Chapter 136 – Jack's Run

The rider before Jack came off the course with a time fault. As he rode past, Jack stopped him.

"Good job." Jack said. "Keep your chin up."

"Thank you." The young rider mumbled.

Jack didn't say anything else, but clicked Bandit to move. Jack took Bandit to see a couple of jumps up close.

"Ladies and gentlemen." Todd announced. "We are in for a real treat with this next rider. Representing Coal Creek we have JP Thornton riding his own horse Bandit. JP is a previous winner of this event. That was two years ago, as he didn't ride last year. JP is also a regional and state young rider of the year. He was also a finalist for national young rider of the year. JP won the regional championship two years ago after taking seventeen blue ribbons that year."

Jack had tuned out the announcer while he was on the course, but he was sure that there were many accolades attached to his name. He took one hand and then patted Bandit before leaning forward and giving him a little squeeze. Bandit picked up his pace a little more and Jack lined up to the first jump. Jack gave Bandit his head and was just shy of a full gallop between the first two jumps. After the second jump, Jack made a sharp turn and cut between gates seven and ten to get to the third jump. Jack took it at a sharp angle, but cleared easily.

… … … …

Doug and Nathan were standing with some other riders watching Jack. Doug smiled when Jack cut the corner and made it.

"Hey he can't do that." Someone said.

Nathan looked around and saw that it was the Connor kid who had a beef with Jack earlier who was the one that said that. Nathan nudged Doug and Doug turned to where Nathan was looking.

"Why not?" Nathan challenged.

"He can't just ride willy nilly between jumps." Connor argued. "You are supposed to follow the plan laid out on the course sheet."

By this time, Jack had cleared the water at four and cut in sharp to get to five.

"He did it again." Another rider said standing with Connor.

"I cut in front between four and five." Doug said. "You have a problem with me?"

"I do." Connor said. "It is cheating. "You are supposed to ride the course as given on the sheet."

With that Connor stocked off with a couple of other riders. Doug looked at Nathan.

"He is going to be trouble." Doug said.

"Oh yeah." Nathan said. "That was the kid who ran into Jack at the end of walking the course and then blamed Jack. Apparently he is some hot shot who came from Southern California to ride up here in New York this year. He was whining about letting a bunch of wannabes ride because their daddies have money."

"Five bucks, he is a trust fund brat." Doug said.

"The worst kind." Nathan said.

They finished watching Jack jump and when they looked at the time, Doug and Nathan high-fived each other. Jack had stopped the time at seventy-four point ninety-eight. Jack was in first place and Doug was in second and he didn't mind one bit.

As the crowd applauded Jack, he had a smile on his face and searched out Elizabeth. When he found her, he gave her a dimpled smile before riding off.

"What a great ride." Todd announced. "However, there has been an inquiry lodged with the judges about his ride and fellow Coal Creek rider Doug Burke for going off course. We will have a short delay while the judges confer."

… … … …

Elizabeth frantically moved back over to Katie from the rail where she had been watching Jack.

"What did Jack and Doug do?" Elizabeth asked. "Why is there an inquiry?"

"Some spoiled brat is probably jealous." Lee said, coming over.

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.

Lee flipped to a new page in his notebook and quickly sketched the field.

"This isn't exact." Lee said. "But it will get the point across. See here how Jack cut through these two fences and most other people went around. The same with both Doug and Jack cutting in front here and most of the other riders going around."

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "So what about it?"

"When they are given a course sheet." Katie said. "It has lines and arrows showing how they are supposed to run the course. The way that the designer and officials measured the course for time."

"Now." Lee said. "Most riders will follow that line, maybe find a way to cut a corner to save a few strides here or there, but not vary off the beaten path very much so to speak."

"Jack and Doug both cut huge corners and shaved a lot of time." Katie said. "Like Lee said, some spoiled brat who doesn't know who Jack and Doug are is mad that they didn't think of it or just mad that they can't win."

"But even if they run clear." Elizabeth said. "There would be a jumpoff."

"No guarantee that they would win the jumpoff." Katie said.

"If Jack found a way to shave time on the regular course." Lee said. "I can guarantee he found some for the jump off course."

"So they are jealous." Elizabeth said.

"Basically." Lee said. "Like I said spoiled brats."

… … … …

While Lee, Elizabeth and Katie were talking, John got up and motioned for Andrew to follow him. They left the group and John walked like he was on a mission. He headed right to where he knew Cass, the coordinator of the show and Harold, the director of the charity would be. He didn't bother waiting until they weren't talking, but walked right in.

"Harold." John said. "We need to talk. Now."

"We are a little busy." Harold said.

"I said now!" John said with an authoritative tone.

Harold and Cass looked at each other.

"Fine." John said. "I will say what I need to say and then me, my family and our money will be leaving permanently. We will also be taking the State Police and all the undercover security with us as I paid for them to be here."

Harold stood up and took a step toward John.

"No need to be hasty." Harold said.

"Then end this stupid inquiry." John said. "You and I both know it is because one of these spoiled brats is jealous of JP and Doug. I know and you both know that neither of them went off course. End this now or Thornton Thoroughbreds will pull their support from this charity. If I do that, I will also put out word that this charity will kowtow to spoil brats instead of following the rules laid out for a jumping event."

With that John turned on his heel and walked away.

"John." Harold called out. "Wait."

John turned around and stared at Harold.

"I can't just throw out the inquiry." Harold said. "It is in the judges hands."

"That is too bad." John said.

Without saying another word, John turned and left. Andrew shook his head and then turned to follow John. When John was gone, Harold turned to Cass.

"We can't lose the support of the Thorntons." Harold said. "This Connor kid who complained is just jealous. Neither Doug or Jack missed a gate. We need to make sure that this goes our way. We lose the Thorntons, this charity won't survive."

"I know." Cass said. "But this Connor kid's family has given a lot of money as well."

"But we both know that John Thornton has more influence." Harold said. "This Connor kid is from California, he doesn't have the power and influence here. He is jumping for the Knox Farm from Lake Placid. We both know that they aren't huge donors and only jump to keep their name out there, so people think that they have more money then they do. From my checking, this Connor kid came to live in Lake Placid because his mother's new husband doesn't want the kid around."

Cass let out a harsh breath.

"I will go talk to the judges." Cass sighed.

… … … …

When Jack got back to the trailer after cooling Bandit down he was fuming. Despite his feelings, Jack made sure that Bandit was settled with some water, secured to the trailer. Once he knew that Bandit had been taken care of, Jack started pacing back and forth between the trailer and where their chairs were set up. Jack was virtually stomping back and forth when Nathan, Doug and Marco arrived.

"I am going to check on the horses." Marco said softly.

Nathan nodded. Doug and Nathan were standing there trying to figure out what to do when Jack stocked up on them.

"Who was it?" Jack demanded. "Which of those spoiled little brats accused me of cheating! I want to know who it was."

"Calm down." Nathan said. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Jack pushed Nathan in the chest. That was when Doug grabbed Jack. Nathan had only stumbled back a step or two.

"John Parker." Doug snapped.

"LET GO OF ME." Jack yelled at Doug.

Doug had a good hold of Jack who was struggling to get loose, but Doug had longer arms and had them locked around Jack's middle.

"Douglas James." Jack ground out. "Let go of me right now."

"Not until you calm down." Doug said. "James is talking to the officials. You need to calm down. You didn't do anything wrong and it doesn't matter who said anything."

Jack stopped struggling, but he was still breathing heavily.

"Let me go." Jack said.

"Only if you continue to calm down." Doug said.

Doug released Jack. Jack immediately turned around and got in Doug's face.

"Who was it?" Jack demanded. "I know that you know. Tell me who it was!"

"It doesn't matter." Doug said.

He knew that Jack wasn't thinking straight and didn't want him going after the kid. When Doug wouldn't tell him, Jack started stocking back and forth again. Nathan went over to Doug.

"Are you alright?" Nathan asked.

"Yes." Doug said. "How about you?"

"I am fine." Nathan said. "He needs to calm down."

"I know." Doug said. "That is why I won't tell him who it was. He will go off half-cocked."

As Doug and Nathan were leaning against the trailer trying to figure out what to do, they saw Jack stop and look around and then turn around the trailer. Doug was quickly after Jack and caught up to him in a few strides.

"Don't do it." Doug said.

"I am going to find out who that little brat is." Jack said.

Doug grabbed Jack's arm, when Jack stopped Doug wrapped him in a bear hug and refused to let him go. Being a few inches taller, Doug picked up Jack and took him back to the trailer. Jack was struggling and yelling the entire time. Doug still had his arms around Jack when James appeared around the corner.

"JOHN PARKER THORNTON." James bellowed.

"What!?" Jack snapped.

Everyone else stopped and looked at James. Jack turned around and saw the look on his grandfather's face.

"First of all." James said. "You don't ever speak to me like that again."

"Sorry." Jack said, hanging his head.

"Second." James said. "Stop this little temper tantrum you are having. You are acting like the spoiled brats you claim to hate. Both John and I know that you didn't do anything wrong and have voiced our opposition to this inquiry."

"Great." Jack mumbled.

"What was that?" James asked.

"Nothing, Sir." Jack said.

"I thought so." James said. "Now are your horses settled?"

"Yes." Doug said.

"Who complained?" Jack asked.

"Does it make a difference?" James asked.

"No." Jack said. "I just want to know."

"As long as you promise to calm down and not do anything stupid." James said.

Jack nodded.

"The ones that filed the complaint were Connor Walker of Knox Farms and Oliver Kennedy of Sugar Creek Stables." James said.

"Is Kennedy any relation to Ryan?" Jack asked.

"I don't know." James said. "Apparently this Connor kid is the one that you had a run in with when you were walking the course."

Jack huffed twice and flexed his hand.

"I am ordering you to stay with in site until this is concluded." James said.

"Fine." Jack said. "I will be in the trailer."

Jack turned and went inside the trailer to have a drink and cool off, in more ways than one.

… … … …