Silver Spurs (9 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Kate stood at the rail of the indoor arena, holding her breath as Tori rode by on Mr. Gray. Her friend's face hadn't gained much more color than earlier, but at least she hadn't fainted or hurled. Kate nudged Colt in the side with her elbow. “She's doing great, huh?”

He kept his gaze fixed on Tori as she and Mr. Gray moved down the rail on the far side of the arena. “Yeah. And it's a bigger class than I expected. I didn't realize there were eight kids under the age of eighteen who would qualify for a walk-trot class.” He tilted his head toward a girl as she rode by on a sorrel mare. “I'm almost positive she doesn't belong in there, though.”

Kate arched a brow. “Why not?”

“You're supposed to be a novice for this class, which means you've never placed in a show. I think she took a fifth-place ribbon at a show in The Dalles—I'm not sure, but her name sounds familiar.”

“Should we say something?”

“Not unless she wins, and even then, I'm not sure it's our place. It happens sometimes, although that doesn't make it right.”

Indignation stiffened Kate's spine. “No kidding! If she does win, I'll mention it to my mom. And maybe to Mrs. Jamison.”

Colt nodded but kept watching Tori. “She's doing good. I can't believe how much better she's gotten since she started riding your lesson horse.”

“She says it's all Mr. Gray, but I told her she only needed a little bit of confidence to bring out the good rider inside. He's a super horse, and we're lucky we got him.”

Static from the loudspeaker crackled a second before the announcer's voice boomed. “Walk your horses, please. Walk your horses.”

Everyone in the ring slowed to a walk and continued around the circle. Tori kept light pressure on the reins, and Mr. Gray kept his nose down and walked at a steady pace. Kate noticed that the girl Colt had pointed out couldn't seem to keep her horse from breaking into a trot. Served her right if she was trying to cheat by entering a class she didn't qualify for.

As the girl rode past, Kate saw tears glinting on the girl's cheeks, and remorse hit her. What if the girl, who wasn't any older than Tori, didn't know the rules or thought she had to place first in another class to be disqualified for this one?
Maybe Dad's right. He says sometimes I'm too hasty to judge.
Kate almost hoped the girl would win a ribbon, even if it was fifth again.

“Line up, please. Everyone line up in the center of the ring,” the announcer boomed again, making Kate jump. Everything echoed in here, and she was surprised it hadn't spooked any horses.

The eight horses and riders formed a straight line across the center of the arena, and a judge walked into the ring. She stopped in front of each one, asking the rider to back the horse a few steps, then move forward and halt. Kate heaved a huge sigh after Mr. Gray executed his command perfectly.

Only minutes later, the loudspeaker crackled as a young girl walked into the arena holding a handful of brightly colored ribbons. “As I call your name, please walk your horse forward and accept your ribbon. Then you may exit the ring.”

Colt nudged Kate. “What do you think? Does Tori have a chance?”

Kate nodded. “I'm no judge, but I think so. A couple of the other riders did really well too, but Tori looked great.”

“Fifth place goes to Myra Robbins from The Dalles.” The girl who'd been crying rode forward and accepted her ribbon, her somber face breaking into a smile.

Colt grunted. “Think we should say something?”

“Naw. Let it go. If someone in the class knows she doesn't belong there, they can bring it up.”

“Right. Good call.”

“Fourth place goes to Ryan Smith from White Salmon, Washington.”

“A dude?” Colt shook his head. “I was watching Tori and the other girl so much, I didn't catch that.”

“Lots of guys ride English.” Kate smirked at him. “You should try it, Colt.”

“Not on your life.”

“Third place goes to Marcy Kingston from Mosier, Oregon.”

Kate clutched Colt's arm. “There are two places left and five people. I'm so nervous for Tori!”

“Yeah.”

A rustle of papers sounded over the speaker. “Second place goes to Tori Velasquez from Odell.”

Kate squealed and clapped her hands, and Colt pumped his fist in the air. “Way to go, Tori!”

Tori rode forward and accepted her red ribbon as color flooded her face. Kate and Colt rushed around to the gate at the end of the arena, not even caring to hear who won first place. As far as Kate was concerned, Tori was a champion!

As soon as Tori cleared the gate, she dismounted. Kate swooped in and grabbed her in a hug, squealing the entire time. Colt took Mr. Gray's reins and patted Tori's shoulder. “Way to go, squirt. You did good.”

Tori gazed at both of them with glazed eyes. “I can't believe it.” She held up the ribbon, then swung around as her mother rushed up and enveloped her in a hug. “Mom? Did you see my class?”

“
Si
, silly goose. I was across the arena from Kate and Colt, cheering for you. I'm so proud of you,
mi hija
.”

Tori grinned at them before focusing her attention on Kate. “Now it's Kate's turn, and Colt's.”

Colt scuffed his boot on the ground. “I decided to scratch my one class.”

“What?” a chorus of voices echoed. “Why?” Kate glared at her friend, hardly able to believe what he'd said.

“It was only one class, and I wasn't crazy about Western Equitation. Besides, I saw Melissa earlier, and she needs help, so I told her I'd groom her horse between classes.”

Kate stared, trying to absorb what he'd said. “She was rude to Tori and me earlier. Why would you do that, Colt?”

“Why not? It's not like I don't have time.”

Tori narrowed her eyes. “Are you crushing on her?”

Colt blew out a hard breath. “No way! I kind of feel sorry for her.”

“You wouldn't if she'd talked to you like she did to us,” Kate said.

Mrs. Velasquez patted Colt's arm. “I'm proud of you for doing the right thing, even if she isn't a nice girl.” She turned to Tori. “Want me to take care of your ribbon so you can help Kate get ready for her class?”

“Sure, thanks, Mom.” Tori handed the red rosette over and linked arms with Kate. “Come on. Your turn to wow the crowd.”

All of a sudden, Kate's pulse sped up. Wow the crowd? She didn't expect to do any such thing. Would she live up to Tori's second place or maybe earn a first? She hadn't thought past entering a class and having fun. Now she knew what Tori felt like an hour ago. “I have time. I want to go outside and watch one of the jumping classes first. Okay with you guys?”

“Sure.” Tori nodded. “You coming, Colt?”

He shook his head. “Melissa's got a class coming up soon. I need to get Mocha ready.”

“What's she doing? Can't she get her own horse ready?” Kate frowned.

“She can, but it's hard when you've got your best clothes on, and the horse has to be cooled and groomed and tacked up between classes. It's a lot easier if you only have one or two classes, and they're further apart.”

Shame tugged at Kate. “I never thought of that. I assumed she wanted a slave to take care of her because she thought she was too good to do it herself.”

Tori hung her head. “Yeah, me too.”

Tori's confession made Kate feel a little better, but she still shouldn't have gotten so angry when Melissa asked for help. Then a memory hit her. Melissa hadn't
asked
them, she'd
demanded
, even making that weird comment about having to win the spurs. What was that about anyway? Kate raised her hand. “Have fun, Colt. And tell Melissa I hope she does well in her next class. Any idea how she did in her first one?”

“She got a first in English Equitation. She's pretty solid when it comes to her skills. She's hoping Mocha will do as well in English Pleasure, but it's the jumping class later today she's hoping to ace.” He waved and pivoted. “See you later. I'll be sure and watch your class, Kate.”

“Thanks.”

What was up with him and Melissa? He'd made it clear he didn't want Melissa as a girlfriend, and Kate believed him. Colt was a really nice guy. Maybe he simply wanted to help someone who was having a struggle, as he claimed. Whatever it was, she was glad she wasn't the one helping Melissa. Somehow Kate guessed the girl would be hard to please and strung as tight as a finely tuned guitar string.

Kate, Tori, and Colt sat outside on the grass, waiting for the first jumping class to begin. Colt had finished grooming and tacking up Mocha, and Melissa had headed for the arena without a word to Kate or Tori as she passed. Kate wasn't surprised. As Kate's grandmother always said, she'd seen the handwriting on the wall.

Kate turned to Colt. “Did she thank you for helping?”

He lounged on his elbows, a long blade of grass between his lips. “Yeah. Kind of, I guess. I think she's more nervous about the next couple of classes than Tori was about hers.”

Tori rolled her eyes. “Right. Melissa is the queen of cool. Nothing shakes her.”

“Not what I saw a few minutes ago.”

“What's up with her?” Kate had felt her own batch of butterflies dancing in her belly over her upcoming class, but now wasn't the time to admit it. She was more interested in hearing what Colt thought about Melissa.

“Dunno. She didn't say much. Really uptight. Not sure what's going on.”

The first rider entered the arena, and all three of them sat up and leaned forward. This was the most exciting part of the show—jumping—at least as far as Kate was concerned. Part of her hoped Melissa would do well, but the ornery part of her wished she'd get taken down a notch or two. Maybe she'd quit being so snotty if she didn't always win.

Tori rested her elbows on her knees. “So is this a superhard course or an easy one? I'm clueless.”

Colt looked at Kate. She smiled and said, “It's an easy one. Low jumps and placed far enough apart to give the horse and rider time to recover. No water jumps, nothing terribly hard. It's more for beginner to intermediate riders.”

After the third horse exited the ring, Kate shook her head. “Only one clean round so far.”

“Nuh-uh.” Tori wrinkled her nose. “Three horses have gone over all the jumps without knocking down a single bar.”

“Yeah, I know,” Kate said. “But two of them were slow and didn't do it within the time allowed, so they got time faults. That's as bad as knocking down a bar. They were being careful—but too careful.”

Colt shushed them. “Melissa and Mocha just came into the ring.”

“He's gorgeous.” Tori breathed the words with a reverent tone. “Funny. I never used to notice horses.”

All three of them stood and edged closer to the fence, trying not to get in anyone's way. They found a spot near the corner with an excellent view of the final run of jumps. Melissa cantered around the inside perimeter of the arena, then reined Mocha toward the first jump. As he got within two or three strides, she slowed his pace. The big horse gathered himself and launched over the obstacle without hesitation, landing gracefully on the other side.

Tori clapped and bounced on her toes. “He makes it look so easy! And he doesn't care about the flags waving on the standards or anything.”

Kate kept her eyes trained on the gelding. “He's rushing the next fence. He's going too fast. Melissa needs to slow him down …”

She felt Tori's grip on her arm as Melissa tightened her hold on the big horse and brought him under control at the last second. He shortened his stride in time to adjust and clear the bar, skimming the pole but not knocking it down. Kate released her breath in a whoosh. “Wow. That was close.”

The rest of the round, Melissa kept a tight rein on Mocha but cut a few corners to make up time. She finished with a clean round, with under two seconds before the clock ran out. She patted her horse's neck as he trotted toward the exit, then pulled him to a stop and jumped to the ground.

“What's wrong? What's she doing?” Tori craned her neck trying to see what had caused the unusual action.

Kate shook her head. “I'm not sure. She's running her hand down over his cannon bone.”

“What's that?”

Colt pointed. “The long, slender bone between his knee and his fetlock—you might think of the fetlock as his ankle joint. She must be worried he injured himself on the course.”

Melissa straightened, and Kate saw fear flash across her expression before she turned away and led Mocha out of the arena.

“He's limping,” Colt said. “Not good at all. He still has the biggest course later this afternoon. Melissa won't stand a chance of winning the championship if she can't enter that class.”