Crown Prince (19 page)

“It's your decision to make,” Mrs. DeWitt said. “No one will be critical, no matter what you decide. But you should be aware of all the facts. Then you and your parents can decide what's best.”

“Mrs. DeWitt, how can I ever thank you and Mr. DeWitt for all you've done for me?”

Mrs. DeWitt stood up. “Don't worry about that, dear. I'm going to the carriage shed now to tack up Medina, but Jack wants to see you. He has some thoughts on what you should be doing with Crown Prince today. He's schooling Hedgerow in the outside ring.”

Sarah sat for a few minutes trying to collect her thoughts before getting up from the bench. As she started across the courtyard to find Jack, she saw Kayla in the parking area climbing out of her mother's pickup. Kayla hurried over to her. She looked worried. “What's up, kid?” she said.

“Do you remember me telling you about Hank Bolton, the man who used to own Crown Prince?” When Kayla nodded, Sarah continued. “Well, he knows about the wolf tooth, and now he wants Prince back. He's offering tons of money to pay for my college if I'll give him back.”

“You've got to be kidding!” Kayla exclaimed. “So what did your parents say?”

“They don't know yet. But there's no way I can't tell them. This guy will call them himself to make the deal, I just know it.”

A car horn sounded behind them. Rita Snyder was driving toward them in her racy green Mustang convertible. The top of the fast-moving car was down, and Rita's long black hair was whipping behind her. Even from a distance, the sound of her blaring music seemed to invade the farm.

“She's driving kind of fast,” Kayla observed.

“What else is new,” Sarah replied. The car slowed as it neared them and came to a stop beside the barn.

Rita reached to turn the radio volume down. “How's your new horse?” Rita asked Sarah. “Have you gotten on him yet?”

Sarah hesitated. She really didn't want to deal with Rita right now, but there was no way out. She took a deep breath before answering.

“Jack hasn't mentioned riding Prince yet. He was vetted out yesterday.”

“How did that go?” Rita asked.

“The vet found a huge wolf tooth. He's going to the hospital tomorrow to have it pulled.”

“Really?” Rita exclaimed as she tossed her hair back, showing her large hoop earrings. “I want to hear more about this. I'm going to park my car, but I'll be back in a minute.”

Sarah and Kayla walked toward the outside ring, where Jack had Hedgerow trotting a figure eight pattern, asking the horse to stay on the bit and adjust his bend as they frequently changed direction. When Jack saw them, he brought Hedgerow to a walk and then halted by the rail.

“Good morning, girls,” he said. “Sarah, you can turn Crown Prince out again this morning. 'Tis likely he won't be as full of himself as he was yesterday. I asked Gus to leave Quarry in his stall until later so your horse could have twenty minutes or so in the small paddock, where the grass isn't very tall. After lunch I want to introduce him to the longe line. Sound like a plan?”

“Cool!” she said, the excitement she felt helping to push her worries aside for the moment. Prince's training was about to begin, regardless of Hank Bolton's interference.

“I'll be at his stall at two o'clock.” With that Jack turned Hedgerow and resumed trotting. The girls stayed to watch him and the beautiful horse he was riding. In a few minutes Rita joined them.

“Hedgerow has put on weight since he came here, don't you think?” Kayla asked.

Yeah,” Sarah agreed. “He was a little ribby at first. They don't stay that way long at Brookmeade.”

Rita looked closely at the horse. “They're always pretty skinny coming from the racetrack. My Dad wouldn't have a horse that thin in our barn,” she said matter-of-factly.

Sarah ignored the comment. She had learned that it was better not to respond to much of what Rita had to say. “I need to turn Prince out. Want to come?” she asked.

The three girls turned from the rail and walked across the closely mowed lawn toward the barn. “By any chance is Tim here today?” Rita asked casually. Kayla gave Sarah a knowing look, as she tried to hide her smile.

Sarah thought a moment. “I think he rode this morning,” she said. “He and Paige usually hack early before it gets hot.”

Kayla couldn't hold it back, and a snicker escaped even as she covered her mouth. Rita looked at her with blazing eyes, her dark brows pinched together. ‘Excuse me?” she said. “What's so funny? I've got a bit he wants to borrow for Rhodes, that's all.”

Managing to keep a straight face, Kayla said, “Maybe you could leave it with Sarah to pass on to Tim, or just leave it on Rhodes' stall door.”

Rita frowned. “I'm not taking the chance somebody might swipe it.” She turned to Sarah. “You're here every day. Would you give it to him when you see him?”

Sarah nodded her head. “Sure. No problem.”

Rita pulled a Dr. Bristol snaffle bit from her jacket's large side pocket and gave it to Sarah. “Just tell Tim I'm in no hurry to have it back.”

“What's going on with Chancellor?” Kayla asked Rita, changing the subject. “Do you have any shows lined up this summer?”

“My dad wants to start out with the Rally Round Farm unrecognized show in a few weeks, because it's close to home. After that, there's a hunter and dressage show at the State Fair. We'll be there a few days, and I'll go in a ton of classes.”

Sarah turned to Kayla. “Any chance you might show Fanny at the fair?”

“I don't think so,” Kayla replied. “It gets pretty expensive when you have to pay for stabling on the grounds, stay in a motel, and eat out a lot. I don't think my parents are ready for that.”

Rita broke in. “My dad says he might get one of those huge trailers that have living quarters included. That would be totally cool! Dad will have to get a new truck to pull it.” Sarah wished Rita would just shut up.

As an afterthought Rita said, “The van can hold four horses.” She turned to Kayla. “Maybe we could travel to a show together, and stay in the van.”

Kayla didn't answer, but Sarah could tell she found the invitation interesting.

“So what are
your
plans for showing, Kayla?” Rita asked.

“We're going to the Riverbend show this Sunday. It's for Quarter Horses only, but it's still pretty big.”

“What classes are you going in?” Rita asked.

“The Novice Hunter division, and this year I'll do both the flat and over-fences classes. This will be the first time I've ever jumped Fanny anywhere except here at Brookmeade, so I don't know what to expect.”

“Well,” Rita scoffed, “you'll be up against just Quarter Horses, so don't worry. You'll do great. I'll have all kinds of Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds in my classes, but I know Chance can beat them all. That's why my dad bought him.”

Rita was starting to really irritate Sarah. “You seem awfully sure of yourself,” Sarah said. “There will be some tough competition at the shows you go to.”

“I'm not worried,” Rita said confidently. As they approached the side door, she looked at her watch. “Listen, I've gotta go. It's later than I thought. I'm supposed to be at Atlantic Saddlery in fifteen minutes to be fitted for new custom boots. Can I give you a lift home, Kayla?”

“My mom's picking me up later. But thanks.”

Sarah and Kayla walked to Prince's stall, where he was nosing through his bedding for bits of hay. The girls both knew what the other was thinking. Finally, with no one else around, they could talk.

“I'd be freaking out if I were you,” Kayla said. “First everyone was afraid your horse might be dangerous. Then you were worried he might not pass the vet exam. Now Mr. Bolton wants to take him back, and he's offering you so much money your parents might make you give him up. When are you going to tell them?”

Sarah looked over at Prince, who was drinking from his water bucket. She turned back to Kayla. “As soon as I can,” she said, a lump forming in her throat. Tonight.”

JACK DIDN'T MENTION
Hank Bolton's visit to Brookmeade Farm when he arrived at Crown Prince's stall promptly at two o'clock. “This horse has been in limbo long enough,” he said. “‘Tis time he went to work.” Sarah and Kayla watched as he entered the stall with a longeing cavesson and a coiled longe line draped over his arm. Prince noticed the equipment and began backing away.

“‘Tis like a bitless bridle, Prince,” Jack said, moving with him and stroking his long neck. “You'll not be minding it.” He deftly slid the cavesson around the horse's nose and over his ears before Prince knew what was happening. In many ways it seemed like a bridle, something he'd come to hate, and he tossed his head in annoyance. But with no bit to bring jarring pain to his mouth, after a few minutes he quieted down. Jack buckled the straps and attached the longe line to the ring on the front of the noseband. “Let's go, son,” he said, leading Prince out of the stall and picking up the longe whip with its long lash.

Sarah and Kayla fell into step with Jack as they walked toward the outside ring on the opposite side of the barn from the indoor. The weather had cleared, and the gray clouds of earlier in the day had been replaced with sunshine. Prince's coat gleamed as he moved eagerly beside Jack. This was the first time he had been to this part of the farm, and he held his head high, looking around.

“‘Tis always an advantage to longe a horse before you ride him,” Jack explained. “‘Twill get rid of any pent-up energy, and he'll be forming the habit of listening to you.”

“How soon can he be bridled after the tooth is out?” Sarah asked.

“We'll see what Dr. Reynolds has to say about that. But in the meantime, much good can come from longeing. It will help him become better balanced while he learns to work with you.”

The two small riders Lindsay had been instructing on Pretty Penny and Snippet were just leaving the ring. “It's all yours,” Lindsay called out. Sarah waved a greeting to the DeWitts' granddaughter, Grace, riding Pretty Penny. Grace smiled back, and then with the heels of her laced paddock boots she prodded her pony to keep up with Snippet.

Sarah and Kayla found a good vantage point outside the white board fence to watch. Just as they got comfortable, a low rumble announced a vehicle's approach, and the girls turned to see the Romanos' pickup coming down the hill.

“I hope Mom isn't in a hurry,” Kayla said. “I want to watch this.”

A few minutes later, Mrs. Romano joined Sarah and Kayla by the rail. Wearing jeans and a straw hat, she was an athletic-looking woman in her forties with short hair a deeper auburn shade than her daughter's. Like Kayla, her face was splashed with freckles. Mrs. Romano seemed as interested as the girls in what was happening.

“I came at just the right time,” she said softly.

Jack brought Prince to the center of the ring, and after asking him to halt, began to slowly rub the longe whip over his body. “Why is he doing that?” Sarah whispered.

Kayla's mother leaned over to the girls and replied in a hushed tone, “Jack's making sure that Prince has no fear of the whip. He'll be using it to urge him forward and keep him out on the circle. Prince should respect it but not fear it.”

At first Prince tried to move away as Jack slowly rubbed the whip lightly against his hindquarters and sides. Jack moved with him, all the while talking reassuringly. When Prince seemed more relaxed, Jack led him forward. While pointing the whip at the horse's hip, Jack slowly uncoiled the longe line and moved away from him. Now with a gentle flip of the lash he asked the horse to continue walking around him, keeping his distance on the circle.

“Before I ask him to trot, 'tis important he learns to halt on command,” Jack called out to them. “It's a break you'll be needing.” Jack then distinctly said “halt,” as he gave a few soft tugs with the line and pointed the longe whip in front of the horse. Prince stopped and looked toward Jack, not quite sure what was being asked of him. Jack repeated it a few more times until Prince seemed to understand the voice commands.

Then Jack used a new word. “Trot!” he said crisply, as he gently flipped the lash toward the horse's hindquarters. As Jack clucked, Prince somewhat hesitatingly broke into trot and continued moving on a circle, gradually going forward more confidently.
He's so beautiful!
Sarah thought, watching her horse trot smartly around Jack. He moved with an air of nobility, his long strides floating above the ground. He was the horse of her dreams!

Mrs. Romano leaned toward Sarah and whispered, “Your horse seems pretty easy-going. He's gorgeous, and what a nice mover! You got lucky, Sarah, and I certainly hope he works out for you.”

Sarah nodded without taking her eyes off Prince and the man in the center. “Thanks,” she said.

After doing a number of transitions, Jack asked Prince to halt and went to his head. “It's your turn, Sarah,” Jack said, beckoning her into the ring. Sarah hadn't been expecting this, and she froze momentarily. She knew nothing about longeing. Did Jack expect her to start right now, training a green horse right off the racetrack?

“Come, come,” Jack insisted. Sarah reluctantly ducked through the fence boards and went to him. “You need to learn to do this. Now follow the same routine.” With that he showed her how to hold the longe line and whip before he retreated to the outside rail. Sarah tried to keep the contact with her horse through the longe line while pointing the longe whip toward his hip.

“That's good, Sarah,” Jack said. “Now gently use the longe whip and your voice to ask him to walk.”

Sarah spoke the word distinctly, as she'd heard Jack do. “Walk!” When Prince didn't move forward right away, she clucked and slowly swished the longe whip behind him. The horse turned to look at her for reassurance as he began walking forward. “Good boy,” she instinctively called to him.