Southern Belle's Special Gift

by Marsha Hubler

  “Baby,” Mr. Bell said between chuckles, “your new interest in horses makes me very happy. This might be a good time to discuss an important decision your mother and I have made.”

  Tanya sighed. “What now?” she complained.

  “First of all,” Mr. Bell started, “we’ve been thinking about this for an awfully long time, but we never mentioned it to you because you didn’t seem to like animals. We thought you’d absolutely hate the idea.”

  They’re buying Tanya her own zoo, Skye figured.

  Dr. Bell sipped her coffee. “Tanya, your father and I are thinking of moving.”

  “Where?” Tanya asked through a half yawn as though her mother had just asked her to pick up a pencil off the floor.

  Mr. and Mrs. Chambers were studying the interaction going on across the table. Mr. Chambers folded his arms, and Mrs. Chambers leaned on the table and took a slow sip of water.

  “Now don’t get upset,” Mr. Bell said. “You can still go to Ridgecrest—if that’s what you’re worried about. You’ll still have all of your friends.”

  What friends? Skye thought, scratching her head.

  “I’m not upset,” Tanya informed her parents without the slightest hint of irritation. “But where?”

  Dr. Bell said, “Your father wants to buy a farm in north Jersey.”

  “A what?” Tanya peaked her eyebrows.

  “Now think about this,” Mr. Bell said. “We’ve all talked about how crazy city life is. I’m at the place in my business where I can start mandating responsibilities to our field representatives. I’d like to spend more time with you and your mother. At the first of the year, I’m planning to begin part-time as a consultant.” He looked at Mr. and Mrs. Chambers. “I grew up on a farm and loved working the soil and breathing fresh air.” He looked back at his daughter and touched her hand again. “If you want a horse, you can have any kind you’d like.”

  This time Tanya’s hand stayed put. She stared out the window, deep in thought. “Hmm,” is all she said.

  Dr. Bell released a beautiful smile as she grasped Tanya’s other hand. “Well, that’s one more word than I expected to hear. I think we can take that as a yes.”

  “Tanya,” Skye added, “this is great. Think of all the things you’re learning at Keystone that will help you on your own farm, especially with horses.”

  “Any kind of horse I want?” Tanya asked, still staring.

  “Any kind at all,” Mr. Bell answered.

  Chapter eight

  The month of March in Pennsylvania brought the promise of an early spring. Although the threat of snow had been predicted over the next week, crocuses were already poking their colorful heads out of Mrs. Chambers’ softening flowerbeds.

  With the excitement of warmer weather on its way, family discussions centered around the horses. Skye and Morgan were already planning what events they would enter at the Snyder County Horse Show in August.

  Mr. and Mrs. Chambers and Tanya focused on Belle and her foal. Tanya continued to surprise everyone, not only with her willingness to sing but also with the huge amount of time she devoted to Southern Belle.

  However, as hard as Skye and Morgan tried to be friends, Tanya brushed them off like dandruff. Most of her free time was spent in the barn or hidden away in her bedroom, singing along with Christian CDs or reading her hundreds of books. She came to the table for meals when called, but then lately she’d been griping her way through her chores. A hundred times Skye had made up her mind to ignore Tanya, but it was hard, she found out, to ignore someone living right under her nose. Frustrated beyond words, Skye longed for Saturday when she and Mrs. Chambers would have some time alone.

  “Well, Skye, how did this week go in school?” Mrs. Chambers said as the two rode their horses the following Saturday on a trail through the back woods. The Westies romped close by.

  Skye reached down and patted Champ’s fuzzy neck. “Pretty good, Mom. I think I’ll make the honor roll again if I can just remember where Persia was on an ancient history map. Oh, and I’ve been wanting to ask you if it would be all right if I could be the manager of the girls’ softball team. Robin’s been after me forever to join the team. But you know sports and I get along like scrambled eggs and pickles. Being the manager is the best I can do for Robin. Filling a water cooler and carrying a first aid kit shouldn’t be that hard.”

  “First, let’s consider how busy you are throughout the week,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Find out how many days you need to stay after school for the team. Since you only have Maranatha counseling once a week, perhaps you can squeeze softball in somewhere. Are you sure you can fit that in with all your studies, music lessons, and barn chores?”

  “No problem,” Skye assured her. “Mom, I need to ask you something,” she said, suddenly changing the subject.

  “Yes, honey, what is it?”

  Skye chose her next words carefully while the horses’ bridles clanked and the saddles squeaked. The group headed out of the woods and across a field to a gentle hill a short distance behind the Chambers’ barn. Nudging Champ to trot alongside Pepsi, Skye finally mustered enough courage to speak.

  “Mom, what can I do about…” Skye hesitated.

  “About what?”

  “About…”

  “About Tanya?” Mrs. Chambers asked.

  “Hey!” Skye said. “You knew all along.”

  “It’s pretty obvious that you’re having trouble liking her. What seems to be the problem?”

  “What’s the problem?” Skye squawked. “How’s this for starters? I have tried and tried to be nice to her, but most of the time, she acts like I’m not even there. I wish she’d go home.” Her face flushed hot from embarrassment the instant she realized what she had just said. “Sorry, but that’s the way I feel.”

  With the dogs trailing behind, the horses made their way to the top of the hill. The view opened up into a panorama of farmers’ fields. In the distance, the gray bulges of Shade Mountain melded into a steel-blue sky layered with fast-moving clouds. A March wind teased Skye’s long hair that flowed out from under her hardhat. She pushed her hair back and pulled her jacket zipper up tight against her neck.

  Mrs. Chambers stroked Pepsi’s neck, and then rested an arm across the horn of the saddle. She focused on the view, the wind playing with her tied-down Stetson. “It’s awfully difficult living with someone you don’t like. Honey, let me ask you a few questions. Let’s see if we can get to the root of this problem.”

  “It’s not that I don’t like her. But she is a problem!” Skye shot off.

  Mrs. Chambers gave Skye her familiar careful-young-lady look. “Skye…”

  “Oh, all right. Go ahead, shoot.”

  “Exactly when did you decide that you didn’t like Tanya? It is a decision, you know. It doesn’t just happen by itself.”

  Skye stared at the valley, thinking into the past. “Like, when she threw Morgan and me out of her bedroom right after she got here. She just thinks she’s better than everybody else. She acts like some kind of queen bee or something. That’s all.”

  “Are you sure? Think carefully.”

  Out of the distant past, Skye’s memory taunted her.

  “Skye, are you with me?” Mrs. Chambers asked.

  “Yes-s-s,” Skye squeezed out. “Okay, okay. I guess I didn’t like her from the first time I met her—when she was with Kenny Hartzell at the fair. She made fun of me and called me a farmer. It was her fault I drank that beer.” Her voice rose in anger.

  “Now listen to yourself, Skye. What are you doing? That old problem you’ve had long before you moved in seems to have resurfaced.”

  Skye felt her face redden again, and her insides started to sizzle with anger—an anger she thought she had buried with her past. Tears of shame welled up in her eyes. “I’m blaming someone else for what I did wrong,” she lamented.

  “I think you’re correct on that one,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Remember, Skye, God holds us responsible for our actions. Thankfu
lly, you have asked the Lord to forgive you. But every once in a while, our bad habits poke their heads out just like the ugly weeds trying to choke my crocuses. Here’s another question, and this one’s loaded. Are you ready?”

  “Shoot.”

  “Are you jealous of Tanya?”

  Skye recoiled as though Tanya had asked her the question herself.

  “Skye?”

  “Jealous? Of her?” Skye tsked. “Of course not! Why should I be?”

  “Are you jealous of her time with me?”

  “Nah, I know that’s your job.”

  “Well, let’s see. She has two parents…”

  “But I have you and Dad.”

  “And she has everything she wants—and then some.”

  “She’s spoiled rotten.”

  “Well?”

  “Well, what?”

  “Do you wish you had some of that money? Some of her stuff?”

  “Well—maybe,” Skye conceded. “But I don’t hate her for that. She’s—she’s—just so—immature! Nobody likes her at school either! Just ask Morgan!”

  Mrs. Chambers turned Pepsi around and faced Skye, eyeball to eyeball. “Honey, Tanya has some deep-rooted problems that haven’t even surfaced. That’s why she’s here at Keystone Stables and Maranatha. Can’t you remember how it was when you first moved in? You were all torn up inside. You were so full of bitterness against your parents that you couldn’t see straight.”

  “Yeah, I was a mess, wasn’t I?” Skye agreed. “I just never think of Tanya having problems. Why would she have problems? She has everything else.”

  “Yes, Tanya, does have everything as far as material things, but she’s a very lonely young lady,” Mrs. Chambers said. “She’s chosen to isolate herself from everyone because she hurts so deeply inside. Let me tell you something, Skye. When someone like Tanya acts like she’s better than everybody, it’s usually because she has a low opinion of herself. There’s something bothering her that she’s not willing to share with us yet. She needs a lot of love and understanding from all of us. Now, let me ask you a very serious question.”

  “Okay.”

  “Have you prayed for Tanya—even once?”

  Silence.

  Mrs. Chambers pointed upward. “Skye, you know that when you accepted Christ, your life really started to change for the better. He helped you get over your bitterness and gave you a wonderful peace in your heart. Tanya’s empty inside and she’s scared. I could be wrong, but I’m afraid she doesn’t know the Lord.”

  “I never thought of her being scared of anything but horses, but that was only when she first moved in.”

  “One last question, and then we’ll head back.” Mrs. Chambers gave Skye a warm smile. “Will you promise to pray for her from now on? Just remember, honey, she is right where you once were.”

  Skye had focused on her saddle, but the warmth in Mrs. Chambers’ voice drew her back to her mom’s caring smile. Mom really does love me, she thought. She loves all of us. “Yeah, I promise to pray for Tanya,” Skye finally said. “Every day.”

  Chapter nine

  The entire family had lined up at the cross ties in the barn watching Dr. Gonzales examine Southern Belle. Mr. Chambers was holding the mare steady. Afternoon rays from the warm spring sun filtered in through the doorway of the barn.

  “She’s coming early.” Dr. Gonzales sighed as he finished. He wiped his hands on a cloth and placed the stethoscope and other equipment back in his big black bags. “I sure was hoping for next month, but she’ll be an April baby.”

  “She?” asked Skye.

  “Yep,” the doctor answered. “You’ve got yourself a little filly in there. Mighty, mighty little.”

  “What does that mean?” Tanya’s voice conveyed raw panic.

  “That’s not a good sign, is it, Doc?” Mr. Chambers said.

  “I’m afraid not,” the doctor answered. “Belle seems stronger, but we can’t be sure of her either. We needed that extra month for both of them to put on more weight with good food and vitamins. It’s gonna be a close call.”

  “What can we do to help?” Morgan asked.

  Mrs. Chambers stepped up to Belle, kissed her on the nose, and stroked her neck. “From this point on, she needs around-the-clock care, doesn’t she, Doc? We had another mare like this a few years ago, and we pulled both of them through with tons of TLC.”

  “We have to save them! We just have to!” Tanya exploded. Crying hysterically, she ran out of the barn.

  Skye gave Mrs. Chambers a “what now?” look.

  “Go after her, Skye,” Mrs. Chambers said. “I’ll be there as soon as we’re done here with the doc.”

  Outside Skye found Tanya hunched over the paddock fence next to the barn. Face buried in her arms, she was wailing like Belle and the baby had just died.

  “Tanya, what’s with you?” Skye said roughly before she remembered Mrs. Chambers’ words. Love and understanding. Slowly Skye placed her hand on the weeping girl’s shoulder. Tanya did not pull away.

  “I love that horse,” Tanya wailed. She turned slowly, her face drenched with free-flowing tears.

  What can I possibly say to make her feel better? Skye pondered. “She is where you once were, honey,” she remembered Mrs. Chambers saying.

  “We all love her,” Skye said softly. “We’ll help her pull through.”

  Tanya wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. “Didn’t Mrs. Chambers say that Belle needed care all the time, like, through the night too? What did she mean?”

  “It’s not that she needs care twenty-four/seven. It’s just that Belle and the baby have a much better chance if the vet or even Dad is right there when the foal comes. She’s gonna need help delivering. If the foal decides to be born during the night when no one is with Belle, it could be a bad scene. We just need to keep watch all the time. That’s what she meant.”

  Just as Skye finished speaking, Mrs. Chambers rushed out of the barn. “Tanya, are you all right?”

  “Aw, she’s just upset because of Belle,” Skye said.

  Tanya took one step forward, her eyes pleading for a mother’s embrace. But she stopped. “Mrs. C., I want to move into the barn and take care of Belle. Please! I just have to do this.”

  From a horse hater to a horse lover in one easy lesson! Skye mused. Go figure!

  “Well, I’ll talk with Tom about it. But, Tanya, are you sure you want to do this? It can get mighty lonesome in the barn with no one around but four-legged friends.”

  They’ll be better company than the stupid bears in her bedroom, Skye thought.

  “I won’t mind.” Tanya managed a stingy smile through her sniffles. “I want to do this. P-l-e-a-s-e!”

  I really don’t hate her at all, Skye told herself. I just feel sorry for her. And she is trying to help. “There’s a cot in the tack room,” she offered. “We can help bring down a heavy sleeping bag and some of your things. And we can tell you what signs to look for when the baby’s coming.”

  “Let’s do it right now.” Tanya’s eyes sparkled through her pain.

  Mrs. Chambers added her concerns. “Now, you’ll need to come to the house for your meals, family devotions, and your voice lessons.”

  “And your showers!” Skye said.

  “Will someone watch Belle while I do that?” Tanya rambled on, fear sweeping over her face. “And school? And Maranatha? Who’ll watch her when I’m away? Can’t I just stay with her all the time?”

  Mrs. Chambers reached out and touched Tanya’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Tanya! Tom will be here all day, every day. Even when he’s doing other things, he’ll check on her every hour or so. She’ll be all right.”

  “But I still want to do this! Thank you, Mrs. C.,” Tanya added.

  “Okay,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Let’s go talk with Tom and see what he says.”

  Tanya’s face beamed. “This is too perfect,” she said. “I have a report due on Monday about my strangest experience. Sleeping in a barn! Too cool!”
r />   And I could write a book! Skye concluded, and broke into a smile as the three headed back into the barn.

  “It’s a breech. The rump’s coming out first,” Dr. Gonzales lamented. “I was afraid she wouldn’t turn in time.” He had positioned himself behind Belle in the far corner of her box stall on a soft bed of hay. Belle lay stretched out on her side, moaning. The vet’s hands, protected in surgical gloves up to his elbows, reached toward the back of the horse. Mr. Chambers sat near the door of the stall and held Belle’s head in his lap. Mrs. Chambers and the girls watched from outside the stall through the wire mesh and open doorway. Sunrise was still three hours away.

  “I’m sure glad you folks called me when you did,” Dr. Gonzales said. “This little girl is going to need all the help she can get—and then some. It’s going to be rough.”

  Moaning, Belle kicked her back legs, trying to get up.

  “Easy, girl,” Mr. Chambers said, pressing his weight on Belle’s neck. “You stay put. Let those contractions push your baby out.”

  “We have Tanya to thank for getting you here so soon,” Mrs. Chambers said. “For the last three weeks, she’s hardly let Belle out of her sight.”

  “And I knew an hour ago it had to be time, the way Belle was prancing and pawing and carrying on,” Tanya said, massaging her hands. “Belle had every animal in the barn wide awake.”

  “Yeah,” Skye added, “and when the phone rang in the middle of the night, we knew Tanya wasn’t making a social call.”

  The chuckles were weak. Everyone was watching the mare struggle.

  “C’mon, Belle, push!” Dr. Gonzales yelled, his hands locked on the foal’s protruding rump. Under the shadow of his baseball cap, he turned bright red and sweat trickled down both sides of his face.

  Belle’s whole body twitched, and she let out a long, tortuous moan.

  “She looks so helpless,” Tanya practically screamed. “Can’t we do anything?”

  Mrs. Chambers slipped her arm around Tanya. “We can help by staying calm. She doesn’t need to sense that we’re all upset. That will only make things worse. We just have to let nature take its course.”