May 16th, Spring, year 20
Man, I almost missed the horse races today! I had to bolt at my quickest, and managed to just barely make it in time for the first race. Sadly, not in time for the betting, but that's okay. Oh, and I had something wonderful happen too!
Gasping for breath, Claire pelted down the deserted streets of Mineral Town towards the Rose Square and the sounds of a little over fifty people chattering. If she'd had the breath for it, she would have been cursing herself for her forgetfulness.
She skidded into the Square just as the announcement for the beginning of the first race was sounded. She bit back a breathless yelp of distaste and annoyance, and started pushing her way carefully towards the fence.
Her blue eyes scanned the crowd, looking for either her sister, Ann, or Karen; the only three girls who came to the races on a regular basis. Ann's bright red hair was distinctive enough to be seen at a distance, especially considering the way she was hoping around in excitement. Karen stood near her, not quite hopping, but bouncing a little.
Both were up at the front of the crowd, so it took a little bit of effort for the worn out blond to reach them. Karen noticed her first, and grinned over her shoulder.
"You're late!" and the green-eyed cousin had to shout to be heard over the cheering of the crowd. "What took you? Pony's already saddled up!"
"Pony's racing?" Claire said, surprised. "When did this happen?"
"Oh, yesterday sometime," Ann piped in. "I think Thomas asked her to join in, since a couple of the racers from the City couldn't make it. The had sick horses."
Karen nodded, grinning.
"I'm pretty sure Gray said it would be interesting to watch, but I don't think he convinced Saibara to let him come today," she said with a half shrug. "Old man is here though, like always!"
"Saibara never lets Gray come to the Spring races," Claire shook her head in wry amusement. "I wonder what chores he got stuck with today. Poor guy."
Ann and Karen forbore responding as the horses rounded the final curve, with Jill and Cinnamon in the lead. Claire whooped loudly for her sister's benefit, and when the younger farmer crossed the finish line, all three of them jumped up and down in excitement.
The redhead was jumping the highest. Clearly, she had bet on Jill, and won a great deal. Karen never really bet, preferring to save all her money for the after-races wine and festivities held at Doug's.
Jill, spotting friend and family ran over to meet them as soon as Thomas had awarded her the medals and garland for her win. Her eyes were bright, and she was flushed with glee, making Claire grin in response.
"You look like the cat who caught the canary sis," she teased as Jill came within earshot. "Congratulations!"
"I didn't think I was going to make it, to be honest," Jill replied a little sheepishly. "I mean, I've only been training Cinnamon for half a year. I guess he really wanted to win!"
Karen chuckled. Claire ginned, looking at the horse Barley was leading away. The name suited the horse, she decided, as simple and brown as he was. Slow to start—apparently Jill hadn't started out in the lead—but with enough of a kick at the end to pull ahead for the win.
"You know," And Jill looked at Claire thoughtfully, "Barley has a horse for sale sis. A pretty mare. I'm sure she'd be useful to you on Dad's farm, since I took Cinnamon and all."
Claire shrugged, and smiled.
"Well, if there's time after the races, I'll talk to the old man and see if he'll let me take a look at her. How's May doing by the way?"
As a group, the girls shared gossip, moving towards the betting booth. In short order Ann collected the medals for her winning bet, and placed more down, betting on familiar faces and city friends. Jill and Claire followed her example, since Ann had an almost infallible sense of which horse was going to win.
Sure enough, the winner of the second race was Sugar, a patchy grey and white horse from Ming City. Briefly, Claire wondered how the horse races over in Flowerbud were going, and if Jack was winning like he always did. Jill gave her a sideways glance, and both of them grinned, sharing the exact same thought.
"The day Jack loses is the day he retires Punkin," Karen said, showing that she too had clued into their thoughts. "And I don't think that'll happen any time soon. Hey Claire, there's Barley! Why not go talk to him now?"
"Yeah sis," and Jill grinned at Claire's mild grimace. "It'll be a real surprise to Uncle Takakura if you showed back up riding your very own horse!"
Claire had to admit that Jill had a point, even if she wasn't too enamored of it.
"After the last race," she replied. "I don't want to interrupt the fun with business. Besides, I don't even know if I have the money to purchase a horse with me today. I might have to ask Uncle Takakura to buy one for me later, you know?"
"His stables are pretty full-up," Jill nodded slightly. "I bet he'd be willing to defer payment until you have the money for her!"
Claire threw up her hands in mock disgust, laughing, and went over to talk with the oldest ranch owner left. His age might have bent his back, but his hands were as strong as ever, and his eyes remained sharp.
"Well then Claire," he smiled at her, speaking in a creaky voice. "Come to pay an old man your respects?"
"You're not old," the blond grinned. "and Jill told me that you have a mare you wanted to sell. There's no rush," and she rested her hand on the old man's arm as he seemed ready to leave right then. "It can wait until the races are over."
"Your sister has a good eye," he chuckled. "the mare's a sweet-tempered beast, but she's not made for racing. I think she'd do well on your family farm."
Claire smiled mildly relieved. It would be easier and faster to collect the grasses and wild plants if she was riding a horse, and it would give her the time to visit the excavation site when Flora and Carter were there, instead at past nine at night.
"So I'll drop by your ranch after the races end, alright?"
"That will be fine as long as," and the old man's eyes twinkled in amusement, "you don't mind helping me feed and care for the animals. Some of them were your parents after all."
Claire had the grace to blush.
After the final race—a black horse named Star C. won—Claire followed Barley back to his ranch to take a look at the mare.
"She's about your size, as opposed to Cinnamon for Jill," he commented. "Though she did a good job of winning her first race. Ah, this way…"
She was in the last stall, and at the sound of Barley's footsteps, the mare poked her head over the opened top of the door, revealing a pale golden face with a white star streaked down her muzzle. Claire let out a soft breath, impressed despite herself.
The rest of the horse was just as pretty. Her mane was a pale brown, about three shades darker than her coat. White "socks" on the mare's legs completed the picture.
"She's amazing Barley," the blond smiled. "How much?"
"Well now," and the old man rubbed his chin. "I was thinking twenty five thousand. But," he held up a hand as Claire's face fell, "seeing as I'm hard up on stable room, you can take her home tonight and send me the money with Tak when you have it."
"Really?"
"Really," he chuckled. "Tak's been saying you need a horse to help you out, so it's not skin off my back to let you take her now. I know that you're good for it."
"Especially thanks to Van," Claire agreed. "He pays pretty good for the stuff in Uncle Carter's dig site. It's pretty cool."
Barley smiled at the cheery farm-girl, and led the way to the food.
And so now I have a horse, and Pony has her first win under her belt. I bet she's going to be like Jack and Punkin, winning every race from now on. Me, I don't like racing. Well, okay, I do, but it's not really my favorite thing about owning a horse. So I'll probably never enter the races if I don't have to.
Honey—I decided to name her that because of the color of her coat—will suit me just fine, I think. I'm gonna have to work pretty hard in the next couple of days to get Barley his money though.
Still, it's worth it. Honey made the trip home quick and easy. I even managed to make it home before midnight! She is definitely going to speed up my day.