Nothing But Horses (11 page)

Dave helped Autumn with Queenie and I did my
new buddy. He so needed a name, but my brain was a complete blank.
I didn’t want to call him, King. It seemed too obvious, even if it
did go with Queenie. Besides, if someone tried saying, “King-ie”
which sounded too much like ‘clingy,’ I’d undoubtedly die of
laughter. Not a good thing with a new dog. I picked him up by his
hairy armpits and stared into his beady little eyes. “You need a
name and I’ve got nothing. Nada. Zip.”

He slurped my cheek with his tongue and I
snuggled him tight. “Yuck! I been kissed by a dog.”

“Snoopy?” Dave asked, hanging up the
towel.

“Sierra and Snoopy?” I shook my head. “No.
That’s too sitcom cute.”

“Charlie,” Autumn said. “Everybody knows
Snoopy is Charlie Brown’s dog.”

“Now, that could be do-able,” I said, eyeing
my new companion. Another puppy kiss sealed the deal. My dog had a
name. “Charlie, how do you feel about finding doggie lunch?”

That evening while Grandpa and Grandma helped
Autumn set up her new Horse-opoly game on the kitchen table, I made
turkey sandwiches and served up different wedges of pie.
Marie
Callendar
had really come through for us again this year. We
had pecan, pumpkin and my personal fav, Dutch apple. Mom and Dave
were outside doing the doggie walk. I figured he would probably do
more than that, but I wasn’t going to ask if he ever kissed her.
Some things were just gross and none of my business.

The landline rang and Grandpa answered, then
passed me the phone. “It’s Robin. Tell her she got a paint job out
of me, but that’s it.”

I laughed and did. “So, what shop are you
taking your car to for that paint job?”

“None!” Robin sounded totally appalled. “Most
of the companies around here use cheap products and barely splash
on one coat. I’m painting it myself when everything else is done.
Brianna and I talked last night. She’ll order in the Presidential
blue from her wholesaler when I’m ready.”

“Does Grandpa know that?” I asked and
continued slathering mayo on bread. “Or should I tell him?”

“He knows,” Robin said. “We figured it out
yesterday. When he and your grandmother come for spring break,
she’ll help with leadership camp and we’ll paint my car. If it
needs more work, we’ll do it after school gets out for the
summer.”

“What is leadership camp? Eddie said
something about it after the party, but I didn’t have time to ask
him.” Focusing on what was important, the stable, I layered up
turkey on the pieces of bread. “We usually offer advanced sessions
when we start in the summer and then discount the cost for those
students who want to return and help teach newer campers. We’ve
never offered camp during spring break, just lessons, trail rides
and pony rides.”

“Okay, well Vicky and I were talking about
starting a new program with your mom. We suggested that you should
train your more advanced students to be peer counselors during
spring break. Then, I can work at the car lot this summer and
you’ll have kids who know what they’re doing when you start camp in
June. Rocky said she’d discuss it with you.”

“Not a bad idea. That’s why you get the big
money. How was your Christmas?”

Robin brought me up to speed on everything
she’d received and given to her family. Then, she asked about the
puppy. “How is he doing? Did you like him? Was it a total
surprise?”

“Charlie’s fine and I love him. How did you
guys manage to get him here without me noticing?”

“Dad smuggled him in yesterday when you went
off with us to the barns.”

“No way.” I finished up the sandwiches. “He
was in on this?”

“We all were,” Robin said. “You should know
by now how fussy I am about where my critters go. They can’t live
with just anyone. Now, it’s your turn. What else did you get for
Christmas?”

I shared my list of holiday loot and she
laughed like a loon when she heard about the pink basketball. She
demanded that I bring it and Charlie when I came to train her
horse. I agreed to the road trip for my puppy, but I didn’t commit
to the ball. With my family as an audience I couldn’t ask if I
should come up with a gift for Tom. I didn’t want to come off like
a jerk who hadn’t thought of him at all. But, I hadn’t. I’d wait to
ask until I got to Robin’s place.

* * * *

Shamrock Stable, Washington

Friday, December
27
^th
, 1:30 pm

It had warmed up yesterday and the snow
continued to melt. It wasn’t a fast thaw and that meant we didn’t
have to worry about flooding. The creeks might be a little higher
so after they finished lunch, I didn’t turn horses into any of the
more distant paddocks. Instead, I chose the ones closer to the
barns. Mom, Autumn and Grandpa had gone off to visit the neighbors
and deliver homemade cookies. Grandma had opted for a chance to
watch TV and take a nap.

Queenie and Charlie followed me to the arena
and I put him in the tack-room while the horses left the building.
Queenie helped me drive out the different herds. She knew her job
and later she would teach it to my pup. For now, he had some
growing up to do. Robin had told me that my collie was about twelve
weeks old and Dr. Larry said he would reach his full growth
potential as long as he got plenty to eat for the next nine months.
It made sense to me. We went through the same thing with young
horses. Like I learned in 4-H, if foals didn’t get sufficient
nutrients during their formative years, it stunted their growth. I
sure didn’t want that to happen to my new dog.

Once the horses were out for a few hours, I
released Charlie from doggie jail. He and Queenie raced up and down
the barn aisle while I collected grain buckets and put them out of
the way until supper time. I topped off the water tubs. The more I
did now, the less there would be to do this evening during night
chores.

As I walked up toward the house, I spotted
horses running and bucking in the snow. They obviously needed the
exercise after being locked inside for almost a week. I spotted
Dani and her au-pair, a woman in her late twenties, coming out of
the office. I waved to Dani and went to join her and Louise.
Charlie bounded through the snow, yipping in excitement, Queenie
right behind him. He seemed to love company.

“Hi,” I said. “What’s up? How was your
Christmas?”

“You really don’t want to know.” Dani bent to
pet my puppy who licked her fingers. “He’s adorable. I wanted one
of his brothers or sisters, but it didn’t work.”

“Your parents agreed it wasn’t a good time.”
Louise sounded more British than ever, the words clipped off as if
she bit each one. “You travel so much with them that it means the
dog would need to be kenneled.”

“Charlie has a crate,” I said, “but it’s only
when he needs quiet time, not for days.”

“Louise means the dog would have to be
boarded somewhere.” Tears sparkled in Dani’s eyes. “It’s okay. I’ll
just play with your puppy or Vicky’s or Robin’s. I’m lucky I have
Lady. Normally, I never get what I want and I’m accustomed to
that.”

“You are a very lucky girl.” Louise folded
her arms and gave Dani a stern look. “Now, go feed your carrots. We
have to meet your parents so we only have a half-hour to stay
here.”

Wow, it looked like somebody had a really
horrible holiday, but I couldn’t say that to Louise. Instead, I
managed a weak smile. “I’ll go with her.”

“That would be nice.” Faint concern rippled
across Louise’s face and landed in her dark gray eyes. “If it was
up to me, it’d be different, but her father made the decision. No
pets.”

“Okay.” I watched her turn and walk back into
the office, pulling out her cell phone. In her black raincoat and
spike-heeled boots, she wasn’t ready for a stroll to the paddock
where Lady and Charm moseyed. Charlie trotting beside me, we
hustled to catch up with Queenie and Dani. She was dividing carrots
between the horses when we arrived. I stood next to her, pretending
not to see the tears that slipped down her cheeks. “What’s
wrong?”

“The usual.” Dani held out a long, skinny
carrot to Lady. The bay mare nabbed it quick before her son got it.
“My parents were stuck back East and barely got a flight home today
so Louise and I were on our own for Christmas. She was all snarky
because they’d promised her a trip to England this year to
celebrate with her family. She’ll still get to go, but not until
they’re home for two weeks and it means she won’t see all of her
relatives.”

“Well, that sucks.” I scooped up Charlie
before he could slide under the fence and pick a row with Charm.
That was a problem with herding dogs. They were always ready to go
to work and put the livestock somewhere whether it needed doing or
not. The collie pup wriggled for a moment and then settled down,
swiping my cheek with a raspy tongue. Queenie sat beside me. “Did
you get anything you wanted in the way of presents?”

“How do I know? We couldn’t open any of the
gifts my folks left at the house, not when they weren’t home.
Louise and I went out to a movie, then to a restaurant for dinner.”
Dani sniffled and fed another carrot to each horse. “I told my
folks that I want a puppy, someone to snuggle and love when they’re
gone all the time. My mom told me that it didn’t make any sense.
I’ll be going to college in two years and what would I do with the
dog then? I couldn’t take it with me and Louise will be leaving for
a job elsewhere.”

“That majorly sucks.” I received another
puppy kiss from Charlie, but I still didn’t put him down. “I’m
planning on going to the community college in Everett since the
area universities have branches there. Then, I can live at home.
Otherwise, if I stayed on campus, I’d have to find a way to take
Nevada and Charlie with me.”

Another couple of carrots and more munching
from the horses while Dani considered those ideas. She wiped at her
cheeks. “You’re right, Sierra. I hadn’t thought of that. I freaked
when my mom said that Louise will be leaving too. She’s taken care
of me since I was eight years old, twenty-four, seven. Even when we
argue, I can count on her.”

“Then, maybe you should find a way to stay in
contact with her,” I said. “Make a plan, Dani. Just because you’ll
graduate from high school and go onto college doesn’t mean you have
to agree never to see her again. She probably doesn’t want that
either.”

“Definitely not.” Dani took a deep breath.
“Do you think Rocky would let me bring a puppy here when I have to
go out of town?”

“Sure. She let Bill park Robin’s car here,” I
said. “And think about it. You don’t go out of town when school is
in session, right? You only fly places when you’re out on break. If
you have a horse show, you’re home too. You’re competing most of
the summer so it’s not like you travel all the time during those
two and a half months. You could do a puppy. Take it to Vicky’s or
Robin’s when you’re gone and they’ll doggie-sit.”

After she fed the last two carrots, Dani
reached over to scratch behind Charlie’s ears. “And the puppy would
like being with his family.” She sniffed hard. “Thanks for
listening, Sierra. I’ve tried telling Harry this stuff. He doesn’t
see my folks always working as a big deal. He points out that they
make sure I have Louise and the housekeeper so there’s nothing to
gripe about.”

“You’re talking a guy who lives with his
older sister because his dad walked away and his mom died.” I could
share the general details I’d learned from Harry in the at-risk
group, although I wouldn’t give her the specifics. “He spent time
in the foster system when Brianna was overseas with her Army unit
in Afghanistan for eighteen months. None of his relatives had room
for him and his grandparents live in assisted care. Cut him a
break, Dani. He might not get it, but he’s not totally
insensitive.”

She nodded. “You’re right again.” Her phone
buzzed and she heaved a giant sigh. “Okay, I have to go. I’ll try
to make it in and ride on Sunday. Will you ask Robin to save me a
puppy?”

“Sure.” I put Charlie down to run beside the
rest of us as we walked toward the office where Louise waited.
“Take care of yourself.”

“You know it.” Dani hugged me. “You’re the
best, Sierra.”

“Thanks, Sierra.” Louise handed me a folded
check. “Here’s the board for Lady. I’ll bring the show schedule
next time we visit.”

“That will be wonderful.” Calling Charlie
when he started to follow them, I tucked the payment into my
pocket. Amazing, I thought. Next time I wanted to complain about
Mom or life at the stable, I wouldn’t, I shuddered at the idea of
having parents like Dani’s who wouldn’t even allow their lonely kid
the solace of a pet.

I hadn’t realized there was a doggie sized
hole in my heart until Charlie arrived. He’d been with me for
barely three days and I didn’t know what I’d do without him. I
certainly wasn’t going to try and find out. When I walked into the
mud-porch, my puppy already knew the drill. He waited for me to dry
his paws and tummy, before he hightailed it into the kitchen behind
Queenie to see if there were any snacks in their bowls.

Grandma kept chopping vegetables. “Are you
ready for a sandwich?”

“Anything but turkey.” I hugged her. “I love
you.”

“I know that.” She put down the knife long
enough to hug me back. “I love you too, honey. What happened out in
the barn?”

“Oh, one of the boarders stopped in to feed
carrots.” I opened the cupboard and found the jar of crunchy peanut
butter. “I have to put her payment down on the ledger. Mom always
says that we provide an oasis in a dysfunctional world and I hadn’t
realized how lucky I had it.”

“We’re not perfect.” Grandma grabbed celery
and proceeded to cut the stalks into bite-size pieces. “We make
mistakes.”

“I know, but ours aren’t as big as the ones
that other people make.”