For The Love of Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center)

by Diana Vincent

  Keeping his head down to hide his face, River gave in and sat in the chair. “I’m not sick either,” he mumbled.

  “Eat,” Tess ordered again.

  “Um, I better get home,” Sierra said, once River took a bite of soup. He sat hunched over the bowl with his elbows on the table and hands by his face, still hiding. With Tess to look after him, Sierra felt she could leave him now, and she longed for the comfort of her own mother.

  “Thank you for everything,” Tess said from where she stood leaning against the counter with arms folded, determined to make River eat every bite of the soup.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, River,” Sierra offered up tentatively. Even though he had finally held onto her while they were in the old stall, he still hadn’t said anything to her.

  She turned to go and when River said nothing, the shards of her already shattered heart, fractured into a few more painful pieces.

  But just as she turned the handle of the door, he said, “Sierra…”

  She turned back with her face already beginning to crumple again.

  “Thank you,” he said, looking across his arm, still hiding most of his face. “…for staying with me, and…everything.”

  She smiled and then walked out the door.

  *****

  Chapter 14 A New Season

  There is a difference between being a leader and being a boss. Both are based on authority. A boss demands blind obedience; a leader earns his authority through understanding and trust. – Klaus Balkenhol

  *****

  Saturday morning, when Sierra arrived at the stable she noticed River’s truck gone. On weekends, it was she and River who fed, allowing Enrique a chance to sleep in and Manuel a day off. She fed all the horses their hay by herself, and then tried to call River on his phone, but only got his voice mail. She finished up feeding the grain and supplements and then started morning chores in a despondent mood.

  “Reever no ‘ere?” Enrique asked when he arrived to help turn out horses.

  “No, he didn’t say anything to you or Manuel?” Sierra answered.

  “No,” he shrugged. They led horses out for the day, all except Oberon. “I go for Manuel,” Enrique said, indicating with his head the big bay, the only one left in his stall.

  “Okay,” Sierra agreed, and left to gather her tools to start mucking out stalls.

  With chores completed, Sierra went into the lounge to grab a snack before starting her assigned rides. She had tried River’s phone several more times, leaving both voice and text messages. But when she found his phone on the table in the lounge, irritation and anger began to seep into the edges of her worry. How irresponsible and thoughtless. Didn’t he care that she would worry about him? Did he think he was the only one upset about Corazón? She decided to call Tess.

  “I’m not surprised,” Tess said. “Running away has always been his way to deal with his problems. But he is eighteen so I guess I can’t call it running away anymore.” Sierra heard her take in a deep breath and after several long moments she continued in a voice tight with annoyance, “There’s nothing we can do. I doubt he’ll be back today, so…” she paused as if thinking. “I’ll come out to ride his assignments.” That really surprised Sierra, but she disconnected and then trudged back to the stable to begin her own assigned rides, her appetite displaced with an increasing heavy lump of worry mixed with ire. How can he just go off and neglect the horses?

  Never had Sierra spent such an unpleasant day, even though she was around horses. She didn’t like having to be the one to explain to the boarders what was going on (since Tess’s own mood discouraged anyone from approaching her), or making excuses for River when Katrina came out for their usual Saturday lesson together. It would have been far easier to focus all here attention on the horses assigned to her to ride today, and try at least for awhile, to not think about Corazón.

  That evening, Manuel, who could manage to halter and bring Oberon out of his stall each morning, was unable to approach the defiant gelding to bring him in for the night. He was unwilling to chase him around the paddock and was quite relieved when Tess said, “leave him.”

  “I’m not willing to risk anyone getting hurt with that animal,” Tess said, noticing Sierra’s expression, “including you. Do not try to bring that horse in. He’s got a thick winter coat and it’s not supposed to rain or freeze tonight. He’ll survive.”

  “Do we feed him in the paddock?” Sierra asked.

  “Yes, although I think he might be more willing to cooperate if he has to go hungry. But that’s River’s problem.”

  Sunday morning it was Tess who called to see if River had returned.

  “No sign of him,” Sierra told her boss mournfully. Again Tess came out to take over River’s assignments.

  Sunday evening, as they were bringing in horses, Sierra had just stepped out of the stable when River drove into the yard and parked. She stood in front of the doorway and waited. River got out with Storm at his heels, and with bowed head and slumped shoulders walked over to her.

  “Sierra…”

  She strode forward to meet him and grabbed his shoulders. “Look at me,” she demanded in a stern voice.

  Surprised by her angry tone, River obeyed, meeting her eyes with his own still red from either crying or lack of sleep or both, and deeply shadowed.

  “It’s bad enough I’m worried sick about Cory and then you go and disappear. River, do you have any idea what you have put me through? Put all of us through?” She wanted to shake him by the shoulders or beat her fists against his chest; but instead, she brought her arms up around his shoulders, leaned in to bury her cheek against his chest, and hugged him as tight as she could.

  “I’m so, so sorry,” he whispered as he brought his arms around her and hugged back, equally as tight.

  “Sorry is not good enough!” she said, struggling to keep from crying. “You can’t just go off and leave the horses. Oberon had to stay out all night. You can’t just go off and leave me!”

  “No…I can’t…you’re right…I am so sorry,” he repeated. He could feel her shoulders quivering as she struggled not to cry.

  Tess stepped out of the office. River looked over Sierra’s head and she felt his muscles tense as he met the eyes of his boss.

  “Where did you go?” Tess demanded.

  “Just away,” River replied sullenly, dropping his arms from Sierra, “…to think.”

  “Just away,” Tess snapped back acidly. “River, when are you going to grow up? It is unacceptable to leave without telling anyone. It is not okay to think everyone else will take over your chores.”

  “Okay.” He backed away from her defensively.

  “River, it’s just a horse!” Tess shouted, throwing up her arms in exasperation.

  Both River and Sierra gaped in astonishment at her last words.

  Tess closed her eyes, breathing in deep breaths to control her explosive emotions. “Okay, I didn’t mean it like that sounded,” she apologized in a softer tone. “I know how much the horse means to you. But I don’t think he’s suffering. That horrible woman was taking him to his new home, and the new owner has got to value him, considering the amount of money they paid.”

  “It doesn’t always come down to money,” River retorted. They glared at each other wordlessly as the heavy seconds ticked by. Then River spat out, “If you want to fire me…then fire me!”

  “Is that what you want?” Tess strode determinedly up to him and jabbed a finger toward his face. “Because if that is what you want, I will fire you. Don’t think you’re irreplaceable.”

  River ducked his head and allowed his tense posture to slump. “No…I’m sorry.”

  Tess stepped back, frowning at his defeated appearance. “Go bring your horse in, because nobody else can get near him,” she ordered, and spun away.

  *****

  In spite of a general atmosphere of low spirits, everyone fell back into the usual routine at Pegasus, including River. A week after Corazón left, Tess
called Sierra and River into her office to discuss the upcoming combined training clinic that she put on every year the first weekend of March; and to discuss the show season.

  “Jane Fayette has found another prospect, since Moose is gone. “He’s a two-year-old thoroughbred gelding and comes from some of the same bloodlines as Moose.”

  “A race horse?” River asked, frowning.

  “She says this one never made it to the track; never showed enough speed, so she got him at a bargain price.”

  “What is it with her and thoroughbreds?”

  “River…” Tess’s face contorted into an annoyed frown.

  He threw up his hands defensively. “I’m just asking.”

  “Jane says all they’ve done with him is introduce a saddle and bridle and just enough backing so they could try him out on a track a few times to test his speed. You will essentially get to start his training. He should arrive this weekend.”

  He nodded his acceptance. It actually appealed to him to work with an unspoiled baby. Maybe it would help take his mind off Cory, and balance out his frustration with Oberon.

  “Okay…the clinic,” Tess said, changing the subject. “Sierra, I’ll have you ride Felicity and see how you get along with her on an outside course. I’m thinking you could start out with her at the upcoming schooling show at novice level.”

  “Sure,” Sierra readily agreed.

  “Good. River, I would like you to ride Felicity first for the demonstration ride.”

  “Do I have to ride in the clinic?” he complained. “Can’t Sierra do the demo ride?”

  “No, you ride the demo ride and then Sierra can ride her for the rest of the clinic,” Tess insisted. When he didn’t answer, she continued in an exasperated tone, “You are my apprentice. You need exposure to the public, and I have always had many complements at the clinic about your rides. It’s good for your reputation.”

  Under his breath, River said something very derogatory about his reputation. Sierra did her best to hold back her amused smile.

  “In fact,” Tess continued, glaring at him, “I have had a few other students comment on the fact you are teaching Del. I have a proposal for you.” She waited until River looked up to meet her eyes.

  “What?” he asked, looking at her suspiciously.

  “I would like you to pick up some of the flat lessons. Eventually, I would like you to primarily teach all the flat work and I will teach jumping.”

  “No,” he groaned, “why would I want to do that?”

  With a deep breath and then speaking as if to a dense child, she explained, “You have one more year of school. Even if you go on to college, eventually you are going to have to work for a living. You might get by just as a horse trainer, but combining a career with training and giving lessons will be much more lucrative.” She held up her hand as River started to protest. “I know you don’t think you care about money, but horses are expensive. If you want to take care of your own horses properly, you will not turn up your nose at money-making opportunities.”

  “I think it’s a great idea!” Sierra piped in enthusiastically, and made a face back at River when he glared at her. “River,” she defended herself. “Think about the benefit to a horse if you teach its rider correctly.” Then she blushed and ducked her head, realizing the implied insult to Tess’s style of teaching.

  Tess chose not to take offense, but raised her brow expectantly at River.

  “Who do you want me to teach?” he asked, feeling defeated with both Sierra and Tess on the same side.

  “Candace, the lady who owns Shadow (Moonshadow was an eight-year-old gray warmblood mare boarded at Pegasus). Her lessons are on Mondays and Wednesdays. She asked if you were giving lessons now,” Tess answered. “Also, Kate Ramsey; she trailers her horse in, that big Dutch Warmblood, on Tuesdays and Fridays. You could start teaching her flat lesson on Tuesdays.”

  “I’ve met Kate,” Sierra piped in again. “She’s really nice. So is Candace.”

  Again, River glared at his girlfriend, feeling betrayed.

  “You should just try them out,” Sierra encouraged, not put off by his glares. “You know you like teaching Del.”

  With a deep sigh as if asked to carry a heavy burden, he agreed.

  “Good, I’ve talked to both of them and I’ll let them know you’ll instruct their next lesson. Now, for this upcoming schooling show,” Tess switched subjects again. “Candace is ready to start showing, so she is entered in the maiden adult beginner novice class. As I said, Sierra can ride Felicity novice level. I would like you to take over supervising Candace and Sierra at the show…just listen,” she insisted, noticing his look of alarm. “This is all part of your apprenticeship. It means coaching them in their dressage warm-up and walking the cross country and stadium jumping courses with them. I’ll be there to back you up.”

  “Okay,” he said in resignation.

  Tess then pulled out the competition schedule for the season and gave a copy to each of them with the events she planned for Pegasus highlighted. Other than the first schooling show, all were rated competitions; combined training events and some dressage shows. They talked about which horses and riders were competing and then Tess briefly outlined the conditioning program for each horse. She kept a three-ring binder with a section for each horse in training. The first page consisted of each horse’s conditioning schedule, and then pages to record the actual work done with lines to make any appropriate notes. Tess would post a weekly schedule in the tack room with the horses assigned to Sierra and River.

  The meeting ended when there were no further questions, and Sierra and River left the office.

  “Thanks a lot for your support in there,” River said in a sarcastic tone but with a smile to soften the remark.

  “I meant what I said,” Sierra said defensively, but also laughing at his playful punch at her shoulder. “It’s for the horses’ sake. You should be happy to teach.”

  “Right, my dream job,” he replied in the same sarcastic tone.

  “I think it’s a great plan. Tess is really good at teaching jumping. I have to admit, I learned a lot from my jumping lessons with her. If it hadn’t been for that rapping experience…” She didn’t finish for they both knew what she was talking about; an incident that had occurred a few years ago when Tess used the cruel technique in one of Sierra’s lessons. “If she teaches the jumping and you teach dressage, I think Pegasus will turn out some really decent riders.”

  “Sounds like it’s a done deal anyway,” River said in resignation. “I really don’t know either of those ladies, but if they have an attitude like Del, then I guess it will be okay.”

  *****

  It was quite a surprise when Jane Fayette arrived at the stable along with her new two-year-old prospect. River and Sierra had only met her once; when he was in the hospital last summer and she actually visited him to wish him well. She never came to any of Moose’s events, but Tess had told them she always bought the videos from the photographers who frequented the shows, and usually had arranged ahead of time for them to videotape all of Moose’s rides. Then she watched her horse’s performance from the comfort of her own home on a big screen.

  “I think she’s allergic to horses,” Tess had explained, “or else to grass or hay or maybe to just being outside.” She had rolled her eyes at that.

  No one could figure out why she was here today, but she stood to the side of the trailer as the groom unloaded the thoroughbred gelding, a dark gray that would probably lighten in color as he aged. Then they heard a high pitched whinny coming from inside the trailer.

  “That’s a yearling filly, also a thoroughbred,” Jane announced. “The stable where I bought Prospector,” she indicated the gray, “is culling their stock, and they were eager to sell me this other one for practically nothing.”

  River took the lead of Prospector so the groom could step back into the trailer, and moments later, backed out a young bay filly, who whickered again her high-pitched baby voic
e as she looked around with large, frightened eyes.

  “River,” Jane turned to him. “I heard about the loss of your horse, and I feel really sad about that. I bought this filly to give to you. I know it doesn’t replace your wonderful horse, but maybe it can help just a little bit.”

  River stared at her, his eyes opening wide and his mouth parted in amazement. He didn’t know what to say.

  “That is extremely kind of you,” Tess said, coming to his rescue.

  “Uh, yeah, thanks,” River at last managed to speak.

  “I know nothing about her particular bloodlines, but I figure she might be fun for you to work with, and if she doesn’t amount to anything you can always sell her.”

  “I think she’s adorable,” Sierra cried out, fascinated with the yearling filly. She stepped cautiously up to the baby and when the bay dropped her nose, Sierra approached to stroke her neck.

  “She has very good manners for a baby,” the groom said, handing Sierra the lead.

  “Her name is Ysbryd,” Jane informed them. “I was told it is a Welsh name that means spirit.”

  Tess had taken the lead of Prospector from River so that he could go meet his new horse. River approached her quietly and extended his fingers to touch her soft muzzle before stroking her neck and looking her over. When he sensed the filly quieting her tense muscles, he took a moment to look deep in her eye. He saw ebbing fear, but also kindness and a big heart. “Ysbryd,” he whispered to her.

  When they were ready to settle the two new youngsters into paddocks, River turned back to Jane, and smiled. “Thank you, I like her.”

  *****

  The best way to deal with missing Corazón, River figured out, was to stay so busy - keeping his mind occupied with the horses in training, giving two additional lessons a week, and then homework after supper - that he fell into bed exhausted. It really helped having two babies to work with that took so much time and patience. Even so, he found himself often waking in the middle of the night, and then all he could think about was Cory.