Silver Spurs (12 page)

“Hold it.” Melissa's urgent voice halted Kate where she stood. “You're right. I haven't been overly nice to you. I guess recently I've been jealous that you have such a nice mom who wants to be involved in what interests you, and a sweet brother to take care of—not to mention owning a place where you can ride and practice anytime you want to without having to pay.” She grimaced. “But I appreciate you offering me your horse, even if I don't get it. I don't think it would work, though. I've never ridden her, and I doubt she'd perform for a stranger.”

Hope and excitement surged in Kate. “I've got that all worked out. Your class isn't for another couple of hours, right?”

Melissa nodded.

“There's a practice arena set up in a pasture not far from the show arena. Have you seen it?”

“Sure. Most of the competitors use it to warm up their horses before the jumping classes. I took Mocha over a few jumps there.”

“So ride Capri in the warm-up area. Get the feel of her without jumping for the first ten minutes or so, then take her over one low jump. See how she responds, then decide if you want to take it any further. Would you be willing to do that?”

Kate felt someone move up close behind her, and Melissa's gaze strayed past her face and over her shoulder. She pivoted a half turn. Colt and Tori stood behind her, both faces intent and focused on her. She waved a hand. “I told Melissa, and we're discussing how to make this work.”

Tori gave a brief nod. “We heard the part about the warm-up arena.” She glanced at Melissa. “So you're going to do it?”

Melissa gazed from one face to the other. “I'd like to try, if all of you think it's the right thing to do.”

Tori and Colt exchanged a look, then nodded. “We do,” Tori said, “and we'll help in any way we can. Let's see if you can win this thing.”

Chapter Sixteen

Kate, Tori, and Colt stood near the rail at the outdoor arena, staring in total silence at the jumps inside the fence. Kate gulped and wiped sweaty palms on the jeans she'd changed into when she'd decided to scratch her last class. “They're huge. I mean, gargantuan. Do you think there's any chance Capri can clear those?” Fear rose in her throat and threatened to choke her. Somehow she knew she'd made a mistake allowing Melissa to ride her horse.

Colt turned a calm gaze her way. “I forgot to ask. Does your mom know you're letting Melissa use Capri?”

“Yeah. I asked her, and she said it was okay.” She ducked her head for a moment. “She said she was proud of me that I'd want to offer.”

“Great. So these poles are set at three-foot and three-foot-six inches. She didn't have any trouble in the warm-up arena on jumps six inches to a foot lower. In fact, she cleared them with that much or more to spare.”

Tori gripped her hands so tight on the top rail that her knuckles turned white. “I sure hope you're right, Colt. They look big to me too.” She moved closer to Kate. “I'm sorry. That was a dumb thing to say. I should be trying to make you feel better, not worrying out loud.”

“You're being honest, and that's okay. But yeah, I am worried, and I'm glad Colt thinks she can make them.” In spite of the warm day, she shivered. “Melissa is a good rider. I guess partly I'm afraid Capri might get hurt the same way Mocha did.”

Tori kept her eyes glued to the riders walking the course. “But look at all the horses who've jumped today, and not one of them has been injured. I think that was a freak accident.”

Kate smiled at her friend's obvious attempt to cheer her. “Thanks, Tori. I hope that's true.”

Colt swished the ever-present blade of grass to the side of his mouth. “Are you wishing you hadn't let her use Capri? It's not too late to call it off. She's the third person to compete, so there's time to scratch. It's your call, you know. I'm sure Melissa would understand. It's not like she came to you asking to use your horse.”

Kate couldn't believe how tempting that suggestion was—and even more, how long it took her to think about it before she made a decision. What a relief it would be to have Capri pulled from the competition and know she was safe. “No, that wouldn't be fair. I've never seen Melissa so excited and ... happy.”

It was true. She'd truly never seen Melissa with so much joy on her face as when she'd taken Capri over the practice jumps, and again later, as she exited the ring and thanked Kate for the tenth time. Kate couldn't get over it. Would the girl revert to her old self once the show was over and she had no more need of Kate or her horse?

Colt lifted an arm and pointed. “Look. The riders are finished walking the course, and they're getting ready to send in the first rider.”

Kate wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stop shivering. She was as excited as she was scared. It was pretty awesome owning a horse who could compete at this level. If only she were the one getting to ride her instead of Melissa. But that wasn't fair—she didn't have a clue how to put a horse over those kinds of jumps, much less stay on, and it wasn't like she'd ever hoped to compete at jumping anytime soon. Maybe someday. At least she could dream.

A big black-bay Thoroughbred gelding entered the ring, with a girl who looked to be about sixteen riding him. She cantered around the perimeter one time, then headed for the first jump. The clock mounted on a pole at the end of the arena started flashing through the seconds as soon as she crossed in front of the starter.

Tori leaned over to Kate. “So this class has penalties for jumps knocked down as well as penalties if they go over the time allowed, right?”

“Yes. The horses shouldn't have to rush too fast, but if they hesitate between jumps or swing too wide very often, they could go over the time limit and pick up faults.”

They watched in silence as the gelding took the first four jumps with ease, seeming to not even notice they were there. As he neared the fifth, he stumbled and broke stride. His rider tightened her reins and corrected quickly, but the horse couldn't regain his speed in time to clear the jump. His forelegs rapped against the pole, and it clattered to the ground. A groan swept through the crowd lining the rails. He launched himself over the final series of three jumps, but he seemed to lose heart. He barely cleared the first two, then his hind hooves dragged the rail from the standard on the third, and it clattered to the ground. The rider patted the horse's neck as she pointed him toward the exit.

The announcer's voice echoed from the speakers. “Eight jumping faults for Susan Meyers, riding Felix's Dynamo.”

“Too bad for them,” Colt said. “But good for us.”

A bubble of hope formed, but Kate refused to allow it to grow. There were eight entries in this class, and it had been almost two years since Capri had been put through her paces in a jumping arena.

Tori nudged Kate's elbow. “Here comes the next one. Wow! He's big.”

Colt nodded. “Looks like a stallion. I'll bet that boy is powerful.”

Kate's heart sank. “Yeah, he'll probably clear every jump without any problem at all.”

The big chestnut approached the first jump and cleared it with at least six inches to spare, then cantered on to the next, taking it with no hesitation and plenty of room.

Colt pointed to the clock. “Look. He's doing great on the course, but he's taking all his corners wide, and his rider isn't asking for any speed. He's slower than the first horse.”

Kate hadn't noticed, but now that Colt pointed it out, she realized that even with his long stride, the stallion barely seemed to be cantering. “What's wrong with his rider? You'd think she'd push him harder.”

“Maybe she isn't watching the clock, but she should be,” Colt said. “It's going to be close.”

The chestnut took the final two jumps, clearing them with ease, then moved in a rocking-horse canter toward the line where the clock had started. The announcer's voice boomed again. “No jumping faults for Razmataz, ridden by Carly Simpson.” There was a smattering of applause. “However, he earned three time faults.”

Kate reached out and grabbed Tori's hand. “Here they come.”

Melissa entered the ring, sitting confidently as the chestnut mare cantered easily around the perimeter of the ring. She headed for the start line, and Kate held her breath. “Please, God. Please, God. Let her do well.” She didn't realize she'd spoken out loud until she felt Tori squeeze her hand.

Melissa sat forward in three-point position, her gaze trained on the first jump and her hands steady on the reins. Capri gathered her legs under herself and seemed to float over the rail. She landed on the turf, and Melissa turned the mare's head toward the next obstacle, a vertical double rail. Melissa asked for a little more speed, then checked the mare as she neared the jump, and she sailed over it with inches to spare. She took the next one without hesitation as well.

Tori gasped. “She makes that look so easy! But why does she speed her up and then slow her down? That doesn't make sense.”

Kate kept her gaze on Capri and Melissa as she answered. “Mrs. Jamison told me it's up to the rider to gauge the number of strides the horse will need to take between jumps, and how fast or slow to ask it to go. That's one of the reasons they walk the course ahead of time. Melissa probably thought it was the right speed to make that jump, then realized she needed to slow Capri down to clear it.”

Capri rounded the last corner and headed for the triple, each set with only two long strides between. Was her horse in good enough condition to hold up and make a clear run? Kate glanced at the clock. It was going to be close to not earn time faults.

Tori's hand tightened on her own as Capri launched herself over the first obstacle, then took two long strides between and cleared the second. “One more, only one more.” Kate chanted the words, praying she'd make it.

Melissa leaned far over the horse's neck, seeming to will her to make the final attempt. Capri sailed into the air, but as her back hooves rose over the rail, they clanged against the wood.

Kate winced and watched the rail wobble in place. “Please don't fall, please don't fall, please don't fall.” The rail stayed in place, and a cheer rose from the crowd.

Capri cantered toward the finish line and crossed it with a half second to spare on the clock.

“A clear round for Melissa Tolbert, riding Capri, owned by Kate Ferris.”

Tori squealed and thumped Kate on the back. “They said your name too! Cool! That's almost as good as being able to ride her yourself. She did it, Kate. She didn't get any faults!”

Kate grinned, allowing herself a few seconds to rejoice, then sobered. “Yeah. I'm excited too, but she hasn't won yet. There are still five more horses to go.”

“Wow. Oh, wow.” Kate stared from one of her friends to the other. “I can't believe that last horse refused the jump twice and got disqualified.”

Colt nodded. “And the one before that knocked down a rail. Of all eight of the entries, three of them rode a clear round.”

Tori jumped up and down. “What happens next? Does that mean they flip a coin on who gets first, second, and third, or what?”

Kate giggled. “No, they have a jump-off.”

Tori crinkled her nose. “What's that mean?”

“They remove a couple of the jumps to make the course shorter, and all three horses with clear rounds will do it over again. And this time, they'll time each rider. If none of them knock down any rails, then the one who makes the best time wins.”

“So Capri has to do it again? Do you think she's too tired?”

“I hope not. At least she was one of the first to go, so she's had time to recover. Come on, let's go find Melissa and see what she thinks.”

It only took two minutes to find Melissa standing beside Capri, holding her reins and stroking her neck. Kate pushed aside her flicker of jealousy. She should be thankful this girl was kind to her horse—in fact, she would never have allowed Melissa to ride Capri if she wasn't.

“Hey, Melissa!” Kate lifted her hand. “You guys did great! We're rooting for you to win the jump-off.” She rubbed Capri's forehead beneath her forelock, wishing she'd thought to bring a carrot. “How is Capri holding up? Do you think she can handle another round?”

Melissa's eyes sparkled. “Yes, I do. She's an amazing horse—very strong and confident. It's like she hasn't been away from competition at all. It's a short course and with two jumps removed, so it's not as demanding.” She directed a meaningful look at Kate. “You're very lucky to have her.”

“I know. I wouldn't have her if God hadn't answered my prayer and given her to me.”

Melissa arched her brows but didn't respond. She stepped to Capri's side and checked her girth. “I guess it's time to cinch you up, girl, and head back to the ring.”

Tori edged forward. “Are you going to walk the course again?”

“No. We only get to do that on the first round. It's basically the same course. They're just removing a couple of the jumps. I've been going over it in my mind, working out Capri's speed and strides. I hope I don't mess up.”

It was the first time Kate had seen Melissa less than confident. “Hey, we'll all pray you do your best. That's all that matters, right?”

Melissa snorted. “Not to my mom, but I'll take whatever help I can get.” She gave Kate a tiny smile that still hinted of nerves. “Thanks.”

A few minutes later, the announcer called the start of the class. Kate grabbed Tori's hand and beckoned to Colt. “We'd better hurry. Good luck, Melissa and Capri!”

They bounded across the grass to the far side of the arena, closest to the final three jumps. The loudspeaker crackled. “Up first is Tom Jenkins, riding Carrousel.”

The gray Thoroughbred circled the ring before charging toward the first jump. It was obvious his rider was determined to finish in the lowest amount of time. He cleared the first two jumps and galloped toward the final set of three.

The rider hauled back on his reins, attempting to check the big gelding's rush, but the speed appeared to have gone to his head. He bolted over the first jump without touching the bar, but his speed had lengthened his stride to the point that he took the second one too late, his front legs slamming into the bar.

A collective groan went up from the crowd, but Colt gave a tiny victory jab with his fist and leaned toward Kate and Tori. “Not that I'm wishing anyone bad luck, but that sure gives Melissa and Capri a better chance.”

“Four faults for Carrousel, ridden by Tom Jenkins. No time faults. Entering the ring next is Carol Saunders, riding Majesty's Wonder.”

A smattering of applause met the snow-white mare that cantered into the ring, the rider looking in perfect control of her mount. After taking the mandatory loop, the mare headed for the first jump. She nailed it dead center with plenty of room to spare, then cleared the second in the same fashion.