said, surprised.
Misty giggled. "Can't say the same for your friend, though." Monica was all over that saddle as the horse trotted around the ring.
We watched as Biggie reined her horse to a stop and spoke briefly to Hamp, who nodded his head. I like to have swallowed my tongue when I saw what happened next. Hamp and Abner pulled a barricade into the pen and set it up across the riding path.
"She's going to jump," Misty said.
I wanted to cover my eyes but didn't want Misty to think I was a sissy. Biggie turned her horse and trotted to the end of the ring. She nudged him with her heels. The horse sped toward the barricade. My heart pounded as my grandmother lowered herself across the horse's neck and sailed over the barrier. Monica, straddling her horse on the sidelines, stared openmouthed while Biggie went around again.
Later, after the ride was over, Monica couldn't stop talking about it. "Miss Biggie, that was the awesomist thing I ever saw. Where'd you learn to do that?"
"On the farm where you live— when I was a girl." Biggie smiled at Monica.
"You reckon I could learn?"
"Maybe," Biggie said. "Maybe I'll get you and J.R. a horse and teach you myself."
Suddenly, we heard the pounding of hooves as Laura rode past us. She was a good distance away and never saw us. "My, oh my, she sits a horse well," Biggie said.
"Sure does. She's a natural." Abner looked admiringly at Laura as she galloped away.
"Do you think she's good for Rex?" Biggie asked.
"Yes'm, I do. She'll do just about anything to make him happy— anything but give up this camp, that is."
"And does that make Rex unhappy?"
"No, I don't think so. Of course, he's past caring about all the money being spent. That's left for the rest of us to worry about. All in all, though, she's a good kid. She's got some mighty peculiar ideas though."
"Such as?"
"Such as all this New Agey stuff she's gone off her head about. Bunch of bull, if you was to ask me, which nobody does, of course."
Just then, Hamp whistled from the barn. He waved his arms at Abner. "Phone call!" he shouted.
"Be back pronto," Abner said, and hobbled off toward the barn. Biggie took a seat on a concrete bench, and we joined her and watched as Hamp strolled toward us.
Monica sighed. "That is one good-looking man," she said. "Even if he is old."
Hamp leaned against the fence and looked down at Biggie. "Abner'll be out in a minute," he said. "Meantime, I've got a proposition for you, Miss Biggie."
Biggie cocked her head at him.
"Well, ma'am, you're a damn fine rider. I guess you know that."
Biggie nodded. She's never been one for modesty.
"I was wondering if you'd be willing to come out once a week and give the girls lessons. Misty and I have been doing it, but we're not in your class— not even close."
"You're gonna teach them to jump?" Monica wasn't sure about that.
"Eventually. Right now, we're just teaching them to sit a horse, trot, canter— that sort of thing. The main thing Grace wants them to do is care for the horses, but Laura says they should have some fun if they're going to have to do all the work."
"I agree," Biggie said. "Besides, it's good exercise. About my coming, I'm not sure. I'll have to think about it."
"Well, do that." Hamp turned to go. "We, Laura and I, we'd sure be happy if you could though."
"Does Laura know you've asked me?" Biggie wanted to know.
"Not yet." He smiled. "But I can assure you, she'll be delighted with the idea."
Biggie stood up. "We'd better get back to town."
As we approached the house, we saw the camp girls. Each one had a large trash bag and was picking up limbs and twigs blown down by the storm. Grace sat on a bench watching.
"Good morning," she called out when she saw us. "You're out bright and early."
Biggie looked at her watch. "Not so early," she said, looking toward the girls.
Grace saw the look. "You probably think it's wrong for us to make the girls work like this. Right?"
"Well…" Biggie said.
"It's part of the program, you see. Being productive brings with it a feeling of self-esteem that no amount of meaningless exercise can do. The growth process that takes place here has nothing to do with diet, really, although we do abide by certain nutritional protocols. What we offer them is a mind-body-spirit cleansing that is designed