Willow King (3 page)

Katie brightened a little at the mention of the colt. She started to dismount, but stopped as a minor commotion sounded behind her. She turned to see Jason Roberts coming across the barnyard, his long-legged stride carrying him past the squawking chickens and unmanageable colts. At first she couldn't believe her eyes, but no one else had that same shade of strawberry blond hair and that winning smile.

“Yoo-hoo,” Cindy called. “Over here!” She waved frantically in his direction.

“You mean you
know
him?” Katie's heart hammered in her chest. There wasn't a girl in her school who didn't dream of Jason Roberts. He was president of the ninth-grade class, captain of the basketball team, and he was actually
nice
. She had admired him for many years but never had the nerve to say more than “hello” or “excuse me” when she passed him in the hall.

She was glad she had put the lift in her shoe this morning. The last thing she wanted was to have that awkward limp around Jason.

Katie wished she could just stay on Jester's back. She was as graceful as anyone up there. At least she hadn't worn her special shoe this morning. It was more obvious than the lift. The lift just slipped inside her ordinary shoe, but her special footgear had a built-up sole.

Normally, a person used either a lift or an orthopedic shoe, but her leg fell on the borderline of being too short for the lift to work well. So she also had the shoe, which she really hated. She wondered if Jason had ever heard any of the kids at school tease her.

Jason's family owned a large spread, part of which bordered the back of the Durhams' property. Occasionally, she would see him riding in the fields, but she always turned and went the other way, afraid that he might think her stupid if she tried to speak and became tongue-tied.

Katie's mouth dropped open, but she quickly snapped it shut when Jason stopped beside them, smiling up at her as he patted Jester's neck.

“Hello, Katie.”

“So you two do know each other?” Cindy looked inquiringly at Jason.

Katie was shocked that Jason knew her by name. She couldn't seem to find her voice, so she just sat on her horse and tried for a nice smile, hoping that she didn't look like a total dweeb.

“Sure, I know Katie,” Jason said. “Our properties border each other, and I see her riding through the fields every now and then.” He turned his gaze back to Katie. “I've waved to you a couple of times, but I guess you never see me.”

Katie opened her mouth to speak, praying that her voice wouldn't come out as a little squeak. “I'm sorry. I guess I didn't notice. I'll pay more attention next time.” She hoped God wouldn't punish her for that little white lie. Of course she had seen him. She had just assumed that he'd been swatting mosquitoes. She couldn't believe that he had been waving at her.

“I told Jason about our little secret. I'm sure my father wouldn't mind. Jason is sworn to secrecy.”

“On my honor.” He crossed his heart and raised his right hand. “So what are you going to do now that you don't have a horse to ride?” He grabbed Jester's bit and waited for her to dismount. “It'll be another couple of years before that colt will be old enough to break—that is, if his legs straighten enough for him to be rideable.”

Katie slid her hand over Jester's neck and patted him lovingly. “Oh, his legs will be straight enough. You'll see him win the Futurity race at Portland Downs. And even if they don't straighten, bad legs won't make him useless.” She punctuated her point by making a graceful dismount.

Jason looked at her and smiled. “You're right about that.”

Katie had the feeling that he was talking about her as well as the horse. Her heart brightened, and she liked him all the more for it. Funny, but she wasn't so nervous talking horses to him. “In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to get used to not having Jester around.”

Cindy pouted prettily, trying to draw the attention back to herself. “Katie Durham, don't you go trying to make me feel guilty about this. We traded fair and square. Besides, I'm sure my dad will let you ride the old Appaloosa pony horse.”

“And if you get tired of riding that old rocking horse, I'll let you ride one of my Paints,” Jason offered.

Cindy put her hands on her hips and squared her shoulders. “You won't even let
me
ride one of your precious Paints—how come you'll let Katie?”

Jason reached out and tweaked Cindy's braid. “These are cutting horses, girl. They can jump out from under you quicker than greased lightning.”

“I can ride as well as Katie can.” Cindy crossed her arms and frowned.

“I know you can.” He winked at Katie, flashing her a crooked grin. “It's just that I didn't figure you would want to be riding another horse for a while now that you've got a new one.”

That brought the smile back to Cindy's face. “You're right. Who needs one of your old Paints when I've got the horse that's going to win at all the local shows. With the way this horse moves, no one can touch us in the English Pleasure classes.”

Cindy didn't notice the stricken look on Katie's face, but she saw the frown that Jason gave her and laughed at him, thinking he was upset because she had insulted his horses. “Don't be such a downer. Call one of the grooms and tell him I want my saddle and bridle. I'm going to ride this horse now.”

Katie stood back and watched as the tack was placed on Jester. He had never carried another person's saddle before, and the bit Cindy used was much harsher than the ring snaffle bit he was used to. Cindy stepped up to the horse and pulled the girth as tight as it would go with one savage yank. Jester swished his tail and rolled his eyes, but like a gentleman, he accepted the unwarranted roughness with patience.

Despite all of her years in the saddle, Cindy had never acquired the graceful balance and good horsemanship that came with years of practice. Instead of a quick, agile mount, she put all her weight in the stirrup and pulled downward on the saddle as she attempted to climb on top of the horse. Jester shifted nervously as the saddle pinched his skin.

“Hold still.” Cindy jerked on the bit and the horse's head popped up at the unaccustomed pressure on his soft mouth. “What's wrong with this horse? I've never seen him act this way before.”

Jason stepped forward and pulled an extra four inches of rein out of Cindy's fingers. “You've got to give this horse a little more rein. He's not used to a heavy hand.”

Katie smiled her thanks at him and advised Cindy, “Jester is a push-button horse. He'll respond to the slightest pressure of your hands or legs. If you pull too tight, he'll toss his head.”

Cindy looked condescendingly down at them. She had a proud way about her that sometimes made Katie feel about six inches tall. From that high perch atop Jester's back, it was even more intimidating.

“Are you guys trying to tell me I don't know how to control a horse?” She pulled on the bit and spun Jester around to face the arena. “Watch this.”

Katie wanted to close her eyes as Cindy cantered into the riding ring and put Jester through his paces. She jerked on his mouth and used leg pressure that was strong enough to cue an elephant. The horse moved around the arena, throwing his head up and running zigzag patterns, trying to do as his rider asked. Finally, Cindy trotted him back to where they stood.

“See, I can ride this beauty. We've just got to get a little more used to each other.”

Jason stepped up and took the reins from Cindy. “That's enough for today.” He looked over at Katie and gave her a reassuring smile. “I think the two of you should go riding together a few times so Katie can give you some pointers on how Jester likes things done.”

Cindy puckered up her face and started to protest, but Jason stopped her. “Don't be stubborn, Cin. All horses are different. You want to win some ribbons, don't you? You've got to learn this horse's temperament and how to handle him if you want to do that.”

“I guess you're right. This is going to be my best year in the show ring. I know Jester can carry me to highpoint champion. I was just a little upset because I thought you were telling me I didn't know how to ride.”

Katie finally found her tongue and stepped forward to speak. “I'd be glad to give you a few lessons.”

Cindy gave her that look again, and Katie knew she'd said the wrong thing.

“N-not that you need lessons,” she stuttered, trying to recover from her blunder. “You ride perfectly fine.” She hoped God wasn't keeping track of her white lies. “It's just that Jester and I have been together for so long, he's used to my cues. It'll help if I can show you what I do with him.”

Cindy seemed satisfied with that explanation and turned to call for a groom to take the horse away. Katie quickly reached out and loosened Jester's girth. She always let it out a couple of notches when she'd finished her ride.

“John will deliver King and his mother to your farm tomorrow. Remember, there's no trading back early, even if that colt's legs don't straighten up.”

Cindy grabbed Jason's hand, dragging him toward the house. From the corner of the barn he looked back over his shoulder and waved. Katie's heart cantered in her chest. Jason Roberts had actually talked to her! Wait until she told her best friend, Jan.

Three

“They're here!” her mother yelled as Katie emerged from the barn. She had gotten up at daybreak to prepare the stall for King and his mother.

The night before, old John had driven over to help Katie take down the partition in Jester's stall to make it double the size for the new arrivals. It was now bedded deep with straw and had plenty of fresh water and sweet-smelling hay. It truly was a stall fit for a king.

John maneuvered the horse trailer down the narrow driveway and parked in front of the barn that was to be King's new home. Katie hurried to help him unload the pair.

“Well, Katie girl, this is it. There's no turning back from here.” John nodded hello to her mother and opened the trailer's rear doors. “Easy, easy,” he crooned as the mare slowly backed out of the trailer. The colt's legs were too weak to make the twelve-inch drop to the ground, so John lifted him out.

King touched ground and surveyed his surroundings. His eyes were alert, and his ears swiveled back and forth, trying to pick up all the new sounds that surrounded him.

It was a pleasant day for the middle of February in Salem, Oregon. The wind was cool, but the sun shone, illuminating King's brown coat and his fuzzy black mane and tail. He had just a touch of black showing on his legs now, but Katie knew that once he lost his baby hair, he would take on the true bay coloring of his father. He would be a beautiful bay with black points on his ears, muzzle, and legs.

King raised his head and whinnied, then struggled along after his mother, his gait slow and awkward. Katie felt as if she were watching an animal version of herself. Her heart ached with the kinship she felt with King.
Come on, boy
, she said to herself.
It's an uphill battle, but you can do it
.

“Well, Mom, what do you think?” She could tell by the skeptical look on her mother's face that she was full of doubt.

“I don't quite know what to think, dear. The poor thing can hardly walk.”

“That's only temporary. He'll get stronger. You'll see.” She patted her own bad leg and smiled at her mother.

They followed John and the horses into the barn. King was exhausted by the time he reached the stall. He plopped down on the soft bedding and took stock of his surroundings, then dozed off to the sound of his dam munching on hay.

“He's a pretty little thing,” her mother volunteered. “But I just don't see how those legs will ever straighten out.”

“Plenty of sunshine, exercise, and good food,” John said.

“What do I feed him, John?”

“Nothing at present. For now, he gets all he needs from his mama.”

“What about grazing? Shouldn't I be putting him out to pasture?”

“The only reason to put this colt out to pasture now is for exercise. Did you see how long his legs are? There's a reason for that. God didn't intend for a colt to be eating grass as soon as he was born. That's why their necks are so short and their legs are so long. They can't get to the grass. In a month or so, he'll start to nibbling on his mama's hay. You let me know when that happens, and we'll fix you a creep feeder.”

“What's a creep feeder?” Mrs. Durham asked.

John swept off his hat and fidgeted, as if being around women made him nervous. “It's a bucket with bars over it that are spaced far enough apart so the baby can stick its nose in and eat but the mother can't. These old broodmares are a greedy bunch. They'll eat up every drop of food they can get to—even their own baby's.”

John turned to Katie. “Run out to the truck and get me that bag on the seat.”

Katie hurried to do his bidding. She felt fortunate to have such an experienced trainer to learn from. Mr. Ellis often said that old John had forgotten more than most trainers would ever know. He was the reason that Willow Run Farm was doing so well. She couldn't have a better teacher. She was sure that together they would see King through to fame and fortune. She grabbed the bag from the truck and returned to the barn.

“Here it is.”

“That's for you, Katie girl. Go on and open it.”

Katie peeked curiously into the sack. She smiled as she pulled a small halter and lead shank from the bag. “Thanks, John. When can I start using it?”

“The sooner the better. The way that colt's been eating, he'll be bigger than you pretty soon. You'd better give him some manners before then, or you'll have problems. Now's the time to handle him, while he's still weak and having trouble with his legs. Once he's got those figured out, he's going to be a handful. You mark my words.”