Chapter Five

Kate and Tori raced across the soggy front lawn, each intent on getting to the house first. Kate vaulted onto the front porch. “All right! I won!” She pumped her fist in the air as her friend skidded to a halt beside her.

Tori glared at Kate’s legs. “Not fair. You’re at least two inches taller than me, and I swear most of it is in your legs. You need to run track. I bet you’d beat everybody.”

Kate shook her head. “I might have long legs, but I don’t have the heart to sprint around a track and try to win a race. The only track I’m interested in is a show arena.”

“Huh?”

Kate punched Tori lightly on the arm. “Horses, you goof. You know, showing? Jumping?”

At Tori’s blank expression, Kate stopped. “What? You’ve never gone to a horse show? Ever?” She opened the front door and waved Tori in first.

“Nope. My parents aren’t exactly rich, you know. And I’ve never hung around anyone who loves horses as much as you do. I’ve never even ridden on a horse.”

“Whoa! No way!” Kate stared at Tori. “Never? I mean, I knew you weren’t supercomfortable around them when you didn’t know how to feed them carrots, but never?”

“N- E- V- E- R.” Tori’s chin firmed in determination. “And it never occurred to me to want to either. Clear now?”

“Sor-ry.” Kate smirked, then sobered. “Really. I wasn’t trying to make fun. I guess I’ve loved horses for as long as I can remember, so it’s hard to imagine someone who didn’t grow up wanting the same thing.”

“Well, I didn’t.” Tori tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulder as she glanced back. “But now that you mention it, it might be fun. If it isn’t a big horse and I don’t get dumped. What’s a horse show like? I’ve been to lots of football and basketball games at school, and my little brother’s T-ball games.”

Kate bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. She’d already insulted Tori enough. The last thing she wanted was to hurt her friend’s feelings. “Uh, it’s nothing like any of those. Want to go with me? There’s a big show here in Odell early this summer. I researched it on the Internet yesterday. It’s a hunter-jumper show that’s on the approved circuit.”

“Huh?” Tori wrinkled her nose.

“Never mind. It just means if you place, you get points that accumulate along with points you earn from other shows. But the ad said the one here is outdoors in a field south of Odell, on the way to Hood River.”

“Okay, sure. We better get in there. Your mom hollered that it was time for cake and presents ten minutes ago.”

“Yikes!” Kate grabbed Tori’s hand and sprinted for the dining room. “I almost forgot it’s my birthday. Dad’s going to eat all the cake if we don’t get in there fast!”

Kate and Tori halted in the doorway of the dining room and gasped. Streamers and balloons exploded in color all over the ceiling and walls. A big sign colored in block letters and proclaiming HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATE! hung above the far window. A cake shaped like a horse head sat in the center of the table, with thirteen candles running down the length of the mane.

“Awesome, Mom! Who made the cake? And when did you have time to decorate without me knowing?”

Mom chuckled and glanced at Dad. “I had a little help while Tori kept you busy outside. Pete even helped with the balloons, didn’t you, buddy?”

Pete eyed all the various colors. “Thirteen balloons for Kate. Three yellow, two blue, two red, four pink, and two green.”

Kate and Tori applauded. “Thanks, Pete! You did a great job.”

He pointed to the left of the cake. “That’s a horse. Now Kate has a horse.”

Kate’s heart stilled. “Yeah, it sure is. What are those next to the cake?” She waved her hand at the stack of presents, praying her little brother would keep talking.

He didn’t meet her eyes or follow where she indicated but started to gently rock in his chair.

Dad patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, honey. He’s fine. That was more than he usually says, and he’s been in a happy mood the entire time we’ve been decorating. Do you want to open your presents first or cut the cake?”

She’d been staring at a big box behind three or four smaller items. “If everyone isn’t dying to have cake first, I want to see what’s in that box.” She glanced around the room at the smiling faces. “In all of them, actually.”

Mom pulled out a chair at the head of the table. “Take a seat, then, and let’s get started. I’ll admit to being pretty excited about that box myself.”

Dad held his finger to his lips. “Nan, don’t give her any hints.”

“I’m not, John. But I can’t wait to see what she thinks.”

Kate dragged a chair close to the table and leaned forward. “Do I get to open it first?”

Tori twisted a strand of hair around one finger. “Uh, do you mind if you wait and leave it for last? I’m afraid you won’t want to see mine after you open the big one.”

“You know what it is?” Kate stared at her friend and then at her parents, who grinned back at her. “You do! Fine,” she said with a dramatic flourish, “which one do you want me to open first?”

Tori grabbed a gift bag with a pink bow on the handle and thrust it under Kate’s nose. “Mine. Please.”

Kate laughed and grabbed the bag. “Want me to guess?”

“No, silly. And don’t shake it, or it might break. Just open it.”

Kate slit the tape that held the top closed and peeled back the heavy folds of tissue. “Oh, cool!” She withdrew a delicately molded horse figurine. “It’s beautiful! And it looks like that mare we found last week. Where did you get it, Tori?”

Tori dropped her eyes, and a flush colored her dusky cheeks. “You’re not supposed to ask questions like that.”

Kate blinked, not sure what to think. Then, spotting a tiny chip on the base, she understood. Tori’s family didn’t have a lot of money, and any gift would be a sacrifice. Tori might have gotten it at a discount store or even a yard sale, but it didn’t matter. “It’s perfect. I absolutely love it! Thank you!”

Tori’s warm brown eyes lit with joy. “I’m glad you like it. I was kind of worried.”

“Silly. How could I not love it?” Kate tossed her friend a grin and then tore into the next two gifts—a box of her favorite chocolates from Pete and a small, framed horse print from her parents. Grandma and Grandpa Ferris had sent a gift certificate and a new T-shirt with a horse logo.

Now the oversize box sat alone on the table, and Kate’s fingers itched to open it. Her family hadn’t given her the slightest hint what it might be. It wasn’t big enough to hold a horse, so she didn’t have a clue. “Can I open it now?”

Mom nodded. Dad went around the corner, hefted it from where it sat, and placed it in front of Kate.

She stood and leaned over the box, rising on her toes and bouncing. Slowly she tore off a large strip of the pink polka-dot paper, only to reveal a regular cardboard box with no lettering or hint of what might be inside. With sudden resolve, Kate tore into the rest of the wrapping, removing it in a matter of seconds. She eyed the seam secured with what appeared to be an entire roll of tape, and spluttered, “Wow! Who sealed this thing, anyway?”

Her brother patted his chest. “Pete.”

Kate’s mouth gaped, and then she snapped it shut and swallowed. “Good job, buddy.”

Dad handed her his pocketknife, and she slit the tape and grabbed the two flaps, popping the box apart. Still no clue. A ream of newspaper packed the entire top. She dug beneath it until her fingers touched something hard. She shoved the paper aside, grabbed hold of the item, and hoisted it up and out of the box.

“Awesome!” She squealed the word and almost dropped the present in her excitement. “An English saddle … This is the best present ever!”

The smiles on her parents’ faces almost lit the room. “We hoped it was the right type. The lady at the store in The Dalles said this should be the right size for your height and weight.” Her mom’s forehead crinkled. “I hope you don’t mind that it’s used. She said it’s good quality, and all the fittings are there.”

“No problem. A used saddle is already broken in. Now all I need is a horse to put it on.” Kate lifted her eyes toward her parents, only to see the delight fade from their expressions. “I didn’t mean it like that, you guys. I mean, this is perfect. Thank you so much!” She had no idea what she’d do with a saddle and no horse, but this gift only served to strengthen her determination. Somehow, someway, she’d get her wish.