27- The Grudge
Beth Fute, now thirteen, rode around the show ring on her new horse. He was a six-year-old dark bay, and was almost seventeen hands tall. He was a hunter, and they were a perfect team. They cleared the last jump and applause broke out. She could see her mother and father in the audience, cheering wildly. Jess had scratched her entry in a race to be there that day, even though Beth had protested. Beth rode out of the ring, posting low in her saddle. Her mother was waiting, smiling happily.
“You did fantastic!” Jess exclaimed, holding King’s reins while Beth dismounted.
“Thanks Mom. Where’s Daddy?” she asked. Jess smiled, putting an arm around her shoulders.
“He went to get you’re a drink. He was worried you’d be a little tired,” Jess said. Beth laughed, shaking her head.
“You’d think he’d be use to my riding with a prosthetic leg after five year of it,” she muttered. Jess laughed.
“He just loves you sweetie, and you can’t blame him for that.”
“I sure can’t. I’m going to go cool him off real quick, then I’ll mount up again. Ribbons are in twenty minutes.” Jess nodded, watching as she walked away. She had an almost unnoticeable limp, and could do almost anything as well as any other kid. Jason came up moments after Beth had left.
“Where’d she go?” he asked, holding a large soda and a piece of pizza. Jess smiled at him and put her arm around his waist.
“She went to take care of King. Relax hon, she’s doing fine.”
“Let’s go meet up with her, she’ll be thirsty,” he said. She shook her head, steering him toward the stands.
“Why don’t we watch the rest of her class? That sounds like a lot more fun than you hounding Bethy. Come on.” He smiled and followed her to the bleachers.
Beth placed first in her class, and accepted the ribbon with a smile. She rode out of the ring and dismounted, giving King a pat on the neck. A noise behind her made her turn. One of her schoolmates was mounted on a beautiful pinto, a red second place ribbon pinned to her bridle.
“I’m surprised they let the crippled in the show,” she said bitterly. Beth smiled.
“Me too. How did you get into this class again? Bribe the judges?” The girl frowned.
“What’s that suppose to mean?”
“Well, the only one crippled here is you… given how poorly you ride,” Beth said. With a smug smile she led King toward the trailer.
That night Rachel invited Beth to spend the night at her house. Beth rode over, carrying her sleeping bag and a backpack on her back. Rachel was waiting in the yard and held King while her friend dismounted.
“Dom is up practicing,” Rachel said. Beth shot her a silencing look.
“Are we sleeping up in the loft or down below it?” she asked. Rachel sighed.
“The loft. Why are you still so mad at him Beth? It’s been five years since the accident, can’t you just forget about it?” Beth frowned.
“I can’t remember about it, and Dominick can. He knows what happened. Since he decided not to tell me about Apprentice, he lost my friendship. I don’t want to be in a bad mood, so let’s just stop talking about Dominick,” she muttered. Rachel nodded and took Beth’s sleeping bag from her.
“OK. Let’s go get everything set up. After that we can order the pizza.” Beth followed her best friend toward the loft, climbing the ladder up carefully. After their sleeping bags were spread out they jogged back up to the house. Cotey glanced up when they came in, smiling broadly.
“Hey girls, I already ordered the pizza,” she said.
“Thanks Mom. We’re going up to my room until it gets here,” Rachel said. They went upstairs, talking and laughing. Beth could hear the flute, and also the mistakes Dominick was making. She sighed, following Rachel into her room. Rachel plopped down on her bed, leaning back and staring at the ceiling.
“Guess who asked me out?” Rachel asked suddenly. Beth shrugged, laying down next to her.
“Tom Cruise?” she kidded. Rachel laughed, letting her hand hit Beth in the stomach. Beth grunted and then laughed.
“No! Chris Lawton… you know that really cute one. Blonde hair, green eyes…” Rachel said, trailing off.
“I think I know who you’re talking about. What did you say to him?”
“I said yes, but Mom and Dad think I’m too young to have a boyfriend. I finally talked Dad into it, and he said that Chris could come over tomorrow. Beth grinned.
“Way to go Rachy, you just got one of the most popular and gorgeous guys at school,” a mocking voice said. Both girls sat up quickly and found Dominick standing at the door. She flung a stuffed rabbit at him.
“Get out of my room Dominick Giran!” she yelled. He shook his head.
“Make me! Who’s coming over tomorrow?” he asked, sitting down at his sister’s desk. Rachel glanced at Beth.
“None of your business.”
“I’ll just ask Dad and he’ll tell me,” he replied.
“It’s none of your business and you’ll find out tomorrow. Go finish playing your stupid flute,” she muttered, going to his side. Beth laughed.
“You call that playing? Couldn’t you hear all the mistakes?” she asked sarcastically. Dominick shot her a quick look, his eyes sad.
“You know there were only a couple times I played the wrong note. You don’t have to be such a jerk.”
“Don’t you dare call me a jerk! Just shut your stupid mouth and get out of here,” she said. He opened his mouth to say something just as Cotey called up the stairs.
“Come on guys, time to eat!” Dominick stood, watching his sister and Beth walk out of the room. He followed slowly, watching Beth closely. She was angry; he could tell by the way she walked.
Beth was still asleep when Rachel jogged up to the house the next morning. Her family glanced up when she burst through the door. She smiled sheepishly, a blush creeping across her face.
“Hi. Beth’s still down at the barn. I just came to get my riding clothes. Chris is going to be here in twenty minutes, and I have to work Rajah. Bye.” She disappeared up the stairs and came back moments later wearing breeches and carrying her high boots.
“Are you going to be jumping Rach?” her father asked.
“Yeah. I’ve got that show next weekend. Is it ok that I work him over some fences?” Sam nodded and smiled.
“Just make sure you set up the jumps properly. Have Beth double check for you.”
“Ok Dad, thanks.” She walked out of the house, still in sock feet. Cotey sighed, shaking her head.
Chris and another boy walked up the driveway just as Beth was finishing checking the jumps.
“They’re ok Rach, just remember the shorter stride on the fifth combo,” she said. Rachel smiled and nodded.
“Thanks Beth. After I’m done you should take the course. King would probably like it,” she said.
“I’ll go get him ready. Your boyfriend’s here,” she whispered. Rachel rolled her eyes and Beth walked toward the barn. Chris and his friend reached the fence and he smiled up at her.
“Is this your horse?” he asked.
“Yup. I hope you don’t mind, but I have to take him over this. We have a show next weekend and I haven’t worked him in a couple days.”
“Sure. Can we watch?” She nodded, turned as she heard Beth return from the barn.
“Beth would you watch to see if I’m ok with strides?”
“Sure. Go ahead.” She watched as Rachel took the course, knocking down one rail, on the fifth jump combination. Beth grinned and shook her head.
“I know, shorter stride on the fifth,” Rachel said. Beth laughed and held Rajah as she dismounted.
“I’ll go fix it before I take it.” Chris glanced at his friend.
“Rachel this is Aaron. It’s ok that I brought him isn’t it?”
“Sure, so long as you don’t cause any trouble,” she said with a grin. They all laughed, watching as Beth returned from fixing the jump.
“Watch my form. I was off yesterday, and Mom got it on tape. I could kick myself for the way I rode.”
“Good but not good enough?” Rachel asked. Beth nodded, frowning at the same time.
“Exactly. Just tell me if I’m off… like if I’m too far forward. The doctor has been telling me that things aren’t going to be exactly like they were, and he was right.” She used the mounting block and was soon in the saddle. When she had ridden into the ring and was warming up Chris turned to Rachel.
“She can still ride?” he asked.
“Yeah, she rides really well… better than me,” she said.
“I knew she rode before the accident,” he muttered. Aaron was watching Beth intently as she posted in her saddle.
“Well she got on as soon as she was home from the hospital, and she’s been winning almost every show since then.”
“How does she ride with a fake leg?” he asked. Beth pulled up, knowing he’d keep talking until somebody shut him up.
“OK, first off, it’s none of your business. If you really must know, I ride with this leg the same way I rode with my real one: really well. If you could just drop it so I could continue working with my horse, I’d really appreciate it,” she said.
“Sorry, I just thought…” Beth shook her head and rode away. She told King to canter and they went over the first four jumps, then came to the combination. She asked him to shorten his stride between the jumps and he listened, clearing them easily. The rest of the course went perfectly, and she finished clear. She walked him to cool down and then came out of the ring.
“Perhaps you shouldn’t think anymore Chris,” she said, leading King toward the barn.
“She isn’t mad or anything… she’s just sick of people being so ignorant about her leg,” Rachel explained.
“That was pretty stupid Chris. I’m going to go see if she wants a hand with her horse,” he said, walking off before Rachel could stop him.
Beth undid the cheek strap and took the bridle off carefully. There was a noise at the stall door, but she didn’t look up.
“Sorry Rachel, I didn’t mean to mess things up for you. He was being a major jerk though.”
“I totally agree,” a male voice said. She turned quickly and found Aaron watching her.
“I really hope you didn’t come down here to help me, that would just put the icing on the cake.”
“Nope, I just came to see your horse. He’s really beautiful,” he said, lying about his reasons for being there. She smiled.
“Thanks. My parents got him for me two years ago. Do you ride?”
“Not really. My father is sort of against it. My Mom died while she was riding.” Beth stared at him.
“I know how that feels. My Mom died when I was born.”
“I guess we have enough in common then,” he said.
“Enough in common for what?” she asked. He shrugged, smiling softly and letting himself into the stall.
“I was going to ask if you wanted to go out with me,” he said.
“I hardly know you,” she muttered. He shrugged again.
“So? Rachel hardly knows Chris and she’s going out with him.”
“I’m sure she’ll realize very soon that it isn’t worth it,” she said, handing him her saddle.
“Is this a yes?” he asked, looking at the saddle. She nodded, smiling and walking out of the stall.
“I don’t hand my saddle to just anybody,” she said. He nodded and followed her to the tack room.
Beth and Rachel went back to Beth’s late that afternoon. Rachel was spending the night there that night. Jason was standing at the fence watching his wife go around the pasture.
“Is that Mom?” Beth asked. He turned, smiling at both girls.
“Yup. Grandma called and wanted to talk to you about something,” he said.
“OK.” She and Rachel turned their horses and started to ride away. “Oh Daddy? I forgot… I have a boyfriend,” she said. Jason opened his mouth to say something, but both girls started to trot. He sighed and put his hand on his forehead. Jess rode up moments later.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
“How old were you when you had your first boyfriend?” he asked. She shrugged.
“Twelve or so I think. Why?”
“Beth has just informed me that she has a boyfriend,” he muttered. Jess smiled and shook her head.
“She’s grown up a lot Jason. She’s old enough to have a boyfriend. Come on, let’s go up to the house. I’m making lasagna for dinner.” He smiled.
“Life is looking better,” he murmured, following her toward the barn.
Beth and Rachel jogged up the stairs to Beth’s room, went in, and plopped down on the bed.
“Did you see your father’s face. I don’t think my Dad looked that surprised.”
“He probably was. I think Daddy’ll be ok once he meets Aaron.”
“So do I. Aaron’s really nice… he told Chris off for being a jerk today.”
“Well it’s no big deal. I just sort of lost my temper for a minute, and I apologized after we ate lunch.” Rachel laughed.
“You told him if he ever bothered you again, you’d hurt him. I don’t think that’s really an apology.”
“He knew I was kidding. Do you want to listen to some music?” Rachel shrugged.
“If isn’t that Mozart crap you always listen to is it?” Beth rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
“No, I have stuff that you like too. I’m not as bad as I use to be.”
“You still go to the studio five times a week, unless you have a show. I wonder why you and Dom are like that?” she mused. Beth shrugged, putting in a Lisa Loeb CD.
“Don’t compare me to your brother. I like playing because it’s fun. I love making music. It’s like when you ride your horse over a really hard course and you do it perfectly. It’s like you’re on top of the world.” Rachel nodded and they sang along to the CD for a moment
“I can’t believe how fast you got a guy to ask you out,” Rachel said suddenly. Beth rolled her eyes.
“It’s not like I did anything. I was just myself. I think that’s why it took Chris so long to ask you out… you pretended to be one of those snobby preppy girls.”
“I guess you’re right. I just really wanted him to like me. He’s so nice and cute…”
“Let’s go see if my Mom needs any help with dinner.” They both stood, jogging downstairs.
Aaron, Chris, Dominick, and Rachel stood at the rail watching Beth ride around. She was competing against seventeen and eighteen year olds in a big show. They were all in Kentucky. Aaron’s father had come that weekend by coincidence. Chris’s parents brought him to watch his sister compete. It had been almost two months, and Beth and Aaron were still going out, as were Rachel and Chris. The judge asked for a canter and Beth gave King the signal. He began, his movements smooth and collected. Beth smiled at Aaron and he winked at her. He had just turned fifteen. Beth eased King back to a trot on the judge’s command and went into the center.
“Very nice job ladies and gentlemen. I’d like to award first place to Elizabeth Fute and King, our youngest team. Elizabeth is thirteen and King is six.” Beth smiled, taking the ribbon from him. The audience applauded as she trotted from the ring. Her friends and parents were waiting when she got to the trailer. She dismounted and Aaron gave her a tight hug.
“You just beat a bunch of seventeen year old hot shots,” Aaron said. She laughed, taking his hand.
“Thanks. You should go listen to your sister complaining about losing to a cripple again,” Beth said to Chris. His sister was the girl who had confronted Beth earlier that summer.
“My parents said I didn’t have to listen to that until I got home tonight, so for now I can just congratulate you,” he said. She smiled.
“Thanks Chris. I’m going to finish taking care of King. I’ll see you guys in a minute.” Everybody but Aaron walked off. He smiled at her, putting his arms around her again.
“I’m really happy for you. You were awesome.”
“Thanks. Are you going to help me here?” she asked. He laughed, starting to help untack.
Beth convinced her parents to let her have her first boy-girl party at the end of August. On the night of the party Beth opened the front door and let her friends in. Rachel, Chris, Aaron, and her friend Amanda came in. Dominick followed. Soon after all the other guests arrived. Once everyone was there, they put on the music. Dominick danced with Amanda.
“Beth we’re going to go down to do some work in the barn. You can handle things up here can’t you?” Jason asked.
“Sure, we’ll be fine.” She watched as they left and then turned to her friends.
“A minute in heaven!” Rachel called. Everyone cheered, following Rachel and Beth to the living room. There was a small closet in the hall by the stairs, so they decided to make that ‘heaven’. Beth spun first, and Rachel stopped it on Aaron, saying that it was only fair because it was Rachel’s party. They went into the closet and listened as everyone began to count slowly. Aaron leaned down and kissed her. Beth felt her heart begin to pound as the kiss went on. The group outside called time and they walked out, holding hands. Everyone cheered and Beth rolled her eyes.
“OK Rach, your turn. No more cheating.” Rachel spun and it landed on a boy named Justin. Rachel shot Chris an apologetic look and followed Justin into the closet. They played for nearly half an hour. Beth spun and to her horror it landed on Dominick. She stood, following him to the closet. The group outside began to count.
“I didn’t invite you,” she said in an angry whisper. He shrugged.
“So? Your dad told me I could come.”
“It isn’t his party. Just kiss me and get it over with.”
“I don’t have to kiss you. You can just come in here and stand around.”
“Fine, don’t then. Let’s just go. I’m not standing in here with you any longer.”
“You stayed in the whole time with your boyfriend,” Dominick muttered.
“He’s my boyfriend, why wouldn’t I?”
“Did he feel you up?” he asked, a smug smile on his face. She smacked him hard in the face and left the closet, jogging out of the house. Aaron came over, his face angry.
“What’d you do to her?” he demanded, backing Dominick against the wall.
“I didn’t kiss her if that’s what you mean. She just hit me.”
“When I find out what got her so upset you’re going to get it,” he muttered, turning and following Beth. Rachel moved to stand beside him.
“Great job Dom. I hope Aaron does hit you,” she muttered, whirling and going back toward the living room. Dominick walked outside. He could see Aaron and Beth standing by the fence. Beth had her arms around his waist. He went over and tapped Beth on the shoulder.
“Get away from me Dom,” she said.
“I just wanted to say that I was sorry. I know that Aaron wouldn’t do that to you… he already did it to Amanda last week during the assembly,” he muttered, walking toward the woods again. Aaron let go of Beth and ran after him tackling him to the ground. He hit Dominick several times before Beth’s screaming got the attention of one of the stable hands. He pulled Aaron off Dominick, yanking him toward the fence. Dominick stood and brushed himself off, starting to walk away again.
“Dominick wait a minute!” she called. He walked backwards for a moment.
“What’s the point? I just mess everything up with you so I give up.”
“You’re lying, he wouldn’t do that!” she called.
“Are you so sure?” he asked, disappearing into the woods. She went to Aaron’s side, and she could tell by the look on his face that Dominick had been telling the truth.
“You need to leave. I don’t want to see you anymore,” she said. He shook his head, turning and walking down the driveway. Beth sighed and walked back toward the house, wishing Dominick hadn’t said anything at all.
