High Hurdles Collection Two (34 page)

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Authors: Lauraine Snelling

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BOOK: High Hurdles Collection Two
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DJ sniffed. Put like that, she sounded like the most selfish, babyish brat in the country. “Sorry.” She turned on her heel and headed back to her room. The room that felt too big and too fancy and too … Just like the rest of the house. Just like the rest of … She threw herself across the fancy comforter that wasn't much comfort at all. Her old one, the one Gran had made for her, absorbed tears much better. What was the matter with her?

Even Thursday evening spent listening to Gran and Joe's adventures in New York made her feel good only for a little while. Gran's trophy was awesome, and the huge framed picture of her book cover was glorious. So why'd she feel like crying—again!

Friday morning she found out. Three zits and her period.

“You going to have PMS like your mother?” She glared at the pimply face in the bathroom mirror. “Fiddle and double fiddle.” She scrubbed her face raw. Her hair stuck out all over and wouldn't be tamed. “My period, zits, and a bad hair day. What else can go wrong?”

“My, aren't we Miss Cheerful this morning.” Lindy turned from scrambling eggs. “Slamming doors won't make things better.”

Neither will kicking walls, but that's what I feel like doing
. “I'm not hungry.”

“Eat anyway.” Lindy set the plate on the table and pointed at the chair.

DJ slumped in the seat and glared at the pale yellow pile of guck on her plate. Her mother had even put bacon in it, one of DJ's favorite breakfast foods. And melted cheese on top. She looked up at her mother's stern face and took a forkful of eggs. Halfway to her mouth, some fell off and bounced from her shirt to the floor, leaving a grease stain on its way.

If DJ were a cussing person, this was the time for it.

“Fiddle!” she said—and thought worse.

“Darla Jean Randall, what's the matter with you?” Lindy glared at her daughter. Suddenly her face relaxed. “Ah, the PMS bug has bit.”

DJ swallowed her bite of scrambled eggs. “Yes! And it's all your fault. I'm just like you!”

A car horn honked. She scooped up the last bite and stuck the remaining corner of toast between her lips. Snagging her jacket and backpack off the chair knob, she headed for the front door, her mother still laughing behind her.

“Hope you're feeling better by the time you come home, Miss Merry Sunshine,” Lindy called after her. The boys shouted their good-byes, and DJ escaped out the door.

Chapter • 9

How could she be hearing the alarm when she'd just closed her eyes?

“DJ.” A tap on her door.

“Yes?”

“Are you up? You're supposed to be over at the Academy in ten minutes. Didn't your alarm go off?”

DJ groaned. She did remember it ringing. Did she smack the Off button instead of Snooze?

The jumping clinic!

Her feet hit the floor before her eyes finished opening. “Thanks, Robert. I'll be ready in a couple of minutes. Isn't Joe picking me up here?”

“He called and asked me to bring you to the Academy. Said he wanted an early start.”

Finally the jumping clinic in Sacramento, and DJ had overslept.
How could you be so stupid!
DJ yelled inwardly. She pulled on her jeans and sweat shirt. So much for needing a shower. Thank the good Lord for hair long enough to wear in a ponytail. By the time she'd brushed her teeth and washed her face, the ten minutes were about up. She stuffed her supplies into her duffel bag, including her boots and helmet. A glance through the vertical blinds showed stars up above. Clear weather at least.

They would have about an hour and a half drive to Sacramento, and the clinic started at 8:30. No wonder Joe was up before the sun even thought about lightening the eastern horizon. Of course, she couldn't see the sunrise—not only did her room face west, but the high range of hills just east of them blocked much of the early dawn.

Robert handed her an apple, a food bar, and a juice box when she climbed into the front seat of the already running vehicle. “You need the nourishment. I'm sure Gran packed extra food for both you and Joe, but this is my contribution.”

“Thanks. I can't believe I overslept.”

“I'm glad Dad called, or we all would have been snoozing still.”

DJ wanted nothing more than to tip her seat back and grab a few more Zs. Instead, she ate the food Robert handed her and tried to keep from breaking her jaw yawning. At least she and Joe were going alone to Sacramento so she could sleep. Joe wouldn't mind.

Bunny was leading her horse into the trailer beside Major when they drove into the Academy parking lot.

DJ groaned.

“Now what?” Robert looked to where she pointed. “So?”

“Forget it. Thanks for the ride. See you tonight.” She opened the door, taking the last sip of the juice as her feet hit the gravel. Robert held out his hand, so she gave him the empty container. “Don't say I never gave you anything.” She did manage to smile on that one.

“At least I get to go home and sleep awhile longer.”

“With your luck, the twins will be up already.”

Robert rolled his eyes and nodded. “I hope you're wrong. Have a good time.”

DJ waved again and ambled to the trailer, where she could hear Bunny talking to her horse. Major nickered from his side of the silver-and-green rig.

“I thought I might have to come roll you out,” Joe said, coming around the side of the trailer. “I think I have all of your equipment, but you better check.”

“How come … ?” DJ whispered and nodded toward the trailer.

“She's having trouble with her truck. I offered.”

“Oh.” What could she say? Joe was just being Joe. But now there would be three of them in the cab and no chance to sleep. Besides, she liked the time with Joe—by herself. But another thought made her brighten. At least now he wouldn't be able to grill her on any of their unfinished discussions. He had a better memory than an elephant. And sometimes

DJ just wanted to forget, especially when he cut to the quick, which was most of the time.

Within minutes they were on the road, with Bunny apologizing for intruding.

“Hey, it's not like we didn't have room or anything, is it, DJ?” Joe gave her a nudge with his elbow.

“Nope. No sense taking two rigs, anyway. If I'd known you were going, I'd have asked you along.” She could feel her grandfather's approval right through her jacket. “Didn't you go last week?”

“Yes. That's why I registered for today, too. He was so good. If I learn as much again today as I did then, it'll be more than worth the time.”

“I know
I'll
learn a lot.”

Between watching other students and her turn with the trainer, DJ learned two really important things. Number one: She had so much to learn. And number two: All trainers were not the same. And having Bunny in the stands beside her helped her even more.

“So was that so bad?” Joe turned the ignition when they were ready to leave the Academy.

“No. How come Bunny could be so fun and funny today, but around the Academy she's always so serious?” DJ slid far enough down on her spine that she could prop her knees against the dashboard. “Nobody ever sees this side of her.”

“People are strange. Maybe things are getting better for her.”

“I guess.”

“So are you looking forward to the
big
meeting tomorrow?”

DJ groaned. “Thanks for reminding me. Not to change the subject or anything, but do you think all that jumping bothered Major's shoulder any?”

“Why? Did you feel him act different?”

“No … yes … I'm not sure.” She thought back to the jumps they'd taken and retaken. Had he been a bit hesitant? Or was it just that she'd been concentrating on Gray's instructions to the point of not paying as close attention to Major as usual?

“We'll watch him carefully for the next few days. You know, that clinic helped me today, too.”

DJ shot him a sideways look. “How? You don't plan to start jumping Ranger now, do you?”

“No, nothing like that, but I guess I never quite realized how much goes into training a jumper. Or riding one.” He shook his head. “Major has a lot to learn.”

“Me too.”

“Some guy sitting up behind me thought you did real well. Said if you had a decent horse, you'd go a long way.”

“Decent horse! What kind of a jerk was he? Major took every jump and never balked once.” DJ's heels hit the floorboards. “Good thing I didn't hear him, or I'd have—”

“Easy. You have to keep in mind that Major's just an old police horse. He wasn't born and bred for jumping like these big-time horses are.”

“Major's got more heart than all of them put together. There never will be a more willing horse than him.”

“Heart he has. Class he lacks.” Joe patted her knee. “You've got to be realistic here, so quit sputtering.”

“Major's the best horse any girl could have. …”

“Sure he is—in the beginning. People who compete outgrow their horses. Look at Jackie and Herndon.”

DJ rolled her lips together. “Major's really special.”

“He sure is, and so are you. Just trying to prepare you. See you tomorrow.”

“Thanks for taking me. And taking notes.” She waved the clipboard with his even handwriting covering several pages. “Bridget will be glad to see these, too.” She waved again as he backed into the paved strip they used for a turnaround.

The thought of the mountain of homework that awaited her turned her feet to cement. Not that the stack was so high, just that her book report was due on Monday and she had half a book to go. She'd rather be reading
The Man Who Listens to Horses
, but since she'd already started this one, she figured she'd finish it. Besides, half of that one was much shorter than the whole of the other.

“So how did it go?” Robert asked. He glanced up at her but continued to wield his flashing chef's knife, turning carrots into skinny ovals.

“Good, I guess. My brain's still spinning.” DJ snuck a couple of carrot slices. “That man has eyes better than an eagle's. And I thought Bridget was tough.” She hung a hip on one of the stools by the green marble-topped counter. “What are you making?”

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