Star Gazer (20 page)

“Should I pull her from the competition?” Jordan asked. She didn't want to hurt Star any more than the race home had already done.

Mr. Walter tapped in the last nail and set Star Gazer's foot down. “I think she'll be fine,” he said. “Just imagine if you ran home with one shoe on and the other barefoot. She might be a little tender for a day or two, so don't do any work with her over the next few days.”

“What about pulling a load?” Jordan asked. “I've got the competition on Saturday. Won't pulling put an extra strain on her feet?”

“It might,” said the shoer. “If you want to be totally safe, take it really easy on her. Maybe do just one class. Any more than that and you might risk laming her up again.”

“I'm only entered in one class, so we should be okay,” Jordan said. She thanked the shoer then went to the house to call Jacob and let him know she couldn't work Star Gazer again until the day of the competition.

twenty-one

The morning of the fair, Jordan got up extra early and fed and groomed Star. Mr. Miller would be over to pick them up soon. Jordan had butterflies so bad she couldn't even eat her breakfast, but Star chowed right through hers.

To make things worse, Mrs. Cannon had dropped by the house last night, letting them know that she planned to make a good offer on Star right after the competition. Jordan guessed the woman wanted to see if Star did well before she decided how much to offer. A poor showing would mean a cheaper deal for the Cannons.

When the Millers' big white trailer pulled into their driveway, Jordan and Star were ready to go. Her mother ran out of the house with her lunch and promised to pick up Nicole and meet her at the fairgrounds in an hour. Jordan loaded her horse and hopped into the pickup with Daniel and his dad.

“Jacob's going to meet us at the fairgrounds,” Daniel said. “Duke didn't finish all of his dinner last night and Jacob is a little worried. But I think King's pulling mate just senses something is up. He's a little excited, is all. Some horses get real antsy about competition.”

Mr. Miller looked over his shoulder and grinned. “So do some young men.”

Jordan's brows rose. “You mean Daniel?” She looked at her friend.
“You
get competition jitters?”

Daniel nodded.

“But you're always so calm and steady when you work with the horses,” she said. “Who would have guessed?” When Daniel didn't answer, Jordan looked out the window, but she didn't really see the passing scenery. She was too busy worrying. She hoped Duke was okay.

As soon as they pulled onto the fairgrounds, Jordan's pulse quickened. It reminded her of the day she went to the auction where she bought Star Gazer. People walked back and forth with their horses, and occasionally someone passed by with a sheep or goat for the 4-H competition. The carnival rides were already in full swing and she could smell cotton candy and popcorn on the air. After no breakfast, the sweet smells made her stomach ache.

Jacob was already there grooming King and Duke when they arrived at the barn. “How's Duke?” Jordan asked. “Dan said he didn't finish his dinner.”

“I'm not sure,” Jacob said. “He doesn't want his breakfast, either. I'm going to finish brushing them, then let them settle in. We've got another hour before we have to start tacking up. How's Star Gazer doing after that run from the lake?”

“She seems to be okay,” Jordan said. “The vet came out yesterday and said her feet look fine. But he agreed with the shoer that I should take it easy with her for a bit. He said I could enter that one class today and that's it.”

Jordan went to get Star's hay net and hung it in the corner of the stall. The mare immediately dug into her food. Jordan laughed. “Nothing wrong with
your
appetite.” She settled into the straw in the corner and watched her horse eat, listening to the comforting sounds of Star chewing her hay and flicking her tail.

After a while, Jordan stood and brushed the straw from her jeans. She ran her hand over Star's sleek neck. “We've got to do well today, girl,” she said, feeling her throat tighten with emotion. “This might be our last chance to work as a team.” Star Gazer lowered her head and nuzzled Jordan's shoulder. Jordan threw her arms around Star Gazer's neck and buried her face in her mane. She couldn't keep the image of Mrs. Cannon driving away with Star out of her mind. She pulled back and looked Star in the face. “If we can pull this off and do well, then maybe a miracle will happen and I'll prove to my mom that we belong together. I can't lose you, girl.”

Someone cleared their throat in the aisleway, and Jordan's head snapped around. Her jaw dropped when she saw Tommy standing there. He had heard every word she'd said.

“Come on, McKenzie,” he said, shaking his head. “You know that horse can't understand a word you say.”

“What are
you
doing here?” Jordan said, fighting the urge to pick up a brush and hurl it at him.

“Hey, I come in peace,” Tommy said. “I just wanted to wish you luck. I feel kinda bad about what happened the other day. That was a pretty rotten break.”

Jordan just stared at him. She still wasn't sure that she hadn't left the gate unlocked herself, so there wasn't much she could say.

“My dad's still going to whup your two throwback boyfriends in the main competition,” he said. “But I think you'll do okay in your beginner's class. See you around, city girl.”

Jordan watched him go, not sure what to think about the odd visit. She hugged Star Gazer one more time, then went to wait for her mom and Nicole. They walked around the fair for a bit, but Jordan's mind was too preoccupied to enjoy the exhibits. She finally told them she was going back to prepare Star for her class. Nicole offered to help, but Jordan said she wanted a little alone time with her horse. It might be her last chance. Nicole understood and gave her a big hug.

Jordan gathered her brushes and entered Star Gazer's stall. She began with the rubber curry, running it over Star's shiny, black coat. The mare cocked a back leg and wiggled her lips to show Jordan how much she appreciated the grooming.

When she was finished with the brushes, Jordan got out the hoof pick and made sure that Star's feet didn't have any stones or packed dirt in them. The shoer and Dr. Smith had cautioned her to enter Star in only one class because of her feet. Jordan wanted to make sure Star didn't come up lame before they made it to that one class.

Jacob showed up a few minutes later with the harness and helped her tack Star Gazer. Jordan thought he looked great in his jeans and plain blue shirt with black suspenders. It didn't matter that other kids made fun of him and Daniel. They'd both been true friends and she was happy she'd met them.

“This is your big moment,” Jacob said, giving her an encouraging smile. “I'm really glad you decided to enter this class. You've earned the right to take your place in that competition arena. Just remember to take your time and go steady. No big moves.”

Jordan smiled back. She could do this. “Whether we do well or really mess it up…,” she said, hesitating for a second. “I…I just wanted you to know that Star and I appreciate all your help. You've really been a good friend.”

Jacob gave her the same lopsided grin she remembered from the first time she met him. He led Star Gazer out of the stall for her. “My team is already outside,” he said. “Follow me out and we'll go practice in the warm-up arena. Dan and Mr. Miller are already there.”

Jordan's mom and Nicole made it back just as they were moving the horses to the practice arena. Her mother immediately started snapping photos.

Star whinnied a greeting to King when she saw him. He bobbed his head and nickered back. Duke just plodded along beside King as they entered the arena. Jordan didn't like the dullness of his eyes or his listless appearance. The horse was off, and she knew Jacob was wondering how it would affect their overall performance.

Jacob motioned for Jordan to pull her horse alongside his. “I'm going to make a few rounds of the ring to warm these guys up,” he said. “Then I'm going to put them in their stalls and come back and get you ready for your first time in the competition arena.”

Jordan's stomach dropped at the mention of her first competition, and all her doubts came flooding back. Her hands shook on the reins. Sensing her nervousness, Star fussed at the bit and bobbed her head.

Jordan caught sight of Gilbert Sutton and his team of perfect Percherons warming up. As they approached each other in the ring, Jordan noted that Star looked every bit as good as Sutton's horses. She saw his eyes widen when he spotted them. He gave her a curt nod as they passed.

Jordan stood up a little straighter and squared her shoulders. She and Star
did
belong in the competition arena. They'd earned the right to strut their stuff. This was the day she'd prove to everyone that she and Star Gazer could do this!

Jacob signaled that he was leaving the practice area and would be right back. But ten minutes later, he still hadn't come to get her. The time for her class was quickly approaching and her knees were beginning to shake.

Mrs. Cannon appeared at the side of the practice ring with her husband and their two kids, waving wildly. Jordan forced a smile and waved back. Little Anthony kicked at the dirt, seeing how far he could make the clods and stones fly. Jordan gave him a look that made him stop immediately.

A small commotion caught Jordan's attention, and she spied Nicole running across the ring. The look on her friend's face told her something was wrong. Jordan pulled Star Gazer off to the side and waited.

“Duke's got colic and Jacob has to pull his team from the competition,” Nicole said. “He's really bummed. Daniel will be out in a minute to help you. Jacob has to deal with the vet.”

“Oh, no,” Jordan said, feeling sorry for her friend. “That's terrible.” Jacob had worked so hard to prepare his team. Jordan was sure he could have beat Sutton this year.

Daniel found them and motioned for Jordan to bring Star Gazer over. “It's time to get you to the holding area for your competition,” he said. He pulled out a rub rag and flicked it over Star's coat to bring out the shine. After making a few last-minute adjustments to the equipment, he led them out of the ring.

Jordan exited the arena, but she shook her head when he pointed the way to the holding pen.

“You're not getting cold feet, are you?” Daniel asked, concern etched on his boyish face.

“Nope,” Jordan said as she drove Star Gazer straight toward the barn. Daniel and Nicole hurried along after her, trying to figure out what she was doing. Her mother and Mr. Miller looked up in confusion when she entered the barn.

“We were just getting ready to go to the show ring to watch you,” her mother said.

Jordan saw Jacob walking Duke up and down the aisle, trying to keep the horse's upset stomach from getting worse. “What are you doing here?” Jacob asked. “Your class enters the arena in ten minutes. You can't quit now. You've worked too hard for this.”

“I'm not quitting,” Jordan said as she led Star into her stall and removed her harness.

“Then what are you doing?” Jacob asked. He looked at her like she'd lost her mind.

“I'm loaning you my horse,” Jordan said. “Star Gazer and King pull really well together. I want all of you to beat Gilbert Sutton.”

Mr. Miller gave her an approving nod and turned to his son. “Daniel, could you run to the judge's stand and tell them there's been a switch in the team? Give them Star's name so they can substitute her in for Duke.”

“But you worked so hard for this,” Jacob said to Jordan. “This is your chance to prove yourself and Star.”

Jordan reached up and lovingly straightened Star Gazer's forelock and gave the mare a kiss on her whiskered muzzle. “I think we've proved ourselves to everyone who really counts.” She handed Star's reins to Jacob and took Duke's lead rope in return.
“You
can prove Star Gazer to the town. Now hurry up and get the horses harnessed. I'll get my chance at it next year.”

Jordan took over walking Duke slowly up and down the aisle while the others worked to get the new team ready to go.

Mrs. McKenzie approached her daughter, being careful not to get in the way of the big draft horse with the colic problem. “Dr. Smith is on the way,” she said. “He's going to walk Duke for you so you can watch Jacob and Star compete. Nicole and I are going to our seats. We'll meet you there.”

A few minutes later the veterinarian arrived. Jordan handed Duke over to him and ran to the arena. It didn't take her long to find their seats.

“Daniel goes first.” Mrs. McKenzie pointed to where Daniel and his team stood in front of the set of logs. “The announcer explained that competitors are allowed to have someone help hook the load, so his father is out there with him.”

Jordan watched Daniel move his horses into position. He looked nervous and out of sorts to her, not his usual steady self. When the logs were hooked, she heard him shout, “Candy, Suzie, walk up!”

The team moved toward the first set of obstacles. They made a good pass, but on the second set Jordan thought the team went a little wide. Daniel looked behind him as he walked, keeping a steady eye on the load to make sure the logs were skidding where he wanted them.

The crowd uttered a collective “
Oh!
” when one of the poles hit a marker and moved it several inches. Daniel made it through the rest of that pass okay, but after he turned his team to make the final run back through, he hit two more markers before reaching the finish line.

Jordan felt badly for Daniel. Nerves must have gotten the best of him. He'd had many perfect runs in the field at his farm.

They sat back and watched a few more teamsters compete, but those men had even more faults than Daniel. It reminded Jordan of just how tough this competition really was.