Hot Potato (Shelby and Blue) - Alyssa Brugman [40]
When they first arrived at the barbecue Erin's father had handed her dad a light beer and the two of them wandered over to the corner of the arena, where all the eskies were stacked, to talk with Mr Crook.
Erin's dad was waving his hands in the air, explaining something – his beer sloshing away in the bottle – and then all three of them burst into laughter. Shelby hoped that her dad would find common ground with the others.
Clint sauntered over to join them. She bit her lip, but then Clint tipped his hat towards her. Clint was no dobber. Shelby's dad shook Clint's hand and they all talked together, relaxed and at ease with each other.
Shelby added a steak sandwich with onions to her uneaten salads and took the plate to her father.
'Thanks, honey!' He seemed genuinely pleased.
'Oy! Where's mine?' asked Clint.
'Hales!' Mr Crook called over to the other side of the arena, where Hayley was standing with Monica and Kim – two of the girls who rented the stables opposite the Crooks. 'Do you see this?' He pointed to Shelby. 'This is how a dutiful daughter behaves.'
Hayley poked her tongue out and then turned back to her chums.
Shelby blushed. She didn't want people to think she was a suck-up. Her dad ruffled the top of her head. 'Go and get something for yourself, honey.'
Over her father's shoulder she saw Tammy sashaying along the fence and in through the gate, followed by two friends. Shelby quickly turned around, hiding behind Miss Anita, who was talking with a group of parents. Shelby peeked over a tall lady's shoulder.
'Clint! There you are.' Tammy beamed. 'This is my extraordinary farrier. You saw how spirited Ajax was. Not everyone can handle him, but Clint is a genius,' she told her friends, and then she leaned forward and spoke to Clint out of the side of her mouth. 'Did you get the money I left for you?'
Clint crossed his arms. 'Eventually. You might want to put a weight on it next time, or you could pay me in person. A lot of my clients like to be there to talk about the health of their horse's hooves.'
Tammy waved her arm. 'I'm sure if there was a problem you'd ring me.'
Just then Miss Anita and her companions moved away, leaving Shelby face to face with Tammy. Shelby blushed furiously.
'Clint told me that Ajax kicked you. I'm really sorry that happened,' she said.
'That's OK,' Shelby mumbled.
'You know, Ajax is a real horse – not like those little ponies you're used to,' Tammy continued. 'I might suggest to Brenda that she leaves handling horses to people with more experience.' Tammy turned around and led her friends to the food table.
Shelby shook her head, glad at least that it was over. Clint arched an eyebrow at her, but he didn't say anything.
A few moments later Mrs Edel stood up on a crate and banged a caterer's size tomato sauce bottle with a big plastic spoon.
'If I could have your attention, I would like to begin the formal part of the afternoon.'
Shelby's dad glanced around, embarrassed, looking for a place to dump his plate and then escape, but the other three men insisted that he stay.
'After all, your family keeps a horse here too,' said Mr Crook.
'I suppose.' Shelby's dad shrugged and then helped himself to a second steak sandwich.
Lindsey's mum talked about how the drought had been affecting the pastures. She talked about the weed management plan for the next few months. She explained the new paperwork and procedures for insurance, and went over the rules about the driveway and float parking.
Shelby edged through the crowd to Lindsey and Erin, who were still at the mini jumping circuit. The two girls scooted over so that Shelby could fit on the end of the drum. Erin draped an arm around Lindsey's neck and rested her head on Shelby's shoulder. Shelby looked up to see Hayley staring at them, but Hayley quickly looked away.
'Boring!' Lindsey mumbled, rolling her eyes.
Shelby grimaced, but secretly she was interested in what Mrs