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Love of Horses Pt. 01

By: EgmontGrigor2011



CHAPTER 1

Kate John's 18th birthday came with great expectations and went, leaving her more than disappointed. She was bitter her mother had not revealed which one of her mom's three brothers was her father. Furthermore the guy who had delivered that unfortunate shot of potent sperm for her unmarried mother did not have the courage to confess to his shameful act of all those years ago.

She silently cursed them. She begged her mom to tell her but Kathleen presented the perfect defense: "God darling, I've had so many men in my time you can't expect me to remember who they all were and when they seduced me."

"Come on, it was one of my uncles."

"How dare you. It certainly was not."

"Liar."

Her mom delivered a stinging slap across Kate's mouth, cutting the lip.

"You've made my mouth bleed," Kate said, hard pressed not to cry.

"You deserve that you foul-mouthed girl. You're mostly are so lovely to me and now you accuse me of lying to you."

"I'll ask you once more. Tell me."

"No, go bite your butt. I told you I couldn't remember."

Wham. 

Kate's slap caught her mom on the nose and as Kathleen bent forward in pain Kate jerked her knee up and caught her mom under the chin. She went out like a light and fell to the carpet, Kate sticking out a foot to break the fall.

Kate went into the kitchen. 

Sammy their old cook, sitting at the table reading the newspaper with a magnifying glass, saw the blood and climbed to his feet.

"Kate you're hurt. Who did it? I'll kill him."

"Mom did it."

His mouth fell open, showing a few gaps. "Your mom... but she's your mom?"

"Ha."

Sammy said but why and was told to mind his business.

"Come to over here and I'll clean you up."

"Give mom attention. I think I've knocked her out."

"Omigod," Sammy said, going as fast as his arthritic knees, worn during his early years of breaking in horses, would allow. He found Kathleen on her hands and knees, attempting to get up.

He helped her to her feet.

"Did you fall?"

"No that little bitch...um yes I tripped over the mat, hit my head on the table and fell."

"But the mat's out over the fence drying after being washed?"

"Sammy that's my story. If you give any other version to anyone then you'll be packing your bags and leaving. Get it?"

"Yes Miss Kathleen. My mouth is sealed Miss Kathleen."

"Where's Kate?"

"In the kitchen awaiting attention. She told me to attend to you first."

"Did she say what happened?"

"No," Sammy lied. "Perhaps she banged into a door?"

Kathleen grinned at him and said she'd sit while he attended to Kate.

Entering the kitchen Sammy found Kate had washed her face and neck and had ice in a plastic bag on her lips.

Mumbling through swelling and half-frozen lips Kate asked, "How's mom?"

"She's fine."

Kate held the icepack away from her mouth for a while. "Thank god for that but I should have known she'd be okay, she's such a tough bitch."

Rubbing a knee the cook said, "That comes from her being the youngest but the smartest and bossing her brothers and me as their father requested in his will."

"Yeah I guess so."

Sammy said recklessly, "It appears to me you'll be even tougher than your mom."

"You're paid to cook Sammy, not to vocalize opinion. Grab cool coffee and a couple of painkillers and take them out to mom. She was hit hard."

"She says she fell."

"What?"

"F-e-l-l"

"You cheeky shit. I know how to spell."

"Perhaps you need your hearing checked."

"SAMMY!"

"I'm going."

Kate watched him walking out unsteadily with the coffee and painkillers. He consumed twelve painkillers a day. She grinned at him and he grinned back, those missing teeth another legacy of all those years of breaking in horses that he continued doing until he was fifty-two and that was thirty-one years ago. He was old but he sure had learned to cook and was a survivor.

She went out to the coral beside the barn and roped her horse Cool Lady from amid the milling horses. She saddled the horse and rode out at a lope, the feel of the flexing body of the horse and the steady gait calming Kate, as she knew it would.

Kate leaned forward and kissed through the flying mane to the horse's neck.

"I love you Cool Lady. You mean everything to me."

* * *

A selection panel at Patrick University was nearing the end of a tiring day when an application for an assistant to the sole equestrian coach came on screen. The applicant's bid was supported by Claude High School from where she'd graduated six months earlier.

"Why are we looking at this?" barked the committee convener. "This applicant is eighteen whereas our preferred minimum age for all personnel, although not stated, is twenty-four?"

The director of sport, whose responsibility included equestrian, remained silent.

Mrs Ross, with seventeen years' experience of sifting through job applications and possessing the skill to handle a testy chairman near the end of a tiring day, said in a firm voice, "Sir I suggest you watch the DVD. It speaks for itself."

Miles Miller glanced at his watch and said, "Okay run it for us Milly."

The five-person panel including the convener looked at the big screen. A stocky 18-year old in cowboy boots, jeans a checkered shirt and wearing a weathered Stetson waved at the video camera and said, "Hi I'm Kate John. I live on a ranch at the base of Craig Mountain and wish to study things such as horse health and care, stabling, diet, equipment and of course I'd like to remain associated with equestrian. I finished fifth bottom in my graduating class at high school and that makes going to college and taking on a full study program a bad idea. But I believe I'm a good candidate to become the assistant to your equestrian coach."

"As I've stated I'm eighteen. I've ridden since I was four and have been finishing off half broken-in horses since I was thirteen. I was born and reared on a 27,800-acre cattle and horse ranch and we run up to 30 horses of all ages, so you can guess I've served big time among horses. Give me a minute and I'll demonstrate some of my skills that I feel will be valued by your equestrian coach."

"Stop the machine Milly," said the convener Miles Hammer. "Let's look at the next application and then when that's running you call Coach Hall and get him here pronto. This Kate John appears to be one tough cookie and I have a big feeling about her potential."

Coach Hall entered the room and heard the chairman reject the application just considered for his assistant.

"Hi Ralph," said Miles. I want you to see this and to advise us."

"Is that within procedural rules?"

"I have no idea Ralph but we know sweet all about equestrian. Some of us can't spell it," Miles joked.

The DVD introduction was run to the break when Kate had paused.

Ralph Hall said, "Miles the kid is confident and has a tough attitude. Most of our riders here are soft-centered females."

"Are your permitted to express yourself in that manner on this politically correct campus Ralph?"

"Er I have no idea but I'm aware I'm in the company of er mature academics."

"That you are Ralph. Here we go."

The scene started with Kate entering a corral with milling horses. She waited patiently until they settled and then roped a sorrel mare.

"Why didn't she rope the big white stallion to really impress us?" asked one of the two females on the panel.

The 35-year old Ralph, with a tanned and weathered face below short-cropped blond hair, sat forward and his steely blue eyes focused. "She knows she's filming for a job. She'll know what she's doing."

The quarter horse was pulled forward and came without resisting.

"Kate knows this mare. She'd know her abilities and horse and rider will have confidence in each other."

"You are hallucinating Ralph. I know you want her here because she has sizeable breasts," said the other woman.

"Tut-tut," said the liberal convener.

All Ralph said was to keep watching.

Kate removed the lariat and the horse stood calmly waiting for the bridle. After saddling, Kate mounted the mare with ease and flicking the mare's neck with the ends of the reins charged at the horses grouped some 40 feet away. They scattered and mare and Kate sailed over the top rail with ease.

"Jesus," Ralph said.

The next scene showed Kate cantering and then galloping on the mare and turning it just with the pressure of her thighs and then she rode at a slower gait over the top of a small gulch, the horse sliding down the stony embankment, its hindquarters tucked down, and it splashed into the deep flowing water and only at that point did Kate lean forward to placed her arms around the neck of the horse to stay with it as water pressure threatened to burst her backwards off the saddle.

"Jesus," Ralph said.

Kate slipped off the horse to lighten it and, keeping hold of its mane, horse and rider walked out the other side.

The camera operator obviously had also crossed because the next shot was a close up.

"Well there you are folk. If you want me to help hone your equestrian team so it emerges from the hole it's in, kept there by such tough competition, then you'll know I'm the recruit you need. My skills are in Western riding competition and jumping. Oh by the way, I tend to like horses better than I like most people but I like people who really like horses." 

Ralph stood. "Miles I want her. Our university needs her. Please get her in for a final selection interview. We need to know if she can handle students older than herself, especially the ones with enlarged egos."

* * *

Two weeks later Kate returned home from the final interview process at the university that her mom knew nothing about. All she knew was Kate had taken off mid-afternoon the previous day in her aged yellow TJ Jeep Wrangler.

They were friends again after their recent physical confrontation.

"Were have you been?"

"I went south to be interviewed for a job and got it."

"But you have a job here?"

"Bullshit. I'm no good working for you."

Kathleen sighed. "Well you are probably right about that. Have you got a job in a café or a fast food outlet?"

"I've been appointed assistant to the equestrian coach at Patrick University. I'm not required to be a graduate to hold that position."

"What, are they mad? You are too young for that sort of position."

"I notice you didn't say I wasn't qualified for the position."

"Dammit girl for years I won riding contests within a hundred miles around here but for horsemanship in all respects you have become my superior."

"Careful mommy, that's a really big compliment."

"Stop it, you know I hate you calling me mommy. Call me mom... call me Kathleen if you wish now you're a young woman."

"No mom is fine."

"What are they paying you, ten grand?"

"The job was offered at twenty-four grand but I negotiated to take it for twenty in return to being able to enroll in some of the equine study classes that interest me. It appears they were very interested to recruit me because my request to sit in some classes was referred to the academic board chairman and immediately approved. I live in free but will work long hours but with breaks. The university sits on 192-acres and has a huge covered equestrian center to allow a year-round operation. We'll do up to ten horse shows a year."

"Gee that was a smart move baby. The university would not have admitted you with your lousy academic record although I have to admit it probably was better than mine."

"They have their own barns and other facilities and horses which is pretty unusual plus a multi-purpose farm. Most of the 48 colleges and universities in our competition with equestrian teams do a deal with a nearby horse and rider training facility and some or them are not so nearby. Some old guy, who went to Patrick and gained a degree, built up a huge ranch supply business. He also established a horse ranch as a hobby and then bequeathed a million bucks for Patrick to establish an Equestrian Endowment Fund. During the past ten years the income from that, plus other fundraising and donations, have provided the facilities for the equestrian center to become self-sufficient. The huge indoor training area measures 300 ft by 140 ft and a second outdoor ring has just been completed."

"How many horses do your riders have?"

"Twenty of eight breeds allocated to us. Patrick is an agriculture-based university and so they have a horse-breeding program as part of livestock improvement research and studies."

Kathleen smiled encouragingly. "I have to admit the job sounds exactly right for you. What's the coach like?"

Kate replied, "He's in his mid-thirties, married with a master's in animal science and was an state eventing champion. He never reached national selection to compete internationally but as an independent did ride in open events in England, Ireland and Germany and won medals, cups and ribbons."

"Well if he's that young don't bend over in front of him in a dress, that's all I'll say."

"He's married mom."

"You heard what I said."

* * *

Kate began her job a couple of days before students began arriving to start the new academic year.

"You've chosen not to wear a dress," Coach Hall said.

"Oh good morning to you too."

He grinned.

"I don't wear dresses when I'm with horses."

"That's good. My wife will prefer seeing you in jeans."

"I'm not here to dress to please your wife."

"No you're not," he sighed. "She was angry that the selection panel choose a female because you and I will work closely together. I'm telling you this because you need to know. Get it?"

"Yes."

"Good. Call me Ralph at all times. She's invited you to dinner tonight. It will be okay to wear a dress to dinner but you decide."

"Take me to see the horses."

"What about the briefing?"

"That will take at least a day won't it?"

"Yes."

"I suggest you spread it over say three days to avoid overloading me with dull detail. I'm here because of horses and therefore it's reasonable I see the horses first."

"Right I agree. Just go careful about attempting to boss me around."

Kate grinned and said she'd tell his wife if he hit her unless it was okay to thump him back.

Ralph appeared horrified.

Kate bored in, "You intend setting ground rules so why shouldn't I?"

"Er yes, we work at a university where interaction, self-discipline and free speech are encouraged. You are encouraged to discuss ground rules but I set them."

"Okay boss. Let's see if you have half-descent horses. I bet you have even docile walkers for new members of our selected team. So do we also try-out past members who are returning?"

"Yes to avoid charges of alleged discrimination."

"And do I get to have a say in section?"

"I really don't..."

"Think carefully Ralph."

"Um of course you do." 

As they left the office Ralph complained, "Jesus Kate, I feel it's me who's getting the try-out."

The horses were in two corrals.

"They are Western horses," Kate said, pointing to the eight in the smaller pen.

Ralph nodded and smiled. "Right here's a test for you. It's something the senior riders who could be contemptuous of you in your position because of your young age, may well ask you. Please identify the breed and sex of all twenty horses."

"There are only nineteen horses here."

"Are you sure?"

"Christ Ralph I've been working herded horses since I was ten."

She rattled off the breeds correctly and made only one mistake with the milling English horses in the larger pen, identifying a mare as a gelding.

"That's impressive. Let's go to the barn and see what's up with the missing horse. This has not been reported to me."

The head groom Jimmy Cross had a rug on the mare.

"Bindy has a temp. I'm about to get one of our vets over. It could be a virus."

"Jimmy this is Kate my new assistant."

"Hi Jimmy," said Kate, who felt Bindy's nose and then walked around her.

She said, "Don't bother calling the vet. She's suffering a chill. Probably someone rode her hard and not cooled her off before putting her out."

"Are you sure?" Jimmy challenged.

Kate said softly, "Okay Jimmy, you call a vet and be prepared to be abused for a senseless call-out."

Jimmy looked at Ralph who said, "If Kate says it's a chill it's a chill. Come on Kate."

"Okay it's a chill and we're on to it early," Jimmy said sullenly. "I'll keep the blanket on her and feed her some hot mash. By the way Ralph I saw your wife ride Bindy out just before dark last night."

"Right I'll talk to her."

* * *

Three days after the autumn semester started, Ralph began checking through the thirty-eight applications for a try-out.

"Have all your previously members re-applied?"

"Yes all bar one. Claire Kennedy has a broken arm so has ruled herself out."

"Was she any good?"

"Better than average and improving."

"Then re-admit her without trial. When did the break occur?"

"Five weeks ago," Ralph said, his temperature appearing to be on the rise.

"It's six weeks for a heal under proper care, plus another two weeks extra to give the mend time to harden. So that eight weeks is less the five already gone. Why should Claire, an acknowledged improving horsewoman, be denied an academic year's riding because she'll be out of riding for three weeks?"

"Well I don't know. The tradition is try-out or miss out."

"Let her in Ralph if that's what she wants, subject to a medical certificate in three weeks that she is fully fit to ride."

"Okay and what you've said makes sense. I've seen you out riding at nights with Anne."

"Yes your wife and I are becoming very friendly. Jesus I was cold-shouldered when she saw me that night when I arrived for dinner with my boobs pulled up high and my thick thighs showing under a short skirt. When I offered to ride with her she said yes, but initially I think she thought I was sent in as a spy to see if she always abused her horse."

"Did she mention turning out Bindy sweating?"

"Yes she said she had a stomach upset, agitated by riding, and had to rush off. Um she asked me not to say anything."

"Right got that."

Kate looked through the pile of acceptances for show competition and then through the pile of rejects that would presumably be added to non-competition riders.

He sighed. "Do you agree with my assessment? The cut-off for try-out was the top fifteen."

"I'd like to make that sixteen with this one I've placed on top of the reject pile."

"Why he's had no competitive experience."

Kate said, "True but he hasn't said he's not had competitive experience."

"And you think he has?"

"Yes for sure. Christ he comes off a horse ranch and like me probably began riding at the age of four. Also you only have five males in your try-out pile Ralph and I'm willing to bet this guy Rick Flavell will be in your top ten."

"That's based on hogwash. What's the bet?"

"If I lose I offer a rollicking night in bed and you are not required to wager anything."

"Jesus Kate are you loco?" Ralph said, looking up anxiously at the open door of the office. 

He added Rick's application to the pile of try-out acceptances and whispered, "There is no bet. What would my wife say if she found out?"

"I never considered that happening because I'd win that bet," Kate said confidently.

* * *

A meeting of the Patrick University Equestrian Club was held at 5:00 on Wednesday afternoon. Eighty-two students interested in joining the club to ride horses recreationally or to ride competitively turned up including a female with an arm in plaster who kissed Coach Hall and thanked him for his benevolence.

Ralph said she should not thank him and pointing to Kate said, "Thank my new assistant, she pleaded your case."

"But she doesn't know me?"

"No but apparently she can look at a rider's record and have a good idea where that rider stands. She then argued you should be in."


Love of Horses Pt. 01



Claire smiled at Kate and sat with some second-year riders.

"Okay everyone, this meeting is underway," Ralph said.

There was complete silence.

"First it's my pleasant duty to introduce my new assistant Kate John. Come and stand beside me Kate."

People clapped politely.

Ralph said, "Now that our indoor facility and a second outdoor ring, this one with lights, have been completed, I have been authorized to have a show team of up to thirty members and so have been given an assistant. Admin doesn't like seeing Patrick ending each riding year in one of the bottom three positions."

Claire said, "No it follows that more riders, more horses for training and more entries mean improved results, providing the coaching is up to scratch."

"Thank you Claire. I can announce more horses will arrive soon so that we always have a reasonable number taking a spell. Kate is not a graduate so under Patrick's terms of engagement of instructors, a non-graduate cannot carry the title of co-coach or even assistant coach. But she will supervise what you do and give advice not instruction. If you are sensible you'll regard her advice as instruction."

"Kate is eighteen and has just completed high school. She comes off a cow and horse ranch up north and began riding when she was four and began working horses when she was ten and since the age of thirteen has been finishing off half broken-in horses. In my opinion Kate is the best rider we've had at this school and in saying that I include myself. Run the video please Brenda."

It was Kate's application video. She was already half sinking through the floor in embarrassment after the astonishing way in which Ralph had described her as a horsewoman.

Several girls tittered at Kate's opening remarks on the video.

That stopped when those viewers noticed she roped the sorrel at first shot and when she charged the herd and jumped the high fence, clearing it by inches and a buzz of excited comment swept through the room.

There were several cries of Omigod when it was realized Kate had made that jump without a saddle. And there were shrieks of 'Omigod' when Kate rode that horse straight over the edge of the ravine and down gravel on the slope of about thirty degrees.

There was big applause when the video finished.

"How old is the horse?" someone called.

Kate looked at Ralph and he waved his hand forward inviting her to answer.

"Cool Lady is eight. The stallion was my choice as was the brood mare when I was ten."

"That corral to rail looked at least five and a half feet high."

"It's 4 ft 8 in actually. I practiced that entire stunt twenty times before we filmed it. By then Cool Lady could have jumped and completed the course going backwards with her eyes shut."

"Okay that enough questions for now. Did I say Kate could really ride?"

"Yes?" called most of the group.

"Kate will share training with me but her special areas will be supervising the Western team which this year we increase from three to six places and next year will lift that to eight. We currently have eight Western horses and more are being donated. If more than six of you want to show Western then we'll run a ballot for the final three places. Kate and I need to pick the three strongest Western riders because it's been our smallest section and in competition we have trailed everyone. Kate's other responsibility will be supervising the English event team members involved in hunter-seat equitation over fences. I really need to put my effort into dressage and bringing on the newcomers in walk-trot-canter and equitation on the flat in all classes. We'll now run the elections for officers of the club and the two captains and vice-captions of our English and Western teams and then I'll invite Kate to tell you want she wants from the Western team by way a commitment and that may go down like a lead balloon."

After the elections, with Claire being elected club president, Kate said, "In the eleven years of competing, Patrick show teams have never progressed beyond the Regional Finals and last season Claire Kennedy made history by pulling off a third placing in roping in the Regionals but unfortunately the rules state only the top two go through for the Western semi-finals. I guess that's why she was voted in as the only nomination to captain the Western team just minutes ago."

"That performance was a splendid result after years of drought for Patrick but I'm sure Claire will agree with me it's not good enough. This season the aim will be to have the best three in the Western team competing in the zone finals and the following season the aim must be to have at least one rider in Western and English through to the Nationals."

Someone called "Impossible."

"Is that right? Well please consider how do individuals and teams from the 48 colleges and universities in Intercollegiate Equestrian Society-approved events get into the finals? You know for a small university our equestrian operation is unbelievably resourced. Coach Hall agrees with this strategy, we no longer think we'll ride in show events to see how far we can get. Instead we aim to rise to the top like cream. Only a few will make it but our time is nigh when we'll have riders riding off for places in the Zone finals and perhaps the following season we'll have one of two riders qualifying to go through to the Nationals."

"I finish by saying this. If you sign up for competing in the eight shows in the Western Riding you'll be out of bed at 6:30 three mornings a week of your choice to run around the inside perimeter of the indoor arena, taking it easy at first but working up to run twenty circuits. And then three times each week you will either swim lengths for one hour or work out in the gym for an hour, much of that time on a bike."

"You won't be spied upon but I will be watching for such activity out of interest. It's up to you to decide how and when you do this fitness training. I don't believe I've ever seen a champion rider who didn't appear superbly fit. So I guess with my tough conditions I'm taking a risk we may not field a Western team this year. That being so then I'm out of a job."

Claire called, "Debs and Gwyn are you in?"

"Yes," they chorused.

Clair grinned. "You have the top riders in Western last season back in the team this season Miss John."

"Thanks guys. As I said cream rises. Oh everyone please call me Kate. I'm only a kid. Back to you Coach Hall."

"Wow it sounds as if the kid is setting the pace with motivational spiel. You're establishing your place in the team Kate and so soon. You all know riding performance at a show can tail off as you tire. Fitness delays and subdues tiredness. Having said that, the track, pool and gym fitness regime is hereby declared to be voluntary but be aware fit riders will stand out. We have received late applications here tonight to try-out. It's my fault that I forgot to put a closing date and time on the notice calling for try-out applications. I've had a quick think about this. Now that I have an assistant we'll try out everyone who wants a trial and then compare notes and whittle the selection for the competition pool down to thirty names."

Ralph finished by saying the show schedule and the training schedules were already posted on the equestrian pages on their university website.

"When you pay your equestrian club fee, that will give you all two one-hour training sessions a week for 10 weeks for the autumn and spring semesters. Show team members have priority with use of facilities but joint use may be possible in consultation with the show team supervisors."

At 8:00 after the team meeting when Kate was at the final sitting in the university's Fountain Café for dinner, she took a call.

"Hi. Kate speaking."

"How are you?" the caller rasped.

She was startled and said, "Is that you Sammy?"

"Yeah. You sound okay."

"Have you made this call? You never make phone calls."

"Your Uncle Ted dialed the number for me on his phone."

"Why are you calling me?"

"I-I miss you. You always have your coffee in the kitchen and talk to me. Your mom takes hers outside or into the sunroom."

"Well how are you?"

"Fine. Doc Childs told me to buy some fish oil tablets and another type of pill I can get from any pharmacy to rebuild a bit of the cartilage or something like that to take away some of the pain. It might work but it might take months."

"Well I hope it does some good. You stubborn fool you've always refused to go to Doc Childs, arguing why go to him when you can still walk but for years I haven't regarded that shuffle you do as walking."

As usual Sammy ignored that sort of talk. "Are you riding horses?"

"Yeah a few times with the boss's wife."

"Is she pretty?"

"Why would you want to know that Sammy?"

"Dunno. I better go now before I damaged the phone battery by wearing it out."

"Okay. It's been nice talking to you Sammy."

"If I get lonely and miss you can I call you again?"

"Sure. Look why don't you ask mom if you can borrow one of the pickups one Sunday and come down and see me? You can have my bed and I'll sleep on the couch and you can leave for home on Monday."

"I might try that. Goodbye Kate."

"Bye Sammy."

During the call, two people she knew slightly had joined Kate at her table. She'd nodded to them and indicated to them to sit. And now they conversed. She liked that because she didn't know many people yet and these people were so friendly. Yes she was lonely too.

As she was walking to her small apartment Kate stopped in shock. Was Sammy missing her because... 

Jesus because he was her father!"

She wondered what to make of that. Well she'd already thought if she married she might be unwise to have children if her father had been one of her mom's brothers.

But Sammy?

Jesus.

Inside her small apartment she poured a wine and drank it quickly.

That changed nothing.

Omigod. She was born in February and she remembered her uncles sometimes talked about the spring deluge almost twenty years ago and they were trapped on the other side of the swollen river for five days before the rainstorm that hung over the mountain had stopped and river levels dropped. Her uncles sheltered in a cabin beside the cattle yards across the river and it was stocked for emergencies. Seth had shot a deer so they were okay for meat. Kate recalled the story they'd pulled down the derelict pump-house and used that for firewood. 

Fingers trembling, Kate counted back and yes, the timing would be exactly right if that flood had been in February.

She giggled nervously. God what if Sammy really had banged her mom. Her brothers would have radioed they were marooned and were well. Her mom and old Sammy would have become bored and he would have said something like "Show me your tits" and her mom would have yawned and sighed "Why not?" and pulled them out and it would have gone on from there.

If that were true Sammy would have been sixty-three or sixty-four, still capable of firing live rounds. Omigod! 

Kate booted up her computer and went to the archives section of newspaper that came in the mail to the farm Mondays to Saturdays. She looked up the weather stories for eighteen years ago and searching February dates. And there it was: '100-year Flood Maroons Scores of Families; Drowns Hundreds of Cattle'.

"Oh god mom you slut," Kate said aloud and giggled. "Little wonder you've always refused to say who got your pregnant and who was my father. Oh mom!"

Kate got herself in such a tizz she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Instead she began thinking of Sammy. Sammy had always given her presents but small presents. He'd taught her to ride and then did his best to teach her to jump and... Omigod. When in her early teens and she and Sammy would be out alone out on the ranch moving cattle or doing maintenance and she did something he approved of, especially if it were a step forward for her, he'd sometimes say, 'That's my little darling'. 

Yes so why would he say that? But that still wasn't proof he was her father. Her birth had been registered and the copy of the official document that she possessed stated 'Father unknown'.

Well she'd have to ask Sammy. She'd only buy another fight if she tried to squeeze the information out of her mother. But what if her mother hadn't told Sammy and he hadn't clicked that it had been his semen that had done to trick? 

Kate sat watching a soppy movie on TV to calm herself.

CHAPTER 2

At 6:45 the first morning after that team meeting, Kate entered the gym and found Clair Kennedy with all five members of the Western team on bikes.

"Hi here to spy on us?" Claire enquired.

Kate said Coach Hall had said the fitness regime was not compulsory.

"We know that," Clair said. "I just said to the team if we want to win placings we follow you. Are you here to train?"

"Well one gets fit riding but I'm doing any hard riding at present and no way am I going to allow my fitness to slip."

"Way to go coach."

"Jolene I'm not a coach. Just call me Kate. Why don't you cycle with a straight back in riding position instead of hunching over like a racing road cyclist?"

They all straightened and Claire whispered something and the girls called together, "Thanks coach."

Kate grinned at them and went off to a treadmill to warm up.

She went to the office after breakfast and asked Ralph what could she do while waiting to take her first lesson at 11:00.

"I suggest you inspect the tack room and check for anything missing or in need of repair or replacement," he said returning to his paperwork but called to Kate as she was walking through the door. 

"What?"

"Look you have a horse at your ranch don't you?"

"I have a string of five."

"Well I was meaning the sorrel. I was thinking you'd coach better..."

"Supervise is the word you must use."

"You'll supervise better on a horse and it would help us out if you used your own horse for that. We'll pay you an allowance, look after all vet work and allocate your mare her own stall. There's been a delay in bringing in our extra horses...one may have a virus so the lot are being watched. You can leave tonight and take one of our horse trailers. Have a day relaxing at home and return the next day. I'll take your training commitments."

"Sure I'd really like that and to check out things at home."

"Good then do it. Tell Claire about being away and she'll advise her team."

Ralph called her at 10:15 to the office of the associate provost for faculty administration for a meeting. Ralph introduced Kate to Mrs Robinson.

"Lucy is off a ranch too and rides one of our horses occasionally. It was Lucy who came up with the idea of the university building a horse riding trail through our woods and was appointed to chair the project committee what has raised the money as well. The trail opens in a month to six weeks she tells me."

"It looks great Mrs Robinson. I've walked part of it and the ravine crossing has been done so beautifully to blend it in to the environment."

"I'm glad you noticed that bridge Kate. A national environment protection watchdog group has been here to inspect it and is contemplating giving us its top award for excellence in structural design in a wilderness area."

Mrs Robinson said, "Well I've been going from the equestrian center's strategic and financial plans with Ralph before they are submitted to the director of sport. We talked about you and your enthusiasm for pushing our show teams to achieving higher performance and rewards." 

"Well not to the detriment of themselves, their studies and their mounts."

"Oh of course not dear. None of us would want that. At the same time this university was established as a land-grant university and receives federal funding. It is in our interest to achieve solid performances and have those results reported. Dear I want you to consider increasing your status here to a fulltime student."

"Mrs Robinson I feel I lack the academic ability to study comprehensively and will fail to gain a degree."

"Ralph mentioned your feeling about that to me. Well he and I have looked at all the study options available to you to go with those you have already opted to take. With your consent we would then take this specially designed study course and push to get it approved. If approved you would qualify as a fulltime undergraduate and meet the student conditions of the Intercollegiate Equestrian Society and thus probably ride to glory for this university in at least one event in the national finals."

"But Mrs Robinson that would be like cheating if I don't have a chance of passing all of my exams."

Kate saw Ralph move uncomfortably in his chair and he wouldn't make eye contact with her. Mrs Robinson said blithely, "Well we won't know until way down the track will we? By then your trophies if you win then will be in our trophy cabinets."

"Mrs Robinson..."

"Kate don't be angry with me. It is only a proposal. You would have to receive lots of extra tuition and..."

"I cannot do it Mrs Robinson. Can't you see if I push in under an arrangement I'm uncomfortable with I would be stealing success and honor from other riders if I were successful. That just will not do."

Mrs Robinson sighed and said well she'd just been floating a proposal to test its credibility.

"Mrs Robinson," Kate smiled. "I thank you for accepting my explanation that the scheme you so creatively proposed is flawed and in some minds could be regarded as an improper procedure."

"Thank you," the administrator said stiffly.

"But Mrs Robinson I'll tell you something that may excite you. There is a female in our Western team, Claire Kennedy whom I'm confident will be one of our first two riders to make it to the semi-finals but she might not quite have it to get a placing to go on from there but who knows when in sport anything can happen. Even more exciting for me is something I glimpsed during the try-outs. I believe, with his dedication and fine coaching to eliminate all his rough edges, Rick Flavell in our English riding team could ride through to the Nationals in May by winning at least two titles in the Zone finals."

"Well that is most interesting. Do you agree with your assistant Ralph?"

"Well Lucy, my thinking is Kate is the type of person who goes for gold taking all risks whereas I'm more conservative and focus on perfection. The truth is it's possible to be conservative and win gold and also to be less than perfect but win gold on an exuberant and outstanding performance that the judges have been looking for. Between us, Kate and I perhaps present a very balanced coaching team."

"But she's not a coach. Our minimum requirement for a coach is a bachelor's degree."

"Correct, Kate has been hired and works a supervisor, a hugely talented supervisor."

As Kate and Ralph walked off he said Lucy Robinson had him over a barrel. 

"She said there is talk in administration that we fritter away too much of our money and she began digging holes in my strategic plan and asked wasn't night training under lights extremely wasteful in being spent on horse riders."

"Jesus if it were swimming or football, they wouldn't blink."

"Yeah and that's what occurred to me while fighting to keep our budget intact and then she shoved her nose into wanting to talk to you to satisfy herself that you at the tender age of eighteen were capable of delivering strong support to me and our activities. Jesus she was exceeding her authority"

"Well I think I handled myself well."

"Yes and you exceeded my expectations. I wasn't able to warn you what was possibly in store because she was sitting right next to me."

"I understand."

"Good so why don't you hitch up a horse trailer and take off now? I have your training schedule so will cover for you this afternoon and for the next two days."




Love of Horses Pt. 01



"Great thank you."

Sipping coffee before setting off, having picked a lightweight two-horse aluminum trailer on a steel frame, Kate called the ranch.

"Craig Mountain Ranch."

"Hi Sammy. How yer doin'?"

"Sammy is doing very well now that he's talking to you."

"I'm on my way home for two nights."

"Yippee! So I'll have you in my kitchen again."

"Oh big deal. There are other people you'd rather have in your kitchen old timer."

"Name just one?"

"Well set a plate for me for dinner. I should be there by 6:30. I'll be taking it easy because I don't wish to overheat the engine of Old Yeller."

"I'm real happy to set you a place at the table."

Kate asked to speak to her mother but was told she was taking wire and posts out to the boys and would be out of cell phone range.

Kate said, "I wanted to ask her if I can take Cool Lady back with me."

"Why ask? The sorrel is your horse."

"She's a ranch horse. Only mom and my uncles actually own their riding horses, allocated as new foals on rotation."

"That rotation as you call it includes me. If you remember you were breaking your neck to breed you own horse and you carried out your selection and it was my turn to take the next foal your filly arrived first and I gave her to you, giving up my turn of ownership."

"Omigod I never knew that. But why?"

"Because you were my little darling."

Kate froze momentarily and then asked casually, "You often have called me that. Why?"

"It began when I was put in charge of you whenever your mother wanted to ride out. You were very tiny. Then later I'd talk to you, you'd smiled and then really smile and gurgle when I called you my little darling."

"Okay but why that particular expression?"

"It's what I'd heard grandmothers say when holding an infant." 

"And is that the only reason?"

"Yeah is this some kind of game?"

"Are you certain there was no other reason?"

"All these questions Kate. What's up with you?"

"Nothing."

"Oh if you must know you were very cute when you small and until your cousins began arriving you were the only kid I actually knew. Yeah so that's another reason for you."

"Tell mom I'm on my way home to collect my horse and to be told who my father is," Kate said and cut the call.

"Oh god," she winced, as she fired the engine, knowing she should have not have asked Sammy to relay that daddy thing to her mom.

"Grow up Kate," she snarled and was about to hit the gas pedal when she remembered the Wrangler was hooked up to the trailer and she was in a 10 mph speed zone. As she passed the gym she boggled when she saw almost half of the big group of students at the finish of morning classes turn and wave at the old yellow Wrangler. 

God many of them weren't equestrian club members!

She hit the horn and almost everyone waved.

Yes she was becoming something of an identity although she'd not intended that.

The big thing that happened was when the four of the team in the hunter riding group had been jumping fences over low heights under her supervision to practice technique and timing. 

Looking very friendly, Rick Flavell had suggested innocently the team would like to check her style jumping a much higher fence.

She had smiled and said it was a lesson and not a circus Rick and he bleated that the team would jump better if she set the standard. She was completely suckered. 

Usually there were perhaps up to fifteen student spectators watching but on this occasion there were at least fifty and heaps more were streaming over at a gallop, er running. She should have thought set up but was focused on preparing to jump.

Two females ran over to set up a higher jump leaving Rick holding the horses.

He'd said she was required to ride wearing a helmet and handed across his. She didn't need to adjust it and he alleged that some of the girls thought she had a big head and that fired up Kate. She knew which mount to select, Congo, a tall gelding that had been donated by a cross-country enthusiast when he retired from the sport.

She mounted and rode Congo in a long figure of eight to get him used to her weight and for him to determine the rider was no bunny. Then she skipped her jumping discipline by not riding Congo up to the jump so they both sighted the first jump and set their minds. Well she was mad at the big head allegation and Rick had said the jump would be set at 5 ft. She knew the ground was flat, dry and smooth and that Congo could do that height yawning.

Kate began her approach at a leisurely pace and when focusing yelled "Oh Jesus." She should have pulled out but instead coaxed Congo forward and told him buddy this is big and signaled that thought her body and of course Congo had eyes. They cleared it but Kate was sweating. She mashed her teeth and turned and galloped back to rip into those three idiots. But then she remembered some of the dumb things she'd done setting up her mom and her uncles.

She looked up at the hillside astonished and saw perhaps 300 students standing and cheering as she heard Rick on her bull horn turned up to full power announce, "Ladies and gentlemen, you have just seen our cute 18-year-old riding supervisor Kate John set a new clear-jump height record here at Patrick at six feet."

She'd arrived back at the office and looking at Ralph's face knew the news had already reached him. He said he ought to kick her ass and then grinned and said she was a greenhorn to allow them to set her up. She admitted to that and he laughed and said her punishment was to get the coffee.

From that day almost everyone would know who Kate John was because within half an hour she was front page on the university's online newspaper under a banner heading, 'New Patrick Record'. 

A magnificent photo showed her 'applying great technique taking Congo over the 6 ft jump'. The blurb giving details about Kate ended by describing her as 'undoubtedly one of the most exciting and hugely talented instructor in any department at Patrick in decades'. When reading that last bit she'd shrieked in total embarrassment 'oh no.' 

Ralph, who's already read the splurge, almost fell out of his chair from laughing so hard.

On another occasion the electronic newspaper ran a poll to find the personal transport vehicle on campus projecting the best personality. The narrow winner with 7668 votes, 319 votes ahead of a lowered hot-rod with amazing paintwork, was Kate John's Old Yeller.

Heading for the highway north, Kate knew two things were constant in her life for a girl who thought of herself as half-orphaned. There was her love of horses and Old Yeller, a name suggested by Sammy when they argued over her tentative name of Rosie. He'd scoffed and said Rosie was a professional name favored by hookers. Kate had wondered how the hell would he know that but suddenly she'd favored Old Yeller over Rosie. She always thought optimistically, providing there was gas in the tank Old Yeller would get her home. 

While still musing she decided Sammy was getting on. While she was home she should record in his mind her special affection she had for him.

* * *

Kathleen came into the kitchen, her wet hair from the shower slicked down, and she wore a tight shirt and very tight new jeans and her boots were highly polished.

"Are you going out?"

"Kate is coming home you old fool. What time did she say?"

"Is your memory a sieve? I told you she said she would be home in time for dinner at 6:30 and would stay a day and then take her horse back with her in the trailer she's towing. Will you let her have that horse?"

"It's her horse thanks to you. Listen she will probably be on again about who's her father. She didn't say that was one of her reasons for coming home did she?"

"No," Sammy cheerfully lied. "I like seeing your tits prominent like that."

"Well you've been at me too many times after you've said that the first time you randy bastard," Kathleen said, pulling her shirt out to hang loose. And I've told you not to you use the word tits to a woman."

"They don't mind when they get sexy."

"Well that's different. Remember the pact we have: we never will reveal who is her father."

"Yeah I did promise didn't I?

"Sammy stop winding me up. You know you did. I'm asking all the families over for a drink after dinner to welcome her home."

"Welcome her home? She's not been away long."

"I've missed her," Kathleen said and began to bawl and put out her arms to be hugged. "You know this is only the third time she's ever been away from home."

At 5:50 Sammy went into the sunroom and shook Kathleen awake.

"What?"

"She's coming. I looked out and saw dust rising on our access road."

"Omigod Sammy she's coming, my baby is coming home."

Sammy went to the kitchen grinning and sat with his feet up on the table reading a magazine article about what retirement aged women do for entertainment. He read with new glasses that Kathleen had paid for after making him have his eyes tested by a skinny bitch with glasses who asked him all sorts of crap and then made him go almost blind by putting drops in his eyes. He almost had two accidents driving home and lied and told Kathleen no the eye tester hadn't said he must not drive before four hours after the drops were administered.

The kid pulled right up outside the kitchen and Kathleen came in screaming, "Why is she coming to you first?"

"I have no idea," he yelled back. "Perhaps she knows I never hit her."

"Bastard," she yelled and seconds later was saying in a honeyed voice, "Hi darling, omigod it's so wonderful to see you again."

"Mom I've been away three weeks."

"I know dear but you are so precious to me."

Sammy groaned and then grinned when he heard the kid ask, "Where's Sammy? And Kathleen asked, "Why are you asking that" and was told, "Because he's family."

Seth, John and Ted arrived after dinner with their wives and kids. The uncles were all over Kate because they'd missed her abusing them even better than her mom did and the unbelievable way she could ride in weak moments when she decided to show-off. ' The aunts arrived hoping they'd see Kate in a dress and wearing girly earrings at last but were disappointed to see the same old jeans and boots but a new shirt. They whispered and agreed their niece didn't look like a young woman who was engaging in very regular sex. 

The seven nephews and one niece greeted Kate shyly, all being younger and aware she was one tough bitch.

* * *

Kate drove off two mornings later at dawn with two horses in the trailer. She was crying in happiness. It had been such a happy time for her. 

The previous day her aunts and uncles had cleared the largest almost empty hay barn and put in extra lighting and invited families from around the district to come over that night to say hi to Kate who would be training the Patrick University Western team and taking them to compete over two semesters in the Intercollegiate Equestrian Society show competition.

More than 200 people arrived because they knew good food and liquor would be piled up, bringing some themselves, and Kate would put on a bit of a show.

Kate learned of this function when girlfriends called to welcome her back home and saying they'd be over for the big demo that night.

She was appalled to be told she was putting on 'a bit of a show'.

Uncle Seth, the biggest of the brothers, saw Kate coming and at a gallop and grinned, "I'll handle her boys."

Kate was off her horse before it stopped and banged a punch into Seth's chest and made him gasp when she sank a right into his belly.

He grabbled both her arms and said, "I'll bite your tits if you hurt me."

Kate thought about that and slowly backed off.

"You fools. I don't put on public exhibitions."

"We're proud of you," John said.

Ted the quick-witted brother said, "It's a fund-raiser. Okay we'll call it off."

Kate was skillfully hooked. "What sort of fund-raiser?"

"All proceeds go to your old pony club's tack room."

The other brothers relaxed and Kate sighed and said, "Well that's different."

Cool Lady had come up to her. She mounted and said, "Don't skimp on the booze like you usually do assholes. My aunts can always be guaranteed to provide high quality food when any of you have a party."

She cantered off.

"Whew, that was a close one," said John. "Thanks for saving the day Ted."

Seth also thanked Ted who scuffed dust and said. "Aw shucks."

Vehicles began arriving in the fall twilight and the brothers briefed thirty of the drivers to line up facing the barn some distance away. 

The party got underway and an hour later the big TV screen was turned on and a DVD converted from old 8 mm film began running and the lights dimmed.

"This is Kate on a couple of days after she turned six on her first ride at our local Pony Club," said Seth, commentating.

"The club's minimum age was and still is eight years and in those days my late mom was life member of the club founded by my late great-grandmother. But there was no need for mom to pull rank to allow Kate to join under-age. All the committee members knew Kate could ride like the wind and jump low hurdles and could groom her pony faultlessly."

"We now are watching a clip showing Kate receiving the club open championship cup at the age of nine from club president, her mom Kathleen John, who became the youngest-ever member to win the club championship when she was thirteen. God my sister was so proud of Kate for that huge achievement. Usually the winner is at least eighteen, the age Kate is today."

"Kate sorry for doing this to me; you can wallop me later. I contacted Kate's boss at the equestrian department at Patrick University to find if there was any film or photo of Kate from their resources. He said very little at present but he predicted there would soon be heaps more because my niece Kate will lead their drive to get their first Zone win and then take a team and individuals right through to the Nationals. I asked what would he be doing and he laughed and said watching and praying. He's the coach, Kate is the only other trainer and is called a supervisor and cannot coach because she doesn't have a degree but can give advice and any question. Sneaky eh?"

Everyone laughed.

"This is a photo of Kate jumping a 6 ft high fence at the university's equestrian center, setting a new record. The previous highest was 5 ft 2 in. She was suckered in to make that jump and riding a retired jumper by the name of Congo. Great name eh?"

Seth said that jumped Kate from an unknown at the university to become a somebody because that picture and story appeared an hour after the event on the university's online newspaper and stayed on view in that position for four days. He then described the poll to find the university's personal vehicle deemed to project the greatest character and it boiled down to a head-to-head between Kate's old yellow jeep and a rich kid's really fancy hotted up car. "Here's the pictures of Kate's Wrangler she calls Old Yeller as some of you well know, and this is Jimmy Black's car. Both received well over 7500 votes and female voters brought Kate home by a nose."

"Right Kate has gone outside warming up her two mounts. She hates riding as a show-off but my brothers and I will be taking buckets around soliciting generous donations and all proceeds will be donated to the tack room at our local pony club. Now fill your glasses and go outside and remember to donate generously while waiting to see the two short acts."

Drivers in the thirty cars switched on their headlights and kept them on low beam to avoid blinding the spectators.

Kate came down the track at a canter riding the Paint bareback and in bare feet, standing like circus ladies who ride like that but on horses with much wider backs.

Everyone cheered and she came back having turned without slowing and people clapped as Seth's voice boomed out, "The Paint is one of Kathleen's horses and Kate trained it to barrel race. Because she is chocolate and cream her name is Chocolate Ice. Neat eh?"

Some guys pulled out two white gates and attached them to temporary posts already in place at a measured distance apart.

"Now Kate will have a saddle for this event. You saw her jump a six-foot fence on a hunter bred and trained to jump. Well tonight you are to see what Kate can do on her cow pony she bred when she was ten, choosing the stallion and mare. I remember asking her why she choose those two particular horses and she said because they were probably the best two horses we possessed. I thought about it and had to admit to myself the kid was right. Dad was still alive then and we were running eight-four horses and you can guess, I'm sure, the only one of us who could instantly identify all eight-four. Why the hell Kate was a bit slow at school I'll never work out."

"Okay here she comes, do nothing to spook the horse folk. Kate's jumped higher on Cool Lady but never at night."

Kate and horse went over the first two gates perfectly and on the return Cool Lady just clipped a hoof and went over the last gate perhaps six inches clear.

The crowd went wild.

And then as Kate loped back on Cool Lady to begin cooling her down her mom took the bullhorn and said, "Well you have seen part of my daughter's capabilities as an astute and very capable horsewoman. I'm so proud of her. Tomorrow she returns to Patrick and taking Cool Lady with her. Kate, can you hear me?"

Kate waved, slowing Cool Lady.

"Kate take Chocolate Ice as well and train the most talented Western riding kids in barrel racing to increase their level of horsemanship even if they never compete in that tough discipline. I'm giving Chocolate Ice to you."

Kate blew her mom a kiss followed by a delighted scream. The crowd cheered and her mom invited everyone back inside to eat, drink and socialize. Kate returned thirty minutes later and went up to her mother and kissed her and said, "Thanks for your wonderful gift."

Kathleen kissed and hugged her daughter and sniffed.

Kate whispered, "Who's my father?"

Kathleen remained calm. "Sorry darling I shall never tell you. I entered a pact not to tell you."

"Well don't expect grandchildren. I suspect one of my uncles is my father and therefore I would be wrong of me to breed with that type of bloodline."

Kathleen looked shocked at the mention of no grandchildren. She whispered, "Darling, I swear to you, your father is not one of your uncles, my brothers. God what did you think I was?"

"Thanks mom. I believe that."

In bed that night Kate thought she could never ask Sammy if he were her father. If he wasn't the shock of being suspected of that could devastate him. She must back off; at least she now knew she could bear children without that cloud of uncertainty hanging over her. It had been worth coming home just to find out that.

Kate rose at 5:00 next morning and drove out to load the two horses.

When she arrived back she found Sammy almost had her breakfast ready. She checked on her mom and heard the shower running.

Kate hugged and kissed Sammy and the poor guy looked all soppy.

"You know I love you," she said, as he pulled away and said the beans were ready.

"Yeah I know it's something like that," he said. "As a kid you use to follow me around and sometime that made your mom mad."

"Kindness brings rewards."

"Is that from the Bible?" he asked.

"I have no idea. Sammy would you accept my invitation, known only to you and me, to be my honorary grandfather?"

The poor guy had to sit and almost missed the chair.

After some chat he got used to the idea and said it would be a great honor to accept.

They hugged and Kate had just returned to her chair when her mother sailed in.

"I'm sad you're going but I know big things lie ahead of you that you won't achieve here. When I wish to call it a day will you come back to run the ranch? My brothers would probably vote you in."




Love of Horses Pt. 01



"No hand the reins to one of them."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

"But you will return here on short visits?"

"Yes of course to see you and Sammy of course."

"What about the ranch?"

"I've never had any particular feeling for the ranch but I do for the mountain. No it's what's on the ranch that has interested me... Sammy, you and the horses."

"And not the cattle?"

"Hell no, they are buffoons compared with horses. Looking into a horse's eye is like looking at the night sky."

Sammy said, "You really love your horses."

"Shut up Sammy," Kathleen said mildly. "Kate I know you really love horses."

Kate sniffed as she turned on to the highway that would take her back to Patrick University. She'd had a most rewarding time with her mom and Sammy and also with her extended family and was delighted 837 bucks had been raised for the pony club.

Despite that happy time, as the miles clicked off she had the distinct feeling she was heading home.

During one of the stops when she turned off the highway to let the horses have a walk on the grass roadside and to refill their water trough on the trailer, Kate called Ralph.

"Hi have you managed to improve my team?"

"Hi I'm left with the impression they can't wait to get you back. I put Rick over the jumps for the first time since you've given him extra training and Kate, you are so right. That kid has got it and is fearless but he told me you have him drilled to jump within the capability of his horse and himself and to absolutely avoid dropping that rule. He told me has taken many falls and once broke an arm by going just one step too far. He's full of praise for you and says you've already given him great tips to clean up his act."

"Well Ralph we know he was just a ranch boy and who really teaches them to ride? His parents didn't have the brains to send him to a pony club when he was a kid. Like most ranchers they believe if you can stay on a horse you can ride."

"Yeah quite."

"I'm bringing back two horses so I will require two stalls. Is that okay?"

Ralph said, "So I have a choice?"

"Mom's given my her Paint that I trained to barrel race. I'd like to school up our three top riders in each team to ride the Paint for advanced training."

"You mean train them to barrel race?"

"I was thinking to train them on the skills of barrel riding to up their horsemanship."

"Will this result in broken bones?"

"Not if they stay on."

Ralph took a deep breath. "This is really pushing me Kate."

"I know but I also know what has to be done. No one will be asked to do this if they have misgivings."

"Do you promise me that?"

"Absolutely boss."

"I'm becoming interested. Let me see this Paint in action so I can be satisfied through observation that this horse is good on her feet. What's her name?"

"Chocolate Ice."

"Gawd with a name like that all the females will want to ride her."

"Well she will be a Western horse and if she's available for riding and is not being used she can be taken by the first interested person just like any other of our horses. Your wife thinks our horses lack fire. Well let's see how Anne goes on my two supercharged quarter horses."

"Don't you dare injure my wife."

"The rides will be offered and it's up to her to accept or decline. Warn her off if you wish. Oh I'm two hours out."

"Come to dinner tonight."

"Thanks boss. You'll be able to warn Anne against riding Chocolate Ice in my presence."

"Bitch," he grinned. 

Jesus, Kate thought. At last she was drawing the boss out of his shell. When she first arrived he'd never respond to her like that.

She arrived for dinner and Anne greeted her at the door.

"Great hair and great looking breasts."

Anne looked startled and then relaxed a little and almost whined, "I'm not used to being spoken to like that."

"Sorry I won't..."

"No, you might be good for me. When Ralph talks dirty to me I tend to freeze."

"Oh in what situation does Ralph talk dirty to you?" the youngster asked wickedly.

Anne turned pink.

"What?"

"Darling you really are too young to be told."

"Do you mean when he's humping you?"

"Omigod," Anne said taking several deep breaths. "Ralph says your full-on and open attitude is doing wonders for him. I ought to be a beneficiary as well. We come from the East..."

"Then the answer is not to be puppets of social upbringing. You're out West now where our tradition is to tell it how it is and to avoid fancy pretences."

They walked inside, arm and arm.

"I've found it difficult to make friends here."

Kate said, "I wonder why. What image to other wives do you think you give riding aloof and alone?"

"What?"

"Perhaps wives and girlfriends think you regard yourself as being superior."

"Oh but I don't, no way."

"Then do you entertain them at home, do you ever invite any of them who can ride to join you? Do you ever ask them for recipes?"

"What?"

"Exchanging recipes is a fundamental... my mom does it all the time and it sure beats the crap out of talking about the weather."

"Omigod Kate, you are a godsend to me." 

"Look Anne I'm willing to help you on one condition."

"Sex?"

"Get out of here," Kate giggled. "God it's something more basic than that. When you finish riding I want you to do everything required before leaving your horse rather than leaving that for the stable hands."

"Why?"

"Anne do I really have to answer that for you?"

Anne, who was twenty-nine and a science graduate, said, "Because it's the responsible thing to do as a rider and because of my love of horses."

"Good girl," said the teenager.

Next late afternoon Kate arrived with the two horses and Anne immediately fell in love with Cool Lady.

"Back off lady," Kate laughed. "Ride the Paint and feel something really powerful between your legs."

"The Paint is ugly, your mount is beautiful."

"Gee and I thought I was supposed to be impressed by eastern values."

Anne cringed. "I shoot off my mouth too much at times."

"So do I. Join the club. Let's be off."

They returned ninety minutes later, Anne flushed with excitement and still exclaiming Chocolate Ice was the most exciting horse she'd ever ridden.

"God she responds to pressure commands as if she and my hands and hands are linked by rubber-bands."

"I'll train you for barrel racing if you wish?"

"Ralph would have a fit."

"Does he need to know?"

Anne considered that and smiled. "You are a dangerous person to know young lady. I'm staying here to cool Chocolate Ice and then to brush her. Mr Hungry will have to wait for late dinner."

"Excellent. Here's my phone. Call Carol Wilcox now and invite her to go riding with you tomorrow late afternoon. I know she can ride. Here's her number."

"I don't think Carol and I have anything in common."

"And what about horses?"

"Oh yes, of course."

TO BE CONTINUED



Love of Horses Pt. 02



One of the Western riders, Lana Turnbull asked Ralph could she could transfer to English seat and compete in novice equitation over fences.

She was asked why and said because Kate John was driving her too hard.

Jane was told the transfer would be approved subject to Jane receiving Kate's agreement. If Kate refused and Jane couldn't accept that she'd have to drop out of competitive riding. She said that was fine.

Kate supported the transfer and smiled, knowing Jane had overlooked she supervised the English seat jumping so would still be answerable to Kate but Jane's withdrawal from Western riding would strengthen team performance.

The worried coach asked Kate did she think she was pushing her team too hard.

"Perhaps but I don't believe so. I set their tasks and it's up to them to perform. If they are slack like Jane I ease the pressure on that individual. You are free to question the team without me being involved."

"Well there always are slackers Kate. I want you to consider taking on a novice who's just joined as a non-competitive member. She's come to us after being kicked out of another college for unruly behavior."

"Oh she sounds like a prime recruit for English seat."

"Kate."

"Okay let's talk to her."

Max (Maxine) Dunlop was a disheveled blonde with a defiant attitude. The eighteen-year old had ridden on her grandparent's ranch for most of her life but they'd sold the ranch almost a year ago.

"And that's when your behavior took a dive?"

Max looked at Kate unafraid. "Nobody has ever said that."

"I don't care what other people have said, I was asking for your comment."

There was a defiant silence until Ralph said, "Well moving on..."

"I loved that ranch and the four horses. I went there every weekend to ride, feeling the wind in my face. I was devastated when my grandparents sold the ranch. I cried and cried when I heard of their intention and (sniff)..."

"That's enough. You sound like you've become a hard young bitch Max..."

"Kate," Ralph said sternly.

"... but I'm willing to take you on providing to promise to cooperate fully. I'm not saying don't fight me, I'm saying when I want you to do things, you do what I say."

"Yeah well you act tough yourself."

"I like to think my students call me softy. My first instruction is to resume calling yourself Maxine."

Max smiled and said, "God my mom is going to love you. Okay I'm Maxine. You push me hard to make me good at something. I have the basics but need plenty of pushing and fine-tuning to ride competitively. I have watched horse shows on TV for years."

"Excellent. Coach I'm prepared to take Maxine on."

"Approved but Maxine has asked to be trained for English Riding. If that a problem for you?"

"No providing she in a jumping class as I take those club members already."

Maxine said, "Thanks. Um do I kiss you Kate?"

"No you come with me to the barn. I'd like to check you out riding without a saddle."

"Piece of cake."

"And taking on low jumps."

"Jesus Kate."

"Watch your mouth Maxine. Use that foul mouth at a show and be heard by officials and you'll shed potential points like confetti. It's not only the horse that had to be perfectly disciplined."

"Yes ma'am."

Kate just smiled and Ralph began breathing easily again.

Kate could see the untidy blonde had a good seat with excellent balance in turns, her riding motion was excellent and she appeared to be thinking ahead of the next move.

"Okay go over that jump. It's set at eighteen inches."

"I might fall off."

"Yes and you know what happens if you do that in competition? You've watched horse shows on TV."

"Don't be a bitch Kate."

"Maxine just do it. I'm teaching you to stay on. Fall off and I'll know I'll have to go back to the basics with you."

Maxine cleared the jump perfectly and Kate put the rail up to 2 ft. 

Maxine cleared that and rode back to Kate.

"Piece of cake. I don't know what I was so nervous jumping without a saddle."

"Actually I wanted you to fail to see how you'd react to failure. Oh aren't I a bitch?"

"No comment," Maxine grinned.

"Right this will remove the smile. I want you to practice daily riding without a saddle and jumping at 2 ft until you know with certainty any thought about falling off is gone. If you dare attempt to jump higher I'll kick your butt. Do you understand? We will work up heights with saddle and at my pace, not yours. Do you understand?"

"Yes coach, I mean Kate. You simply wish to push me to hone my basics."

"Correct and I'm very proud of you."

Kate smiled as she turned away, sighting Maxine's dropped jaw.

Anne arrived at the barn with a woman around her age, Carol Wilcox, and they found Kate there with two horses saddled.

"Oh hi girls. Carol I'm thrilled you have accepted Anne's invitation to go riding with her. Anne has been homesick and finding it difficult to settle in and she's concerned about her failure to make friends here."

Anne was standing behind Carol and Kate could see Anne's astonished reaction.

"Oh Anne, you poor thing," Carole said. "We all thought Ralph Hall's pretty young wife from the east was snooty. How could we be so wrong?"

"I have no idea," Anne lied.

"Well I'll be doing things to ease you into the female community here."

Anne glanced at Kate and said, "Would there be any chance of swapping recipes?"

"Oh yes we'll easily fill the hard drive of your laptop in days. Anne I'm sure you will fit in here very well."

Kate said, "That's brilliant Carol. I've saddled my Paint called Chocolate Ice for you to put you on a horse with firepower and Anne this evening you get your wish to ride Cool Lady. Now don't break your necks ladies, this evening you are riding real horses rather than show ring prima donnas."

That night Kate took a call from a woman who sounded she'd been crying.

"Miss John, I'm Shirley, Maxine's mother. Maxine has just called to say you are making her call herself Maxine and you are making her ride over low jumps to build her confidence so that she can reward you by winning competitions for you and for Patrick University. She thinks you are awesome and yet you are only her age."

"That's correct Mrs Dunlop except I can't claim to be awesome. All I can say is baring unforeseen eventualities, your Maxine will win events for us. She is potentially at the very least the second-best rider we have at Patrick."

"B-but Maxine said your equestrian club has eighty riders?"

"Correct Mrs Dunlop. What I was talking about is potential. We have perhaps sixty students who are good riders but most of them will never be better than good or should I say adequate. To rise about that one must have other qualities. Your daughter is a hard-nosed little bitch."

"Oh don't I know that. I must say you are brave talking to me about my daughter in that manner."

Laughing, Kate said, "Maxine is defiant, virtually unafraid and sits on the saddle as if she were born there. Believe me Mrs Dunlop, I've just started here as a supervisor and if I ever seen anyone arrive at this college exceeding the champion rider potential of your daughter, I'll eat a piece of rawhide."

"Omigod."

"Mrs Dunlop I would prefer you telling no one what I've just said beyond saying we think Maxine has potential to become a very competitive rider."

"Omigod this is happening for Maxine, the only failure of my four children."

Kate felt like kicking the woman's butt she remained calm as if prepared to ride down a ravine. 

"Mrs Dunlop believe me Maxine is shaping up to make this happen; all we are doing is providing the training and support and acting as the conduit to take her to horse riding competition success. This is not Maxine's life; she'll have bigger things ahead of her. Just regard it as her launch pad and please back off and don't pressure her. I must go, bye."

"Stupid woman," Kate said to her phone but she acknowledged not all mothers were equal. Everything now rested on Maxine's willingness to give it all she had. If Maxine wished to be a high achiever in horse riding competition she'd have to get herself there, although replying on assistance from team members and coaching staff.

At training sessions Kate treated all riders equally but on the days Maxine trained she'd stay on late and practice her jumping and before long she said to Kate she was very confident about not falling off when jumping without a saddle.

"Would you try the jump if I blindfold you and shout out direction and distances to you?"

"I-I think so."

"Take some time to think about it. I don't wish to push you."

"It's okay. Let's do it now."

"Choose your horse, the one you think knows you best."

Maxine came out of the barn with Congo.

"Good choice. Congo is very intelligent and calm Maxine. All I'll have to do is to shout the last couple of marks. You'll feel him tense as he prepares to launch and at that point take your mind through your routines. That's what all that extra practice was about um and staying firmly in the saddle."

Maxine said she'd make a couple of jumps and then do it.

"Think about that," Kate counseled. "If you had jumped twice and was about to jump the third time would Congo be more likely to wait for your instructions through legs, and weight shift and hand positions than if making the first jump cold?"

Maxine didn't reply. She just broke Congo into a lope and rode in a circle around the arena and returned. 

"Right blindfold me."

"Sorry I don't have anything else but this small sack I found in the tack room."

Kate watched Maxine carefully. 

The unruly young woman bristled but said nothing. Maxine turned Congo to face the jump and held her hand out for the sack and placed it over her head and shoulders without a word. Kate said she'd position herself by the jump and for Maxine to think of it as normal drill for the jump.

When Congo was loping and only a short distance from the jump Kate yelled to get ready and Congo and rider took the low jump faultlessly. Although blinded, Maxine turned and came for the return jump a little off line but Congo anticipated and lined up correctly for the jump and went over without Kate calling a prompt.

Maxine dismounted and jerked the sack off her head angrily.

"You didn't call more than one warning."

Kate smiled and thought why waste her breath. She didn't believe Maxine required any warning, that her riding was based on her own confidence and she had feeling through her mount.

"You bitch, you hard-ass bitch."

"And that little outburst could have cost you a title you stupid girl. Won't you ever learn?"

Maxine, red-faced and crying, stormed, "Is there no softness in you?"

Kate stepped up to Maxine, threw her arms around the teenager, and kissed her firmly on the lips unhurriedly.

Stepping back Kate said unsmilingly, "Now I suppose you think I'm gay?"

Wiping away tears Maxine said, "All I know is you do have a soft side and you obviously have humor. Oh and you kiss lovely. But keep on being a bitch to me at times; I appear to respond best to that. I suppose it's because for much of my teenager years I've been bawled out."

"Okay do some circuits on Congo changed from walk, trot and lope and then walk to cool him off and then care for him. Then come and find me."

"I'll miss going to dinner with my friends."

"Then go to dinner with your friends."

Maxine took a few seconds to think about that but said, "No I'll find you. You wouldn't have asked that without a reason unless you a gay but I suppose that's a big reason."

Kate walked away without comment, enjoying her victory. With unruly Maxine it was not unlike finishing a half broken-in horse. She could now assume she had Maxine's complete loyalty.

Kate and Maxine went to late dinner after Kate had questioned her to record Maxine's riding history in far greater detail than Maxine had been required to state when applying to a tryout for the equestrian club. Kate wanted to know the jumping history in detail including the names and addresses of coaches.

"What do you want all this stuff?"

"Because I wish to make representations that will allow you to start in Intercollegiate Equestrian Society riding in the Intermediate Class."

"Omigod that's setting me up for failure."

"Thank you Maxine but there's already enough shit awaiting muck-out in the barn. Please stop whining."

"Um if you can pull that off to jump me past beginner and novice levels, I'll ride to the best of my ability to please you."

"No to please yourself Maxine knowing you have achieved the standards you and I have set. We must now enter you in open competitions so you can build a quick history of success to allow you to enter at intermediate level."

"Will that be permitted?"

"I won't be asking until I have collected compelling evidence of your horsemanship."

"I'll ride Congo in those events and..."

"No. You may ride Congo once and other times you will choose another horse from our barn. At society shows you are required to ride supplied mounts."

"Fair enough."

"Good girl."

"Girl? I'm the same age as you and yet you act the big boss."

"I call older women girls when they are together and many women do in an affectionate sense. I really think you should be running with a guy, but one who won't interrupt your training program."

"Guys find me too aggressive."

"Well link with an aggressive guy."

They entered the dining room with Maxine looking quite stunned.

The meal was self-service and when they sat and began eating, Maxine said, "You know I've never contemplated a full-on guy because mom has always urged me to associate with nice boys."

"Jesus Maxine, start thinking for yourself. Quote me the law of nature that says more aggressive guys can't basically be nice guys, well at times?"

"How is it you are so much more worldly than I am and yet you came here straight off a ranch where you had lived all your life?"

"Well wait till you meet my mother and that will give you some idea and her three brothers who work on the ranch are even more aggressive and then my younger nephews will eye you like a piece of meat."

"Well how come you've survived all that, apparently unharmed."

Kate smiled. "I play the role of super aggressive bitch perfectly. You'll find what it's like during our short break coming up because you're coming home with me to learn real horse riding."

"But my family will be expecting me home."

"Tough but I guess we could zap across and spend the first night there. When your mom sees the change in you she'll confer anything up to a sainthood on me."

"What change are you talking about?"

"Jesus Maxine, don't you know anything?" 



CHAPTER 3

Maxine had called ahead to her mom who's already accepted she'd only have her daughter home for one night and she'd be off at 5:00 next morning.

"We're coming in mom. Look out for Old Yeller, Kate's old Jeep Wrangler."

Maxine's father, a civil consulting engineer, had come home early to spend time with his daughter but the two high school aged brothers ran past their dad's Jeep Grand Cherokee to drool over Old Yeller.

"Hi mom, love your hair. This is my riding coach and friend Kate John. Gawd mom, you've lost weight from where it counts."

Mrs Dunlop positively gawked at her daughter before being enveloped in a huge hug.



"Hi Kate I'm the father. Call me Wayne. We've been hearing big things about you from Maxine. I must congratulate you for getting her out of that name Max. Oh you have no idea how we tried."

"Thanks Wayne. You guys take the Jeep for a quiet run."

"Michael doesn't have his license."

"Then the older brother should drive."

"Michael is the elder brother."

"Can you drive Michael?"

He nodded.

"Well jump behind the wheel. Into the back buddy. I have to be in the passenger seat."

"I really don't think..."

"Just think back when you were an eager teenager Wayne. Stymie adventure too much and the urge to immense in it can die."

"Just up and down this street Michael and yes Buddy you can have a turn."

"My name is Simon."

"Don't you prefer Buddy?"

"Well yes I do as a matter of fact."

"Well that sounds like you'll be an engineer like you dad."

"How did you know that? I've told no one but mom."

"Big girls are sometimes smart Buddy. Get your butt on to the back seat."

They drove off.

"Who the hell was that?" Wayne said to his wife and daughter.

"Yeah Coach John might be a little too much for your two but she'd be a good influence on the boys, teaching them that being smart does not equate to a college education. I've had more education than Kate. She's my age but is on partial studies at Patrick and I'll tell you one thing, you'll probably think she has a master's degrees in animal science and farm and ranch management."

"She appears to have changed you darling," said her mom, still holding on to Maxine.

"Kate puzzled me by saying you'd see change in me. What change was she on about?"

"You look happy, very happy darling. You are smiling a lot more and your eyes are bright and your head is up and that aura of resentment appears to have gone."

"Dad?"

"Yeah you have come okay baby."

"Baby? Oh daddy it's years since you last called me that," Maxine said, rushing her father, sobbing.

The hardtop convertible two-door Old Yeller went by, Michael at the wheel tooting to horn and his brother making an obscene gesture that only Maxine appeared to notice at the oversized rear side window. She just smiled.

They were still in a hug, chatting when the vehicle re-appeared, coming slowly along the street in a low gear, Simon at the wheel and beaming.

"Oh I say, none of my children will ever be the same again," Shirley Dunlop groaned.

"You have to expect that darling, our children are growing up," said the precise engineer.

At dinner both the boys fought to sit beside Kate. She sorted it.

"Michael you sit by Maxine until first course is cleared and give her plenty of hugs. Then you sit here and then you Buddy sit beside your sister.

"I now prefer Simon as my name."

"Good for you. Know who you are and you'll be a happier person. But loosen up will you."

"Why do you say that?"

"Just because you're going to be an engineer there is no need to go around with an expression like Einstein."

"Who's he or do you mean Albert?"

"He's a guy who works with your dad."

"Dad?"

"Yeah he's one of our surveyors, always wise-cracking and talking fondly of his parents."

Buddy/Simon said, "Are they dead?"

"Simon please shut up or say grace," Kate said.

"I would but we don't say grace in this house."

"I think we should start," Maxine said. "Do the honors please dad."

Next morning as the girls drove off just before 5:30, Shirley said to her family, "I know the whirlwind was Kate John but who was that other sweet girl she was with?"

"You daughter Maxine," Michael said. "They're a couple of awesome chicks."

* * *

Kathleen come running out to greet them and kissed both girls.

"I'm so pleased to meet you darling. Kate talks about you often."

Coming out of the kiss, Maxine looked at Kate who was studying the mountains.

Sammy came limping out of the house and without thinking Maxine said, "Oh is this your father Kate?"

Caught on the hop Kate said, "No it's Sammy, my honorary grandfather."

Her mom, already recovering from initial shock, eyed her daughter curiously but nothing was said.

Kate rushed to Sammy and kissed him and he grouched not to put smelly perfume on him or her uncles would tease him.

"Maxine this is our cook Sammy. Call him Sammy."

"Hi Sammy I apologize for mistaking you for Kate's father."

"Kate doesn't know who her father is or was. Her mother won't tell her. For your information Kate is the nearest I have to an offspring. I practically raised her."




Love of Horses Pt. 02



"Go to your kitchen Sammy," Kathleen gritted.

"Stay where you are Sammy and mom you stop it."

"Why you little bitch..."

"Hold it mom. I'll send my guest away. She might not like to see blood."

"Omigod. Maxine I'm so sorry. I just lost it."

"It's okay Mrs John. Mom and dad scrap and she's hit him at times. I was unaware Kate didn't know who her father was. Tell her Mrs John; she needs to know, to hear it from you. Is it Sammy?"

Tears were flowing down Kathleen's face and Sammy and Kate were looking at the mountains.

"I-I don't know what to say."

"Just say it Mrs John. The secret has probably stressed your terribly."

"Kate I..."

"Say it mom. I've work out who it is. Just be careful because he might not know."

"It was Sammy."

Sammy grunted, "Thank god that's over. It was the year of the huge floods. Your uncles were caught over the other side of the river and spent several days marooned here."

"Yeah and you two because bored and I can guess what happened. I've been happy to have guessed and looked up old newspapers a couple of months ago and found the date of those floods here coincided with the time I worked out for my conception. At the same time I'm relieved to have my belief confirmed and I can't think of a better way to be conceived. Since my earliest memories I've always loved you Sammy."

Sammy invited Maxine into the house to inspect his kitchen, leaving mother and daughter alone.

* * *

When returning to Patrick, Maxine said to Kate, "That was an absolutely fabulous weekend. I appear to be in synch with my family again, you and your mother ought to now enjoy a more stable relationship, Sammy is just the cutest old guy I have ever met, such a character and I've never ridden the biggest array of horses in my life over the past two and a half days in such challenging territory. Riding after you down into that river I thought I was going to die."

"And those things compromise the best part?"

"No having your mom arranging that pony clubs open jump off on Saturday and me winning the event. And then yesterday all the officials turned up again and I went through a series of officially measured jumps up in height and I finally cleared 5 ft and it was recorded filmed on disk and certified. That was seven inches higher that my previous measured best although several times when practicing at my grandparent's ranch I had cleared around five feet. That was so amazing and I know I did it under pressure of being observed and filmed because of your belief in me."

"Well pulling out all stops is what champions have to do. But will come for you in time. It's time I told you this. I emailed all those people who have coached you over the years to get verification you have more than the mandatory 24 hours of coaching to go beyond beginner's classes. The total formal coaching verified for you is 43.5 hours. You are one lucky girl that your grandma sent you to their local pony club to be sure you learned to ride properly. It's a pity you didn't go in for competitive riding but a local Intercollegiate Equestrian Society official in this region will come and assess you."

"That is hugely kind of you to go all that extra distance for me. But what I can't understand is why?"

"I was given a backdoor chance to enter society show competition but I decided no way, either I was a bona-fide competitor or nothing. I've commenced a coaching path and over the next four or five years I'll finally earn a bona-fide degree. Then I'll be able to become a college equestrian assistant coach and then coach and from there who knows, all I know is by the way I'm approaching it I'll have higher career opportunities as a professional coach."

"Oh and while we are talking like this you should know when I took you on as a problem teenager with little future in anything, sorting you out and coaching you er I mean assisting you, to help you to success is partly to help me. Think what they will look like on my CV? This is why Coach Hall hasn't given you any instruction. It isn't because he thinks you are too sexy for him; it's because we have an agreement that only I instruct you. You see I'm not as generous and giving as you might think."

"Well if you must know you mean everything to me and I regard us as working in partnership. Oh I had a fabulous time at the ranch and I um I allowed your eldest cousin to bang me. God it was scary, we did it under his mom's nose and she even came looking for us."

"Yeah well I told him to have a shot at you, that you hadn't had sex for six months and your body was screaming for it."

"How did you know I was in that state?" Maxine giggled.

That made Kate think once again she had come a long way since she'd last had sex.

The next afternoon after taking training sessions, Kate waited for the arrival of a straight-backed elderly woman and then took her into the lecture room next to Ralph's office.

"The student will be here shortly Mrs O'Toole. She is completing fitness training at the gym. I'm so grateful you have agreed to conduct this private lesson for us. Here is your fee."

"Just a minute young lady. Why are you doing this for just one of your students and not them all? I understood all students in the equestrian club were treated equally?"

"They are in scheduled classes and regular training sessions Mrs O'Toole. But this is my money being paid to achieve my own goals. I'm only an assistant to the trainer but have been riding since I was a wee girl and I have come to understand what makes a standout rider before I see her ride. This girl, who is my age of eighteen, came to us after being dismissed from a college after repeated warnings about unruly behavior. Coach Hall ask me to do my best with her and as soon as I saw her defiant stance and fire in her eyes I thought Omigod, let me see if your proclaimed love of riding is for real, and you sit well, have soft hands and obviously are thinking or one two moves ahead."

"Well to cut a long story short I had the feeling this young woman has what it takes, in my view, to become an intercollegiate champion."

"Oh yes Kate and yet you said on the phone it's only recently she's had any competitive event riding. So what makes her a standout?"

"I'm ready to put my money where my mouth is."

The celebrated retired Intercollegiate Equestrian Society long-serving senior judge said that's not what she meant.

"Right here we go: This Saturday just gone as a guest competitor at my old pony club's interclub competition day, my protégé Maxine won the senior open event. Thirteen clubs had their best two riders competing in the open. Secondly Maxine has jumped blindfolded over a jump set at 2 ft and wheeled and jumped on the return. I admit she was on a horse she knew well. She is also on film clearing 5 ft in a jumping session yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon and this morning I had her ride seven different horses on different terrain and the finale was following me down a ravine and swimming her mount she'd never ridden before across a river. She is also with my three senior Western riders two weeks into riding a Paint trained in barrel racing."

"Kate please put your money away. I would be honored to assist your potential champion. There is no charge for this session. I admire you for taking this approach. I guess it's because you aspire to become a college coach once you get your degree. I did ask my friend Lucy Robinson who is in administration here. She admires you and believes you are the type of young woman who knows what she wants and will get it without bending the rules. Lucy has invited me to officially open Patrick University's new equestrian riding track. Twenty-seven years ago I ended eleven years as equestrian coach here."

"Omigod that information eluded me. I just asked Coach Hall for the best former horse show judge living within a hundred miles of here and he said, quote, "Pamela O'Toole, she's living right under your nose, within 10 miles of here." 

"What is the highest jump you have attempted dear?"

"Six feet, set unofficially, here just recently. We have it on our website."

"I know and you ride with real flair. But I actually asked the highest jump you have attempted."

Kate said something and when she finished, Mrs O'Toole said, "I didn't catch that dear. You are mumbling."

"At my mom's 38th birthday party luncheon most people there were all high on liquor but I hadn't been drinking. I'd won the senior open jump, for the fifth year in a row the previous day at the pony club. I was seventeen and was flattered to hear people compliment me. Then mom's two youngest brothers said everyone wanted to see me jump."

"Mom's horse, Silver Stirrup, a good jumper was in the club pasture so she was saddled and I could see the fence was high, set at 5.5 but we sailed over it. I was overly confident and said put the bars up to 6.5 but mom shouted no, make it 7, she can do no worse than fall off."

"The bubbly crowed egged me on and so I agreed to do it. Oh god it was awful." 

Kate burst into raking sobs and Mrs O'Toole rose and hugged her.

"Let it out dear, tell me what happened."

"Perhaps she was never going to make it but a dragging front leg caught the second to top rail and she slammed into the railing and I went flying and finished a forward roll as I was trained to do and... and poor Silver Stirrup. She was a beautiful horse, only 14, and she was on the ground screaming. One of my uncles had a rifle in the truck and oh, Omigod. The shot blasted into the afternoon air and I knew I'd recklessly killed a beautiful horse, mom's favorite of that time."

"All of your were responsible, not just you, and the worst contributors were your uncles for putting the fence that high. At 6.5 you might have made it. Their behavior was so unfair to you.

"That's what mom said. But she said had I made that height, everyone including her would have wanted to see me jump higher."

"And so that's why you don't jump competitively today?"

"More or less. I've gotten over it but the agony of my stupidity lives on. We have a two-year old and a four-year old on the ranch out of Silver Stirrup but I never ride them for their own safety."

"That's a bit illogical."

"I know but there you are. I put Maxine on the four-year old gelding Sam-the-Man to ride some figure of eights and driving back here last night I asked her which of the horses she'd like to ride again if we returned to the ranch. She said the best potential jumper, Sam-the-Man. She hasn't seen him jump but see what I mean, she has my ability to see ahead and that's why I recognize she had the gift. Most of the riders here only see what's coming up."

"Here comes a blonde now dear, it must be her. Go through and wash your face. I'll introduce myself."

They spent the next ninety minutes going through the DVD of jumping competitions and Mrs O'Toole would freeze the frame to point to what was right and what the rider was doing wrong and what the rider needed to do to improve to become an elite rider. Both Kate and Maxine were fascinated to learn a top judge's perspective.

At dinner that evening Maxine said, "Being the only club member to benefit from Mrs O'Toole's visit, I guess you'd like me to keep quiet about that?"

"Yes and thanks for being so sensitive."

"Why me?"

"Don't feel guilty. I've asked Coach Hall to hire Mrs O'Toole to tutor all the entrants before they compete in their first show, giving the pointers she gave to us. Satisfied?"

"No but I guess it's all I'm being told."

"Mrs O'Toole is also going across to Barton-Oaks this Saturday to watch you complete. She will judge you fully and will take us for dinner there and go over everything, point by point."

"Gee I hope I don't become over-coached and become too good."

They giggled when Kate said, "I do admire your attitude young woman. We may end up helping you to win a point or two."

* * *

Late Saturday Patrick University Equestrian team returned from their region's first show in triumph. The results had been phoned ahead and some 150 staff and students lined the top rise of Maple Avenue into the university as the team arrived home, vehicle horns blaring, to acknowledge the cheering and waving from the grassy bank in recognition of the Patrick's best show ever. 

The English Riding group had won four individual first-place ribbons with Carole Leach taking the beginner walk-trot blue ribbon. Maxine Dunlop won the intermediate equitation on the flat and the intermediate equitation over fences. Rick Flavell had won the novice over fences class by a wide margin. The team finished first in the team's class after also scooping up a total of seven second or third places.

The Western Riding group came home with ribbons for all six riders. Claire Kennedy, named as high point rider, narrowly won the intermediate horsemanship class over last year's zone runner-up champion and Gwyn Wells won the novice horsemanship class. The other four riders won second or third ribbons in their classes

The riders then had to saddle up Patrick horses for the local newspaper to photograph both teams and the 'Patrick News' team had its photographs of those two line-ups and details of the riders' successes on the university's web site within an hour of those photos being taken.

Before taking their horses back to the barn, the team gave three cheers to the coaching team and Coach Hall was photographed hugging his pretty assistant but his watching wife clapped and laughed at that exhibition of spontaneous joy because Anne understood his emotion. She'd heard a whisper that unless the equestrian teams 'picked up their hooves' this season, the equestrian activity might be severely scaled back although not abandoned.

An hour later, when checking every horse to satisfy herself that it was fit to be part of next day's parade for the official opening of the university's new riding trail, Kate was interrupted by a guy who appeared in front of her without any warning.

"Hi."

"Jesus," she yelled. "You practically scared the crap out of me."

"Sorry there was no bell to ring."

She smiled apologetically and apologized for her sharp reaction.

"You were probably reliving a great day for equestrian at Patrick. Congratulations."

"Thanks but you must understand when push comes to shove it's the riders and their ability to handle the horse they've drawn to ride that matters."

"Yes I understand. I'm an alumni rider in competition at my former university. I've come down to ride Chocolate Ice."

"I'm sorry sir but..."

"I'm Grant Bell. My sister Annie Hall thought you'd be kind enough..."

Kate was no longer listening. Jesus Anne had more or less said her younger brother was cute. Suddenly she had difficulty breathing easily. Then she realized he was waiting a reply.

"Yes I'll take you to the Paint. It's our policy here if you ride, you saddle up."

"Fine and that's how it should be. Horses are more than a conveyance and should be treated with dignity and knowledge that the rider wishes to relate to them."

God this guy was more that cute, Kate thought, annoyed that her hair was in a mess and her lipstick would have worn thin and she smelt of horses.

"Lead me to Chocolate Ice ma'am. I reckon with a name like that she will be one of the most popular mounts here even if she is a Paint."

"And what's wrong with a Paint?"

"Hey I meant no disrespect. I have a real soft spot for Paints but know top preferences for females are chestnuts and palominos."

"That sounds like something dreamed up by the media but I concede Paints are not first choice for some riders. I like them because they have character and usually revel in hard work."

"Agreed and so what about my request to take me out to the bridge?"

Kate knew he must have made that request when her mind drifted off.

"Yes I'll do that."

"Annie said it looks great in fading light as you look across to it."

"I've only been out twice, both occasions early morning. Are you here for tomorrow's opening?"

"Yes I'm a freelance photographer in this region and have been commissioned by Equestrian World magazine to cover the event."

Kate realized he was carrying a camera bag.

"Right I'll fetch a couple of trail headlamps and we can then stay at the scene till nightfall if you wish to try for a mood shot or two."

"Great and thanks."

Kate took him to the Paint and Grant was instantly captivated.

"Gee what a horse," he said, eyeing her and then cupping her muzzle.

"Well Chocolate Ice is yours for the evening. She's eight, no bad vices and stands 15.1 hands. Saddle up when you're ready."

"Oh you are expected for dinner. Anne said 9:00 to 9:30 would be fine."

"Great. I'll get my horse."

Gary was just leading Chocolate Ice out when Kate came along with Cool Lady. She watched Gary's eyes widen when he saw the tall sorrel. He didn't say anything and didn't have to; she knew he was impressed.

They began at a walk and then from a trot Kate took Cool Lady into the easy lope she could maintain for long periods and Gary found his mount adjusted her pace without being urged.

"These two behave like sisters," he suggested and Kate said, "They are my personal horses. Actually I believe if I'm around CI always wants to be with me. For a horse that I thrash in Barrel Race training, initially I thought she'd not have any affection for me. But like most Quarter Horses they like to work. CI will do anything I ask of her but she is slightly standoffish, rather elegant in character."

"Then which one do you prefer?"

"I have avoided asking myself that question so I can avoid answering."

Gary grinned and said, "Anne told me you are anything but elegant and you are somewhat aggressive but you became her first real friend here and she had enormous respect and affection for you."

"Do you think you are suppose to tell me that?"

"No."

"So what does that make you?"

Gary sighed and said a big mouth.

"Yeah rather like me I guess. See the track entrance sign ahead? Let's give the horses a work out to there. We are limited to walking on the trail to avoid cutting it up."

"You mean a race?"

"If you wish. First to pass that signpost near the entrance wins."

They both kicked their mounts forward simultaneously and Kate got ahead by half a length and Gary tried everything but couldn't change that margin, noticing Kate was watching the Paint closely and she went past the post, winning by half a length.

"You didn't have the pedal to the floor," he charged.

"Why should I? Winning by a half-length is a win. I'm lighter than you so if I were riding CI I could have managed the same result. These horses are pretty well equal in speed but CI can turn faster but my sorrel can jump to take short-cuts."

He said sullenly, "Anne said you had great horses and you rode fearlessly and masterfully. I was determined to have a piece of you."

"Oooh Gary, are you talking about horse riding?"

His scowl became a slight grin and said well he was convinced the better rider won.

"Thanks. Tell me about yourself Gary," Kate said as they rode on to the trail through the woods.

Later as they came to the top of a ridge and look up ahead to the bridge over the ravine, they dismounted and tied the reins of their mounts to the safety rail near the edge of the 40 ft drop worn by the river over centuries.

"Is it okay for me to kiss you?" Gary asked slightly hesitantly.

Kate grabbed him.

She was at least a couple of months overdue for a kiss like this, she thought, at gave it everything.

They broke apart, breathing heavily, and wiping his lips with the back of a hand Gary said, "Wow."

"I haven't been in a position of being kissed for quite sometime," Kate said. "Don't be shy."

Gary grabbed her and kissed her hard and finally Kate opened her mouth and he eased back on the pressure triumphantly until Kate began grinding her groin against his and Gary grabbed her butt cheeks and squeezed hard.




Love of Horses Pt. 02



"Hey take some photos first, the light's fading." Kate said, a little breathlessly.

"Oh yeah," Gary said in the tone of a guy who was being drawn away from something important to do something of insignificance.

They walked along the track and he took some shots from vantage points and then asked Kate to return quickly for Chocolate Ice and ride across the bridge and then return slowly and stop and go at his hand signals.

"Why the Paint?"

"She'll show up in the fading light. Ride with your Stetson off."

Gary climbed the bank above the right angle exit off the bridge and took shots of Kate on Chocolate Ice from four positions and was finished.

As they rode back with their headlamps picking up reflective markers placed about every forty feet on both sides of the trail, but closer together at bends, Kate said, "Would you like to sleep with me tonight?"

"I was waiting for that invitation," he said. "Let's not stay too long after dinner with Anne and Ralph."

"I'll break the news to Anne and an hour after dinner she'll ask you to escort me to my apartment."

Gary thought that was a great idea.

Their best sex came at dawn when Gary nudged Kate awake with his erection.

"Hi, oooh."

"Hi I have half an hour if we hurry. I told Anne I'd be home in time for breakfast with the official party."

"Give me three minutes."

Kate returned from the bathroom and soon found herself engaged in her best sex ever.

They were both hungry for it and began with a frisky sixty-nine that ended in a boisterous climax for them both and they then slipped into a horsy, er doggy, at a trot and they went over time but it was worth it.

It wasn't romantic sex but Kate didn't mind. She was used to having hard workouts early morning on fresh horses.

Much the same really. She suspected she'd never see Gary again, well not in bed, and so that came to pass.

As he was leaving her said, "I'll say my real goodbye now. I'll leave this afternoon to go south to stay with my fiancée and her parents. I hope you didn't mind me withholding that information until now?"

"No, riding frisky horses I'm quite use to surprises."

Kate said that with a smile but she really was in no mood for laughing. There was no way she'd trust a guy who acted like that. She needed a guy she could trust and with whom she could build affection.

CHAPTER 4

Romance came unexpectedly for Kate. She was in the nearby town having lunch when a guy with a loaded tray came up to her table and asked did she mind if he shared the table.

Kate, never a loner by preference unless she was wilderness riding, looked around pointedly at the nearby three empty tables and smiled at the stocky guy with ginger hair and said no of course not.

"I spot you about periodically Miss John. "I'm Robbie Macdonald."

Kate avoided saying the obvious how did he know who she was. She said hi, and told him to call her Kate.

"I'm taking this opportunity to ask a favor."

Sex? Well that would be an original pick-up line if that were what he wanted.

She asked was he a reporter?

"No I'm one of the horse vets at Patrick."

"Oh I thought Patrick's vets were Reggie, Dirk and Mary?"

"Well there are eight of us and those three were assigned to look after the needs of your equestrian unit. Dirk has asked for a transfer to the breeding program but there was no vacancy and so I volunteered to swap places with him. That takes effect in a fortnight. We have a problem and when I saw you here I thought I should consult with you right now."

"Oh I thought you were attempting to date me?"

Robbie showed considerable dental white as he grinned and asked would she consider than as a possibility.

"I might. It depends on whether you are married or tightly hobbled."

He colored and said, "This might not sound very flattering for me but I have not had much success in the two years I've been here. It appears females find my stocky built, red hair and freckles less that attractive."

"What about grace, humor, intellect and social connectivity?"

"Kate this is a university campus not a marital hunting ground. The focus of women here it appears is sex and the ability of the guy to stimulate prolong screaming climaxes."

"Oh yes of course. You will have associated closely with female artificial inseminators."

The poor guy coughed a piece of steak from his sandwich halfway across the table and was most apologetic.

"I feel an affinity with males I can shock," Kate said straight-faced, and Robbie was obviously wondering what the hell did that mean.

He laughed and Kate realized he was struggling with her and said, "And I like guys who recognize I have a sense of humor. You are rather appealing Robbie. Are you going to ask me for a date?"

He wiped his mouth and said, "Kate may I take you to dinner on Saturday night, um dining locally here in town?"

"And then what?"

He bit the bullet under provocation. "And then sex."

She smiled and said, "Robbie yes, that sounds like my kind of night."

He looked pleased but said, "Huh, do you have sex with everyone you date?"

"Not with my girlfriends and I only date guys I like Robbie so I have no problem."

"At what?"

She smiled and said, "With being screwed."

His face flamed and said he'd thought she'd been talking on the higher intellectual plane.

"I'm sure the intellectuals screw Robbie, even on airplanes."

Robbie appeared shell-shocked. Kate put that down to shyness.

The problem they had was with a new horse over at the breeding unit that was funded by industry to genetically improve stock of the most popular riding breeds with the ultimate aim to breed out undesirable traits and improve rates of reproduction, health and longevity.

Robbie told Kate about the 6-year-old Guinevere that had been purchased in Ireland for selective breeding. She was a 16.1 hh golden dun yet to be placed in foal. She'd come with four other mares and had been the only one not to have handled the airplane flight from Ireland well, ending up being very difficult to handle and had to be stabled alone because her wild behavior disturbed other horses.

He said, "We understand you have a wonderful way with horses and you prefer fiery mounts."

Kate shrugged and said, "Ride her over and I'll take a look at her."

"Ride her, are you kidding? She had to be tranquilized during the flight and tranquilized in being transporting here. Our rules don't permit horses being tranquilized to permit them to be more rideable."

"I should think so. God very few horse are unrideable."

"Well we hope you can do something. Guinevere has been kept in a semi-darkened stall to keep her calmer. Will you try to work on her?"

"Yes."

"Oh excellent. How do you wish to handle this?"

"I will come and get her and lead her back here. I should think I'll have her sorted within ten days to two weeks."

"I'll get our dean of research's written authority allowing you to do this. Guinevere is highly valuable to us and is insured for $100,000."

"I treat all horses the same, which is carefully, irrespective of their perceived valued. I'm prepared to meet your director if required."

Robbie smiled and said he didn't think formal negotiations would be necessary. "Over at our outfit you have gained quite a name. Someone nicknamed you the Equine Kid and we have film clips of some our your coaching performances and you making that record jump and out racing with Anne Hall."

"Why the hell would people want to watch film clips of me?"

"The word is out that you'll train the rider who'll win Patrick's first national championship in intercollegiate riding competition."

"God don't you people have anything better to do?" Kate laughed, feeling very flattered. 

They parted with nothing more than smiles with the date for Saturday confirmed and Robbie taking Kate's email address to send a copy of the authority for her to take Guinevere into her possession. 

Later that afternoon when returning to take training, she briefed Ralph Hall about the proposed transfer of Guinevere. He said good, they'd owed the university's equestrian school and its veterinary unit many favors.

"Just make sure you don't touch that horse until we have formal notification."

"An email?"

"I said formal notification."

"Oh right," she said, and called Robbie. Late that afternoon someone from admin at the school handed Ralph the letter and Kate called Robbie and arranged to collect the mare."

"Come early and look through our school and barns and have dinner with us."

Kate accepted the invitation and went as soon as she'd finished her training sessions. She rode across on Chocolate Ice, calling Robbie when on her way, asking him to meet her and take her to a suitable place to leave her horse.

Kate was impressed with the facilities and met the dean of research, a former vet who became a professor of equine studies. For many years he'd been a dressage judge at national level. Carl Kennedy said it would be wonderful if Kate could return the mare to her former well-behaved state because she would be handled a great deal by researchers and it was necessary to have her put to a stallion for natural conception for fidelity in research recording and of course for thoroughbred registration.

As they left Robbie said, "What Carl didn't say was we don't want our choice of stallion injured."

As they went in for dinner Robbie said in surprise, "Gosh this first dinner sitting is usually less that half full. We'll be lucky to find a table."

The dinning room supervisor said hi to Robbie and virtually curtsied when she said, "Good evening Miss John, and a warm welcome. My two daughters, young riders, think you are the cat's whiskers. Please follow me. You and Robbie are at the dean's table."

"But the dean rarely eats here."

"Don't be rude Robbie. Well he is here tonight for this lecture dinner."

"Lecture dinner? Who's the guest presenter Faye?"

"Miss Hall of course."

Robbie looked aghast. "Kate, honest, I know nothing about this."

"It's okay I think," she said nervously.

Carl greeted them and introduced Kate to his wife and three other high-ranking officers at the school and their wives. Kate was relieved to note everyone was informally dressed. 

No one left as people began finishing eating and the Carl rose and said the school was delighted to have Western-trained rider and noted horse whisperer Kate Hall, Patrick's assistant equestrian riding coach, as a special guest.

He asked her to stand and there was polite applause.

Kate sat and Robbie whispered, "I'm sorry there's been some kind of giant mess-up. You're not a horse whisperer are you?"

"No of course not and have never claimed to be."

"Someone has got their wires crossed."

"Would everyone please turn to view the screen," Carl said, and sat.

Someone had joined all film clips involving Kate, linking them with short bits of text and all the clips had been edited and enhanced and a commentary added. As the screening began of Kate's film clip supplied when she applied for a position at the university she recognized the commentator's voice; it was Anne Hall.

The short presentation included film clips Kate had not been aware had been taken of her at training sessions and at her first horse show, and it ended with the filming of her and Anne Hall's brother racing to the entrance to the new equestrian trail.

Robbie whispered, "I know nothing of this, I swear."

"I accept that assurance. This is the work of Anne Hall, the devious bitch," Kate giggled.

The filming concluded with Kate making her record-setting jump at Patrick University of 6 ft.

When the credits began rolling some people stood and applauded and soon the entire room was standing and people had turned to face Kate to applaud her.

"Take it steady Kate," Carl whispered. "These folk know horses and riders and they are acknowledging your horsemanship and your amazing flexibility and accomplishments for one so young."

As people began sitting Kate rose and said thank you.

Carl then told her to remain standing and led her to a lectern Kate had not noticed and was now spot-lit.

"Ladies and gentlemen of Patrick University, principally of the Equestrian School," Carl said. "Kate Hall will now address you and please remember she'd only eighteen and not a seasoned lecturer. She hasn't been given a subject. Kate is free to chat about whatever she wishes." 

"Good evening everyone and greetings from Patrick's equestrian riding facility. I'll chat about my love of horses and my overriding commitment to excel in horsemanship. Will I make history for Patrick University in reaching new heights in intercollegiate horse riding success? Of course I will along with others I'm associated with because we, as a team, have a plan in place to boost performances to reach our goals. But on the day, it will be our riders on horses they are allotted in a draw who'll perform to triumph for Patrick. Yes we know other universities and colleges have similar aspirations but we are preparing a two-year assault on titles, not a one-year bid."

"Now could someone please run this small clip on DVD on your screen please. I hadn't expected to be invited to speak to you but I brought the DVD along in case there was any doubt of my ability to handle tough horses."

A woman took the disk to load it into the player.

"The clip will show our top riders doing extra training by invitation and it's voluntary because it's tough and can be rough and a bad fall could leave them with horrible injuries of unthinkable severity. These riders know this and before being admitted were shown film clips of riders spilling so heavily their riding careers ended."

"Right here we go. It's called barrel racing training and at this stage my trainees are limited to learning techniques. Essentially barrel racing combines the horse's athletic ability and the horsemanship skills of a rider in order to safely and successfully maneuver a horse through a clover leaf pattern around three barrels placed in a triangle in the center of an arena. In training I request our riders to ride at comfort speed. Although we see three barrels set up students will only turn around the first two. They riding my Paint called Chocolate Ice. Horses have to be specially trained for barrel racing and this horse is as tough as they come and almost sulks when this eventing concludes."

"Right here were go with Claire Kennedy who'll win big in Western Reining. In this event riders have one hand one the saddle horn and on the reins. Guess what this training does to hone that girl's reining control?"

The audience watched Claire ride and then Rick Flavell and Maxine Dunlop who would compete in English riding jumping events. Kate had said Rick had excellent all-round riding ability but needed to push himself in training to be able to compete at the very top. Maxine was a brilliant rider and potentially could bring home the national title for intermediate equitation over fences. Equitation basically means the rider was judged and not the horse.

Kate then said, "I conclude practice by riding as if riding the full clover leaf against the clock to show them how it's done and to satisfy Chocolate Ice we are not horsing around with her."

The entire room yelled and hollered as Kate made her ride, the horse sliding around the barrels at what appeared to be impossible low angles and so fast compared with the trainee riders.

"I don't want them taking those risks but I want to build the impression within each of them that they can do it and when the going gets tough they know they can pull out at least one more stop. And now I'd like to chat around my love of horses that for me began when I first became aware of what a horse was which I guess in living on a ranch with lots of horses would have been before I was eighteen months old. But I wasn't allowed to ride alone until I was four and I could canter for as long as the horse was willing by the time I began grade school."

It was a brilliant presentation and people in the audience learned things about horses they hadn't known although they too had been riding since a young age.

When she finished she received a standing ovation.

Later Robbie stood with Kate and the barn manager outside Guinevere's stall.

"Right I'll take it from here," she said. "Robbie could you go and Larry would you lead Guinevere out and hand the lead to me when I mount my horse."

Robbie said, "Then I'll say goodbye."

"Yes and thanks for your company. Kiss me and properly."

He ignored Larry and kissed Kate firmly and as she pulled away she said "Oooh" and Robbie turned away grinning and left.

Kate then asked Larry to tell her everything he knew about the mare.

He was very cooperative and when he finished Kate said, "You are welcomed to come across and see her and I'll email you a nightly report."

"Oh thanks Kate. I am so anxious about her. We believe we've tried everything."

"Only patient handling will bring her right Larry. I could know within a couple of days if she is bonding with me."

"I am so grateful and so hopeful."

"The Irish are always a little different Larry, and perhaps so are their horses. I intended taking her back in the dark like this hoping she will be at her calmest."

Two days later Kate emailed Larry with news that delighted him: 'Guinevere has bonded to my Paint. I have them in adjoining stalls. I know within ten days Guinevere will be back to normal again."

On the fifth day Larry received another email: 'Come over at 5:30 today and ride the new trail with me if that's convenient. Kate'.

Larry arrived at the barn where he found Kate with two horses saddled.

"Hi Larry," she smiled, lifting herself on to Cool Lady. Jump up and we're off."

Larry looked dubious but he was no chicken. He mounted Guinevere and they rode off sedately.

"How on earth...?" he said."

"I stayed in her stall for two hours that first nigh, grooming and crooning to her and got bumped around a bit and was back again for another hour at dawn and the next evening I believed I was experiencing a breakthrough and so put her in a stall next to my Paint, Chocolate Ice. Next morning she seemed eager to contact me and so I saddled up and walked her around but she became unruly whenever I went to mount and so I just backed off. That evening I had a groom ride alongside her on Chocolate Ice and got him to trot off. Guinevere attempted to go after them. I held her back and then mounted and she was off after them at a lope and has been just fine ever since. After we return from the trail I'll follow your vehicle back to your barn on my horse and lead Guinevere home."

After their first and very successful dinner date, Kate and Robbie began seeing each other every second evening for companionship and sexual relations became part of that. She learned he'd been raised 250 miles from Patrick and his father, a vet, had immigrated from Scotland as a young vet, recruited to become a lecturer at Patrick. Robbie had a sister older than him and a younger brother. He was twenty-seven, having graduated fully as a vet the previous year and his father had secured him a place at Patrick, his dad being a long-standing member and former president of the Patrick Alumni Association.

Dean Kennedy called Kate to thank her for her outstanding success with Guinevere and asked her to visit him at her earliest convenience. A suitable time was set and Kate went expecting to be presented with a silver decorated bridle or something similar. Instead it was a meeting with researcher Carl Kennedy, the Equine School's academic dean Elizabeth Holst and the university's head enrolment adviser Peggy Miller. 

After being introduced, Kate looked at Carl for an explanation, and got it.

"Kate we wish to ensure you don't leave here without academic recognition for the outstanding contributions that you already have made to this university. Over to you Elizabeth."




Love of Horses Pt. 02



"Kate I heard you speak the other night after watching film clips of your extraordinary exploits of horsemanship and was moved. But I was moved even more when Carl mentioned over coffee next morning you had elected to take only partial studies of direct interest in the belief that your learning ability would take you no further."

"Kate I found that belief untenable and began investigating. True your grade school records are unimpressive and high school achievements were gained outside the classroom in sport. But we've analyzed your performance and that produced a gratifying trend. Throughout your schooling you've produced an encouraging improvement, shown in this graph. We haven't overprinted any comparative line of average student progress to avoid embarrassing you but from your comments when you were interviewed for your present position here at Patrick, you made it clear you were aware you trailed the leading pack of your peers."

"Carl wants us to perform for you Kate as you performed for his research department with that glorious mare Guinevere. He showed us film clips of what she was like on her arrival here and attempts to control her and then how she has returned to her normal temperament and behavior after the time she spent with you. We found the contrast truly amazing. You are an awesome horsewoman Kate and it's time Patrick performed for you. Here is our proposal and we ask that you consider it, seek modifications to suit, but that you accept it as your academic challenge here at Patrick over the next four years when we are confident you'll emerge with a Bachelor in Equine Science degree. A small coaching hierarchy will be formed around you to get you to the finish. There will be no shortcuts, no compromises and of course you becoming a fulltime student will allow you to enter the competition to ride for Patrick, missing only the first competitive show."

"I-I thank you for making this effort but..."

Carl interrupted. "We'll arrange late-entry in the competition Kate and Coach Hall has approved this proposal 100 percent. He says you have the horsepower to perform as a fulltime student and a rider coaching assistant."

"Well I thank you for making all this effort but..."

"Just a minute Kate," Carl said. "There's someone who right now would like to say something to you."

He made a call and handed his phone to Kate.

"Kate it's Anne. Just do it darling. I have not been able to provide children for Ralph and he's been so brave about it. Do this for you darling and for us."

"Did you arrange this as you compiled that movie about me?"

"Yes. Bye darling."

Eyes moist, Kate turned to Carl and said, "How is it Anne has this influence on you?"

"Annie is my kid sister. She wanted you to be offered the chance she was presented when she was eighteen but instead she opted to join a cruise ship company as a singer and worked in the Caribbean for part of the year and in Northern European Waters for the other part of the year. She spent six years doing that and when she a was home visiting I introduced her to Ralph Hall, one of my riding buddies on the equestrian circuit, and lo she couldn't come ashore fast enough."

"Anne's a singer?"

"Yes and she speaks five languages rather fluently and plays the trumpet adequately and the guitar excellently and saxophone brilliantly. My sister is a dark horse and prefers it that way."

Kate took a few seconds to collect herself. 

"Very well guys, this is something like a second chance for me and will speed up my opportunity to become a professional coach attached to a college or university." 

She went off with Peggy to enroll as a fulltime student and to apply for late enrolment in the open section of the Intercollegiate Equestrian Society's English Seat competition and the Western Reining competition along with supporting documentation of her competitive riding record and a copy of the DVD to provide evidence of her horsemanship.

Three days later Kate went almost fifty miles away to a show ring for one of the society's assessors to approve of her suitability as a late entrant. Joy Moroney told Kate she would recommend Kate's acceptance as a rider with championship potential. Kate was officially informed of her acceptance two days later.

At Kate's instance, a meeting of all competitive riders was called for next afternoon where Kate announced her acceptance to compete in her two chosen events.

"I want to you know about this," she said. "It seems a little unfair for me to be competing against my own students but there it is. I am commencing a fulltime degree in equine science forthwith and if there is any objection, but only right now, to my competing in the open jump and open reining competition I'll withdraw immediately."

She then left the room and Coach Hall said, "Are there any questions or discussion?"

"No?"

He then put the motion that the meeting approved the inclusion of Kate John as a full member of Patrick University Equestrian Club's riding teams.

Ralph opened the door and shouted for Kate to return.

Club president Claire Kennedy walked up to Kate and said, "The motion that you be admitted as a full competitive member of the Patrick University Equestrian Club and put to current competitive riding members of the Equestrian Club. It was carried unanimously. Congratulations."

They hugged and kissed.

"Thanks guys, Kate said. "My studies mean I'll be burning the midnight oil but I assure you all I will put 100 percent into my training supervision. At this point, all going well, I predict that at least four of you will qualify for zone finals/Western semi-finals this April/May. That depends on several things including good horses in the draw of course. If we can get more of you qualified to go on, then no one will be more delighted than me."

TO BE CONTINUED



Love of Horses Pt. 03



Kate accepted Robbie's invitation to spend the first week at the end of semester at his home. The plan was they'd have Christmas with their families and then he'd stay with Kate for a week on the ranch.

Robbie mentioned before he left the university a day ahead of Kate that his mother was miffed when he'd revealed he'd been dating a younger woman than usual and she had flared when learning Kate was only eighteen.

"Um you best be prepared for a cold shoulder."

"Thanks for the warning. I hope she's not too old and crabby for me to endure."

"By mom I mean dad's second wife. Glen is thirty-nine."

Kate had to giggle when Robbie said his dad was fifty-four. Now who also was with a younger woman?

A little worried, Robbie asked, "Are you looking forward to being on vacation with me?"

"Yes apart from your stepmother's prejudgment of me and being stuck in the middle of a big city."

"Well that's a prejudgment. We live on five-acres on the western outskirts of the city with four horses, a donkey and five goats."

"Oh, sorry. That sounds more rural than urban."

Kate arrived at 'Kelston Oaks' at 3:30 and received a big welcoming kiss from Robbie. He led her around the house saying, "Mom's out riding Max, her favorite horse. Come and watch her jump unless she's finished."

She had, but only just. 

Mrs Macdonald rode up to them and said hi and Kate said hi Mrs Macdonald and was invited to call her Glen, saying she didn't like being called Glenys.

"You are a little young for my son."

"Some people might think so, some might not."

Glen frowned and said, "Robbie said you are a freshman and help with the training of the equestrian riders."

"Yes that's correct. I love horses."

"Well what's this horse?"

"A gelding Hunter with some Arabian, I'd say 16.3 hands and ten or eleven years old."

"Ah so Robbie briefed you to impress me."

"He's a lovely horse."

"Mom I never said a word other that you were out riding your horse. I gave no description whatsoever."

"Thor is eleven and how could you guess his height so accurately?"

"Kate has been riding since she was four and spends a great deal of time with horses."

"Hmmm. Kate would you like to ride Thor now?"

"Not if the invitation is to just walk him."

"You can do what you like."

"Okay, thanks."

Kate was in jeans and wearing sneakers and so she felt comfortable enough to swing up with ease. She quickly pushed Thor into an easy lope and circled the post and three rail pasture twice and returned.

"Thor is an excellent jumper," Glen said as horse and rider returned to her.

Kate wheeled Thor and they went over the two jumps with ease, the first set at 2.5 ft and the second at 3 ft.

"You girl is an excellent rider."

"Mom I should have warned you... oh shite."

Glen froze, seeing what Robbie was seeing: Kate was riding hard at the gate.

Thor clipped it slightly and they went into that pasture for about 50 feet before turning.

"Oh god, that's an uphill slope, adding probably six inches to the height of the jump," Glen said.

"Kate's jumped 6 ft but she won't now because she doesn't know Thor," Robbie said confidently, both hands behind his back, finders crossed.

"Oh god," Glen groaned. She resumed breathing again when Kate checked Thor and rode slowly up to the gate and dismounted and opened it.

After shutting the gate Kate urged Thor into a lope to circle the pasture once more and then circled again at a walk and returned to Glen and Robbie.

Kate smiled and said, "Thor is strong and nimble. You must be very proud of him."

Glen flushed and said yes.

Kate dismounted and said she'd take care of Thor before turning him out with the other horses in the third pasture.

Glen said fine. That was one way of getting to know a horse.

Sensing Glen had thawed a bit Kate smiled, "Oh Glen, Robbie and I would appreciate being put in the same bedroom."

Robbie studied the sky and Glen looked at Kate and said a little stiffly she'd attend to that request.

Waiting in the kitchen, Glen looked at the clock and said tersely, "What's that girl doing?"

"Grooming Thor, probably better than he's ever been groomed and talking to him."

Glen looked almost apologetic.

"Mom I should have told you Kate has won three blue ribbons in the advance rider's equitation over fences in the three shows she's entered riding for Patrick and in Western horsemanship in her class it's two blues from the two shows that staged that event. She's clearly our best rider of the eighty riders in the Equestrian Club. Ask her to show you the DVD of film clips the equestrian coach's wife compiled of Kate's horsemanship. She'll have it with her to take home to show her mom and extended family on the ranch."

"I will, oh god how exciting for you to be teamed up with a woman like that. Do you think she'll be willing to help me with my jumping?"

"Yes if you ask her. She'll want to receive that request from you. Be kind to her mom; I have no wish to lose her."

Gradually Kate and Glen softened their relationship, with Glen coming to understand that Kate could be warm as well as being hard-nosed and strongly independent. Kate learned that Glen had to cope with a husband who was a horse vet and was practically on 24/7 callout with only one partner and he had too many clients because of his huge reputation for professional competence. Robbie's brother Ross was twenty-one did nothing around the home apart from make a mess and Robbie's 29-year old sister was home and emotional unstable after her boyfriend she'd been living with for eighteen months had recently dumped her.

After three days it became obvious to the family that Robbie's 'young kid' (Glen had yelled that insult when learning Robbie was bringing and 18-year old home) was having a stabilizing influence on the family. She had mother and stepdaughter out riding on local trails with her and was tutoring them both on some of the finer points of general horsemanship and improving their jumping performances. 

Kate had told Ross to tidy his room and he snarled "Go pull your head in bitch" and she whacked him, hooking a punch into his belly that dropped him to the kitchen floor in a groaning heap. She then tipped a basin of cold water over his head and helped him to his feet. Probably what saved the situation was they were alone in the house and so Ross didn't find it necessary to defend his manhood or tell anyone the visitor had floored him.

"Jesus you can punch."

"Sorry darling," she'd said, kissing his forehead. "You are such a little shit but some girl will see good in you."

He took the bait and said he was one of those guys who failed to hold on to a girl.

His new friend said, "Well Ross here's what you can do to improve your chances." From then Ross's behavior around the home improved substantially and he and Kate had an easy relationship going that must have startled his stepmom and even made Robbie a little suspicious but neither said anything. After Kate had left and everyone was feeling a little flat Ross would admit Kate had sorted him out and he told his startled family what had happened.

Kate had become fond of Malcolm, Robbie's dry-witted father, despite knowing him for only a few days and she cried as she kissed him as she prepared to depart. Everyone was up and dressed at 6:00 to breakfast with her and wave goodbye as she headed off home.

Robbie was staggered to see his stepmom wiping her eyes. She never cried.

"Laddie there goes a bonny lass. You know what to do," his father said, hauling out a near forgotten accent and exaggerating it.

Glen cut to the bone. "Robbie don't you dare lose her. At last you've found your perfect woman and I want her beside me."

"But you don't like her," Robbie teased.

"Robbie do you want your butt indented with my riding boot?" 

They wandered back inside for coffee. The family sat at the kitchen table and Glen said, "In such a short time Kate made such noticeable impact on this family. She belongs here."

"It can never be mom, apart from visits," Robbie said. "She wants to be the best equestrian trainer she can possibly be and she can't do that here."

Glen began sobbing and Ruby hugged her and she began weeping.

"I'm off to take a look at a couple of horses at Robinson's Barn," Malcolm said.

"Dad I'm coming with you. I'll skip college this morning."

Malcolm appeared staggered. It had been years since his son had accompanied him on a veterinary visit. Then the woman clutched each other and began howling and he grinned, knowing both of them knew to get out of the house fast.

Kate stopped for gas before hitting the highway and the female attendant noticed the red eyes and said sympathetically, "Running away dear?"

"Just leaving some people who've been real family to me during me brief visit."

"Well keep in contact with them dear. Good families don't seem so numerous than in my days when I was your age."

The early morning sun was soft and there was no wind and even at a gas station Kate could hear birds singing. It was two days before Christmas day. Kate had a sudden thought and called her mom."

"Hi darling, I'm on my way home."

"Since when have I become darling?"

Kate grinned. "Oh you know the sun is shinning, the birds are singing and I've had such a happy time. Mom I'd like to invite my boyfriend and his family to the ranch for Christmas Day and stay the night."

"You invite them. It's your home too."

"Robbie's stepmom runs their home. Her name is Glen, please don't call her Glenys and remember Robbie calls her mom. I think she's beginning to like me. In my mind I can see her waiting for your call."

"God you speak rubbish at times. But this is a most unusual request from you. Have you considered they are city folk and will feel out of place here? All the family and two other families will be here and we have cleared out the barn and the boys have installed two cookers and outside there are two barbecue grills."

Kate countered, "Malcolm, Robbie's father, is a horse vet and Glen, who is his second wife, has four horses and rides every day mom and..."

"That's enough. Stop blathering. Give me Glen's number darling."

"So I'm darling now."

"No you cheeky young bitch. It's Christmas." 

* * *

Glen came off the phone looking almost shocked and Ruby said in alarm, "What is it, has something happened to dad and Ross?"

"No everything is fine. It was Kathleen John, Kate's mom. She's just received a request from Kate to invite us to the ranch for Christmas Day and to stay the night."

"Omigod are we going?"

"I said yes if your father can get away."

"Call dad now. Mom they have thirty horses and you'll want to ride them all."

"I want to meet Kate's mother, that's what I want and the colorful old guy who is their cook and is called Sammy. Kate calls him her honorary grandfather."

"Doesn't Kate's mom cook?"

"Yes but badly Kate said. She runs the ranch that supports the four families and seasonally hired help."

"Mom we have to go, even without dad. We've never been on a real ranch."

"I'll not leave your father alone at Christmas. I'm estranged from my family after marrying him against my parent's wishes and his parents are in Scotland and..."

"Then I won't leave him alone either."

"Good girl. You have calmed since Kate's visit."

"I know. She worked on me to think of myself as who I am and not to consider myself as someone's else's baggage who can dump me at will."

"Omigod. I tried to tell you something like that."

"I know and thanks mom. Kate just had the knack to get through to me."

"Omigod you've never called me mom in that tone."

"Haven't I? Well get used to it. Don't call dad. Call Linda and see what their Christmas work arrangements are. Only one of them will be on call."

Glen came looking for Ruby and found her changing the sheets on Kate's bed.

"Glory be, you haven't done this before, ever."

"Yes and I've made your bed as well. Get used to it."

"Um what's come over you?"

"Nothing really. I just appear to be thinking differently that's all. It's no big deal."

"Oh, Linda is on call this year from Christmas Day to the day before New Year's Eve. So we can go but I best check with your father."

"No mom. Let's go over to Robinson's Barn. It's too easy for anyone to say no on the phone."

"Yes you're right," Glen said, looking at her stepdaughter quizzically. 

The family left on the 550-mile trip a day early for a stopover because Robbie and his dad wished to show Glen and Ruby over Patrick University although it would be closed down for the break.

Driving towards the equestrian center at Patrick they saw a rider to their left and Robbie diverted to Range Rover to intercept her.

"Omigod what a beautiful and strong looking horse. It moves so fluidly," said Glen.

"It's Cool Charm, one of Kate's horses. Anne, wife of the riding coach Ralph Hall, is the rider," said Robbie, hitting the horn once and Anne came to them, riding at a lope.

"Hi," Robbie said, kissing Anne who'd dismounted. He introduced his family and her eyes lit up and said, "Oh Dr Macdonald, our illustrious alumni. We meet at last."

Anne noticed Glen eyeing the horse and Glen said, "Kate talked to me about Cool Charm."

"Then ride her."

"No I'm in stockings and this tight skirt."

"Then change. We won't look."

"No I can't..."

But too late. 

Robbie had open rear access and pulled his stepmom's bag to the edge. "Here you go mom. We won't look."

Glen rode off very happily, Anne telling her to ride to the biggest barn. She jumped into the vehicle and they drove there.

They went inside and inspected the top horses. Glen spotted one way off and said, "That's Chocolate Ice. Kate told us about her and Robbie made her show her the video disk you compiled about her riding that she was taking home to show her family. Kate has been staying with us for a week and we go on to her family ranch tomorrow for Christmas lunch."

"Oh how lovely. Where are you staying here?"

"We'll find a motel."

"Oh no you're not, you're staying with Ralph and me."

"Anne we can't barge in like that."

"Sorry Glen. It's a done deal. Come up for lunch and this afternoon we'll all ride the new trail. Robbie darling, please take care of Cool Lady for me."

"As madam wishes."

"May I ride Chocolate Ice this afternoon Anne?"

"Yes of course Glen. You are a very capable rider and she's some horse."

Next morning the family continued on to the ranch.

Glen said, "I can't get over how Anne and Ralph speak of Kate as if she were their daughter."

Malcolm said, "They don't have children so I guess in their minds, perhaps without intending it, they've adopted her as their daughter."

"Yeah well they are fond of her but they are not alone in being impressed by Kate because she's so awesome for an 18-year old," Robbie said. "The way she commands the respect and motivates older students is, well, almost unbelievable. I think it's because they know what she'd done and what's she's capable of doing and they know she just wants them to be the best they can be."

"That's quite a speech son," grinned his father.

Ruby said, "Dad the next time you need to hire a new assistant would you please consider me. I'd find that more worthy of managing the boutique."

"Yes dear," said her father, aware his daughter was very strong for a woman and she did have affection for horses. He looked back to smile at her and saw Glen was holding Ruby's hand.

"What?" Glen asked.

"Nothing."

"Poke your tongue at him," Ruby urged and Malcolm turned away grinning and saying, "Cheeky tarts."

"What does Anne do all day, just ride horses?"

"No dad. She's an aspiring author and has had three novels published based on Patrick University. "Her most recent one has a research scientist Dr Walter Habib who teaches the wife of the university president to ride and they end up having a torrid affair that they almost managed to keep secret."

"Almost?" asked his mom.

"Yeah well it's a novel written to sell. There has to be plenty of tension and drama."

"What is the novel about that she's working on now?"

Robbie said he had no idea and Ruby muttered she'd bet it would be based on Kate, if not this novel then the next one would be.

The family reflected on that. As they progressed farther north and increased in altitude they began to see snow on the ground, probably two or three days old. But as they approached the ranch house there was less snow to be seen and the outside air temperature reading on the gauge was two to three degrees higher.

Robbie said, "The land from her rises and I bet a mile up beyond the house the air temperatures will have nose-dived." 

CHAPTER 5

The Range Rover drew up outside the ranch house and only an old dog appeared.

Glen appeared devastated and Robbie laughed and said, "We'll go to the barn, everyone will be up there yelling and talking and getting ready for the big event."

He hit the horn as they approached. Kate emerged at a run with a small horde of people coming out behind her, all dressed warmly although no doubt there would be portable heaters roaring away inside the barn.

"Glen," yelled Kate.

"Jesus what about me?" Robbie laughed.

Glen was so excited she opened the door and Ruby had to hold her back until the vehicle stopped.

"Go get her mom," she whispered.

The two women slammed into each other and kissed and parted and Kate turned to a lean, hard-faced woman with very bright eyes and said almost shyly, "Mom this is Robbie stepmother Glen he calls mom. Glen this is my mom I call by her name Kathleen."

About fifty people, from kids to a white-headed couple, surrounded them.

The two women remained still until Glen stepped forward and held out her hand.

Kathleen broke into a big smile and said, "We are country people and we kiss" and she grabbed Glen and kissed her and said, "God you are pretty and smell so sweet."

"Oh my, you are so friendly. I didn't know what to expect, I was so nervous," Glen said. She grabbed Kathleen and hugged her.

Kathleen grinned and said dryly, "Well you kiss or hug a woman only once around here unless you wish to start the tongues waggling."

Robbie came around the vehicle to Kate and kissed her warmly.

"That's enough Robbie, I don't want you firing up my jealous uncles. Everyone this is my best boyfriend ever. Robbie Macdonald a vet at Patrick University and that's his dad Malcolm, a horse vet in private practice and that's Robbie's sister Ruby who works in high fashion and is almost as passionate about riding as Glen, and this charmer is their brother Ross who's studying accountancy at college."

The people around them clapped.

"Right you are too numerous to introduce individually so please step forward John Ted and Seth."

The big men came forward and Glen stepped back nervously.

"You guys as my uncles have the responsibility of hosting one of the Macdonald's and introducing them to people. Seth you take Glen, John you take Malcolm and Ted you look after Ruby. Cousin Louise?"

The curvy 19-year-old blonde stepped forward. "You look after Ross and be gentle with him."

Seth picked Glen up by the armpits and went to kiss her but almost dropped her in the haste to put her down when Kathleen yelled, "Seth! Attempt that stunt again and you'll be dog's meat."

"Yes ma'am," Seth said to his sister, who was less that half his bulk. "Sorry Glen."

"I accept your apology Seth. Please introduce me to your wife and children."

Half the crowd drifted away to continue interrupted luncheon preparations. Others were introduced to the Macdonald's including the families of Kathleen's brothers and then the wives hurried away to continue food preparation.

"How long have you been married to Malcolm?" Seth asked Glen. "You are only a little older than Ruby."




Love of Horses Pt. 03



"Three years and there's no disgrace in marrying an older man, in fact a very lovely man."

"Hey lady," cool down. "Just because I tried to kiss you..."

"I had no problem with that. It was just your macho manner."

"I apologized."

"Yes but did you mean it?"

"Yes of course."

"Then kiss me."

Seth looked startled, unsure and muttered perhaps later.

Glen said, "One of the reasons I came here was to see horses. I can only see cattle. Where are the horses?"

"So you want to see horses?"

"That's what I said."

Seth excused himself and went into the hay barn and said to Kathleen, "Glen wants to see horses. How long have I got?"

"Seth if you're attempting to get her away to try to have sex I'll..."

"No it's not that. How long before lunch is ready?"

"An hour, no more than an hour. Seth I'll have my eye on you."

Seth called to his two sons, John's son and Ted's two boys and the six of them went off in two pickups.

"What's Seth up to?" his wife Whitney asked, pausing from slicing one of the two barons of beef.

"I'm not sure," Kathleen said. "But something's up. Perhaps they have gone to bring down some horses. Apparently Glen was disappointed she'd come all this way to see horses and was disappointed we had none around here."

"God have you seen her breasts and butt? Seth won't be the only guy going horny with her around."

"I've warned Seth off. He'll be okay but he'll be out to please her but why would he need a crew that big to bring down a half dozen horses?" And then Kathleen grinned, "Oh no."

Whitney asked, "What are you on about."

"Seth and the kids have gone off to get the horses, all of them. That's forty-five of them counting the fifteen of our allotted horses. Your Seth is out to give a lady her wish to see horses. I'll open the gate into Pasture 47 uphill of us and we'll all stand across the dirt road to watch them pass. It will be worth watching. Only once in my life have I seen all of our horses in one herd and dad's wish to see that was on his 58th birthday when he knew he'd not last out the year."

Forty minutes later, with most people seated in the barn and drinking wine or beer or fruit juice, Kathleen went out and noticed the horses in the distance.

She went back in and yelled, "Listen up everyone."

The room fell silent.

"Glen mentioned to Seth she was disappointed she'd arrived here and not seen a horse. Well you all know what Seth is like. Fill your glasses and come and watch them pass. It will be quite a sight, only the second time in my life that I've seen all of our horses in a single herd. Come with me Glen and we'll lead everyone out. Charlie grab me a bottle of beer please, opened of course."

Glen said, "Oh Kathleen I'm so embarrassed about this."

"Don't be. You were only expressing a thought and have no idea what Seth is like if he decides to please a real babe."

"Oh god what will his wife think. She'll kill me. Oh me and my big mouth."

"I'm glad Seth is showing off for you," Whitney said, coming in beside Glen and hooking her arm through Glen's. "None of us here today apart from Kathleen and her brothers, Kate and Sammy saw that only other great roundup."

"Omigod Sammy will want to see this," said Kathleen. "Rex go and grab Sammy. He's out doing chicken pieces on the barbecues behind the barn. Tell him what's happening and to temporarily take the chicken off the heat. Belinda go with Rex and help Sammy."

"God you can make people jump," Glen laughed. "How do you do it?"

"People know what to expect from me when I ask them to do something," Kathleen smiled.

Whitney said, "Yeah and they know what to expect if they refuse or baulk."

Everyone around them laughed.

The blonde Louise, with her arm around Ross, called from the small loading platform outside the double loading doors to the loft, called, "Here they come. They must be stretched out for 150 yards. It's an amazing sight. Wildfire is in the lead. Now why isn't that a surprise?" 

"Wildfire, what a great name," Glen said and Whitney warned, "Now if my horny husband offers to saddle up any horse in that bunch for you to ride, the one horse you don't chose is Wildfire. The Arabian Quarter-Horse cross hasn't been ridden since almost putting Kate into hospital earlier this year." 

Glen wasn't the only one to admire the gray Wildfire as he turned into the pasture and broke into a gallop, other horses streaming after the big gelding.

The gate was shut and Seth leered at Glen, "Now your have horses to look at."

"Oh thanks Seth. Weren't they are great sight to see altogether like that?"

"Yeah the boys were really gassed when we got them all together and began bringing them here."

Kate grabbed Glen, saying there was someone she wanted her to meet. They went out behind the barn. "Sammy here's someone for you to greet. She's the stepmother of my boyfriend I introduced you to earlier."

"Oh good afternoon ma'am. You sure are pretty."

"Why thank you Sammy. How may I help?"

"Take these two plates of chicken in, one per table, and then come back for more, um please."

"Yes certainly Sammy. Please call me Glen."

"Right ma'am."

It was a great festive occasion that commenced formerly with Kathleen being one of the last to reach a table. She then welcomed everyone and said it would be a memorable occasion.

"Seth would you please say grace."

He stood, red-faced in embarrassment and said, "Don't make me do this Kathleen."

"Seth I didn't ask you to round up the horses but you did that willingly. You are the man of the family. This is Christmas. Either you attempt to say grace or I'll ask one of your brothers to do it. Mrs Macdonald will be wondering what's wrong with you."

"I'll do it. Everyone shut your eyes. Anyone I see with his or her eyes open I'll be over and wallop them. Lord thank you for our piece of Heaven on earth, thank you for this food we have here today and bless the people who are here to share it with us."

"Okay everyone that's done. Please eat politely and be nice to your table companions. It's Christmas."

"Good one Seth, proud of you," called John.

"You eloquence bowled me over Seth, proud of you," called Ted who added, "Kathleen why has Seth got Glen sitting next to him and he's shunted Whitney across the other side of his table and Glen's husband is on some other table?"

"Don't be so petty Ted. He's placed Whitney across the table from him to keep and eye on him and her husband Malcolm is on John's table and that's how is was meant to be. We have mixed people around because it's no ordinary day because this is Christmas. Now speak to your guests, not me."

Kathleen suddenly noticed two empty chairs.

"Louise and Ross, where are they?"

Louise's younger sister called, "In the loft, I saw them carrying food and a bottle of wine away."

"Jesus," Kathleen swore, getting to her feet.

"Kathleen they will be okay," Glen called. "They are young adults. "I guess right now their interest is in themselves rather than being swamped in a big group. We remember what it was like when we were young don't we?"

"Enjoy you meal Glen," Kathleen said, sitting down although looking up at the ceiling and obviously thinking of the loft above it.

Seth finished his meal quickly while others ate slowly and the noise grew as liquor took effect. Some people went to the laden trestle tables for second and even third helpings of mains. 

Louise and Ross wandered back in with their empty plates and wanted dessert but were told by Louise's mother to sit at their table and wait until everyone had finished mains.

Seth arrived back grinning.

"Right everyone outside to see Glen attempt to ride Wildfire."

"No," Glen countered. "I'm told that horse is difficult to control. Why place myself in unnecessary danger?"

"Tell you what Glen, if you think Wildfire is too difficult to ride when everyone has left today I'll shoot him."

"No you can't do that," Glen cried. "I won't let you do that."

"Then ride him."

Kate stood and walked over to Seth and told him to stop bullying Glen.

"Furthermore if you shoot Wildfire without genuine provocation then you'll be in big trouble. Wildfire is not your horse; he'd a ranch horse. Where is he?"

"Saddled up across the road in the riding pasture where the low jumps are set up for the younger kids."

Kate walked out and people began putting on their thick jackets and followed her. She went to Wildfire and talked to him and rubbed down between his eyes and then stroked both hands down the arched neck.

"Ride him if you wish Glen," Kate said. "Wildfire is much calmer than when I last rode him. Being an Arabian cross he's probably missed being ridden."

Glen came up to the horse and spoke to him and allowed him to sniff her shoulder. She didn't flinch.

"Are you okay riding in that party dress?"

"Not really but it will have to do. At least it's wool."

She called to Ruby to fetch her riding boots from the Range Rover. 

Once in her boots and putting on her helmet that Ruby had also fetched, Glen was ready to mount. Malcolm came over and said she didn't have to ride a risky horse.

"I know darling but it's a challenge and I feel in those seven days of advanced tuition from Kate, I'm a better and more confident rider."

She kissed her husband and hauled herself up on to the 16.8 hands gray.

He shied a bit but Kate calmed him. She then adjusted the stirrups to suit Glen.

"There's just two things to remember," Kate smiled. "Keep on and if you are going to jump Wildfire then ignore his tendency to swing his rear to the left. He'll have straightened by the time he's about to leap. Remember don't try to straighten him. Oh although the snow has gone from this pasture the ground could be slippery. Just watch it."

"Got that coach."

Glen walked Wildfire fifty yards to get him used to her weight and riding style. She then worked him into a lope down to the far fence line and across the pasture and then galloped him back to swing short of the crowd in case they distracted him. She then headed for the first jump, three drums lined up in a row. They sailed over them and she patted his neck and he went over two rails set at about 2 ft high and quite close together. Ahead at the far fence line set into the fence she spotted a log hunt jump at about 4 ft and decided to take that. They sailed over it and she could hear the applause and whistling.

After a short gallop Glen turned to jump that fence again and in the approach felt Wildfire appear to allow his rear to swing out more than previously. Perhaps the ground was slippery. She went to force him to straightened but remembered that Kate had said: let him be. Wildfire adjusted and up he floated and she bent in balance and they must had cleared it by a good foot, leaving Glen to think excitedly it was the highest she'd ever jumped.

She took Wildfire back at a walk to start the cooling off routine and she shuddered when she saw that vile Seth was the only person on her side of the fence, standing by the gate.

She dismounted and removed her helmet and Seth kissed her and said well done.

Well at least that was friendly. He took the reins and said he'd care for Wildfire before turning him out.

"You must have thought I was rough on you daring you to ride a dangerous horse?"

"Well a little Seth. I was more than nervous when I mounted him."

"I'll let you into a secret pretty lady. I have been riding Wildfire around every second day for three months and appear to have ridden out his problem. Also when I saddled him today I rode him to let him let off a bit of steam. I'm no fool. If I'd led you into harm Kathleen would have kicked out my nuts."

Glen giggled and asked could she ride the chestnut stallion with the white star and a coal black stocky mare later than afternoon.

"Yeah of course. The stallion is called Basil and the mare is called Nerissa. I'll ride out with you and we can change horses for the ride back."

"Er yes, thanks" she said nervously.

After the serving of dessert and the clearing away, guests and family broke into small groups to talk. Glen waited until she had the opportunity to speak to Whitney without anyone overhearing.

"Whitney I need to consult."

"Of course dear, is Seth causing you a problem?"

"Well yes and that's what I wish to talk to you about. I said I'd like to ride more horses and picked out two to ride when people begin leaving here. Seth said he'd ride out with me and we could change mounts on the return ride."

"That's a convenient arrangement dear. So what's the problem?"

"That's the problem, me riding out alone with your husband. Whitney I wasn't given the opportunity to decline this arrangement and I..."

"My dear Glen. You will be riding into higher country when there is snow and you'll return well short of the next barn or cabin where anything lurking in your fertile mind could happen."

"I-I didn't know that but I guess Seth would have known that."

"He just wishes to act as a good host and assist you in your love of horses and riding."

"Oh I feel such a fool."

"Well you are not and I will say give Seth half a chance and he'll grab it but he would never molest you. He'd not touch you uninvited. I really admire you Glen for discussing this with me. Ride out with him dear and if you decide to more than flirt with home I won't mind providing I don't see it happening. Now come and meet John and Ted's wives. If you like me you'll also like them. We feel we are like sisters spending so much time together in this quite remote environment."

Later Seth and Glen rode out with scarcely anyone giving them a glance apart from Kate, Kathleen and Malcolm. Glen had invited Malcolm to join them but he said he'd prefer to stay talking to people. She'd said Seth would be accompanying her and Malcolm had said good, he'd not wish her to be riding out in this type of country by herself and in snow.

During the ride Seth asked Glen did she like having sex and she said yes but her husband was almost too active for her. At that Seth changed the subject.

As daylight began to retreat, people began leaving for home. Later when everything was packed away or loaded into departing vehicles, Ross and some of the younger ones went off to a party and some women went to a movie, taking Ruby with them. Kathleen and her brothers decided to go to the Ryan's home to play poker and Malcolm accepted the invitation to accompany them, Glen saying she didn't mind him going, knowing he enjoyed poker. Left at Kathleen's home were Kate, Glen and Whitney.

None of them were particularly hungry and so Kate pulled a family-sized pizza from the freezer and tossed that into the gas oven. When that was ready she gave Glen three glasses and Whitney two bottles of sparking wine and she grabbed the cut pizza and told them to follow her to the Jacuzzi room.

They all stripped off and entered the bubbling water that she'd turned on when arriving home an hour earlier.

"Christ it still needs to be warmer," Whitney giggled.

"Let's warm up on pizza and bubbly," Kate said, and held out the pizza on a tray and with a plate for each person.

When Kate returned to the pool with a third bottle of bubbly, Whitney eyed Glen and said, "You have gorgeous breasts. May I feel?"

"Yes of course, Glen hiccupped.

"Me too?" Kate asked, sliding closer to Glen on the other side.

"Yes why not? This is Christmas."

They giggled watching Glen's nipples rise and Whitney pulled Glen's hand on to her bush and Glen said, "Don't you dare tell my husband we girls plays played around."

"Women play around. All men know that," Whitney said.

"Well I didn't," Glen said. "I haven't done this since college."

She slipped in a finger and Whitney groaned.

Kate worked out what was going on and pushed her hand between Glen's thighs and felt them open. Glen said, "Good girl" and she kissed Kate on the mouth and Kate's mouth opened.

They played around and swapped positions and had a great time.

Glen was feeling the effects of too much wine and was practically asleep so she went off to bed when Kate said she'd drive Whitney home, two miles up the dirt road.

As they arrived at the house Whitney, Kate's 42-year old aunt said her parents who had been minding the smaller kids would be asleep.

"I feel so randy and my pussy is still swollen. Please come in and get me off."

"Okay."

"Good girl. We'll hear anyone arriving and the bedroom door has a lock."

In the bedroom they stripped and fondled each other until both were aroused again.

Whitney produced a strap-on.

"Do you use that on Seth?"

"God no, he'd have a fit. Your two aunts, your mother and I each have one. Well don't look shocked. We aunties are left to our devices for such long hours and now that the kids are all at school we had to fill in the hours somehow and we found... well we discovered we had a mutual interest in girl's sex and two years ago your mother began joining us at times. We acquired these mothers' little helpers because you can go only so far licking, fingering and dry humping another woman."

"Omigod it almost feels like a dick and it even has balls.

"Yes dear and that's the whole idea. Here let me strap it on you. I want you to make me cum. If Seth finds my pussy blood-swollen from arousal like this he'll know something has been going on."

Kate had the fitness to get her aunt to climax three times.

"Oh darling that was heavenly," Whitney puffed. "I've have a little rest and then I'll get you off."

"No it's fine, I'll get the real thing when Robbie arrives home from poker."

* * * 

A two-day intercollegiate equestrian show was held at Patrick in the last week of January, with nine colleges/universities entering teams.

For Patrick the cream rose to the top. On the first day of English riding, Kate won the blue ribbon in advanced rider over fences class, Maxine Dunlop (watched by her family) won the novice over fences and came second in the novice on the flat classes and Rick Flavell and Carol Leach won blue ribbons for the novice over fences and walk-trot classes respectively. 

On Day 2 in Western Riding, Claire won blue in intermediate horsemanship, and Kate won blue in advanced horsemanship and again in western reining and Gwyn Wells came second in the novice horsemanship class.

Kate went to dinner with the Macdonald family where Robbie and his father met up with some vets from Patrick University and were invited to a party. Kate and Robbie's stepmom Glen decided to go to a movie instead and Ross and his sister Ruby went off to a nightclub.

As they all left the restaurant and split up Glen said, "Do you really want to go to a movie?"

"Not really."

"Then come back to the hotel and put your feet up."

"You did brilliantly today," Glen said. "Are you tired?"

"Not particularly."

Glen hesitated and said, "Gosh it's hot in here."

"Then take some clothes off."

"What all of them?"

Kate smiled and asked Glen what was she up to?

"I liked that night we played around up at the ranch."

"Me too. If you want a re-run I'm available. I'd like you to teach me how to really tongue kiss. I found you were amazing at it."

"You were amazing fingering me. You got me off inside two minutes."

They laughed and both stood and undressed, both looking a little flushed. Glen wandered over to the door of the suite and closed the safety catch.

She returned to the sofa where Kate was still standing. They closed in to kiss, and being even in height that was easy.

"Suck my tits."

The younger women obeyed. She took a fat, dark pink nipple into her mouth and closed her teeth on it gently and felt Glen's fingers dig firmly into her butt cheeks and as she tightened her butt Glen groaned.

Kate lifted up and saw Glen immediately lick her own lips. So she was preparing to be kissed and she saw Glen open her mouth slightly, exposing a slight gap between her teeth. So Kate licked her lips and kissed Glen and felt Glen's tongue top brush along just under her top lip before slowly entering Kate's mouth and when their tongue tips touch there was no sudden frenzy of waggling massaging. Oh very interesting. So slow, indeed a delicately slow movement and she felt Glen's hand gently squeezing the back of her neck and the other hand was rubbing gently up and down on the curved back just above Kate's waist.




Love of Horses Pt. 03



Another thing she noticed (Glen wasn't giving instruction) was their faces were tilted sideways in opposite directions, leaving a small gap between their noses. Oh and Glen's body was in gentle motion. Her tits were moving slightly over Kate's and she could feel drag across her belly and groin.

Kate responded. Slowly she began to reciprocate what Glen was doing, timing her tit and groin rub in counter-direction. She slowed the movements of her tongue and softened pressure. Glen moaned and that presumably indicated Kate was doing something right, really right.

Their mouths juiced more and incredibly, Kate thought, their mixing saliva tasted sweet, almost like nectar.

Holy shit.

She had no idea tonguing could be this good.

Glen moved her lower hand around to pat Kate's shaven vulva and then inserted a finger and worked that right in and then to Kate's dismay she pulled her hand completely away.

Kate felt like screaming in despair.

And then... Kate almost peed in excitement. 

Glen's hand was over Kate's butt and a finger was pressed against her anus. She slackened her butt muscles, widened her stance a little and held her breath in anticipation. Until now the only finger that had been up Kate John's butt had been Kate John's finger when she'd occasionally had been hotly working her pussy and clit with her Jack Rabbit.

Continuing tonguing as if nothing else in the world mattered, Glen slowly worked in that finger and just as it entered to the second joint she waggled and dropped her other hand and patted Kate's pussy, presumably before working in fingers.

But all this was too much for Kate. She groaned heavily and released over Glen's hand. Glen pulled away and knelt down and began licking.

And then the door rattled.

The women scrambled in panic to dress and ignoring Malcolm's calls.

"Go to the far end of the sofa and pretend you are asleep," Glen said hoarsely.

"Wait, I need to wipe your mouth and chin," Kate said, using her panties she still had to pull on.

She lay back with her eyes closed and heard the door safety catch slam across and the door open and Glen say tiredly, "Oh hi guys we must have dropped off to sleep."

The main lights were switched on and the three of them looked at the sofa where Kate was curled up. She'd groaned softly and rubbed her eyes, playing her part convincingly.

"We would have come in with less noise but the safety catch was activated," Malcolm said. "But good girl, I've always told you to use that device when in a hotel room."

He kissed her and said, "Oooh what soft lips. Ready for an early night are you?"

Robbie went over to Kate and kissed her.

"We left the party early when we saw two guys selling pills to people. Some of the people were already becoming boisterous. We thought we had our good names to protect."

"Oh that's the moral attitude I like to hear," Kate said perhaps a little guiltily. "I'll make coffee."

Later Robbie followed her home and stayed the night because Coach Hall's policy was to have no coaching for two days immediately following a show and Kate's first lecture wasn't until 9:30.

Robbie said in surprise, "Gosh you are wet down here tonight and your lips are gaping."

Horrified, Kate jammed her fist against her mouth to prevent any reply.

"My girl obviously is very ready for me."

Kate dropped both hands on to the back of Robbie's head and rammed his face into her groin.

They marveled at how good the sex was that night.

Glen called Kate next morning half an hour after Robbie had left for work.

"Hi didn't we have an exciting night last night?"

"We sure did," Kate yawned.

"I was almost pushed through the bedroom wall last night. Malcolm was on fire and was at me again this morning. We must come to this hotel more often. He's in the shower so I can talk. Um are you willing to become my secret occasionally lover?"

What?

"I-I think so... no I know it's yes but we must be careful."

"I'm in love with your body darling and my affection for you has blossomed. We are so good together. I must buy some butt plugs and a strap-on. Must go because we leave for home as soon as we have breakfast. I caught Ross in his sister's room earlier and the little shit was licking her pussy and she was squeezing her tits so hard I thought they would come off. I backed away and closed the connecting door softly. I don't think they were aware I was there. God haven't I married into a sexy family? Since Ruby has been home I've suspected either Malcolm or Ross has been at her."

"Perhaps both?"

"Oh I never thought of that. Should I buy another strap on and use it on her?"

"Glen I must go... a lecture. Have a great drive home and take care. I look forward to um, our next encounter, um and seeing you all again of course."

Kate put down he phone with a hand over her chest. She was practically panting.

"Oh god," she almost wailed and then laughed thinking sex was supposed to be good for one's health.

Well with Glen gone she would settle down to a simple sex life. But she overlooked the fact that when you are a horny young woman someone will find you.

Two evenings later Kate had returned from riding with Anne and they had just placed their horses in their stalls.

"That was great Kate. I love riding in snow. Look you mostly call me Anne but sometimes drop into Annie. I don't mind you calling me Annie all the time. That's what my brother and father call me and Ralph calls me Annie whenever we are alone. It sounds so affectionate when my family call me Annie and you stir me when you call me Annie."

"Okay and thanks."

"Oh and another thing. May I kiss you, like right now?"

"Um I suppose so. Yes of course you can."

They embraced and kissed slowly and as Kate pressed her tongue forward Anne's mouth opened.

They came out of it panting and eyed each other steadily.

"Have you had sex with a woman?"

Kate nodded and pulled on her woolen cap before going outside.

"I'm part way into the draft of a new novel and intend for two women to engage in sexual play and that's a first for me as a writer. I believe I need to refresh myself and decided to engage with someone. Well the only woman I thought I'd like to engage in like that was you."

"Am I the model for your heroine?"

Anne colored.

"Well?"

"I had commenced a new novel based on a swimming team at a church college but found it heavy going and my interest in it waning and then you arrived here and entered our lives with such a thump that excited me. And yes I began a college equestrian novel. I had thought about doing one before but knew Ralph would think the hero was based on him, no matter how the lead male was described. But a novel based on you provided the perfect answer."

"Okay I'll have sex with you."

"But aren't you mad at me having the audacity..."

"You write and I ride and teach riding Annie. It's only right to expect we get on with our jobs without unnecessary interference and interrogation."

"Oh Kate you are an amazing woman. She's called Annie and is a tall and very supple blonde who is determined but is rather shy."

"That doesn't sound like me at all," Kate laughed. "Do I buy a strap-on or will you?"

"A strap-on? Oh I hadn't thought beyond fingering and dry humping. Well allow me to buy one. I'm the initiator. I do hope this won't upset our relationship."

"Annie here's the truth. I've thought of you and your body a couple of times when I've been rubbing myself off."

"Omigod I've thought of you occasionally with my pussy pressed hard against the saddle horn and feeling friction."

They laughed and hugged and kissed again, both of them with rosy cheeks despite the barn being heated.

"Ralph's away overnight this Saturday attending a seminar for coaches."

"Oh excellent because Robbie is away this weekend with another vet to assess four horses down south that have been offered to us by a former student from Patrick. They are optimistic enough to be taking a horse float so it will take most of the weekend."

"Oh good," Annie said. "How long does it take two women to have sex?"

"Hours and hours provided they are left undisturbed or alternatively ten minutes. Take your pick."

"Oooh it sounds like you are the veteran. How old are you?"

They laughed and headed off, arm in arm.

Having the big indoor facility was a godsend for winter training. The weather had become so atrocious that a blade-equipped tractor had to clear a pathway through snowdrifts between the barn and the arena. 

Kate wished to begin intensified training for the top five riders in the competition from 5:00 am, an hour earlier than normal training time. Ralph had sanctioned it but said it must be voluntary. Kate told Claire, Maxine, Rick and Carol that this extra training was voluntary and whether or not they turned up was their business and non-attendance would not count against them.

At the first training session Rick turned up by Gwyn Wells.

"The more riders here the more diluted my assistance to you riders will be," Kate said.

Gwyn's face dropped and she began walking away.

"Wait Gwyn," Claire called and she faced Kate defiantly.

"Coach you got Coach Hall to give me a chance and I took it and believe I haven't disappointed anyone. I'm asking you to give Gwyn the chance she needs. Gwyn is a city girl and her parents forked out for horse hire with little paid over for coaching. That second Gwyn pulled off the other day in Western Horsemanship in the novice class was against two very technically thorough competitors. You may have missed the talent she has in her coach so please give her extra tuition to up her excellence in the saddle. I'm willing to pull out to avoid dilution."

"And me, I'll drop out," Rick said.

"That won't be necessary but let's see where the support for Gwyn lies. All those in favor of Gwyn receiving extra coaching raise a hand."

All hands went up.

"Okay Gwyn you're in and also be here every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 6:00 for extra individual coaching and always on a different mount. Okay guys let's get into it after Claire has apologized for calling me coach and promises not to do it again unless she is kissing me when she makes it past the nationals."

Claire said through gritted teeth she apologized and would not label Kate with that name again.

"Thanks, mount and warm up everyone."

News of that confrontation spread through the club membership. The consensus was Claire had every right to call Kate coach because that's what she was, possibly one of the best in the business at any college. They agreed Kate John possessed a gift that was blossoming. Two comments that went the rounds were, "Freshman and non-competitive rider Susie Ryan says Kate has her riding and jumping with absolute confidence and she'd never sat on a horse until she arrived here" and "Claire Kennedy says Kate John is a miracle worker, a natural-born horsewoman who's dedicated to taking us along with her without over-stretching our abilities."

On Friday evening, returning from a ride and catching the start of yet another snowstorm, Kate and Annie put their horses into their stalls and they then kissed, unable to pet because of their bulky clothing.

"Well let's go up and I'll prepared dinner and we'll have a couple of cocktails," Anne said as they broke apart.

"Why don't you come with me to the first sitting and experience what the dining hall is like? They only times you have been over there is for the last sitting with Ralph and big wigs. Come an experience campus as it really is; it will be great background for your novel."

"Indeed. I'll go and change to look like a sloppily-dressed student and meet you over there in thirty minutes."

"Make that twenty minutes. They close the doors when the hall is full."

Anne made it to the dinning hall in sixteen minutes to find Kate waiting for her.

They went in, filled their plates and looked around for seats.

"Over here Coach John," called Claire Kennedy, who had stood and was waving. A male and female at that table left to find seating elsewhere.

"Coach? I thought..."

"I'll screw that bitch's neck," Kate gritted. "Admin officers will be here."

Anne said, "But isn't that the sort of aggression you want from your top riders?"

"Yeah but... oh crap. This is one of those dilemmas parents well know about. What do I do?"

"If she's still standing when we get there kiss her and say thanks."

"What?"

"The less you react to her cheekiness the less she will try you on."

"God Annie, why don't you adopt. You'd make a great mother."

Kate nearly lost her plate in astonishment when Anne said, "Our application to adopt has been approved. We have been to a facility and have seen a girl aged seven. Hilary's immediate relatives have first option. She survived a vehicle accident in which other members of her family were killed. There are two sisters on the late mother's side and her late father's brother who declined to take Angela in the first instance but now adoption to an outside party has come up at least one of those couples might change their minds."

"My fingers are crossed for you Annie," Kate said above the noise of chatter as they reached the distant table. She kissed the astonished Claire, smiled and said thanks.

"Everyone," Claire said. "This is Anne, wife of Coach Hall and of course you all know Kate... who doesn't?"

Anne had forgotten from her college days just how noisy a full dining hall of mostly students could be and the loud laughter of some of the females sounded musical with others sounded whorish, well she wasn't sure how correct she was with that latter label. But there could be little doubt the atmosphere was both electric and eclectic. She picked up bits of conversation about horses, clothing, music, sport and something earnest that could have been philosophical discussion.

Most interesting. 

Anne had come by car so they picked up Kate's overnight bag and drove the half mile to the Hall's stand-alone allocated home on a hillside overlooking the equestrian center.

"D-did you buy a strap-on?"

Anne said yes. She hadn't realized there was such a selection. "One was thicker than my wrist."

Kate giggled.

"But I opted for an interchangeable one."

"Interchangeable?"

"A realistic looking dick seven inches long and not excessively thick and the replacement dick is long, thin and smooth for the butt."

"For the butt," Kate gurgled.

"Well only if we are interested."

"Are you interested?"

"I think so."

"Well let's see how we go."

They played for three hours. They both took an artificial dick up both orifices but both admitted they preferred fingers just in the pussy, although in Anne's case she took Kate's lubed hand fully into her pussy.

"That was a great night," Anne said and they prepared for sleep. "I couldn't believe you got me off squeezing my tits while you dry humped my left thigh without anything touching my pussy and I came when I felt your cum running down my leg."

"That was not long after we started, our passion probably peaking. You are a great lover."

"So Ralph tells me often."

They looked into each other's eyes sleepily and Kate said, "Well have you enough background for your book?"

"Oh I believe I'll need considerable more exposure to absorb experience," Anne chuckled. She kissed Kate and said goodnight darling.

They had three more sessions and their sexual connection ended when Anne and Ralph brought home their adopted daughter.

CHAPTER 6

Coach Hall called Kate to his office. She arrived and smiled at his still slightly traumatized adopted daughter.

"Hi Hilary," she smiled. 

They'd met twice when Kate had been to dinner. She got no reply.

"Please say hi to Miss John."

There was no response beyond a sullen stare.

"Why don't you call me Kate?"

"Kate."

"Hilary your daddy wants you to look at the horses with me. Is that okay?"

There was no response. Kate held out her hand and Hilary took it.

"Come with me and we'll look at horses. You're not shy or horses are you?"

"No and I'm not afraid of them either."

As they left Kate said quietly to Ralph, "She is such a darling and I see an improvement."

They went to the big barn and went down the far side with Kate naming every horse that looked out at them and Hilary repeated their names and showed interest.

They came to the last horse and Hilary repeated its name, Cool Lady.

"Oh my goodness, what do we have here?" Kate said lifting Hilary so she would look over the gate and into the stall.

"It's a pony, a small one. What's his name?"

Kate smiled. "She's a gray Palomino-Welsh mare which means she had a good father and a lovely small mother which is why she is small for a pony eight years old."

"What's her name?"

"Bobbi. That's cute huh?"

"I think so. Who owns her?"

"Mr and Mrs Hall."

Hilary cocked her head and said did Kate mean he new mommy and daddy.

"Yes dear. Would you like to go in and hug Bobbi?"

"Yes."

"Right," Kate said, putting the girl down. She opened the stall door and said, "In you go. She can see you coming so won't be afraid. She is used to girls. She was the pony of two sisters who are now too big for her and they now share a bigger horse."

"When may I ride her?"

"You may have a wee ride now. Hug Bobbi around the neck first. Let her smell you."

"I know what to do. I'm used to my dead mommy's horse."

"Oh good for you," Kate said, fighting to keep emotion out of her voice.

Kate put the bridle on Bobbi and told Hilary she wouldn't need a saddle because it could only be a short ride. It was snowing outside.

Hilary took the reins and said, "Leave me. I know what to do. I used to ride in front of mommy on her horse."

"Well the rules say you must wear a helmet and all these will be too big for you but here's the smallest one. It's better than not having any and it means you are keeping to the rules."

Hilary rode Bobbi at a walk to the end of the barn. All the horses were at their stall doors, heads out of the open yoke of the upper grill, watching the girl on her pony. She turned and came back and Kate swung open the door to Bobbi's stall and Hilary rode Bobbi in.

"That was lovely thanks. Now saddle a horse and let me ride in front of you like mommy used to let me do."

"No darling. You'll have to ask your new mommy to do that for you. She is a great rider."

"Show me her horse."

"She rides many of these horses."

"Show me her favorite horse."

Kate removed the bridle and patted Bobbi affectionately, thinking she would be homesick but must have enjoyed being ridden.

They walked across to a stall and Kate said, "Here she is, Chocolate Ice."

"Oh she's ever so lovely. Is she a Pinto?"

"No a Paint," Kate said, lifting Hilary up to stroke Chocolate Ice."

Hilary then turned and hugged Kate and said, "You are so kind to me. I love you."

Kate carried Hilary out to Old Yeller sniffing repeatedly.

It was snowing and as they drove the short distance to the house Hilary said, "As soon as we get home may I ask mommy about riding with me seated in front of her?"

"Yes dear and don't be surprised if she cries in happiness."

"Why would she be happy?"

"Because her new daughter has asked her to do something special involving her."

Hilary looked out of the side window, reflecting on that, giving Kate opportunity to wipe her eyes. God Hilary was such a sweet kid. Annie would have to ride with an English saddle but Chocolate Ice would tolerate that switch.

Anne opened the door for them.

"Well Hilary did you see anything special in the barn?"

"Yes I met Bobbi and hugged her and rode her the length of the barn. She's a good little mare."

"Oh my goodness, you rode her?"

"Yes. That's what she's there for isn't it?"

"Well yes."




Love of Horses Pt. 03



"I have something special to ask you."

"Go ahead dear," Anne said, closing the door.

"Tomorrow will you let me ride in front of you on Chocolate Ice?"

Anne burst into tears and Hilary hugged her and said, "I'm glad you are happy, it makes me happy."

Kate ran off to the kitchen bawling and slammed into Ralph who was about to open the fridge.

"Omigod what's happened?"

"Nothing I'm finding dealing with a young and recently orphaned girl can be quite emotional. She's asking Annie to take her riding tomorrow, sitting in front of her on the saddle as she used to do with her late mother."

"Oh golly and I bet that wasn't the only thing to cut you up?"

"No I took a hit when she hugged me and said she loved me."

"What just because you showed her a pony?"

"Well she rode it bareback the length of the barn."

"She what? Jesus, Annie and I were quite correct in believing you would best handle Hilary's introduction to her pony. Let go of me sweetie and I'll get a cocktail into you. Well done Kate, extremely well done."

* * *

In her apartment after late dinner and before starting on required reading as part of her studies, Kate thought about her own situation. She'd taken on more than she'd anticipated but was coping with her work/study load okay. Her social life came in fits and starts but at least that was more than she'd experienced on the ranch where everything centered on family. She had no intention of marrying this side of thirty and so it was likely Robbie would eventually dump her and that would end Kate's unwholesome albeit enjoyable but socially unacceptable relationship with his over-sexed stepmom.

She sighed. One-night stands with guys when she wanted them would probably be her best option. 

Twice in recent days Ralph had placed a hand over her left breast when he kissed her as they did each morning when greeting. He could be feeling on the outer a bit with Annie devoting time to mothering Hilary. She must watch that she didn't allow him to go any further because that could ruin the relationship she had with Ralph and Annie who'd had become almost family to her.

All in all she was having a pretty good life and it was built around horses and that was right where she wanted her life to be. Kate was tired because she'd been up twice during the night in recent days to check on two horses that had chills. She wasn't required to do that but in her mind they all were her horses and under her care.

The next four months would be tough work. Clair, Maxine and Rick and Kate already had sufficient points to make the division finals and all could go on to contest the next big hurdle and Kate was confident she, Clair and Maxine could make it to the nationals but what happened there was anyone's guess. She believed in herself and she saw herself winning the advance rider national championship but no way would she admit that to anyone.

Kate's phone went.

Jesus now she'd be loosing even more study time.

"Hi it's Kate."

"Sweetheart it's Annie. I've just put Hilary to bed for the second time and this time she was yawning so perhaps I'm free at last. There's something I wish to ask you: I'm not getting enough sex. Ralph appears to have lost interest in me." 

Ah, thought Kate. A great opportunity has popped up.

"Where is he?"

"In the study working on accounts."

"With the door shut?"

"Um I think so."

"Annie he probably is looking at porn and jerking off. You two have a problem you've probably not thought about. Hilary has come between you two and you've not adjusted. You are devoting time to her that you used to share with Ralph. He feels he's getting less time with you and perhaps less sex and is thinking you are cooling off him."

"Oh no, you're probably right and I should have thought of that and managed the situation. How do you know this stuff?"

"You can learn things although being confined to a ranch. At some stage all of my uncles moaned to me their wives had lost interest in them. The fools were so busy thinking about their dicks and had overlooked the fact their wives were either in late pregnancy or had a new baby bawling for attention day and night."

Anne laughed. "So teacher, what do I do?"

"Shower, dress only in a light robe, go into the study behind him, allow a tit to fall out on to his shoulder while at the same time push a finger into your pussy and draw that finger across under his nose."

"God unless he has been looking at nudes on-screen he will not be aroused and so that odor will put him off sex for life."

"No it won't, it will work."

"Bullshit."

Kate sighed.

"Annie you remember I told you the story about how I never knew who my father was until I had it confirmed recently my father is our old cook?"

"Yes of course I remember. It occurred at a time of huge floods."

"Correct. Well the cook whose name is Sammy told in confidence when I was home last time, that left alone together because of those floods mom had come on heat and was at him to have sex with her. He knew her brothers who were young roughnecks then would probably beat the crap out of it if they found out and so he said no and said no repeatedly. He was dozing in his chair when he caught a whiff of something and blinked and had memory recall, probably very long memory recall in his case. He then saw a moist finger pass just under his nose. He turned and saw mom, completely nude, standing behind him sucking that finger."

"Omigod. Bye dear I'm off to attempt moist finger therapy to reinvigorate sexual relations with my darling."

THE END