once again and we beamed at him. Everyone clapped their approval.
Next was Big River Hounds’ huntsman and master, William Greene. Masters, I had learned, were the ones in charge of the hunt. Some huntsmen were masters and others were not. In this instance, William was both. He was a volunteer, not a professional, and lived on the hunt property with his wife and the pack in Memphis. He was retired and, although his wife did not ride, the couple dedicated all their time to the hunt. William had been raised with hounds and had been hunting all his life.
He brought the horn up, inhaled deeply, and rang out the most beautifully melodic, slightly wavering tone I had ever heard. It filled the room and penetrated deep into my soul. Fabulous. I had never heard anything like it and could not imagine how that would sound with hounds. Someone mentioned that he would be hunting the hounds tomorrow, and I could not wait.
He received a huge round of applause. William grinned and handed the horn to a boy about to explode at the chance to try his skills. For the next several minutes, we were punished with sad attempts to duplicate the huntsmen’s lovely notes. A few made successful… noises, but none were anywhere near music.
“Here, Elliott, you try,” Ben said.
“No way, Ben, thanks,” I had no intention of making a spectacle of myself in that way.
“I’ll try,” Christopher said. He lifted the horn to his mouth, raised his chin, and blew with all his might. Nothing escaped, and his face, red and swollen, looked hilario
us.
“Excellent!” I said. “Looks like you’ll at least be getting a prize!”
At last, the band started playing, and Ben whisked me toward the music. I liked the way he felt, so confident and strong, as he whirled me around laughing at my protests. Christopher had Ashley in his clutches, and she did not seem to mind too badly. At least here she was able to be closer to Ben.
We danced until we could hardly stand. With Janice’s introductions, I met the masters, all the staff, most of the members, and danced with everyone so inclined at least three times. It was great that Ben did not care. He was having fun himself being pursued by Ashley and a pack of other girls. I was enjoying dancing and being admired in general… always nice to be a new face in the crowd. What a bunch.
But no Griffen. He had vanished.
At home, Ben walked me to the door and said goodnight without attempting a kiss. I was not entirely sure if that made me glad. I was entirely sure he intended to make me wonder.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Chapter 7 - Second Hunt
I remember her dancing light on the forehand, as we riders call it, beneath me as he passed. Viva had never done that. Was she upset by his passing, too, or could she feel what I felt in his glance? What kind of look comes from eyes so intent? Was it passion, anger, or amusement?
It felt strange getting ready for a hunt on a Sunday morning. Mother and Daddy left for the early church service in hopes to meet us for brunch after the hunt. Mother wanted to see me in my outfit, and Daddy, well, he had really liked Saturday’s food and was hoping for more of the same.
Viva positively glittered. She seemed to know what was happening and was anxious to get things started. She leapt into the trailer beside her new best friend, Blazer.
“If we keep this up, Elliott, I’ll have to see if Robin will sell me this horse,” Ben said.
“His name is Blazer,” I said, noticing that although Ben was a good rider, horses to him were a means to an end.
We had had a great time the night before, but this morning Ben was all business. He made sure all the tack was clean, even mine, and that all our gear was packed. He triple checked that we had everything in order and exchanged the mild snaffle on Viva’s bridle for a broken kimberwicke. The bit would have a similar feel in her mouth but had the added benefit of a chain for extra leverage.
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