Back in the Saddle (3 page)

“BRR!” UNCLE MIKE
said as he swung open the heavy rear door of the family's small stock trailer. “It's a chilly one this morning!”

“What else is new?” Haley smiled as she glanced inside the trailer, where Wings stood beside a stout liver chestnut quarter horse. When her cousin Jake had heard about the penning, he'd decided to tag along and enter the fourteen-to-eighteen competition. They'd pulled into the local ranch that was hosting the day's event, to find the parking area already more than half full of trucks and trailers.

Both horses were loosely tied in the trailer. Being tied kept the horses from moving around too much while the
rig was in motion. Jake was already at the front untying Rusty from the outside. “Heads up. He's coming out,” he called, reaching in through the trailer's slats and slinging the lead rope over the gelding's beefy neck. Then he clucked. “Back, boy.”

Rusty ducked his head and backed carefully out of the trailer, lowering one hind foot over the drop and then the other. As soon as all four feet were on the ground, he lifted his head and pricked his ears toward the big covered arena nearby. A small herd of heifers was penned at one end, mooing and milling around restlessly. Rusty let out a snort and took a step toward them, ears still at full attention.

“Whoa, big fella,” Uncle Mike said, reaching forward to grab the dangling lead rope. “I've got you.”

Jake hurried around to take the horse from his father. “He's okay. It's just been a while since he's been to a penning.”

Haley nodded and looked around. It had been a while for her, too. A couple of years ago she and Wings had attended team pennings and sortings as often as they could, though once she'd gotten more serious about eventing, she'd cut back on other competitions. There were still
plenty of familiar faces in the crowd—some from school, some from past pennings. A few trailers down, an older girl waved at her before going back to running a brush over her Appaloosa gelding's broad, spotted hindquarters.

Haley waved back, her heart jumping with anticipation. She was glad Maddie had helped talk her into coming today. This was going to be fun!

“Okay, let's get this show on the road,” Uncle Mike said. “You going in to grab that pony of yours, Haley, or you want me to do it?”

“No, I've got it.” Haley jumped into the back of the trailer, talking soothingly to Wings. He tended to be a little more excitable than the family's placid quarter horses, and after the last time he'd bolted and led them all on a merry chase around the parking area of an event, he wasn't allowed to back himself out anymore.

Haley reached his head and untied the lead, then let out a cluck. Wings was small and agile enough to turn around easily in the two-horse stock trailer once the other horse was out, and it was a lot easier to lead him out that way. Soon they were both jumping down onto
the hard-packed dirt of the parking lot, which had been completely cleared of snow.

“Hey, you made it!” Owen hurried over, dressed in cowboy boots and jeans with a big belt buckle. He grinned at Haley. “Thought you might chicken out after all.”

“Not a chance.” Haley busied herself straightening Wings's halter, not wanting Owen to think she cared what he thought. “I wouldn't want to miss out on showing you how it's done.”

Uncle Mike chuckled. “How you doing, Owen?” he said. “Still got that nice big bay gelding of yours?”

“Yes sir, Mr. Duncan.” Owen smiled politely. “He's going better than ever.”

Haley's uncle smiled back, then wandered over to close the trailer door. Rusty had settled down by then and was standing quietly as Jake saddled him. But Wings was still alert, jigging at the end of his lead rope. Suddenly he let out a shrill whinny, almost yanking the lead out of Haley's hand as he whipped his head around to watch a big rawboned chestnut jog past.

“Easy, buddy,” Haley said, bumping him with her
elbow to stop him from crashing into her as he spun around to stare the other way.

Owen blinked at the pony. “Uh, he seems kind of freaked out,” he said. “Maybe he's feeling insecure about being a runt pony in a horse's world.”

Haley scowled at him. “He hasn't been anywhere new in a while, that's all,” she said. “Anyway, I think it's kind of nice that he's more interested in his surroundings than some dull old stock horse who never notices anything.”

She grimaced as a cow bellowed in the distance and Wings spun in that direction, almost knocking into her again. It was true what she'd told Owen—the only times Wings had left the farm since the clinic last autumn had been for lessons at her eventing instructor's farm, where he'd been tons of times before. Maybe it was good that they were getting used to going to new places again before the event next weekend.

Just then Haley spotted Tracey and Emma hurrying toward her. Tracey was wearing designer jeans and a pink cowboy hat, while Emma had an American-flag-printed bandana knotted around her neck.

“Surprise!” Tracey exclaimed breathlessly, skidding to a stop in front of Haley. “We're here!”

“Hi, Wingsie,” Emma added, reaching out from a safe distance to give the pony a careful stroke on the nose. She was a little nervous around horses, though she always tried to be a good sport about it. Wings snuffled at her briefly, then returned to staring around.

“You're here,” Haley echoed. “I thought you guys were going to the mall today to get free makeovers or whatever.”

“You fell for that?” Tracey grinned and slung an arm around Haley's shoulders. “Come on. You know we'd never miss being here to cheer you on.” She turned her smile in Owen's direction. “Hey, Lemke. What's up?”

“Not much,” Owen said. “See you guys later, okay? I have to check on my horse.”

As he hurried off, Emma leaned closer to Haley with a smile. “We're mostly here to cheer you on,” she whispered. “But partly for the cute cowboys, too.”

Haley smiled, though her stomach twisted a little at the reminder of how much her friends had changed. Cute cowboys? Seriously?

Uncle Mike hurried over, saving her from responding. “Better go sign in,” he told her. “I'll hold Wings for you.”

Haley nodded and handed over the lead rope. Uncle Mike had a calming, easy way with horses—and people, too, for that matter. He would help Wings settle, if anyone could.

“Be right back,” Haley told her friends, diving into the crowd.

At the sign-in table Haley paid her fee and got her team assignment. It turned out she'd be riding with a girl she knew a little who was a year ahead of her in school, plus a sandy-haired boy she didn't recognize.

“Hi, I'm Kenny,” he introduced himself when the organizer called him over.

“Haley,” Haley said. “Nice to meet you.”

“I'm Tia,” the older girl added, taking in Kenny's well-worn jeans and boots. “You done much penning? I haven't seen you here before.”

Haley winced at the challenge in Tia's voice, but she listened with interest for Kenny's response. It would stink if getting stuck with some newbie made her look stupid in front of Owen.

“It's my first time here, but not my first time penning,” Kenny replied. “I just moved here from Minnesota. I've been penning since I could ride, and riding since I could walk.”

Haley let out a breath of relief, then traded a grin with Tia. That sounded promising, especially since he'd said it in such a matter-of-fact way that she was pretty sure he wasn't just bragging.

“Cool,” Haley said. “Welcome to Wisconsin, then. Let's get our horses and get warmed up.”

Kenny's eyes widened slightly when he saw Wings, but he didn't say anything. His own mount was an older quarter horse mare with wise eyes and a crooked blaze.

Tia mounted her flashy paint gelding and surveyed the little herd of heifers, which someone had just released into the pen. “Looks like the cows are pretty fresh,” she commented.

Haley nodded, snugging up the cinch on her Western saddle. The cows were bleating and practically running over one another as they moved around the big pen. Wings snorted as a bald-faced heifer bounced off the metal fencing nearby.

“Easy, boy.” She mounted quickly, then lowered a hand to his withers, giving him a rub. “We'll get our turn at them soon enough.”

“Talking to animals again, Duncan?”

Haley didn't have to turn her head to know that it was Owen. He'd just ridden over to the rail, looking comfortable atop his compact but muscular quarter horse.

“I was just telling Wings how we're going to kick your butt, Lemke,” she retorted.

Tia laughed. “You said it, Haley!”

Owen rolled his eyes. “Here I thought maybe you were telling him what a real horse looks like.”

“Whatever.” Haley glanced over her shoulder as she heard someone call her team. “We're up, guys!”

She felt a shiver of excitement as a woman swung open the gate, letting Haley and the rest of her team into the pen.

After that, things happened fast. The announcer called out three numbers, and Haley and her team had to find the cows wearing those numbers and separate them from the herd.

“Heads up, Haley,” Tia called out. “Got a seven over to your left.”

Haley glanced that way and spotted the heifer Tia meant, a big-eared one with a stubborn expression.

“Okay, Wings,” she murmured. “Let's show our stuff.”

She didn't dare look around to see if Owen was watching as she sent her pony toward the cow. Wings jigged, clearly wanting to speed up, but Haley kept him at a walk. If they scattered the herd, it would take forever to get them back.

The cow eyed the pony as he got closer, and finally scooted away in the direction Haley had hoped she would. Wings was watching the cow now, ears pricked.

“Easy, easy,” Haley murmured as they pressed the heifer a little harder, trying to aim her toward the far end of the arena. “That's the way . . .”

The cow snorted and tried to duck past to return to the herd, but Kenny scooted in and blocked her. When number seven turned back and took off at a lope, Haley and Wings were ready. The pony leaped forward, staying close beside the cow to keep her separated from her herd mates.
Kenny was right there too. Meanwhile Tia had galloped to the far end and was waiting to help corner the cow and then keep her there while her teammates fetched the other two they needed.

By the time the three of them had pushed all three heifers into the small pen and raised their arms for the timer, Haley was breathing hard and smiling from ear to ear.

Top that, Lemke,
she thought, finally chancing a look around at the spectators. She saw Tracey and Emma waving at her, and she waved back, glad that she'd come. Maddie was right—she and Wings had needed to let off some steam and have a little fun.

Haley was still in a good mood the next afternoon as she saddled her pony for a ride. “Okay. We missed our dressage schooling yesterday,” she told Wings, who was standing quietly in the crossties for a change, watching the chickens running up and down the barn aisle. “So we should do at least a little dressage today and then go ahead with our trot sets.”

She hummed as she tightened the girth another notch,
then gave the pony a pat on the shoulder. Her team had just edged out Owen's yesterday, winning first place in their age group. Tracey and Emma had been excited, jumping around doing little cheers. Owen had come over and congratulated her, but he hadn't been able to resist joking that the cows had probably mistaken Haley's spotted pony for one of them.

“Whatever, Lemke,” Haley had said, feeling a bit smug as she'd brushed the sweat marks from Wings's coat. “You're just jealous because you wish you had a pony who could do anything.”

She'd expected another joke, but Owen had just shrugged. “I guess he's okay, for a runt pony. Anyway, we'll get you next time.”

“We'll see.” Her smile had broadened. “But first Wings and I have something more important to do—win that event next weekend!”

In the Sunday afternoon quiet of her home barn, Haley felt a shiver run down her spine as she thought about what she'd said. Just six days until she and Wings made those words come true!

“Come on, boy,” she said. She led the pony into a nearby field and then swung into the saddle. “Let's do some dressage.”

Most of the previous week's snow had melted, revealing the clear spot Uncle Mike had plowed in the deeper snow for Haley's dressage ring. She glanced toward it and nudged her pony's sides, but he stayed where he was.

“Come on, Wingsie,” she said. “Walk on.”

She clucked and asked again, and finally Wings stepped off into a walk.

Haley chuckled. “Okay. I know you don't like dressage that much,” she said, “but we have to do it. Eventing is about more than just running and jumping, you know.”