Antithesis Read online

  Heaven.

  Shiny coats gleaming, heady smells of Show Sheen, fly spray, hoof polish, and shavings, so much activity – so much anticipation.

  Ashley had interrogated me all the way to the show grounds about Ben. She was more excited about his impending arrival than her riding classes. I guess that is normal for most girls.

  Viva felt great this morning. Her strides lengthened and shortened with the slightest shifts in my weight, and Robin, so far, seem pleased.

  “Try those cross rails on the north side of the arena, then get ready for your first class. You look great, Elliott, both of you,” she smiled.

  Alone, at last, with my thoughts. We had already walked the course and knew it like the backs of our hands. The jumper course was power and speed – clean round first, then a fast one – our favorites.

  This was our first real show, so I was pleasantly surprised that Viva was nonplussed with the extra activity. Most everyone had concentrated looks on their faces, and the tension was tangible. Out of the corner of my eye, a bright Chestnut with a wide blaze approached at a trot. Oh no, Ashley’s back.

  “When did you say he’s coming?” Ashley said.

  “After lunch,” I said.

  “Be sure you find me when he gets here!” she said, and off she went.

  Good luck to you, too. I knew she was nervous, but all the same, I wish she’d relax and enjoy this. After all, showing was supposed to be fun.

  Our turn. In the arena I concentrated on my entrance circle and Viva felt perfect.

  “Our next rider is Elliott Marks on Viva la Danza,” the announcer said in his smooth, nonchalant voice.

  Focusing, cantering, circles – the sound was far, far, away – no noise from the spectators – silence. So quiet…except for the pattering pattering hoofbeats circling circling circling – somewhere a baby cried – far far away – on to the first jump – over and around and we were floating and flying. I felt Viva rise and fall, gather and lengthen, lift and lower her body up and around all clean.

  Then right into the speed – go Viva! – she exploded beneath me. Nothing but the moment mattered, just her and me and the jumps beneath us as if we were only cantering in place. Up and over and around and down turning here, spinning there for a better time, twisting and up, reaching and landing and to that jump…now the final one… up and over…and away…we had produced a perfect flying round all clean.

  The crowd gasped collectively as Viva ended the sequence with a flip of her glittering black and white tail.

  I wanted to shout for joy, but I settled for a big rub along her pale gray neck and a wide grin for my parents as we cantered to the exit. What fun that was! What a perfect horse! We actually have a chance at the ribbons!

  Ashley was next and not too happy about our clean fast round. She and Bonfire beat our time, but my elation never abated. After all, she has been doing this her whole life and this was our first. Our FIRST! And a clean round. Unbelievable!

  Mother met me at the gate, and Daddy was beaming. He never showed that kind of emotion.

  “Elliott, I can’t believe you can do that! You were flying!” he said in admiration.

  His praise was genuine, for he never understood my fascination for animals. I am just glad he thought it a worthy pastime for me. The least I could do was to be good at it.

  “Thanks, Daddy,” I said, grinning down at him. A girl can never get enough praise from her Daddy.

  “You were so lovely, Elliott,” Mother gushed. “Carolyn said Ben was coming. Is he here yet?”

  “After lunch.”

  “Oh, well, we have some errands to run and will be back for your afternoon class, say, around 1:30?” Mother said.

  “That sounds fine. I am sure we will not ride again until then,” I said.

  “Need anything honey?” Daddy asked as he made way for Viva’s animated feet.

  “No, thanks. Love ya’ll – see you this afternoon,” I said.

  We placed third behind a girl from another barn and Ashley. She had a perfect round, as usual.

  The weather was glorious – blue bird November sky – so we took the horses back to their stalls and mingled. Ashley introduced me to those she knew from other barns, and I couldn’t get enough of looking at the other horses, their riders, what they were wearing, what bits they used – it was all so new and fascinating.

  “Ashley, who are all these people?” I asked. “Where do they come from?”

  “Mostly Louisiana, south Mississippi, and some from Tennessee,” she said. “This is a really small show, so you don’t see any big name riders, really. Robin thought this would be a good introduction for you and practice for Bonfire and me. And by the way, you did great.”

  “Thanks.” I meant it, too. I knew how hard it was for her to be complimentary.

  “So, let’s see if Ben’s here yet. I’m sure he’d like to meet some more people in this town,” I said. Although I could not stop thinking about horses, Ashley’s thoughts were definitely on other pursuits.

  We walked back to the stands and sat where we could survey the crowd. People shuffled around with tiny dogs on leashes, and a few wandered off unattended. Mamas tended their stroller babies while young siblings dashed around looking for mischief.

  “Those should be the ones on leashes,” I said to Ashley.

  When she didn’t answer, I looked up and saw Ben approaching. My, he really is a good-looking guy – in an all-American kind of way. Just look at that smile.

  “Ben!” I called, moving down the bleachers. “I’m really glad you could come. Meet my friend Ashley Woods. Ashley, this is Ben Allen.”

  “So nice to meet you, Ben. Elliot said you ride?” she said as she pointed her big saucer sized blue eyes up at him beneath her thick, black lashes.

  He didn’t have a chance. Ashley has this one in her clutches, and no red-blooded guy could resist her. And, interestingly enough, I didn’t mind. I wonder why.

  “Um, yes,” Ben said, momentarily distracted by that look I was sure.

  “Well, where?” Ashley asked.

  “Oh, yes…well, I’m from the Coast, and we played a little polo every now and then,” he said.

  I felt Ashley swoon. Oh dear.

  “Polo? How cool. What kind of horses did you have?” she asked.

  “They were actually my friend’s horses. I was really lucky in that. He let me ride all I wanted,” he said.

  I could see he missed it, too. And so could Ashley.

  “You’ll have to come ride with us sometime,” Ashley insisted.

  Ben looked at me and grinned…a little too eagerly to suit.

  “I’m not sure I’m worthy to ride your mounts,” he said. “I’m sure they would not appreciate hauling around a mere polo player.”

  His eyes sparkled, and Ashley gasped.

  “Oh Ben, we have plenty of rental horses at the barn. No excuses,” Ashley said. “I’ll have one ready for you tomorrow afternoon. How does 2:00 sound?”

  No way he could resist that. She was pushing the line, but oh, so properly – the perfect welcoming facilitator.

  “Fine. Elliott?” he said and looked at me for affirmation.

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” I grinned.

  Ashley cut me with her eyes, but what else would I rather do than spend the afternoon with Viva? I’d stay out of her way.

  “Ben! Ben Allen?” a tall, college-aged boy said.

  “Christopher! How are you?” Ben clasped his outstretched arm and they shook like old friends.

  “What in the world are you doing in Canton?” Christopher asked.

  “I live here now. Christopher, meet my new neighbor Elliott Marks and her friend Ashley…”

  “Woods,” I saved him the embarrassment. Ashley steamed but never faltered with her weapons. If Ben was not charmed…yet… Christopher certainly was.

  “And this is Christopher James,” Ben said. “He’s one of my polo friends from the Coast.

  “Nice to meet you both,” Chr
istopher said, his eyes lingering on Ashley a little longer than on me. “I’m here watching my niece ride. I’m at school at Millsaps. Have you found anywhere to ride yet, Ben?”

  “No, but I’m not sure I’ll have the time,” Ben said.

  “I hope to foxhunt some this year since I hear there’s a hunt near Canton. Did you know that?” Christopher said.

  “No, I didn’t. That could be fun,” Ben said, “depending on their group, of course. Do you know anyone who rides with them?”

  “Not yet, but I figured this was as good a place as any to find someone who knows someone,” Christopher said, looking pointedly at Ashley.

  “Well, I don’t know any foxhunters, really,” she said. “But Robin may know who to call. They send her invitations from time to time.”

  “Would you ask her, Ashley? I would really like to hunt again,” Ben said.

  It was her turn to be dazzled.

  “Well, I…sure,” she said. “Let’s find her now.”

  “I’m going to check on Viva,” I said. I was trying this time to help Ashley. Why? Who knows?

  Ashley smiled her approval.

  “We’ll just be a minute, let’s all go,” Ben said.

  Her smile vanished.

  Robin knows everyone, so in no time, Ben, Ashley, Christopher, and I had promises that we would have something called “fixtures in hand” by the end of the day.

  “That’s unusual,” Christopher said. “I can’t believe they’re so open to visitors.”

  “Robin has connections,” Ashley said. “And you both better be good riders or else! She went out on a limb for us on this one. She said she’s a member, so she can take us. She just hardly has time to go with all her show activities.”

  More like Ashley has connections. Robin would do anything for her star student. And I’m sure the show schedule would be clear for us to go if Ashley put her mind to it.

  Now my head was spinning – Foxhunting? What in the world have we signed up for now? And what is a fixture in hand? I hated to seem so ignorant, so I kept my mouth shut. After all, the horsey set was altogether new to me. And is this a double date? It can’t be too much pressure with Robin along – maybe there will be some others, so we can hide in a group.

  Seeing Mother and Daddy reminded me I had a class in the notso-distant future, so I left the conspiracy to prepare Viva.

  Foxhunting. Did that not mean we were going to kill something? Well, what do you wear for that? Now I’m really sounding like a teenager. What to wear for the kill? I’m getting nervous and delirious at the same time – focus. Two cute guys taking us foxhunting, and I’m worried about what to wear for the kill. Grand would be scandalized. It’s bad enough that I ride. Whatever would she think if I went hunting?

  I took the image of her pursed lips into the arena and rode another clean, perfect round.

  Robin was as good as gold on the fixture cards, or invitations, as I discovered they were in common English.

  “Girls, we’re going Saturday!” Robin said.

  My heart stopped.

  “This coming Saturday?” I asked. Terror gripped me at the though of taking a life in less than a week.

  “Yes yes – and it’s the Opening Meet,” she beamed.

  Whatever that meant – but Ashley and I smiled politely.

  “Now, it’s really important how you look and act. I’m not worried about how you ride, just, well, google MFHA and watch the video. After that, read every word under foxhunting information. Don’t worry, we’ll all ride together in second flight – the boys, too – you can’t get into too much trouble in second – they have a great field master. Ashley, find them some horses they can hunt –Viva and Bonfire will be fine for you two, I think, maybe another horse for Ashley, no, Bonfire should be fine – we’ll be in second flight so the horses should be fine,” she muttered under her breath as much to herself as to us. “Now, I’ve got to go help Jenny get that pony under control.”

  Ben and Christopher were elated.

  I thought I was going to be sick.

  “Christopher, I guess you’ll be riding with us tomorrow if you want to hunt on Saturday,” Ben said.

  “That’s great! I have my saddle with me, and my other stuff, too,” he said.

  “What other stuff do you mean?” Ashley asked.

  I was so glad she did not worry about questioning. After all, she’d ridden her whole life but had never hunted.

  “Oh, well…there is a lot of gear you need,” Ben said, “but you have most of it already. Your show attire should be fine for your first Opening Meet, but be sure to wear a white shirt – plain collar, straight pin or no pin and no jewelry. I may have some extra stock ties and pins. Wear either a navy or black jacket and a black velvet helmet – nothing shiny. And, oh, yes, khaki breeches.”

  How strange for us to be getting wardrobe advice, no, a wardrobe speech from guys. We were all ears nonetheless. They were giving details. Very strange.

  “Be sure to wear a plain black or white saddle pad, not a square one, or no pad, since it is a formal hunt – the most formal,” Christopher said. “And definitely no ear bonnets or bridle…bling.”

  Did he just say bling? Oh yeah, seventh grade sister. Not likely a girlfriend the way he’s gaping at Ashley. Of course we knew better than that on the bling, but why in the world would that matter? I still kept my mouth shut.

  “That settles it, then,” Ashley said. “See you both tomorrow at 2:00 at the barn.”

  “Hold on, girls. You said you’d never hunted before,” Christopher grinned. “Surely you have questions, or maybe, ignorance is bliss?”

  The challenge in his voice was unmistakable. I shuddered.

  Ashley, grand champion of today’s show, had too much pride, or something, to lower herself to accepting equestrian advice from boys.

  “How complicated can this be if so many people do it?” she said, tossing her long black mane over her shoulder with all the confidence she could muster.

  “Tomorrow at 2:00 then,” Christopher said, and he narrowed his eyes at her.

  My stomach lurched. There was no mistaking the challenge in his remark.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Chapter 4 - Trial and Error

  Swallows of the earth, horses float with freedom and grace; we ride them to borrow their beauty. If God made anything more lovely, he kept them for Himself.

  I made it through church, but could not stop thinking about the afternoon’s ride. The hymn Love Lifted Me followed me to my car filling my mind with galloping and jumping. At home, I grabbed a sandwich. Ben was not home yet, so I had a few minutes to clean my room and change.

  Christopher and Ashley would be meeting us at the barn. Ashley did not really appreciate that Ben’s interest was mostly directed at me, but I assured her I didn’t reciprocate. At least, not yet. But I kept that thought to myself.

  Not soon enough for me, I heard Ben banging on the doorframe downstairs. “You ready, Elliott?” he asked.

  “Be right there,” I said, taking the steps two at a time.

  “Nervous?” he smiled down at my flushed face.

  “You’re the one that should be nervous,” I said. “I’ve been riding every day for a year!”

  “Ah yes, but I think I’ll be able to manage,” he said, smiling oh so very confidently and oh so very...well…it was nice. He moved in a little closer – maybe just to challenge me…and we were so alone – no parents had arrived yet. He’d noticed and was testing the waters. I had to give him credit for that.

  “Hold this,” I said, tossing him my helmet to distract him as I gathered apples for Viva and the other horses.

  He backed away to catch my helmet, nonplussed, but still watching. He beat me to the door of his car, opened it for me, and made a grand gesture of his chivalry.

  “After you, milady,” he said and closed the door. He pulled that off nicely, too. Hmmm.

  Christopher and Ashley had already gathered the horses when we arrived at the stable. He woul
dn’t let Ashley tack up Bonfire, so she had gathered his tack and assembled it outside his stall. That left her free to bound over to us.

  “Hello Ben, Elliott,” she said. “I brought some cookies for a snack. Baked them myself. Want some?”

  How ridiculously obvious. I’m sure her mother’s cook made these, but whatever. She’s really pulling out all the stops.

  “Delicious, Ashley,” I said, biting back my snide remarks. “That was really thoughtful of you.”

  “We have the chestnut over there for you, Ben, and Christopher will be riding that buckskin,” Ashley said.

  Blazer and Sonny, good choices. It makes me crazy that she never calls them by name.

  “I’ll go get Viva ready and find Ben a bridle,” I said.

  “That won’t be necessary, Elliott, I have my own bridle and saddle. But a girth would be nice in case mine’s too large, and a pad if there’s an extra,” he said.

  I gathered all the gear and started tacking up Viva.

  “Here, let me do that for you,” he said.

  “No, thanks, Ben,” I said. “I’d rather pack my own parachute today.”

  “Don’t trust me?” he asked, leaning in a little closer…again.

  “Not one bit,” I said and turned my shoulder to him tossing a mischievous glance over it so he’d know I wasn’t really being rude.

  The barn was busy but not too crowded yet, so we decided to warm up first in the arena. Christopher and Ashley were already there when we arrived. Ashley looked beautiful on Bonfire, and I did hope Ben noticed. They were perfectly matched and ever so lovely together. Bonfire gleamed, and Ashley knew they made an impressive statement. She flashed a smile our direction.

  Christopher, however, was a disappointment. Sonny and he were well matched, and Christopher obviously knew what he was doing, but he had that all-too-typical male slouchy thing going that really made an otherwise good-looking guy look ridiculous. His legs stuck way out in front, and I hurt for Sonny watching him bounce heavily on his back. At least his hard hat was on correctly and fit. What a disappointment. I hope Ben’s not the same. Maybe it’s a polo thing.