Chapter 3~Dinner with The Belmont's
Before Mr. Belmont and his son arrived at the Ponderosa Saturday evening, Adam briefly reminded the children to use their manners and listen politely. Along with a few other comments such as, 'while the adults discuss business the children should continue eating and do their best not to interrupt.'
"And Furthermore, Kate Elizabeth, keep your topics of discussion light." Adam added with a firm nod expecting his daughter to remember their earlier discussion.
Kate smiled sweetly and turned her head towards the knocking a the front door.
Adam and family greeted their guests at the door...
"Good evening Mr. Belmont, Nicholas, you've met my father, Ben Cartwright."
"Yes, glad to see you again Mr. Cartwright."
"And these are my children John, Kate, twins Michael and Jack, and my youngest daughter Molly."
"What a lovely family you have Adam, you must be so proud; and all so beautiful at that."
To Adams surprise Nicholas and Kate were the same height. Nicholas was small in stature, and a handsome young man of seventeen. He talked elegantly showing his intellect and upbringing. As the night progressed Adam grew fond of the young man and found his disposition very different from his fathers.
"Nicholas, I can see that you are a fine and well-educated young man. I understand that you have completed school in the grades. Do you plan to attend college in the fall?" Adam asked.
Nicholas glanced over at his father who took the liberty of answering Adam's question. "I've been blessed with a son who is a fine horse rider Mr. Cartwright. Nicholas doesn't need college when he's an experienced Jockey and of age too."
Nicholas added. "I turn eighteen this summer, Mr. Cartwright, which is the legal age to become a Jockey. I've trained since I was young with the best teachers. It has been my fathers dream to see me race professionally."
"And yours?" Adam continued.
"Look at his size, Mr. Cartwright. The boy's a designed Jockey." Mr. Belmont boasted.
Adam looked at Nicholas inquisitively.
"Yes sir, I truly love the sport as well. I'm looking forward to my first race. I do love learning and hope to continue my studies further one day." Nicholas looked over at Kate which made her blush.
"Ha, Ha the dreams of a young man; they want to do it all, wouldn't you agree with that Mr. Cartwright?" Mr. Belmont looked towards Ben for acceptance.
Ben smiled at both father and son with a nod.
"I would love to race my horse but my father says it's too dangerous, Jack announced trying to join in on conversation.
"Your father's right son, much training goes into horse racing and on a smooth track; not out in the wild country like on the Ponderosa. And by the looks of you boy, you will be growing into a mighty size like your Pa. " Mr. Belmont stated.
Adam smirked at Jack as he felt the support of another father. He gave him a reassuring wink and motioned for him to eat his food.
The evening went well into the night with much conversation. Adam and Mr. Belmont talked business and the art of horse breeding as Kate snuck away with Jon and Nicholas managing to discuss as much about horse racing as she could without alarming her father.
As the evening came to an end, Adam welcomed Nicholas to come back to the ranch and visit he and the children. Offering up to Mr. Belmont the idea that it could give the boy more opportunity to see the horses in a different enviroment. Mr. Belmont seemed genuinely pleased, along with Nicholas, with Adam's invitation.
As the summer progressed Nicholas Belmont frequented the Ponderosa more than not, often staying for dinner and enjoying the interactions of the whole family dynamics.
Nicholas found it fascinating when they would bring in a wild stallion for the first time and watched how John would begin his training to break him.
"How did you learn to do that?" Nicholas asked.
"To do what," John questioned.
"The way you're gentleing that wild horse; I've never seen anything like it."
"My Father and Uncle Joe have taught me. Both are good at taming the wild horses. My dad lets the hired hands do it mostly now, it saves his back. My Uncle Joe says I'm a real natural. They give me more and more freedom to work with the horses each day. I hope to take one straight from the wild and tame him all by myself soon."
"That sounds like a true challenge. When I meet up with a horse for the first time it's tamed. Been trained and gentled by someone else. Then I begin training it to race. I really don't get the chance to enjoy my horse like you all do out here on the Ponderosa. It's truly a beautiful place."
Nicholas noticed Kate approach the fence post and lean in next to the boys.
The two shared a shy smile before looking out at the Stallion in the corral.
"Do you like to ride?" Nicholas asked.
"Oh' Sure. But mostly, I want to Race." She responded confidently.
"Race, like horse racing?" Nicholas smiled.
"Yes, and I would like to be the first woman Jockey to Win." Kate hiked her leg up on the fence, propping herself up on the post directly above the boys heads.
Both boys laughed.
Kate's temper rose. "I'm serious, go ahead and laugh all you want. Who can say it can't be done just because a man decided a woman shouldn't be allowed! And No one can stop me for trying. I intend on racing one day and if I am the first woman to Jokey, so be it! I'd like to see you try to stop me John. We already know I'm faster than you and all your friends. " Kate swated towards her brother's head.
"I know a man who will stop you dead in your tracks little girl. And he stands right over there." John grabbed at his sisters wrist putting an end to her torment. Nicholas continued to laugh at the siblings bantering.
"Oh John why do you always have to be so hateful? Just leave me alone." Kate leaped down of the fence post and stormed into the barn.
"Owwee~You sure know how to rile a girl up, John Cartwright." Nick congratulated his friend with a pat on the back.
"Well trust me Nick, the way I see it; it's just a fair warning towards my lil' sister. She's awful stirred up right now about this racing business and my Pa's none to pleased. He's given her a stern warning to drop the issue."
"I see. Guess I didn't know. Too bad she wasn't my Pa's child instead. I think I'd given up racing long ago if he'd let up. It is his dream, has been for a long time. It's not all so bad tho, besides..."
Before Nicholas could finish his thought, Kate stormed out of the Barn, mounted on her saddled horse.
John and Nicholas had to move out-of-the-way so as not to get run down by the hot-headed teen.
Adam was working in the second corral with a Quarter horse when he saw the commotion. He ran over to the boys, "John, where's your sister off to and in such a hurry?"
"Seems we might have stirred her up a bit Dad, something we may have said." John confessed as he tried to protect Kate and their conversation as best he could.
"Well then I suggest you go retrieve her." Adam frowned then added, "And you let her know I want to see her as soon as she gets back. She knows better than to take outta here like that. Then you boys get to work!" Adam stomped off shaking his head.
"Yes sir", John agreed.
"Hey John, do you mind if I go after Kate with ya? Maybe I can talk to her."
"Sure, by all means. I could use some help talkin her down before she meets back up with my Pa."
TBC
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