Comeback Page 6

  “Ready for new shoes?” I asked. “They’ll be all shiny and pretty.”

  Whisper made wide eyes at me. She wasn’t a huge fan of being shod, but she always seemed to prance in her new horseshoes when the process was over. Since she needed new shoes every six to eight weeks, I was glad Whisper seemed happy in the end. We were next for the farrier. I’d made it to the stable in time to groom Whisper before her turn.

  After a breakfast of Lucky Charms and tea, the girls and I had gone back to Clare’s room and cleaned up our stuff. We’d changed, and I’d told everyone I’d let them know when Whisper was finished and ready to be tacked up for our trail ride.

  I’d found a message from Drew when I’d checked my phone after breakfast.

  Drew:

  Glad u guys want 2 trail ride. If u don’t c me, msg me when Whisper’s ready & we can meet out front 20 mins afr that.

  I led Whisper out of her box stall to the front of the stable where Mr. Farley, the farrier, had his tools set up. He and Mr. Conner were talking.

  “Ah, Lauren,” Mr. Conner said. “Brent, this is Lauren and her mare, Whisper. They’re new to Canterwood.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Mr. Farley said, rubbing his hands on his leather apron. “You’ll be seeing a lot of me.” He smiled, showing tan lines on his face. I had a good feeling about him, which was critical whenever I let anyone work on Whisper. Mr. Farley had kind brown eyes that matched his buzzed hair.

  “It’s good to meet you, too,” I replied.

  “We want to make sure, Brent, that the hoof with a missing shoe isn’t tender,” Mr. Conner said.

  “Let’s get the mare into cross-ties and I’ll take a look,” Mr. Farley said, brushing a hand over his brow. He’d probably been shoeing horses all morning. His forearms were streaked with dirt, and he had a trash can full of hoof clippings off to the side.

  I cross-tied Whisper and stood near her head, keeping one hand on her halter.

  Mr. Farley walked over to the hoof in question, murmuring soothing words to Whisper.

  I’d seen a few bad farriers on the show circuit—some who were impatient when horses acted up and others who lacked proper training. Even though Mr. Farley seemed nice, I was très protective of mon amour (my love!), and I was going to watch every second—as much as I trusted Mr. Conner to have a top farrier on call.

  Mr. Farley picked up her hoof and cradled it between his knees. He reached into his apron pocket and pulled out a pair of tongs. I tried to cross my toes, since my hands were busy. I peered to the side and saw Mr. Farley run his thumb over her hoof, pressing on the frog, or V-shaped part. Whisper didn’t react to his touch. Nor did she move when he applied more pressure with the metal tongs.

  “Looks fine to me,” Mr. Farley said. “I don’t see any hint of soreness.”

  “Yay,” I said quietly, stroking Whisper’s cheek. In my gut, I hadn’t thought she was sore, but I knew I’d never feel at ease until Wisp got a once-over from a professional.

  Mr. Farley kept her hind leg in his grasp and trimmed her hoof with a pair of nippers. Whisper didn’t mind this part. After trimming, he used a hoof knife to slice and trim around the frog and sole of her hoof. Then he picked a shoe out of his apron, eyeing the fit. He released Whisper’s hoof, moved to the portable forge, and stuck the shoe inside. Soon the metal shoe was red-hot. Mr. Farley used his anvil and a hammer to shape the shoe, then dunked it into a bucket of cold water, making the metal sizzle. Many farriers I’d watched would place the hot shoe on the horse’s hoof for a few seconds to see if the fit was right, but I liked that Mr. Farley was doing a mix of hot and cold shoeing.

  Whisper’s ears had gone back when the hammering started, and she swished her tail when the horseshoe sizzled.

  “It’s okay,” I said. “None of this hurts, remember?”

  Mr. Conner stood, silent, watching the process. I wondered if he was sticking by in case I needed help with Whisper.

  Mr. Farley lifted her back hoof again and placed the shoe on the bare hoof.

  “Perfect fit,” he said. “I’m going to hammer it into place now.”

  “Okay,” I said. I grasped Whisper’s halter a little tighter. “We’re going on a trail ride after this.” I raised my voice so she could hear me above the hammering. “It’s going to be really fun, and it’ll be practice for the show. Sound like a plan?”

  I kept talking and was deep in conversation with Whisper about my newest beauty find from Sephora when I looked up. Mr. Farley and Mr. Conner were standing together by the forge, smiling at me.

  “Lauren, what was the name of that nail polish you were about to share with Whisper?” Mr. Conner asked. He laughed kindly, and Mr. Farley joined in.

  “You’re finished?” I asked.

  Mr. Farley nodded. “She’s good to go. She was so well behaved, Lauren. I look forward to shoeing her again.”

  Pride made me smile. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate your time and being gentle with her.”

  I unclipped Whisper from the cross-ties and led her back to her stall. Then I took out my phone and BBMed Drew, Khloe, Clare, and Lexa.

  Lauren:

  Whisper has new shoes & I’m gonna tack up. Meet u outside soon?

  While I gathered Whisper’s tack, I got messaged back from everyone that they’d be ready soon.

  Since Whisper was already groomed, I tied her to the inside of her stall and picked up the bubble-gum-pink saddle pad that I saved for fun occasions. It took minutes to get her saddled and bridled.

  Whisper lifted her hooves high as we went down the aisle to the main entrance. I was glad she’d have time to get used to the new shoes before the show.

  “Knew it!” I said. “You heart your shoes.”

  We exited the stable and stopped at the side of the double doors. It was the perfect day to trail ride. The late September air had the slightest hint of coolness. The stickiness of summer was gone, but the midmorning sun blazed in the sky. A few thin, wispy clouds lingered in the sky, allowing most of the brilliant blue sky to be as visible as possible.

  I put on my helmet and mounted. I’d just raked my fingers though my wavy hair when a horse and rider emerged from the stable.

  “Hi,” Drew said, looking up at me. “Ready to ride?”

  PLAYING GAMES

  “HEY,” I SAID. I LOOKED INTO HIS BLUE eyes—bluer than almost anything I’d ever seen. I got goose bumps and was glad I’d thrown on a light gray jacket.

  Whisper reached her muzzle toward Polo. The gelding stretched his muzzle back, and they huffed at each other. Whisper blinked, batting her long eyelashes and turning her head slightly to the side.

  My horse was a better flirt than I was!

  Drew mounted, swinging a leg over Polo’s back and settling into the saddle. He looked parfait. His ease with Polo made it hard to look away, not to mention the T-shirt that matched his eyes, black zip-up jacket, and tan breeches.

  “I’m glad you were free today,” Drew said. “I needed to get out of the stable. Trail riding is like running—it’s a stress buster.”

  “Same for me,” I said. “I’m glad you asked me and my friends. We kind of need a break too. Stressful week.”

  Drew made a face. “Sorry. But this will make you forget about it.”

  “Hellooo!” Lexa said, leading Honor. She was flanked by Clare with Fuego and Khloe with Ever.

  All three of them shifted their eyes between Drew and me. I shot them a say-anything-and-die look, and when Drew’s eyes weren’t on me, I made a slashing motion across my throat.

  Khloe started to laugh but covered it with a cough.

  “Thanks for inviting us,” Clare said.

  “Yeah,” Khloe added, mounting Ever. “I would have a mental breakdown if I had to do one more spiral in the arena right now.”

  “Mental breakdown, huh?” Drew said, looking mock serious. “We better get on the trail fast.”

  “Def,” Lexa said. “Khlo, you know I love you, but you’re already this close to crazy
. I don’t want to see what happens if Khloe Kinsella is pushed over the edge.”

  We all laughed.

  “Let’s go!” I said.

  The four of us turned our horses away from the stable yard and headed for the woods on the outer edge of the campus.

  I somehow (ahem, thanks, Khloe) ended up next to Drew, with Lexa to my right and Clare beside her. Whisper’s body language changed the second she realized we weren’t going into the arena. I felt her muscles loosen, a swing fell into her stride, and she shook her head, sending her mane scattering.

  I laughed. “Someone’s happy not to be practicing.”

  “I’d shake my mane too,” Khloe said, grinning. “This feels so good!”

  The four of us let our horses trot, and we posted as we left the stable behind and headed for the trees and the woodland area. The campus, beautiful from every angle, looked especially très belle from here. We were headed down a gentle slope, and all that was visible of the campus were tops of buildings and streetlamps.

  “I’m so glad to leave everything behind,” I said.

  “Me too,” Drew said.

  “The campus is like its own city,” Clare said. “Know what I mean? Our entire lives are contained in this one spot where we do everything.”

  Everyone nodded at that.

  “We can’t escape the people we’re with. Ever. We may have separate dorm halls or rooms from people we see in class or whatever, but it’s like living in a small town. It feels like there’s always the possibility of running into someone.”

  “I get that,” I said, easing Whisper to a walk as we approached the line of trees that flanked a dirt trail. “It’s like everyone knows everything that’s going on with each other. Like sometimes we’re all a bunch of gossipy older women I’ve seen at salons, sitting under dryers with their wet curls.”

  “Um, I have never, nor will I ever, sit under a dryer and gossip,” Drew said. He raised both eyebrows, shooting me a glance. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. It made my palms a little sweaty against the reins.

  Clare, Lex, and I giggled at his pretend offense.

  “We’re not including you in our gossipy olds count,” Khloe said.

  Drew put a hand over his heart, neck-reining Polo. “Whew. So relieved you don’t see me that way.”

  Clare and Fuego and Khloe and Ever entered the trail first with Lexa close behind, followed by Drew and me.

  “Up for a new trail, LT?” Khloe asked.

  “Oui!” I said. “Always.”

  “Guys, is the one following the creek to the meadow okay?” Khloe asked.

  “Perf,” Clare said.

  Drew added a yes, and we kept walking through the woods. We walked the horses under a canopy of trees, and I took a mental snapshot of the scenery. The light filtered through the trees, casting shadows of all shapes and sizes onto the dirt trail.

  “It’s so gorgeous,” I said to Drew. “Look at the way the sunlight reflects on those leaves.”

  I tilted my head toward some maple leaves, and Drew followed my gaze.

  “I like how you notice those things,” he said. “You’ve got this attention to details that no one else sees.”

  I blushed. “I’m definitely not the only one—”

  Drew shook his head, stopping me. “Try to let me finish my compliment. You’re way too humble to say anything, but I want to.”

  I looked at Whisper’s mane, then back up at him. “Okay, okay. Go.”

  Drew smiled, satisfied. “I didn’t even look at the leaves, but once you pointed them out, I took a closer look. You notice the beautiful things, Lauren, that I think most people walk right by.”

  His words silenced me. I forgot where I was, what we were doing, and who I was talking to for a second. Then I snapped back to reality, staring at him. “Wow. No one has ever said anything like that to me before. Thanks, Drew. That was so sweet.”

  “Just calling it like I see it,” he said.

  I grinned and looked ahead, seeing that Lexa had slowed Honor so she was closer to us. I was so calling her on that later. Eavesdropper! But I wasn’t mad.

  “Right at the next fork,” Khloe called.

  We made the turn, and the dirt trail widened so we could ride side by side.

  The woods were peaceful, and I couldn’t imagine anything else I’d rather be doing.

  “Want to play games while we ride?” Drew asked. He was still next to me, with Clare on his right, then Khloe. Lexa had ended up to my left.

  “Totally!” Clare said.

  “I miss games!” Lexa said. “Remember when those actually counted as a lesson?”

  “If only we could convince Mr. Conner that passing the flag or an egg-and-spoon challenge was a good lesson,” I said, giggling.

  Khloe frowned. “I always dropped the eggs. Once, when I was in Pony Club and competing against another chapter, I lost so many eggs that they ran out! How does that happen? One of my most embarrassing moments ever in the horse world!”

  “We’re so doing that one day,” Clare said. “We’ll get a bunch of riders together and play. Khlo, maybe we’ll glue your egg to your spoon or something.”

  Khloe nodded, patting Ever’s neck. “Done. I’m so not above that.”

  We approached the fork in the trail and veered to the right. The path was free of debris, minus a few branches, and it was wider than the path we’d been on.

  “Okay,” Drew said. “Everybody stand in your stirrups. No holding onto manes or anything. You sit, you’re out.”

  I felt my competitive juices kick in. We all stood and I glanced at Drew, a cool, this-is-so-easy look on my face.

  “Guys! Look at the deer!” Khloe said.

  I swiveled my head and immediately lost my balance. Not wanting to pull on Whisper’s mouth, I sat down.

  Everyone else was standing.

  Shoot. Going out the first round wasn’t fun.

  “Aw, Khloe! No fair!” Lexa said. “LT’s never played with us. That was a dirty trick!”

  I looked over at her, confused. “Where are the deer?” I looked at both sides of the trail, not seeing any wildlife.

  “There are no deer,” Clare said. “Khloe just said it to try and make some of us fall.”

  I mock-gasped. “Khloe!”

  Khloe gave me a guilty grin. “I’m sorry! I didn’t even think about it.”

  “None of us looked, because we’ve played games with Khloe before and she does it all the time,” Lexa said. “Clare, Drew, and I totally spaced—we should have warned you about her diabolical tricks.”

  I laughed. “It’s okay, you guys. I fell for it. Now I get to watch.”

  “You should get a redo,” Khloe said. “You guys want to call that a practice round?”

  Everyone nodded, but I shook my head. “No way. Fair is fair. It’ll be just as fun to relax”—I kicked my feet out of the stirrups—“and watch you guys play.”

  “You call the commands,” Clare said.

  “Love that,” I said. “Okay. Everyone sit, then let go of your reins, drop your stirrups, and keep your horse moving with nothing other than vocal commands. If your horse stops, starts to run into another horse, or generally stops moving forward—you’re out.”

  As much as I wanted to play, this was fun too. Everyone followed my commands.

  “Hey, Lex,” Clare called.

  “Not listening,” Lexa sang. “Can’t hear you.”

  “Okay, but Honor might,” Clare said, her voice syrupy sweet. “Honor!” She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “C’mere, girl!”

  “Ooh, you guys really play!” I said.

  “Honor,” Lexa said, her voice firm. “Walk. Don’t listen to Clare.”

  The strawberry roan mare’s ears flicked back at Lexa and then swiveled toward Clare’s voice.

  “Honor,” Lexa said again.

  Drew and Khloe were oblivious to Clare’s tricks. Both had their horses walking, and neither showed signs of wobbling.


  Lexa kept talking to Honor, trying to keep the mare from listening to Clare’s I-have-a-treat-for-you voice. But Honor took a step sideways, veering in front of Whisper and starting in Clare’s direction.

  “Sorry, Lex,” I said.

  Lexa shot Clare an evil eye, then winked. “We’ll get you next time.”

  Lexa dropped back beside me.

  “You make the next call,” I said. “Everyone else, relax.”

  Lex thought for a minute. Then she called a new task.

  I sat back, enjoying the battle. Whisper seemed to be watching too. This was one of the best things we’d done together in a long time.

  Khloe was the next to drop out.

  Clare and Drew were the only two left.

  “We’re about to reach the field,” Khloe said, since it was her turn to decide on a command. “Last task. If no one fails in a few strides, you both win.”

  “You’re going down, Bryant,” Drew said to Clare.

  “Whatever,” she scoffed. “You’re done and you know it.”

  “Swing around in the saddle to look at us,” Khloe said. “And keep your horses in a straight line.”

  “Good one,” I said.

  Drew and Clare immediately dropped their reins, moved their feet out of the stirrups, and swung around to face Khloe, Lexa, and me. Both of them had the same determined look on their faces. Drew’s gelding, Polo, moved forward, seeming unaffected by his rider’s backward posture.

  Fuego, however, sensed something wasn’t right almost immediately. He twisted his head from side to side. He had no one to guide him. He didn’t have Clare’s eyes or reins. Before Clare could react, he started to circle back. Quickly she turned back around in the saddle and halted him.

  “Great job, Drew,” Clare said.

  Drew smiled, settling himself back in the right direction. “You too, Clare. I think Polo’s having a sleepy day, so I got lucky.”

  “You were both awesome,” I said.

  Khloe and Lexa chimed in with their congratulations. Drew modestly accepted them and caught my eye. I smiled, and he returned my gesture.

  We went back to a side-by-side position and reached a grassy field. A shallow creek wound down from a hillside next to us, and water rushed over the pebbles and stones that covered the creek bed.