Crown Prince (7 page)

Sarah hung her head and took a deep breath. She should have known this incredible idea of her getting a horse was totally off the charts. No way could it possibly happen. She'd reconciled herself to that reality a long time ago—all this talk now was just a cruel tease.

Mr. DeWitt responded quickly. “Let's talk this through, Alison. You see, if Sarah takes one of these horses, there will be a few conditions. First, the horse must be boarded here, at least for the first year. Now I'm aware a monthly board bill might be a stretch for your family's budget, especially after your car accident. So I'd like to offer Sarah the opportunity to work at the farm to help pay for her horse's board.”

Mr. DeWitt sat back and crossed his legs before continuing. “Lucas is leaving for the summer, and Gus will need some help with chores here. Sarah would be what is called a ‘working student.' She might clean stalls, sweep the aisles, fill water buckets, bring horses in and out from the paddocks, or help with feeding. At some point she could even be an assistant to Kathleen or Lindsay, helping with their beginner students. That would free them up to work with others. In exchange for her help, we're also prepared to offer Jack's continuing instruction, as Sarah's new horse learns what's expected of him.” Mr. DeWitt paused and looked to his trainer. “Do you have any thoughts on this, Jack?”

Jack rose from his chair and moved slowly toward the fireplace, carefully choosing his words. He leaned his elbow on the mantle as he spoke. “Just this. We know a horse right off the racetrack will be green as grass, and 'twill take a bit of time for him to catch up with the others. But Sarah has done a good job when she's ridden French Twist, and I think she can ride another horse fresh from the track. For her age and experience, she has a good seat and excellent hands. But a lot will depend on the individual horse, so 'tis important she gets one that's levelheaded. She'll need some private lessons for a while, but eventually I can see her returning to my Young Riders class.”

Chandler DeWitt nodded in agreement. “I'm glad to hear that. We'll figure out how many hours Sarah can work throughout the week over the summer, and of course she'll need to shift much of her schedule to the weekends once school is in session in the fall. We'll make allowances for times when she can't work, as long as she can make it up later.”

Sarah listened carefully to every word being spoken, but she was becoming increasingly irritated by the conversation. Her mother had made it perfectly clear she wouldn't be getting a horse. Sarah didn't see her mother changing her mind any time soon.
It wasn't going to happen.
Why were they raising her hopes like this?

“Excuse me,” Martin Wagner interrupted. “There's something else to think about here. Alison and I can only do so much chauffeuring. How is a high school student without a driver's license, or the wherewithal to support an automobile when she eventually does get a license, supposed to make frequent trips between the barn and home? I'm afraid transportation is a legitimate problem for us.”

Mr. DeWitt's gaze shifted to Sarah. “Sarah, you live a few miles from Brookmeade Farm, not including the long farm road. Even when you get a driver's license, it sounds like having access to a car is not in the cards. How would you feel about riding a bicycle to Brookmeade and back home on a regular basis? It's a transportation choice that doesn't require fuel, and there's a bike lane on Ridge Road, so you wouldn't be at risk. We'll find a spot in the boarders' tack room for you to stash some things you otherwise would have to carry back and forth.”

Without hesitation Sarah responded, “Mr. DeWitt, if I could have a horse of my own, I would ride my bike to the moon and back every day.”

It was a relief to hear everyone laugh before Mrs. DeWitt interjected softly, “When Chandler proposed this wonderful idea, I began thinking about how Sarah could possibly ride her new horse if she has no tack or other equipment. So I decided to get into the act.” Turning directly to Sarah, she continued, “In hopes you and your family would agree to this plan, I purchased a gift card for you from Atlantic Saddlery, the new tack shop that's going to open tomorrow down near the beach. You'll be able to get a saddle, bridle, and all the other things we riders need for our horses.” She smiled warmly at Sarah.

Sarah was too stunned to speak—a shopping spree at a tack shop! But her father broke in again.

“I think we need to slow down here,” he said. “This sounds like a fairytale come true for our daughter. It would add a wonderful new dimension to her life, one her mother and I cannot possibly provide on our own. But I'm afraid the plan won't work because Alison and I couldn't possibly repay you. Even with my school's health insurance plan, I have to admit we have a great deal of medical debt. And if the day ever comes we catch up with those bills, our next priority will be college for the girls. What you've proposed in terms of sponsorship will be costly, more than we could ever repay. I know it will break Sarah's heart to hear me say no, but I have to be realistic.”

Sarah slumped and blinked furiously to keep the tears at bay. She had known all along it was too good to be true. Sensing something was wrong, Spin stretched to lick Sarah's cheek. The room was quiet.

Then Sarah heard Mrs. DeWitt's reassuring voice again. “Martin and Alison, you need to understand that Chandler and I are not expecting to be repaid. We're not offering to
loan
you a sum of money for Sarah to buy and maintain a horse. Rather, we're providing her with a horse along with a reasonable plan to support him and learn the skills she'll need to ride him. We feel it's important she work to pay for board and lessons. It will be more meaningful that way, and a little hard work never hurt anyone.” Mrs. DeWitt looked at the Wagners almost pleadingly. “We
want
to do this for Sarah's sake. A young dedicated rider with lots of potential shouldn't be deprived of the opportunity to develop her skills. Let's not let money stand in the way.”

Sarah looked up at her parents, who appeared deep in thought. She could see her dad was torn. He was a proud man who would hate to take a large handout from the DeWitts, but at the same time he knew what this opportunity would mean for her. He looked at his wife, who only nodded her head. Finally, he spoke.

“For some time Alison and I have wished Sarah could have a horse. Horses mean a great deal to her, and she'll only be a teenager for a few short years. Before we know it she'll be going off to college. You two have carefully thought through many angles of this proposal. On the condition she can defray a good portion of the horse's expense by working at the farm, we'll allow Sarah to accept your offer.” He paused, looking at his wife and Sarah before turning back to the DeWitts. “And we want you to know we are profoundly grateful.”

Sarah couldn't believe her ears. She had been so sure all the talk would be for nothing, that it would all come down to the Wagners' inability to come up with the money having a horse required. Now her father was accepting the DeWitts' offer!

Mrs. Wagner shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. “There's something else I feel must be said. As excited and happy as I am for Sarah, I also have some reservations. Sarah was run away with by a horse yesterday, a dangerous incident that could have had a tragic ending. And now she's going to be getting a horse from the racetrack? I need to be sure she'll be safe.”

Chandler DeWitt fielded the question, glancing at Jack and Sarah as he did so. “Undoubtedly all of us in this room have the highest respect for Jack's equestrian knowledge and common sense. I think it's important that he help Sarah choose her horse. With his counsel, I don't believe she'll come home with a horse that's an accident about to happen. We care too much about Sarah's well-being and the reputation of Brookmeade Farm to let her get a horse that's not appropriate.”

Sarah continued to sit quietly, daring to hope against hope that her lifelong dream might actually be coming true. Her mother didn't appear completely convinced, but she said, “We'll go along with your plan, although Martin and I will need to keep close tabs on what's happening.”

The DeWitts looked very pleased. “We should get moving on this as soon as possible,” Mr. DeWitt said. “Hank's trainer would like all the horses to find new homes this month to make room for other young prospects from the farm. We need to get Sarah to Raceland Park within the next few days so she can make her selection and bring the horse back to Brookmeade. We're a little cramped for space until the crew finishes building the two new stalls, but we'll manage to find a place for him somewhere.”

“Saturday is good for me,” Jack volunteered. “Kathleen and Lindsay teach all the lessons in the morning, and I can arrange to reschedule the two I usually have in the afternoon.”

Mr. DeWitt turned to Sarah's father.

“Does that work for the Wagner family?”

Sarah's father nodded. “I'm not working Saturday, and I think I can find a replacement for Sarah.”

“Excellent,” Mr. DeWitt said. “Hank's trainer suggested you arrive about nine, when most of the horses in his string will have galloped and cooled out. By then he'll have time to show you the available horses. Of course you're welcome to take the farm's pickup and horse trailer.”

Mr. DeWitt stood up, signaling the meeting had come to a close, and everyone else rose with him except Sarah. She continued to sit with the DeWitt's two dogs, in a state of shock, as she tried to fully comprehend what had just happened. What had been impossible for years had become a reality in what felt like no time at all! She was actually going to have a horse of her own, a horse to ride, to care for, and to love. Finally, she got a grip on her emotions and gently pushed Spin and Taco aside as she rose to her feet, not knowing who to thank first—the DeWitts, for their outstanding generosity, or her parents, for agreeing to the plan.

As they were leaving the lounge, the adults shaking hands and Sarah floating along on a bubble of happiness, Mrs. DeWitt slipped something into Sarah's jeans' pocket.

“Here's the gift card, dear,” Mrs. DeWitt whispered. “You have a lot of shopping to do!”

IT WAS LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON
when Mrs. Wagner drove cautiously into the Atlantic Saddlery's crowded parking lot to drop off Sarah and Kayla. From the number of cars in the lot, it was obvious the shop was crammed with shoppers hoping to take advantage of grand opening specials. Sarah reached into her pocket, just to make sure the gift card Mrs. DeWitt had given her was still there, along with the list of things she wanted to buy for her new horse.

Mrs. Wagner excused herself from the shopping venture. “I wouldn't know a halter from a bridle, so I wouldn't be any help,” she told Sarah. “But Kayla will have some good ideas. I'll be back in about an hour after I do some errands.”

Sarah had never been more excited. In fact, all day it had been hard to think of anything other than the horse she'd be getting on Saturday and today's trip to the tack shop. She had always loved leafing through the pages of tack shop catalogs, but she'd never actually thought she would be shopping for things for her own horse one day.

Sarah and Kayla hopped out of the SUV and headed for the door where a stiff ocean breeze whipped red balloons on the sign that announced the shop's opening. Inside, they were met by the strong smell of leather and a dizzying amount of horse tack on display. Several bins of merchandise had signs announcing special bargains. At the far side of the shop, a woman wearing an Atlantic Saddlery polo shirt was celebrating the opening by serving complimentary punch and cookies while she chatted with customers.

“I'm sure glad you could come with me,” Sarah said, as she picked up a shopping basket. “There's so much I need to buy. Jack gave me some ideas on what things I'll need right away, but I'm still not sure where to start.”

“This is going to be a total blast!” Kayla said. “Do you remember when my mom took us to the tack shop in Bradley when I first got Fanny? Now it's
your
turn.”

While Sarah's riding experience was limited to lessons at Brookmeade, Kayla had gotten her first pony when she was seven. Kayla's father had attached a modest two-stall barn to the back of their garage so her mother's horse could be stabled at home, and not long after the barn was finished, Kayla's first pony, Fuzzy, had moved in. When Kayla outgrew the pony, a small horse named Chubs took his place. She'd moved up to her Quarter Horse two years ago. The Romanos didn't have much land, just enough for a small turnout area and riding ring, but they lived close to an undeveloped land preserve where they could hack on miles of trails. Last year they'd invested in a horse trailer so Kayla could take Fanny to Brookmeade for lessons and go to a few horse shows.

“Are you sure you can't come with me to the track tomorrow?” Sarah asked. She studied Kayla's face closely, hoping for an encouraging response.

“I promised I'd babysit for the Nelsons almost a month ago, and I can't back out now. I wish I could. I'm coming right over to Brookmeade as soon as I get home.”

“Oh, Kayla, I can't believe the DeWitts are doing this for me! I've dreamed of getting a horse for so long, and now it's actually going to happen.”

“Yeah, it's awesome! It's been totally different for me,” Kayla said. “Having a mother who rides makes a big difference.”

“You've had your own horse for so long. Did you ever get a little bored with riding?”

“If I did, I knew better than to tell my mother. Actually, I remember getting tired of riding Chubs. He was fat and lazy, and it wasn't much fun taking him for a trail ride. My mother bought him because she thought he was a safe ride. He sure was—all he wanted to do was walk. Having Fanny has made all the difference.”