Nothing But Horses (13 page)

“I can see that.” Olivia smiled at me. “Do
your grandparents live with you?”

“Only during the holidays,” I said. “They
have a place in Arizona for the winter. When it gets hot down
there, they head north. They end up here for most of July and
August which is majorly helpful for horse camp.”

“Is that where you met Cedar the first time?
She barely talks to anyone except us so I was totally surprised you
got her to speak up.”

“It’s not a big deal,” I said. “During camp,
I assign barn buddies and the campers have to interview each other
and report back. Cedar came for three weeks. By the last session,
she was in the habit of talking to me. It just continued at
school.”

“Awesome.” Olivia glanced over her shoulder
as the Mount Pilchuck crew wandered out of the restaurant. “Now, if
we get Inez to transfer to Lincoln, we could majorly kick butt.
I’ll see you next Monday, Sierra.”

I watched her jog over to make nice with
Inez. I got into my car and headed home. When I parked the car,
Queenie and Charlie got off the porch. They barked twice and then
ran to greet me. I bent and petted each of them. Okay, so I fussed
more over my pup than the older collie, but she didn’t mind.
Grandpa and Dave each took a moment to rumple her fur before they
started packing in sacks of groceries.

I carried in two giant packages of paper
towels behind the guys. After I stored them on the shelves in the
mud-porch, I returned to the kitchen and began putting away canned
goods.

“Your old basketball coach called.” Mom
pulled out boxes of pasta. “She seemed surprised when I said you
weren’t coming back after break. What was that about? We did all
the necessary paperwork for your transfer, didn’t we?”

“I left on a half-day,” I said. “Some of my
teachers had subs, so the school secretary said they’d sign me out
when classes started again. No big deal. I’m going to Lincoln next
Monday.”

Mom nodded. “That’s what I thought. Lauren
Jamison phoned and asked me to remind you about the judging clinic
for the 4-H club this Saturday. She seemed very nice. Why don’t you
like her?”

“Because she’s a total fake. She sucks up to
parents and teachers. She plays Ms. Innocent while they give her
what’s important to other people, like my winter solo. Then, she
claims she doesn’t know why you’re upset or hurt or angry.”

“Well, what goes around comes around,” Mom
said. “She’ll discover that actions have consequences. I’m sure
you’re not the only one who left the Mount Pilchuck choir.”

“Probably not.” I took a bag of sugar over to
fill the canister. I thought Mom might be a little naïve, but I
didn’t say that. Instead, I told her about running into Cedar and
the practice schedule at Lincoln. I’d still be home in time for
chores most nights, but we agreed I should stay in Marysville to
attend my teen group sessions on Tuesday evenings.

* * * *

Arlington, Washington

Saturday, January
4
^th
, 9:30 am

The rest of the week zipped by. Autumn and I
spent New Year’s Eve together while Mom, Dave, Grandma and Grandpa
went to the local casino for the big party. They didn’t make a late
night of it because we had our own party the next day. That went
really well. Autumn was majorly thrilled when Dave brought a killer
momma cat and three kittens to patrol the feed-room. He called it
the ecologically friendly way to rat-proof the place. Tom and I
still searched out any holes and blocked them with metal.

Thursday and Friday, the stable opened. We
did pony rides, lessons, trails—the usual activities on the farm.
Vicky came in and worked Aladdin, then moved on to start Spirit. I
liked her style. She didn’t push the filly, but focused on ground
school. Spirit already knew to stand for grooming, vetting and hoof
trims. Now, she learned about saddles and bridles. By Friday
afternoon, Vicky could longe Spirit at a walk and trot while she
wore both.

Saturday morning I helped with chores, then
packed my lunch and drove north to Salmon Pond Stable, the barn
where the local 4-H and pony clubs would meet for a clinic with
trainers and veterinarians. I followed the signs to the parking lot
and made sure the Subaru was in the designated area so Lisa, the
ultimate barn diva couldn’t freak out at me. Grabbing my backpack,
I headed toward the large indoor arena.

Halfway there, I spotted Lauren and a few of
the other members with our leader, Tanya Jamison. I waved and went
to join them. “Hi.”

Blonde, ultra fashionable in breeches, boots
and a gold
Carhartt
jacket, Tanya threw a scowl my way.
“Sierra, what are you doing here?”

I almost fell back a step, then pasted on a
polite smile. “Lauren called to remind me about the judging clinic
today.”

“And that you couldn’t come because you
didn’t do the community service.” Lauren said in a super-sweet
voice. “I guess you’ll just have to turn around and go back home.
Sorry.”

She wasn’t and both of us knew it. I met
Tanya’s ice-blue gaze. “Do you really want me to leave?”

Fists knotted and I felt my nails bite into
my palms.
Stay calm, Sierra. If you blow it here, Mom will know
as soon as Lisa talks to her at their next stable-owner meeting.
Don’t lose it, don’t lose it, don’t lose it!

I glanced past her and saw Lauren’s smirk.
Angie, her best bud elbowed Cicely and the two of them snickered.
Fury rocketed through me when a couple of the others looked past me
like I didn’t exist. Oh they were a club all right, no—make that a
coven and Tanya was the head witch.

She must have seen something in my face
because Tanya narrowed her eyes. “I told you to go. You’re not
welcome here.”

“Are you sure this is the way you want to
play the game?”

“It’s not a game to me, Sierra. Go.”

“The Silver Spurs used to be a good group
when the Weldons led it. My mom told me stories about their
activities. It’s not the same anymore. You ought to change the name
to the Silver Broomsticks. Then at least, people would know they
have to be evil to join.”

“Go, Sierra.”

“Don’t worry. I am. I wouldn’t lower my
standards by staying with trash like you. Who knows? You might want
me to sacrifice a kitten or a baby.”

I spun and started back toward my car,
determined not to cry, angry with myself for sinking to the
Jamison’s level. I hadn’t screamed or thrown things like I used to
when I had a tantrum, but I wanted to cut loose with more than
words. They had no right to set me up and shoot me down. What if
they’d already been inside? I glanced over my shoulder, but they
were gone. Calling Tanya, trash was mild. I could think of worse
names. Next time, I’d use them.

I couldn’t go in the building if my 4-H
leader refused to sign for me and I wasn’t going to be embarrassed
in front of more than the members of my club. A pickup had parked
next to the Subaru. I waited for a moment for the kids and the
driver who was probably about my mom’s age to climb out of the
rig.

“You’re Sierra McElroy, aren’t you?” The
woman wore jeans and a blue Horse Heaven sweatshirt. She’d braided
back her strawberry blonde hair and she tossed a friendly smile my
way. “I’m Cathy Tiernan. Did you forget something? Are we blocking
you?”

“No. I mean I am Sierra, but I didn’t forget
anything. I’m going home.”

“Why?” Cathy kept smiling, but something
changed in her face. I’d seen that look on my mom’s face when the
going got tough and we were up all night with a sick horse. “I’m
not that late, am I? My presentation isn’t until just before
lunch.”

“You’re not late at all.” I sniffed hard so
the tears didn’t escape, wondering why kindness made me want to cry
when Tanya’s meanness didn’t. “It was a set-up and I didn’t
know.”

I bit my lip. How did I allow her to hear the
truth? Maybe, because her mom was friends with mine and I had just
remembered that Cathy was a veterinarian from the Pine Ridge
clinic. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

“Not until you tell me the rest of it.” She
folded her arms, lifted her chin and waited.

“Look, I didn’t do my community service
because we were having the Christmas party at Shamrock the same day
and I couldn’t leave my mom with the whole thing. Now, my 4-H
leader won’t let me stay, so I’m going home.”

“No, you’re not. You’re attending today as a
guest of the Horse Heaven Angels. If that turns into a problem for
your leader, I’ll turn my mother loose on her. Believe me, nobody
messes with Evelyn Tiernan or her kids or her 4-H club.”

“And if she doesn’t get you, then Aunt Liz
will.” This time it was the tiny version of Cathy from the other
side of the truck who spoke up. “I’m Nikki Tiernan. You’re with us.
Why doesn’t your mom have her own riding club?”

“I guess we never thought of it.” I wound up
carrying one of Cathy’s big tote-boxes toward the arena. “We
already have so much to do with every-day chores.”

“So do we,” Nikki said. “Do you think Horse
Heaven runs itself? Get a clue, Sierra.”

I laughed, already liking the snarky teen
more than anyone in my own club, seeing the family resemblance
between her and Cathy. I couldn’t imagine either of them standing
by and allowing Tanya Jamison or her daughter to snipe at me. “We
have forty horses, thirty of our own and ten boarders. How about
you? What do you guys have?”

Cathy was the first to arrive from the other
barn, but she wasn’t the last. Nikki proceeded to introduce me to
about a dozen other kids from her grandmother’s club as they joined
us on the bleachers. They were nice and talked to me about the
different programs that Evelyn had. Some of them boarded their
horses there, but most leased their favorites. If I’d known them
before, I might not have turned down the opportunity to attend
Stewart Falls Academy, or Centennial Mid-High. Between talking
horses, they also shared news about their classes. Even if I didn’t
tell them so, I was still glad to be going to Lincoln.

During the lunch break, Nikki and I went to
get sodas for everyone. I saw Tanya Jamison talking to Lisa, the
snooty owner of the barn and hoped I didn’t look concerned.

“What are you still doing here, Sierra?”
Tanya asked. “I told you that I wouldn’t sign for you to attend the
clinic with the Silver Spurs.”

“I know.” I kept my tone civil. “I’m visiting
the Horse Heaven Angels today.”

Nikki glanced at my 4-H leader and slid into
the conversation with a super-sweet tone. “We want Sierra to join
our club since she’s leaving yours. I already texted Grandma and
she’s up for it. She says women entrepreneurs have to stick
together.”

“Yes, we do.” Lisa nodded at me. “How is your
horse, Sierra? I hoped you’d bring him today, but I forgot to call
and invite you. Sorry about that. One of my mares colicked
yesterday and my brain was totally scrambled. If you’re shopping
for a new organization, you could always join my pony club. We do
three-day eventing and your big guy is a natural for that.”

I felt a smile tremble to life. “Thanks, I’ll
think about it. As for the invite, that’s okay. Nevada doesn’t like
to go places without his mommy. Colic is a major killer. How is
your horse?”

Lisa strolled over to join us and proceeded
to tell us all the medical details and how Dr. Cathy saved the day.
Tall, dark-haired and perfect in her judging attire, Lisa looked
like everything Tanya wanted to emulate and never would. Okay, so
at thirty-something, Lisa could be a total witch at times like when
she sold Rhonda a horse for a dollar, but I didn’t bear a grudge
about that. I hadn’t wanted to sell our Houston to the woman
regardless of the hefty price that would cover barn costs for a
month.

Lisa was still an amazing rider who’d won
tons of awards in the dressage arena. She stood and chatted with me
and Nikki long enough that nobody dared to hassle me for the rest
of the afternoon. Meantime, I learned new things about the youngest
Tiernan girl. She was Dr. Cathy’s niece, not her daughter. Nikki’s
mom was active Army, stationed in Kuwait. While she finished her
tour, Nikki stayed with her family.

Once we had our sodas, we climbed back up to
join the other Horse Heaven Angels. I flashed a glance at Nikki.
“Did you know that Lisa went to high school with your mom or was a
member of the original Silver Spurs club?”

“No, but I’m not surprised. Aunt Cathy told
me that most of the horsy people around here had been friends
forever. Are you going to talk to your mom about starting her own
riding club?”

“I think so. Since Lisa totally dissed Tanya
Jamison, it’ll be worth my life to go to another meeting.”

“Well, if it doesn’t work out, you really can
come to Horse Heaven and ride with us,” Nikki said. “Grandma won’t
mind.”

On the way home, I stopped in Stewart Falls
to pick up Mom’s favorite combination pizza. Okay, so I didn’t have
a screaming fight with Tanya Jamison or her witch daughter.
However, I also hadn’t left Salmon Pond and gone home when they
ordered it. Plus Dr. Cathy and Lisa had been super nice to me. That
would totally annoy the Jamisons, especially since it was obvious
they weren’t even on the barn V.I.P.’s, or the veterinarian’s
radar. And part of me, the mean, nasty Sierra was doing a little
whoo-hoo
dance on the inside, enjoying every moment of their
humiliation.

I wondered how I’d manage to convince Mom
that we should start our own riding club. I could already think of
seven or eight members. Once I put up posters around our stable,
there would be a lot more. The stall decorating contest and New
Year’s Day work party proved our customers felt like they belonged
at our barn. They believed they were part of our family. Granted,
Mom and I did a lot when it came to maintaining our own barns. Add
in the lessons, trail rides, pony rides, summer camp and the new
pre-owner package and we were going non-stop.