Sundancer

by Shelley Peterson

  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!”

  HALF AN HOUR LATER, dinner was on the table. Hamburgers with pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, and tomato slices shared space on their plates with leafy green salad lightly tossed with vinaigrette. Hannah was the last to sit down, and she bit into her burger hungrily. “Your message light is blinking,” noted Kimberly with her mouth full.

  “Thanks,” responded Hannah. “I’ll check it later.”

  “What if it’s my mother?”

  “It can wait until we eat, Kimberly.” Hannah took another bite before the eager look on Kimberly’s face made her reconsider. Reluctantly she put down her burger and went to the answering machine. She pressed “messages”.

  “Hannah, it’s Eva. We’ll be there the weekend before Labour Day; Randy, Julia, and me. Can we stay with you? Mom’s place is too small, and Dad, well, you know. He likes his privacy, and I don’t want Randy to be alone with him for too long. The old twenty questions routine.”

  Bird slouched in her seat. The sound of her mother’s voice took away her appetite.

  Eva’s voice rattled on. “Can you be a dear, Hannah, and have a dinner party for us? Invite Mom and George, Dad and whoever he’s dating now? I know you won’t have a date; ha ha ha ha; you never do. Don’t get touchy, now. Call me back today, but not too late. I need my beauty sleep now more than ever! Bye-bye! Call me back.”

  Bird stared at her burger and willed herself to eat. So, her mother was really coming. Wonderful. At least she’d get to see her sister.

  “Eva never needed beauty sleep.” Stuart’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “She’s one good-looking gal.”

  Hannah nodded. “Mmm.”

  “And nice, too,” Stuart continued. “I’ve only met her a couple of times, but I remember how she makes everyone around her feel special.”

  Specially stupid, Bird thought.

  “Wow, does she ever talk a lot!” exclaimed Kimberly. “What’s with the baby voice? And who’s Eva, anyway?”

  “Eva’s my sister,” answered Hannah. “Bird’s mother.”

  “Bird’s mother? I didn’t know Bird had a mother. Why doesn’t Bird live with her, not you? Is it because she doesn’t talk? Her mother talks so much, no wonder Bird doesn’t say anything!”

  Kimberly didn’t see the plate coming. Smack in the face with all the fixings. She sat for a second in shock, onions and mustard dripping down the front of her shirt. Then she responded in kind, hurling her own plate at Bird. Bird ducked.

  The plate, loaded with Kimberly’s entire messy dinner, missed Bird’s head by inches and shattered on the wall behind her, a mere inch to the left of the window. Immediately, the kitchen became a war zone. Bird leaped at Kimberly and tackled her to the ground, knocking over two chairs and shoving the table aside on the way.

  Kimberly fought back, screaming indignantly. “Get off me, you savage! Hannah! Get her off me! Now!” The girls scrambled and wrestled each other with all their might.

  After a moment of shock, Hannah and Stuart sprang into action as well. With a great deal of effort, Hannah was able to grab Bird by the arms while Stuart successfully contained Kimberly. Each pair retreated to a separate corner of the kitchen. All were panting with exertion and covered in condiments.

  Bird struggled against Hannah’s grip, a low growl coming from deep in her throat. She stared hard at the red-headed girl across the room. Do you see me now? Can you tell that I’m here?

  Kimberly’s eyes were wide with surprise as she returned Bird’s look.

  Hannah and Stuart assessed the damage, not letting either girl go. Aside from the broken dishes and splattered food, the only injury was a scrape under Kimberly’s right eye where Bird had scratched her in the tussle.

  “What a mess. I’ll take Bird, Stuart. Can you manage Kimberly?”

  Stuart nodded, raising an eyebrow. “No fatalities. I think we’re okay.”

  “The medicine chest is above the microwave. You might want to disinfect that scratch. Human nails and al
l that.”

  Hannah took Bird to the washroom where she sponged off as much of the dinner as she could. “These are guests, Bird!” she exclaimed, rubbing at the stain on the front of her own shirt. “You don’t throw food at guests! You don’t throw food at all!”

  Bird set her face in a stubborn grimace. And guests should be polite to their hosts, she thought. What did Hannah expect her to do? Let Kimberly insult her? She just didn’t get it.

  “What will Mr. Gilmore think? He’s the principal of the school for heaven’s sake! What do you think your chances are now?”

  Bird wearily appraised her aunt. She didn’t get this, either. Bird didn’t care about her chances. Right now, she didn’t care about anything.

  By the time they returned to the kitchen, Stuart had righted the table and chairs, and wiped the floor. Kimberly’s tiny wound had been bathed with antiseptic soap, sprayed with Solarcaine, and bandaged at Kimberly’s request. Kimberly sat in a sulking heap.

  Hannah took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Okay, girls, let’s start again. Who’d like a new burger?”

  “I want to go home.”

  “Kimberly, your mom’ll be here by nine thirty. We’ve got a little time, so you might as well make the best of it. Have something to eat.”

  “Forget it!” She glared across the table at Bird. “She’s a maniac!”

  I can be a maniac, sure, thought Bird.

  Once again, Bird growled from deep in her throat, and Kimberly sprang out of her chair. “She’s scaring me! On purpose! What is she? An animal?”

  We’re all animals, reasoned Bird.

  Stuart quietly intervened. “You insulted her mother, Kimberly. Maybe you should apologize.”

  “I don’t apologize to animals!”

  “Apologize, please.” Stuart’s tone was kind but firm.

  “If she apologizes first.” Kimberly stuck out her jaw.

  Bird slowly touched her face with her index finger, on the place where she’d scratched Kimberly. Then she lowered her head and placed her hand over her heart, watching Kimberly closely all the while. I can be nice. Can you?

  “Bird has apologized,” Hannah said, amazed. “And very nicely, too. Well done, honey. Now it’s your turn, Kimberly.”