Greener Pastures - Alyssa Brugman [48]
'You know about the surprise party, don't you?' Lindsey asked. 'It is Erin, you know, so brace yourself!'
'I don't think she's had time to organise anything too embarrassing,' Shelby said.
'You are coming back, aren't you?' Lindsey asked.
'Of course!'
'Good, because I'm going to keep this tee-shirt. You have to come and get it.' Then Lindsey hugged Shelby. 'Are you ready?'
Shelby nodded.
They went back out to the barbecue area. Mrs Crook was cleaning the metal plate with a spatula. She had made her special, limited edition potato salad, which she instructed Hayley to guard. Hayley handed Shelby a soft drink.
'How was your last ride?' Hayley asked.
'Good.' Shelby pulled a tissue out of her pocket and blew her nose.
'And Clint!' Hayley said. 'How good is that?'
Shelby took a swig of her drink.
'Remember ages ago your dream used to be to buy a horse and then do it up and sell it?' Hayley reminded her. 'Well, you've done it. You've sold your first one.'
Shelby's eyelids felt like sandpaper. 'But I love Blue. I love him so much.'
Hayley was quiet for a while and then she said, 'My very first pony was a black Shetland called Pompadour. When we sold him I cried so much. I made my mum drive back to the place and buy him back again, and then two weeks later we sold him again to the same people.'
Shelby smiled. 'Does it get easier?'
Hayley considered for a moment. 'Not easier, exactly, but you get used to it. Probably because you know from the beginning that you might sell them later, so you don't let yourself love them so completely.'
Mrs Crook started cooking the first of the sausages. Shelby was glad because she was starving.
Monica and Kim – the two girls who had the stables opposite Hayley – joined them. They had a present for Shelby. It was a beach towel with a picture of a horse on it.
Monica said, 'We feel guilty because we bought it on special.'
'That's OK. I didn't expect you to get me anything.'
Next Lydia arrived. She looked very clean and was wearing sparkly lip-gloss. Shelby introduced her to the others. 'Lydia is going to be working here now.'
'Are you bringing a pony?' Mrs Crook asked over the sizzle.
'No.' Lydia said. 'I don't have a horse right now.'
Erin came running from the direction of the stable block. She was carrying a big roll of butcher's paper.
'Wait, wait!' she said. 'You can't start anything yet. I have to hang up my sign.'
'Start what?' Shelby asked.
'You're not supposed to be here,' Erin said. 'Lindsey was supposed to distract you! Look the other way for a minute. Hayley, you help me.'
Shelby swivelled around so that she was facing the paddocks. She put her fingers in her ears, but she could still hear Erin barking directions and the crinkly sound of the paper unfurling. Then she heard Mrs Crook shriek with laughter.
She couldn't resist turning around.
Erin had stuck her sign up over the wet weather shed. It said, Shelby Shaw Memorial Party.
'I'm not dead, Erin!' Shelby protested.
'But this barbecue is in memory of you. Isn't that what memorial means?'
'Never mind,' Shelby said, hugging her friend. 'I love it!'
'Good, because I didn't have time to organise any other decorations.' She thrust a present at Shelby. 'I got you this.'
Shelby started to open it.
'I couldn't afford to buy you a whole new saddle so I just got the stirrups.'
They were beautiful, heavy silver stirrups with pink diamantes inlaid in the sides and white rubber grips. 'Thanks, Erin. They're gorgeous!'
Lindsey and Mrs Edel arrived with a cake in a white box. Shelby opened the lid.
'Is that strawberry shortcake?' she asked.
Lindsey nodded. 'Do you like that?'
'It's yum! Can we have it before sausages, do you think?'
'It's your party,' Mrs Edel said. She put her arm around Shelby and gave her a rough hug. 'I'm going to miss you! I hope Lydia is just as silly as you are.'
'I'm sillier, I can promise you that.' Lydia giggled.
Hayley handed out paper plates while Lindsey cut the cake into slices.
Shelby was about to bite into hers when she saw a police car crawling