High Hurdles (23 page)

When they good-byed Robert and the boys out the door, Robert leaned over to whisper in her ear, “They think you’re better than Saturday morning cartoons, and that’s really saying something.”

“Thanks, I guess. I like them, too.”

Robert said good-night to Lindy last. “I’ll call you.”

“Okay. You guys take care.”

DJ watched from her spot by Gran and Joe. If she didn’t know better, those were sappy looks her mother and Robert were sharing. The kind of look that lasts forever in the movies. Surely she was reading more into this than she saw.

She looked at Gran and recognized a misty look in her eyes, too. For pete’s sake, what was going on here? If romance was contagious, she’d better look out.

“We better get going, too.” Joe stepped back, taking Gran with him. “I have to be at the station at seven. Only thirteen more days to go, and I’ll be a free man.”

“And I have homework.” DJ wished she could ask Gran to stay. Couldn’t Joe get along without her once in a while?

“Me too.” Lindy gave her mother a hug. “Thank you both for coming to our rescue again.” When she hugged Joe, she whispered something into his ear.

The grin that split his face told DJ it was a compliment of some kind. “Me too,” was all he said.

When the good-nights and good-byes were all said and the door closed, DJ headed for her room. She had a paper to write on a book she’d read during the summer. At the moment, not one title came to mind. This hadn’t been a summer with much time for reading.

When she studied her bookshelf, the only thing that caught her attention was the
American Pony Club Manual
. It was definitely American, though she doubted her teacher would call it great literature. She’d been studying that for the last three years.

She pulled it off the shelf, grabbed a piece of paper out of her drawer, and started writing. She wrote fast, covering three pages before she realized it. After reading, rewriting, and copying, she stuck it in her folder. It would have to do.

Their last pony party on Saturday was a breeze compared to some of the others. Only four little kids, mothers who paid attention, and a hostess who gave them a bonus.

“That’s my kind of party,” DJ said when they trotted up the street on the way back to the Academy. “Makes me think we should continue.”

“Think again. We said the end of summer was it. And summer’s definitely over.”

“I know, but where else could we have made this kind of money doing something we really like?”

Amy stopped and stared at her, shaking her head. “
We
really like pony parties?
We?
Dream on.”

“Come on, you gotta admit we had fun—most of the time.”

“Okay, I’ll go along with that, but we just don’t have time to do this. You said if you didn’t keep your grades up, you’d have to quit working at the Academy. My dad said the same.”

“You think they’ve been talking behind our backs?”

“They don’t need to. Comes with the territory. And don’t change the subject. We are
not
doing more parties.”

“Until next summer,” DJ muttered the words fast.

“Dream on.”

“After I pay for Major, I won’t even have two hundred dollars left, and I need a good jumping saddle.”

“You can use one of the Academy’s.”

“Good thing, too. Saddles cost so much. How do those riders on the equestrian team manage? Going for the Olympics must cost a bundle.”

“You’re just figuring that out? That’s why so many riders get sponsors.”

They trotted Bandit up to his stall and unloaded their gear. All the while DJ’s hands were busy with grooming the pony and putting him away, her mind turned over ideas of how to make money for her dream. She needed thousands and thousands of dollars, not just hundreds. She could barely imagine how she would come up with a hundred dollars, let alone thousands.

Chapter
•
12

DJ felt as if she were trapped in a revolving door. Whenever she tried to jump out, it spun faster. Get up, go to school, study, come home, work at the Academy, come home, eat, study, fall into bed, and start all over again. The days that her mother did the cooking gave her a few extra minutes to memorize Latin conjugations.

Only the thought that she was banking hours at the Academy to pay for Major’s keep kept her going. Was the entire year going to be like this?

Two days after Joe retired, they trailered Major out to the Academy. When the big horse stepped out of the trailer and looked around as if he owned the place, DJ had to fight the burning in her eyes. Major was hers—as soon as she paid her money, of course. At long last, she owned a horse. A good horse, too, better than she dreamed possible.

She sent a thank-you heavenward and backed Major the rest of the way down the ramp. “Such a good fella. How perfect can you be?”

“He’s going to like it here.” Joe’s eyes looked suspiciously liquid. “Your having him couldn’t make me happier.”

Major lifted his head and let out a whinny that set DJ’s ears ringing. Horses answered him from in the barn and the outside stalls.

“If you’ll hold him, I’ll go get a saddle. Bridget said to let her know when we got here so she could watch me ride him the first time.” DJ handed Joe the lead shank. She’d fit her new bridle later.

While she gathered her tack, she could barely keep from yelling. Instead she whispered, “I have a horse. Major is mine. I’m riding
my
horse for the first time.” She felt like tap-dancing through the air.

When she saddled Major, she was instantly grateful for her five-feet seven-inch height. If she’d been a peanut like Amy, she’d have had to stand on a box to put the saddle in place.

She had to let the headstall out to the last notch to fit, but when everything was finally adjusted, she laid a hand over her heart to still its runaway pace.

“Can I give you a leg up?” Joe held the reins with one hand and cupped the other on his knee.

“Sure.” Once in the saddle, she checked her stirrups, shortened one a notch, and checked again. This time when she straightened her legs, she felt balanced. And a long way from the ground. She looked down into the face of the man smiling up at her. “Thanks, Joe.” She looked deep into his blue eyes, seeing nothing but love and pride shining there. “I have a question.” At his nod, she continued. “Do you want to be called Gramps, Grandpa, or Joe?”

He blinked quickly, then cleared his throat. “Do you have a preference?”

“Well, since I’m DJ, you could be GJ—you know, Grandpa Joe.”

“Could be.” His chuckle invited a like response.

“But I think I’d rather call you Grandpa. I haven’t had one of those for a long time, and my other one was pretty special.”

“I’m sure he was. I’m honored to be your grandpa.” Major gave him a nudge in the back. “I think our boy here is ready to do more than stand and listen to us talk.” He turned and walked with them to the arena. “I’ll get the gate.”

Major moved out in a powerful, ground-eating walk. His smooth, even stride made DJ think about Patches and his spine-pounding hammer step. What a difference training made!

He responded to her aids almost before her thoughts became acts. Two-point trot, posting trot, canter. All controlled and as smooth as floating on a pool. What would he be like over a jump?

Reverse, figure eights, lead changes—he danced down the length of the arena as though they were performing to music. When she signaled him to back up, he did. Going sideways was no problem, either. She was almost afraid to move, in case this was all a dream and she might wake up in bed.

The sound of clapping brought her back to the real world. Bridget, Joe, Amy, Amy’s father, and several others lined the aluminum rails.

“Do you bow, too?” Major flicked his ears back and forth at the sound of her voice.

DJ stopped him directly in front of Joe and Bridget. “He knows so much more than I do that it scares me. What if I’m not good enough for him?”

“Then he’ll just make you better.” Bridget studied the horse’s head. “He has the look of a gentleman about him.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you were causing a disturbance and Major here figured it was his job to convince you differently. He’s better than a German Shepherd for intimidating suspects.”

“I’ll remember that when my students get out of control.”

DJ only half listened to them. She stroked Major’s neck, reliving the experience she’d just had. Riding Major was like a piece of heaven—her own special piece.

“He’s amazing,” Amy said reverently.

“The two of you will definitely cause a sensation in the ring,” Bridget said. “You look like you were made for each other.”

“And to think he’s spent all these years wasting away on the San Francisco police force.” Joe winked at DJ.

“Those were his working years; now he gets to have fun.” DJ motioned for Amy to open the gate. “Come on, I’ll let you help me brush him down.”

“You’ll
let
me? How come I’m so honored?”

“You’re my best friend, that’s why.” They headed for the barn, Amy trotting alongside.

“Does he feel as smooth as he looks?”

“Yup. You can ride him tomorrow if you like.” DJ kicked her feet free of the iron stirrups and leaped to the ground. She stroked Major’s neck and shoulder, running her hands over him as if memorizing every inch. When she led him to his stall, floored with fresh shavings, he looked around, acquainting himself with his new home. The horse in the stall next to him raised his nose to sniff through the bars. Major ignored him, snuffling the shavings, the hay rack, the full water bucket.

“You can have a drink as soon as we’re finished.”

Major raised his head, nickered at a horse that whinnied to him, then stood perfectly still for DJ to remove his tack. After she replaced his bridle with a nylon web halter and turned him loose, he drank a couple swallows and again checked out his new quarters.

DJ watched his every movement as if she’d never seen a horse before.

Amy watched both the horse and her friend. “I think you’re in love.”

“I think you’re right. I’ve been waiting for this day for fourteen years.”

“Come on, you didn’t want a horse the day you were born.”

“How do you know? Maybe I did.” DJ gave Major a final pat and closed the door behind her. “You gotta admit it’s been a long time.”

When they got home, DJ went up to her room and opened her money box. Her bank account was now nearly empty. She lifted out the $380 they’d agreed upon and counted it again. Downstairs, she handed it to Joe.

“I don’t know how to say enough thank-you’s.”

“You don’t have to. I got the thrill of my life just watching you with him. And this way, I never have to tell him good-bye.” He put the money in his billfold and drew out a folded piece of paper.

“Here’s the bill of sale. We need to make this official, so after I sign it, you do the same. Then I’ll make a copy for me. You get to keep this one. How’s that?”

“Fine.” Two thrills chased each other up and down her spine.

They both signed on the dotted lines. Joe reached out, and they shook hands.

“He’s all yours.” Joe, still holding her hand, patted it with his other. “With both mine and God’s blessing.”

DJ couldn’t think of anything to say. But then, she would have had a hard time talking anyway.

The next afternoon when her students arrived, DJ stopped them before they could saddle their horses. “I have someone for you to meet.”

“You got your horse!” Angie clapped her hands.

“Let’s see.” They grabbed DJ by the hands and dragged her down the aisle. She stopped in front of Major’s stall. “Angie, Krissie, and Samantha, I’d like you to meet Major. Major, these horse-crazy girls are my students. You’ll be going up in Briones with them some Saturday, so you might as well get to know them.” Major arched his neck over the door and let each one of them pat his cheek.

“Wow! He’s huge.” “He’s handsome.” “I’m glad for you.” The girls all spoke at the same time.

“Okay, back to work. I just had to show him off.” DJ shooed them back to their stalls. She gave Major one last pat and followed them. His soft nicker followed her down the aisle.

“He already likes you,” Angie said, picking up her saddle.

“Well, the feeling is sure mutual.”

Now besides teaching, training Patches, and her other chores, she had to work Major. Had to, as in she’d die if she didn’t. Within a week they were working him over the low jumps. He cleared them as though they were a waste of his time.

“Bit of a snob, is he?” Bridget said with a laugh one day.

DJ patted Major’s sweaty neck. “He wants to go for the big ones. Like me.”

“As soon as you both keep your timing consistent on these, we will talk about bigger jumps. Remember to count your strides between the jumps. You have to get that down to pure reflex. Timing is everything.”

DJ nodded. She clamped her bottom lip between her teeth. She hated to have to be reminded of something so simple. But when they were jumping, she forgot everything but the glorious feel of it. She practiced as long as she dared before rushing home.

If this was life in the fast lane, she was keeping up—barely. But she wouldn’t trade places with anyone for anything.

One afternoon there was a message from Gran on the machine when she got home from school. “I’ve called your mother at work and she says yes, so you have to come along. We’ll pick you up at 7:00. I’m afraid you won’t be able to spend all evening with Major. No jeans!” There was a pause, a giggle, and then her voice again. “And by the way, this includes dinner, so don’t eat.” DJ punched the Rewind button and listened again. The message still didn’t make a whole lot of sense.

She changed clothes and headed for the Academy. Since she had her students today, she’d hardly get any time for Major. As soon as she got to the Academy, she put him out on the hot walker to loosen him up.

Patches loosened her up. He tried to loosen her clear
off
, but DJ had learned to read him and his tricks and was ready for him. He didn’t like backing up. Not one bit.

“I know you like to be able to see where you’re going, but you just have to learn to trust your rider. It’s not as if I’m taking you into quicksand.” His ears twitched back and forth as he listened to her. When she finished, he snorted and pawed the ground with one front foot. “Stop that!” Her sharp command caught his attention—fast.

This time he backed hesitantly. At least his ears were up. “Maybe that’s what I need to do—yell at you.”

“Mrs. Johnson started class with him today, but it did not go very well. Next time I am going to suggest she use one of the school horses until you have Patches better trained. I do not know why someone would go out and buy a green-broke horse for their child, especially for a boy like Andrew.” Bridget shook her head. “Makes no sense to me.”

DJ fought against the urge to hustle her class along. Every time she looked at her watch, it seemed the hands were racing to reach seven.

By the time she’d worked Major through the flat work, there was no time for jumping. What did Gran want that was so important anyway? Couldn’t they do it on Saturday?