And frankly, it spares us both the trauma.If things go badly, I dated someone who first dated my best friend for no reason.If it goes well at first, we’ll be barreling toward deal-killing information down the line, and that will be miserable for all of us.If I just make it a little harder for him to see me, he’ll give up, and he can remain a flirty-friend forever.
Problem solved.
When Natalie and Hannah show up to ride, it distracts me from worrying about it further, which is perfect.With as busy as life gets, I doubt I’ll have to put him off many more times before he gets the message.
Only, it’s not just Hannah and Natalie.Clara’s with them.It’s been almost two weeks since her mom said she wanted to show too, so I kind of forgot she might come.
“Is everything okay?”I can’t help glancing at Clara.
“Can I ride today too?”She bites her lip.
“Of course,” I say.“But are you riding just for fun?”Natalie said to treat her like a little baby bird, not pushing her at all.Though now that I think about it, don’t mother birds shove their babies out of the nest to teach them to fly?
“Actually, we looked up the SJI Winter Leagues at Ballinamona last night, and we watched some videos.”Natalie looks cautiously optimistic.
“And?”I lift both eyebrows.
“It didn’t look like it was that competitive,” Clara says.“It looked...fun.”
“It’s hard to know from videos how you’re going to feel when you’re there,” I say.“But I’ve always heard the environment here in Ireland at shows is much more collegial, and the fees for showing are certainly less obnoxious.”I smile.“I’d be happy to take all three of you.”
“It’s too bad Vanessa doesn’t want to go,” Natalie says.“That would be the best thing ever.”
I think so too—having a business with these women has been wonderful, but riding with them again?All three of us together?It would heal something in my heart.“She’s just not ready.”I hoped when she hopped back up on a horse, she’d be fine.I think Natalie and I both did.But when you’re older, your body gets more fragile, and I think your heart does, too.In many ways, neither of them can heal as fast as they used to.I swear, kids have rubber bones and green-wood hearts.“Also, I was hoping to use Drew for Hannah, but he’s still not totally sound.”
“Oh, no.I loved him,” Hannah says.“I really love the white ones, and yes, I know we’re supposed to call them greys, but the dark dappled ones just aren’t the same look as the older white ones.”
“Maybe for the next show.”I can tell Natalie’s giddy to have two of her daughters interested in showing with us.“We’re so lucky to have so many options.”
“Right?”I say.“I’d have killed for all these horses when I was a kid.”
“I actually asked my mom once whether I could sell one kidney and keep the money to buy that chestnut filly.Remember?”
Natalie’s mother didn’t find it cute, but she was a hilarious kid.
“Yeah, I tried to convince her it was a good plan.”I laugh.
“My mom always did like Vanessa better.Maybe that was why.”Natalie laughs too.
“Well, with Drew still out, I thought we could use Riona for you, Natalie, and then we can put Hannah on Conor.He’s probably the best horse we have.Riona jumps great, but she spooks a bit sometimes and isn’t sure where to put her feet.”
“Fine by me,” Natalie says.“You know I don’t mind a green ride.”
“She’s not a bad ride,” I say.“Just hasn’t done much over fences yet, so she gets bad distances, and she can be a little nervous with new stuff.”I swing off Liam while I think.
They follow me as I lead him back to our shiny, new barn.
It’s notactuallyshiny, but to me it is.
“What about Dara for Clara?She’s not quite as talented a jumper as her older brother Conor, but she’s a bit taller, and she likes to jump more.I think it makes her a good ride for a beginner, in spite of her being younger.”
“I’m not a bad rider,” Clara says.“I swear.”
“It’s not about that,” I say.“But the rider’s job is to feel the rhythm and know when to encourage the horse to extend or when to slow and shorten so you find a good distance that takes you to the base of the jump safely.Some horses are good at helping and some aren’t, and with your height and her temperament, I’d like to try you with Dara first.”
“Okay, I guess.”Clara’s furrowed brow tells me she’s going to be a little sensitive about any rough parts of her riding.I’ll make sure to tread lightly.It makes me almost positive I should start her on Dara.She’s only ten, but we know almost nothing about the horses we inherited.She’s either been jumped at some point, or she’s a natural.She lines herself up, stays straight, and she naturally finds the base of every jump.
“Wait,” Hannah says.“So...Clara will be riding Dara?”She smirks.“That’s hilarious.”
