High Hurdles Collection Two (94 page)

Leaves ranging from scarlet to burgundy to gold still clung to some of the trees.

Brad met them before they got out of the car. “Hi, all. Do you want to drive on down to the barn or walk?”

Lindy smiled at his greeting. “I know I should walk, but how about we drive down?”

“We can walk,” the boys chorused.

“We'll all ride.” Robert glanced at the boys in the rearview mirror.

“Jackie and I will meet you down there, then.” He tapped on the glass of DJ's back window and gave her a thumbs-up.

Down at the low white barns, which less than a year earlier had been half filled with water from the catastrophic spring flooding, they climbed out of the Bronco. Robert had to shush the boys, who were wound tighter than a tornado.

“You can run around out here, but in the barn you have to walk slow and not shout because you don't want to scare the horses.”

“We'll be good” came the twin chorus.

Brad hugged DJ, then kept an arm over her shoulders as Jackie hugged her, too. Jackie held DJ at arm's length so she could make sure she was all right, then hugged her again.

“I am so glad and grateful to have you here,” she whispered in DJ's ear. “That was far too close a call. How are your hands? The rest, I can see, is beautiful as ever.”

DJ held up her gloved hands. “I have to keep these gloves on so I don't get any swelling. But I can almost touch my thumbs to my fingers now. See?” DJ focused on her right thumb and finger as slowly, slowly they drew closer together. She glanced up to catch the sheen of tears in Brad's eyes. “I'm okay, Dad. Or I will be. Not to worry.”

“Easy for you to say.” He drew her close to his side. “One thing's sure, you look a lot better than you did two months ago.” His shudder said it all. “Let's go see your friend. I told Herndon you were coming, and he put on his best suit.” Letting go of her, he slid the barn door open. They stepped into an aisle that ran the length of the barn, with foaling stalls near the door and individual stalls farther down. Shavings covered the dirt floor, and brass nameplates glinted on the stall doors.

DJ whistled even though Herndon had most likely forgotten. But a whinny, not a nicker, let her know he heard—and remembered. His fine head reached out of the stall door, and he banged a hoof in impatience.

DJ felt her throat clog. “He remembers me.”

“He's not such a snob anymore. I think that fire scared the snob right out of him,” Jackie said.

“Did he get burned anywhere?”

“No, you got him out first before the fire spread too far. He fared better than some of the other horses, but they all lived thanks to you and your quick thinking.”

DJ stopped in front of Herndon and let him snuffle her arms, face, and hands before he nudged her chest. “Yeah, big man, I brought you treats.” DJ fumbled in her sweat shirt pouch and brought out a horse cookie—Herndon's favorite. He took it from her palm and, even while munching, leaned into her fingers as they stroked his cheek, his ears, and down his long neck.

When Brad opened the stall door so she could go in, Herndon moved over but not away. He even lowered his head so she could reach more easily.

“He's never been like this before.”

“I know. I told you, we have a different horse here than we did before.” Jackie joined them in the stall. “After he calmed down—for a while any noise startled him—he let this mellow side show. I've been riding him so he doesn't get rusty, and he's pure pleasure to ride now. You want to try him?”

DJ held up her hands. “I still have to use the foam rubber on the reins and can't grip tight enough, so I guess not.”

“You think we'd let something like that stop you?” Brad showed her the fat reins on Herndon's bridle. “Jackie has ridden him with the new bit so he won't be surprised. You don't have to, but …”

How could she say no? DJ swallowed the butterflies that had suddenly woken up and started their aerial show.

What if he runs away with me? Can I stop him?
DJ hoped her fear didn't show on her face. But Herndon would sense it anyway.

“How about we put him on a lunge line for you. That way you can get the feel of him again without having to worry about controlling him.” Jackie took the bridle off the hook and set about tacking him up.

“Yes, please.”
Now, why didn't you think of that?
DJ had hoped her resident nag had stayed home. No such luck. “I'll have to use a mounting block. Can't pull myself up yet.”

“No problem. There's one in the arena. You want to ride inside or out?” Brad handed Jackie the saddle.

“Inside, I guess.”

“You got a horse for us to ride?” Bobby or Billy asked.

“Shh.” Lindy reminded them that the question wasn't polite.

“Sure do, but she's bigger than your General.”

“That's okay.” But when the boys started to jump, Robert laid a heavy hand on each of their shoulders.

“How about we let DJ ride first, and then we'll saddle up the old girl for you,” Brad suggested.

“What's her name?” chimed the Bs.

“We call her Queenie because she's been around the longest.”

“Like our dog! Is she black-and-white?”

“Nope, dapple-gray.”

While they chattered, DJ felt her shoulders tense, along with the muscles down her back. Herndon was acting like her long-lost friend right now, but he might switch personalities and go back to who he used to be right quick.

“You ready?”

“I guess.” DJ knew her reply was barely lukewarm, but it was all she could manage at the moment.
Oh, God, please don't let me fall off
.

Chapter • 14

Riding Herndon was like floating on a cloud.

“He feels good, doesn't he?” Jackie kept turning with the lunge line, watching DJ and grinning as if she'd just won the lottery.

“He sure does.” Gone was that tight, I'm-about-to-explode feeling she'd always had with him before. He walked flat out, loose and relaxed. After several circuits, at DJ's signal he picked up an easy trot. DJ posted with scarcely any effort. When she fumbled with the reins, he flicked his ears back and forth but kept an even stride.

“You did just fine,” Jackie said when DJ slowed Herndon to a walk and turned him in to the center of the ring.

“Thanks to a lot of hours already on Major and Megs. Bridget hasn't let me jump yet. Got to get better hands first.”

“They'll come. And you know he's ready whenever you are. I figured the only way you'd see the difference in him is by riding him yourself. He's faced the worst thing that could happen and survived, and now he's relaxed.”

“Have you jumped him?” DJ leaned forward and stroked Herndon's barely sweat-darkened neck.

“A bit, and you can tell he loves it. I've been doing mostly dressage to keep him in condition. You sure look good on him. I can't wait to see you in the ring again.”

“Mmm.”

“You don't sound too sure.”

“Just taking one day at a time.”

Brad strolled into the arena, leading the gray mare with both boys astride. They waved at DJ and said something to Brad that made him laugh. Robert and Lindy came in behind them.

“You want to go some more? We can take up more of the line.”

Sure. Or can I ride him by myself... or not
. DJ couldn't make up her mind. She wanted to—oh, how she wanted to—but … “No, let's put him away so the boys can ride without any interference. Guess I just don't want to take any chances … yet.”

Jackie smiled up at her. “Good enough. Then we'll get dinner on the table. All I have to do is cook the linguine. I tried a new recipe for clam sauce. Brad says it's the best ever.” She led Herndon over to the mounting block, where DJ dismounted.

“Herndon, thanks for the easy ride. Soon we'll jump again. I promise.” Herndon nosed her cheek and tipped his head toward her so she would rub the tip of his ear. As soon as Jackie had the tack off, DJ took the brushes and, using both hands, brushed him down.

“You do okay with those, huh?”

“Big stuff is fine, as long as I don't have to exert much pressure. But buckles, pencils, paper, narrow straps are all beyond me. I feel like a total klutz at times, but at least my balance is back and I move with the horse again. The first time I rode Major I felt like a stick.”

DJ used both hands to pick up the cloth and wipe around Herndon's eyes and down his face. “There you go, big horse. Thanks again.”

He nickered when they walked away. DJ turned back to give him one more pat and hug. “Guess you really are mine now, aren't you, big horse?” She could feel tears working their way out. Would she ever get over crying so easily?

They stopped to give Matadorian, Brad's foremost stallion, a couple of pats, then ambled out to the pasture, where the last crop of foals grazed and played. As soon as they saw Jackie, they all came trotting up to the fence.

“Hey, Stormy, I almost didn't recognize you.” DJ held out her hand to her filly, who sniffed it and went to Jackie for a treat. “I have a bit of horse cookie left in my pocket, if you could please get it out.” She motioned to her pouch. “The piece is too small for me to pick up. I should have brought more.”

Jackie did so, and DJ held out her hand with the bit of treat on her palm. Two of the youngsters came to inspect, but DJ pushed off the other one and let Stormy have it. The filly munched happily, nodding her approval.

“You clown.” DJ tried to pet her nose, but the frisky filly danced backward and snorted, her ears pricked forward.

“She loves to play, always teases the others until she can get them running after her. Such fun to watch.” Jackie leaned on the upper fence rail. “I can't wait until you can come and play with her. Brad wants to put her in a show in early December.”

“Not a chance I could handle her by then, but I sure would love to.” One of the others came over and let DJ stroke his face. But not Stormy. She'd come just so close, right out of reach, then dance away.

“She moves like a ballerina up on her toes.” DJ rested her chin on her hands, which were crossed on the top rail. Maybe if she didn't move, curiosity would overcome her filly. Two others came to inspect DJ, but while Stormy eyed her, she kept her distance. “Silly girl.”

“Come on, let's get dinner ready. I'm starved.” Jackie turned away. DJ, with a longing glance over her shoulder, followed.

For Thanksgiving everyone—Gran and Joe; Shawna and her parents, Andy and Sonja; Brad and Jackie—came to their house, bringing all kinds of additions to the turkey that Robert was cooking on the barbecue. They added another table to the one in the dining room so that the thirteen of them, including Maria, could sit together. When all the food covered the table, they took their chairs and joined hands.

“We have an awful lot to be thankful for this year,” Joe said from the head of the table. “So you all be thinking, and after we eat, we'll make a family list. But for right now, let's bow our heads.” As soon as everyone was quiet, Joe began. “Dear Lord, we come before you with thankful hearts for all you have done for us. We thank you that we live close enough together to be able to enjoy each other's company, to share our sorrows and joys. Thank you that DJ is recovering so wonderfully fast and that soon we'll have a new baby in our circle. For the food before us and our time together we thank you, and most of all for sending us your Son to take away our sins. In Jesus' precious name, amen.”

Everyone echoed the
amen
, Billy's the loudest. DJ and Shawna swapped rolled eyes and giggles at the boys' antics. But when DJ looked up at the adults, they all had shiny eyes. Joe's prayer had brought that old familiar lump to her throat, too.

DJ looked across the table when she was passing the mashed potatoes and saw her mother frowning. When DJ raised an eyebrow to ask what was wrong, her mother just shook her head and turned to answer a question from one of the boys. But later when she saw her mother frown again, she began to wonder.
Is she mad about something? This is weird
.