Calico Horses and the Patchwork Trail (38 page)

“May I have a volunteer who hasn’t had a turn in a while?” Leah asked the eager students who were all waving their hands. April jumped up after being selected and made her way through the groaning students who hadn’t been chosen. She stood smiling at the front of the class. Milla felt jealous and just wanted to disappear. Stupid class, she thought—look at April, thinking she’s so special standing near
my
horse. Carrie turned to face her friend. She knew instinctively that Milla would probably make a big deal over someone else handling the small palomino. Milla shot Carrie a look of disgust and Carrie shrugged her shoulders, trying to send her friend a message of encouragement. It’s no biggy, she said with a chin-up jerk of her head; just relax. Milla rolled her eyes.

The teacher chose a small round brush with a cloth handle that slipped onto her hand. “This is called a curry brush. It’s helpful in removing the coat when a horse sheds.” She demonstrated how to use the brush in circular motions on Hope’s chest. Handing the tool to April, she spoke of the importance of grooming. Milla grew angrier while the girl brushed the foal, and her face turned bright red.

“April, hold up your brush and let’s see what you have there,” Leah said. “What do you see, class?” April held the brush up and waved it toward the students.

“There’s nothing on it,” said a girl seated in the back row.

“Can anyone explain this?” Leah asked.

“It’s because the horse isn’t shedding,” Kris replied. “That brush works great when a horse loses its winter coat.”

“That’s right, but horses love the feel of this. It’s kind of like giving them a massage, so the brush can be used for all seasons.”

Anne Burke walked up and smiled at the class. “I see you’re teaching our students about grooming today,” she said. “Well, I know April is doing a fine job here with Hope, but can anyone tell me if they see any other kind of grooming going on?” The children looked puzzled as they looked at one another. Milla, still unable to look at Mrs. Burke, sat with her head down.

“Take a look over there at Candy and Roxie. Do you see them nibbling on one another?” The burros, hearing their names, stopped and lifted their heads. “That’s how horses and burros groom each other,” Anne said.

“Cool,” said Mac.

“Cool,” said Randy, the boy with the freckles seated beside him in the front row.

“Yes,” Leah added, “if you watch horses closely, you will see that they constantly groom themselves
and
each other by nipping at their coats. Those big teeth can reach the tiniest of places.”

“Thanks, April,” Leah said. “May I have another volunteer, please?” Everyone raised his or her hands except Milla. “How about Milla?” the teacher asked as she chose another tool from the large wooden box. Carrie watched Milla approach the front of the class. Her face was red and her jaw was set and she didn’t respond when Mrs. Burke said hello to her. She repeated herself and Milla turned and said a quick, “Hi.”

Leah held up a red-handled tool with a metal hook on its end. “Does anyone know what this is used for?”

“Oh, oh, I know,” said Tracey, who was seated beside Amber. “It’s called a hoof pick. You use it to clean out the horse’s feet,” she said in excitement.

“Very good, Tracey. This is an important tool as it can remove stones and debris that get stuck up inside the hoof.” Leah turned to Anne. “Can you help Milla with this one while I speak to our class?”

Milla stiffened as Mrs. Burke patted her on the back, watching closely as she demonstrated how to lift a horse’s leg properly and proceeded to move the hook carefully inside Hope’s hoof. Leah held up large diagrams explaining the tender parts of the horse’s foot and how it was attached to the hoof. Anne handed the hoof pick to Milla and motioned to the next leg. Milla repeated what she had just learned as the students craned their necks. Even Roxie and Candy were leaning over the rails trying to catch a glimpse.

“Can I have another volunteer?” Leah looked at the class. Milla returned the tool back to the large green box and was about to take her seat when Mrs. Burke touched her sleeve. “Milla, can you come with me, please? I think we need to talk.” Milla looked directly at Carrie with a look of absolute fury.

“Oh, man,” whispered Carrie.

“What?” April said as she turned to Carrie. Some of the students began whispering as Mrs. Burke and Milla went into the office.

“Nothing,” said Carrie, who was watching Kris use a soft brush on Hope’s face and forehead.

“I hear Amber is adopting one of the foals,” April said.

“Huh? The quiet girl with the long black hair?” Carrie asked.

“Yep, I overheard Mrs. Burke talking to Jed about it. It’s between Cookie, the little paint, and the palomino.” Carrie froze, keeping her eyes on Kris as he patted Hope and began using the soft brush on her little legs. “Mrs. Burke said Amber really wants the palomino but her dad wants her to get the paint. Man, I wish I could adopt one,” April continued,” but we live in an apartment in Reno and my folks already said no way.”

“Did Mrs. Burke say when this will happen? I mean, after they choose the horse they want? Can a person just decide today to adopt a horse and off they go?”

“I’m not sure, but I know that the teachers are doing their best to get people to adopt them. Mrs. Burke is even going on a radio show this weekend to talk about the Equine Center. I’ll bet lots of people will want to adopt these little guys after they hear the show,” April said. “Don’t you think?”

Carrie didn’t answer and forced a grin. She had wanted to wait until her mom made a decision about where they would be living before she pressed her about adopting one of the foals. She had her eye on a little sorrel named Cricket. He had been brought in a few weeks ago after his mother had died during a round-up. Timing, thought Carrie. She would have to speak to her mom earlier than planned, but what could she do? She couldn’t exactly stall Mrs. Burke.

April nudged her hard with an elbow. “What?” Carrie said with an annoyed tone. The girl pointed to the teacher who was staring at Carrie and holding out a large comb.

“Are you with us, Carrie? I’ve called your name a few times now.”

“Sorry, I was sort of daydreaming.” The class snickered as she made her way to the front. She took the comb and waited. Jed walked up with Eclipse and handed the lead to Leah. He then walked over to Hope and unfastened her. “May I have a volunteer to walk Hope back to her pen?”

The children all cried, “Pick me, pick me!”

Mac smiled when chosen and jumped off his seat to stand beside Jed while the lead line was fastened to Hope’s tiny blue halter. The boy walked away, proudly leading the tiny palomino. Amber never took her eyes off the little golden horse and Carrie felt a sense of dread. Milla’s gonna flip, she thought.

While Carrie held Eclipse’s halter, Leah walked to the horse’s back. “The comb is what we use on the mane and tail,” she said, and demonstrated how to stand beside the horse while grooming the tail. It was now Carrie’s turn to comb out the long strands of hair and she worked carefully on a few knots. Eclipse stomped his front foot and Leah explained how most horses had little patience for having snarls removed.

“If this horse was mine I’d use hair conditioner,” said Carrie. The class laughed and Leah reached into the green box and held up a bottle.

“Good idea, Carrie, and that’s exactly what we use on tangles.” She handed Carrie a little spritzing bottle. Eclipse stood calmly as his mane was combed while the girl spoke softly to him. She patted him on the neck when finished and returned to her seat. Leah collected the various brushes and tools from the students and dismissed the class. Jed arrived to walk Eclipse back to his pen just as Milla was leaving Mrs. Burke’s office. She hurried over to the bench and picked up her backpack.

“What was that all about?” asked Carrie.

Milla shrugged. “I’ll tell ya later, but we need to step it up or we won’t be adopting Hope or Cricket!”

Amber walked off in the direction of Hope’s pen while the rest of the students headed toward their next class. Milla stopped and stared after her. Carrie wondered if Mrs. Burke told her about Amber and Hope. But what could her friend do? So far Milla’s dad wasn’t budging and one by one all of the foals would eventually be adopted.

“So did I tell you about my dad’s big idea?” asked Milla.

“No, what now…he wants you to marry Foot?” Carrie tried to get a laugh out of her.

Milla frowned. “Ew! Ewwwwww, that’s a horrible thing to say. Ugh, yuck!” she said.

Carrie laughed, “Just kidding, so what’s his big idea?”

“Well, it seems I may be going over to Mrs. Preston’s when school starts.”

“Huh? No more Foot?” Carrie gasped in surprise.

“Well, not exactly. Dad’s working out some sort of plan to have me help around her barn after school, but not every day.”

“Wow, so are you gonna have a real job and get paid and all?” asked Carrie.

“No, Dad worked out a deal that Mrs. Preston will watch me until he gets off from work and in exchange I get to help around the barn. But,” said Milla looking a little smug, “you haven’t heard the best part. I get to exercise her horses.”

“Lu-cky!” said Carrie in awe. The girls breezed through the remaining classes and the day came to an end. Parents made their way down the long driveway as Roxie and Candy walked slowly toward the gate. The sound of laughter faded as one by one the students all went home, leaving the two burros swishing their tails waving goodbye.

Sue Preston walked around the classroom looking at the watercolors that were still drying. She stopped at Milla’s painting and smiled. She looked closer…was that calico? Yes, that kid has painted the Calico Mountains like a huge patchwork quilt…hmm, she thought, I wonder where she came up with that idea?

Chapter 59

Several bolts of fabric were spread out on the dining room table. Brian had fallen asleep while watching one of his favorite TV shows and Kelsie was chewing on a bone in the back yard. Lori began cutting squares of blue and yellow fabric while Shannon stacked them into little piles. Grandmom sipped her tea and pushed back into her reclining chair to put her feet up. Watching children tired her out even more than her Ladies Bowling Club.

“Hey, Grandmom, why don’t you come over for dinner tonight? You can meet Lori’s parents,” Shannon said as she designed a pattern for her next project.

“I have plans already, honey, but I may stop by for dessert,” she said, closing her eyes hoping to drift off for a quick nap.

Splash! Kelsie was now paddling around in the pool.

“Oh, no,” Grandmom said firmly, “not again. More dog hair in my pool!” The girls laughed as she jumped out of her chair and hurried to scold Kelsie.

“I can’t believe the summer’s almost over and I can’t even go swimming,” Lori said, cutting another row of fabric.

“It stinks,” Carrie replied. She watched her grandmother running around the back yard, flapping her hands and stomping her feet. The big Labrador was happily swimming, ignoring the frantic woman who called his name and waved a toy. Brian came into the room rubbing his eyes. He was still in his pajamas and his helmet sat a bit lopsided on his head. The girls pointed to the window and Brian ran to help his grandmother.

“So are you really going to Nevada this winter?” Lori asked.

“Yeah, I still can’t believe it, but my parents have been looking at travel brochures and everything. At first I thought it was just for me, but now it looks like the entire family is going.

“Cool,” Lori replied. “I wish I could see wild horses running out west.”

“I haven’t thought much about them. I’m just excited to see my friend again.”

“I think I would be more excited to see a wild mustang.”

“You don’t know Carrie,” said Shannon. “She’s kind of a wild horse herself.” Just then the girls watched Grandmom accidentally slip and fall into the pool. Splash! went Grandmom. Splash! went Brian, jumping in after her, still in his PJs. The girls burst into laughter. This was almost as much fun as being in the pool.

Jodi slid the tray of brownies into the oven and set the timer. She had been busy all morning cleaning the house and preparing for the company coming for dinner. She was anxious and wanted everything to be perfect. She and John first met Suzanne and Jim Sayers when Shannon shared a hospital room with Lori. Since then their daughters had grown closer but the parents only spoke during quick snatches while dropping off or picking up their children. John had first grumbled when Jodi had mentioned a dinner invitation, but now seemed just as excited as he carefully picked out steaks and was busy cleaning the barbecue grill. Jodi glanced at the clock. Her mom would be arriving soon to drop off the kids. The hardest part of hosting a dinner party wasn’t the meal—it was actually keeping the house tidy until her guests arrived. Jodi sighed; Abbie was the same age as Brian and from what she had heard, the little girl was quite mischievous. Let’s hope we can get through this without any catastrophes, she thought, wishing for a miracle.

Her mother arrived with the children, mumbled something about the dog needing his hearing checked, and left quickly. Jodi gave Lori and Shannon the task of setting the picnic table and asked Brian to organize the outdoor toys. A few moments later the guests arrived and Kelsie ran to greet them. Just as Suzanne opened the car door the Labrador jumped up and a bowl of potato salad went crashing to the driveway. Everyone came running to help and the barbecue began with kids and parents getting to know each other over broken glass.