Chapter 134 – Pre-show Run In
Jack had stopped again to look around. Nathan heard the microphone for the public address system click on. As he was keeping an eye on Jack, he noticed a younger rider heading right for Jack. Before Nathan could step in, the younger rider ran right into Jack. Jack turned and glared at the young man.
"Get out of the way." The kid sneered.
"You are the one that wasn't paying attention." Jack said. "You are the one that ran into me and should apologize."
"Just a reminder that you have five minutes to clear the field." The public address announcer said.
Jack was glaring at the kid waiting for an apology when Nathan reached his side.
"I am not apologizing to some wannabe rider whose daddy is showing off that he has money." The kid said.
Nathan saw Jack flex his hand at his side, so he grabbed Jack and pulled him back.
"Walk away." Nathan said with gritted teeth.
Jack just looked at him, but Nathan glared at him, so Jack turned and started walking away.
"Yeah, you better run." The kid yelled.
Nathan turned to the kid and glared at him with a look as hard as steel.
"Shut your mouth." Nathan said. "You better learn some manners, you have no idea who you were talking to."
Just then an event official walked up.
"Connor is there a problem?" The official asked.
"This guy threatened me." Connor said.
"No, I didn't." Nathan said. "I told him that he needed to learn some manners after I told him to shut his mouth. He wasn't paying attention, ran into my friend and then started running his mouth. I had my friend walk away."
"Connor?" The official said.
"What?" Connor sneered. "I wouldn't have a problem if you wouldn't let any wannabe with a little money jump."
"Connor!" The official said sharply. "Go get ready."
Connor walked away. Once he was out of ear shot, the official turned to Nathan. He looked him up and down and saw the Coal Creek/Thornton Thoroughbreds logo.
"I am sorry." The official said. "He is a new jumper on the New York circuit this year. He previously jumped in Southern California."
"I don't care where he is from." Nathan said. "He needs to learn some manners before someone like Jack teaches him some the hard way."
Nathan didn't wait for the official to respond, but turned and stocked after Jack. He quickly pulled his phone from his pocket and sent a message to Doug. Nathan stopped and thought for a moment and then sent another message to Chris. Nathan then headed back to the trailer to wait until it was time for Doug to jump.
… … … …
Jack was so upset at what the kid said, that he knew that he needed to stop and calm down. So, Jack didn't go straight back to the trailer, but he went over to one of the shade trees and sat down. He took a couple of deep breaths and then leaned his head back against the tree so he could pray.
"Heavenly Father." Jack prayed. "Please help me. Help to calm me so that I can focus on the task at hand. Help me to know that You are with me, win or lose. Help me to shake off the words of those that don't know me. Be with Elizabeth and calm her heart. I know that she is still going through a lot, but I also know that You brought us together. Please help us navigate this next phase of our life. Help Elizabeth to know that she truly made the right choice and to give her peace about the wedding. Once again, be with me and my family as we go through all these changes. Please forgive me if I have not done as You have wanted of me. Help me to have peace about the situation with my parents, especially my mother. Please be with her, soften her heart and show her that the way that she has acted and has spoken to me and Elizabeth is not as You desire. Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful day and be with all of the riders here and keep them safe. Amen."
After Jack was done praying, he sat there for another second and took a few more deep breaths. When he was feeling more calm, he grabbed his clipboard and started his routine of going over things to get ready to ride.
… … … …
Nathan was surprised when he got back to the trailer and didn't see Jack. When he learned that he hadn't come back, Nathan was worried that something had happened.
"I think I might know where he is." Doug said.
"Let's go." Nathan said.
"Let Doug go get him." James said. "I want you to tell me more about what happened."
Nathan nodded and Doug went to get Jack. Nathan took a seat and explained to James and Marco what had happened. They nodded.
"Bound to happen." Marco said. "JP has been out of the circuit for over a year. Some new hotshot was bound to challenge him. He will be alright. I am sure that he just went somewhere quiet to clear his head. I trust Doug to bring him back. Let's get the horses saddled."
Nathan, James and Marco stood, just as Jack and Doug came around the corner of the trailer.
"Horses need to be saddled." Jack said.
"We were just heading there." James said. "Are you okay?"
"Nothing to worry about." Jack said. "I will shut that little brat up with my jumping."
James and Marco exchanged a look and then followed the boys to help with the horses. Both Marco and James knew that Jack wasn't alright, but they also both agreed that he was focused enough that they were going to let him ride. Even upset, he seemed better then had been in the past. James was wondering if Elizabeth has something to do with the new found peace in Jack.
… … … …
Once again everyone heard the microphone for the public address announcer come on.
"Please stand, remove your hats and face the northeast corner." The announcer said. "The American Legion Adirondack Post 70 of Saratoga Springs is going to present the colors for the national anthem."
People in the stands and those around the outside of the field stood and turned toward the color guard as they came onto the field. The four veterans came in all in step. One was carrying the American flag, one was carrying the New York state flag and the two on the outside carried rifles. As they stopped and presented the colors, the national anthem started playing over the loudspeaker.
Elizabeth stood between Lee and Katie as they listened to a beautiful playing of the national anthem. Elizabeth had heard the national anthem many times over the years, but there was something about listening to it while looking at the local American Legion color guard. The words took on new meaning for her given all that she had been through the last few weeks. She thought about what Jack had told her about thinking about joining the military, but chose not to. Elizabeth knew that she would be proud of him no matter what he did, but there was a part of her that didn't want him to join the military given the state of the world. She preferred to have Jack home safe every night. In that moment that the anthem ended, Elizabeth said a quick prayer for all the men and women who did choose to put their life on the line by joining the military and defending freedom.
Noticing the tears in Elizabeth's eyes, Katie put her hand on Elizabeth's arm.
"Are you okay?" Katie whispered.
Elizabeth looked at her and then noticed most everyone else had sat back down, so sat with Katie. Elizabeth wiped her eyes and then leaned over.
"Just thinking." Elizabeth said. "I guess I never really thought about all the men and women who defend our rights everyday."
Katie nodded in understanding.
"I understand that." Katie said. "My brother is a Marine stationed overseas. I am proud of him, but at the same time I worry about him."
"Thank you for understanding." Elizabeth said. "I have heard the national anthem many, many times over the years, but there was something about today where the words hit differently."
"I understand that as well." Katie said. "I am sure that it has something to do with everything that you have been through in the last few weeks."
"I think so." Elizabeth said. "It has also been an emotional rollercoaster the last couple of weeks. I think that everything that has happened, both good and bad, are really starting to sink in. I mean I am eighteen years old. In the last two weeks, I have gone from living at home with my parents pushing a not so nice guy on me to living in a luxury apartment in Manhattan and being engaged. I know that the engagement just happened, but it is still not all that real. I mean Jack and I haven't even been on a real date."
"I see where you are coming from." Katie said. "Can I share something with you about Chris and I?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"Chris and I eloped and got married on our second date." Katie said. "We had known each other for two weeks. That was twelve years ago. Like my grandmother used to say, when you know, you know. My grandparents were married the day that they met. My grandmother was a mail order bride for my grandfather who was living and working in the quarries in Northern New York/Vermont area. When they moved back to the Albany area, you wouldn't have known that they had only known each other just over a year. I never saw two people more in love and devoted to each other than my grandparents."
"Wow." Elizabeth said. "I am hearing more and more stories like that. I always thought you had to know someone for a while and date for sometime before getting engaged and married."
"I will admit." Katie said. "That it is better to know people before getting into a relationship with them, but I also believe that when you know, time doesn't matter."
Elizabeth nodded again and then noticed that there was a rider getting ready to start the course.
… … … …
Despite not being able to see the flag and color guard, Jack and his group stopped and faced where the flag would be. They stood there and listened to the national anthem play. If there had been other people around, they would have heard the beautiful blending of voices from Jack and Nathan. The only one who was surprised was Marco, but he stood still and was proud to hear the national anthem. Marco had heard them sing with others at the bonfire, but the blending of their two voices was so unique without the others, it was hard to not stop and listen. When the national anthem was done, Jack, Doug and Nathan went back to getting the horses ready. Marco wanted to say something to Jack and Nathan about their voices, but he chose to wait until a later time as he wanted Jack to focus.
… … … …
"I want to welcome everyone to the Saratoga Charity Classic." The announcer said. "I am Todd Kelly. I will be your announcer today. I just want to remind everyone that we have a different format this year. Instead of a straight speed class, we will have a jumpoff format. All riders with a clear round will come back for the jumpoff. Riders will still be placed by time and fewest faults with the fastest rider going last in the jumpoff."
As the first horse took the field, the announcer came back on.
"Let's welcome our first rider of twenty-seven onto the course." Todd said. "Kelly Knox representing Knox Farms of the Lake Placid area. She is riding Peanut owned by Knox Farms."
Most all the various conversations in the stands stopped as the people turned to watch the first of many riders. Elizabeth focused on the rider and horse. To her, Kelly appeared to be fairly young. She was on a beautiful paint horse. Elizabeth wished that she knew more about horses. She could tell the color of the horse, but wasn't always sure what the proper name was. She knew that she was going to have to learn, especially as Jack was set to take over both Coal Creek and Thornton Thoroughbreds.
As Elizabeth was watching Kelly ride, she noticed a couple people standing near what would be the fourth jump and when Kelly went over, they raised a flag.
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked. "Why did that man raise that flag?"
"He is there to watch if a horse lands in the water or touches the tape." Katie said. "He raised the flag to let the judges know that the rider did either touch the water or the tape. She will incur four faults and be out of the running for the jumpoff."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "So each mistake is four faults."
"Yes." Katie said. "Landing in the water or knocking a pole down are four faults. Also if a horse refuses to jump at a certain fence, they will also incur four faults. A second refusal usually means that the rider is eliminated at that point."
"Don't forget that a rider can also incur a time fault." Lee said.
"How does that work?" Elizabeth asked.
"Usually every half second over the set time is one fault." Lee said. "That can change depending on the level. I have seen it as low as a quarter second to a full second."
Elizabeth nodded and went back to watching. She watched Kelly finish with eight faults as she had knocked down a pole as well.
"Give Kelly a round of applause." Todd said. "She finishes the course with a time of seventy-six point thirty-eight with eight faults."
As they watched the next several riders, Elizabeth noted that both Lee and Gran were taking notes at different times. She also noticed that at least twice, Lee flipped to a new page and scribbled several notes. She noticed that Gran wrote at the beginning and then again at the end. She tried to see what they were doing without being intrusive. Finally, Elizabeth couldn't take it and had to ask. She really wanted to know more about what was going on around her. She was beginning to understand what was happening on the field, but she knew that there was still a lot that she needed to learn.
"Gran." Elizabeth said. "What are you writing there?"
"I am keeping track of what farms/stables are here." Gran said. "I am also keeping track of the time, so I can better gauge how Doug and JP ride."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Originally, I thought that all the riders would be local, but I don't think that Lake Placid and Syracuse would be considered local."
"No, you are right there." Gran said. "Because this charity supports a horse retirement center here in Saratoga, it draws people from all over the state. The other thing is that it is the weekend to show off your wealth. There are several dozen campsites with those luxury campers."
"Except that they call them mobile hotels." Katie quipped.
Elizabeth looked at Katie confused.
"These are million dollar custom campers." Katie said. "Most of these people bring a cook and servants as well."
"Oh." Elizabeth said. "That is why you guys said it was about showing off."
"A lot of what this weekend is about." Lee said. "Is seeing and being seen by others. Jack has never liked that part of the weekend. He likes to jump and thinks that the charity is important and that is why he wants to jump. Could he have gotten one of those high end campers and stayed on site? Yes, but that is not what Jack is about."
"I see that." Elizabeth said. "I wouldn't want to stay here when I can stay at the house. I would be afraid of doing something wrong or getting my picture taken."
"Very true." Gran said. "There are several local people that do stay here, but again it is about showing off. I think that if Charlotte would have had her way, she would have stayed on site just to show off. James knew that and refused to allow it."
Lee had rolled his eyes when Gran was talking about Charlotte, because he knew it was exactly how Charlotte thought. Gran flicked her finger and hit the back of Lee's shoulder. He ducked his head as he knew he pushed it with Gran.