A Star Discovered (6 page)

“Please stay that way; please stay that way,” she prayed silently as the judge approached her, looking down at his clipboard.

“Number thirty-four?”

“Yes, sir,” Jody replied, lifting Star’s head slightly to give the judge a better look at him.

“What is your name and the name of your colt?”

“Jody Stafford, sir, and this is Star of Wonder,” she said proudly.

“And his date of birth?” he asked.

“He was born on Christmas Eve, sir. He’s a year-and-a-half old.”

“Hmmph—Christmas Eve? Funny time for a foal to be born. Usually happens in the spring.”

“Yes, sir. Well, it was quite a surprise,” Jody answered, smiling.

“Do you know the name of his dam?”

“His dam’s name is Lady, sir.” Jody replied.

“Lady . . . ?”

“Just Lady, sir.”

“And his sire?”

“Uh,” Jody stammered. “Um, I’m not sure of the name of his sire.”

The judge was silent then as he ran his hand down the crest of Star’s mane to see if he could raise any dust. He walked in
a circle around Star just as Willie had done, surveying him with a critical eye. He nodded once and patted him on the rump.
Then he turned to Jody.

“Could you pick up his right front foot for me?” The judge asked.

Jody leaned down and ran her hand down Star’s right front leg. He immediately picked up his foot and stood quietly while Jody
held it.

“Thank you. That’s all,” the judge said. He jotted some notes on his clipboard and went on to the next yearling.

Mary caught Jody’s eye from the sidelines and gave her a thumbs-up signal as Jody breathed a sigh of relief. “Star looks good,
doesn’t he, Willie?” Mary asked nervously. “He’s behaving himself too!”

“Well, he didn’t do anything stupid, at least not yet,” Willie replied dryly. “If you girls did your job grooming him, he
should do alright in this class. Lots of competition though. They all look pretty clean and they’re trotting right good. Except
for the bay, of course.”

Mary watched silently as the judge continued down the line of yearlings, questioning each handler. One of the colts refused
to pick up his hoof at all, nipping his handler the minute she tried to run her hand down his leg. Another pinned his ears
and kicked out when the judge patted his rump, barely missing the judge’s leg. A few of the yearlings would square up perfectly
for a minute but were too fidgety to hold the position for long. Star stood fairly still but occasionally would stomp his
foot and try to rub his head up and down impatiently on Jody’s arm. Mary crossed her fingers and prayed for the class to end
before Star decided to “do something stupid.” A moment later she got her wish, as the judge stepped back from the last yearling
in line and jotted more notes on his clipboard.

“This concludes class number three, yearling grooming and showmanship,” came the announcement at last. “If you are in the
next class—class number four, yearling conformation—please remain in the ring after ribbons for class three are announced.”

At this directive, Jody looked over at Willie, startled, while Mary’s mouth opened in a big round
o
. “Remain in the ring? Willie, does he have to stay in there? Doesn’t he get a break? He’s getting impatient, and he’s going
to act up in a minute! Why do they do it that way?” Mary asked all in one breath.

“Well, it makes the show move along quicker that way, instead of havin’ horses comin’ and goin’ so much, and I think they
do it so they can see which of the yearlings can behave themselves the longest,” Willie replied calmly.

“But, Willie . . .” Mary began, but her sentence was stopped short by the loudspeaker. “Please take your yearlings to the
rail while we take a few moments to pin this class.”

“See, they’re goin’ to let them walk around while they decide on the ribbons for grooming and showmanship,” Willie explained.
“That way they don’t have to stand in one spot for so long.”

“Willie, what’s happening?” Jody whispered over the rail as she led Star past.

“They’re going to give the ribbons for this class, and then you’ll go right into the next one!” Mary answered before Willie
had a chance. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine!” she said encouragingly as Jody walked on.

It wasn’t long before the voice boomed over the loudspeaker once again.

“I have the results of class number three, yearling grooming and showmanship. Please line up your yearlings. Line up facing
the judge, please.”

Mary jiggled nervously by the rail as Jody led Star back into line. A little girl with blonde pigtails skipped through the
gate carrying a strip of cardboard that held the fluttering ribbons for first through sixth place. She took her place next
to the judge and grinned at the competitors.

“Oh, Willie, this is too nerve-wracking!” Mary exclaimed as Jody tried again to square Star up. “Jody, don’t worry about it
now,” she continued to the air. “The judging is all over!”

“If you are remaining in the ring for the next class,” began the announcer, “please step forward and accept your ribbon, and
when all placings have been called, hand it to someone outside the ring. In sixth place,” the voice continued, “is number
twenty-eight, Julianne Prettyman and Gold Bar.”

Cheers erupted from a group of spectators as Julianne Prettyman happily stepped up with her palomino yearling to receive her
prize.

“In fifth place, the team of Jessica Ferguson and Revlon.” The woman standing next to Jody and Star proudly led her skewbald
pinto yearling out of line and accepted her pink ribbon.

“Oh, Willie, do you think Star placed? He looked good, didn’t he? Do you think he could have made the top four? Or maybe he
didn’t place at all, and he’s in seventh or eighth place! Jody will be so upset!” Mary rambled, clutching the top rail of
the ring with white-knuckled fingers.

“Hush now and listen to the announcement,” Willie admonished. “I think you might hear Jody’s name called yet.”

“In fourth place, Brandon Gorin and Nellie’s Nugget.”

Brandon, the only boy in the ring, smiled broadly and trotted his flashy chestnut filly from the end of the line, halting
neatly in front of the ribbon girl, who reached out and patted Nellie’s Nugget on the shoulder as Brandon took the white ribbon
from her grasp.

“Oh, Willie, I can’t stand the suspense,” Mary wailed. “And look, Jody is looking so nervous and Star is starting to stomp
his foot like he always does when he’s getting in an ornery mood,” she continued in a panic.

“He’ll be alright in a minute,” Willie insisted. “He’s just gettin’ tired of standin’ in one spot, just like the others. He’s
not the only one movin’ around. Now will you hush up and listen?”

Mary clapped her hand over her mouth to quell her outbursts as the next announcement came. “And in third place, the team of
Jody Stafford and Star of Wonder.”

Mary’s hand flew from her mouth as a happy shout emerged, and she jumped up and down with delight as Jody led Star forward
and accepted her yellow ribbon. Willie grinned like a schoolboy in spite of himself, and putting two fingers in the corners
of his mouth, he whistled loudly and then clapped right along with Mary. Jody, her head held high and grinning from ear to
ear, led Star easily back into line and waited patiently for the top two ribbons to be announced before she trotted to ringside,
so she could hand her ribbon over to Mary. But as she reached the fence, she held the ribbon briefly to her chest and looked
first at Mary, and then Willie, as if making a decision. Then she reached over the top fence board and held the ribbon out
to Willie.

“Can you hold this for me, Willie?” she asked quietly. “Thank you so much for all you’ve done for us.”

Mary smiled at Jody as Willie wordlessly accepted the ribbon, nodding and tugging on his ear lobe. No one spoke until the
next announcement came clearly over the loudspeaker.

“Again, our next class is class number four, yearling conformation. If you are not in this class, please exit the ring.”

“Look, Willie, some of them are leaving! They must not be signed up for this class,” Mary observed happily. “That means Star
has a better chance!” But Mary’s glee was short-lived as she watched three of the yearlings exit, because taking their place
were four new yearlings, coming in through the gate just as the others went out.

“Willie, what’s happening?” Jody whispered in a panic. “Why are there four more coming in?”

“Because there’s four more entered in this class, that’s why,” Willie replied gruffly. “Those other three left because they
were just entered in grooming and showmanship. Maybe because their yearlings don’t have such good conformation. And look,
the bay colt is leaving now too,” Willie said, pointing at the rambunctious colt, who was trying to break away from his handler
again as she led him to the gate. “Probably because he won’t behave. So now it’s nine, just like the last class.”

“And that’s your class,” continued the announcer as the gate was officially closed. “Please take the rail with your yearlings.”

“Jody, you should do even better this time!” Mary stage-whispered as Jody turned to walk Star along the rail. “Star’s the
prettiest colt in the whole class!”

Willie didn’t speak but carefully folded the streamers of the cherished ribbon over and tucked it safely in the top pocket
of his overalls.

“Willie, what exactly is the judge looking for this time?” Mary asked. “Do you really think Star has a good chance?”

“We’ll see,” Willie said simply. “He’s lookin’ for how well he’s put together, the trueness to his breed, how well he moves,
and just his overall appearance in general.”

As Mary turned from Willie to watch the class, she noticed a man standing a slight distance away along the fence rail, closely
observing Jody and Star as they walked along the rail. Then the man turned and looked at Willie in what Mary could only consider
a glare. Mary continued watching the man, thinking that she must be imagining that he was only watching one colt in the class.
But now it became painfully obvious that his gaze was locked firmly on Star alone.

“Willie,” Mary began in a whisper, tugging on Willie’s shirt sleeve. But before she could get her next word out, the man sidled
over until he was standing close enough to hear whatever it was Mary was going to say next. Then he turned to Willie and glared
again at such length that Willie noticed this time.

“How do?” Willie asked genially, turning to the man and tipping his hat.

“I’m alright. How are you?” the man replied in a less than friendly tone.

“Doin’ just fine,” Willie began, then he turned his attention back to the ring where the judge was asking the yearlings to
line up.

“That your colt out there?” the man asked. “That piebald paint?”

“No, sir. Belongs to the girl showing him.”

“You know anything about him?”

Something in his tone of voice made Willie turn and give the man his full attention. Mary was trying to watch the activity
in the ring, where Jody was just at that moment being questioned by the judge, but she also turned and looked at the man questioningly.
There was something about him that she definitely didn’t like.

“Mary, you stay here in case Jody needs you. I’ll be back,” Willie said.

“But, but, Willie, what . . .”

“Stay here, I said,” Willie commanded in his
you’d
better mind
me voice. And then he walked away with the man, leaving Mary standing alone at ringside and feeling a sudden sense of dread.

9

The Mysterious Man

MARY TRIED IN vain to pay attention to what was going on in the ring, but she could see Willie and the mysterious stranger
standing a short distance away having a very animated conversation. The man pointed at Star several times, gesturing wildly
and shaking his finger in Willie’s face. Willie only shook his head and tugged repeatedly on his ear lobe. Mary was busting
to hear what was being said but she knew she had to obey Willie. And Jody would be really upset if she wasn’t by the ring
to support her.

“I have the results for class number four, yearling conformation,” came the announcement from the loudspeaker.

“What, it’s over already?” Mary asked herself. She had been so distracted by the nearby conservation that she had barely watched
the class. She saw Jody glance her way and gave her the thumbs-up signal as the announcer continued.

“In sixth place, number thirty-nine, Sir Lancelot, shown by Megan Brebner.”

Mary applauded politely but from the corner of her eye saw Willie and the man approaching the rail to watch the placings.

When the announcer bellowed, “fifth place goes to number twenty-eight, Julianne Prettyman and Gold Bar,” the group by the
rail cheered even more loudly than in the previous class. Clearly pleased with winning yet another ribbon, the petite Miss
Prettyman took the pink ribbon and waved to her family of fans.

“In fourth place is the team of Melissa Buckminster and Mr. Fritz.” At the sound of her name, Melissa Buckminster squealed
with delight. She had been in class number three and had not placed at all.

Mary stood by the rail biting her fingernails as each name was called. Without Willie to talk to, she had no outlet for her
opinions. So she could only wait impatiently as her heart practically beat out of her chest in anticipation of the ribbon
Star might get.

“Third place goes to Apollo, number sixty-two, shown today by Melissa Proctor.”

Jody looked over at Mary and shook her head, certain that she had not placed in the ribbons. But Mary gave her the thumbs-up
once again to demonstrate her loyalty, all the while keeping an eye on Willie and the stranger, who were watching the proceedings
in silence.

“In second place is number fourteen, Ashley Eilers and Harmony.” Ashley clapped her hands upon hearing her name called once
again for second place, the same placing she had received in the grooming and showmanship class.

Mary jiggled uncontrollably, stomping her feet in place and swallowing hard to keep from crying out of sheer nervousness.
It seemed forever before the announcer finally declared the name of the winner.

“And in first place in yearling conformation is number thirty-four, Jody Stafford and Star of Wonder.”

Star took one of Mary’s brown curls
in his teeth and pulled.

Mary fairly shrieked when she heard Jody’s name called. She wanted to run out into the ring and hug her best friend, but she
satisfied herself with cheering at the top of her lungs when Jody stepped up to accept her ribbon. In her excitement, Mary
forgot that Willie told her to stay put and ran over to be next to him at the rail.

“Willie! Can you believe it? We won! We won!” she shouted. Willie nodded and looked down at Mary with a forced smile that
was not at all like him. And when Mary glanced over at the man still standing next to Willie, she saw him staring grimly out
into the ring as Jody led Star to the gate. Then he turned abruptly and was gone.

“Jode! You did it! You did it!” Mary squealed the minute Jody and Star exited the ring. “See, you were shaking your head because
you didn’t think you placed, but I knew you did! I just
knew
it!” And she threw her arms around Jody with another squeal of delight while Star took one of Mary’s brown curls in his teeth
and pulled.

“Ow!” Mary yelped, trying to pull the section of hair from Star’s mouth without leaving any behind. Jody dissolved into a
fit of giggles and gave Star a great big pony hug around his neck.

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it!” Jody said breathlessly. “Just think, Mary, this is only our second show, and we got another
blue ribbon! First with Lady, and now with her baby!”

“Yes, we are definitely destined for stardom!” Mary laughed. “Willie, did you see Jody’s ribbon?”

Mary had to turn to ask the question, because Willie was hobbling along behind the two girls and hadn’t said a word.

“Yes, I seen it. Another one to add to your collection,” he said half-heartedly.

“Willie, you were right about him being well put together. That’s exactly what the judge said!” Jody continued, too happy
to notice Willie’s down-turned face.

“Oh, what else did he say?” Mary prodded. “Did he say Star was the prettiest colt at the whole show? Because he is, you know.
That’s what
I
said. Oh, Jody, do you think we should enter some more classes? We know the judge likes Star. Maybe we could win some more
ribbons!”

“No!” Willie spoke suddenly in a voice Mary and Jody had seldom heard from him. “We’ve had enough for one day. Git Star over
to the truck so we can git loaded up. If we hurry up, I can still make it home for milkin’.”

“But, Willie, you don’t have to do the milking any . . .” Jody began, but Mary poked her with an elbow before she could finish
her sentence.

“OK, Willie, I was just getting carried away, I guess,” Mary said sheepishly. “And Star’s probably getting tired. We’ll gather
everything up while you get the truck ready.”

Without another word, Willie turned and headed toward the old pickup truck. Mary and Jody stood for a minute and watched him,
and then Jody turned and looked at Mary with a worried look on her face.

“What’s wrong with Willie?” she asked. “He didn’t even look happy about my ribbon, and he’s hardly said a word!”

“I don’t know, Jode. I don’t know,” Mary said ominously. “But I think we’re going to find out.”