Free Chance Meeting by Laura Moore

as a groom for the club and who was responsible for Charisma was waiting to take the reins from Ty. She would rub down the mare’s sweat-streaked body with a cloth, place a light cooler over her body, and walk her until it was time for Ty to ride again. In her hand was a bottle of cold water which she held out to Ty.
    “Thanks, Caitlin.” Ty smiled, exchanging her mare’s reins for the water bottle. After giving Charisma a final pat on her sleek neck, she stood beside Meghan, waiting to hear her instructor’s comments. Out in the show ring, another rider was already halfway through the jump course. Meghan and Ty watched, standing by the ring’s wooden railing as the rider negotiated the triple combination.
    “So, how’d it feel?”
    “Pretty good. I was maybe a little too hesitant over the water jump, since that was a problem at the last show. But she did fine today.”
    “Yeah, it didn’t cause her any worries. But I noticed she took a good long look at the wall over by the far rail.”
    “Yes.” Ty nodded in agreement. “I’m not sure why. But I remember there were some little fir trees planted at the base of the fence, whipping around in the wind. Maybe that startled her. But I gave her some extra leg, and she responded.” Ty paused for a moment, taking a slow sip of the cold water. Only two fences remained, and so far the rider had gone clean. Up to now, Ty had been the only one with no faults, but as her number had been called early in a class of twenty-three riders, she was anticipating a jump-off. Yes, that rider went clear, too.
    Ty turned to Meghan. “So what do you think I should do differently in the jump-off?” The abbreviated course for the jump-off had already been posted. Both Meghan and Ty had it memorized.
    “After watching your first round, the only thing I can tell you is that you’re going to have to dig a little bit deeper. If you feel Charisma’s responding well out there, see if you can eliminate a stride as you head from the chicken coop toward the brush jump. That corner to the triple combination might be cut just a little, too, as you head back toward the vertical. If you can keep her balanced and controlled, you’ll shave some time. But remember to pay attention to her rhythm. Don’t blow it by having Charisma charge the fences off-stride. You’ll end up all wobbly, like a badly thrown frisbee.” She gave Ty’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Other than that, Ty, just stay relaxed and focused, and Charisma will do fine for you.”
    Ty nodded, eyes directed on the ring, trying to envision a ride taking the jumps as Meghan suggested. She thought she could do it, but the corner from the chicken coop might be tricky. At the thought of chicken, Ty’s stomach growled. “You want something to eat, Meghan? Sam, Lizzie, and I are making another run to the concession stand. I’m going to grab a quick bite before the next round.”
    “Nothing to eat, but get me a can of Dew, okay?” she replied, digging out a crumpled dollar bill from the front pocket of her blue jeans. Meghan had witnessed Ty and Lizzie’s eating routine at shows too many times to be surprised that the girls were off to the concession stand for the third time in as many hours. They ate nonstop and indiscriminately. Amazingly, all the extra calories never had any effect on those two; they were just too active. Meghan envied their ability to burn calories at such a high rate, but at age thirty-five, she knew better than to think she could get away with it. “And tell Lizzie to hop on Rushmore again. By the time she’s through warming up, you should have finished your round, and I can watch her school him over some fences.”
    “Sure. I hope my class will be finished before hers starts. I miss watching her ride now that we’re competing in different events.”
    Meghan smiled at the wistful tone in Ty’s voice. The girls were so close, they might as well have been twins separated at birth. It hadn’t taken