Sundancer (3 page)

2
BIRD

I am not vicious, but I have a mean streak from my grandfather on my mother's side
.

Bird waited until Cliff and John finished their Saturday morning chores and took off for breakfast at the Coffee Bean Cafe. Then she slipped out the kitchen door and climbed over the fence into the front field. In one back pocket of her jeans was a vial of WonderDust; in the other some apple slices. She deposited a plastic bag containing a brush, comb, and hoof-pick on the ground beside the fence.

Her plan was simple: gain his trust, disinfect his wounds, groom him, then get on his back. She had about an hour before the men returned. Plenty

of time. Horses generally took to her right away, but this one was different. Some time alone would surely help.

She watched for a few minutes, then approached the new horse with confidence.
Sundancer. That's your name, better get used to it. And you'd better get used to me, too. I'm not going away.

The gelding lifted his head gracefully and looked at Bird. Then he casually turned his back. Bird walked around him in a wide arc and faced him again.

Let me fix your cuts, Sundancer. They'll hurt if they get infected
.

The horse turned his back again and took ten steps in the opposite direction. Bird followed, positioning herself so that he could see her peripherally. Not wanting to seem threatening, she avoided making eye contact by keeping her head tilted down.

Every time the horse moved, Bird moved, too. If he turned right, Bird would counter, turning him left. If he turned around, Bird would circle him to make him face the other direction. A slow dance, thought Bird, but at least I'm leading. She had seen Hannah perform this exercise with countless horses. It required patience, but eventually the animal would give up and allow himself to be caught. Out of boredom, if nothing else.

Time for the apple, Bird thought. She stretched her hand toward Sundancer, palm upward, with an apple slice on it. The horse looked insulted. He snorted and trotted away. Bird couldn't help but laugh. He'd just let her know that he couldn't be bought. This was going to be interesting.

Bird placed all the apple slices on the ground in a little pile and stepped back. She waited as Sundancer grazed his way over, then greedily munched up the apple bits, never taking his eye off her. He ate every one and looked for more. This was more like it.

I gave you the apple pieces, now can I put this powder on your cuts? It won't hurt
.

Suddenly Sundancer reared up, forcing Bird to jump back. The horse spun and dropped back to earth, then trotted away. As he moved across the field, Bird admired his fluidity. His shoulder action was tremendous, with his front hooves flicking out firmly before hitting the ground. His hind end powered his forward movement, and with no discernable effort he was across the large paddock and circling back at a canter.

He carried his head level with his shoulders, and his elegant neck was arched and muscular. Bird watched, transfixed, until she realized that he was coming towards her with his ears flat and his eyes cruel. He was rapidly gathering speed. It looked for all the world like he was going to mow her over.

In an instant, Sundancer had turned the tables. He was going to make
her
dance. Bird was stunned, her mind frantically searching for options. She couldn't outrun him, and besides, that would send the wrong message. Scared as she was, she wasn't about to let him win. There was only one choice: She would have to trust that he didn't want to kill her. And she wasn't at all sure.

Bird waited until he was three strides away. Then she jumped as high as she could, flapped her arms like a bird, and screamed at the top of her lungs.

Startled, the horse veered sharply to his right, avoiding her by mere inches. Then he stopped and turned. He snorted and shook his head up and down. Agitated, he lowered his head and began to paw the ground. This was not good news.

Struggling to catch her breath, Bird looked him right in the eye. She growled like a lion and loudly clapped her hands. She strutted like an angry male gorilla, swinging her arms toward him while jumping backward to the fence. She hoped it didn't look like she was making a retreat.

Confused by her antics, the horse stretched out his neck and curled his upper lip to get her scent. Bird took advantage of this moment to scramble backwards up the rails of the fence and out of danger.

Sundancer was jubilant. The horse knew he had won. Relaxed now, he cantered around the field tossing his head and kicking up his heels. He never once looked at Bird.

LATER, BIRD SAT ON a pile of old saddle pads in the window of the tack room, cuddling kittens. Hector lay on the laundry in the corner, and nearby, the old mother cat groomed herself, happy to have a babysitter. Three of her litter had survived; all fluffy and soft, multicoloured and purring loudly.

More cuddles, please
. The calico rolled on her back and looked at Bird expectantly.
More
.

Scratch my back, girl
. The tabby nudged her hand, trying to capture her attention.

I'll catch you! You're a mouse!
The white-and-ginger pounced on Bird's wrist with her tiny sharp claws.

Calm down kitties, or your mother will fire me
.

The week before, one kitten had died. He'd been tiny and his back legs had defects that didn't allow him to walk. It had been very sad.

After the incident that morning with Sundancer, Bird had busied herself with cleaning tack, picking small rocks out of the pastures, grooming horses, and pulling manes. Now, it was nearly seven o'clock and still muggy and hot. Idly, Bird stared out the window at the driveway.

Hannah would be back from the show any minute with lots of stories to tell. Bird smiled and snorted. She wondered if Dr. Paul had dropped by to see Hannah after all. If he had, he'd wish he hadn't. Horse shows were always stressful and Hannah usually had more than she could cope with as it was. She did too much of the work herself, making it easy for her students to take advantage.

Bird had been to enough shows with Hannah to imagine how the day had gone. They'd be coming home with ribbons, no doubt, as Hannah was a good coach and the horses were well trained. But by now, Kimberly was probably threatening to sell Pastor for some silly reason. It happened every time. Chances were that Jo had thrown up at least twice, and Hannah would be lucky if Peter showed any interest at all in looking after Zachary, his long-suffering mount. Sweet Melanie was the least likely to cause trouble, but she was easily distracted and needed Hannah's constant guidance.

Bird sighed. Perhaps she should've gone to the horse show with Hannah after all. She could've given Hannah a hand and avoided the whole episode with Sundancer.

Suddenly, Hector started thumping his tail and whining happily. Singing, really.

She's home! She's home! She's home at last!

Good ears, Hector
.

Bird looked through the window and watched Hannah steer the big rig through the stone gates with care. Bird noticed a red-haired passenger beside Hannah. It was Kimberly. Odd. The students usually went home with their parents after the show.

She patted each kitten one more time and jumped down to help. By the time the rig pulled up to the barn, Bird was there to open the side doors and pat noses while Hannah dropped the loading ramp to the ground.

Kimberly got out of the truck to help. She raised her hand in a little half-wave. Bird waved back. She liked Kimberly. She could be mean and selfish, but Bird sensed a kind heart.

“Kimberly's staying for dinner,” said Hannah as she backed Pastor down the ramp. “Lavinia ... her mom ... is tied up with something and can't get away. She'll pick her up later.”

Bird looked at Hannah as she spoke and then at Kimberly. Kimberly was staring hard at the ground, kicking up dust with her riding boot. She's embarrassed, thought Bird. She feels like she's in the way. And Hannah is angry, but not with Kimberly. Lavinia strikes again.

Together, they unloaded all the equipment and the four tired, sweaty horses. They hosed them off with cool water and tucked them into freshly bedded stalls with buckets of water, hay, and their evening grain.

Bird made her way to each stall, dropping apples into the horses' feed as a special treat. At Pastor's stall she stopped for a moment to rub his ears. Kimberly had ignored him ever since they'd arrived.

What happened today, Pastor? Why's Kimberly mad this time?

I dumped her on her head at the show
.

Why?

She wasn't paying attention. She was showing off, kicking me in my sides and yanking at my face. I showed her
.

That was mean
.

She wasn't hurt. She'll pay attention next time
.

I hope you know what you're doing, Pastor
.

Are you kidding? I trained four kids before Kimberly
.

Bird chuckled and patted his honest, reliable face.

“Thanks, Bird. You're a great help,” said Hannah, wiping her dusty hands on her pants. “You too, Kimberly. It's rather pleasant looking after them, isn't it?”

“Yes. I guess. I don't do it too often.” “It's never too late to start. Hungry?” “I'm starving.”

“Good. Let's go make some dinner.” Hannah tousled the girl's red curls with affection.

“Come on, Bird, let's go clean up.” Bird nodded. She was hungry, too.

Exhausted, Bird and Hannah and Kimberly walked from the barn to the house. The shadows were getting longer and the leaves in the maples were fluttering slightly. Bird hoped that the heat wave might be lifting.

As they were passing the front field, Bird's eyes fell on Sundancer as he peacefully grazed. The elegant chestnut gelding seemed to glow in the light of the evening sun. Nobody would guess, she thought, what a maniac he'd been earlier that day.

Kimberly's back stiffened with attention. “Who's that? I've never seen him before.”

“Dr. Daniels sent him over yesterday. A gift horse. He warned me four times that this horse is unrideable.”

“So he's vicious?”

“Vicious sounds horrible. Let's just say he's unpredictable.”

“You mean he has a mean streak?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. We'll see.”

“What's with that, anyway? Why do some horses have a mean streak?”

“Usually it's the way they've been handled. Rarely it's the way they were born, but it does happen.”

Kimberly nodded, unable to take her eyes off him. “He's gorgeous. What's his name?”

“I didn't ask. There's been so much trouble in his past, I've decided to rename him and start again.”

“If I owned him, I'd name him Phoenix, after the fire bird that rises out of his own ashes. He's the colour of flames.”

His name is Sundancer, thought Bird.

Hannah looked at Kimberly and smiled. “Well, Kimberly. What a good idea. You have poetry in your heart. You keep it hidden, don't you?”

Kimberly sniffed and yawned. “Whatever.”

“Too late, Kimberly,” smiled Hannah. “I've already seen it.”

Bird took a last look over her shoulder before she ran off toward the house.

Hannah and Kimberly reached the house a moment later. “Stuart!” exclaimed Hannah.

Stuart Gilmore, the school principal, was standing at the kitchen door in khaki pants and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

Stuart jumped. “Hannah! You startled me.” He put his hand over his heart and grinned. “And hello, Kimberly.”

“Have you eaten? We were just going to fix some dinner. You're welcome to join us.”

“Wonderful,” he said jovially, following Hannah and Kimberly into the house. “If you're sure I'm not imposing.”

“As long as you're not expecting gourmet fare. We'll barbeque some hamburgers and be lucky to find something for dessert.”

“Sounds perfectly delicious,” the principal said. “In fact, for dessert, I'll treat for ice cream at Best's.”

“Now
that
sounds perfectly delicious.” Hannah looked around for Bird as they went into the kitchen. “I'll just wash up and get out of these dusty clothes. I've been in them all day. If you see Bird, could you ask her to cut some lettuce in the garden, pick a few ripe tomatoes, and pull up some green onions?”

Before Stuart could respond, Bird crawled down from the top of the refrigerator where she'd been listening and observing. She took the scissors out of the drawer, grabbed a plastic bag, and without looking at either adult, headed for the garden. The faster the tasks were done, she reasoned, the sooner they'd eat.

Stuart was nonplussed. “Does she do that often?” “Do what?”

“Appear out of thin air.”

Hannah laughed. “She's stopped surprising me. Bird sees, hears, and understands everything. Plus, you never know where she is.”

“I'll make a note of that.”

“Make yourselves at home, both of you. There's iced tea in the fridge and I'll be down in a few minutes,” said Hannah over her shoulder to Kimberly and Stuart. She hurried upstairs to shower and change.

When Hannah emerged fifteen minutes later, bathed and dressed in a fresh blue cotton shirt and clean jeans, Stuart was sitting at the kitchen table talking to Kimberly. Bird was washing lettuce in the sink.

“So, I hear you're off to Cardinal Cardiff School next month,”

said Stuart. “We won't have you back at Forks of the Credit?”

“Well, it's time I started getting a real education. And there's a much better calibre of girl at CCS. I should be making friends with the people I'll associate with all my life.”

Over at the sink, Bird tried hard not to laugh. She could almost hear Kimberly's mother speaking.

“Heavens, Kimberly,” Hannah said. “It sounds like you're more than ready to leave us.”

Kimberly blushed. “Well, it's not that I don't like it here. And I love my friends and everything. And I'm not saying that Mr. Gilmore and the teachers are bad or anything. My mother went to CCS, and that's what she says.” Kimberly twisted a lock of curly red hair as she spoke. She stopped when she realized that Bird was watching her. “Hannah, why is Bird looking at me like that and not saying anything? She's creeping me out.”

Bird stopped washing and stared at the other girl. This was the side of Kimberly that she didn't like — the side that spoke before thinking, that didn't care if someone's feelings were hurt.

“Bird will say what she wants to say, when she wants to say it.” Hannah noisily collected cutlery from the drawer and placed dinner plates on the counter.

“But she never does, does she? I mean, say anything,” countered

Kimberly, studying the other girl closely.

This time, Hannah didn't answer. “Kimberly, wash your hands thoroughly please, then set the table for me. Bird, thanks for cleaning the lettuce. Will you please slice the tomatoes and make a salad?”

“And what can I do, Miss Bradley?” teased Stuart.

“You can start the barbeque and prepare the burgers. And get moving! We're all so hungry we could eat a horse.”

“Yuck!” exclaimed Kimberly. “That's disgusting!”