Southern Belle's Special Gift (4 page)

A
t noon the next Saturday, at a steakhouse near the mall, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers and Skye sat with Tanya and her parents.

Mr. Chambers wiped his mustache with a napkin. “It was very nice of you to invite us all to lunch, Dr. and Mr. Bell.”

“Please call me Roger,” the man across the table answered. “Chloris and I are more than glad to treat you before we visit Keystone Stables.” He took a sip of water.

Munching on a hamburger and fries, Skye studied the husky man with broad shoulders. His tight curly hair was short and boring, she decided, and there was too much gray above his ears. But his dark eyes were awesome. His soft, deep voice sounded like the Christian disc jockey who played relaxing music at three o'clock in the morning.
Cool,
Skye thought.
Too cool.

Dr. Bell's ruby red lips graced a cup of coffee. “Where's Morgan?”

“Oh, she had an emergency yearbook meeting at school,” Skye said. “She wanted me to tell you that she was sorry she couldn't make it, but she'd probably see you at Keystone later this afternoon.”

Tanya sat between her parents, zeroing in on her food. At last, she was enjoying her steak and baked potato.

Mrs. Chambers finished a bite of her salad, then her eyes focused on Mr. Bell. “Roger, I understand that you are away from home quite a lot.”

Mr. Bell casually rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, as much as I hate it, it's my job.”

“What exactly is your line of work?” Mr. Chambers asked.

“I own a building supply company in South Philly,” Mr. Bell answered. “We supply contractors who do large projects like skyscrapers and factory shells. Unfortunately, I have to spend a lot of time on the road or in the air making contacts with clients. I just returned from California.”

“He's never home,” Tanya mumbled through a mouthful of food. “Neither is Mother.”

Dr. Bell played with her baked potato. “Tanya, we've been over this a thousand times.”

“Now, Baby,” Mr. Bell said, “you know we can't help it. We have to work so you can have nice things.”

“But do you have to work all the time?” Tanya growled.

Skye's glance darted around the table like she was watching a tennis match.

Mr. Chambers changed the subject. “Well, even though Tanya's been with us only a few weeks, I think you'll both be pleased with her progress.” He turned to Skye. “You're such good friends. Don't you think this is accurate?”

“Yeah,” Skye agreed, “she's not hibernating in her room anymore since she got interested in Southern Belle and started singing.”

“Southern Belle?” Mr. Bell asked. “Is that a TV program?”

“Singing?” Dr. Bell asked.

“Southern Belle's a horse, Father,” Tanya declared.

“A horse?” Tanya's parents raised their voices in unison.

“Yes, a horse,” Tanya said.

“Since when do you like horses—or any animals for that matter?” Dr. Bell looked squarely at her daughter. “And what's this about singing?”

“Yes, tell us,” Mr. Bell said, reaching over and patting Tanya's hand.

Tanya grabbed her glass of soda as though her father's hand had never touched her.

“This is a new you,” he said with enthusiasm. “Have you learned to ride too?”

Tanya sipped her drink. “I will in the spring when the ice and snow are gone.”

Mrs. Chambers worked the knife and fork on her steak. “Tanya's really interested in caring for the horse because Southern Belle is going to foal in the spring. When Tanya's not doing homework, she's down at the barn. Oh, speaking of school, tell your parents how it's going.”

“Straight A's,” Tanya said between bites of potato.

“That's the way,” Mr. Bell said. “Chloris, I told you she'd keep those grades up in her new school. You did all that worrying for nothing.”

Dr. Bell sipped more coffee and sampled her salad. “Have you made any friends?” she asked.

“Nah, not really. They're not my style,” Tanya spouted off.

I guess that includes me,
Skye surmised. “Hey, Tanya, what about the kids in our Youth for Truth group—and the music ensemble?” Skye gave Tanya a quick smile.

“Oh, yeah,” Tanya said like she had deliberately forgotten. “They're all right, I guess.”

Mr. Chambers smiled. “Tanya, please tell your mother about your singing lessons before she has a cardiac right here in the restaurant.”

“You're taking singing lessons?” Dr. Bell asked, surprise written all over her face.

Tanya cut another piece of steak and took her time chewing it.

Mrs. Chambers' words flowed out of her as she looked at Tanya. “This is the biggest surprise of all. This young lady has a wonderful gift from God. Tanya, go on. Tell them.”

Tanya finished chewing and then guzzled a big drink of soda. “Oh, all right,” she finally said, “but I still don't see what the big deal is. Mrs. Chambers says I have a really nice voice and that I should keep taking lessons.”

“Well, that's super, Baby!” Mr. Bell said. “We've been wanting you to have an interest in something other than reading—not that there's anything wrong with reading. But…we…are you going to sing something for us later?”

Dr. Bell agreed. “That is very good news.” She shot her glance from Tanya to Mrs. Chambers. “She's learned to sing in just a few weeks?”

Mrs. Chambers wiped her mouth with the napkin and placed it back on her lap. “Your daughter has a natural God-given talent, Dr. Bell. With the proper training, she could develop a beautiful style.”

The Bells hung on every word. Tanya chewed delicately and quietly, finishing her baked potato and washing it down with a glass of soda.

Mr. Bell emptied his glass of water. “That's great,” he said. “If you really like singing, when you come home you may take all the singing lessons you want. Would you like that?”

Tanya shrugged, never looking at her father.

Tanya, when will you ever appreciate what you have?
Skye wondered.

“Miss,” Dr. Bell said, flagging down a passing waitress. “More coffee, please.” She turned back to the table. “Neither Roger nor I have any musical interests except to play CDs and the radio. It would be quite interesting to find out if anyone else in Tanya's family is musically inclined. Mrs. Chambers, you say she has a—how did you put it—a God-given talent?”

“Absolutely!” Mrs. Chambers said.

The waitress brought a pot of coffee and refilled Dr. Bell's cup. “Anyone else?” she asked.

All declined.

“Thank you,” Dr. Bell said, refocusing on the discussion. “After we're finished at Keystone Stables, we plan to visit Tanya's aunt Barb. Tanya can ask her about any singing talent in the family.”

Tanya just shrugged.

Dr. Bell continued, “Well, when we get back to Philly, I'll call Tanya's grandmother. If anyone knows anything about that family, it would be her.”

“Father,” Tanya said, perking up in her chair and flashing her eyes at her dad, “can we go to the bookstore before you leave?”

“Sure. What do you need?”

“I'm looking for books about horses, especially pregnant ones.”

“Maybe your mother could help you. That is her line of work,” he answered.

“Not really.” Dr. Bell chuckled. “I might have worked on some old gray mares and young fillies, if you know what I mean, but never on a real horse.”

Everyone joined in the laughter except Tanya.

Mr. Bell's laughter reminded Skye of the Santa at the mall in December.
Double cool,
she thought.

“Baby,” Mr. Bell said between chuckles, “your new interest in horses makes me very happy. This might be a good time to discuss an important decision your mother and I have made.”

Tanya sighed. “What now?” she complained.

“First of all,” Mr. Bell started, “we've been thinking about this for an awfully long time, but we never mentioned it to you because you didn't seem to like animals. We thought you'd absolutely hate the idea.”

They're buying Tanya her own zoo,
Skye figured.

Dr. Bell sipped her coffee. “Tanya, your father and I are thinking of moving.”

“Where?” Tanya asked through a half yawn as though her mother had just asked her to pick up a pencil off the floor.

Mr. and Mrs. Chambers were studying the interaction going on across the table. Mr. Chambers folded his arms, and Mrs. Chambers leaned on the table and took a slow sip of water.

“Now don't get upset,” Mr. Bell said. “You can still go to Ridgecrest—if that's what you're worried about. You'll still have all of your friends.”

What friends?
Skye thought, scratching her head.

“I'm not upset,” Tanya informed her parents without the slightest hint of irritation. “But where?”

Dr. Bell said, “Your father wants to buy a farm in north Jersey.”

“A what?” Tanya peaked her eyebrows.

“Now think about this,” Mr. Bell said. “We've all talked about how crazy city life is. I'm at the place in my business where I can start mandating responsibilities to our field representatives. I'd like to spend more time with you and your mother. At the first of the year, I'm planning to begin part-time as a consultant.” He looked at Mr. and Mrs. Chambers. “I grew up on a farm and loved working the soil and breathing fresh air.” He looked back at
his daughter and touched her hand again. “If you want a horse, you can have any kind you'd like.”

This time Tanya's hand stayed put. She stared out the window, deep in thought. “Hmm,” is all she said.

Dr. Bell released a beautiful smile as she grasped Tanya's other hand. “Well, that's one more word than I expected to hear. I think we can take that as a yes.”

“Tanya,” Skye added, “this is great. Think of all the things you're learning at Keystone that will help you on your own farm, especially with horses.”

“Any kind of horse I want?” Tanya asked, still staring.

“Any kind at all,” Mr. Bell answered.

T
he month of March in Pennsylvania brought the promise of an early spring. Although the threat of snow had been predicted over the next week, crocuses were already poking their colorful heads out of Mrs. Chambers' softening flowerbeds.

With the excitement of warmer weather on its way, family discussions centered around the horses. Skye and Morgan were already planning what events they would enter at the Snyder County Horse Show in August.

Mr. and Mrs. Chambers and Tanya focused on Belle and her foal. Tanya continued to surprise everyone, not only with her willingness to sing but also with the huge amount of time she devoted to Southern Belle.

However, as hard as Skye and Morgan tried to be friends, Tanya brushed them off like dandruff. Most of her free time was spent in the barn or hidden away in her bedroom, singing along with Christian CDs or reading her hundreds of books. She came to the table for meals when called, but then lately she'd been griping her way through her chores. A hundred times Skye had made up her mind to ignore Tanya, but it was hard, she found out,
to ignore someone living right under her nose. Frustrated beyond words, Skye longed for Saturday when she and Mrs. Chambers would have some time alone.

“Well, Skye, how did this week go in school?” Mrs. Chambers said as the two rode their horses the following Saturday on a trail through the back woods. The Westies romped close by.

Skye reached down and patted Champ's fuzzy neck. “Pretty good, Mom. I think I'll make the honor roll again if I can just remember where Persia was on an ancient history map. Oh, and I've been wanting to ask you if it would be all right if I could be the manager of the girls' softball team. Robin's been after me forever to join the team. But you know sports and I get along like scrambled eggs and pickles. Being the manager is the best I can do for Robin. Filling a water cooler and carrying a first aid kit shouldn't be that hard.”

“First, let's consider how busy you are throughout the week,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Find out how many days you need to stay after school for the team. Since you only have Maranatha counseling once a week, perhaps you can squeeze softball in somewhere. Are you sure you can fit that in with all your studies, music lessons, and barn chores?”

“No problem,” Skye assured her. “Mom, I need to ask you something,” she said, suddenly changing the subject.

“Yes, honey, what is it?”

Skye chose her next words carefully while the horses' bridles clanked and the saddles squeaked. The group headed out of the woods and across a field to a gentle hill a short distance behind the Chambers' barn. Nudging Champ to trot alongside Pepsi, Skye finally mustered enough courage to speak.

“Mom, what can I do about…” Skye hesitated.

“About what?”

“About…”

“About Tanya?” Mrs. Chambers asked.

“Hey!” Skye said. “You knew all along.”

“It's pretty obvious that you're having trouble liking her. What seems to be the problem?”

“What's the problem?” Skye squawked. “How's this for starters? I have tried and tried to be nice to her, but most of the time, she acts like I'm not even there. I wish she'd go home.” Her face flushed hot from embarrassment the instant she realized what she had just said. “Sorry, but that's the way I feel.”

With the dogs trailing behind, the horses made their way to the top of the hill. The view opened up into a panorama of farmers' fields. In the distance, the gray bulges of Shade Mountain melded into a steel-blue sky layered with fast-moving clouds. A March wind teased Skye's long hair that flowed out from under her hardhat. She pushed her hair back and pulled her jacket zipper up tight against her neck.

Mrs. Chambers stroked Pepsi's neck, and then rested an arm across the horn of the saddle. She focused on the view, the wind playing with her tied-down Stetson. “It's awfully difficult living with someone you don't like. Honey, let me ask you a few questions. Let's see if we can get to the root of this problem.”

“It's not that I don't like her. But she is a problem!” Skye shot off.

Mrs. Chambers gave Skye her familiar careful-young-lady look. “Skye…”

“Oh, all right. Go ahead, shoot.”

“Exactly when did you decide that you didn't like Tanya? It is a decision, you know. It doesn't just happen by itself.”

Skye stared at the valley, thinking into the past. “Like, when she threw Morgan and me out of her bedroom
right after she got here. She just thinks she's better than everybody else. She acts like some kind of queen bee or something. That's all.”

“Are you sure? Think carefully.”

Out of the distant past, Skye's memory taunted her.

“Skye, are you with me?” Mrs. Chambers asked.

“Yes-s-s,” Skye squeezed out. “Okay, okay. I guess I didn't like her from the first time I met her—when she was with Kenny Hartzell at the fair. She made fun of me and called me a farmer. It was her fault I drank that beer.” Her voice rose in anger.

“Now listen to yourself, Skye. What are you doing? That old problem you've had long before you moved in seems to have resurfaced.”

Skye felt her face redden again, and her insides started to sizzle with anger—an anger she thought she had buried with her past. Tears of shame welled up in her eyes. “I'm blaming someone else for what I did wrong,” she lamented.

“I think you're correct on that one,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Remember, Skye, God holds us responsible for our actions. Thankfully, you have asked the Lord to forgive you. But every once in a while, our bad habits poke their heads out just like the ugly weeds trying to choke my crocuses. Here's another question, and this one's loaded. Are you ready?”

“Shoot.”

“Are you jealous of Tanya?”

Skye recoiled as though Tanya had asked her the question herself.

“Skye?”

“Jealous? Of her?” Skye tsked. “Of course not! Why should I be?”

“Are you jealous of her time with me?”

“Nah, I know that's your job.”

“Well, let's see. She has two parents…”

“But I have you and Dad.”

“And she has everything she wants—and then some.”

“She's spoiled rotten.”

“Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Do you wish you had some of that money? Some of her stuff?”

“Well—maybe,” Skye conceded. “But I don't hate her for that. She's—she's—just so—immature! Nobody likes her at school either! Just ask Morgan!”

Mrs. Chambers turned Pepsi around and faced Skye, eyeball to eyeball. “Honey, Tanya has some deep-rooted problems that haven't even surfaced. That's why she's here at Keystone Stables and Maranatha. Can't you remember how it was when you first moved in? You were all torn up inside. You were so full of bitterness against your parents that you couldn't see straight.”

“Yeah, I was a mess, wasn't I?” Skye agreed. “I just never think of Tanya having problems. Why would she have problems? She has everything else.”

“Yes, Tanya, does have everything as far as material things, but she's a very lonely young lady,” Mrs. Chambers said. “She's chosen to isolate herself from everyone because she hurts so deeply inside. Let me tell you something, Skye. When someone like Tanya acts like she's better than everybody, it's usually because she has a low opinion of herself. There's something bothering her that she's not willing to share with us yet. She needs a lot of love and understanding from all of us. Now, let me ask you a very serious question.”

“Okay.”

“Have you prayed for Tanya—even once?”

Silence.

Mrs. Chambers pointed upward. “Skye, you know that when you accepted Christ, your life really started to change for the better. He helped you get over your
bitterness and gave you a wonderful peace in your heart. Tanya's empty inside and she's scared. I could be wrong, but I'm afraid she doesn't know the Lord.”

“I never thought of her being scared of anything but horses, but that was only when she first moved in.”

“One last question, and then we'll head back.” Mrs. Chambers gave Skye a warm smile. “Will you promise to pray for her from now on? Just remember, honey, she is right where you once were.”

Skye had focused on her saddle, but the warmth in Mrs. Chambers' voice drew her back to her mom's caring smile.
Mom really does love me,
she thought.
She loves all of us.
“Yeah, I promise to pray for Tanya,” Skye finally said. “Every day.”