High Hurdles Collection Two (53 page)

“See ya. I'll be home around six.” She waved to the woman now dusting the new furniture and went to get her bike. Since Joe was already working with his trainer, she'd ride over to the Academy. By the time she got there, she was breaking a sweat. Even for late May, it was hot out.

While Herndon had his head hanging out the door, he didn't nicker when he saw her. One more way to miss Major. He took the carrot she offered and crunched that, his large, dark eyes seeming to study her as if to figure out why he was in this strange barn with this strange person. When she offered him another carrot, he took that, too, but without the nuzzling of Major—more like treats were his due.

“They shoulda named you Prince or King or something. I think you're a snob.”

He backed up when she entered the stall and snapped a lead chain on his halter and over his nose, just in case. Every other time she'd worked with him, Brad or Jackie had been near. She wasn't taking any chances. But he walked beside her out to the hot walker, only nicking the back of her boots with one hoof.

“I've got to watch you every minute, don't I?” She snapped the lead shank from the circular machine onto his halter and stepped back. The creaking song of the hot walker in motion followed her back to the barn.

By the time she had his stall cleaned, new bedding spread, and clean water and fresh hay in their respective places, it was time to go check on her students.

“Hey, Ang, how ya feeling?”

“Fine.” Angie turned from grooming her horse. “Herndon is a hunk, for sure.”

“Thanks. He thinks so, too.” DJ studied the girl and her horse. “You know, if you dampened your brushes, you could cut down on the dust when you're grooming. That might help the breathing.”
Why didn't I think of that before?
DJ shook her head. Sometimes …

She cruised by Bandit's stall to find Andrew talking to his horse like they'd been friends forever. DJ curbed the desire to give the slender little boy a hug. She was so proud of the way he worked to overcome his fear of horses she could burst.

Now, if only they could find a pony like Bandit for the twins. Or two of them, as Robert had suggested.

By the time the class was finished, the giggling girls had transmitted their disease to DJ and even Andrew, who usually looked at life through serious glasses. She swung open the gate to let them ride out and shook her head.

That sent them into peals of laughter as they rode back to the barn.

“Who put a quarter into their giggle boxes?” Bunny asked as she led her horse up to the gate.

“Got me. But it's contagious, so watch out. Did you see? Even Andrew was almost laughing.”

“I saw.” Bunny nodded. “You've done so much for that little boy, DJ. I hope you realize what a gift you've given him.”

“I just helped him along. He gave himself the gift. He overcame that fear by plain old guts.” DJ watched the boy dismount and lead his horse into the barn. The scar itched in the palm of her hand. What had she done to overcome her fear of fire?
Nothing, that's what
.

She hoped her thoughts weren't showing on her face.
So how do I go about it?

“Right. That and a lot of loving encouragement and prayers.”

DJ jerked herself back to pay attention to Bunny.
How rude to run off like that. Thought you were learning better
.

“Are you going to show Herndon this weekend?” Bunny mounted her horse and looked down at DJ.

“I … I don't know. Guess I haven't thought that far ahead.”

“You're entered, right?”

DJ nodded. “But with Major. And if he's home by the weekend, I need to be here to take care of him.”

“This isn't one we stay overnight at.” Bunny leaned forward. “DJ, that fall wasn't your fault. Look at me. Hear what I'm saying. It wasn't your fault.”

“I … I know.”

“But you've been beating up on yourself just the same, right?”

How'dyou know?
DJ looked up at the woman who was becoming her friend. “I'm trying not to.”

“What does Bridget say about trying?”

“There is no
try
. There is only
do
or
don't do
, but just trying doesn't cut it.”

“Right. Think about that instead.” Bunny gathered her reins and signaled her horse to walk. “See you.”

“Right.” DJ turned and walked toward the barn.
So more practice in thought control. Ugh
.

Riding Herndon took thought control, all right. He shifted with her slightest move. Maybe having a horse that wasn't so responsive had been a blessing after all. She and Major had been learning together, so now she was in catch-up mode all the time. Knowing what Bridget would suggest, DJ spent the time hacking Herndon. They rode circles: walk, trot, halt, canter from a halt, halt from a canter. They trotted serpentines and changed direction, and all the time DJ began to go from head knowledge to soul knowledge that the horse she had under her was not only a gift from her father but one from her heavenly Father, as well. Herndon was a horse of her future dreams, only she had him now.

Every time someone said something to her, it broke her concentration and thus Herndon's.

“Am I ready for a horse like him?” she asked Bridget back in her office after she finished riding and grooming the big gelding.

“You will be. Getting used to a new horse takes time and patience both with yourself and with him. In your case, mostly with yourself.”

“But I didn't feel so much like this when I rode him up at Brad's.”

“Then you were having fun, not training with him. That makes a big difference in outlook and attitude. Besides, keep in mind that you will not be friends with all your horses like you are with Major. He can read your mind and you his. Some horses are like some people, transparent and all heart. Major is one of those, and I believe you are, too. That means you get hurt easily and hurt for others. I do not want you to ever change that, but you must learn to control it somewhat.” She leaned forward, her arms crossed on her desk. “Tender and tough is the way I heard it described. Tender on the inside and tough on the outside. Do you understand?”

DJ shrugged. She kept her hands tucked under her thighs because a discussion like this made her want to chew her fingernails. She rubbed one cuticle with another finger and felt the roughness. But if she could get over biting her fingernails and master algebra, she could handle this. “I … I guess so.” She ran her tongue over her teeth as she kept her gaze on Bridget. “At least I think I understand, but knowing and doing are so far apart they aren't even in the same country.”

Bridget smiled and leaned back. “Ah, out of the mouths of babes. DJ, people fight with that concept all of their lives. Some handle it, others do not. Practice. Know first and then practice. What is that Bible verse?” She rolled her eyes to remember. “I know. As a man—or in our case, woman—thinks in her heart, so is she. We have to get things in our hearts first, like you are saying, and then they will become part of us through practice.” She removed the pencil she always wore above her right ear, held in place by blond hair confined by a leather clasp, or on show days, in a net-covered bun. Tapping the pencil on her thumb, she studied the girl across the desk from her.

“Remember, you do not have to do this all at once or by yourself.”

DJ nodded again, this time blinking back the moisture she felt clogging her throat and burning her eyes. “I better head on home. Thanks, Bridget.” She got to her feet and walked toward the door. “See you tomorrow.”

“Good. Oh, and tell your father …”

DJ stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Which one?”

Bridget tossed her pencil on the desk. “Always a smart mouth.” Her smile said she was teasing. “Robert.”

“Okay.” DJ waited.

“Tell him I think I may have found a pony for the boys. If he wants me to, I could go with him to look at it.”

“Yes!” DJ pumped the air with her arm. “Good thing he's got the men started on the barn.” She felt a wriggle start at her toes and work its way up. “Wait till the twins hear this.” She trotted out to her bike, throwing in a jump or two along the way just to let off steam.

A song caught her on the bike ride home and she sang it at the top of her lungs. “ ‘God is so good. God is so good. God is so good, He's so good to me.' ” She waved back at a driver who gave her a thumbs-up sign. By the time she parked her bike in the garage she was out of breath from singing and pedaling at the same time.

“Boy, you sound happy.” Lindy stood at the counter, munching on a handful of baby carrots. She'd changed out of her work suit and into jean shorts and a T-shirt. Reaching an arm out, she snagged her daughter around the shoulders and gave her a hug.

DJ leaned into her mother's embrace for a moment, then stepped back. “You won't believe what's gone on.”

“Try me.” Lindy crossed to the refrigerator, pulled out two sodas, and motioned to the deck. “Care to join me?”

“Sure. Let me change first.”

Lindy shook her head. “Come on. Guess I can handle a bit of eau de horse. That, at least, won't make me throw up, I don't think.”

DJ studied her mother. Makeup didn't cover the shadows under her eyes or the pale cast of her skin. “You all right?” She took the proffered soda and popped the top, taking a sip of mostly fizz.

“Just tired. They say the first three to four months are the hardest, and after that I'm supposed to feel great. I think I've totally forgotten what being pregnant is like. Of course, I was only a kid myself when I carried you.” Lindy sank down in the flower-covered cushion of the green iron lounger. “Now, tell me your wonderful news.”

They talked for the next half hour and might have gone on longer if the boys hadn't come barreling out and thrown themselves on their mother and older sister.

“We got to pound nails.”

“And pick up wood. Mr. Aldon said we could burn it in the fireplace this winter.” Bobby looked up at his mother. “Can we?”

Lindy ruffled his blond bowl-cut hair. “Or maybe have a fire in the pit.” She nodded toward the bricked-in circle that was part of the deck.

DJ knew it was Bobby because he had a scratch on his right hand. Besides, he always spoke first and never in less than a shout. Billy snuggled up to her side.

“Queenie chewed on a stick. How come she doesn't get slivers in her mouth?”

DJ shrugged. “I don't know.” She hugged the little boy closer. “You come up with the hardest questions.”

“Just like someone else I know used to and still does.” Lindy sipped her soda and chewed another carrot.

“We's hungry,” Bobby hinted.

“Go ask Maria for some carrots. Ask her to please bring a tray out here for all of us.”

“I want cheese.” Billy sat up.

“Me too.” DJ gave him a gentle shove. “Get going, Bs.”

“Don't ruin your dinner,” Lindy called after their hurtling bodies.

“We's not.”

DJ leaned back against the cushioned recliner. “This is so fine out here. What smells so good?” She sniffed again.

“The roses over there on the railing, I think.” Lindy nodded to the blossoms that looked almost like fire with their combinations of red, yellow, and orange. “I was just getting interested in the garden …” She paused. “Now I won't have time again.”

They heard Queenie barking at the front door.

“Robert must be home.”

The squeals of “Daddy's home!” and pounding feet of the twins on their way to the front door confirmed her comment.

DJ crossed her ankles. “So why don't you start a business here at home and not go to work?” She studied the rim of her soda can, almost afraid to look at her mother.

“Great idea!” Robert set the boys back on their feet and bent to kiss his wife. “How's my favorite pregnant lady?”

“Better.” Lindy sucked in a deep breath and let it all out. She patted the cushion beside her knees, and Robert sat down.

“Sorry I interrupted your conversation. Hi, DJ, how was your day?”

“Wait until you hear.” Lindy stroked Robert's hand.

After DJ recounted all that had gone on, Robert turned with a smile back to his wife. “So what do you think of DJ's great idea?”

“What, that I quit work?”

“M-hm.”

DJ could see he had his fingers crossed down by his leg. She hid her smile behind another drink.

“Are you guys ganging up on me?”

“Us?” Robert gave DJ an innocent look. “Now, DJ, would
we
do that?”

Would my mother really quit work?
The thought seemed impossible.

“You could help me and Amy with our business.”

“I'm thinking about it. And the book on kids who are entrepreneurs.”

DJ felt her chin bounce on her chest. She looked up at Robert, who must have been wearing the same look she was feeling. His thumb and forefinger formed a circle as he leaned forward and kissed his wife again.

DJ pushed herself upright. “Think I'll go see a man about a horse if you two are going to get all mushy.” She headed for the open doorway, sure they hadn't heard a word she said.

“You don't need another horse,” her mother called as DJ entered the house.

DJ felt the chuckle keep bubbling in her throat as she slapped her leg for Queenie to follow her.

“Dinner in half hour,” Maria called after her.

Now to check on Major. Would he be jealous of all the time she had to spend with Herndon now? She jogged up the stairs. She hadn't even thought of him for hours. What kind of friend was she?