Pony Jumpers 6- Six to Ride

by Kate Lattey

  “Thank you so much!” I told Dad, remembering my manners at last. “Thank you thank you thank you, you’re amazing! You’ve got that Father of the Year award locked in.” He laughed, and I grinned across the room at my mother before I caught her chagrined expression and felt a flash of guilt.

  “You’re welcome. You deserved a chance, and I’m glad I can give it to you. You’ve got a lot to live up to now though,” Dad teased.

  At least, I hoped he was teasing me. I still didn’t quite know him well enough to be sure, and I swallowed, trying to ignore the pressure building inside me.

  “I’ll try,” I told him.

  “I know you will.” A pause, then he spoke again. “How’s AJ doing?”

  We spoke for a few more minutes as I filled him in with the little that I knew, and he commiserated and said all the usual things about how she’d bounce back soon, and that Anders would be fine too, and I nodded and made agreeing noises and pretended to believe him. I kept waiting for him to ask to talk to Mum, but he didn’t. He just finished up by saying that he’d drop by on Thursday night to make sure Tori was settling in well, which I thought was a bit unnecessary as he wasn’t exactly going to be able to do anything if she wasn’t, but I couldn’t exactly say “No don’t come” so I just said “Okay see you then” and hung up.

  Mum was still scrolling through her messages and pretending not to have been eavesdropping. I put the phone on the bench and stared at her expectantly, but she didn’t look up.

  “Your soup’s getting cold.”

  I sat down and picked up my spoon once more. The soup had cooled and a slight skin had settled on top of it, making me want to gag.

  “Tori’s coming on Thursday,” I told her, trying to sound nonchalant.

  “So I heard.” Mum managed a small, insincere smile. “That’s nice.”

  “Nice?” I tried to scrape the disgusting skin off my soup, but it stuck to the spoon and made me gag even more. “I can’t eat this. And it’s way more than nice. It’s brilliant, fantastic, wondrous. A dream come true.”

  A flicker of emotion crossed Mum’s face at my words, and I watched her push them away. “Yes, it’s very exciting. Reheat it, that skin will dissolve in the microwave.”

  “Gross, don’t even talk about it.” I shuddered, set the spoon down and pushed the bowl away from me. “I’ll make toast or something. And you’ll come around once you meet her. Honestly Mum, she’s stunning. You’ll fall straight in love just like I did.”

  “I’m sure I will.” Mum scraped the bottom of her bowl then stood up, collecting my unfinished dinner as she did. “What do you want on your toast?”

  “Do we have any honey?”

  “I’m not sure, have a look in the pantry.” She carried our dishes into the kitchen and started running water into the sink. “I’m thrilled for you, you know that. I just wish I could’ve bought you a horse like that…”

  Her voice trailed off and I looked up to see her brushing a tear off her cheek onto her shoulder. Mum didn’t cry very often, and almost never in front of me. I felt suddenly sorry for her.

  “I know you do,” I said sincerely, getting to my feet and giving her a quick hug from behind to remind her that I still loved her. “And don’t worry, it was all false flattery. You’re still the best parent I have.”

  “Well thank you,” Mum said, sniffling but smiling as I went to the pantry to find the promised honey. “And you’re definitely the best daughter I have.”

  “Hah. That’s a no-brainer,” I teased her as I pulled the sticky honey pot off the shelf. “I’m the best daughter anyone could have.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Time crawled towards Thursday, every hour feeling like a day and every day like a week as I waited impatiently for Tori to arrive. I kept myself busy with the ponies, the highlight of which was getting to be on Lucas’s back again, looking down at that glossy chestnut neck and pretty flaxen mane as he strode cheerfully down the driveway and back again. Ten minutes of walking under saddle on level ground was all he was allowed to do for now, which was its own special form of torture. Especially as I knew that it would only take one slide of my leg back a few inches and a slight push with my seat, and I’d get to experience that gorgeous floating canter of his which I’d been missing like crazy. But I restrained myself and tried to just enjoy the moment for what it was.

  The lowlight was Squib, who was still being an absolute horror to ride. I’d gone back into the hospital on Wednesday to visit AJ, and had been planning to spill the beans and tell her that Squib clearly missed her and hated me riding him, but she’d looked so concerned when she’d asked after him that I hadn’t had the heart. Besides, I didn’t want her to change her mind and ask me to turn him out while she was recovering. She needed to have a well-schooled pony when she got out of hospital, and if Squib was this naughty now, he’d be a ticking time-bomb if he’d been on holiday for six weeks. The last thing AJ needed after a head injury was to fall off the first time she got back on, and anyway, I was determined not to let that pony get the better of me. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to achieve that, but was hoping that he’d eventually he’d come around. Or maybe once we got out to a show he’d settle down and get on with his job – although I wasn’t particularly hopeful on that score. Squib’s behaviour was normally more excitable when he was out and about, not less, and I was starting to dread Dannevirke.

  AJ had been looking bored and depressed when we arrived, but she’d cheered up quickly and spent ages poring over some photos of Squib on my phone. I’d gone out to take them at the last minute before leaving home to visit her, and the usually photogenic pony had been particularly recalcitrant about posing for them, continually moving his head at the last second so that he mostly resembled a four-legged grey blur. But AJ appreciated the effort, and listened avidly as I gave her an abbreviated, slightly embroidered version of our schooling sessions.

  “He’s starting to get the idea of counter canter,” I told her, hoping that by the time she was out of hospital and able to see for herself, it would be true. “And I’ve been doing loads of transitions to try and strengthen him up.” I didn’t tell her that the transitions were only because he kept trying to take off on me every time I asked him to canter, and only by bringing him back to trot repeatedly could I prevent him from bolting wildly through the flax bushes and galloping us off into the distance.

  “Thanks so much for riding him, it means a lot,” AJ said, handing my phone back reluctantly and leaning against the pillows. “I miss him so much.”

  It was hard to see my usually optimistic friend looking so down, and I racked my brains for something that would cheer her up and take her mind off things. “Oh, but wait! I haven’t even told you my news yet!”

  AJ listened raptly as I told her about Tori, her eyes bright with excitement. “That is so cool! I’m so excited to meet her. When’s she coming – Thursday? Man, I’d better be out of here by then, seriously. I’m going stir crazy in this place.”

  “Have they said when you can leave yet?”

  “Tomorrow hopefully, once they’ve done a few more tests. But I’m supposed to just lie on the couch for ages and not move around much,” she groaned. “The doctor was all Just watch lots of movies, read some magazines, ahaha you’ll love it as though just because I’m a girl, that’s like a dream come true. He might as well have told me to paint my nails or plait my sister’s hair. I bet I wouldn’t have been told to just sit back and enjoy it if I was a guy.”

  “If you were a guy, he’d probably have said Just play X-Box,” I told her.

  “Hah!” AJ winced slightly before recovering. “You know, that’s exactly what Harry said this morning. Just play X-Box. Seriously. I can’t imagine anything more boring.”

  “I hear you. I’m sorry. I’d go completely mental if I couldn’t ride, or run, or move around.”

  “Are you still running every morning?” AJ asked, wrinkling her nose at me in distaste.

  Her enthusia
sm for movement didn’t extend to recreational running, or as she referred to it, completely unnecessary exercise. She only liked running when there was a ball involved, whereas I only liked running when it was just me and the road, my breath in the morning air, the trickle of sweat running down my lower back as my feet pounded against the tar seal in a steady, hypnotic rhythm. One two, one two, one two, on and on and on until my breath was tight in my lungs and my legs were hurting and all the thoughts that swirled around in my head had come under control, my doubts and anxieties overpowered by endorphins and the simple staccato beat of my footsteps.

  “I don’t look this good by accident,” I quipped, then changed the subject. “So Harry’s been in to visit you, huh?” I looked around at her bedside table, but there was no huge bunch of flowers or massive box of chocolates to declare his affection. It was probably a bit soon for that, I reflected, since as far as I was aware, they hadn’t even been out on a date yet. No denying that he had the hots for her though. “Did he come empty-handed?”

  AJ flushed bright red, then rummaged under the covers and sheepishly pulled out a small grey teddy bear holding a plush heart that said Get Well Soon.

  “Cute. Kinda lame, but definitely cute,” I said, and she pulled a face at me. “So is he your boyfriend now? I haven’t seen anything on Facebook, and we both know it’s not official until you’ve updated your relationship status online.”

  “He’s…I don’t know what he is,” AJ muttered, then looked rather fondly at the little bear. “He gave me this, and said I know it’s cheesy but it’s the same colour as Squib so I thought you’d like it.” Her cheeks reddened again, and I laughed.

  “Smooth. That boy knows the way directly to your heart – straight through your pony.”

  AJ snorted, and shoved the bear back under the covers self-consciously. “Hey, did you hear that Anders is awake?”

  I sat up straighter. “No! Really? How is he?”

  AJ half-shrugged her uninjured shoulder. “Seems okay, thank God. Still pretty out of it, but he knows his name and what year it is and all that stuff, which they reckon is a good sign. But we won’t know for sure how he’s been affected for a while yet.”

  “That’s great news though.”

  “That part is,” she agreed. “But they X-rayed his leg again this morning, and it’s a whole lot broken. He needs a bunch of operations on it, and by the time they’re done he’ll have more metal in his leg than bone. Plates and screws and all that crap.” She sighed. “He’s not really aware of how bad things are yet, but he’s going to be gutted when he finds out. His rugby career will be over.”

  “At least he’s alive,” I pointed out.

  “Well obviously,” AJ agreed. “Hey that reminds me, did you ever find out from Tess what’s up with her sister? Because Jonty said that it’s serious, but he wouldn’t tell me anything more. And I meant to ask Tess again but I forgot, and now I have no phone.”

  I shrugged, feeling a bit guilty. I hadn’t even spared a thought for Tess and Hayley lately. I wondered if Hayley was still having seizures, and what it was that had caused them. “I don’t know either,” I admitted. “But I can ask Tess.” I scooped my phone up off my lap and swiped Facebook open, deciding to do it right away and before I forgot.

  AJ spoke again. “I’ve tried that already, and had no luck. But you’re friends with Hayley, right? You could ask her directly.”

  “I could,” I said tentatively. “But she’d more than likely tell me to mind my own business. You know what she’s like.”

  “Hmm, unfortunately I do,” AJ mumbled, pulling a face.

  I knew she couldn’t stand Hayley, who was one of those people who was great if she liked you, but wouldn’t hesitate to make your life hell if she didn’t. I’d always got along fine with Hayley, because I wasn’t dumb enough to pick a fight with her, but she had it in for one of our other friends, Susannah Andrews, and she wasn’t particularly nice to her own sister either. Hayley wasn’t one of my favourite people, but I still hoped that she was okay, and I know that AJ did too, whatever she might say out loud.

  “I’ll do some digging tonight,” I promised her as Mum appeared in the doorway, tapping her watch. “Sorry to love you and leave you, but I’d better get going. I’ve still got three ponies to ride this afternoon. Squib included.”

  “Tell him he’s wonderful,” AJ implored as I stood up and stretched. “And that I’ll come see him as soon as humanly possible.”

  “Will do,” I promised her. “I know he can’t wait to see you again either!”

  Wonderful was the last word I would’ve used to describe Squib that day. I decided to take him out of the arena and off for a gallop to get the tickle out of his feet, so we headed out over the hills towards the Fitzherberts’ place. They had an old airstrip down the back of their farm by the river, which was a good place to go for a blat because it was straight and flat and went for ages, but I hadn’t been riding for long before I started regretting my choice. Squib spooked the whole way down there, jumping at every blade of grass that moved more than an inch and slamming on the brakes without warning several times. I was lucky to stay on the third time, having to clutch fistfuls of mane when he made a 180 degree spin, and I only just managed to get myself back into the saddle. When we finally made it to the airstrip, I found myself hesitating as I looked out across the long flat stretch of ground, wondering if I’d be able to hold him together in such an open space. Don’t be stupid, I chided myself. The run will do him good. I shook away my concerns, shortened my reins and gave the wilful pony his head.

  I should’ve trusted my instincts. Squib took off like a rocket, then tore the reins out of my hands and bucked hard, launching me skyward. The wind was knocked right out of me when I hit the ground, and I lay still for what felt like hours, staring blankly up at the sky and struggling to draw breath as Squib’s hoofbeats faded swiftly out of earshot.

  It took me half an hour to walk home, where I found him standing in the garden and casually eating Mum’s dahlias.

  “I hope those are poisonous and give you a terrible stomach ache,” I told him as I marched over to him and took his reins. “You’re the worst. I don’t know how AJ puts up you.”

  I straightened his bridle, checked his girth and remounted, then took him into the arena for a good twenty minute schooling session to make sure he knew that I was still the person in charge. Squib argued for a while but his gallop home did seem to have taken some of the wind out of his sails, and he ended up going fairly well. I should’ve ended on a good note, but that would’ve been sensible, and it wasn’t a day for making sensible decisions. There was a grid set up along one side of the arena that I’d been schooling Molly over that morning, and for unknown reasons I once again ignored my better judgement and decided to take him down the line just once.

  I stayed on, but that was the only positive that came out of the attempt. Squib belted down the row of jumps like there were fireworks under his tail, propping in fake alarm a stride away from each fence and then flinging himself into the air with reckless abandon, so excited that he literally squealed as he cleared the last. Overcome by his own mighty efforts, he bucked his way triumphantly around the arena afterwards, and it took me three full laps get him back under control.

  Only at that point did I realise that I had an audience. Tayla and two of her friends were standing at the arena gate with incredulous expressions, watching me and Squib. I praised the grey pony reluctantly, because he was at least walking now – well, jogging, but points for effort – and rode towards them.

  “That was amazing!” Tayla said enthusiastically with a wide grin. “You ride that pony so well.”

  I winced at her flattery. “Not really,” I admitted. “He’s being a bit of a handful today. Little brat.”

  Squib had stopped at the gate and was sniffing the smallest girl’s hair in a butter-wouldn’t-melt kind of way, no trace of the wild runaway pony left in his mellow expression.

  “He’s so cu
te. Is he yours?” asked the taller, red-headed girl, and I shook my head.

  “No, he belongs to my friend. I’m just riding him for her,” I explained as Squib nuzzled the little girl’s neck, and I tugged at the rein, pulling his head away. I knew this pony well enough to know that he was priming her for a sharp nip. He’d done it to AJ enough times, and drawn blood once or twice. He really did have a twisted sense of humour.

  The kids had all come for their lessons, which I suddenly felt desperately unprepared for. What I really wanted was to get my other ponies worked and then climb into a hot bath and soak away the bruises that were about to emerge on my hip and back, but they would be paying me to teach them, so I had to get on with it.

  Tayla had been easy to teach, and I’d already come up with a few ideas about what to work on with her, but first I had to give her friends a lesson, and they were a whole different deal. The next hour crawled past as slowly as their overweight, bored ponies, who lumbered around the outside track with their eyes half-closed. The girls’ skinny legs in pink jodhpurs kicked feebly against their well-padded sides, but had next to no effect. I stood in the middle of the sun-soaked arena, wiping the sweat off my brow and endlessly repeating things like “Ride straight!” and “Look up!” while they did their best to make their ponies step over the low crossbars that I’d set up in deference to their request for a jumping lesson.

  At last, with only five minutes left to ride, I told them to drop their stirrups and walk their ponies to cool them out. They obeyed, but then Lola, the younger one, who was proving to be sassier than she looked, spoke up.

  “Can’t we jump higher? We’ve only jumped crossbars and they’re tiny.”

  “You had enough trouble with them as they are,” I pointed out, since she’d barely managed to get around the teensy course without at least one run-out or refusal. “But if you really want a challenge, you can cross your stirrups and jump the whole course without them.”