At last, it was Kryptonite’s turn. Riding the gelding out onto the cross-country course made Jake feel as if he were sitting on a keg of dynamite and the fuse was burning toward them. Despite the drier ground and the horse having had more time to settle into the new environment, Jake wasn’t as comfortable on the chestnut. As the schooling wore on, Kryptonite calmed down, but he still jigged and pulled at the reins when they moved from one fence to the next, and he wouldn’t let Rich get too close with the cart.
Because other people were schooling on the grounds as well, Rich would wait for a particular obstacle to clear so they could train over it, occasionally bypassing some jumps to travel on to a different part of the course. Clearly he and Tom had discussed Kryptonite’s weaknesses on the cross-country field. Jake struggled to keep Kryptonite walking quietly between obstacles. He cantered the horse in large circles just to blow off the stink while waiting their turn for a few fences.
Finally, Rich pointed to the water jumps, free after a large group of riders moved away. “We’ll do this and call it a day,” he shouted from the cart. “He’s getting tired.”
To say nothing of the rider, Jake thought. The water obstacles were among the hardest jumps he’d faced today. Few horses liked jumping into water because they couldn’t see how to place their feet. The obstacle had several different approaches, depending on the level of the horse and rider. Jake would have to take Kryptonite over a hogsback into the water and then make a turn for a simple, but narrow vertical in the middle of the pond, the very smallness of the fence encouraging a run-out. After that, they had to jump up a bank to get out of the water, and make a sharp turn to take a solid stone wall on the other side.
“Break it down. Take it in pieces,” Rich recommended, getting out of the cart to stand where he had a good view of the entire obstacle. “Take the hogsback into the water and the vertical first. If he’s going well, add the bank, but leave out the wall for now.”
Jake nodded, taking advantage of the pause to check his girth and adjust his reins. He circled the water, picking up a nice, rolling canter. As usual, when they turned for the first element, Kryptonite raised his head. The pyramid-shaped stack of logs certainly looked imposing. Kryptonite’s gait lost rhythm and became unsteady, even though Jake had closed his leg and urged him on.
“Push him through or circle around.” Rich raised his voice to be heard over the galloping horse. “You don’t have enough momentum to take it like that.”
Jake nodded again and decided to circle. He couldn’t help but compare Kryptonite’s balky unwillingness with The Moose’s courage in the face of the same uncertainty. This time, as they approached the first element, Kryptonite rushed the fence and came down to it too strung-out to collect himself properly for the takeoff. He was going to jump it flat. Jake tried to package him so Kryptonite could get his hind end under himself enough to arc cleanly over the fence. The gelding came into the fence crooked, fighting Jake’s guidance.
They landed in the water with a large splash and headed for the second element. It was smaller than most of the fences on the course, taking into consideration that the horses had to jump this fence from inside the pond, but it was also narrow, inviting the horse to duck out to either side. Kryptonite’s muscles tightened between Jake’s legs; he knew the horse was thinking how to avoid the second fence altogether. Knowing he usually ducked out to the right, Jake put pressure on the horse’s right side and pulled on the left rein. He’d thought they were on track to take the fence when Kryptonite suddenly dropped his right shoulder and swerved left.
The horse simply wasn’t under him anymore. Jake came off the chestnut’s right side with just enough time to raise an arm to protect his head before he hit the unforgiving wood logs. His elbow and shoulder took most of the impact before he bounced off the face of the fence and landed in the water.
So much for the stick-tight gene.
The pond was a foot deep at most, but it was still a shock when cold water splashed over him, soaking him to the skin. He was thrown backward on his rump, and when he put his right hand back for support, his shoulder protested.
Agitated splashing made him turn his head. Instantly, he winced and put up a hand to his neck.
“Are you all right?” Rich came lurching through the water, sending spray flying.
Jake waved him off. “I’m fine.” Aside from being pissed, frustrated, hurting like hell, and wet, that is. “Go catch the horse.”
“I’ll catch the goddamn horse, all right.” Rich splashed back to the verge and squished up the slope. Kryptonite, having enjoyed a victory canter for dumping his rider, stopped to crop grass quietly. His reins had slid down his neck, and he was in danger of stepping on them. “I’ll catch the horse and then call Taco Bell and tell them they have a pickup.”
Jake snorted. Threatening a horse with Taco Bell was a long tradition at Tom’s barn. It had as yet to happen. He winced again as he got to his feet and experimentally moved his arm. It was sore, and he’d probably have one helluva bruise, but he didn’t think he’d torn his rotator cuff or done any serious damage.
Rich walked Kryptonite back toward him as Jake climbed onto the bank. Kryptonite looked as calm as if he’d been out on a trail ride, and Jake mentally cast him into the seventh level of hell.
“I have a new show name for your beast.” Rich handed the reins over to Jake and eyeing the gelding with extreme disfavor. “We should call him ‘Destination Ken-L Ration.’”
Jake laughed loud and hard, like a dam breaking. Rich shot him a conspiratorial smile, and something inside Jake rose up to meet it like an old friend. Well, why not? He and Rich used to be friends—the best of friends.
“Whoa, wait, what are you doing?” Rich protested as Jake checked the girth and remounted. “I think we should call it quits for the day. You don’t have to prove anything to me, you know.”
Trying to hide another wince as he collected the reins, Jake raised an eyebrow and adjusted his helmet. The wet breeches clung to his skin and slipped a little in the saddle, making him wrinkle his nose in disgust. He’d keep this brief or else he’d end up with some serious chafing in areas he’d rather not think about.
“I may not have anything to prove to you, but I do to the horse.” He wheeled Kryptonite around and picked up a canter, driving him down to the first fence with grim determination.
Kryptonite jumped both elements like the champion he was, and they cantered onto the bank and out of the water before Jake pulled him up.
Rich trundled over in the golf cart. “That’s it. You’ve proved your point. We’d better get back and get some ice on that shoulder. How are you feeling? Are you sure you don’t need to go to a doctor?”
Kryptonite shied away at the golf cart’s approach. Jake checked him with the reins, causing the gelding to toss his head repeatedly, but he stood in place, albeit shifting his feet nervously.
“Nah, the only thing I’m worried about is that Tom’s going to be pissed if I’ve ruined another pair of boots.” Annoyed, he checked the reins again as Kryptonite jigged sideways.
“We can always stop by Dominion Saddlery on the way home. You need to get a new helmet as it is.”
“A new helmet? I didn’t hit my head.”
“Yeah, but you collided hard with that fence. You know as well as I do that kind of impact will cause the protective foam in the helmet to expand. If you want it to do its job and protect your brains from future trauma, you need a new one. We can get you another and order you another pair of boots too. When you’re in this deep, what’s another thousand dollars in expenses? Tom will never know.”
“Tom always knows.” He had to turn his head over his shoulder to speak to Rich as Kryptonite spun his haunches around and threatened to buck. “Look, I’m headed back. I’ll meet you at the stalls.”
“I’m following you.” Rich wasn’t taking no for an answer. “That was a hard fall you had.”
“I’m fine. Seriously. Kryptonite doesn’t like the
cart. We’ll be better off if you go on ahead and meet us at the barn.”
He could tell Rich didn’t like the idea, but there was no denying the cart was making things worse. With a terse nod, he drove off slowly toward the main stabling area.
With the cart gone and somehow knowing the schooling was over, Kryptonite relaxed and ambled back to the barn like an old cow pony. Jake’s shoulder throbbed with every step. He felt a hundred years old, and the hours before he could take a shower and fall into bed stretched before him like a long, winding road. And miles to go before I sleep. It had already been a long day, and he was nowhere near to being done with it yet. A light misty rain began to fall again. Great.
There was no sign of Rich when he got to the stalls. The cart was there, however. The Moose and Molly looked up as he walked Kryptonite toward them. The Moose whickered softly at their approach but went back to eating hay. Jake dismounted carefully, feeling every muscle in his body as his feet hit the ground. His boots were like vises clamped on his legs, and water squished between his toes. Curling his lip at the realization he had no spare underwear, he set about untacking Kryptonite. He removed the studs from the horse’s shoes and lubricated the blanks before replacing them in the horseshoes. He was wiping the graphite powder off his fingers when Rich walked up.
“Okay, hear me out.” Rich raised his hand as though he expected Jake to protest automatically. “I’ve rented the stalls until tomorrow. I called Becky and told her we’re staying the night. You’re in no shape to drive for hours in this mess.” Rich glared up at the sky, as though it would stop raining because of his disapproval.
“It’s not that bad.”
“You’re interrupting.” Rich gave him a little smile, which took some of the acidity out of his words. “There’s no reason to push on home tonight. We can take a hotel and get on the road in the morning when you’re fresh. Besides, it will be good for The Moose. You haven’t had her off the farm overnight in a while.”
“Fair enough. I wasn’t looking forward to the drive anyway.” He could see Rich was both surprised and relieved he’d given in that easily. He put the hand towel back in the stud kit and went over to the bootjack lying next to the saddle stand. Placing the heel of his boot inside the triangular-shaped piece of wood, he stepped on the back half of the jack. He grunted when the boot remained firmly in place. “Damn. I’m going to need help.” The aisle was empty. There was no one he could call over for assistance.
Rich frowned at him. “Sit down. I can help you.”
He started to ask if Rich was sure but the forbidding expression on Rich’s face made Jake sit obediently on the tack trunk. He waited until Rich stood in front of him with his legs parted, facing in the opposite direction. Jake lifted his leg so Rich was straddling it and placed his other foot on Rich’s butt.
“Point your toe and pull your leg back,” Rich said, taking hold of Jake’s ankle and heel. It reminded Jake of an old Star Trek episode where Spock and McCoy were disguised as Nazis, and McCoy had been unable to get his tall boots on. In the old days, he and Rich would have joked about it. But everything still felt too raw between them for that.
“Push against my ass! I’m not made of glass. I won’t fall over.” Rich sounded pissed.
“You sure about that?” The smile in Jake’s voice made it clear he wasn’t referring to the falling-over part. He pressed his left foot into Rich’s ass, aware he was going to leave a muddy boot print. Rich’s pants were wet to the knees, which explained his irritability. He didn’t like being wet any more than Jake did.
Jake pulled his right leg back, feeling the slow, sucking release of the leather from his calf. When the boot suddenly came off, Rich took a staggering step forward.
Jake hissed and grabbed his leg.
“What?” Rich asked, turning with the boot in his hand.
“Leg cramp.” Jake spoke with gritted teeth.
Rich dropped the boot and knelt awkwardly, in slow stages, by Jake’s side. “I get those from time to time.” His strong fingers pressed in around Jake’s hand where he gripped his calf muscle. “Hurts like a sonofabitch.” He kneaded the muscle as he spoke, not looking up at Jake.
Jake leaned back against the wall and let Rich massage his leg, holding his breath with the intensity of the pain.
“You should drink something with electrolytes when you’re in the saddle this long. Remind me next time.” Rich’s fingers worked their magic and the muscle relaxed from its relentless contraction. Rich continued to rhythmically massage his calf, reaching between Jake’s legs to get to both sides of the muscle. Jake got a good view of the back of his neck and the breadth of his shoulders as Rich worked. He could smell Rich’s citrusy aftershave, and though he could no longer remember the brand, the scent took him back with a powerful moment of nostalgia.
Jake cleared his throat. “Never happened before. I think it was the boots being wet. They feel tight.”
Rich nodded. “Best get the other one off, then.” He seemed reluctant to let go of Jake’s leg. He got up the same way he’d knelt down, in stages, unfolding like a carpenter’s ruler. He placed a hand on Jake’s knee to push himself up and then positioned to remove the other boot.
Thankfully, it came off without incident. Jake sat with his eyes closed, wiggling his toes with relief. His head nodded with weariness. Thank God he didn’t have to go any farther than the nearest hotel tonight.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to take you to a doctor?” Rich’s voice cut sharply into his near-doze.
Jake opened his eyes. Rich was angry for some reason. Jake frowned and rubbed his shoulder. The fall had set up a vigorous complaint in his upper back. His neck muscles felt like they were trying to pull his head into his body, like a turtle into its shell. “I told you, I’m fine.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Event riders are tough, they ride with broken legs and penetrating abdominal wounds, and hey, you only need one eye, right? You’re not Iron Man. I think you should get that shoulder checked out.”
“I’ll take some ibuprofen, put some ice on it, and see what it feels like tomorrow.”
“You have insurance, right?” The question felt unnaturally weighted, but Jake had no idea why.
“Of course I have insurance.” Cost a goddamn fortune too.
“Then there’s no reason not to see a doctor.”
“Except for the fact I don’t need one.” With a sigh, Jake leaned over and reached for his paddock boots.
“Right.” Rich stood there a moment longer, breathing hard through his nose. “I’ll go bring the car around. You see to the horses.” He pivoted on his cane and walked down the aisle toward the parking lot.
Jake made sure the three horses had enough hay and water for the night and that the stalls had their names and contact information posted on them. He packed all the tack and assorted gear back into the truck and blessed Becky for sending a container of grain “just in case.” He rerolled the shipping wraps so they’d be ready to use first thing in the morning and was just giving everything a final check when Rich pulled up. He waved Jake over to the car.
Jake opened the passenger-side door, exhaustion and stiffness making him move slowly as he eased himself into the seat.
Rich chewed on his lip as he pulled out of the parking lot and took the road back to the main highway. Jake knew that look. Rich had something he didn’t want to tell him.
“Spit it out.” Jake was too tired to dance around any longer.
Rich cast a rueful glance at him sideways before staring back at the road. “Um, it seems one of the universities is having their graduation this weekend. Most of the hotels are booked up. I did manage to find a room though. At the Colonial Inn.”
“The Colonial? You mean, the House of Pee?” Incredulity made Jake’s voice rise in pitch.
Rich looked as though he was trying not to laugh. “That was all a simple misunderstanding. Besides, I’m sure it’s under different management now.”
“The last time we st
ayed there, someone had urinated on the mattress. And the night manager refused to believe we hadn’t done it ourselves.”
“The look on your face when you rolled in the wet spot….” Rich’s wicked smile appeared as he chuckled. “You know, it was probably some kid who wet the bed the night before and was afraid to tell his parents.”
“A kid with a bladder the size of an elephant!” Jake protested. “The entire bed was wet! You were in the shower. You didn’t get the full effect.”
“I remember. I could hear you yell over the running water. You were so outraged, and then the manager didn’t believe us….” Rich dissolved in helpless laughter.
“Which might have been because Mick and Tom were howling with glee and refusing to switch beds.”
“At least they helped us flip the mattress. I can’t believe you agreed to sleep on it anyway.”
“Like I had a choice. I still can’t believe we got charged for the room.”
They’d been half-dead with exhaustion and something about the whole thing had been hilarious in the aftermath of dealing with the suspicious night manager. They’d kept spontaneously bursting into laughter long after they should have been asleep, and Tom had finally thrown a pillow at them and told them to shut up. It felt as if it had happened to someone else now. So much had changed since then.
Rich turned the wheel, and the car bumped over the entrance into the hotel parking lot. At least it had the advantage of being near the Horse Center. “Come on, it won’t be that bad again, I promise.”
The parking lot was full. Rich made Jake wait in the car while he went into the lobby to check in. It was a struggle to keep his eyes open long enough to watch Rich cross the parking lot. The rain drummed steadily on the windshield, blurring Rich’s shape as he went through the glass doors into the building. The next thing Jake knew, he was startled awake by Rich getting in behind the wheel. “We got a room on the ground floor in the back. Last one, according to the front desk.”
Jake nodded and yawned. “As long as we get hot water and no one’s peed in the bed, I’ll be happy.”
Fool's Gold Page 10
