High Hurdles Collection Two (4 page)
Shawna's parents left soon after, with promises to see them the next day.
“You're going to be a famous horse artist one day,” Shawna said later from the sleeping bag spread beside the bed. “And I got one of your early pictures. That is so cool.”
DJ grinned and reached down to tousle the girl's hair. “You are cool yourself. Sleep fast.”
“So we can ride up in Briones! I can't wait.”
Possibilities raced through DJ's head. What if the cards sold well? What if they didn't? Wouldn't it be fun to make more? Wait till she told Amy about
this
!
She thought, too, about the way Shawna and her dad could talk and tease each other. Maybe she
had
been missing out on something by not having a father all these years. She turned over and tucked the comforter more tightly around her shoulders. Well, now she was going toâno, change thatâshe now had
two
fathers. And while the newest one had forgotten to hug her good-bye, the other sure hadn't.
DJ fell asleep while thanking God for the filly who waited for her at Brad's farm and for the chance to ride up in Briones after church in the morning.
Shawna could hardly sit still through church. While clouds had covered the sky when she, Joe, and DJ went to feed the horses, sun now painted the shiny floor with reds and oranges and browns from the stained-glass windows.
“Are you going to ride Patches?” she whispered at one point.
DJ shook her head. “I'll saddle Bandit for you.” The gray pony's owner had said she could use their pony any time. She was already using him for little Andrew Johnson's lessons.
Gran gave them a look.
When Shawna started to whisper something else, DJ shook her head.
Was the sermon awfully long, or was she feeling as antsy as Shawna, who couldn't sit still on the pew beside her? DJ refocused her attention on the pastor for the who-knew-how-manyeth time. But whatever he was preaching about didn't make it past her rampaging thoughts. She took in a deep breath and let it all out, dropping her shoulders as she did.
“God, the perfect Father, loves us, loves you, loves me, right now. No matter what we do, He loves us. Think of that. He loves you.” Each word the pastor said now rang and echoed in DJ's head. “God loves you. Yesterday, today, tomorrow. God loves you. Jesus loves you.” In a voice rich with love, the pastor emphasized each word. They seemed to fill the sanctuary, bouncing off the beams overhead and dancing with the sun streaming in the window. The precious words circled DJ's heart, invaded it, and took sanctuary there.
“Amen.”
DJ heard sniffs and throat clearings from those around her. She wiped away her own tear before it left the haven of her lashes. Gran took a tissue from her purse, and Joe blew into his white handkerchief.
“Awesome,” Shawna whispered.
DJ's throat kept closing during the final hymn.
There wasn't a lot of talking as the congregation left the building. GJ wrapped an arm around Gran and the other around DJ as Gran snuggled Shawna close to her side. The four of them walked to the parking lot and the waiting car.
“DJ, wait up!” Amy dashed across the parking lot. She greeted them all, then asked, “You going to the Academy this afternoon?” Her black hair gleamed in the sunlight.
“We're going to Briones,” Shawna announced.
“You want to come?” DJ asked.
“You bet I do!” Amy waved at her mother's call. “Just don't leave without me.” She darted back between the cars to the Yamamoto minivan.
“You want to eat lunch now, pack a lunch, or ride first and eat later?” Gran asked when they got home.
“Could we pack it?” Shawna asked as if she were being offered a trip to Disneyland.
Gran hugged her on the way up the pansy-bordered walk. “In a heartbeat. I'll do that while you change clothes. Don't worry, DJ, I'll pack for Amy, too.”
“Melanie, my love, you are the best grandma ever,” DJ heard Joe say as she headed for her bedroom. DJ totally agreed.
With their lunches in Joe's saddlebags and the horses groomed in record time, the four closed the gates behind them and headed up the trail to Briones State Park. The trail curved around a rounded hill and below a grandfather oak tree raising dark arms against the sun. The hurt-your-eyes green of the grass said that while the calendar still proclaimed winter, the earth on these California hills was thinking spring. The breeze bending the grass held a nip to it when it kissed DJ's cheeks.
She raised her face to the sun and inhaled. “How come new grass smells almost as good as horse?”
A red-tailed hawk, riding the thermals above them, screeched an answer. One of the horses snorted. The saddles creaked and bits jangled, adding a tune all their own.
DJ knew there was no place in the entire world she'd rather be than right here, right now.
They ate their lunch by the fenced-in pond in the upper meadow. Riders on cross-country bikes sped by on the fire road, and hikers whistled for their dogs to keep them from chasing the cows with their calves that grazed the hillsides.
Shawna flung herself on her back, her arms outstretched. “This is a five-million-percent perfect day.”
“You said it, kid.” Joe balled his sandwich bag and stuffed the trash in his saddlebag. The horses grazed beside them. While DJ told Amy about Julia's offer to take their cards to a gift shop, maybe reproducing one of the filly pictures, too, Joe answered Shawna's stream of questions. They mounted their horses again and rode farther up the hill, following the trails along the ridge until Joe finally said they should head back.
When Shawna groaned, he laughed. “You're going to feel all this tomorrow as it is, young lady. Besides, Gran needs our company.”
“When are you going to get Gran a horse?” DJ asked.
“Any time she wants one.”
“Just get one, and once we drag her up here the first time, she'll be hooked for sure.” DJ thought a moment. “If I can get Patches to behave on the trails, she can ride Major.” The tall, dark bay flicked his ears at the sound of his name. DJ patted his neck. Right now she felt like hugging him and the whole world.
“You'd help me find her a horse?” Joe questioned.
“Need you ask? So will Bridget.”
“Don't tell her.”
“I won't, but we'd better get to work. Mother's Day will be here before you know it.”
Joe nodded, a sneaky smile curving his lips. “Thanks, DJ. That's the perfect idea.”
When they got home, Andy sat in his car, waiting for his daughter.
“Why didn't you go in the house?” Joe asked.
“It's locked. Besides, I only just got here. Let's get your stuff, Shawna. I need to get back.”
When they entered the kitchen, a note on the table said Gran had gone into the city to pick up the twins. Maria had caught the bug, too, and was too ill herself to care for two sick boys.
DJ and Joe waved good-bye to the others a few minutes later.
What are we in for now?
DJ wondered.
So much for my time alone with Joe and Gran
. DJ buried the thought.
Joe leaned down and opened the oven door. “Leave it to Mel, she has dinner in the oven.” The fragrance of roast beef flanked by onions and garlic floated past DJ's nose.
Her stomach rumbled in anticipation.
Be happy they are coming
, she told herself.
After all, they're your brothers now
. A sneaky little voice chimed in,
And now you'll never be able to send them home
. DJ rubbed a rough spot on her lower lip with her tongue. When she swallowed, she discovered another rough spot ⦠on the back of her throat.
Great!
She swallowed again to test out her theory.
The Bs probably gave their germs to me. That's all I need
.
“You want something to drink?” Joe sounded muffled since he had his head in the refrigerator.
“Sure. Anything.”
A hand came from around the door and handed her a strawberry kiwi soda. “You hungry?” The rest of Joe appeared, cheese and celery in hand, and he headed for the sink. “I make great stuffed celery. You want pimento or olive?”
“Both.”
“Me tooâwhy choose when they're both so good.” He stripped a couple of celery stalks off the bunch and handed them to her to wash while he put the remainder of the celery away.
“How come we're having these instead of cookies?”
“Mel's got me on a no-sweets program.”
“So she didn't bake cookies?”
He grinned at her while he opened the cheese jars. “Those are for the grandkids. I'm under strict orders.”
“I'm a grandkid.” DJ dried the celery stalks with a paper towel.
“I know that, but if I have to have celery, you wouldn't be so cruel as to eat cookies in front of me.”
“You could always turn your back.” She eyed the teddy bear cookie jar.
“You're heartless, you know that?” He plunked the lids back on the cheeses and handed them to her. “Put these away, p-u-lease.”
DJ did as he asked. Standing at the refrigerator door, she read the note held there by the teddy bear magnet she had given Gran for Christmas one year. “You know you're supposed to scrub the carrots and potatoes and put them in with the roastâan hour ago.”