Crown Prince Challenged (13 page)

“I can just see Jack having to take time to lower the fences when it's Prince's turn to jump,” Rita complained. “Why should the rest of us have to wait around while he changes things for a green horse? I don't think my dad will be thrilled when he hears about this!”

Rita turned and started back to the Pyramid van. After taking a few steps, she turned back to them. “Do you always need to butt in, Kayla? Can't you let Sarah speak for herself for once?” Rita marched off and hopped in her van's cab with Judson.”

“Terrific,” Sarah said, as they pulled away, traveling slowly as the van labored up the hill. “Rita will go home and freak out to her father about this. I'll have another angry parent on my case!”

Kayla shook her head. “Just tell Rita you're in our class to stay and she better get used to it!”

Sarah waved to Kayla as her friend started toward her mom's truck. She turned Prince toward the trailhead and soon he was on the trail, stepping lightly on the pine needles. He seemed glad to be in the woods and looked ahead eagerly, perhaps remembering their recent ride up the ridge. The air felt fresh and cool, full of the aroma of the pine trees. Prince's ears flicked back and forth, listening to Sarah's aids while he worked the bit in his mouth. Sarah reached down to stroke his neck.

As Prince continued briskly on the trail, Sarah couldn't help thinking about the events of the afternoon. With no special accomplishments on their part, she and Prince had graduated into the Young Riders' advanced class. She would show her appreciation to Jack by following his instructions to the letter from now on. He'd suggested a short hack in the woods today, and that's what they'd do, regardless of how much Prince might want to go farther. She pushed all the unpleasantness out of her mind and let herself love the moment.

BACK AT THE FARM
after their short hack on the trail, Sarah dismounted by the side door and led her horse to his stall. Prince's first group lesson had never gotten off the ground, thanks to Kelly and Nicole's mothers, but that hadn't stopped Prince and her from having a great trail ride. Sarah removed his tack, and after giving Prince a once-over with a soft brush, led him into his stall. He lowered his head so she could gently stroke his face and lightly tug on his ears, his eyes softening and wrinkling at the corners as they had the day they met.

Sarah was in Prince's stall when Derek returned with Bismarck after schooling in the outdoor ring. Sarah knew he would be full of questions, and she hoped he wouldn't notice her. She was tired of thinking about all the barn drama. But on his way back from the tack room, Derek noticed Sarah's slim figure standing beside her horse. He approached the stall, looking in.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

Sarah turned away from Prince and slipped out of the stall. When she said nothing, Derek studied her face, puzzled. She looked into his eyes for a moment and then hung her head wearily. “It's complicated,” she said. “I really can't talk about what happened this afternoon, except to tell you I'm not going to be riding with Kelly and Nicole. I'll be in the Young Riders class.”

“Didn't you ride with that class once before?”

“Yes, before I got Crown Prince. It seems so long ago,” Sarah said. She felt strangely unenthusiastic.

Derek shook his head. “I get the feeling there's a lot of stuff going on under the radar here. Wanna fill me in?”

“Maybe sometime, but not right now. I've got to go feed the horses.” Sarah turned away, heading to the feed room. She removed the key from around her neck and unlocked the massive door. A chorus of neighs rang out in the barn when she pushed the grain cart through the door. She went from stall to stall, dishing out dinner.

Derek was gone when Sarah returned to Prince's stall. For once, she was relieved he wasn't around. The events of the day had left her emotionally drained, and all she wanted was to go home. She stood back to take one final look at her horse. She had bedded his stall with fresh shavings, and now he was cleaning up the last of the grain in his feed tub. His water bucket was full, and two flakes of hay were stacked in the corner. Knowing he was well taken care of gave her a good feeling. No matter how many problems she encountered with the boarders at Brookmeade Farm, Crown Prince was worth it!

When she got home, Sarah sat on the bench in the mudroom removing her paddock boots. Her mother had heard the screen door shut and called out to her, “Hi, honey.” When there was no response, she came to the doorway.

Sarah looked up. “Oh, hi, Mom.”

Her mother frowned. She could tell from Sarah's expression that something was wrong. “After you've washed up, come on in and tell me what's going on.” She retreated to the kitchen and the tossed salad she was making.

Here we go again,
Sarah thought. She washed her hands and began to set the table while her mother sliced tomatoes and cucumbers.

“Weren't you planning to ride Crown Prince in a group lesson for the first time today? How'd it go?” Mrs. Wagner asked.

Sarah didn't feel like going through the whole thing again, and she hadn't even told her parents about the kicking incident. She was afraid the story would only give them more ammunition for labeling Prince a rogue, so she took her time responding to her mother's question. “Dad and Abby will probably want to hear about it, too. Can I tell you at dinner time?” Her mother cast her a sideways glance, but let it pass.

“Call me when dinner's ready,” Sarah said after she finished filling the water glasses. Slowly she climbed the stairs and went to her room. She sat on the edge of her bed and buried her face in her hands. What was wrong with her? She should be ecstatic about moving back into the Young Riders class, so why did she feel so down? Was the burden of having enemies at the barn taking its toll? She looked at the tote bag she'd left in a chair earlier. The thought of the couple hours of homework she'd have after dinner actually sounded appealing. At least that would get her mind off her problems at Brookmeade Farm.

A short time later, snatches of muffled conversation drifting upstairs meant Abby and her father were home. When her mother called her for dinner, Sarah went down to join the family at the table. Spaghetti and meatballs was a favorite for all of them, and as they dug in, Abby was full of talk about school. But Sarah knew her turn was coming.

Finally her mother said, “Sarah's promised to tell us about her first group lesson with Crown Prince.”

Sarah swallowed hard. She really didn't want to tell them the story about the kick, but she also didn't want to slip into telling any outright lies. “There's not much to tell, actually,” she began. “Jack decided we should ride with the Young Riders, my old class, so I didn't have a lesson today after all.”

“Well, well, you're moving up,” her father said, smiling. “That sounds like good news to me.”

Her mother looked at her intently. “Considering the good news, you looked kind of glum when you got home,” her mother said. “Any special reason?”

“I'm just really tired, I guess. I've been working hard at the barn.” That was absolutely true, and Sarah breathed a sigh of relief when her response seemed to satisfy everyone. The conversation shifted to Abby's chatter about a new bulletin board her class was working on.

“It's about good manners, being nice to people,” Abby said. “It's supposed to stop bullying in our school.

I'd sure like to see a few good manners at Brookmeade Farm!
Sarah thought.

* * * * *

Pedaling her bike to the farm after school the next day, Sarah tried to think positive thoughts. No more worrying about Kelly and Nicole. She wouldn't let Rita get under her skin, either. The crisp fall air felt cool on her face. It was a perfect day for a hack, and she was psyched! There would be time to practice flatwork in the ring another day.

Paige and Tim had gotten to the farm ahead of her, and their horses were already tacked up. They were in the courtyard when she arrived, getting ready to mount and take off. “Where are you going?” Sarah asked, slowing her bicycle.

“After the tough lesson yesterday, we're going to do an easy hack,” Tim said. “We've got to get going, but maybe next time you can go with us.”

“Hey, congrats on being moved up to the Young Riders,” Paige said.

“Thanks, Paige” Sarah said, waving. “Have a great ride. I'd love to go with you some time.”

With her horse turned out in a paddock, Sarah decided to do his stall right away. She finished by adding fresh bedding and then went out to retrieve her horse, hoping he'd not be a mud ball again today. Prince was no longer restricted to the smallest paddock, as he had been when he first came to Brookmeade Farm, so now he could pick up a little more speed if he felt like running.

Sarah spotted Prince in the far end of a paddock. He raised his head from the grass when she whistled softly and immediately left his grazing, coming to her through shadows cast by the afternoon sun. He nuzzled her sweatshirt. “Hey, buddy,” she said, stroking his neck. She attached the lead shank to his halter and led him back to the barn, where Derek was now grooming Bismarck on the cross-ties.

“What's up for today?” he asked her, as she clipped another set of the cross-ties to Prince's halter.

“It's a perfect day for a hack,” Sarah replied.

Dirt and dust flew out of his curry comb when Derek knocked it against his dandy brush. As he resumed currying Bismarck's hindquarters, he said, “Sure is. I want to find the meadow trail Mrs. DeWitt told me about. Want to come with me?”

Sarah's heart almost skipped a beat. This totally cool guy had just asked her to go for a ride with him!

“Ah, sure,” she stammered awkwardly. “I'll try not to keep you waiting.” She started for the tack room, and once around the corner and out of his sight, broke into a jog. But she had to move considerably slower on the return trip, carrying her tack, grooming equipment, helmet, and half-chaps all at once.

Sarah curried and brushed Prince in silence, quickly combing his mane and brushing the snarls out of his tail before saddling him. The cut on his leg had healed nicely and no longer required a polo wrap for protection, thank goodness. She didn't feel coordinated today! She glanced over to see that Bismarck was saddled and Derek was about to bridle him. Sarah quickly put on her half chaps and riding helmet. Now Derek was standing beside Bismarck, waiting for her to finish tacking up. She hurried as fast as she could, but seemed to be all thumbs. Her nervousness was making Prince tense, and he raised his head high in the air, making it impossible for Sarah to pull the bridle over his ears. She felt foolish and frustrated when she heard Derek trying to smother a laugh.

“Would you like a leg up to bridle your horse?” he asked, with a grin.

Sarah scowled, irritated, but when she looked up at Prince with his head in the clouds, she, too, couldn't resist a laugh. “He thinks he's part giraffe!” She put pressure on the reins around his neck and said with a tone of authority, “Down!” Once Prince had lowered his head, she quickly put on his bridle.

A few minutes later, Sarah and Derek led their horses out of the barn. Mrs. DeWitt was just arriving as they moved toward the mounting block in the courtyard.

“You've picked a glorious day for a ride,” she said, smiling broadly.

“We're going to explore the meadow trail,” Sarah said.

“Oh, I know you're going to like it. Have a wonderful time!” Sarah wasn't sure how to interpret the twinkle in Mrs. Dewitt's eyes. Was it because she and Derek were riding together?

Sarah mounted Prince from the block, but from the ground Derek easily placed his foot in the stirrup and swung up into the saddle on Bismarck. Then they were on their way. The sun felt warm as they guided their horses to the farm's entry road and started climbing the hill to the O'Brien bungalow.

“Jack told me the trailhead is close to the carriage shed,” Derek said. As they got closer to the building where the broodmares and Jack's horse were stabled, they spotted a worn area beside the road that led toward the nearby pasture's split-rail fencing. The path appeared to have been recently mowed, providing a four-foot-wide swath going away from the road. “This must be it,” Derek said, as he steered his horse onto the path. It was new territory for both horses, and Prince seemed eager to follow Bismarck.

They hadn't traveled far along the path when a loud neigh pierced the quiet. A large liver chestnut horse suddenly burst from the far end of the pasture, charging toward them like an angry bull. His long mane billowed in the wind created by his speed. As the horse thundered toward them, Crown Prince became animated, sidestepping away from the fence and prancing with his tail plumed high. Bismarck stood his ground, his eyes riveted on the horse. As the chestnut got closer, he slowed dramatically, dancing as if on springs with his nostrils flaring. He'd never seen these horses before, and he snorted suspiciously.

“This is Jack's horse, Donegal Lad,” Sarah said, while keeping a tight rein on Prince. “Maybe he likes to think the broodmares and their foals in the next pasture are his herd and he needs to protect them.”

“What a beauty!” Derek replied. “He's good-sized and probably stronger than an armored tank. Look at those hindquarters! I'll bet he could easily handle a five-foot oxer.”

“Jack rode him in the Olympics when he was on the Irish eventing team. I guess Lad was awesome going cross-country.”

“Let's give him a little excitement,” Derek said, as he asked Bismarck for an extended trot, continuing on the path that followed the fence line. Not to be left behind, Prince immediately took after him, and soon both horses were cantering briskly along the mowed path, with Donegal Lad galloping beside them on the other side of the fence. Both horses pulled against their reins to go faster, and Sarah and Derek found themselves laughing as they moved speedily across the field. Their horses were sleek, powerful machines, with their hoofbeats resounding like drumbeats.