Page 78 of Grounded
Camille laughed. “Saddle sore? I thought that was something from a Western.”
“No, actually, it’s very real, I can tell you.” Annie said, ready to change the subject. “Anyway, Nutmeg is all saddled up and ready for you. There’s a whole pasture you can ride in.”
Camille took off her sunglasses. “Annie, Jake said you two went to dinner on Saturday. I am so sorry you are having such a hard time right now. Jake is so full of compassion for those who are down and out. That’s what I love about him.”
The insinuation that Jake’s attention to Annie was out of pity cut like a knife, just as Camille intended. Annie fought the urge to lash back. She would not stoop to this woman’s level, would not let her see that she had cut her to the quick.
In her moment of hesitation, Camille’s eyes softened. “I really like you, Annie. I want us to be good friends. And when we get to New York, I’m hoping you’ll show us around, help us get settled.”
I’m not going back to New York,she thought. And in that moment, Annie knew it was true. She wasn’t going back to live. Visit often, yes, she would do that, but she was not going back. Even if it meant dealing with her own ghosts and grief-filled memories, she would do whatever it took to stay in the place she loved. Even if it meant facing her own mistakes and missed opportunities every day of her life, she was not going back.
“Thanks, Camille. I would love to tell you where to go … in New York,” Annie said, mumbling the last part of the sentence. “Nutmeg is over here.”
Annie led the way to the horse, which looked docile and innocent next to the fence. Annie tightened the saddle like Woody taught her, using her frustration to pull it tight.
Astride Nutmeg, Camille looked every bit the champion rider she claimed to be. Her back was straight; she held her arms out, holding the reins with enough give in them for the horse to feel some control, and her head pointed forward. Annie could envision her in the riding garb, boots and top hat, and she imagined Camille would make quite an impression on the judges.
“This walking horse gait is nice, but I would love to get her in a trot,” Camille called from the other side of the barn.
Annie barely knew how to get on a horse, much less change gaits. She watched Camille go first one way around the lot, and then the other way.
“She hits a trot, but I can’t get her to stay there,” Camille said, speaking to no one in particular.
From the other side of the lot, she called to Annie: “Open the gate and let me take her in the pasture. I’ll try her canter.”
“She usually spooks when the gate is opened,” Annie called back. It was fair warning, but Camille’s response was to kick the horse up in a canter.
“I guess she doesn’t care,” Annie said to herself. Annie unlatched the gate and debated whether to gently open it, which wouldn’t startle Nutmeg. Then she thought of Camille’s veiled warning, her deception with Jake over the New York hotel, and her size zero jeans. She unlatched the gate from outside the fence and pushed it wide open, allowing it to hit the fence with a bang.
Camille was slowing Nutmeg back into a walk when the gate hit. In one instant, Nutmeg’s ears went back and her eyes grew large. She lurched forward, and Camille was unprepared for the horse’s sudden energy. The motion threw Camille back almost flat on the saddle, loosening her boots from the stirrups. When she managed to upright herself, her legs were pointed straight out to the sides of the horse. Her left boot hit the gatepost as Nutmeg flew through the opening, the impact enough to throw her from the horse. Annie’s heart flew up in her throat as Camille fell in a crumpled heap next to the post.
“Dear God, please,” she prayed as she ran to her. “Let her be okay.”
Annie fell on her knees beside Cam, who was moving and stretching out her legs. “Are you all right?” Annie asked, trying to check out Camille’s position to see if anything was broken.
“Don’t touch me!” Camille spat the words with venom. “You did that on purpose.”
Annie reached to help her but Camille pushed Annie’s hands away. “Cam, please, you might be hurt,” Annie said.
Camille dusted off her boots and jeans before she pushed herself up. “I’m fine, but thanks to you, I’ve ruined a pair of thousand dollar boots.” Blond hair bounced as Annie chased her to the pasture gate.
“Please, let me drive you to Jake’s.”
“You stay away from me. And stay away from Jake!” Camille was in Jake’s car and had the door shut before Annie could say anything else.
“I’m sorry!” she said through the closed door.
Camille did not look at her when she put the car in reverse and spurted gravel from under the tires.
Annie stood, her hands on her hips, and watched Camille drive off. “I guess that means we won’t be friends,” Annie said out loud. “I’ll sure miss showing you and Jake around New York!” she yelled.
Her grandmother poked her head out the door. “What’s wrong?!” she asked.
Annie threw up her hands. “Camille fell off Nutmeg. I pushed the gate open, and it spooked the horse.”
“Good heavens. Is she hurt?”
“She was well enough to get in her car and drive back to the Wilders’.”
