Chapter 10

Saturday.

Ebony woke in a fug. Well, maybe she woke up. Maybe she was dead? Her eyes struggled against the sunlight coming through the window. She tried lifting her head and groaned, sinking back. Damn champagne. Hangover City. She hauled her arm out from under her blankets and looked at her watch. 11:26. Oh god.

Struggling upright and holding her head, Ebony blinked ferociously trying to collect herself. On the floor in a heap was the black dress and one of her black heels. The silver bracelet was broken.

Suddenly it all came flooding back; the shopping, Mira's gold dress, the champagne, Marc the barman, the annoying laugh, and the kiss. And the vomit. There wasn't much after that... a few glasses more of champagne; drunk far too quickly, a cry on Harrison's shoulder, a few Tequila shots... She could briefly remember thinking "it's ok - he's gay" when Harrison put her to bed...

Oh god.

A noise downstairs made he think of the horses, and struggling to free her legs from the twisted blankets deposited Spud unceremoniously on the floor. He gave her a wounded look, and yawned heartily, wandering off downstairs. Ebony followed clutching her head.

The barn was quiet. The stalls were empty, as was 'Astral Traveller' upon closer inspection. For once, Dale's chamomile tea was just what the doctor ordered, and Ebony swiped absent-mindedly at a beetroot stain on the counter top with a sponge while going over the night's events in her head.

It shouldn't really have come as a shock to her. I mean, it's not as if it was the first time a guy had favoured Mira over her. It didn't matter how often it happened, she still managed to convince herself each time that this guy was different. She was so stupid. You'd think you'd get used to it after all this time. It's not like Mira ever meant it. She never actually purposely chased the men that Ebony was attracted to. She didn't have to: They found her, eventually. Then it was always the same. Choosing between Mira and Ebony was like choosing between a fine wine and a cup of tea. The tea was comforting and friendly enough, but no match for the rich, sensual, exotic 'nectar of the gods'. She just never measured up, and she always ended up 'the good mate'. The one that was 'like a sister'. The 'bridesmaid' at Mira's wedding.

The kettle snapped off and Ebony poured her tea, and wound a pencil into her hair to keep it out of her face. It felt like spiderwebs. Her mouth tasted like vomit, and she burnt her mouth trying to wash away the taste with hot tea. The chamomile felt good, and soon her stomach settled, and her headache became a dull moan, rather than a shriek.

Hearing Spud bark outside she slid aside the roller door and squinted into the bright midday sun. Her old tracksuit pants felt clammy, and she had slipped on a pair of gumboots. Over on the flat, Cathy was putting Boston over some low gymnastic jumps, and Dale was picking up any fallen rails. Boston looked calm and supple, and Cathy's riding seemed not to be suffering after her night out.

"Ah - she awakens!" cried Dale, waving her arms dramatically, her bangles jingling and glinting in the sun. "Darling the flies are awful out here - come and spray on some citronella, eucalyptus and lavendula." She whipped out a spray bottle and spritzed Ebony liberally. Unfortunately Ebony chose that moment to protest and was given a throat full of tangy, breath-taking citronella for her trouble. Spluttering and coughing, she took another huge gulp of hot tea, which made her eyes water and her nose run. She wiped her nose on her sleeve. Cathy was reining Boston in and walking over to the pair.

"I just gave him a stretch before tomorrow Eb, I hope that's ok...? He seems fit and ready to go. You... um... came in pretty late last night, and um... I... you... so I lunged Buddy. He's in the paddock... " Cathy tailed off, sensing she may have over-stepped the mark.

Ebony shook her head. "No, fine. I mean, thanks. That's great. Thanks. Bad night. Bad seafood canapes and mixed my drinks a bit... you know. The heat! What's with this heat?!" Ebony squinted at the sky.

"There's going to be a storm. A big one I think. The ants are out, and my third eye has been tingling all morning," said Dale pressing a thumb to her forehead between her eyes, squeezing them shut. "Oh yes, something wicked this way comes... not good..." she murmured, wandering off to the barn. Ebony rolled her eyes and smiled reassuringly at Cathy, taking a big deep breath. Dale was a bit behind the times on this occasion.

* * * * * *

Sunday dawned cool and wet. There had been a cracking storm during the night - as Dale had foretold - and although the lightning and thunder had passed, the heavy thick clouds had settled in a sludgy biliousness over the showground. The air was cooler, although still had a thickness to is that was almost gelatinous. Ebony double-checked Buddy's purple studs and girth tension before sitting on an up-turned bucket in the horse float to put on her gaiters. It was raining in a smeary way, so that everything felt wet and slippery. Buddy poked his huge head into the back of the float and nibbled the toe of her boot thoughtfully, making Ebony snigger and flick at his drippy forelock. She was lying low. Not really avoiding anyone per se, just avoiding explanations, the questioning looks: "Oh, he's with her, I thought...? I mean they were hanging out so much together, one could only assume... But then there she is, and there they are..."

Yuk. She was not ok with it. She was definitely NOT ok with it. But there was no use making a fuss. No one had actually set out to intentionally hurt her, it's just the way things turned out. As usual. Nope, the best course of action was to do what she always did. Pretend nothing happened.

Leading Buddy out to the practise arena, it was obvious that Mira's mind was occupied on other things. Her horse pulled maniacally on his bit, foaming around his fluffy sheepskin noseband and tipputting sideways around the ring. He swished his tail angrily at the rain and clenched his jaw in irritation. Mira looked stonily ahead, battling for the colt's attention.

Paddy whistled low as Ebony wandered up, trying to arrange her fingers inside clammy gloves. "He's not been a happy boyo that one!" he commented. "And neither is he by the looks" the Irishman said, indicating Mira's father, standing commandingly under a golf umbrella with a stop watch and a program. "She's just had a near thing, screaming around those fences like the devil. She'll be for the jump-off, but I dare say the colt may keep up the speed, but not the accuracy. He's fair upset now, and this weather wont be clearing up today."

Ebony sucked on the side of her cheek and said nothing. Ryan appeared at the arena edge and beckoned Mira up to him. The two chatted intensely for a few seconds, and the tension in Mira's shoulders eased a little as she laughed at something he was saying. He clapped her gently on the thigh and smiled up at her with his eyes crinkling. Ebony turned away quickly and watched a rider completing the course.

"That was a good idea getting your other gaiters and gloves," said Paddy "damn this water making things so greasy. It's like an ice pond out there," he nodded at the puddles splashing across the arena in mirrored sheets. "Mind you watch your corners, take him careful now" he said patting Buddy affectionately on the neck. But Ebony wasn't listening. She was thinking about winning, about 3 months away in Germany, without seeing Ryan or Mira or anyone, and filling all the corners of her mind with horses and training. When she heard her name called, she crammed her helmet harder on her head, and sprang clumsily into her wet, slippery saddle. A quick warm up lap and a few small jumps told her that Buddy was ready, his blue eye blinking against the drops of rain. Cantering in a wide circle, Ebony finally was called into the ring and given the bell.

The first jump was a nice inviting rustic fence, with nothing scary or demanding. A nice introduction to the course. It lead to a wide sweeping right turn to a triple bar, which again, though solid, was not threatening. Ebony briefly registered the gasps and comments as Buddy's crazy sideways jumping style turned heads but she pushed it, and everything else, back into her head, and focused firmly on the course. A double of oxers, and a stile flew by under Buddy's drumming hooves, and at a sharp left bend, Ebony felt the big gelding slide momentarily before he found footing and made two very clever strides into a blue and white bounce. She patted him quickly on the shoulder and said 'good boy' as he flicked his ears back to the sound. A heavily decorated flower-bed style jump was a rainbow blur in contrast to the greying mist as Buddy pounded along, popping carefully over it and making another left turn. Ebony slowed him carefully and made a wide turn to the final combination. Buddy would need a balanced approach to the treble of an upright and two oxers. The big horse gathered and stretched, slightly miscalculating the take-off for the final element, but recovering quickly after pecking the ground, and cruising into the finish line.

Paddy was clapping firmly as she crossed the finish. Mira was holding a water-bottle and smiling encouragingly at Ebony. "That was nice, Eb. You did the right thing taking that last turn wide - hopefully you won't be too slow. Then it'll just be us and that lady on the palomino in the jump-off!" Mira smiled. Ebony forced herself to smile back. She was being nice, and she probably had no idea how Ebony felt anyway. "Thanks." Ebony smiled. "Actually, I'm gonna quickly go to the bathroom before the jump off - can you hold him for me?" she said, slipping off and handing the reins to Paddy. Paddy took the reins and walked Buddy around Mira's truck while Mira loosened his girth by two holes.

As it turned out, the palomino had over-reached and cut his coronet in the first round, so there was only Mira and Ebony to jump-off for first place. Ebony's mouth was sticky and she was clammy with rain and sweat as she kept Buddy warm for the round. Mira's father barked like a drill-sergeant at his daughter and her plunging, foaming mount, who seemed unable to settle with the rain. Ebony felt a twinge of sympathy for Mira as people watched her being grilled over the warm up jumps, about timing, and strides, and building a quality canter. The pressure sure was on her. A flash caught Ebony's eye as she noticed Dale had driven in, and was maneuvering the station wagon to a place where she could spectate from the warmth of the front seat. Ebony waved happily and turned to watch Mira's round. The colt was powerful, but Paddy had been right about his accuracy, and now that the ground had been reduced to slush, the going was even more treacherous. The flower bed had a particularly big puddle in front of it, from having had many a horse slide spookily into a halt of refusal in front. The colt reared to a halt in front of it, and Mira only managed to clumsily clear it at the second try. But the colt was very upset now. He bolted the final corner, crashing through the first element of the treble before remembering himself and making an almighty lunge for the final spreads. He cleared them both and bucked twice before carting Mira across the finish line. Mira, however, looked happy.

"Paddy - did you see him? He was so brave! He stuffed up part A of the treble, but he listened and sorted himself out for the last part. He really tried, even though he was confused and upset. I'm so stoked with that!" She smiled, rubbing the young horse's arching neck. Mira's father was not so happy.

"Why the hell did you lay off him into that flower-bed? I told you; you need open strides. You need to be committed. And that treble was just laziness on his part, and poor handling on yours. We're going to have to do some hard, hard work before Pan-pacs..."

Ebony shook her head. No time for that now. Time to win. Collecting Buddy, she circled once again. The gelding felt ready. He felt forward and confident. The bell sounded, and Ebony turned for the first fence.

The rustic flew by, as did the triple bar. A slight slip in the pool of water that was now the turn was forgotten quickly, as the gelding thundered into the stile. The flower beds again proved no problem, but Ebony felt her heart skip a beat as the gelding slipped again in the mud. There was no way she was going to ease up now though. She was focused on Germany. Coming around the final turn, she felt elated. The gelding was on-song. He felt strong and joyful. He tucked his powerful quarters under him and pounded eagerly into the treble. A few strides out he slipped. Just a back leg, but trying to regain his stride, he slid again. Ebony felt him falter and tugged the reins. It was too quick: She had to pull him out or they were going to crash. Germany or no, it was not worth Buddy's safety. A sharp tug on the slippery reins proved useless, as the wet leather slid through wet gloves, at the same time as hoof slid again on muddy turf. The big gelding's black wither rose to meet Ebony's chest, winding her. There was a massive crack, and red and white poles split and scattered. The gelding's huge hooves floundered for grip, his shoulders pitching suddenly.

Ebony saw red and white. Heard thumping. Felt a tug of reins from her scorching hands. felt the huge black horse flailing wildly beside her saw him pitch upwards and fall back again.

Saw a silver bracelet. Gold sandals and champagne bubbles. Smelled wet grass and mud and sweat. Saw dark, grey clouds massing above her.

Then darkness.