Dream On (Dare to Dream Book 2), page 3
Lynda pulled a face. “Oh yeah, I forgot.” She looked apologetically at Van. “Sorry, but my sister will kill me if I’m late for her party. But if you want to tack him up and just take him for a ride around the grounds, feel free. You know where his gear is.”
Van thanked her, trying to sound grateful as Lynda rode away, her mother striding alongside her. After a moment, she turned back to look at the bright bay with the bold blaze, watching her with pricked ears. “You wanna go for a ride, buddy?”
Sometimes, Van reflected as she saddled the big gelding, you just have to take what you can get.
“And that’s a clear round for Misty Magic and Hayley Maxwell, so we’ll see them back for the jump off. Next to go will be Borderline Majestic, ridden by Stacey Winchester.”
Marley halted Breeze next to the ring and watched as Stacey’s mare picked up a canter. The pony was beautiful, there was no doubt about that. Her conformation was flawless and shapely muscles rippled under her gleaming coat. But her whole body was tense, held tightly together and not only by Stacey’s death grip on the reins. The pony wasn’t looking at the jumps, or the crowd, or anything. Her ears were laid back and her eyes were blank. It was strange, as though she wasn’t really there, and it gave Marley a cold feeling. She’d been watching Stacey struggle to get the pony over the practice fence for the last half an hour, as her father yelled at her and she resorted to ever more forceful tactics to make the pony jump. Even so, it had only worked half of the time, and the grass stain on Stacey’s knee was testament to the pony’s fighting spirit. Marley couldn’t tell whether it was ignorance or pride that was pushing Stacey to enter the Grand Prix class when she could barely get her pony over the first fence at the lower heights. Why not start lower and slowly build up their partnership? Why does she think that just because the pony can jump that high, that she must?
Stacey rode determinedly towards the first jump, giving the pony a sharp slap with her whip on the shoulder at the point of take-off. Majestic leapt into the air, clearing the fence easily. Stacey seemed as surprised as everyone else that she’d actually jumped it, but she recovered quickly as she steered the mare towards the second fence on the course. Another slap on the shoulder and another leap into the air, once again clearing the top rail.
“That’s the way,” someone said and Marley turned to see Stacey’s father watching eagerly, his eyes alight. “She’s getting the hang of it now. Pony’s just been mucking her around. Just needed a firm hand. I told you.”
A red-headed woman who could only be Stacey’s mother stood next to him, her face white. She didn’t look as though she was enjoying the spectacle as Stacey and Majestic scraped over fence three, and made the turn to the one-stride double. But even though the pony was jumping now, there was something so desperate about the look in her eyes that Marley found herself turning away, unable to bear it. She started to move through the huddle of ponies standing near the gateway, and so she didn’t see what happened next.
Later, other people would relay the accident to her over and over. How Majestic had backed off the jump several strides out, and Stacey had got the whip out early. How she’d brought it down hard against the pony’s flank, and how Majestic had rushed forward, sunk down on her quarters as though she was preparing to take off, then slammed on the brakes instead and swerved hard, sending her rider flying headfirst into the jump.
People told Marley later how Stacey’s mother had screamed, how her father had sworn, how the pony had galloped off across the ring with her head in the air and tail fanning out behind her as Stacey lay still and limp as a rag doll amidst the scattered poles, but Marley only heard the deafening crash and the cries of the spectators, and by the time she turned around everything was chaos. All she saw was the frantic pony racing around and around the ring, with people leaping out from under the ropes to try and catch her, but she dodged their grasping hands with a flick of her wild head. Marley heard the announcer call for an ambulance over the sound of the pony’s drumming hooves, then saw Van step through the gate and head the mare off, eventually managing to corner and catch her. Marley watched as her sister led the fretting, sweating pony through the crowd, and took her back to Stacey’s truck to unsaddle her.
And Kris had stayed watching, unable to tear her eyes away from the girl who hadn’t regained consciousness. She stood there as the class was stopped, as the sirens wailed, as the ambulance raced across the show grounds and as Stacey was bundled into it. Only when it had driven out of sight did she come back to herself, and go to find her sisters.
“Nobody’s come for her.”
Van looked up at the concern in Marley’s voice. “Who?”
“Stacey’s pony.”
Van followed her sister’s gaze to the bay pony who was standing in the corner of her yard, pawing nervously at the ground. Trucks were pulling out of the show grounds and all the other horses that had been yarded nearby had left, leaving the pony alone in the middle of the yards.
“Poor thing.”
“Poor Stacey,” Kris countered as she finished wrapping Gigi’s legs for the trip home. “She’s the one in intensive care right now.”
“Is she conscious yet?” Marley asked, but Kris shook her head.
“Apparently not. Sounds like a really serious injury. I doubt her parents are going to let her back on that pony, even when she recovers.” She didn’t want to say if.
Marley looked troubled as she watched the pony pace back and forth. “What’s going to happen to Majestic?”
“How should I know?”
“We can’t just leave her here.” The show grounds were almost empty now.
“We can’t take her with us.”
“Why not?”
Van’s voice was impatient. “Because she’s not ours to take. Someone will come for her, don’t worry. Now let’s get these ponies loaded so we can hit the road. We’ve got a four hour drive ahead of us and I’m starving.”
Marley looked at Kris. “So we’re just going to decide that she’s someone else’s problem and walk away?”
“We live two hours in the opposite direction,” Kris pointed out.
“We’ll just take her home for a while,” Marley replied. “Stacey’s parents can come pick her up when they’re ready.”
She didn’t wait for her sisters to say anything else. Tossing Seattle’s lead rope to Van, Marley turned on her heel and went over to Majestic’s yard. The pony snorted uneasily at her, and when Marley ducked under the railing and approached the mare, she laid her ears back and struck out aggressively with a foreleg.
“Hey now,” Marley said softly. “I’m trying to help you.” She picked up the lead rope that was looped over the fence and stepped up to the mare. Majestic’s ears were still pinned back, but she allowed Marley to clip the lead onto her halter and lead her out of the yard.
Kris was on the phone as she led the pony back to their truck, and she gave Marley the thumbs up as she hung up.
“I got hold of Stacey’s dad, and he’s happy for us to take her. Said he hadn’t even thought about what was going to happen to her. I got the impression he doesn’t care right now,” she admitted. “Not that I blame him.” She looked at Marley. “We’ll take her home, but you have to promise me that you are not going to try and ride this creature.”
“I’m not stupid,” Marley replied. “She’s just coming for a holiday, that’s all.”
Kris nodded and stepped away from the ramp, giving Marley room to lead the pony up. Marley stepped forward, and Majestic baulked.
“Come on now,” Marley encouraged her. She reached over to rub the pony’s neck, but Majestic was quick, snaking her head around and biting Marley on the arm. Marley winced, Kris cringed, and Van raised her eyebrows.
“This should be fun.”
In the end, it took the girls twenty minutes to coerce the pony onto their truck, and they didn’t manage it without Marley receiving another bite, this time on her shoulder, and Van sustaining a sharp kick to the thigh. By the time Kris started the truck, she’d already had a guts-full of the pony, and all three sisters drove home in silence, wondering what had happened to the mare to make her so angry, and what her future might hold.
CHAPTER 2
It was almost dark when they rattled down their bumpy driveway, and Kris felt a wave of relief as she parked the truck in the yard and switched off the engine. Her sisters scrambled out of the cab awkwardly, both favouring their injuries, to greet the dogs who had run out barking excitedly at their return.
Kris opened her door and climbed down to greet Ian as he walked slowly across the yard, his back stooped from many years of hard work on his own farm. An old family friend, he lived down the road on a few scrubby acres, and he came by when the girls were away competing to take care of the animals left behind. He’d been a godsend to them over the years, but his health was starting to deteriorate and Kris couldn’t help wondering whether he’d be available to help them for much longer.
“All home in one piece, then?” he asked gruffly.
“Just about. How’s everything here?”
“Oh fine, fine,” he said reassuringly, watching as Van and Marley dropped the ramp and Majestic stuck her head out. “Brought a new one home, have you?”
“Not ours, thank goodness,” Kris assured him. “It’s a long story, and hopefully she won’t be here for long.”
Marley walked into the truck to reach Majestic, who was drenched in sweat. She carefully untied her and led her down the ramp, and the pony snorted loudly as she looked around in alarm at her new surroundings.
“Bet she’s wondering where in the hell she ended up,” Van said as the mare spooked wildly at the chickens running across the yard, almost dragging Marley behind her.
“Put her in the house paddock with Miles,” Kris told her sister. “Let him be a calming influence.”
Marley led the pony away as Ian said goodnight, and Van started unloading the other horses. Majestic danced at the end of the rope, tugging forward or dragging back, spooking at imaginary demons and almost flattening Marley from time to time.
“Child, you need to learn some manners,” Marley scolded her as she tried to keep her feet from being trodden on yet again. She reached the gate with a sense of relief, unhitched it and led the pony through. The moment she slipped the halter off, Majestic took off like a whirlwind, galloping frantically around the paddock. Halfway around, she saw Miles, who had raised his elderly grey head and was watching the new arrival with interest.
Majestic skidded to a halt, flattened her ears back and squealed. It wasn’t the high, playful squeal of a horse in play, or one who was excited to meet a new friend – this was something different entirely. Marley watched in horror as Majestic pinned her ears flat back, snaked her neck out and charged at Miles with her teeth bared. The old horse tried to get out of her way, but she ran full tilt into him, grabbing the base of his neck with her teeth and biting down hard. Miles let out an anguished cry and stumbled, pitching forward onto his knees. Marley had let out a yell of her own, jumped the gate and was running across the paddock before she even had time to think about what she was doing.
She ran straight at the bay pony, waving her arms wildly. Majestic spun around, and for a moment Marley thought that she was going to go for her instead. But Miles distracted her by deciding to make a run for it, and as he hobbled pitifully towards Marley, Majestic spun on her haunches and double barrelled him, kicking him hard in the flank with the full force of both hooves.
Marley screamed at her as Miles staggered, but he had his eyes on the girl and as he got closer to her, Majestic took off to the far corner of the paddock. Marley grabbed Miles by his long mane and quickly shepherded him to the gate, and out of the paddock.
Kris was running up the path towards her, with Van following behind.
“What’s going on?”
Marley’s heart was pounding so hard that she was out of breath. “She attacked him!”
“Oh my God.” Kris looked at the blood trickling down Miles’s shoulder, and the way he was holding his hind leg off the ground. “Is he okay?”
Van looked over at the wild bay mare, still pacing up and down the fence line with her eyes rolling, and asked the question on everyone’s lips.
“What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?”
“He’ll be fine. I’ve stitched him up and given him a tetanus shot and some painkillers. He’s badly bruised and he’ll be sore, but he’ll survive.”
“Thank God for small miracles.” Kris set a mug of hot coffee down in front of Mike, who nodded his thanks to her as Van stormed into the room.
“I have had it up to here with that man!” she complained as she slammed the door behind her.
Mike raised an eyebrow as he sipped on his hot drink. “Not talking about me I hope?”
“Course not.” Van wrapped an arm around his shoulders and gave him a brief kiss, before directing her anger towards Kris. “He said he’d shut the chickens in, but he didn’t check the side door so they were all over the yard again and it just took me and Marley half an hour to round them all up. There was no water in the house paddock trough, and the dogs ate so fast that I wouldn’t be surprised if they haven’t been fed since we left.”
Kris sighed as she sat down at the table. “He’s getting old.”
“That’s not our fault,” Van snapped. “We can’t keep leaving him in charge around here.”
“So what do you propose?” her sister asked. “Taking turns staying home on weekends?”
Van shrugged, dropping into a chair next to Mike. “I don’t know. I need to sit my HT licence anyway, it’s not fair on you to keep making you do all the driving. I’m old enough now. I’ll book it in next week.”
Kris nodded slowly, trying not to let her disappointment show. Van was right about the animals, and their needs had to come first. But the thought of being left behind while her sisters went out to shows was a discouraging one that made her feel more useless than ever.
“Think you could manage without me?” she asked.
“We’d have to,” Van shrugged, taking a sip of Mike’s coffee.
“I might have another alternative.” They both turned to look at Mike. “It’s just a thought, but you could take on a lodger. I know a guy who’s looking for a place to live, and you’ve got a spare room.”
The girls stared at each other, then back at Mike. That’s not a spare room, Kris wanted to tell him. It’s Dad’s room. But she stayed silent.
“He’d be no trouble to you, and he would be around on weekends so you could still all travel together.” He turned to Van. “You might know him. Seamus O’Leary, he shoes Jeff’s horses at the yard, and some of Adrian’s as well. Irish bloke, mid-twenties, nice guy.”
“Short, dark hair, always whistling?” Van asked. “I’ve seen him around. Seems like a nice guy.” She looked at Kris, who was sitting frozen in her chair. “That’s not a bad idea, actually. What d’you think?”
Kris bit her lip. “We’d have to meet him,” she said cagily.
“Of course. It was just an idea, the ball’s in your court,” Mike said reassuringly. He drained off the coffee dregs and got to his feet. “I’d better head home, I’ve got a long day of vaccinating cattle ahead of me.”
Van stood up and limped out of the room behind him as Kris sat at the table, staring at the wood grain blankly, her head whirling. Marley came in and collapsed into a chair. She tilted Mike’s mug to see if there was anything left, and pulled a face when she found it empty. Kris took the opportunity to do something.
“Hot chocolate?”
“Ooh yes please,” Marley said quickly. “Do we have any marshmallows left?”
“I think Van ate them all, but you can check.” She heated up the milk as Marley stood on a chair and foraged around in the pantry.
Van came back into the room, smiling to herself. “How’s Miles?” she asked Marley.
“Stiff and sore. Poor guy. Did you eat all the marshmallows?”
“Guilty,” Van admitted. “I’m going to have a shower. Night all.”
Marley grumbled to herself as she sat back down at the table. When Kris set a mug of steaming hot chocolate in front of her, she dipped a finger into the foamy chocolate on top, then licked it off.
“That pony’s crazy.”
“I did warn you.”
“Yeah, but…” Marley shook her head and a piece of hay fell out of her hair and into her hot chocolate. She picked it out absentmindedly as she spoke. “I didn’t think she was that bad, but she’s just so…so angry. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
“All the more reason to leave her be until the Winchesters come and claim her.”
“I hope Stacey’s going to be okay.”
“Me too.”
A whimpering sound came from the corner of the room, where their elderly spaniel Dottie was sleeping in her basket.
“She’s having a bad dream,” Marley said as the dog’s little legs thrashed around.
Kris went over and crouched down next to the basket, then laid a hand on the dog’s side. Dottie woke with a start and snarled at Kris, before recognising her and reaching around to lick her hand apologetically. Kris rubbed her head, trying not to think about how easy it was to feel the bones beneath Dottie’s dull coat. The dog had lost her appetite recently, and her weight was dropping.
“She’s getting old.”
“Yeah.” Kris straightened up and looked at her sister.
“Same as Miles.”
They didn’t mention the connection between the two animals, but Kris was sure it was on both of their minds. Miles had been Dad’s horse, and Dottie had been his dog. The years since their father’s death had slipped by without them noticing, but the animals were there as a constant reminder that time kept passing, even when it felt as though his accident had only happened yesterday. But then sometimes it felt as though he’d been gone forever. Sometimes it was both at the same time.
