High Hurdles Collection Two (35 page)

“Stew.” Lindy turned from the stove, where she was browning the meat. “Bridget phoned a bit ago. Wanted you to call her at home if you got back later than six.”

DJ glanced at the clock. Six-thirty. “Did she say what she wanted?”

“Nope. Dinner will be ready in about an hour.”

Robert shook his head. “I'll never get used to these pressure cookers. Stew is supposed to simmer all afternoon.” He started scrubbing potatoes.

“Then we couldn't have gone puppy hunting.”

“Puppy hunting? Did you find one?” DJ snitched a couple more carrot pieces.

“Look, you eat all those up and you can cut more.” Robert pointed the vegetable brush at her. “And the answer is maybe. We're thinking we should look at the Humane Society before we decide. Or check with ARF.”

“That's the Animal Rescue Foundation,” Lindy said at DJ's confused look.

“You mean we'd get a used dog?” DJ popped a carrot in her mouth.

“Darla Jean Randall, what a thing to say.” But Lindy chuckled as she said it.

“Nope, recycled.”

“Robert!”

“Just so it's not a hot dog.” DJ slid off the stool, grabbed some more carrots, and fled the room, her mother's laughter chasing her out the door. She turned and stuck her head back around the wall. “Where are the boys? I knew things were too quiet here.”

“Next door at the neighbors'. Which reminds me, they're supposed to be home by dark.”

DJ hustled up the stairs before her mother could suggest she go get them. Nice to know there were kids in the neighborhood for the boys to play with. That hadn't been the case at their other house.

Just thinking the words
other house
made her wish for the cozy family room and the bedroom that had been hers all her life. She pushed open the door to her new room. Sure it was beautiful—but it still wasn't the same. She dumped her stuff and headed for the bathroom. A shower would feel mighty good.

Call Bridget
. DJ stopped at her desk and picked up the phone. Bridget answered on the first ring.

“Mom said you called.”

“First, I want to thank you for taking Bunny along. Second, how was the clinic?”

DJ gave her a play-by-play account and finished with the stranger's comment about Major.

“He is right. But this year Major will be sufficient.”

“Oh.” DJ knew better than to argue with Bridget.

After hanging up the phone, she stopped in the bathroom doorway and eyed the Jacuzzi tub. She hadn't even had time to turn it on yet. “You can read and relax at the same time.” She nodded at the face in the mirror. The one with a sunburned nose. Turning on the water, she hummed a tune as she retrieved her book and robe. She pinned up her hair, and when the tub was full enough, flipped the switch for the jets.

The tub roared into life, water swirling and burbling. Sinking down into the hot water with the jets sending pulses of water at her back, sides, and feet felt absolutely delicious. She trailed a hand past one of the jets, the bubbles massaging her fingers.

Maybe there were good things about this new house after all.

Except that she nearly fell asleep reading her book. She caught it just as the bottom edge hit the water.

“DJ, dinner's ready.” Her mother knocked on the bathroom door and called at the same time. She stuck her head around the door. “Kind of nice, huh?”

“I'll say.” DJ sat up and flipped the switch so the jets swooshed silent. “I'll be there in a couple of minutes, 'kay?”

“John Yamamoto is going to watch the boys,” Lindy said the next afternoon as they got ready to head to Gran's for
the meeting
. “If you two want to walk over now, I'll come when he gets here. Mom might need some help with something.”

Robert nodded. “You get the salad out of the fridge, and I'll bring the sack of chips and dips.”

DJ did as he asked. How come right now she'd rather go hide out in the closet than go to
the meeting
? Talk about butterflies. Horse shows were nothing compared to this.

Chapter • 10

They talked about her as if she were invisible.

“Yes,” Bridget responded in answer to a question, “I believe DJ has the capabilities to become an Olympic rider, but there are many variables that can happen between now and then. One of the good things about the equestrian program is that age is not the governing principle as in other sports. DJ does not have to be a star by age sixteen. In fact, the chances of that happening are slim to none. Skill and experience both play such a strong part that there are many years of training and competing ahead of her—expensive years.”

“And she has to have the right horses,” Brad added.

“The right horses and the right sponsors. Many of the Olympic riders have corporate sponsors these days. But all of that is far in the future.”

“I hate to show my ignorance, but what are those world-class horses running nowadays?” Robert cut to the bottom line.

“You don't really want to know.” Joe shook his head. “Bunny and I were talking yesterday. It's six figures and up.”

Maybe I should just slide down on the floor and slither out of here. Hey, guys, this is my life you're discussing
. As soon as that thought surfaced, another kicked in.
Go ahead, be an ungrateful brat. They're trying to help you
.

She sat more firmly on her hands.

“So where do we go from here?” Robert asked.

“DJ is doing her best to learn all she can. Horses respond well to her. Patches is a good example of that. Few others could have brought him along as fast as she did.”

DJ felt a glow all the way to her toenails. Bridget really thought
that
? And here she thought Patches was way behind.

“She is consistent, remembers what she has learned, and is learning more and more how to focus. And how to not tear herself down.” Bridget looked around the group. “On the other hand, she is young and has not been exposed to the world of competitive showing. There are a lot of politics out there, and some dirty things going on, too.”

“So you're saying she has to get more involved in the show world immediately.” Robert glanced at Lindy. Her smile quivered, but she nodded.

“If this is what DJ really wants, then … then …” Lindy shook her head. “I have no idea how we are going to do all this.”

“We are all going to do this together.” Joe looked at Gran, and the two of them nodded, much like the twins did, as if a master puppeteer pulled the same strings.

“While Jackie and I aren't involved in the jumping world, we are out in the show-ring. And we have the next horse for DJ, as soon as she is ready.”

“I … I'll be showing Major.” DJ cleared her throat. When they nodded at her statement, she gained some more courage. “And I'm registered for that big show in two weeks. I can't start much sooner than that.”

Jackie winked at her. “Just keep in mind that Herndon will be ready whenever you are. I've hired a jumping trainer for him since he was trained in dressage.”

DJ gulped. Jackie said that so easily, as if hiring a trainer for a horse was no big deal at all.

“You know what? I think we'll bring him down to you when we can. Easier to bring the horse to the girl, though we'd rather you came to our house much more often,” Jackie added.

“Something to keep in mind.” Brad got their attention again. “Besides having horses of their own, the big players ride for a lot of people in all stages of training. That old thing about not keeping all your eggs in one basket is so true here.”

“So for now, DJ can stay with Major. What else does she need immediately?”

“Two lessons jumping and one lesson in dressage every week—plus all the riding time she can get.” Bridget looked at DJ. “Yes, she can and must stay with Major, if for no other reason than to prove she can. She also needs good grades so she can attend all the shows necessary.”

“I'm working on that.”

“And she needs to get up on as many horses as possible. Bunny said DJ can ride her horse sometimes.”

“That's real nice of her,” Joe said with a pleased smile. He looked down at Gran beside him. “She seems like a real nice lady.”

DJ stared at the worn spot on her jeans. Why was Bunny doing this? She wanted to jump big-time herself. Her attitude surely had changed.

DJ looked over at Gran, who gave her a wise smile, the one that said “See, God knows what He is doing.”

DJ realized she had missed something in the conversation. Something about a trust fund? Whatever that was. She'd have to ask Joe later.

“I would appreciate it if we could have a list of the possible horse shows to attend as soon as it is available. That way we can discuss this as a family and make plans.” Lindy hadn't said much during all the discussion, but to DJ's ears, this sounded positive.

“Well, I think we are on the right track.” Brad looked around the circle. “And I for one think we have been given an unprecedented opportunity here, to help a young woman go for her dreams and to be part of God's plan for her life, if this is what He indeed wants her to do.”

“And that we'll learn through time and prayer. He's given Darla Jean many talents, and I expect He wants her to develop all of them, but maybe not all at the same time.” Gran smiled again at DJ. “So I hope that all of us commit to praying daily for this child of ours and that she will commit to this, also.”

DJ nodded along with the rest of them. Leave it to Gran to make sure all the plans were covered with prayer. DJ felt her head spinning. What if she really wasn't all that good? What if she let these people down? And herself? And God?

“DJ, all we expect of you is that you do your best.” Joe drilled her with his interrogator eye. “Don't worry about any more than that. One day at a time.” He paused. “And one more thing. You have to be willing to ask for help and let us know when you are feeling overwhelmed or confused or scared or whatever.”

“Amen to that.” Lindy's voice carried a load of feeling.

DJ sniffed. “I know.” She forced a smile to her dry lips. “But you might have to remind me once in a while.”

“Her and me both,” Brad said under his breath.

“Anyone interested in dessert?” Gran got up from her chair. “Come on, Darla Jean, help me dish up.”

After everyone had a piece of apple pie and a beverage, DJ stopped behind her chair before sitting down. “I … I have something to say.”

Slowly the conversation died and all eyes turned toward her.

She shrugged and smiled a little smile. “Just thanks, that's all. Thank you for coming, and thank you for wanting to help me. I'm a lucky kid.” She slid into her chair to the “you're welcomes” from around the table.

“You done good, kiddo,” Joe whispered when she went around the table later with the coffeepot, refilling cups.

After everyone left and she got home again, DJ settled into doing her homework. Talk about going from dreaming big dreams to reality. And her job started right now. Getting and keeping her grades up, not that she already hadn't been working on that. But thinking of horse training was much more fun than reading this book, or writing a term paper, or worst of all, algebra.