Crown Prince Challenged (19 page)

Prince stood like a statue with his head raised and his ears pricked forward, listening for the horses that had gone before him. Sarah reached down to run her hand along his arched neck. They'd be going next. She wouldn't mind putting some distance between herself and those girls. Maybe Kelly and Nicole had dropped the kick issue, but they had by no means buried the hatchet.

“Okay, guys. See you later,” she said as she gathered her reins and asked Prince to move off the track and into the field. He willingly picked up trot and then canter on a circle, but he seemed a little unsure when Sarah guided him onto the rock wall trail. He didn't like leaving the other horses behind, but once he got into a cantering rhythm, she sensed he was focusing on the trail ahead. She had never ridden here, and was glad the path was wide with good footing.

After they'd cantered around a slight bend in the trail, Sarah saw the first rock wall ahead of them. It was good-sized. The trail went around the wall, so it was possible to skirt it. For a fleeting moment, she considered that option. Prince had never been on this trail before, and his only jumping experience going cross-country was the big log on the old orchard trail.
No,
she thought.
We're going to jump this!
Coming closer to the wall, she sat deeply and closed her legs to tell her horse they were committed. Prince responded with a surge of energy, and a few strides later they were in the air, soaring over the wall.

Prince landed smoothly and ran on, but now he increased his pace from a canter to a hand gallop. His fleet hooves seemed to eat up the ground, and soon a second rock wall loomed ahead of them. This time there was no hesitation, as he attacked the jump, leaped over it, and galloped on.
That was a little quick,
Sarah thought.
I can't let him rush the next one.
The trail wound around an old cabin before abruptly leaving the woods and entering a field. The worn path clearly went straight across the field to a third rock wall on the other side. This one had a telephone pole on top of it. As soon as Prince saw the wall, his ears pricked forward. Now he knew what this was all about, and he pressed forward, anxious to get to the jump. Sarah sat back and with the reins, played the bit in his mouth, asking him to stay soft in the bridle and not rush. Prince responded and kept a steady pace to the base of the wall before jumping it smoothly.
He really loves this!
she thought.
And so do I!

They were back in the woods now, the trail made darker by thick evergreen trees on both sides. It seemed like they galloped on for a long time, with Sarah frequently checking her horse to keep his pace from getting too quick. Finally she saw a rock wall ahead. This would be the last one, and she could vaguely make out the images of Tim and Paige in the field beyond it. This time Prince approached the wall with a lot of confidence, and without increasing his speed, they sailed over it.

Tim and Paige were waiting in the middle of the meadow, and they both pumped a fist in the air and whooped when Sarah and Prince came cantering toward them. Sarah slowed her horse before reaching Rhodes and Quarry, and then circled around them. Prince had found the jumping exciting, and he pranced with his glossy black tail held high. Sarah was catching her breath, but laughing. “He loved it! That was so much fun.”

Tim was walking Rhodes in a small circle. “If you liked jumping those walls, you're going to love eventing. How did Crown Prince do?”

“He started to get a little quick, so I had to keep half-halting to slow the pace,” Sarah said. “But other than that, he was great—and I'm totally addicted to cross-country!”

“Listen!” Paige said, looking back toward the wall. “I think I hear hoofbeats.”Sure enough, a few minutes later Fanny's bright chestnut face with the perfect diamond came into view as she and Kayla approached the last rock wall.

“Fanny's really booking!” Tim said. “I've never seen her move out like that.”

Fanny's small ears were pricked forward as she and Kayla came over the wall in good form, and her audience cheered loudly. “Good ride, Kayla!” Tim called.

Kayla was also out of breath, but beaming, and her face was almost as red as her hair. She enthusiastically slapped Fanny's neck. “I can't wait to do it again!” she said.

Paige looked back to the rock wall. “So now we're waiting for Derek and those two girls,” she said.

“Yeah,” Kayla said, still breathing fast. “Derek tried to talk Kelly and Nicole out of jumping the walls, but they insisted that they could do anything Sarah's green horse could do.” She rolled her eyes as she paused to take a deep breath before continuing. “Both Midnight Jet and Jubilee were pretty winded when they caught up with us, and I think Derek doubts they're fit enough to do this. He said he'd go last, probably to make sure they get through okay.”

Tim frowned. “I don't like the sound of this. If they don't come along pretty soon, maybe we should start back.”

A few minutes later there was still no sign of either Kelly or Nicole. “I think we should see what's going on,” Paige said.

The riders walked around the rock wall and then began trotting on the path in single file. Except for a bird's call of alarm at their presence, the woods were quiet. When they approached the next wall with the telephone pole, Prince began to pull on the reins. He wanted to jump it, and Sarah had to use a strong hand to keep him to the path that went beside it. The riders came to the next wall, with still no sign of anyone.

“I'm getting worried,” Tim said. He pressed Rhodes forward into a faster trot, and the others followed. The horses moved along the woods trail until the first rock wall came into view. Kelly was standing in the clearing on the other side of the wall holding both Midnight Jet and Jubilee.

“Something must be wrong!” Paige cried. They guided their horses around the jump, coming to walk as they approached Kelly. She stood in the middle of the trail holding a horse's reins in each hand while tears streamed down her face. Then they saw Nicole! The girl was lying on her back next to the rock wall, with one arm over her forehead.

“Oh, my God!” Kayla said. Tim and Paige immediately jumped off their horses, and Tim took Quarry's reins while Paige rushed to Nicole's side.

“Derek called 911,” Kelly said between sobs. “He's gone to meet them and show them the way. He told Nicole not to try to get up until someone comes.”

Nicole was moaning incoherently when Paige reached her. “Help's coming, Nicole,” Paige said. “Try to remain still. Are you in a lot of pain?” Nicole mumbled a response Sarah couldn't understand.

Kelly seemed to regain her composure, somewhat, and began to tell them what had happened. “Nicole went first, and Derek and I were talking while I waited to follow her. All of a sudden Jubilee came running back without Nicole! She came right up to Jet, so I jumped off and grabbed her. Derek took off on Bismarck, and he found Nicole like this. He called 911 right away. Then he came back and told me to walk the horses to Nicole and stay with her while he rode to meet the rescue people. He gunned it out of here on Bismarck.”

The faint strains of an emergency vehicle could now be heard in the distance. “It won't be long now,” Tim said. “Thank goodness the trail is wide enough for a vehicle.”

“Let's hope Derek is at the trailhead so he can show them the way,” Kayla said.

They heard the siren coming closer, and then a flashing blue light was visible. Moments later a white rescue vehicle, led by Derek trotting on Bismarck, came slowly along the path. It was a tight fit, with little clearance from the trees on each side and overhead. The riders made way for them, and the rescue unit pulled up near where Nicole lay at the base of the rock wall. Two emergency technicians leaped out and rushed to her. From where the riders held their horses at the edge of the clearing, they could see Nicole and the men examining her. Kelly stood closer to Nicole, still holding Midnight Jet and Jubilee.

After one ET asked Kelly a few questions, he returned to the vehicle, pulled both back doors open, and removed a backboard, which he placed on the ground beside Nicole. She moaned in pain as the two men carefully lifted her onto it and then carried her to the back of the vehicle.

“We're out of here,” the driver said as he came out of the unit, shutting the doors behind him. “But before we go, young lady, can you call your friend's parents to let them know what's happened?” He looked closely at Kelly for confirmation she would do as he asked.

“Yes, I'll do it,” Kelly said, pulling out her cell.

“Tell them she's being taken by rescue unit to the Winchester General Hospital,” the ET said. A few moments later, with one man still in the back with Nicole, the vehicle backed up to reverse direction and pulled away. The riders looked blankly at one another. It was hard to reconcile what had just happened with the thrill of the beginning of their ride.

“Does anyone have any idea how badly Nicole is hurt?” Paige asked.

“Not a clue,” Derek said, “but I suggest that after Kelly calls the Jordans, we get our horses back to the barn. While I was waiting by Ridge Road, I called Jack. He's bringing someone to ride Jubilee back.”

Kelly had calmed down considerably, and she punched the Jordans' number in her contact list. “I just hope someone's at…. Oh, Mrs. Jordan?” Kelly looked relieved. “Nicole fell off Jubilee, and she's on her way to Winchester Hospital by ambulance. The ETs told me to call you.” She paused for a few moments, listening. “I don't know anything else, Mrs. Jordan. I'm sorry.” As she slowly lowered the phone and returned it to her pocket, more tears flowed. For a moment she was choked up. “The Jordans are heading for Winchester,” she said haltingly.

Tim led Rhodes close to where Kelly was holding Jet and Jubilee. “Kelly, why don't you get back on your horse. I'll lead Rhodes and Jubilee behind you until we meet Jack.” Kelly nodded and turned to mount Midnight Jet. The other riders got remounted and started walking their horses back along the trail, with Tim on foot behind them leading Rhodes and Jubilee.

Prince picked up on Sarah's tension, and nervously tossed his head. He wasn't content to walk quietly and jigged occasionally. Sarah used a tight rein and half-halts to insist that he walk. They had gone only a short distance when they saw the farm's pickup with Jack and Kathleen coming toward them. Jack stopped the truck as he approached and jumped out, looking anxious and worried. “Is the rescue unit on its way to the hospital?” When they all nodded, he asked, “Do you know what happened? Does anyone know the extent of Nicole's injuries?”

“I'm afraid not,” Tim said. “They put her in the ambulance on a backboard.”

“I tried to talk Nicole out of trying to jump the rock walls, but she was insistent Jubilee could do it,” Derek told Jack.

“Most unfortunate. I'm going to turn around in the field up ahead and then go straight to the hospital. Kathleen can ride Jubilee to the farm with you.”

Once Kathleen and Tim were mounted, the group continued on its way. The ride back to the barn was a somber one for the seven riders, each quiet and lost in his or her own thoughts. They had no way of knowing if Nicole was badly injured. Everyone was glad when they reached the top of the hill by the bungalow and could look down on the farm. Prince no longer tugged on the bit to go faster, and Sarah sensed that he, too, was tired by the events of the morning. His remarkable performance on the trail was marred by the accident, and Sarah could no longer take any joy from the beautiful day.

Mrs. Romano was waiting for Kayla and Fanny with the trailer hooked up. Kayla and Sarah parted company at the edge of the parking area. “Let's talk later,” Kayla said, “as soon as either of us finds out anything.”

The other riders dismounted in the courtyard and led their horses into the barn. “This was quite a workout for our horses” Sarah said to Derek, as they untacked on the cross-ties. “Prince seemed to be dragging a bit on the way home.”

“Yeah,” Derek said. “I think they'll both be glad to be back in their stalls with some hay to munch on.”

“I'm sorry you didn't get to jump the rock walls. It was a blast,” Sarah said. Then before she thought about what she was saying, it slipped out. “Maybe we can go back there sometime.” She felt her cheeks warming and quickly turned away from Derek so he couldn't see her blush.

“I'd like that,” he said. “Bismarck deserves a chance to try some cross-country.” He slapped his horse on his neck affectionately. “Right, old buddy?”

They were brushing their horses when Mrs. DeWitt came around the corner. She wasn't dressed in jodhpurs as usual when at the barn, and her face was serious. “I've just come from the hospital,” Mrs. DeWitt said in a quiet voice. “Nicole has two broken ribs from the fall she took today. Evidently she was thrown into the rock wall when her horse refused. Thank goodness she was wearing her riding helmet, because there was a large dent in it. Without its protection, she could have suffered a skull injury—and that could have been fatal.”

“She's going to be all right, isn't she?” Sarah asked.

“Oh, yes. According to Mrs. Jordan, Nicole was given medication for pain. She's young and in good health, so she should be good as new before long.”

“I just wish she had listened to me,” Derek said, frowning. “I had my doubts Nicole and Kelly's horses were experienced or fit enough to try that cross-country run. But they were determined to do it.” He looked down and shook his head. “Maybe I should have argued the point more forcefully.”

“What's done is done,” Mrs. DeWitt said. “You shouldn't bear any guilt over this, Derek. You weren't put in charge of them. Some people in this world are headstrong and get themselves into trouble.” She turned to head back down the aisle. “There are others waiting to hear how Nicole's doing, so I'll be going. But I also want to thank you for all you did in response to the accident, Derek. I hear you were the hero of the day, calling 911, telling Nicole not to move, and then leading the ET's to the site of her fall. You handled it all in an impressive, mature manner.”