For The Love of Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center)

by Diana Vincent

  “Oh,” Sierra said, thinking back to the approach.

  “You’ve been riding horses that have been able to adjust their own strides or were willing to take off from a short stride, but Felicity is too inexperienced for that. If you had slowed her down just a bit, she could have taken a full stride. Don’t worry; we’ll practice your timing at home. I think you two are starting to get along much better.”

  At least Sierra no longer worried that Tess would take Felicity away from her, and they actually placed fifth in junior novice. River placed first again on Meridian even though it was the horse’s first time at preliminary level. Katrina had two refusals at the same jump cross country and didn’t place. Candace placed fifth in beginner novice. The only other Pegasus team rider who placed, was Kate who came in fourth at adult preliminary. Again, neither the junior or adult Pegasus teams finished in the top team placings.

  Dean bullied Cory through the stadium and cross country courses clean. But bullying worked against him in dressage, and his score added penalty points so that he only placed fourth in young rider preliminary.

  *****

  Sunday morning after all the horses had been turned out and Sierra had just started mucking her first stall, River came up and with a tilt of his head, beckoned her away out of hearing distance of Enrique working in the stall next to her.

  “Laila called,” he said in an ominous tone. “Cory’s entered. The lunch break is at twelve-thirty.”

  “Okay…great; this is perfect, River,” she said, noting the time on her watch. “It’s just after nine. We carry on with our usual routine. You can probably finish your first two rides; I’ll be done with stalls and I’ll have Fiel and Fala saddled and ready. We head out for the trails together about quarter past eleven. That should give you plenty of time to get back to the trailer and to the show grounds right around twelve,” she said, nervously reiterating the steps of their plan. “You should call Ben now and let him know you’re bringing the horse out to him this afternoon.”

  “Right.” River pulled out his phone and made the call as he walked away to bring in his first assigned horse and Sierra returned to stall cleaning.

  “You work like fire today,” Enrique said laughing, when they finished mucking all the stalls in record time.

  She laughed also, realizing her nervous excitement had fueled her energy. She just hoped he didn’t suspect anything.

  Apparently he didn’t, for he waved cheerily goodbye, and finished with his work for the day, left the stable.

  Candace had arrived to check on Moonshadow after yesterday’s event, and was grooming her in the crossties when Sierra brought in Fiel. They chatted about yesterday’s show while brushing their horses. Candace finished with Shadow, and saying goodbye, led her away to return to her paddock.

  Perfect, Sierra thought to herself. She’s seen River riding Penny in the arena, so she’s a witness that he’s here today. She finished tacking up Fiel, and left him to go bring in Fala who had been assigned to River to trail ride. All the horses that competed in yesterday’s event had the day off today, so she and River had light riding assignments. They would not be neglecting their work while River was gone.

  “Did Candace see you?” Sierra asked when she met River leading in Pendragon.

  “Yeah, we passed each other.”

  “Good; did you hook up the trailer?”

  “I will on my way back from turning out Penny,” River answered.

  Sierra brought in Fala and by the time River finished with Pendragon and turned him back out, she had both horses ready. It was ten after eleven. They led the horses toward the lane, just as another boarder pulled in and parked. They waved at each other, and then she and River proceeded down to the mounting block at the lower field. Great, another witness!

  They rode the horses onto the trail and then took the first cut-off that led back along the lower pastures of Pegasus. There they dismounted, and Sierra took charge of the horses as River sprinted away. She untacked Fala and turned her out into an empty pasture. She would ride Fiel first, and then switch horses; turning Fiel out while she rode Fala. That way, at least both horses would still get in their scheduled rides.

  *****

  River sprinted back up the hill to where the truck and trailer waited. He was careful to look around, just in case someone might be behind the stable, but as usual, that area was clear of people. Only Manuel and Enrique routinely came behind the stable to get to equipment, and never on weekends. The only other risk was if someone happened to come around at that particular time for their horse trailer. But as he approached the area, no one was there – all clear.

  They had everything ready - hay and a few oats in the feed trough, and the shipping boots in the storage compartment. He quickly pulled on the stowed unisex coveralls and the baseball cap. As Sierra had advised him, he stuffed his hair up inside the cap and pulled the brim as low as he could to shade his face. It should make him as unnoticeable and unrecognizable as possible; just another busy groom. He looked quickly around, satisfied no one had seen him, and eased the truck down the dirt road that ran behind Manuel’s mobile home, and out onto the highway.

  As he came in sight of the turn-off to the show grounds, he pulled out his phone and called Laila. “I’m just pulling into the trailer parking area now,” he told her.

  “Good timing; Caroline just finished riding your horse and the groom is brushing him down right now. River, I think things are going to work out perfectly. Caroline’s mother isn’t riding today and Caroline has her other horse here. There is only one groom and he has to take care of both horses. I’ve checked the class postings, and she’s riding her other horse in the next class, the last class before lunch. The groom already has the horse saddled, and he should be taking him up for Caroline to ride, I would guess as soon as he has Corazón in his stall. He will wait for Caroline to ride her warm-up and then in her class before he brings the horse back. You should have at least twenty minutes and maybe even thirty minutes to get your horse. Oh, get ready; he just put your horse in the stall.”

  “I’m parked now; I’ll be on my way in a sec,” River said.

  “Hold on…okay, he’s putting a bridle on the other horse. That’s it, he’s leading him away. I’ll stand at the end of the third row of stalls to warn you if he comes back. Your horse is in the fifth stall on the left side.”

  They disconnected and River quickly exited the truck. Before heading over to the stalls, he undid the trailer latches and lowered the ramp so all he would have to do was walk Cory in. Then, as much as he wanted to jog over, he made himself walk at a normal pace to find Laila.

  Laila stood just where she had told him, and he laughed softly to himself at the sight of her. Wish I could get a picture. Laila wore blue jean overalls that slightly protruded around her pregnant belly, a plaid shirt, and a very wide-brimmed sun hat. Nope, anyone who might have recognized her as the gothic girl from their high school would certainly not recognize this girl. Laila gave him a slight nod when she saw him, and then strolled down the row of stalls. He followed.

  The people around were all busily engaged in the usual focused activities of a competition; some were grooming and tacking up horses in the stalls, others led horses down the rows, and one girl carefully carried a full water bucket so as not to slosh its contents. No one paid any attention to River as he walked up to the fifth stall carrying a halter, looking like everyone else intent on his business. Before he reached the stall, Corazón emitted a loud neigh.

  River’s heart flipped at the sound and then pounded in his chest as shivers ran down his spine. I’m coming, Cory. He couldn’t help but step up his pace. In the next minute, he reached the stall door, where he could see Cory’s head high, peering through the grate.

  “Hey there,” River murmured, as he undid the latch.

  Cory answered him with a low rumble, deep within his chest.

  River slipped on the halter and led Cory out of the stall. He pushed the stall door closed jus
t enough for the width of a horse and leaving it unlatched. Maybe the groom would think that somehow the latch had come loose and Cory had just walked away. Then he led his horse past the row of stalls, keeping his head low but looking sideways to see if anyone was paying attention to them. He didn’t think so.

  He reached the end of the stalls and turned the corner, now with only a short stretch before the parking area. Suddenly a voice behind him called out, “Hey!”

  Ice crept up his spine. Caught! He kept on walking.

  “Hey,” the person called a second time. “I saw your horse in the last class. He’s magnificent. What breed is he?”

  At the seemingly innocent question, River slowed, sucked in a deep breath and looked over his shoulder at the speaker. A young woman carrying several bridles, waved at him, smiling in appreciation.

  “Uh, Trakehner and thoroughbred,” River said, making up a feasible breed combination.

  “Nice; he sure can handle big jumps.”

  “Thanks,” River said.

  The woman waved and moved on her way.

  With another deep breath, this time in relief, he led Cory on.

  The stretch of parking lot seemed endless, but still no one was about, and finally he reached the trailer. Corazón huffed out at the unfamiliar conveyance.

  “Easy does it,” River soothed. As much as he wanted to hurry Cory into the trailer, he made himself swallow his nervousness and impatience and remain relaxed and give Cory the impression they had all the time in the world. He led his horse up to the ramp. Cory hesitated, snorting suspiciously. River coaxed him forward to at least sniff at the ramp. When Cory stepped back, River led him around the trailer slowly, allowing him to sniff and snort and hopefully respond to River’s forced calmness.

  The next time around he led Cory purposefully up to the ramp, and without looking back, stepped up confidently into the trailer, hoping to give his horse the impression that ‘of course you’ll follow me’. And fortunately, Cory did, with a few snorts, but followed close on River’s heels up to the front of the trailer and immediately began to snatch mouthfuls of hay.

  “That’s a good boy,” River praised him. Again, as much as he wanted to rush out to the truck and drive away, he forced himself to spend a few quiet moments, stroking Corazón’s neck, assuring the black that all was well. Then he eased himself out through the front hatch, gathered up the shipping boots, and then quietly stepped back in to put them on all four legs. “Ready to go home?” he whispered against his horse’s neck. It pleased him that Corazón continued to eat the hay; for in his experience, an upset, worried horse in a trailer would not eat. He exited again through the front hatch, closed up the ramp, and secured all the latches.

  As River moved the trailer out of the parking area and onto the drive that led to the highway, Corazón emitted a piercing neigh, as if saying, ‘let’s get out of here!’. When he reached the highway, River allowed a smile to turn up the corners of his mouth.

  “I have Cory in the trailer and just pulled onto the highway,” he said, calling Laila first.

  “Great! The groom is still waiting for Caroline. There are two horses before she even goes in the ring. You’ve probably got at least fifteen minutes or more before the groom brings the horse back.”

  “Keep me posted,” River said and thanked her again before disconnecting. Then he called Sierra to tell her the news.

  “Awesome!” she spoke excitedly. “I’m still riding Fiel. You haven’t even been gone an hour yet.”

  “I’ll let you know when I get to Ben’s.”

  Thirty minutes down the road, Laila called. “The groom discovered Corazón gone a few minutes ago,” she said. “He’s asking everyone around if they saw anything. I’m not sure, but it seems like nobody noticed you for he’s getting a lot of shaking heads and moving on to other people. I’ll bet he’ll go up and down the rows before he even tells Caroline.” Laila laughed. “He looks like he’s facing the end of the world, poor guy.”

  “Thanks, Laila,”

  “Over and out,” she replied in a mock military tone.

  The phone remained silent the rest of the journey. River had a map with directions to Ben’s ranch that Sierra had printed from the computer. Another five miles along, he saw the freeway exit he needed to take. Another stretch of highway, then a turn onto a back road and coming up on his right he thought he saw the sign he was looking for.

  “Gotta be it,” he said out loud, decelerating way before the turn. When he was close enough to read the sign posted at the driveway, Sandstorm Ranch, he breathed out in relief. He signaled and turned onto the drive, reading the smaller letters on the sign as he passed, Home of Stormin’ Sandy quarter horses. He recognized the name of Stormin’ Sandy as Ben’s foundation stud. He remembered him bragging about his quarter horse to João.

  River drove into the ranch yard and noted a row of log-railed corrals partly covered by a loafing shed, several outbuildings, and a large barn. A few horses were in the corrals, and beyond was a pasture where cattle and horses grazed companionably together. A large outdoor arena with sand footing and steer chutes at one end was flanked by a round pen. Cory emitted a loud call, announcing his arrival to the resident horses looking up in curiosity, smelling a newcomer.

  River parked and got out, looking around as Ben stepped out from behind the barn. He raised a hand in greeting, and they merged together at the back of the trailer.

  “You okay?” Ben asked as he helped River open latches and lower the ramp. He thought the boy looked a bit stressed.

  “Uh, yeah,” River answered.

  With the ramp down and the horse sensing an opening to the outside, he backed up against the barrier and then feeling trapped, began to paw and weave, unable to stand still.

  “He never used to act like this in a trailer,” River mumbled as he stepped up the ramp.

  Again, Corazón whickered softly, and thrust his nose toward River as he came up to his head. With the boy’s presence, he quieted his nervous movements, and stood patiently as River undid the trailer tie and then coaxed him a step forward to take his weight off the back barrier so Ben could release it. Then River cautiously backed his horse down the ramp, his stomach knotting in apprehension as he knew Ben would recognize the horse and have questions.

  Ben stepped back to look on, impressed with the boy’s quiet, patient handling of the stressed animal. Then his brow furrowed as he recognized Corazón. “This is your horse,” he stated.

  River knew it would bother him to deceive Ben, but he had no idea how much. Guilt flooded in and his face reddened. He nodded, keeping his face hidden toward his horse.

  “What’s going on, River?” Ben asked in a solemn tone. He stepped slowly up to the wary horse, approaching his shoulder first, and stood quietly, waiting.

  Stumbling over his words, River told him all; only leaving out Sierra’s involvement and also not mentioning Laila by name.

  “You could have told me the truth, Son. I probably still would have agreed to take him in, or at least helped you find a place. I wouldn’t have turned my back on the problem. But now you’ve made me an accomplice to a crime without my consent.”

  River nodded, still unable to meet Ben’s eyes, but kept his face turned to Cory’s neck. “Do you want me to take him away?” he asked in a choked voice.

  “Where would you take him?”

  He shook his head; he did not know.

  With a deep sigh, and shaking his head in disappointment, Ben nevertheless set a reassuring hand on River’s shoulder. It startled him when River flinched, but then he remembered what João had told him about River’s relationship with his father. “Follow me,” he said. “We’ll put him in a corral next to an old, quiet gelding.”

  River followed him to the corral and led Cory in. He removed the halter and the trailer boots, and then spent a few last moments stroking his silky neck and murmuring words of affection. It might be the last time I ever see you. Then he turned back to where Ben waited at t
he gate. “I’m sorry,” he offered his apology in a low voice, still with bowed head, unable to meet Ben’s eyes.

  “River, don’t you think you can trust me?”

  “I trust you,” River mumbled after hesitating. “I trust you with my horse.”

  “But not enough to tell me the truth.”

  “What do you want me to do?” River finally looked up to meet Ben’s eyes, and shame washed over him at the disappointment he read there.

  “Try trusting me.”

  “I will…I mean, I do…I was just afraid you would say no…I just…I was afraid.”

  Ben nodded. “Well, he’s here now and I’ll look after him. But, we can’t have you going around stealing abused horses. I think you need to find a good lawyer or someone who can help you get legal ownership of him.”

  “Do you know anyone?”

  “I’ll ask some friends and I’ll think on it.” He shook his head and laughed. “You know, in some states, stealing horses is still a hanging offense.” His last statement lightened the heavy air between them and the corners of River’s mouth turned up in a weak smile.

  Leading the way back to the parking area, Ben asked another question. “How involved in this is your girl?”

  It pleased River to hear Ben refer to Sierra as ‘his girl’; at the same time more shame filled him at the thought of how much he had allowed Sierra to aid his crime. But he had enough of lying to Ben, so he admitted, “She knows what I’m doing.”

  ‘Well, I suggest you try to keep her uninvolved.”

  River didn’t need that warning, for it echoed his own feelings on the matter.

  Ben helped River close up the horse trailer, and watched as River drove away. It was hard for him to really disapprove of River’s actions. There had been horses he had known in the past suffering at the hands of abusive owners. Maybe he should have found the courage to rescue them by stealing. He laughed to himself; yep, last of the big time horse rustlers.

  When River pulled back onto the highway, he called Sierra to let her know he was on his way back to Pegasus.