wondering why Max would start having doubts about someone who’s worked for him for so long. All I could think is that maybe Max is worried that the diAngelos will try to get Red fired or something. You never know, with them. If they’ve been complaining about Red, too, and then Max went away, leaving him in charge, they would probably throw a fit.”
“The more I think about it, the more I think maybe Max
is
beginning to look down on Red,” Stevie said. “All those complaints from Veronica could be getting to him finally. He doesn’t have time to go check up on Red, and Red never defends himself to Max.”
“And Max is too preoccupied with his wedding to have a talk with Red,” Carole added.
“At least we know that we’ve done the right thing by writing to the Equestrian Center,” Lisa said with a sigh.
Carole looked thoughtful. “You know, it’s funny. Here we thought we were doing something to help make Red’s life with Veronica easier. Now it turns outthat this may be a critically important thing to restore Red’s reputation with Max.”
On that somber note they packed up their trash and headed in. As they passed behind the stables, they caught a glimpse of a solitary rider working in the schooling ring. The red hair revealed her identity. “Red must have given up his lunch hour to teach Deborah,” Lisa guessed, touched by the generosity of Red’s wedding present.
“Let’s go see how she’s doing,” Carole suggested.
Moving slowly so as not to disturb the lesson, the three of them walked over and leaned against the rail of the ring. Red had Deborah riding Delilah, the quiet palomino that a number of Max’s students had learned on. She was trotting down the long side of the ring, practicing her posting.
“That’s right: up, down, up, down. Think about the rhythm of the trot,” Red said. His voice was full of patience and encouragement.
When Deborah turned the corner, she saw The Saddle Club and flashed them a smile. Red waved a hello, then went back to concentrating on his pupil. “Good job. You’ve almost got it,” he said.
“I can’t believe she’s trotting by herself already,” said Carole. “I think this is only her second lesson.”
“If anyone can bring her along in time for the wedding, it’s Red,” Lisa said.
“I only wish Max could be here to see this,” Stevie said, frowning.
“I know. It’s too bad this is the one thing we can’t tell him. If Max knew how Red is giving up his personal time to work with Deborah, and if he saw what a great teacher Red is, I’m sure he wouldn’t have any more doubts,” Carole remarked.
They watched as Red had Deborah ride through the center of the ring, changing directions—and diagonals. One of the basic things riders had to learn was diagonals. When Deborah posted, she had to make sure she rose in the saddle as Delilah’s outside foreleg was coming forward. If she rose as Delilah’s inside foreleg was coming forward, she would be on the wrong diagonal. Every time they switched direction in the ring, Deborah had to sit a beat, so that she’d be on the right diagonal.
When Deborah had a problem or forgot something, Red spoke to her gently. Deborah looked thrilled to be trotting. She had a huge smile on her face. It was a look The Saddle Club knew well: It came from clipping along on a horse that you liked and feeling that the two of you could do anything.
When Deborah pulled up at the end of the lesson, Stevie, Lisa, and Carole walked into the ring.
“So, you’re in on the big secret, huh?” Red asked.
“We are, and we think it’s the best wedding present imaginable,” Carole replied.
Red smiled, then turned to Delilah to take her in.
“Oh, Red, let me do that. I’m sure you have other jobs to do. I’ll cool her off and bring her in,” Deborah protested.
Red shook his head. “Horses are my job, Deborah. Besides, you’ve got to get back to D.C. to
your
job.” Before she could argue, he led Delilah out
“The more I think about it, the more I think maybe Max
is
beginning to look down on Red,” Stevie said. “All those complaints from Veronica could be getting to him finally. He doesn’t have time to go check up on Red, and Red never defends himself to Max.”
“And Max is too preoccupied with his wedding to have a talk with Red,” Carole added.
“At least we know that we’ve done the right thing by writing to the Equestrian Center,” Lisa said with a sigh.
Carole looked thoughtful. “You know, it’s funny. Here we thought we were doing something to help make Red’s life with Veronica easier. Now it turns outthat this may be a critically important thing to restore Red’s reputation with Max.”
On that somber note they packed up their trash and headed in. As they passed behind the stables, they caught a glimpse of a solitary rider working in the schooling ring. The red hair revealed her identity. “Red must have given up his lunch hour to teach Deborah,” Lisa guessed, touched by the generosity of Red’s wedding present.
“Let’s go see how she’s doing,” Carole suggested.
Moving slowly so as not to disturb the lesson, the three of them walked over and leaned against the rail of the ring. Red had Deborah riding Delilah, the quiet palomino that a number of Max’s students had learned on. She was trotting down the long side of the ring, practicing her posting.
“That’s right: up, down, up, down. Think about the rhythm of the trot,” Red said. His voice was full of patience and encouragement.
When Deborah turned the corner, she saw The Saddle Club and flashed them a smile. Red waved a hello, then went back to concentrating on his pupil. “Good job. You’ve almost got it,” he said.
“I can’t believe she’s trotting by herself already,” said Carole. “I think this is only her second lesson.”
“If anyone can bring her along in time for the wedding, it’s Red,” Lisa said.
“I only wish Max could be here to see this,” Stevie said, frowning.
“I know. It’s too bad this is the one thing we can’t tell him. If Max knew how Red is giving up his personal time to work with Deborah, and if he saw what a great teacher Red is, I’m sure he wouldn’t have any more doubts,” Carole remarked.
They watched as Red had Deborah ride through the center of the ring, changing directions—and diagonals. One of the basic things riders had to learn was diagonals. When Deborah posted, she had to make sure she rose in the saddle as Delilah’s outside foreleg was coming forward. If she rose as Delilah’s inside foreleg was coming forward, she would be on the wrong diagonal. Every time they switched direction in the ring, Deborah had to sit a beat, so that she’d be on the right diagonal.
When Deborah had a problem or forgot something, Red spoke to her gently. Deborah looked thrilled to be trotting. She had a huge smile on her face. It was a look The Saddle Club knew well: It came from clipping along on a horse that you liked and feeling that the two of you could do anything.
When Deborah pulled up at the end of the lesson, Stevie, Lisa, and Carole walked into the ring.
“So, you’re in on the big secret, huh?” Red asked.
“We are, and we think it’s the best wedding present imaginable,” Carole replied.
Red smiled, then turned to Delilah to take her in.
“Oh, Red, let me do that. I’m sure you have other jobs to do. I’ll cool her off and bring her in,” Deborah protested.
Red shook his head. “Horses are my job, Deborah. Besides, you’ve got to get back to D.C. to
your
job.” Before she could argue, he led Delilah out
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