Authors: Paddy Cummins
Jenny thought Saturday would never come. When it did, she
got up bright and early, checked the weather, a beautiful crisp morning, cold and dry, great for driving. She spent a little extra time in front of the mirror, a bit more attention to detail, determined to look her very best. She
felt great. This was a new lease of life, a kind of new momentum in everything she did, a feeling of wellbeing, and bubbling with anticipation for the day ahead.
Humming as she waited for the jug kettle to boil and the
toast to pop up, Ken's arrival in the kitchen startled her.
'Oh,' she exclaimed, 'I didn't expect to see you up so early this morning ... golf is it?'
'No actually. I've decided to take a trip down south with
you.'
Her sudden stare of bewilderment seemed to puzzle him.
'Now,' he stammered, 'that's if you don't mind, Jenny.'
She laughed nervously.
'Oh Ken ... sure you know I don't mind ... why should I?
Didn't I ask you several times to come and you refused.'
'I know ... I found it difficult, Jenny ... it's not easy now either, but I want to go.'
That worried her. Why now? Something must be driving him. He
wants to check out the scene in Dream Valley. Could he be getting suspicious? He might have noticed the big change in her since last weekend. It must have been obvious, and he was always very perceptive.
On the journey down, they chatted and admired the countryside. He was driving his Honda and she was giving him a running commentary on all the interesting landmarks she had noticed on her weekly
trips. He seemed to be enjoying it all, until they left the main road and he had to negotiate the narrow lane that led down to the stables, with it's hairpin bends and uneven surface. He wasn't impressed, slowed to a crawl, worried about his suspensions.
Garry saw the strange car arriving in the yard, didn't realise at first that it was Jenny sitting beside the driver. He was down the yard attending to a horse being held by Emily - little Johnny was mucking-out stables further down.
Another glance, Garry spotted Jenny. He didn't recognise the driver, perhaps someone she got to drive her down. They got out of the car. Ken stretched and looked interestingly around him, taking in the whole place in one
sweeping glance. Jenny folded her arms, leaned against the car, waited for Garry to approach them.
As he came closer, the drivers identity hit Garry. It was the doctor that came for Jenny that day in Punchestown, her husband. He was
stunned but didn't show it. Jenny too, was really worried and uptight, still managed to smile. This was disastrous, she thought. What would Garry think after all they had said on the phone. If she had only known yesterday she could have phoned and told him. But no, Ken did that deliberately, planned it that
way, took her unawares. He was up to something - something ominous.
Keeping her composure and greeting Garry as if everything was normal, she knew he was trying to do the same, but she could sense he was
under pressure too. He couldn't look her in the eye, seemed nervous and tense.
'This is Ken. Garry. He wants to be a jockey.'
She tried to keep it light and jovial.
'Pleased to meet you, Ken.' They shook hands. 'A flat or a
jump jockey? Garry was jokingly sizing up Ken's height and weight.
'I think it will have to be a disc jockey, Garry, I might just manage that.' They laughed.
'Lovely old place you've got here.'
'Yeah. It's coming around. All I need now is plenty of money to finish it.'
'Be lovely then ... great to see someone keeping the old homesteads intact.'
'Yeah,' said Garry, 'sure most of them are gone, it's a pity.'
'This place has real character and charm,' said Ken, pointing to the thatched house.
'Yeah, it's quaint ... I like it.'
They followed Garry around the stables. Jenny was giving Ken little bits of information about the horses, how they were trained for their races. She was trying to get him interested. He seemed to be receptive, but she
suspected he was only trying to be polite - there was no real enthusiasm.
'This is 'Harmonica.'
Ken leaned over the stable door. Emily was inside brushing her over, preparing her for her morning's work.
'God! She's really big, isn't she?' He was thinking of Jenny handling and controlling this big animal. How does she do it? A shiver of fear ran through him at the mere thought of it.
Two horses, 'Spinning Top' and 'Harmonica,' were loaded into
the trailer to be taken to the hill gallop for some fast work. Garry and Emily travelled with the horses, Jenny and Ken went in the car.
At the top of the gallop the two saddled horses were
unloaded and walked around for a few minutes. Garry explained to Ken about the gallop and the work.
'As you can see Ken, it's a mile long and quite steep ... a great measure of a horse's fitness. If they could do a swinging canter up there
three times without distress or prolonged blowing, they'd be fit for racing. It was tough work on horses and riders, but it was fun and the perfect test to measure their well-being and level of fitness.'
Ken listened with interest. Looking around, he was admiring
the panorama of picturesque landscape on all sides.
'This is really something,' he said.
Jenny agreed and was glad to see he was enjoying himself.
Garry hopped up on 'Spinning Top.' Emily 'legged-up' Jenny on 'Harmonica.' Ken watched as they walked off downhill into the hazy valley, as the mist was clearing Mount Brandon and the morning sun was climbing in the
pale blue sky.
They didn't speak until they were safely out of Ken's earshot. Jenny broke the silence.
'I'm really sorry, Garry.'
He shrugged his shoulders.
'Sorry for what, Jenny?'
'If I had known I'd have phoned you. He just sprang it on me ... just appeared in the kitchen this morning ...announced he was coming.'
'So?'
'It's so weird, Garry. Anytime I asked him to come before,
he point blank refused. He's up to something, Garry, I know he is.'
'Hang on Jenny.' Shifting sideways in the saddle, facing towards her, he looked pained and agitated.
'Look Jenny. He's your husband isn't he? Maybe he just wants to see what's goin' on down here ... he's entitled to that, isn't he?'
That outburst startled her. Shifting sideways too, looking into his eyes, she figured he was expressing his own frustration and
disappointment at the turn of events and his valiant attempts at bluffing had failed.
'You don't really mean that, Garry.'
He paused thoughtfully, shook his head ruefully.
'No. I suppose I don't.'
Deep down he was worried too, and bitterly disappointed. He had longed for this day all week - to be beside her again as he was now. He had looked forward to even more beautiful closeness to-day and especially to-night.
He now wanted her more than ever, his craving for her was aching his heart. It was a dream he was living for all of the past week. But this was back to reality, wake-up time.
'We'll play it by ear, Garry. Just act normal ... show him
that it's a business arrangement. He will see that, and understand. If he doesn't, it's his problem.'
'Jenny, you're just brilliant ... a rock.'
With his eyes flooding emotion he reached across for her
hand which she grasped tightly. 'And I was so looking forward to to-day.'
'I know. So was I, Garry. Don't worry. We'll sort it out. I'll ring you on Monday.'
He smiled. 'Right. I'll be here ... waiting by the phone.'
Ken and Jenny joined Garry and Emily for coffee in the kitchen of the little thatched house. Ken was fascinated with all the old furniture and utensils still intact and functional. The whole set-up seemed to
impress him, enhancing his rating of Garry. He saw substance in the young man - lots of intelligence, vision and values. He was also impressed by his skill and confidence with the horses, and admired his amiable, warm personality. He felt
surprised to be so impressed in view of his pre-existing prejudices, though they were based on nothing more than his fear and apprehension for Jenny's welfare.
Garry's coffee was enjoyed by Ken. He complimented him.
'Yeah,' said Garry, 'good strong coffee is what I like. It calms the nerves.'
'Don't overdo it ... not good for you.' Ken was wearing his doctor's hat.
'Ah, it's hard to know what's good for you now,' Jenny
interjected.
Emily excused herself. She was heading off for her afternoon break. There was a short silence - Garry ended it.
'About the race on Thursday.' He was anxious to go through
the arrangements with Jenny, prepare her mentally, make her aware of the task ahead. 'This is a big step-up from a Point-to-Point ... everything will have to be spot-on.' It's a Premier Hunter's Chase with £10,000 prize-money ... we'll
be in with the top horses.'
'Harmonica' will be up to it,' said Jenny confidently, 'she's improving every day.'
'Oh I know she is. A bit of luck in running is all we need.'
'Gowran Park is a lovely track,' said Jenny, 'tough but
fair, and the running rails will be a big help.'
'Yes,' replied Garry, but you will need to be very careful. You'll be in with the big boys ... they'll give no concessions. You'll have to
show them you're every bit as good as they are ... I have no doubt you will.'
Ken was listening and suffering. He couldn't stand it any longer. He stood up, looking agitated, as if preparing to leave. He took a deep
breath. Jenny held hers.
'Do you mind if I say something? I mean ... to both of you.'
'What is it, Ken?' Jenny looked him in the eye.
'I'm not happy about all this,' he said calmly, but
solemnly.
'All what?' She was prepared to take him on.
'It's just all wrong ... it can't continue ... it's gone far enough now ... it's too dangerous ... I just can't take it anymore.'
'What do you mean Ken? What are you talking about? She had a look of bewilderment, Garry hung his head, shocked and deflated, feeling it was all his fault, his big mouth.
'I mean it has got to stop.' Addressing Jenny, he continued.
'You're driving down here every week, risking your life, riding in dangerous races over big jumps. How long do you think you can survive, Jenny?'
Turning to Garry, he went on. 'You'll have to take some
responsibility if anything happens to my wife ... you're in this too.' He was grim-faced and deadly serious now.
Garry was hurt. He knew that Ken was speaking in ignorance of horse-riding and racing. He tried to explain - come to Jenny's defence.
'Look Ken. I know you're worried ... that's fair enough, understandable. But it's a sport, and like all sports, there are risks. Very few get killed or seriously injured in horse-riding. Jenny is a great rider ...
she can look after herself.
'Yes,' interjected Jenny angrily, 'and you have no right to bring Garry into this, Ken. It's me. I want to do it ... I don't see any danger in it ... and I intend to continue ... you'll just have to get used to it.'
That really stung Ken. He bounced out the door, returned with a large cardboard folder from the boot of his car. Opening it, he placed it self-standing on the table. Jenny and Garry were rendered speechless. It was the colour picture from the newspaper of Jenny, upside down, hanging on to the
horse's ears. It was a photocopy enlargement, stuck with tape on to the cardboard. The effect was really dramatic.
'That's what I mean,' exclaimed Ken, pointing to the
picture. 'That's what I'm talking about. Now, can either of you tell me that race-riding is not dangerous.'
There was a long disturbing silence. Jenny stood up.
'There's no point in continuing this ... I'm going home.'
She headed out to the car. Turning her head, she saw Ken following her. Garry was standing in the doorway.
'Bye Garry,' she raised her hand in a farewell wave.
'Cheers,' he waved back.
Soon the Honda was revving up the lane.
The journey back was horrible for both of them. No word was spoken for twenty miles. Ken broke the ice.
'I'm sorry Jenny.'
He waited for a response but there was none.
'I'm sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings ... it wasn't my intention.'
Still no response.
'Christ! Can you not even talk to me?'
She turned towards him.
'It's too late to be sorry now, Ken, the harm is done. You tried to ruin everything on me ... you had this well planned. Well, it's not going to work. I'm telling you now, Ken ... you're wasting your time.'
'Jenny. Can you not see my point? Damn it, I have feelings too. I can't let you kill yourself or maim yourself for life. I don't want to loose you ... I love you ... I want you, alive and well. Can you not see that?'
She turned again.
'After to-day, Ken, you may not have me anyway.'
'What does that mean?'
'Take it to mean whatever you like.'
There was no further exchange, just turmoil racking both minds for the rest of the journey.
They slept in separate bedrooms. He was up first and gone with the golf clubs before she came down. She was glad of that - didn't want
another clash with him. She sat pensively at the table with her coffee an toast. Turning over in her mind the events of yesterday, she was determined to find a way through it all. Serious doubts were seeping in regarding her future
with Ken. She tried to hold these thoughts in abeyance while she found a way to resolve her immediate problems. The last thing she wanted was a big burst-up with Ken, a massive upheaval in their lives. It would be too catastrophic and
devastating for both of them. There must be a way out of this, some formula that would solve Ken's problem - he just has to be sorted out.