Southern Belle's Special Gift
Read Southern Belle's Special Gift Online
Authors: Marsha Hubler
BOOK 3 Formerly titled Trouble Times Two
Marsha Hubler
Dedicated to the Susquehanna Valley Writers' Group
in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
A Letter to my Keystone Stables Fans
Are You Ready to Own Your First Horse?
Resources for Horse Information Contained in this Book
W
hoa, Champ! Easy fella!” Skye yelled. In his stall, the sorrel Quarter Horse pranced in place and then shuffled from side to side. Blasts of air snorted from his nose into the cold night like steam from a racing locomotive.
Skye rushed into the stall, her thick woolen mittens grabbing at his halter. She planted her boots firmly in the straw and struggled to control the powerful animal with all the strength she had in her slender frame.
Despite the cold, the quarter horse quivered in a slick coat of lather. His wild eyes searched every corner of the stall. Fear exploded from him and lodged in Skye's pounding heart. Horses can sense danger, and Skye knew he was sensing it now!
Odors of fresh manure and horse sweat were strong in the frigid January air. The barn echoed with the whinnies and stomps of five other frightened horses. Gusts of wind rattled the tin roof, heightening their fears.
“Easy, Blaze, easy!” a voice yelled from another part of the barn.
Skye released Champ's halter and hurried out of the stall, spinning toward the voice. Morgan sat in her wheelchair at the end of the stallâgloves raised, panic radiating from her freckled face. Behind a wire-mesh door, a dun mare pranced and snorted.
“Morgan,” Skye yelled, “we better call Dad down here. I've never seen the horses get this stirred up over a little wind. Could be a bear or cougar prowling in the woods close by. You call Dad, and I'll try to quiet them down!”
Morgan motored her wheelchair past the racket toward the barn office. “You're right! They haven't been this bad since that big thunderstorm last summer. Be back in a sec!”
Skye stepped back into the stall and took hold of her horse's halter with both hands. “Easy, boy!” she coaxed.
Champ quickly settled into a calmer series of sidesteps, head bobs, and trusting nickers. Skye stroked his arched neck, while her eyes checked the rest of his body for cuts or bruises. She grabbed a lead rope from a wall hook, clipped it to Champ's halter, and secured him to an iron bracket in the corner. “You're okay, boy,” she assured him with firm pats on his chest. “I'm here.”
Champ's ears, still twitching, pitched toward Skye. Eyes roving, searchingâat last he stood firm. His muscles relaxed, he nickered softly, and then he nudged his muzzle into Skye's waiting embrace.
“That's better,” Skye said, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his scratchy cheek. “Now take it easy. When the others are calmed down, I'll come back with your supper. And you'll need your blanket for a while. The way you're lathered up you could catch pneumonia in this cold night air.”
Skye hurried to the next stall where a large black Tennessee Walker stomped and snorted. “Easy, Stormy,” she said as she reached for the latch on the door. Then suddenly she stoppedâher arm suspended in midair.
What was that?
Had she heard something amid all the commotion? Or was the storm playing tricks on her?
“Skye! Skye Nicholson!”
Skye's brown eyes flashed. She turned and swept her long dark hair off her face, and then stopped, straining to listen past the noise around her.
“Over here!” The voice seemed to be coming from the tack room.
Skye spun around. Thereâin the doorway, in the shadowsâwas that someone peeking out? A face with an earring sparkling on each side?
Skye inched toward the doorway. “Who's there?” she called out uncertainly.
“It's me, Tanya!” a quivering voice answered. A tall African-American teenager stepped into the doorway, now in full view of the overhead lights. The girl folded her arms in a futile attempt to keep warm, her shapely frame covered with just a thin denim jacket and jeans. Her short ponytail and long strands of ringlets in front of her ears quivered as she tried to keep warm.
Skye stopped, her face frozen with surprise. “Tanya? Tanya Bell? Butâwhenâhow'd you get here?”
“I split from home!” Tanya piped above the commotion in the barn.
“C'mereâout into the openâwhere the horses can see you!” Skye angrily waved Tanya toward her. “No wonder they're so wound up. They picked up the scent of a stranger, but they couldn't see you.”
“Their noses work that well? I was wondering why they were going nuts!” Tanya said as she joined Skye.
“Yeah, but they need to put a body with the scent. C'mere.” Skye tugged the girl's sleeve. “We've got to settle them down.”
“Mr. C. will be rightâ” Morgan yelled as she came around the corner, “Heyâ¦what's goin' on? And who's this?”
“In a sec,” Skye said, pulling Tanya with her. “Follow me. I want you to stick your hand out as we go to each stall. Let the horses get a good whiff. When they can smell you and see you, we'll have some peace.”
Cautiously, the two girls approached each stall. Skye “horse-talked” while Tanya forced her hand out as though she were sticking it in a bucket of manure. Six stalls later, a relaxed chorus of nickering horses voiced their impatience for their oats and hay.
“So this is what made them go off the deep end!” Morgan said, joining the girls. “Like I said beforeâwho are you? And where did you drop in from?”
“Okay, Tanya. Let's hear it,” Skye added. “How'd you get here from the Millers? You are staying in town with the Millers, aren't you? Oh, sorry, Morgan. This is Tanya Bell. I met her last summer at the county fair.”
“Hi. I'm Morgan Hendricks.” Morgan brushed her red hair back and studied Tanya's tall, slender frame. “So, what are you doing in our barn at this time of night anyway?”
Tanya smacked a large wad of gum and blew a bubble until it popped.
“Tanya!” Skye said sharply. “No bubbles in here, or the horses will go nuts again!”
“Oh, sorry,” Tanya answered curtly. Her hands made their way into her jeans pockets. “I took a bus from Philly to the mall down the road. Then I met a truck driver who just happened to be driving past Keystone, and ta dah! Here I am!”
“Are you crazy?” Morgan recoiled. “It's gotta be hundreds of miles from Philadelphia to the mall! Then you hitched a ride with a stranger? Do you know how dangerous that is?”
“Andâdo your parents know you're here?” Skye asked. “Where are you headed? To the Millers'?”
“Who are the Millers?” Morgan lifted her hands in frustration.
“Wellâ¦I was going to the Millers' placeâBarb Miller's my auntâshe lives in town. I've spent a lot of time with her and Uncle Frank,” Tanya said. “But when I called their house from the mall, their dog sitter answered. Turns out Aunt Barb and Uncle Frank are in Florida for a month. Go figure. So I decided to come out here. I just had to get away from home. I needed time to think.”
“You couldn't think in Philly?” Skye released a sarcastic jab.
A large steel door slid open behind the girls.
“No critters out there tonight!” A man in a cowboy hat and heavy woolen coat hurried through the doorway, a spotlight the size of a basketball nestled in his thick leather gloves. “Must beâ”
Mr. Chambers looked up just then and stood stock still, a look of confusion sweeping over his wind-burned face. “Ahânow wait a minute. Two girls headed to this barn twenty minutes ago, and now I see oneâtwoâthree. Clue me in, girls,” he said. He shoved the spotlight under his arm and drew his gloved hand down over his brown mustache.
“This is a friend of mine,” Skye answered, pulling the girl closer by her sleeve. “Sheâahâkinda ran away from home.”
“Kinda?” Mr. Chambers walked slowly toward the girls.
Morgan swung her chair around. “We've got six hungry horse tummies crying the blues. I'll get started with their oats. Later, guys.” She grabbed a pail and headed toward Blaze's stall.
Tanya took another step backward, started to blow a bubble, but then changed her mind. “I'm Tanya Bell, and, okay, I didn't
kinda
run away. I big-time ran away. I live in Philly.”
“I see,” Mr. Chambers said as if he found runaway girls from Philly in his barn every night. “Well, I think the first thing we need to do is go up to the house and call your folks. They're probably worried to death, wondering where you are. Let's go, ladies. Morgan, are you okay here?”
“Sure thing!” Morgan yelled back from Blaze's stall.
Skye reached behind her, grabbing Tanya's cold hand. “Come on,” she said. “Everything will be fine.”
T
he next week, Skye found herself with Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, Morgan, and Tanya in a humongous den at Tanya's home. They sat in silence in an arc of marshmallowy sofas embedded in a thick, lush carpet. With her back to the group, an African-American woman in a teal pantsuit stared at a stone fireplace which covered the entire wall.
“Tanya, I simply can't believe you were shoplifting again!” The woman spun around, disappointment draping over her like a dark veil. “And then on top of that, you ran away from usâfrom everything you have here!” She stared pitchforks at Tanya before turning away to pick up a poker and jab at the fire. The burning wood crackled and sent up a barrage of sparks. The woman's soft black hair hung freely from her teal blue headband and bounced off the top of her shoulders. Sparkling gold teardrop earrings dangled from her ears and jostled with her hair.
Skye shifted her attention to a wall that looked like a glass checkerboard. Beyond the windows, she could see
a cozy patio and swimming pool covered with a layer of snow.
Wow!
Skye thought.
She ran away from this?
Skye's stare returned to the den. During the woman's entire tirade, Tanya sat playing with her long fingernails that were painted red with silver sparkles.
“Mother, it had nothing to do with you and Father. I just needed time to think. I needed some space,” Tanya answered curtly without looking up.
“Well, it seems to me you have all the space you need right here. Or isn't that bedroom big enough for you? How much space do you need, young lady?” the woman responded with a jab of sarcasm.
Tanya settled deeper into the sofa, crossed her legs with a jolt, and studied her nails. She gave one long, deep, bored sigh.
“Please mind your manners.” Dr. Bell's smooth bronze face frowned. Dark brown eyes flashed their disapproval below long curly lashes.
“Dr. Bell,” Mrs. Chambers said, “it's obvious Tanya has some issues that might need extra help. Her stacking up a court record of misdemeanors is certainly not a reflection of your and your husband's parenting skills. From what you've told us, it sounds like Tanya has some deep-rooted problems.”
“Isn't that ironic?” Dr. Bell put down the poker and sat next to her daughter. “I'm a gynecologist, a specialist for women and girls, but I can't help this girl.” The anger on her face melted into deep concern. “I still can't believe she shoplifted again. The last time she promised usâshe promised us!âthat she would never do it again. Tanya, you have everything. What was that head of yours thinking?”
“Mother, I did itâjust because!”
“Just because? That's it? Just because?”
“Dr. Bell, at least Tanya has come clean.” Mr. Chambers leaned his elbows on his knees and folded his hands. “If she hadn't, you'd be tied up in court proceedings
for months, and I think this time the judge would've shown no mercy. The surveillance camera at the mall caught the whole thing. Tanya's admitting the crime and returning the stolen jewelry is a big step in the right direction. Now we need to act quickly to get her the help she needs.”
Gently, Dr. Bell placed her ring-covered fingers on Tanya's knee, and her eyes begged Tanya to look at her. “Lord knows how hard it's been for this dear child to cope with losing her mother. When Mariam died, Tanya lived with her aunt and her grandmother, but she might as well have been a foster child. They bounced her around like a rubber ball between the two of them. I could tell when they came to me for checkups that this little girl just wasn't happy. That's when we decided we wanted to adopt her. It's been ten years now.
“I've known Tanya since she was born. In fact, I was there when she was born! Roger loves her dearly, too, but he's away so much on business trips, he just can't give her a lot of time. He's on the west coast right now.”
She's adopted?
Skye thought. She and Morgan exchanged peaked eyebrows.
Wow!
“Hey, the Chambers are trying to adopt me!” Morgan said.
“Yeah, me too!” Skye added with a big smile.
Dr. Bell continued, “Well, I'm certainly glad to hear that. I've seen enough of the foster care system to make my blood boil. But sending Tanya so far away for a whole yearâit seems so drastic. Roger and I are very concerned about her education. Transferring from a private academy to a public school can be traumatic for a teenager. She's a straight A student. On the other hand, you obviously seem to care deeply about the children who are staying with you. Exactly what kind of foster home do you have?”
“It's called Keystone Stables,” Skye bubbled, “and it's a neat place for all kinds of kids! We have horses, a pond, a game roomâeverything! I've been there about a year,
and the Chambers really helped me get my act together. I was, like, a rotten know-it-all before I lived with them. And then, even though Judge Mitchell was ready to ship me to Chesterfield, he let me live with the Chambers.”
“What's Chesterfield?” Dr. Bell asked.
“It's a detention center in northeastern Pennsylvania,” Mrs. Chambers said. “More of a lockdown for kids who have a hard time following rules.” Her smile and blue eyes lit up the room.
Tanya sat completely engrossed in her nails. She yawned obnoxiously.
Morgan beamed as she flipped her long hair behind her shoulders. “You won't be sorry if Tanya comes to live with us. Keystone is really different.”
“It's not like any foster home I've ever been in,” Skye said, “and I've been in lots. Mom and Dad really do care about us. I learned that the hard way.”
Dr. Bell forced a smile. “I see.”
Mr. Chambers looked at his watch and then stood. “Well, Dr. Bell, I hate to rush this, but we need to get going. We have a four-hour drive ahead of us. I know you have a tremendous amount of apprehension, but, I assure you, Tanya will get the best of care. You and Mr. Bell's decision to grant us custody went a long way with the judge. I want to personally thank you for helping us financially. And don't worry about Tanya's education. Madison Middle School is a fine school. It's rated as one of the best in the state. Now, if you're willing to sign the papers, Tanya can finish packing, and we'll be on our way. As soon as you and your husband get a break in your schedule, please come to visit.”
“We surely willâthe first chance we get.”
Tanya jumped up from her seat and headed toward a long flight of stairs that led to an open loft on the second floor. “I'm going to check my room once more. I'll be ready in five minutes.”
At Keystone Stables, two days and one trip to the mall later, Skye and Morgan decided to drop into Tanya's room “uninvited.”
“I wanna see what money can do for a bedroom that's been crying for a face-lift,” Skye whispered as she and Morgan headed down the hallway. Behind them came Tippy and Tyler, the Chambers' West Highland terriers, clicking their nails on the hardwood floor.
“Hey,” Morgan called, knocking on the closed door, “anybody home?”
The door squeaked open an inch, and a brown eyeball peeked through the crack. “What?” Tanya said.
“C'mon, Tanya,” Skye said, “only bears hibernate in winter. We wanna see your room.”
“There's nothing to see,” Tanya answered coldly.
“Yeah, right,” Skye said, “like, you're livin' in a jail cell. I saw all the bags you and Mom carried in from the car. C'mon, let's see.”
“Tsk, children!” Skye heard grumbling from behind the door that opened like it was guarding a sacred tomb. “But the dogs stay out!” she blasted loudly from the room.
“Sorry, fellas,” Morgan said to the dogs, “not in this room.”
The dogs turned and walked down the hall.
“Maybe we should take our shoes off,” Skye whispered to Morgan. The girls snickered as they cautiously entered the room.
Tanya made her way to the far wall where she had already started arranging books on top of a desk. The bed had teddy bears of all sizes and colors sitting at every post. The corners of the room were cluttered with paperback books stacked several feet high. Tanya moved from the desk to the windows and busied herself fluffing
the lace curtains. She deliberately had her back to the visitors.
Morgan parked at the side of the bed, and Skye flopped across the fluffy new bedspread trimmed with fancy lilac-colored lace. Bears flew everywhere!
“P-l-e-a-s-e!” Tanya spun around and griped like a grumpy librarian. “I spent hours fixing this dinky room! Go flop in your own rooms! In here, you sit softly, if you don't mind. This pathetic hole might only be a pittance of my own bedroom, but it will be neat. Now pick those bears up off the floor. “ She hurried to the bed and painstakingly rearranged every bear.
“Duhâexcuse me!” Skye yawned, taking her time picking up a few bears from the floor. Tossing them on the bed, she slid cautiously onto the edge. “Hey, we barely know you, and you can hardly bear us!” she said with a chuckle.
“Skye, you are too funny!” Morgan giggled so hard she held her sides.
Skye felt her face flush. She placed her hands over her mouth to suppress the string of giggles locked inside. Finally, her snicker exploded.
“V-e-r-y funny.” A stingy smile escaped from Tanya's lips. “I should think that one of the ridiculous rules of this place would be to respect other people's property. I'm sure I heard that somewhere in that list Mr. Chambers read last night. Boring!” Like a queen at her throne, Tanya sat on a padded chair next to the desk, watching every move the visitors made.
“Hey, it was your idea to come here,” Skye said. Without thinking, she picked up a fuzzy blue bear, and Tanya glared holes through her. Back down on the bed the bear went. “Besides, everybody has rules. We probably have a few zillion more because Keystone is licensed by the state and has regulationsâand horses.”
“Yeah,” Morgan agreed. “Our safety is important to Mr. and Mrs. C. They're also into our homework and test scores in schoolâbig time.”
Tanya's eyes focused on Morgan's wheelchair. “Hey, I've been wanting to know how come you're in that thing.”
“Cerebral palsy,” Morgan answered, “and it's not a thing. It's a Jazzy, and I do just fine in this thing, thank you. Hey Tanya, how do you feel about starting at Madison next Monday? I mean, that's a little red schoolhouse compared to your fancy academy in Philly. And what are you doing with all these books?” Her glance swept the room.
“Hello! I read them,” Tanya sassed. “What do you do with your books? Make paper airplanes? Use them as firewood? As soon as the man puts my shelves together, these books will be lined up in alphabetical order and ready for business. I brought only my favorites with me. I still have hundreds at home.”
Skye surveyed the room and decided there were hundreds in this room as well. “So that's what you've been doin' the last two days. And, duh, of course we read books, but not by the dozens. You must really, really like to read. And just in case you're interested, I think there are about 120 kids in your eighth grade at Madison. Oh, and one of them is Robin Ward. You just gotta meet her. She's too cool.”
Tanya busied herself rearranging the books on the desk. “At Ridgecrest Academy I had only a few choice friends. It depends on what your hang-ups are, and the things you like and all that get you together with other kids. I'll clue you in right now. Winning the Miss Friendship Award is not one of my goals at Madison. I have other things to occupy my mind. Nine times out of ten, I choose to spend time with me. I have my books and mp3 playerâwellâjust my books here. How do you cope with not listening to rock and rap? I'll go out of my mind!”
“Like, that's it? Reading?” asked Skye. “Don't you have any hobbies? Like sports or playing an instrument orâyeah, like riding horses? You're living with some now, just in case you haven't noticed.”
“I hate horses! They stink! I hope I never have to go near them again,” Tanya complained.
“Oh, this oughta be real good,” Skye said. “You're living at Keystone Stables, and you don't wanna be near horses? Tanya, something tells me your brain was in smarts withdrawal. Everybody who lives here learns to rideâand helps with barn chores.”
“Not me! They can't make me,” Tanya smarted off. “Trust me! My mother will stop it. All I have to do is cry in front of her.”
“Well, we'll just see,” Skye informed her.
“âWhy don't you like horses?” Morgan asked.
“Man, you guys are nosy. What is this, the third degree?” Tanya stood, shoved the chair sharply against the desk, hurried to the door, and then flung it open. “Just leave me alone!”