“That was awesome,” she sighed.
I panted and chewed on my bit. We continued walking until we came to a small triangular coop on the cross-country field for the novice horses.
“What do you say?” Winny grabbed the reins and pointed me at the fence.
Rolling my eyes, I decided to humor her. We'd pushed our luck pretty hard already, but what was one harmless jump? We were going to need to practice before faced with an entire field of obstacles.
Slowly, I cantered up to it, building my momentum with each stride. When the coop disappeared from my view, I squinted my eyes shut and leapt.
Winny screamed again. I opened my eyes to see myself landing smoothly on the other side. Relieved, I gave a little buck to celebrate in the fun.
Again and again we jumped, more confident each time. We both knew we weren't fully prepared for the tests that lay ahead, but the simple assurance that we could make it over the dismally small coop was a confidence builder.
Before the sun was over the horizon, we hurried back. If we were discovered on the cross-country course, it was very likely we'd be disqualified for cheating. I would have rather left as a fool than to be thought a cheater. At the stalls, the sun melted the darkness, bringing the world back to life. Winny quickly pulled off my tack and tossed it onto the saddle stand hanging from my stall.
Evaporated sweat caked the hair under the saddle and girth which Winny tried to whisk away with a soft brush. When that didn’t work, she found a towel and massaged the sweat from my coat. Up towards my withers, she found a sweet spot that I couldn't reach myself. I tilted my head and puckered my lips. Winny laughed and gave me a satisfying scratch before telling me I'd had enough.
She ran through the morning routine in record time and excused herself. I'd never seen my body so tired. Gulping my portion of grain, I hunkered down and wriggled around my stall and, getting comfortable and for the second time that night, slipped into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
“What happened here?” Danika peered in my stall. “Mike! Call for the vet!”
Ms. Diederich slid her bony hands around the bars and pulled herself up to look in. A shot of panic flashed in her watery gray eyes. “Colic.”
“What?” I sprung my head up. Before I could rise, Danika was at my side.
“You're just fine, Winny. The vet's coming.” She ran her hands over my flank and pressed her ear to my side.
“You hear noises?” Ms. Diederich asked in her rich accent.
“Hmm-hmm. She's not completely stopped up. It must have been a mild case.”
Mike skidded to a stop, holding the vet's emergency kit. “Dr. Calvert's on his way.”
An older gentleman, sporting a fedora bounded to our group. “Sorry it took me a minute. I had to get some syringes from my truck.” He began poking and prodding me in some very ticklish spots. I couldn't stop twitching. “She seems a little tender. How long has she been like this?”
Danika answered, “I just found her. Mike, did you notice anything odd last night?”
He shook his head, eyes wide with dread. Wordlessly, he slipped out of sight.
I could feel myself starting to panic. I wasn't sick. I'd only rolled in my shavings to scratch my back. Wanting to get up, Dr. Calvert insisted I stay down, checking me over before I was allowed to stand on my feet.
“I'm going to give her an injection of Banamine in case it is colic. It'll help her muscles relax and hopefully get her digestion moving again.” He filled a rather large syringe with the viscous medicine and began feeling the grooves of my neck in search of my jugular. “Lie still now, girl,” he coaxed me as he aimed the needle at my skin. He might as well have asked me to lay still while a lion licked at my neck.
Mike came running back with Winny just in time for her to shout a very certain, “No!”
“But she's colicing,” Dr. Calvert calmed her. “She's covered in dry sweat and was laying down when we found her. Not to mention, not a single stool in her stall.”
“That's because I pooped outside all last night,” I neighed in vain.
Winny hugged my nose, feigning concern and clearly knowing just how much an intravenous injection bit. “There's no need,” Winny promised. “We just had an early morning ride. I must not have brushed her down well enough. And I did stalls before I went back to bed.”
Dr. Calvert tucked his massive bear-paw-of-a-hand in his slacks and asked, “So when was she up last?”
“An hour or two ago. It was a really early morning ride.”
Danika raised an eyebrow. “I see. And how did that go?”
With a girlish simper, Winny confessed, “Very well.”
Winny took the flak from the crowd with surprising resilience. They tried to pry some details from her about her unexplained early—in actuality, all night—ride we'd taken but she kept mute, reassuring them that all they needed to know was that I wasn't colicky.
“Thank you, doctor,” Ms. Diederich responded for all of us and he tipped his hat, picked up his kit and left.
“Nadia, keep a close eye on her. Maybe you should take her out for a walk before breakfast,” Danika stroked my neck. “Make sure it really isn't colic.”
Winny nodded with a great yawn and led me out into the morning air. Away from the hordes of people who made the place alive with excited electricity as they prepared for the first day of competition, we traveled in the direction of the secluded meadow we'd visited last night. Winny began to laugh.
“What?” I grunted, pricking my ears to her.
“Nice try.”
“What?” I whickered.
Winny explained, whether she understood my question or not, “I knew you hadn't coliced. I mean, you weren't in nearly enough pain for that. It happened to me once and it felt like someone had a clamp on my guts and was twisting them tighter and tighter. The pain was so intense, I was sure I was going to explode.”
I used my nose and shoved her shoulder playfully. “Winny…” I groaned.
“We'll have to be more covert next time.”
Chapter Seventeen
Winny flitted about all day running errands and doing chores while I was stuck staring at the inside of my stall. She watched most of the novice dressage tests and came back to report how confident she was that we were ready for much more.
“Good,” I nickered, “'cause we're in the preliminary division.”
After Kristi and Willow finished their training level dressage test at noon, she helped Gretchen braid Isis' mane into thirteen little knobs along her hairline. Sidney watched from the outside the stall, doing her best not to face plant as she gingerly minced around in a pair of ridiculously high leopard print pumps.
Sidney scrunched her nose when Gretchen handed her the brush and instructed her to untangle Isis' tail. “You want me to do what? In these shoes?”
“Untangle her tail. I want her looking her best.”
Sidney pointed defiantly at her shoes and remarked, “You know these are Pradas, right?”
“I can't help it if you chose to wear those out here,” Gretchen snapped.
Sidney sighed and rolled her dark eyes. Nobody won fights with Gretchen. She shuffled into the shavings and began ripping the brush through the thick horse hair.
“Thirteen for good luck!” Kristi nudged Gretchen who smiled ruefully.
“Is Winny going to braid your mane?” Isis turned and asked me. “I think it adds something special when you're all primped for dressage.”
I snorted, “I don't think she knows how.”
Before I could complain, Winny skipped up to my door with Mike. She took one look at Isis and looked at me. “We should probably get you braided, shouldn't we?”
Mike laughed at how easily she spoke to me, not knowing just how well I understood.
“Do you know how to braid, Mike?”
He belted out a hearty laugh. “Me? Braid? Uh-uh. You should've asked me to bring my baby sister along.”
“Kristi, would
you mind helping me? I'm not very good at it,” Winny cheerfully asked. I wondered if Winny had gotten the hang of using ten fingers. And if Gretchen would allow her to borrow Kristi.
Despite being Gretchen's friend, Kristi had a heart of gold. She wasn't selective with whom she helped and she did it smiling widely, showing off her new braces.
“Sure! I love braiding horses' manes. It's like being able to play dolls without feeling like I'm still eight.”
Gathering up her step stool, yarn and scissors, she arranged everything in my stall. Sidney followed suit and began combing the snarls in my tail while Winny and Kristi chattered like chickadees in a lilac bush, busily fumbling with my mane.
Gretchen gave the trio an icy stare before grabbing Mike by the arm. “Come with me to get a soda,” she commanded. Winny was too busy giggling to notice Mike being torn away from my watchful eye.
Across the way, Willow was giving Isis tips from the show ring. “She seems to be in a pretty good mood today, though I don't think she's very fond of me because I'm not a warmblood. I know she's got an eye for you guys,” Willow lamented. “Plus I freaked a little at B. Some little boy was holding a balloon and I balked.”
“Don't be so hard on yourself,” Isis comforted her. “You'll knock their socks off in cross-country and that's where it really counts.”
I cleared my throat and asked, “Do you guys ever get scared at cross-country?”
They thought for a moment and truthfully answered, “Yeah, it can make you want to hightail it the other way.”
“Oh, wonderful.”
“Before you get too nervous,” Willow coached me, “just remember that things aren't always what they seem. That's kind of the point of the phase. They're not going to ask you to do something mortally dangerous—it's more to test your nerves. And your strength. And your endurance. And whether or not you trust your rider.”
“Hmph,” I sighed, blowing a long breath that vibrated my nostrils. I wasn’t sure if it was truly good news.
I dozed lightly while Kristi and Winny finished my mane. Figuring I'd want to see the finished product, Winny held a mirror up for me. Kristi and Sidney got a kick out of how Winny treated me. “You know they don't understand you, right?” said Sidney, a hint of mocking in her voice.
Winny matter-of-factly answered, “Of course they do.” Kristi and Sidney shrugged to each other and dismissed Winny's nonchalant horse-whisperer attitude without a word. Done with the intricate braiding, the girls groomed me vigorously, leaning into me as they brushed away the dirt from my coat. I gleamed, silky and smooth.
An hour before my debut as a teenage-girl-turned-show horse, Sidney and Kristi departed for the food tent. They’d been giggling about one of the boys who’d been serving and how silly he sounded when he called them My Lady as he handed them a plateful of eggs and bacon for breakfast. Secretly, I think they liked his chivalry.
Gretchen came back shortly after, dressed sharply in her white show breeches and blouse. Winny smiled as she walked up and said, “It’s nice that you have some friends here to keep you company.”
Winny’s nonchalant conversation starter caught Gretchen off guard. “Yeah,” she answered, unzipping her saddle bag and placing her spotless dressage saddle on a stand. “Is anyone coming to watch you?”
Winny thought a moment and said, “I think Nadia’s family is.” Gretchen’s brow knotted and she gave Winny a quizzical stare. Winny reddened slightly. “And by Nadia’s, I mean mine. My parents, brother and sister will be here, but just for the stadium jumping.”
Gretchen sighed and turned her back to Winny but I could still see here. Were those tears dropping onto her saddle?
Winny heard the soft sob from Gretchen. “Did I say something?” she asked.
“It’s just…” Gretchen sighed, wiping away tears before facing Winny, “All I’ve got is an alcoholic dad and a grandma that’s super harsh. Sometimes she seems downright cruel the way she treats me.” Gretchen heaved another sigh. “I just hope you know how lucky you are.”
Winny patted Gretchen awkwardly on the back. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I just assumed everything was good with you.”
“Most people do,” she said, turning back to her saddle. Gretchen tacked up Isis and tied her to the stall so her mare wouldn’t get dirty. “I’m going to find Danika.” She left without another word while Winny watched helplessly. Winny looked to me for guidance but what could I say, even if I wanted to? I was as stunned as Winny that Gretchen Fitzgerald’s life wasn’t the epitome of perfection.
“Surprised?” Isis asked.
“About Gretchen? Yeah. I never would have thought.”
“Maybe you’ll be a little more sympathetic then, huh?” Isis snorted.
Her reproof stung. I answered, “In my defense, she hasn’t exactly treated me with the most kindness. I don’t deserve to be walked all over just because she’s got it rough.”
Isis agreed, “True. But maybe Winny’ll give you two a chance to start over.”
My heart sunk a little. It was beginning to seem that Winny was running my life better than I could.
Kristi and Sidney came back after their snack and began dressing me for my dressage performance. I had borrowed a pair of Danika's riding breeches and a four buttoned dressage coat, which Winny sported rather nicely. Gretchen had found Danika and Ms. Diederich who walked up as we finished, comparing notes about the other riders and chatting about which trainers had made it to the show and which green horses they’d brought.
“You both look pristine,” Danika cooed as she helped Gretchen slip into her shadbelly. It was a bit showy of Gretchen to wear, but then again, it was definitely her style.
“Whoever thought of wearing white around horses was an idiot,” Ms. Diederich retorted. Everyone within earshot laughed. Everyone except Gretchen.
Danika gave Gretchen, then Winny a leg up and tightened my girth another few holes. I tried to suck in to make it easier but she didn't need the help. With a swift tug she easily constricted the straps. “Let's head out for a warm up.” Ms. Diederich followed with her terry cloth towel and two bottles of water.
The arena was a chaotic flow of skittish horses with equally nervous riders. It was nearly impossible to warm up, much less practice any difficult movements in the sea of competitors. Danika tried shouting commands from the sidelines but I could barely hear them and Winny with her now human ears was completely oblivious.
One by one, the horses dissipated, taking their turn at fate in the dressage ring. Madame Rose looked hot and uncomfortable in the judge's stand where she sat, fanning her flushed face with a folded piece of paper.
She looked rather unimpressed by a stout young chestnut that shied every time he passed by her. She leaned over to her scribe and constantly muttered comments.
Our allotted test times approached and it was just Gretchen, Isis, Winny and myself left circling the abandoned arena. Gretchen and Isis were the last to go and the stands looked like they were packed with other riders and horse enthusiasts coming to watch the beautiful black mare and her gorgeous rider finish out the day.
“Wells, Nadia!” yelled the steward in a nasal voice.
Winny was so focused on the shoulder-in movement we were doing, gliding smoothly along the railing that I took the liberty and skidded to a halt, turning towards the lanky woman.
“Wells, Nadia!” she shouted again.
“Right, that's me, isn't it?” Winny snickered into my ear. She cupped her hand around her mouth and yelled, “Here!”
“You're on deck!” The steward adjusted her bifocals under her straw hat, searching the paper pinned to her clipboard. “Fitzgerald, Gretchen! You're in the hole!”
Gretchen cued with a tip of her head. The flitting sensation, which had remained fairly calm since our practice session ended early in the morning, began swooshing about my stomach again. It was hard to tell how Winny was feeling. She was a bit tense on my back but had a sly smirk on her face. She was born for competi
tion.
As we watched the rider in front of us complete the test, I reviewed the entire series of movements in my mind to avoid a repeat of Clear Pond. Ms. Diederich spat on the toe of Winny's dress boots and began polishing them with the rag she'd slung over her shoulder. Winny took a swig of water and handed it back to Danika.
“I'm glad to see you've overcome your, um, shall we say hesitations?” Danika looked up into Winny's face with a kindly smile. She was always so gentile in pointing out people's flaws. “Good luck. You two look marvelous. You're ready.”
“Ms. Wells? You're up.”
Winny thanked the steward as she radioed to the judge that we were on our way. She double-checked the number, one-ten, stuck conspicuously on my bridle.
“Go ahead when you're ready. You have forty-five seconds to enter the ring once she's chimed the bell.”
“Thank you!” Winny called behind her as we trotted off to the show ring.
I tried to remain relaxed as we approached the arena through A. My mouth frothed with white foam and my ears flopped, listening carefully to Winny's every command.
Madame Rose jingled a bell resting on a table, like a master ringing for the servant to bring tea.
“Here we go,” I snorted.
Two strides from stepping in the arena and trying our luck, Winny closed her thigh muscles and pulled back on the reins. I fought a little, thinking surely it was a mistake.
“Whatever happens,” I calmed, listening to Winny's low voice, “it's been wonderful. A real eye opener.”
I couldn't agree more.
As we ran through our test, I ignored Madame Rose's critical eye. We flew down the long side at the extended canter, danced across the arena in serpentines, twirled around in tight, balanced circles. Constantly, I had to remind myself to bend and round my body to create the beautiful line and light forehand I knew Madame Rose was searching for.
By the time we halted squarely at X and Winny had thrown her hand down for a dramatic salute, the crowd roared with enthusiastic approval. Madame Rose sat back in the folding armchair where she thoughtfully gazed at us through her thick glasses. Good or bad, I could not read her guarded expression.
Headed for the Win (Nadia and Winny Book 1) Page 10
