Crown Prince (30 page)

Mrs. DeWitt had gone to bat for Rita. She said everyone makes mistakes, and Rita had owned up to hers. Mrs. DeWitt made it clear to everyone who rode at Brookmeade that she felt no bitterness toward Rita for her behavior on that tragic afternoon, and she said she would be disappointed if anyone else held it against her. Others noticed that Rita's hard edges seemed to have softened slightly, and while she never mentioned Crown Prince, a few times Rita even said nice things about Quarry, Rhodes, and Fanny.

Sarah pushed thoughts of Rita out of her mind. She needed to focus on her horse right now. Prince had stopped in his tracks to eye all the people on the bleachers. Sarah had ridden him many times inside the indoor the last few weeks, but having an audience was something new. She clucked softly and led him toward the mounting block. When she swung easily into the saddle, Prince didn't immediately move off, but rather was frozen, his eyes never leaving the bleachers. Sarah could feel the tension in his body as she gathered her reins and pressed her legs firmly on his sides. Only then did he walk forward.

Sarah sat tall, feeling proud. As many times as she'd ridden Crown Prince, she'd never gotten over the thrill of being on the back of this incredible horse. Now the time had come to show everyone, once and for all, that he wasn't a racetrack lunatic. He was
her
good boy. He was
her
dream!

She looked at her parents. What were they thinking? They'd been hearing her excited reports on how well Prince was doing since the wolf tooth was removed, but there was always the chance something could go wrong today, especially when the people in the arena made him edgy. She didn't want to blow it!

In the last few weeks, Sarah had found that Prince could indeed be spooky of new things, but thankfully he quickly got over his fear once she allowed him to check them out. With this in mind, she took him to the bleachers so he could see the visitors up close. As they walked by, Jack spoke to her. “Why don't you walk, trot, and canter your horse in both directions, doing the schooling figures we've practiced. Exactly how you do it is up to you.” Then he went to sit with Kathleen.

With her legs firmly against her horse's sides, they had walked halfway around the arena before she felt the tension leave his body. She then shortened her reins and asked him to trot. He eagerly made the transition, trotting along the long wall where she could see his beautiful reflection in the mirror. He was so easy to post to, his long legs moving in a delightful one-two cadence as he trotted. After going around the arena a few times, she took up more contact with his mouth and started some schooling figures. She changed direction across the diagonal and then made a circle at the other end of the arena, asking him to bend in the direction of the circle. While still on the circle, she sat the trot and reached back with her outside leg to ask for a canter departure. She was relieved when Prince sprang into the faster gait on the correct lead, and Sarah practiced what Jack had taught her: sit tall, look ahead through her horse's ears, and lightly polish the saddle from back to front with her seat.

After they had cantered in both directions, Sarah brought her horse back to walk and asked him to halt. But Prince had other ideas. He was primed to move forward and resisted at first, pulling against her hands. At these times she always worried that he would react like he had before the painful wolf tooth was removed. She sat deeper into the saddle, and again asked Prince to halt. This time he halted agreeably. As a reward, she asked him to walk forward while offering a long rein so he could stretch his head and neck down.

If she hadn't feared it would upset her horse, Sarah would have whooped and hollered. Prince had performed beautifully! But she became apprehensive when she noticed Jack walking toward the part of the ring where some jump standards and rails were set up.
Oh, no,
she thought. She hadn't expected any work over fences today, because Prince was still too green to do much jumping. But Jack was making some adjustments on a gymnastic line of three fences with one stride between each one, setting them to a low height typically used for inexperienced horses just learning to jump.

She tightened her grip on the reins as Jack walked up to her. “He'll have no problem with this, Sarah. Pick up trot, circle at the far end, and then come straight to the first fence. Just keep your eyes up and maintain a steady pace to the fence. You are
both
ready to include a little gymnastic work in our training sessions.”

In their last lesson Jack had introduced Prince to a simple cross-rail, but it had been an easy single jump preceded by cavalletti poles on the ground to help him approach with the right striding. Without the poles, the horse would have to pick his own spot for the takeoff and continue through the line of three fences. What they'd be doing today was something new and much more difficult! Why was Jack making them do this now, when so much was at stake?

She felt her heart beating faster as she asked Prince to trot. They circled at the end the arena until she could point him straight to the first jump in the gymnastic line. Jack had made it into a cross-rail, followed by two low verticals with one stride in between each jump. This series of fences could be a challenge for a horse just off the track. And if he jumped through the line, would he stay quiet and relaxed? Jumping was an exciting activity for many horses, and that excitement often translated into speed—or worse. Maybe he'd try to bolt! He'd never tried to buck her off, but there was always a first time. Wouldn't it be awful if that first time was today?

Prince raised his head when he saw the jumps ahead, and Sarah felt his body hesitate. She remembered Jack's story about Donegal Lad needing to sense his rider's confidence to clear big fences, and she closed her legs on Prince's sides.
You can do it,
her heart sang to her horse, and when they reached the first jump, he pushed off with just enough lift to clear it cleanly. He continued cantering through the line, jumping the two verticals as if he'd done this exercise a thousand times. Sarah was ecstatic!
How could I have questioned Jack? If he asked us to do it, then I should have known we could!

The onlookers all were aware how inexperienced Crown Prince was, and they erupted into cheers and clapping. They had just seen proof that the horse deserved to stay with Sarah. No one could argue that he was not a good match for her! Startled by the noise, Prince jumped sideways, but Sarah nimbly moved with him, keeping her seat. Recognizing the talent this young rider possessed, the audience cheered even louder, causing Prince to prance with his head and tail high.

Mrs. DeWitt stood up and faced the group. “This is a special day, and we hope you can all come to the lounge for a little celebration with cake and ice cream,” she announced. After a month's trial, Crown Prince is here to stay! And we have a surprise to show all of you!” There was more clapping as Sarah, laughing, guided her prancing horse out the gate Jack held open for her.

She had halted in the courtyard and dismounted when Abby came flying toward them. She was a little out of breath as she came up to Prince. “You and Prince were awesome,” she said, stroking the horse's neck, “and I heard Mom say that ‘Prince has proven himself today.' Dad thought so too.”

Sarah wasn't surprised, but it was great to hear. “Want to help me untack him?” she asked. Abby's coast-to-coast grin was her answer, and together they walked Prince back to his stall.

“Can I brush him too?” Abby asked.

“Sure, after we take his saddle and bridle off,” Sarah said. “But just a quick job this time. We don't want to miss the party.”

Sarah decided to leave her saddle and bridle outside the stall for now—she could stretch the rule just this once. She'd clean them and put them away later. She wanted to get to the party to thank everyone for coming. And hadn't Mrs. DeWitt mentioned something about a surprise? After giving Prince a hug and a peppermint, she started for the lounge, with Abby trotting to keep up with her.

The lounge was a little crowded, but that didn't seem to dampen the spirits of Sarah's friends as they chitchatted, laughed, and drank the punch Lindsay was serving from a glass punchbowl. Mrs. DeWitt beckoned for Sarah to stand beside a beautiful cake that was decorated with the words
Congratulations Sarah and Crown Prince!
Mr. DeWitt was poised with a camera and he took several shots before Kathleen began cutting the cake.

Sarah took charge of the first slice of cake and ice cream, and she carried it to Gus, who seemed somewhat uncomfortable in such a social setting. He was dressed in khaki pants and a plaid short-sleeved shirt, and his hair was neatly combed to the side. It was the first time Sarah (or anyone else) could ever remember seeing Gus when he wasn't wearing jeans and his red baseball cap. Sarah smiled at the usually grumpy man, as she offered him the cake.

“Thank you for all your help, Gus,” Sarah said. Gus didn't reply, but he didn't scowl, and Sarah thought she saw the trace of a smile on his face, as he accepted the cake and ice cream and promptly applied his spoon to the side with the most frosting.

Paige held her glass over her head and announced, “Here's to Sarah for never giving up on the horse who was ‘The One,' and to Crown Prince for being ‘The One.'” There was laughter as everyone touched glasses and drank more punch.

Sarah held up her glass and added to the toast. “If anyone here deserves credit, it's Jack, who convinced my dad to let me take Prince on trial, and then advised me every step of the way. Prince and I owe him so much. And to the DeWitts, who made it possible for me to follow my dream.”

The clapping continued as Sarah went to her parents, sitting on the couch. “Can I ever thank you two enough?” she said, leaning to give them both a hug. She knew they were both genuinely pleased with the events of the day, and any lingering reservations they had harbored about Crown Prince were gone.

“Seeing you ride that big horse so well today makes us proud,” her father said. “We can look forward to the two of you getting better and better in the months ahead.” Her mother said nothing, but her eyes were moist as she gave Sarah a big squeeze.

Jack spoke from his spot near the hearth. “We Brookmeade folks actually have a lot to celebrate today, beginning with another of my Young Riders, Kayla Romano, who brought back some impressive ribbons from the Quarter Horse show she took Fanfare to a few weeks ago. Those two have come a long way and have a bright future.” Jack paused to look around the room. “I'm also very proud of our two young eventers, Paige Vargas and Tim Dixon, who competed in their first three-phase event at the Fair Pines Horse Trial just last weekend. Tim and Rhodes Scholar came in third out of a big division, and Paige also did well in another novice division. She has a bright green ribbon hanging by Quarry's stall to show for it.” Jack looked around the room once more. “And although she isn't here this afternoon, I'll mention how proud we are of Rita Snyder and Chancellor. They won a championship at the Rally Round Farm show last Sunday.”

Mrs. DeWitt had quietly slipped out of the lounge a few minutes before, and just then she returned. With Spin dancing beside her, she carried a small brown and white Jack Russell Terrier puppy that squirmed and twisted in her arms, her small stub of a tail wagging furiously. “I want you all to meet the newest member of our Brookmeade family,” Mrs. DeWitt said. “This is Cameo, and she's eight weeks old.” There was more clapping as everyone tried to get a closer look.

Sarah stepped back to watch her friends crowding around Mrs. DeWitt and the puppy that was trying to lick every hand that came her way. Abby pressed close enough to place a pat on the small dog's head. Spin wanted his share of the limelight, and he bounced from one person to another.

Even with all the hubbub going on around her, Sarah's thoughts returned to her horse. Rudy Dominic and Sam would probably have a hard time believing Crown Prince could perform like he did today! Now that the trial was over and he was hers for good, she could think about what might lie ahead—riding him on the trails with her friends, learning to do dressage movements, jumping him on the hunt course, and taking him over cross-country obstacles. She even dared to think of the time when they could one day compete in shows and events like her friends.

She remembered Jack's words when he first saw Crown Prince:
“Who knows the heights Sarah and this horse might reach if we can turn him around?”
Now they had a real chance. With the wolf tooth gone and Hank Bolton out of the picture, it would be smooth sailing. Her horse would be super—she just knew it. And the change in Rita's attitude meant that things would be different around here. The kids in her class would pull together to make a name for Brookmeade Farm and their favorite instructor.

As Sarah imagined what it would be like without Rita as a rival, an unsettled feeling invaded her happy thoughts. Why had Rita ignored Mrs. DeWitt's invitation to come to this party? Rita had been contrite and full of apologies when she'd spoken to Mrs. DeWitt that terrible day that Taco was killed. Was she being sincere, or just expedient? Only time would tell.

Mr. DeWitt seemed pleased as he walked over to Sarah and her parents. “You're on your way, young lady,” he said to Sarah. “I notified Rudy Dominic that Crown Prince is doing well at Brookmeade Farm and won't be coming back to the racetrack. Rudy is going to mail you his Jockey Club registration papers. Now Crown Prince is yours, all yours.”

Sarah smiled. Another turning point in her life—she couldn't wait for what came next.

This glossary is designed to help readers better understand various terms that appear in this book. The definitions are short and general in nature, and in some cases readers may wish to consult other sources for a more complete explanation.