Crown Prince (24 page)

“Mom should be here in a few minutes,” Kayla said. “She's in a hurry and wants me to be in the parking lot.”

Sarah smiled at Kayla. “Thanks for coming. You helped a lot.”

“Let's get your horse unloaded and into his new stall,” Jack said to Sarah.

Sarah was beginning to feel more comfortable getting Prince on and off a horse trailer. She stepped inside and disconnected the trailer tie after attaching the lead shank to his halter. Once Jack lowered the ramp and unhooked the butt bar, she asked Prince to move backward. He was quieter than usual, and calmly backed down the ramp. This time there was no hesitation as they approached the barn's entryway, and Prince willingly walked inside.

“Your horse seems a little on the lackluster side,” Jack said, walking behind them. “Perhaps he'd still be affected by the sedative.” Prince's racing plates rang on the cement floor of the aisle, and Jack raised his voice to call out to Sarah, “He needs to have his shoes pulled and his feet trimmed when the farrier is here next week.”

As they neared Medina's stall, where up until now Crown Prince had lived, Sarah saw the lovely mare standing close to the bars, watching them with her ears pricked. There was no doubt as to her breeding—everything about her screamed Arab. Her large dark eyes, which contrasted sharply with her almost white coat, were set far apart, and her head tapered to a dainty muzzle. Viewed from the side, she had the concave dished profile typical of Arabians. The mare had beautiful movement when Mrs. DeWitt was riding her—with her tail held high, she seemed to skim over the ground.

Moving with his head lower than usual, Prince didn't notice Medina until she nickered softly in greeting. He came to a sudden stop and turned to look closely at the mare before answering with a throaty neigh. Sarah tried to get him moving past the stall, but he strained against the lead shank, pulling toward Medina, until the two horses touched noses between the bars. Both sniffed the other curiously, their nostrils quivering.

Sarah laughed. “I guess Prince has found a girlfriend.” The horses continued to sniff noses until Jack slapped Prince's rump to urge him forward. He reluctantly turned away from Medina and followed Sarah along the aisle and into his new stall. It looked beautiful! The sun's rays coming in the window brightened the new wood on the walls and turned the deep bed of pine shavings golden.

After she removed the shipping boots and left him free in the stall, Prince went immediately to the casement window to look at the horses turned out in the paddocks. Finally turning to the new red feed tub Gus had hung in the corner, Prince found a mash waiting.
Gus is on top of everything,
Sarah thought.
He knew just what the vet would want Prince to be fed.

Jack must have been thinking the same thing. “Gus usually gets a blue ribbon in the horse care department,” he said.

Sarah was removing Prince's halter when she heard Tim Dixon's voice behind her.

“Are we playing musical stalls at Brookmeade Farm?” he asked.

“Hey, Tim,” Sarah said, as she slipped out of the stall and slid the door shut. “What do you think of the new stalls?”

“I'd say this one is larger than Medina's. Your big guy should have plenty of room. Do you know if anyone is taking the other new stall across the aisle? It's huge, too.”

Jack nodded. “I believe Richard Snyder has reserved the stall for Rita's horse for the next few weeks. With the show season about to heat up, he wants Rita to have a number of private lessons without having to truck the horse over here each time.”

“Cool,” Tim replied. He looked at Sarah, who wasn't thrilled to hear the news. Having a steady diet of Rita wasn't something she looked forward to.

“Jack, now that I'm going to get a saddle, should I put it on Prince when I longe him?” Sarah asked.

“The more you can provide experiences much like being ridden but without any pain the better. But I think for the first time he's saddled, 'twill be best if I'm the one who longes him. Your new saddle will be far different and heavier than the postage stamp saddles they use at the track, and we need to be sure it fits him. But we should allow him a little more time, at least 24 hours following the surgery. I'll have some free time late tomorrow morning when we can school him, but make sure you turn him out for a half hour or so before hand.”

“I'm glad it's okay for Prince to graze in a paddock,” Sarah said.

“Once you get your tack, you should oil the bridle, if you'll be wanting it to last a long time. Hold off on doing anything to the saddle until we try it on your horse. If 'tis not a good fit, you can exchange it for another. I don't see anything out-of-the-ordinary about Crown Prince's conformation that will be problematic in fitting a saddle, so pick out an all-purpose that fits
you,
and then we'll try it on him,” Jack instructed.

After Jack left, Sarah and Tim turned to look at Prince in his new stall. He'd finished the mash and was pawing the shavings. As expected, he lowered himself to roll in the bedding, nimbly twisting back and forth on his back. Finally he sprang to his feet and shook like a retriever after a swim.

“How did the tooth pulling go?” Tim asked.

“Great! That huge tooth had normal sized roots, so Dr. Reynolds was able to yank it out. Now I can hardly wait for the hole in his mouth to heal so I can ride him. I just hope he'll be okay with a bit.”

“Which reminds me,” Tim said, “Rita offered to let me borrow her Dr. Bristol snaffle bit, and she told me she left it with you. That's what I came to pick up.”

Sarah's cheeks warmed with embarrassment. “Oh, I'm so sorry! When Rita asked me to give it to you, I put it in my sweatshirt pocket. So it went home with me. I was hurrying this morning and forgot to bring it.”

Tim looked disappointed. “I really wanted Jack to see how Rhodes will go with that bit in the lesson this afternoon.”

Sarah searched for a solution. “I'm not riding with you guys today, and Mrs. DeWitt is dropping me off at my house on the way back from the tack shop. Can you stop by and pick the bit up before your lesson? Will that work?”

“Yeah, sure,” Tim said, agreeably. “Then I guess I'll head out. Can you call me when you're leaving the tack shop?”

“Not a problem,” Sarah said, wishing she had thought of the bit earlier.

When she was sure Prince was relaxed in his new stall, Sarah got her lunch from her backpack in the tack room and went outside to the bench in a shady spot. She had just finished eating her turkey sandwich when Mrs. DeWitt pulled into the parking area. Sarah jumped up from the bench and hurried to Mrs. DeWitt's Mercedes. She was disappointed the terriers weren't there, but it was just as well. It was too warm on this summer day to leave them in a vehicle while they were shopping.

Mrs. DeWitt smiled at Sarah when she climbed in beside her. “Are you excited to be getting your own saddle?”

Sarah flashed a broad smile back. “I sure am, because the next step will be riding my horse, just as soon as his mouth has healed.”

Mrs. DeWitt put the car into gear, and soon they were moving along the farm road, heading to the beach and Atlantic Saddlery. From regularly riding this way on her bike, Sarah was getting to know every rise, fall, and bump on the road. She waved to Kathleen O'Brien, who was coming out of the bungalow as they passed.

When they turned onto Ridge Road, Mrs. DeWitt became serious. “Sarah, you've had quite a week, bringing Crown Prince back to the farm and then dealing with all the problems that have come up. But I think you've turned the corner. I feel strongly that having the wolf tooth out will make all the difference for Prince. I won't be surprised if he's left all his bad behavior at the racetrack.”

Sarah was reassured to hear her say that. “I knew when I first saw Prince that he was a special horse.”

“Did you know that Hank Bolton stopped to see Chandler and me before he left Yardley last night? He told us about the surprise visit he paid to your family. We had no idea he was planning to do that. I hope his call wasn't upsetting to you.”

“He caught all of us by surprise,” Sarah said, “but I knew right away why he was there. Sometime yesterday he put a copy of the letter he'd given me in our mailbox, so my parents had read it before I got home.”

“Hank said you were adamant you wouldn't give up Crown Prince for anything in the world. He said you never wavered. I must say, that was one sweet deal you turned down, and it must have taken a lot of courage to do that!”

Sarah was quiet, as the memory of the meeting with Mr. Bolton played back through her mind. It seemed like an eternity ago. She remembered her words and the way she had spoken to him. “I'm afraid I was totally rude. I don't know what came over me,” Sarah admitted.

“Hank said he observed something that impressed him a great deal. He told us that your parents backed you up one-hundred percent. Even with the large amount of money involved, they were willing to let you make the final decision. Do you know how fortunate you are to have parents who will stand behind you like that?”

“Oh, I do,” Sarah said. “I tried to tell them last night. There have been times when I've felt sorry for myself, thinking that I'd never have a horse of my own. Now I think I'm the luckiest girl in the world.”

“There's more than luck involved. You've always worked hard in your lessons here, and you've developed into a talented rider.”

The car turned into the Wagners' driveway, and Sarah ran into her house, quiet with the other family members all working. She quickly grabbed her wallet and returned to the car. In a few minutes they were in the Atlantic Saddlery parking lot, which wasn't crowded as it had been on Sarah's last visit. “Now let's find you a saddle,” Mrs. DeWitt said, patting Sarah on the knee.

With only a handful of customers in the shop, a salesperson greeted them as soon as they came through the door. In no time Sarah was trying out saddles perched on the back of the wooden horse, with both the salesperson and Mrs. DeWitt checking the saddles for fit. It helped that Sarah knew the size of the saddle she used for her lessons at Brookmeade. She finally decided on a Crosby saddle that could be used for both dressage and jumping. It appeared to be a very good fit, but Sarah gulped when she saw the price tag. She had no idea if there was enough money on her gift card for a bridle and the other things she'd need to go with the saddle. The salesperson volunteered to keep the saddle at the checkout until they finished shopping.

After finding the things she would need to go with the saddle, they looked at bridles. Both Sarah and Mrs. DeWitt loved a beautiful German-made bridle with a flash noseband and laced reins. Prince would look so handsome in it! After looking at the many bits on the rack, she chose a fat eggbutt snaffle to go with the bridle. It was gleaming stainless steel and the size Jack had suggested. Mrs. DeWitt applauded her choice. “Classy!” she said. Sarah next found some longeing equipment.
I'm glad I won't have to borrow Jack's anymore,
she thought.

She turned to Mrs. DeWitt. “Don't you have some things to pick up?”

“I just need hoof dressing and fly spray,” Mrs. DeWitt replied, “and it won't take long to find them. But what about something for oiling your new tack?” Sarah followed her down another aisle to look at the leather care products. She scooped up a container of neatsfoot oil and some saddle soap.

This shopping trip was far different from the visit on the tack shop's opening day. There was no line at the checkout, and soon they were paying for their purchases. Sarah was relieved when there was enough money left on her card to cover everything. When it was time to put their purchases in Mrs. DeWitt's car, everything fit in the back except the longe whip, which extended all the way forward between the seats to the dashboard.

As they were leaving, Sarah remembered her promise to Tim. “Mrs. DeWitt, would you mind dropping me off at my house? I want to oil my new bridle, and I have a bit at home that Rita is going to loan Tim. He needs it for the lesson this afternoon.”

Mrs. DeWitt nodded. “Certainly, dear. I'd offer to deliver it to Tim myself, but I have another appointment after I drop you off.” Sarah pulled her phone from her pocket to call Tim.

Once back home, she prepared to oil her new bridle and saddle accessories. Having to clean her tack after her lessons at Brookmeade had been good practice. She covered the kitchen table with layers of old newspapers and found a soft cloth in a bag of rags in the basement for applying the neatsfoot oil. She had just started taking the stiff new bridle apart when she saw Tim's black Jeep pull into the driveway. She picked up Rita's bit and went to the back door.

“I'm sorry you had to make this special trip,” she said, as Tim stepped into the mudroom.

In addition to the Dr. Bristol bit, he saw the reins in her other hand. “Did you get everything you need at Atlantic Saddlery?”

“Come take a look.” Sarah beckoned him into the kitchen, where her saddle sat on the back of a kitchen chair. “I'm not going to oil it until we're sure it's a good fit for Prince.”

Tim walked over to get a closer look. He picked up the saddle, squeezed the cantle, and ran his hand over the seat. “It's not as heavy as some all-purpose saddles, and the leather is really nice.” He grinned. “You're getting closer to sitting on that horse.”

“Not soon enough for me. If Prince was really a wild bucking bronco once, those days are over now!”

Tim turned to leave. “I'd better get back to the barn to get Rhodes ready for the lesson,” Tim said, heading for the back door. “See ya!”

“I hope Rhodes likes the bit,” Sarah said, as Tim walked down the porch steps.

Later that afternoon, after she had finished oiling all the pieces of her new bridle and the saddle accessories, Sarah stepped back to look at the leather pieces that covered the kitchen table. Each piece was shiny and much softer. Along with her stirrup irons, stirrup leathers, and girth, the gleaming stainless steel bit lay on the table, waiting to be attached to the new bridle. She was going over the leather pieces with a clean cloth to remove any excess oil when her cell phone rang. She wiped her hands quickly before answering the phone. It was Kayla.