Chapter 263 – Sugar Creek Show part 2
James and Marco had watched Doug run and were making notes. They knew that he had cut some of those angles close, but they were happy with a clean run that put him in first. They also both knew that Doug had thrown down the gauntlet to Jack and Nathan. James wondered if it wouldn't be the first time in a while that Jack lost to someone. He knew that Athena had an advantage in the sand, but he knew that Jack wouldn't let Nathan just take the top spot. Then another thought occurred to James. He wondered if they would be able to sweep the top three ribbons.
Marco looked over and saw his boss was smiling and smiled to himself. He was proud of Doug and couldn't wait to see how the other two did.
"He did good." Marco said.
"Yes." James said. "I also just realized that we have a good chance of sweeping the top three ribbons. I saw that they had champion and reserve champion ribbons, thinking they would both stay at Sugar Creek. I wouldn't mind bringing both those back to Coal Creek. Granted, I will let the boys keep them if they want, but even just a picture of them would be wonderful."
"I agree." Marco said. "Any bets on who is going to take first. Normally, I would say Jack, but with the way that Nathan is riding, I wouldn't count him out."
"Either way, it will be close." James said. "Between all three."
"I agree." Marco said.
They moved to go talk to Doug and see how Jack was doing. They were happy and knew that with the way that the boys were riding it bode well for their show the following week. Marco was fine heading back to the trailer as he knew where his nephew was and he was keeping notes on each jumper for him. When they got to the trailer, Jack and Nathan were congratulating Doug.
"So you going to be okay with third?" Jack teased.
"As long as you are okay with second." Nathan chirped.
Jack glared at Nathan.
"I ain't giving it to you." Jack said. "But you think you can take it, bring it on."
"Oh, you are going down." Nathan teased.
Doug just smiled as he listened to the banter between the two. It reminded him of how Jack and Laura used to push each other. Doug wasn't the only one thinking about Laura listening to Jack and Nathan. James and Marco were both thinking the same thing. Marco had said before, Nathan pushed Jack like Laura used to.
"Alright boys." James said. "There is still plenty to do. Let's relax for a bit before JP has to jump."
The boys nodded and went to sit down, continuing to banter back and forth. James shook his head. He knew that the competition between the boys was a good thing, but he also knew that they could take it a little too far. He also knew that he would have to keep an eye on they as the summer went on.
The twins were excited when Doug crossed the finish line with a clean round.
"Not his best run." Maddie said.
"He shaved some time." Missy said. "But he could have been a stride or two faster and that is why he didn't break eighty."
"I agree." Father Mark said. "But if the other two ride like that they will sweep the top three."
"And dear brother is going to get third." Maddie said.
"Jack, Nathan and Doug." Missy said.
"Nathan, Jack and Doug." Father Mark said. "It will be close, but given that Nathan is on Athena, I would bet his wins."
"Really." Elizabeth said. "How will that sit with Jack? He was moody for a while when Nathan beat him at practice."
"And if he loses, he might be a bit moody again." Father Mark said. "But he will also be happy for his friends. If he has to lose to anyone, he would rather it be a friend and teammate."
"Agreed." Maddie and Missy both said.
"We are happy for each other when one of us wins." Maddie said.
"I never mind losing to my sister." Missy said.
"Same here." Maddie said.
The next five riders went with only one more clean round, leaving Doug still in first place. James and Marco were watching from just to the side of the in gate as Jack sat on Bandit and watched the competitor before him take his run. The boy clipped the last rail, but it stayed and he had a clean run. He was in second behind Doug, who had a full second and a half on him. Jack knew that he was going to have to work to beat his friend, but he also knew it was possible.
Jack congratulated the rider as he came off, whispered to Bandit, center himself and then he entered the course and showed Bandit the third jump and checked out the landing zone after the triple combination. He quickly readjusted a few things in his head based on how the course looked and the angle of the sun casting shadows.
Jack took a moment in the far corner of the ring to lean down and reassure Bandit. Bandit stomped his hoof and knickered in response to Jack's words. Jack laughed and patted the horse's neck, he then brought him up to a fast canter and around to start his round.
Elizabeth watched Jack from the moment he had been sitting at the in gate. She saw him congratulate the previous rider and go through his little routine. She then followed him as he moved around showing Bandit different things. Elizabeth didn't even notice that Katie had come and sat next to her.
"Keep breathing." Father Mark whispered. "Jack is a good rider and he knows what he is doing. He won't take unnecessary risks, but he is going to push himself because he wants to win."
Elizabeth took a deep breath and nodded. She sat forward a moment when she saw him stop near where they were. She looked and him and wanted him to look back, but he was focused on something else. She saw him lean down and whisper to Bandit again, getting a response to his words.
Katie took Elizabeth's hand and Father Mark put his hand on her back for support. They both knew that it was still nerve wracking for Elizabeth to watch Jack. Father Mark figured it might always be like that since Elizabeth hadn't grown up around horses. He also was sure it would get worse when her and Jack's children started jumping. Father Mark wasn't sure why he thought about that, but if he was honest, he couldn't wait to see Jack as a father. He always knew that he would make a wonderful dad and seeing him with Cody and the other kids only confirmed it. He also couldn't wait to be there to baptize Jack's children. It was something that Jack had promised he would get to do after he had been ordained, but always thought it would be years into the future. Father Mark realized he could baptize their first child within a year or so. He was stunned at how all of a sudden Jack was an adult. He knew Jack had always been smart and mature for his age, but to realize he was getting married in less than two months and Father Mark, himself, was going to perform the ceremony.
The other thing Father Mark realized sitting there was that he would have given and/or participated in all the sacrament that Jack had received. He was an altar server for Jack's baptism. He was an acolyte for his First Communion. He had con-celebrated with the Archbishop at his Confirmation and would be performing his wedding ceremony. Father Mark had also heard Jack's Confession and administered the Anointing of the Sick when Jack had been sick two years prior.
Katie and Gran both caught the look on Father Mark's face when he was watching Jack ride. Neither could read it and Gran was concerned. Katie was a bit worried that Father Mark spotted something wrong with the ride or horse.
When Jack was done, Katie leaned over and tapped Father Mark's shoulder.
The announcer and crowd noise had filtered through Jack's focus and that was why he had stopped in the corner not far from where Elizabeth was sitting. He knew she was watching him, but he couldn't turn his head and look at her. So he closed his eyes and blew out a breath and re-center himself. By the time that he had lined up for the first jump, Jack had blocked everything out again and the only thing he was thinking about was the course and the feel of Bandit under him.
Jack trusted Bandit and was going to let him open his stride where he could because Jack knew that he was going to have to garner every fraction of a second he could since Nathan still had to run.
Jack took a similar line that Doug had taken, maybe just a bit tighter on the turn from one to two in front of the tree. Once he cleared two, he swung closer to the gate at ten to really let Bandit pick up the rail on three because of the shadows. He also knew that with the angle he was at, he was going to have to watch the first part of the double at eight as he cut to the fourth jump. It was close but Jack cleared everything. Bandit sped up from four to five and flew through the triple combination at five and then cut in front of the tree to six, without letting up his speed. Jack also cut between the tree and the fourth gate on his way to the double at eight. Knowing he had time, he took nine at a sharp angle to set him up to cut close to six so he could get to ten.
As soon as he turned toward the double oxer at ten, he loosen the reins and Bandit took his head reaching a full gallop by the time his back legs landed and continued through the timer. Jack had put his head down when he loosened the reins, trusting his horse to do his job.
Jack didn't raise his head until he had crossed the timer and looked at the large board to see his time. A large smile broke across his face as he saw he not only was in first again, but he had broken eighty and accomplished the first part of his goal.
The smile was still on Jack's face as he rode toward the gate where Nathan was sitting on Athena. Jack just stuck his tongue out at Nathan as he went by to cool Bandit off.
"Everything alright?" Katie asked.
"Yes, sorry." Father Mark said, shaking his head. "I just realized something that I hadn't thought about before. Most people only receive six of the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church."
"And your point?" Gran asked, since she had moved to sit closer to Father Mark after seeing his face.
"When I perform Jack's wedding ceremony." Father Mark said. "I will have participated in all six for Jack."
"What do you mean?" Gran asked.
"I was an altar server at his baptism when I was eleven." Father Mark said. "I was an acolyte who assisted with the distribution of communion at Jack's First Holy Communion. I con-celebrated the Mass at his Confirmation. I have heard his confession and administered an anointing of the sick. So that is five of the six."
"Wow." Katie and Elizabeth both said.
"Guess I didn't realize that." Gran said.
"Even with a priest in the family." Father Mark said. "It is rare to be that involved, especially given Jack's and my age difference. You would expect me to do one or two for him and maybe more for his children. It just occurred to me while we were sitting here. I have been fortunate to be a major part of Jack's faith journey and his life for a long time. It is especially rare these days as most people don't come from big families any more.
I mean it is much more common to see two or three kids, then it is five, six or more. Granted, you are starting to see those large families again amongst some of those that are going back to the true teachings of the church and those that have seen the reality of the current culture."
"Guess I never thought about it like that." Gran said. "You are right about the large families coming back to those that can afford it."
"Thank you, but I need to excuse myself for a few minutes." Father Mark said.
They watched him get up and head off toward the in gate where James and Marco were still off to the side. They could also see Nathan in the background.
Nathan had been warming up but brought Athena over to watch Jack run. He had hung back, but was where he could see. As Jack ran, Athena was pawing the ground and wanting to run. So when Nathan tried to turn her back to finish warming up and she wouldn't go, Marco walked over.
"How long did you warm up before coming over?" Marco asked.
"I went in two minutes after Jack.: Nathan said.
"Then she will be fine." Marco said. "She was like this with Laura too. Once she saw the competition field, she wanted to run."
"Okay." Nathan said.
As they waited, Athena continued to dance around just a bit. So Nathan tried to stay as far off to one side as possible. He was surprised when Father Mark walked up and grabbed Athena's halter. He petted her muzzle for a moment and cooed to her. She then stood stock still. Father Mark then turned to Nathan.
"How you feeling?" Father Mark asked.
"Pretty good." Nathan said. "I saw the lines that Doug and Jack took and had planned on something similar."
"Then if you feel comfortable." Father Mark said. "Let her have her head between the longer routes between jumps. And once you are lined up for ten, loosen the reins and let her do her job."
"Got it." Nathan said. "Are you going to watch from here?"
"If you want me to." Father Mark said.
"Thank you." Nathan said. "And maybe you can say a prayer that I don't embarrass your family."
Father Mark nodded and then patted Nathan's leg.
"Trust her and trust yourself." Father Mark said. "Do those two things and you will be fine. She loves the sand and competition."
Father Mark walked Athena up to the in gate and just as the competitor before Nathan was finishing, he moved to stand in front of Athena. He quietly cooed to the horse when then stomped her hoof and knickered to him. Father Mark then looked up at Nathan.
"Show her the third jump and figure out the angle of the glare." Father Mark said. "When you are ready, pat her neck and hold on."
Nathan nodded and Father Mark let go of Athena's halter. Nathan moved her into the ring and moved toward the third jump. He immediately saw what Jack and Father Mark had been talking about regarding the glare. He figured out his line from two to three and then moved to bring Athena up to a canter. Just before he lined up with the first jump, Nathan leaned over patted Athena's neck and said 'let's run'. It took everything for Nathan to hold her back from a full gallop.
He was able to turn her, but not as sharp as Jack had done with Bandit, but the speed between the jumps made up for it. Before Nathan had time to really think about things he was through four and heading for the triple combination at five. Athena flew through as if the were ground poles and not over three and half feet.
He cut in front of the tree and took six faster than he had measured, but he couldn't hold Athena back. He barely had time to turn her in the right direction and she was off again. He also felt like she knew the course because she didn't fight him in the least when he turned her. Nathan sailed through the jumps and further they went the faster Athena wanted to go. The minute they were lined up for the last jump, Nathan let the reins go completely slack and in a stride and half Athena was at a full gallop and took the last jump faster then Nathan had ever done. They crossed the finish timer and Nathan immediately turned to look at the screen.
The smile that broke across his face could be seen by everyone in the area. He had come across just one one hundredth of a second behind Jack, putting him firmly into second and bumping Doug to third who still had a second a half on fourth. Nathan moved to leave the field and could hear and feel the applause from the crowd. When he got to the gate. He saw Father Mark smiling.
