Silver Spurs (5 page)

Chapter Six

Kate narrowed her eyes, wondering at Colt's tone. “Tell us about Melissa. How well do you know her?”

Colt leaned over, plucked a blade of coarse grass, and stuck it between his teeth. “Not well, but I can probably explain why she freaked out when your dog spooked her horse.”

Tori's brows rose. “I know she was worried Rufus might hurt Mocha, even though that didn't seem likely. Was there another reason?”

He shifted the grass to the other side of his mouth. “Yeah. She got unloaded a few weeks ago.”

Tori wrinkled her nose. “Unloaded? I don't get it.”

“Dumped. Bucked off her horse.”

Kate cocked her head. “But what does that have to do with Rufus?” None of this made sense, but she was willing to listen.

“She was riding in the outdoor arena. Apparently her last gelding got spooked easily. One of the barn cats took off at a dead run through the arena and darted right under Melissa's horse. He didn't run over the cat, but it scared him half to death, and he started bucking. She's a good rider, but it was so sudden, she must not have had time to prepare. She got launched and landed pretty hard. I kinda wonder if that's why they sold him. She went without a horse the rest of the time I was there. Maybe that's why she's here—they may have rented her stall to someone else.”

Kate winced. “Ouch. Was she hurt bad?”

“She got the wind knocked out of her, the same as Tori when she fell off Capri. But she probably hit a lot harder. It's a good thing the arena had been plowed the day before and was soft. Plus, she was wearing her helmet, or she could have had a serious head injury.”

Tori nodded. “That's what my mom told me. Her brother got hurt the same way years ago, and he wasn't wearing a helmet. She told me she'll never allow me to ride unless I have one on at all times.”

“Yeah,” Colt said. “That's one of the rules at Mountain View Equestrian Center. You wear a helmet, or you don't ride.”

Kate smiled. “We decided that before we opened our barn. Mom said the insurance would be sky-high if we didn't. New boarders have to sign an agreement. But how about Melissa? What happened?”

“People caught her horse and checked her out. She got her breath back and stood, but she was pretty wobbly. She wanted to get back in the saddle, but the owner wouldn't let her. Said she needed to have her mother take her to the doctor.”

“Did she?” Tori asked.

“I don't know. She left right after that and didn't come to the barn again for a few days. I think it spooked her so bad, she was afraid to get back on. I've heard of that happening.”

Kate felt sick. “Now I see why she got so mad. She wasn't on Mocha, but it must have brought back bad memories. Now I feel awful for getting angry at her. I've heard you're supposed to get back on a horse as soon as you get dumped, or you might lose your nerve and not ride again. Do you know if Melissa still rides?”

“Don't know for sure. Not long after, I switched to the other barn where you guys worked. We couldn't afford Mountain View, and I had a chance to work off part of my board instead of taking lessons, like you. It was a nice barn and I would have stayed there, but it's going to be more hanging out with friends here.”

Kate shuddered. Would Tori have the same problem now that she'd fallen off a large horse and refuse to ride again? “We'll have to be nicer to Melissa when she comes.” She turned to Tori. “Want to see if Mom will help you ride Capri? She can make her go slow, and I'll walk along beside her if you want. I'll bet Colt would even ride at the same time in the arena. It would be fun!”

Tori gazed with wide eyes from Kate to Colt and back. “Thanks, but not today. Maybe next time I come, okay?”

Kate's heart took a dive toward her riding boots and seemed to stay there. Her best friend was afraid of horses, and it was all her fault. And now Melissa was afraid as well, and she wasn't even a friend. Trouble sure came all at once lately. Kate hoped this was all the trouble they would have to deal with for now. She couldn't take a lot more.

A few days later, Kate bounced up and down, giddy with excitement. Grabbing Tori's hand, she swung her around in a circle. “Can you believe we get our first lessons with our new trainer today? I can't wait!”

Tori loosened her fingers from Kate's and smiled. “I'm going to watch this time. It's not like you have a lesson horse yet. As soon as you do, I'll take lessons here, since we aren't taking them at the other barn anymore.”

Kate stopped in her tracks. “Tori, I'm so sorry. Why didn't I think of that?” She slapped her forehead. “I've got to talk to Mom about finding a lesson horse. I know we'd use one a lot, and it would earn its keep if we did. It's not fair that you're working here and not getting anything out of it.” A sudden idea swept away the guilt, and she clapped her hands. “I know! I'll do the first half of the hour on Capri. By then she'll be tired and behaving herself, and you can use her the second half, okay?”

Tori shook her head. “Nuh-uh. No way am I robbing you of your first full lesson with our new trainer. You've looked forward to this for weeks. I can wait till next time.”

Kate studied her friend. Tori was one of the kindest, most generous people she knew, but was this refusal coming from that or because she was still afraid to ride? Just a couple of days ago, they'd gone back to their old barn, since the owner still owed them an hour lesson for the work they'd done before giving notice. Tori had climbed on Lulu reluctantly but didn't refuse. Of course, Lulu was a lot smaller than Capri, but that didn't mean Tori would want to get back on Capri anytime soon.

Kate narrowed her eyes at Tori. “Do you promise to ride Capri half the lesson next time and keep doing it until we get a good lesson horse?”

Tori hesitated, then nodded. “I promise.” She grinned. “As long as nothing bad happens between now and then.”

Kate shivered even though she knew Tori was joking. “Nothing's going to happen. I even saw Melissa riding Mocha in the indoor arena.” She frowned. “Only at a walk and trot for about thirty minutes, but at least she's riding him. That's positive.”

Tori smiled. “I'm glad. She hasn't been mean lately either. In fact, she said hi to me recently.”

“Wow! That's a huge improvement!” Kate beamed at Tori and linked arms with her. “Come on, let's go tack up Capri. Colt should be here for the Western lesson by the time the English one is half over.” She winked at Tori. “I can't believe how insulted he was when we told him he should ride English.”

“I know.” Tori giggled. “‘Are you kidding? Me in a pair of breaches? I'd quit riding before I'd wear a pair of those things.'” She did a nearly perfect imitation of Colt's voice.

Kate broke out in a full laugh as she tugged Tori toward the tack room. “I'd have my camera handy if he did! Come on, we don't have a lot of time to get ready.”

An hour and a half later, Kate, Tori, and Colt stood at the low rail separating the alleyway from the indoor arena, enthralled at the sight playing out before them. Kate sucked in a quick breath. “My lesson was great, but I want to learn to jump! Capri is trained for it, but I'm not. I'm going to ask Mom when I can start taking lessons that teach more than flat work. It's not like I don't have the basics down.”

Colt gave a lopsided grin. “Yeah, but there's a lot more to jumping than leaning forward and letting your horse pop over the rails. I don't ride English, but I've watched it at the other two barns where I boarded my horse. From what I've seen, you've got to have supersteady hands, excellent balance, the ability to post and change leads easily, and a sense of timing for the jumps.”

Tori gazed at him openmouthed. “Wow. You know a lot.”

A slow flush climbed from his neck to his cheeks, and Colt ducked his head. “Nah. It's hard not to hear stuff when you're cleaning stalls right next to the arena. I always seemed to be there when jumping lessons took place, that's all.”

Kate turned to the arena again. “It's not a very big class yet. Just four riders. Melissa and three women I don't know. One of them boards her mare here, and I think Mom said the other two trailered their horses in for the lesson. Melissa's mom agreed to let her take a group lesson to start, then she's going to take private ones after this.” She grinned at her friends. “That should be way cool!”

Tori huffed. “Those jumps aren't very high. The horses can practically step over them. What are they, about two feet, if that?”

Kate nodded. “Eighteen inches. The instructor can raise the height of the rails all the way up to six feet if she wants to, but she told Mom she plans to start everyone out low, even if they say they know what they're doing and want to go higher.”

Colt leaned a hip against the low wall. “Smart lady. Make sure, so she doesn't have accidents. What's her name anyway? Is she well known in the valley?”

“Mrs. Jamison,” Kate said. “She moved here from Portland recently. I guess she got tired of city life and wanted to be in a more rural area but still somewhere there's a lot of interest in dressage and jumping. Mom checked her out, and she has a good reputation. We put ads in the local paper to let the public know about the classes. I wish we'd gotten a better response for this first lesson, but Mrs. Jamison didn't seem to mind.”

Colt gave a soft grunt. “If she's good, word will get out, and more people will come. It won't take long.”

Tori leaned in closer, staring at the arena as Melissa's gelding increased his pace to a slow gallop and cleared a jump. “At least Melissa's riding again—and jumping. She must not have been as scared as we thought.” She frowned.

“I can't quite figure her out,” Kate said. “Sometimes it's like she wants to be friendly, then quick as a cat, she switches to her old personality.” She giggled. “Sorry. It wasn't very nice to compare her to a cat after her accident.”

Colt flicked a hand toward the arena. “Looks like Mrs. Jamison is satisfied. She's raising the poles to two and a half feet.”

Tori squinted the way he was pointing. “How can you tell?”

“Every jump cup is set three inches apart, so you count the cups and multiply.” He grinned and bumped Tori's shoulder. “You do know how to multiply, right?”

Tori swatted his arm. “Watch it, or we'll make you clean
all
the stalls.”

He tipped back his head and hooted, then sobered as Mrs. Jamison scowled at him. “Sorry, ma'am.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I know better than that. I'm glad no one was jumping.”

They watched in silence as the instructor finished adjusting the height of the rails, then moved to her place in the center. “All right, everyone. I want Melissa to go first, then Miss Ryan, then Mrs. Hooper, followed by Mrs. Carson. Please trot your horses a half circle around the arena, then increase to a controlled canter and come down the center, taking the three jumps. When you finish, move off to the side and out of the way of the next rider.”

Kate watched with interest, wondering if the higher rails would shake Melissa's confidence, or if the girl would take them with ease. Melissa put Mocha into a trot, posting on the inside lead, then transitioned smoothly into a collected canter, her gelding's nose tucked and his neck nicely rounded. Her hands were steady, and she sat the canter as though molded to the horse, moving with the rhythm and looking straight ahead. She rounded the final corner and directed Mocha in a straight line toward the first jump, then tugged on the reins and slowed him as he started to rush.

Kate could hear Melissa's whispered assurance to her mount, then a “hup” a stride before the jump. The dark bay gelding sailed over the rail without even flicking his ears. He got to the second rail and repeated his performance, and Kate began to breathe easy. One rail to go.

The big gelding took two more strides. Melissa was in three-point position, almost standing in her stirrups, her hands gripping the reins forward on Mocha's neck, when all of a sudden he swerved away from the rail, darting out of the jump line.

The quick sideways movement threw Melissa off balance, and she gasped. One foot came out of the stirrup, and she leaned precariously to one side.

Chapter Seven

Mrs. Jamison walked toward the horse, talking in a hushed tone as he continued to canter toward the far side of the arena. She raised her voice a bit. “Melissa, grab his mane and pull yourself upright. That's a good girl. You're doing fine.”

Melissa heaved herself the opposite direction and fumbled for her stirrup, then drew back on the reins and brought Mocha to a halt.

Kate knew what was coming next—the explosion of temper she'd seen in the barn when Rufus had frightened Melissa's horse. She'd hate to be an animal that made this girl mad. Kate would bet that any minute the crop Melissa held would flay Mocha's backside.

She didn't realize she'd been holding her breath for several seconds, until she felt the need for air and released it, then sucked air into her lungs. She stared at Melissa, shocked at what she saw. The other girl spoke in a soft, soothing tone, stroking Mocha's neck and patting him like he'd done something right instead of wrong.

Kate shook her head, not understanding. Where was the Melissa who'd screamed at Rufus the day she arrived? She turned to Colt and Tori, ready to ask what they thought, when Melissa bumped Mocha with her heel and drove him forward into a trot.

Mrs. Jamison didn't speak but moved to the center of the ring and nodded in approval.

Melissa increased her horse's gait to a canter, then rounded the corner and headed for the first jump again. Mocha cleared it and headed toward the second at a steady pace, but what about the third?

Tori leaned closer. “Think he'll go over this time? If I were Melissa, I wouldn't try again. I'd have gotten off that horse.”

The awe and respect coloring Tori's voice seared Kate with discomfort. Had Melissa won Tori over like she had Pete? Kate returned her attention to the arena, not wanting to miss the action. Feeling bad over her pang of jealousy, she asked God to keep Mocha steady this time, even though part of her wished Melissa wouldn't have something to brag about later.

Melissa tightened the reins as she neared the third jump, planted her heels even lower, and pressed her fists on each side of Mocha's neck as she gripped the reins. She kissed to the horse a stride before the fence. He slowed for an instant, then rose and soared over as though it wasn't even there.

A muted shout broke from Colt's lips, and even Tori applauded. Kate wasn't sure what to think. If Melissa had been friendlier or even polite most of the time, she'd want to root for the girl too. She was happy Melissa hadn't been thrown and had gotten her confidence back, but part of her squirmed at the accomplishment of this girl who quickly seemed to be turning into a rival—in more ways than one.

Kate worked to maintain a smile, but her heart hurt. Would she lose her two best friends to Melissa, or was she silly to even think that way? After leaving all her friends in Spokane a few months ago, she hated the thought of starting over again. She gave herself a small shake and told herself to knock it off. Just because Pete responded to Melissa, and Colt and Tori thought she'd done a good job, didn't mean any of them intended to desert her.

“She did great, huh?” Kate mustered a smile. “I think I'd better get to work. It's easier to clean the stalls with the horses out, so I'll tackle Mocha's first and then the one for Miss Ryan's mare. You guys can stay here and watch.”

She started to move away, but Tori caught her arm. “Hey, wait up. I'd rather spend time with you than watch another lesson. I think my brain is worn out from all the technical stuff Mrs. Jamison throws at them, anyway.” She looped her hand through Kate's arm.

Kate felt like she would burst with joy. She gazed at Tori, then looked at Colt. “How about you?”

“I'm only here because you guys wanted to watch. I took care of my stall already, and I'd better get home. Dad said he needs help building a chicken coop tonight.” He exhaled heavily. “I told him I don't mind building it, but I'm not crazy about cleaning it once it's done.”

Kate grinned. “Oh, but think about all those yummy eggs and that fried chicken.”

Tori shuddered. “That's awful! Poor little baby chicks. They'll grow up and end up on someone's barbecue.”

Colt laughed. “Where do you think the chickens come from that are in the store?”

She frowned. “That's different. You don't hold those cute fluff balls and give them names.”

Colt rolled his eyes. “And I'm not going to give them names either, you goof.” He lifted his hand in a brief wave, then gave an impish smile. “Later, guys. Have fun cleaning stalls without me!”

He ducked out of the way before Kate's slap could connect with his arm, then jogged down the alleyway toward the outer door, laughing the entire way.

“Boys.” Tori pulled Kate toward the stall that housed Melissa's horse. Once they had snagged the wheelbarrow, pitchfork, and rake, they entered the stall, and she swung to face Kate. “What gives?”

“Huh?” Kate blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“You got all quiet after Melissa cleared that jump.” She studied Kate. “But not until after I clapped, and Colt said she did a good job. Are you jealous of Melissa?”

Kate squirmed, finding it hard to meet Tori's probing gaze. She grabbed a pitchfork and dug into a pile of manure mixed with sawdust, then tossed it into the wheelbarrow. “We'd better get busy. Melissa could be here any minute.”

“No way.” Tori snatched the fork from Kate's hands. “Not until you tell me what gives. I've never seen you like this before. You don't get mad at the kids at school even if they make a snide remark. I've seen you be kind to her more than once since she's arrived, and now you're acting all weird. Is it because I was happy she didn't fall off her horse again?” She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

Kate hung her head, feeling horrible that Tori had figured it out. No way could she lie. Besides, what would God think if she did? She already felt bad enough that she'd allowed jealousy to put her in a bad mood, without adding anything else to the pile. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Tori relaxed, and her arms swung to her sides. “So you thought I'd ditch you for Melissa? Seriously? I mean, why would I do that? You're my friend. Just because I was happy she didn't get hurt doesn't mean I want her as my new best friend.” She snorted a laugh. “I can't even imagine what that would be like. We're about as far apart as two people can be.”

“Now isn't that the truth?” a voice drawled from the alleyway a split second before the door rolled open and Melissa paused at the entrance, Mocha behind her on a lead. Kate wanted to crawl off into a pile of straw and bury herself. She could imagine what Tori must be feeling right now. What rotten timing. Tori had been joking. She'd seen it on her friend's face, but Melissa wouldn't know that. More than anything, Tori had hoped to assure Kate of her friendship and loyalty. She'd accomplished that, but Kate was mortified that Melissa had overheard.

Melissa's eyes blazed, and she stood as stiff as the pitchfork handle. “I can't imagine being friends with either of you, or why you'd think I'd care to be. As for being happy I didn't fall off my horse, that's ridiculous. I'm a better rider than the two of you put together, or that silly boyfriend of yours.”

Kate's tongue finally loosened. “Colt is not a boyfriend. He's a nice guy who was happy you weren't hurt, like we were.”

“It's pretty obvious how happy you both are.” Melissa's lip curled. “If I did get hurt before, then I wouldn't be here showing you up with my horse and my riding.” She flicked a hand at the stall floor. “I see you don't have this stripped or fresh bedding down yet. At our other barn, our stalls were always ready when we finished riding. And we had rubber mats on the floor, not dirt covered with shavings.”

She looked over her shoulder and then up at the rafters. “Everything here is dirty. No rubber mats on the alleyways either. The tack room barely has enough shelves, hooks, or saddle racks for the boarders you have now, and the arena fences need to be repainted. It's all so … rundown and grubby. I don't understand why you couldn't get it fixed up before you opened for business.”

Kate didn't trust herself to respond. She bent over and picked up the pitchfork, and Tori grabbed the handles of the wheelbarrow. Kate flicked a glance at Melissa. “We're sorry, Melissa. We'll get done as fast as we can.”

Tori choked out a strangled sound. She looked as if she might burst into tears any minute. “I'm sorry too. I didn't mean anything bad. I was trying to make Kate feel better, that's all.”

Melissa stepped into the alleyway. “Whatever. I don't care what you meant. I'll cross-tie Mocha out here while you finish. Maybe I'll go talk to your little brother. Pete, right? I saw him outside when I walked past the door.” She pivoted and walked away without another word.