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Message-ID: <29475asstr$985281001@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: "The Star" <extar@hotmail.com>
Subject: {ASSM} Audry 05 - Heart of a Champion
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 12:10:01 -0500
Path: assm.asstr-mirror.org!not-for-mail
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Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories
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<1st attachment, "Audry05.txt" begin>

						Audry
				Chapter 5 - Heart of a Champion
				A Tale of Romance by The Star*



Audry's boobs hurt.

She loved our son, Zack, and enjoyed breast-feeding him--she almost got off 
just from his sucking.  The feeling of content and the sheer sensuousness of 
the whole thing was incredible.

But taking a horse over the jumps made those same milk machines bounce--even 
in her special 'nursing sports bra'.

That hurt.


The whole thing was a confusing mess of trade-offs.  Audry wanted children.  
Actually, she wanted a bunch of children.  She also wanted to go to the 
equestrian nationals this year.  And she wanted another baby before the next 
Olympics.

She was determined to defend her gold medal in the show jumping competition. 
  And she wanted one in dressage, too.

Problem was, she couldn't train properly with her boobs hurting so much.  A 
baby took her out of the saddle for much of a year, anyway.  So, if she had 
another, she'd be out of competition two out of the three non-Olympic years, 
and hurting with floppy boobs when the games came again.

Mom tried to comfort her.

"Audry, you can practice dressage, without that problem.  You can even do it 
pregnant." Mom grinned.  "I've done it."

"I know you're right.  But Shannon needs work on the jumps, too.  He's as 
rusty as I am..."

"Well, your best option is to wean Zack.  He's old enough to start drinking 
from a baby cup, anyway."

"Oh, he does.  I just enjoy breast feeding too much," Audry admitted with a 
grin.

"Me too.  But I think you need to do it, if you want to compete in both 
events at Nationals."


That night, I got 'seconds' from her breasts after Zack was asleep in his 
crib.  Then I got my chimes rung, when Audry did to my prick what I'd done 
to her nipples.  She licked around it, and swirled her tongue around its 
head while her lips contained it.

When she felt she had my full attention, she slithered up my body--brushing 
her enlarged breasts against me as she went--until she could claim the 
passionate kiss she deserved.

THEN she mounted me, slowly sliding her hot, wet sleeve over my eager cock.  
I had to calculate the value of seven squared and eight squared a couple of 
times to keep from blowing my load on the spot.

Fortunately, Audry was on a short fuze, too.  She just lay on me for a bit.  
But soon after she started moving up and down, she started to get frantic.  
Offering me a breast to suck, she began bucking.  Once I had a hand on the 
offering, to keep it in my mouth so I could do justice to her tasty nipple, 
she went ballistic.  Her pussy vibrated.  Then the muscles in her stomach 
convulsed.  Her body arched and she shuddered.

This was more than enough to set me off and I was spraying her cervix 
throughout.

Audry collapsed on me, my rapidly-wilting cock still snug in her.

Languidly caressing her back and flanks, I murmured how much I loved 
her--and how she'd once again blown my mind with her incredible lovemaking.

She kissed me with love and passion.


After a bit, she moved off me, clinging to my side, with a knee over my 
thigh, her head on my shoulder.

She explained her problem; the pain of jumping with the milk-filled boobs, 
and the bras that were available.

We discussed having more children.

"Audry, we can wait.  We can wait until you're done competing, then have all 
you want."

"But Rob, I can compete for years.  And I don't want to wait that long for 
kids.  It wouldn't be fair to Zack, if his next oldest brother or sister is 
five or six years younger."

"I dunno, love.  You can't jump if you're pregnant anyway."

"Yes I can, if I'm not too far along.  I was jumping most of the way through 
the second trimester with Zack..."

"That's right.  I forgot."

"Anyway, Rob, can't you get one of your engineer friends from OSU to design 
a bra that would contain these monsters and support them when I jump?"

"I suppose I could call Frank.  Write down your sizes and dimensions for me. 
  I'll call him in the morning."

That earned me a kiss that started out gratitude and rapidly turned to 
passion.  Before I knew it, I was sunk deeply into Audry again, moving in 
time with her and enjoying the marvelous feelings my wife's body gives me.

My orgasm took me by surprise and I was barely able to hang on long enough 
to get Audry off, too.

"Sorry, love.  That one surprised me."

"It's OK, darling.  I'm glad that loose old thing still excites you that 
much."

"It isn't loose.  And it excites me a lot.  And so does the rest of you... 
If it weren't that I know it's uncomfortable, I'd say, keep your boobs that 
size.  I love them!"

"Chauvinist pig!" she said, as she shoved a nipple in my mouth for a little 
attention.


Except for the first couple of months after she came back from the hospital 
with Zack, Audry hadn't used any birth control.

We think we lucked out again that night.  Anyway, she was pregnant.
Regardless, she was determined to compete in Nationals that year.


I called my friend, Frank, who was a fraternity brother and a top-notch 
structural engineer, though a very junior member of a big firm.  When we'd 
talked a bit and I convinced him that I was serious about our need, he 
became enthusiastic about the idea of a 'sports bra' for women with large 
breasts in proportion to the rest of them--whether they were big from 
nursing or nature.
Most 'sports bras' just flatten everything against the ribs and hold it 
there.  If a woman was nursing, or had really big breasts, this didn't work, 
and a lot of flesh would bounce up and down.  Skin just isn't made to take 
that kind of force--it was painful and caused boobs to droop as the skin 
stretched.  Both were undesirable results.

Frank looked at several possibilities that were OK from an engineering 
standpoint, but not acceptable for women to wear.

He looked into materials and construction methods.  And he came up with a 
hand-made prototype, made to Audry's dimensions.

It was much better than anything she'd tried, but still allowed too much 
'flopping'.

The hardest part, for me, was allowing Frank to handle Audry's boobs.  I 
knew he was devoted to his wife and baby daughter, but it was still hard to 
see another man touch my wife.  There was no other way, though, that he 
could see where he succeeded and what still needed to be improved.

Frank's second try was a great improvement.  Audry loved it!  She took the 
full course of jumps in our training ring without a problem.  Her horse, 
Shannon, seemed to get into it as well.  It had been over a year since he'd 
carried such an enthusiastic rider.


To his embarrassment, she gave Frank a big kiss, when she dismounted.  
Frank's wife just looked on in amusement.  She knew Audry was expressing 
appreciation and not coming on to her husband.

In fact, I was right behind her, pumping Frank's hand and slapping his back.
(With a little help from mom's family, we found a garment maker in New York 
who bought the patent and paid Frank a substantial royalty besides.  Audry 
got a free lifetime supply of bras, underwear and blouses out of the deal.)


Without pain, Audry entered into her training program with fire and passion. 
  Her horse caught it from his rider and they soon were pushing Samarkand 
and me hard.

Mom quietly smiled to herself, as she coached us both from her perch on the 
top rail of the practice rings.


Things on the ranch were peaceful.  No rustlers or poachers.  No one trying 
to mess with our entrance documents in competitions.  Nothing.  We liked it! 
  All of us liked the life we were leading and reveled in our ability to 
make a good living from the land.  That year, we made a _very_ good living.  
Even mom's family was impressed, when she told them what we'd cleared.  (Mom 
had gotten pissed off at a cousin's continual harping on what her husband 
made and how hard it must be for poor mom...)

Nationals were in Denver.  We'd go in a motorhome and horse trailer, rather 
than fly.


We took two motorhomes.  Audry, Zack, grandma and me in one; our parents in 
the other.  Dad drove the big pickup that pulled the horse trailer with 
Samarkand and Shannon and all our tack.

Highway 20, to Ontario, Oregon, is a good road and pretty straight.  We 
stopped in Baker to let the horses stretch and to muck out the trailer.  And 
stayed overnight at a ranch just out of Ontario, where the horses had a 
corral to themselves and could roll and generally cavort, to get over the 
day's travel.  It was the same across Utah, and into Wyoming.

Denver welcomed us at the fairgrounds with good facilities and helpful 
volunteers to answer all our questions and help with the little problems 
that always arise.  That Audry and I were favorites in the events didn't 
hurt.

Even mom was impressed.  (Dad once told me that mom considered our lifestyle 
to be close to abject poverty, compared to her childhood.  She never 
complained and was, really, happy with her lot.  But it took a lot to 
impress her.)

By now, Audry was just finishing the first trimester of this pregnancy.  
Morning sickness was never a problem with her and she'd merely felt a bit 
'strange' a few mornings.  The main thing, for her, was to win national 
championships in both arena events--I could have the 3-day...


We worked the horses as soon as we arrived and were set up.  They needed to 
stretch out and to get serious about things.  Experienced campaigners, the 
crowds and bustle didn't bother them much.

To protect them, dad and Uncle Rick slept in their stalls.  Rick complained 
that Shannon was snorting and stomping all night... Seems a mare two stalls 
down was just coming into season.  (Rick said he'd let Shannon cover her--as 
soon as her owner paid the stud fee.)  By morning, the mare's condition was 
obvious and she was moved to another section of the facility.

After a day to find our way around and practice, the dressage event started. 
  Sam had taken the trip well and was as strong as ever, so I entered him in 
the arena events, besides the 3-day.

To her delight, and my chagrin--Samarkand just would not get his head into 
it!--Audry won and I placed second.  The following day, she and Shannon did 
the same thing to us in the jumping event.

I'd given Sam a talking--to about paying attention.  The damn horse is so 
big and so strong, he sort of 'rubber-necks' like a tourist just when I need 
him to be paying attention.  This makes him a big hit with the crowd, but 
causes the judges take off those tenths of points that cost us victories.

At least Audry is spectacular in bed after she wins.

Most horses can't do the 3-day after doing the individual events, so I had a 
whole new set of opponents there.

The first day is dressage.  Sam and I won it handily, with more points ahead 
than I'd expected.  The second day is the killer--speed and endurance.  My 
big horse gobbled up the course, though he hadn't had the work at that 
altitude we'd have liked.  Still, the nearest horse was almost 20 seconds 
behind and hadn't been close to us in dressage.

Firmly in command, we entered the jumping day.  Sam was pleased with 
himself, almost prancing into the arena when we were announced--while other 
horses were pretty droopy after yesterday's test.

As we had often before, we sailed over the jumps, making two clean rounds 
and running away from the competition.


Afterwards, Audry and I had to pose in our 'pinks' for news and magazine 
pictures, and then, in our motorhome, submit to a _Sports Illustrated_ 
interview.  The last was a pleasure, though it was, we found, hard work.  
Our sport needed all the publicity it could get.  Ideally, we'd start 
gaining large, paying crowds at our events.  Audry and I were happy to do 
our part.

Finding that Audry was pregnant, the interviewer asked if she thought she'd 
be able to defend her titles next year.

"Unless something awful happens, I fully intend to!" she declared.

Her pregnancy and intent to defend next year anyway made the rounds of the 
horse world overnight.


~~  * * * * *  ~~


Just as spring was thinking about rescuing us from winter's cold, teasing us 
with warm breezes on an occasional afternoon, Audry delivered our daughter, 
Moira.

It had been a strenuous delivery, Audry's hips being a bit narrow.  But both 
came through the process like champions.  Moira demonstrated that she shared 
her great-grandmother's lust for life, and her mother's determination.  From 
me, she got size and, later, fairly broad shoulders for a girl.

Three days later, Audry was practicing dressage with Shannon, and after 
another four days, they took a few low jumps.

Audry discovered that her butt was fine.  And the new bras kept the boobs 
from flying around--she could do this!  She confided this to mom and me, 
while a huge grin threatened to split her face permanently.


The night she took the jumps, she was so excited, she was horny.  Still 
uncomfortable with vaginal intercourse, she insisted I get in the back door. 
  We'd done that a few times, just for the novelty.

Greasing up the pole with a little KY, I shoved it in, with a steady push.  
She was tighter and hotter than anything I'd experienced!

Reaching around her, I caressed a breast with one hand and her vaginal mound 
with the other.

"OH, ROBBY!" she screamed.  "Right THERE!"

Then her body convulsed and I sprayed my load into her.  I just can't take 
it when she comes.


She collapsed with me on top of her.

In moments, she tried to roll out from under me, so I moved off of her.  
Audry rolled just far enough to take me in her arms and kiss me thoroughly.

"Thanks, darling.  I needed that."  A gamin grin.  "And I suspect you did 
too.  It's been too long."

I smiled back at her beloved face and gently traced the outline of her lips 
with a finger.  "Honey, you're worth the wait," I said, softly, just before 
kissing the corner of her mouth.

Audry smiled.  "I'll bet you say that to all the girls."

"Only to the ones I make love with."

Audry had had her wild years.  But I'd never had another woman.  And she 
knew it.

She just held me tight, until I fell asleep.


When I awoke, she was still holding me; one arm under my back, the other 
across my chest, with a leg atop mine.  Her head was on my chest and those 
marvelous breasts were pressed against my chest and side.

This one was all woman, in a really incredible package.


Determined to compete this year, Audry spent a couple of hours every day on 
Shannon.  Mostly they worked dressage, but there was a half-hour of jumps 
daily.  Mom kept a close eye on things, both to keep them from getting into 
bad habits, and to make sure Audry didn't overdo it.

Shannon seemed to thrive on the work and attention.

Samarkand, my big horse, loved hard work.  The more the better.  He was such 
a brute, he could do the speed and endurance routine two days in a row, if I 
asked him to.  For Sam, fun was a 30-mile trail ride into the high 
country... half of it at a canter.

We tried that, a couple of weeks after Audry was back in the saddle.  I took 
little Zack, my son, along.  He could sit the small mare I'd given him, 
though he couldn't mount or dismount by himself.  A lot of the time, though, 
he just sat in front of me on 'Big Sam'.

Audry rode along with us for an hour, then turned back.  Moira wasn't big 
enough to go along yet, and Audry was breast-feeding...

Mom and dad were with us, though, making it a small family holiday.

Zack had a great time.  He ran around the meadow we camped in on his stubby 
child's legs, chasing butterflies.  He tried to catch minnows in the little 
stream with his hands.  He watched in wonder as dad lit the fire and started 
cooking our supper.

He wanted to know why the horses had to eat grass.  Why couldn't they have 
fruit loops, and mashed potatoes, and good food, like we had?

When he went to sleep, he slept the deep sleep of the innocent--while his 
dad and grandparents looked around at the familiar scene with wonder--having 
seen it anew, through the child's eyes.


As a result of intensive lobbying, the Nationals that year were in Spokane.  
That was a good drive from the ranch, but not hard to do in a day.

Again, we rented two motorhomes and pulled the horse trailer with the big 
pickup.

The event organizers in Spokane were very good to us, almost embarrassing us 
with their hospitality.  Of course, Audry and I were favorites again.
And, once again, we did really well.  This time I won the jumping--Sam and I 
had been working harder at it than Audry had been able to.  She and Shannon 
ate our lunch in dressage, as usual.

I had some competition in the 3-day.  A few really good horsemen decided 
that, if they wanted to make the Olympic team, 3-day was the event to do it 
in.  At the end of the dressage stage, Sam and I were in second place.  And 
the horse that had beaten us was, I knew, an exceptional jumper.

We needed to dominate in the speed and endurance stage.

Mom suggested I keep Sam in hand, to keep his head in it.  For the first few 
miles, I did.  He didn't spend his energy 'sightseeing', as he likes to do 
and, when I felt him get into it, I turned him loose.  He knew how far he 
had to go and he wanted to get there!  He set a blistering pace, finishing 
almost five minutes faster than the second place horse--which was not the 
horse that had beaten us in the first stage.

As always, mom's coaching had been crucial.

In the jumping event, we went around clean.  Not in the fastest time, but 
right in there.  With the lead we'd made in the second stage, we were once 
again the national champions.

I was getting almost embarrassed by our success.  Sure, I'm a good rider.  
In fact, I'm an _outstanding_ rider.  But with Sam for a mount, I couldn't 
miss, as long as I made him pay attention.  My only concern was that the 
oldest of Sam's colts would be coming of age soon.

We'd even bred a few for ourselves.  One born this past spring might be 
Sam's replacement as my mount in a few more years.  But neither Sam nor I 
were anywhere near ready to retire from competition.


Audry was disappointed with her showing in the jumping competition.  She 
finished third, after me and a rider from Georgia.  She'd almost been 
fourth, but the horse from Florida hit a rail and lost a point, giving Audry 
third.
A couple of weeks after we returned to the ranch, she asked me if I'd mind 
if she didn't have a baby that year.  She wanted to concentrate and prepare 
for the Olympics.

I had to laugh, even when I knew I shouldn't.  She was so serious about it.  
Like, I would grant her a big favor and not make her have another baby for a 
couple of years...

"Audry, honey, I'm sorry I laughed.  It's just that... it's your body, baby. 
  I love you.  And I love our kids.  I'm looking forward to having a couple 
more, when you're ready to have them.  But, honey, the timing is entirely up 
to you."
A thought occurred to me.  "You don't HAVE to have more, if you'd rather 
not..."

Audry just grinned, and slugged me in the shoulder.  "Of course I want more. 
  Having your babies is what I'm for.  And you make the process so 
_interesting_..."

I enveloped her in a huge hug.  We were on the same page.  We loved.

(For the "Zero Population Growth" crowd, let me point out that we are not 
city folk living in an apartment, or house in the suburbs.  We live on a 
ranch that has been a family operation for a century now.  Audry and I were 
only children, though essentially raised together.  We needed children, if 
one or two were to keep the ranch in the family after us.

(But more important, we _wanted_ children.  We really love our time with the 
two we have so far, working and playing with them and molding their 
attitudes.

(Little Zach is already taking riding seriously and is developing a caring 
attitude towards his sister, Moira.  I think that's because Audry and I both 
have told him several times that he will have to help her and keep her from 
harm when she starts walking all over the place.  Give kids responsibility 
and expect them to achieve and be responsible, and they'll grow up with a 
good work ethic.)


So Audry would take a couple of years to concentrate on the horses and 
raising the two children we had.  That was surely fine with me.

Aunt Elin, Audry's mom, took over the 'day school' part of the child 
rearing.  A gentle lady, she was very good at it.  (She'd been our teacher, 
until the new road was built that allowed Audry and me to attend public 
school.)  Both kids adored her.  She taught them to count and the 
alphabet--and amazing detail about the simple things around us.  When he was 
four, Zach started to read--and never stopped.  Moira wasn't far behind him.

Grandma spent as much time with them as she could, usually in the evenings.  
She taught them songs (not always fit for children so young), and games, and 
the secrets of her special chocolate chip cookies.  Grandma believed the 
function of grandparents was to spoil grandkids.  Great-grandkids got 
spoiled double!

My parents got their share of time with the precocious little brats, too, 
teaching them about the horses and how to ride and care for them properly.  
But they learned in a natural way, as a part of our family heritage.  It was 
something serious, yet fun.


					~~  * * * * *  ~~


That spring, Moira was still an infant, though weaned. I felt a need to see 
some city lights, take my best girl dancing, and buy her some new party 
clothes.  We discussed it, and decided that we'd take the kids, and grandma 
(who wanted to get her ashes hauled--and had a gentleman friend in Portland 
she wanted to see).  Mom and dad would come along, too.  Rick and Elin would 
stay behind to make sure everything was OK at home, and supervise Gerry and 
the other two hands.

At the last minute, Rick decided they'd go, too.  Gerry was competent and 
had been with us for years.


In the past, we'd always rented a motorhome to get to competitions if they 
were close enough to drive to.  This year, dad decided he wanted his 
own--and that we could afford it.  He came home from Eugene with a beautiful 
33-foot coach that was elegant and comfortable.  So when we all wanted to go 
to Portland, that's how we traveled.  We had reservations in the Red Lion 
and would rent a couple of cars while we were there.  But that coach was 
sure a plush way to get there.

Audry appreciated the big bed in back, where she could put the kids down for 
their naps without fuss.

We weren't in any great hurry, so we left mid-morning and took our time 
crossing the Cascades.  It's always pretty country.  I enjoy watching the 
scenery change from 'high desert' to 'valley'.  The trees change from pine 
to fir, and grow much closer together.  The underbrush is much more 
prolific--becoming like a jungle in places.  Out of the mountains, farms and 
woods of oak and fir surround you.  Of course, the valley gets more than 
three times as much annual rainfall as we do.

It's an easy trip on US 20, then up I-5.  It was still light when we reached 
Portland.  We'd promised to take Zach to the zoo.  He didn't understand that 
it would have to be tomorrow...

We had two small suites, side by side.  Our parents shared one, and we had 
the other, with the kids.  With the luggage in our rooms, we were ready to 
see about a fancy restaurant dinner.  Grandma called her friend and arranged 
to meet him the next day.  Tonight she would baby-sit--and sleep in the 
sitting room of our suite.

Dinner was in the 'fancy' restaurant in the hotel.  The food was very good 
and the ambiance of the place nice.  Our ladies had dressed up for the 
occasion, in cocktail dresses, hair up, and makeup.  They didn't get the 
chance to do that very often--nor we to see them that way.  I think dad and 
Uncle Rick really enjoyed the way they looked.  I know I did!

Audry is a beautiful woman.  Dressed up and made up, she's breathtaking.  
I'd almost forgotten just how gorgeous she can be.

Western men have a reputation for reticence.  Mostly justified.  But I made 
a point of telling her how lucky I felt, being the one she went home with.
Mom and Aunt Elin aren't dogs, either.  For that matter, grandma is a foxy 
lady, with a figure a lot of teens would kill for.


After dinner, grandma took the kids back to our suite, to put them to bed.  
The rest of us went out on the town.

We found a nightclub we liked and decided we'd stay a while.  They couldn't 
give us a table for six, so Audry and I had a tiny table across the dance 
floor from our folks.

I thought I knew everything about her, but Audry surprised me by demanding 
that I dance with her.  We dance, but ballroom stuff.  This was disco!

"Come on, Rob.  You can do this.  Just move with the music."

When Audry asks, what can I do?  I tried.

Audry moved with the music, all right.  ALL of Audry moved.  She was shaking 
it pretty good.  In fact, a lot of guys in the place were watching her more 
than they were their own partners.  For sure, I was watching her.

When the set ended, Audry laughed and collapsed against me.  After a big 
kiss, she took my hand and held me in place.

The next set was slow dancing and Audry wanted to reward me for being such a 
good sport, by plastering her elegant, curvy shape against me.

I enjoyed it so much, the old cock sprang right up against her belly.  Audry 
thought that was really funny and rubbed against me as much as she could.
Soon we sat back down, for a breather--a chance for me to get myself under 
control.

Audry barely had time to sample her drink, when a guy stopped to ask if 
she'd dance with him.  He looked OK, so Audry looked at me, a question on 
her face.  I just shrugged.  I really didn't want to do another set of the 
disco dancing right then.

The guy was big, and good-looking.  He had a rakish look about him, as 
though he just didn't give a damn.

When the set was over, Audry came back to our table.  Obviously, the guy 
wanted her to dance the slow dances with him, too.  Plopping herself into 
her chair, she thanked him for the dance, then turned to me.

A bit later, after we'd danced again, he came over just as a slow dance set 
was starting.  This time, Audry said, "Thanks, but I'll sit this one out."  
When he'd returned to the bar, Audry said, "He's coming on too strong for 
me.  A dance is one thing.  But he's looking to score--it won't be on me."

We danced with our parents and each other's parents.  And I held Audry in my 
arms a time or two.

Audry's admirer tried again.  Audry thought, 'what the hell' and danced with 
him another set.  She also told him she was a very married mother of two 
children.

About midnight, we left, to return to our hotel.  (We're used to rising 
early.  That means bed early, too.)


Shortly after we returned to our suite from breakfast, grandma announced 
that there was some guy on the phone, asking for Audry.

Audry had a very short conversation, ending with, "Don't ever call me 
again!"
It was the guy from the nightclub.  He'd somehow followed us and found out 
our suite number.

While Audry and grandma got the kids ready for the expedition to the zoo, I 
went next door, to tell dad and Uncle Rick what had happened.

Mom asked, "Do you have the guy's name?"

"Yeah.  'James."

"Nothing more?"

"Nope."

"OK.  We'll all keep an eye out for him.  I think Audry probably took care 
of it this morning, though."

"Thanks.  I hope so."

Portland's zoo is a good one.  Moira was too small to really enjoy it.  But 
my day with Zach is one I'll cherish.  He and I walked hand in hand.  Every 
new and strange animal he saw fascinated him.  When we arrived at the area 
of the hippopotamus, an animal was just taking a leak.  Zach was used to 
seeing this with the horses, so it wasn't any big deal.  Except that the 
hippo kept on... and *on*.  When he finally finished, Zach, eyes huge, said, 
"WOW!"

And down a bit, while looking at the zebras--Zach wondering how it would be 
to ride one--I spotted a giraffe, through a break in the screening foliage.  
Putting Zach on a bench, so he could see, I pointed it out.  Zach was bright 
enough to understand that the animal was VERY tall.  He was enchanted.  And 
I was thrilled to be able to share it with him.

WHAT A DAY!  We even rode the zoo train, over to the rose gardens, where we 
looked at the great variety of roses, in their first blooms, and enjoyed the 
view over the city, with Mt. Hood majestic in the background.

Every dad needs days like that with his sons.  It makes having them 
worthwhile.


Arriving back at the hotel, Audry was accosted in the lobby by her admirer.  
Rick, dad and I surrounded him and suggested, in the strongest possible way, 
that his attentions were unwelcome and that continuing them would result in 
something getting broken--like his legs and arms.  Mom summoned hotel 
security, who got identification information, then hustled him off.

The guy's name was James Richards.  He had a Portland address, in a modest 
apartment complex.  The hotel didn't know anything about him.  Their 
security staff did check with the police.  He'd had a couple of minor 
incidents--women claimed he'd harassed them.  No arrests or convictions.

Grandma took off to meet her friend.  If she missed our departure, she'd 
make her own way back to the ranch.  Don't worry about her.

Dad and Uncle Rick wanted to visit their stockbroker, to review their 
portfolio in detail and plot strategy for the next year.  This was an annual 
thing with them and they thought our trip was an ideal opportunity to kill 
two birds with one stone.  Besides, they'd end up at Paddy's Pub, where 
they'd drink a lot more than they should, with the broker.

The ladies were going shopping.  The huge Lloyd Center shopping mall was 
right by the hotel.  They'd start there.  Then they'd take the trolley 
downtown, for raids on Meier & Frank and Nordstrom's.

Guess who was left to watch the kids?


It was OK, really.  Zach was happy watching cartoons and Moira just wanted 
to be held... and fed on schedule.  I spent a pleasant morning playing with 
my daughter, and answering Zach's questions as best I could.  After lunch, 
they both went down for naps.

And the women returned.

With bundles and bags.

Chattering as fast as they could go.

Dad and Rick returned about a half-hour later.  And Rick and Elin went out 
right away--Elin wanted some new wallpaper and other things for her house 
and insisted that she wouldn't buy anything like that without Rick's 
approval.
When the kids woke up, we took them to a park, where they could swing and 
slide and climb and be kids.  We appreciated that they were used to an 
active life and wouldn't enjoy shopping or visiting museums.

That evening, all three ladies dressed up for us, each showing off a new 
party dress.  Damn, they're a spectacular bunch!

Aunt Elin and Uncle Rick would stay in the hotel and care for the kids.  
They'd order in a fancy room service dinner and have their own party.  Elin 
wasn't really into the nightclub scene, anyway--or Rick, either, if you get 
right down to it.  The kids were a convenient excuse to do what they really 
wanted to, anyway.

After considerable discussion, we settled on a cabaret restaurant that was 
highly recommended by the hotel concierge.

We agreed that the place lived up to its reputation.  The food was 
excellent, as was the ambiance.  The floorshow was a delight.  And the band 
was easy to dance to.

The only fly in the ointment was Audry's admirer, James.

Who asked her to dance, as soon as the band started.

I stood and grabbed him by the necktie.  "Listen, buster.  I told you before 
that you're making a nuisance of yourself.  If I see you again, around my 
wife, I will make you wish you'd never set eyes on any of us.  Do you 
understand what I'm telling you?"

"Hey, buddy!" I was NOT his buddy! "I just asked the lady to dance.  That's 
no big deal."

"It is a big deal.  Find some other lady.  Now!"

Dad quietly strolled to the bar, and, motioning the bartender over, said, 
"That guy," pointing out James, "has been stalking my daughter-in-law for a 
couple of days.  If you want to avoid a scene, I'd really suggest you get 
him out of your place."

The bartender nodded.  "Thanks.  I'll take care of it."

In moments, a pair of large guys escorted James out the door.


After a very pleasant couple of hours, we decided to try another club the 
hotel had suggested.  They were right.  It was a nice place and our ladies 
did us proud, in their new dresses.

But there was James, again asking Audry for a dance.

This time, dad and I grabbed him and hustled him out the door.  Once 
outside, I proceeded to punch his lights out.

When he was on the ground, bruised, but not unconscious, I said, "I told 
you, asshole! Stay away from my wife.  She isn't interested.  And we are 
very attentive to what she wants.  Next time, you're dog meat."

At the door, I told the doorman that we'd been having trouble with the guy.  
Please keep him out of the club while we were there?  Wide eyed, he said he 
would.


In the morning, we took the kids to a super playground, where there were all 
kinds of games and activities for kids of all ages.  The whole family went, 
our parents feeling that it was a good 'grandparent fix' for them, watching 
the kids playing with such great glee in the new environment.

After lunch in the hotel, the grandparents seemed to want a nap as much as 
the kids.  Rick and Elin would stay in our suite, to be there if a kid woke 
up.  Audry and I had a bit of shopping of our own to take care of.

There was a saddle shop a couple miles from the hotel that I wanted to 
visit.  I wasn't quite comfortable with the roping saddle I used around the 
ranch.  And Audry and I both wanted to look at new English rigs.  The ones 
we had were getting pretty worn.

The staff in the shop were professional saddlemakers.  They understood at 
once my problem with my saddle, without even seeing it.  In a half-hour, 
they helped me select the saddle I still ride, in perfect comfort.

Audry bought a new western saddle, too, as well as a saddle for a child.  We 
only had one little saddle, but would soon need one for Moira.

And we both bought new English rigs, for the upcoming Nationals and 
Olympics.
It was a hoot!  The staff--excellent tack and saddle people--hadn't figured 
out who we were.  When the light turned on, and they realized that we were 
national and Olympic champion riders, they fell all over themselves.  In 
fact, they offered to supply all the tack the ranch wanted, if they could 
use us in their advertising.

Audry and I looked at each other.  Why not?  We shook hands on the deal.  
They'd ship our new saddles and equipment UPS.  And they'd expect dad and 
Uncle Rick to come see them, too.

I was kind enough to warn them about mom.  She's VERY particular about her 
equipment--and ours.  They thanked me, but smugly allowed that they expected 
to meet the highest standards and were sure she would be satisfied with 
their work.


That afternoon, grandma came dragging in.  "I'm not as young as I used to 
be," she lamented.  "He just flat-out wore me out." A pause.  A big grin.  
"But he invited me back--real soon!"

Since she was there and wanted a bit of rest, grandma was our babysitter.  
The rest of us would have one more night to party, before we returned home.
Our ladies really turned it on.  They wore new dresses that exposed a lot of 
very interesting skin--even Aunt Elin, who is really spectacular when she 
wants to show it off.

In return, we took them to a very elegant restaurant, atop one of the 
buildings on the hills overlooking the city.  Spectacular view--with the sun 
setting over the lights of the darkened city below, Mt. Hood catching its 
last rays.  Spectacular ladies, who loved us very much, and who enjoyed 
putting on a bit of a show, to stroke our egos.

 From the restaurant, we moved to a hotel downtown where, we were assured, 
the dancing was excellent.

All was as advertised.  We had a great time, in a really nice lounge.

Until James showed up.

We had no idea how he found us, but we were really tired of him.  Audry 
looked like she'd bitten into something rotten when she saw him.  At least, 
this time, he didn't come to the table, to ask her to dance.

But his eyes tracked her like radar, spoiling our evening.

Dad asked the waitress to send the bouncer over to see us.  And explained to 
him what we'd been through with the guy.  The bouncer said he couldn't do 
anything, until James approached us, or did something.  Dad said, "Fine.  
We'll leave, and not spend any more money here!"

When James showed up at the next place we visited, the manager was more 
accommodating--after dad slipped him a $50.  James was hustled out and we 
finished our evening unbothered.


In the morning, we headed home.  I commented that it was too bad that James 
guy had spoiled the trip for us.  While mom and Aunt Elin chuckled, Audry 
informed me that it was nice to know that she was still so exciting, that, 
after two children, she could attract a stalker.

Uncle Rick decided that the women had enough fun.  "I see that.  But it's 
scary, and I'm glad we're leaving Portland."

Grandma agreed, "That guy gave me the creeps.  There's something wrong with 
him."

Our mood brightened, as we crested the Cascades, into our sunny high 
country.


~~  * * * * *  ~~


Mom and dad were really impressed with our new tack.  As I expected, dad 
liked my new roping saddle--Uncle Rick wanted to steal it!--while mom was 
rapturous over the English saddles we'd bought.

When we told them they were free, in return for advertising, Uncle Rick 
ordered one just like mine, by phone that very day.


About a week after our vacation, I came back to the ranch from some work on 
the fences, to find Audry white-faced and grandma grim.

"What's with you two?" I asked.

"James called Audry," grandma said.

"That's not good, but what's the problem?"

"He said awful things, Rob," Audry choked out.  "He told me what he wants to 
do with me--to me."

"OK, baby," I said.  "I'll take care of it.  For now, let's tell all our 
friends we're letting our answering machines screen our calls.  If it's 
someone you know, go ahead and answer.  If not, let the answering machine 
take the call.  You're a tough lady.  Give him enough rope to hang himself."

Grandma nodded.  Audry, too, a bit slower.

I visited Bend, stopping to see the sheriff, who had played on the high 
school football team with me, though he was a couple of years older.  I 
explained the problem and told him I might need some law-enforcement help.  
He knew us well--in fact, he'd had a little letch for Audry himself, at one 
time.  So he was receptive.

When James called next, his message was vile.  He described in great detail 
the things he wanted to do to her--and her to do to him.  As phone sex, I 
guess it would have been OK.  But Audry was not a willing audience.

The next day we had more of the same.  I had a block against that number put 
on our line.  Two days later, another call, this time from a pay phone in 
Portland.

And the next day, a call from Bend!

I called the sheriff.  The call was from a motel but James had checked out a 
half-hour before the deputy got there.

We suspected--no, we knew--James was on his way to the ranch, to see Audry.
We moved Audry and the kids to Uncle Rick's house, that being the most 
secluded and furthest from the road into the ranch headquarters.  Dad, Rick 
and I, along with Gerry, our foreman, took high-powered rifles, to stake out 
the high ground around our homes.

We all carried food and bedding, in case we had to stay overnight.  And we 
had small radios to talk to each other and our women.  Also, we carried 
night vision scopes we'd bought cheap from a neighbor, whose kids played 
with them for a week, then set them aside as boring.

I fully expected James, in his arrogance and obsession with my wife, to come 
driving right up to the house, demanding a big, romantic welcome.  It didn't 
happen that way.  Instead, sometime after one in the morning, my radio woke 
me.  Someone was trying to sneak in by walking slowly along the fence that 
bordered our ranch road.  Whoever it was did not use a flashlight, but 
seemed to be feeling his way along the fenceline.

Our property was clearly posted, with "No Trespassing. No Hunting" signs 
everywhere--including on the driveway entrance.  The county road was a good 
half-mile from the houses, too.  So this guy knew he wasn't welcome.  Of 
course, his stealthy approach confirmed that.

We watched him through our night vision scopes.  I also checked carefully to 
make sure he wasn't a decoy.  He was alone.

When he got to a hundred yards of the big house, we started to close in on 
him.  And when he mounted to the porch, we were only yards away.

Grandma, alone in the house, didn't have a radio, but Aunt Elin had called 
her when Uncle Rick had first spotted the guy.  When he broke the lock on 
the front door and opened it, she waited until he was framed in the doorway, 
then blew him away with her shotgun.  It was bird shot, but two rounds, at 
ten feet, will do a pretty good job on a man. Grandma had no hesitation. A 
western woman, she felt that a dead skunk wouldn't bother you again later, 
while a wounded one might get pissed off and come back to do something about 
it.

Dad hollered, "OK, mom!  He's down.  Don't shoot!"

While grandma turned on the lights in the house, dad turned on the porch 
lights.  We stared at James, then called the sheriff.


It took an hour for a deputy to arrive and another half-hour for the coroner 
to get there.  We hadn't touched him, or even come near him, except to turn 
on the lights from the switches by the door he'd broken.

When they examined his body, we were all really glad grandma hadn't 
hesitated.  He carried a garrote, several pieces of rope, four silk scarves, 
a big knife, and a .357 revolver.  He was obviously prepared for some heavy 
rape and bondage stuff with somebody.  And we knew from the phone calls, 
that somebody was Audry.

Rick rode home and Elin woke Audry, who ran over to see.  Taking one look, 
she spat at his body, then walked back to her mom's house, to gather the 
kids.  We'd finish the night in our own beds.


The coroner's inquest ruled that grandma shot an intruder who had broken 
into her home.  He was armed and the history of the case showed that he 
clearly intended to harm us.

Audry was shaken by the whole thing.  She'd never had a guy come on to her 
like that.  Out where we live, a lady is treated like a lady, or else a 
half-dozen guys teach him manners.

Naturally, the family teased her a bit, about being a barroom floozy.  'Guys 
just couldn't help themselves around her...'

She's never given any guy a reason to come on to her.  So our gentle teasing 
was more a matter of telling her we love her and think she's beautiful.
She threw herself into preparing for Nationals and the Olympics.


Grandma took a vacation in Bermuda, coming back tanned and walking very 
slowly.


Mom had been working with one of Sam's colts.  She felt he might be ready 
for competition.  Her idea was that he wasn't too polished yet, but maybe 
Audry would like to ride him in the 3-day?

Audry jumped at it, although it meant a lot of hours of work, getting the 
colt used to her, and schooling it in dressage and arena jumping.  Mom had 
already done the basics--the horse was better than most right then.  But at 
our level, a nearly clairvoyant rapport had to exist between horse and 
rider.  That was only developed by hard work.  (In spite of lots of books 
for teenaged girls to the contrary, horses are not very smart.  But they do 
have personalities.)

The colt had been named Claybourne--'Clay'.  Mom had in mind that eventually 
he'd replace Sam as my mount.  After about a week of working with him, Audry 
announced that I could get my own second mount: Clay was hers.  Besides, 
Shannon was aging, and starting to show the effects of all the hard seasons 
of work he'd been through.

OK.  But meanwhile, Shannon was still probably the most elegant dressage and 
arena horse in the country.  That meant that Audry had to work two horses 
daily.

Some days, she could hardly walk by evening.

Mom eventually put her foot down.

"Audry, you aren't helping yourself, or the horses this way.  I'll train 
Clay in dressage and the school jumps.  You spend at least half of each day 
with the kids.  OK?"

Knowing she'd been caught, fair and square, Audry just gave mom a big hug, 
and whispered, "Thanks," in her ear.


A nice part of this was that Audry joined me on the cross-country training.  
We had three different routes laid out on the ranch--and they could be 
mixed, for additional variety.  Both horses loved cross-country days.  For 
most animals it was a real challenge, just to get through the course.  Those 
brutes just ate it up.  Our altitude helped, too.  When they got to a 
competition at sea level, they were monsters.

It was nice to be able to take the courses together, working our horses, 
though not racing them against each other.  We made sure we got an 
occasional trip to our favorite high meadow, too.  Once we even brought the 
kids, though it was an awfully long ride for them.


Our first competition was a week-long affair up in Washington.  We took four 
horses; Sam, Shannon, Clay, and mom's hack.  She felt more comfortable 
coaching from horseback than atop a show ring rail, in a strange arena.

Audry and Shannon beat Sam and me in the arena events--but not by much.  
Then came the 3-day.  We managed to win dressage, barely.  And Sam was just 
too strong for Clay to match on the cross-country course.  The third day, 
Clay was tired and dropped a rail on a hurdle.  Sam as always, rode clean 
and we had another trophy.

Audry was disappointed with Clay's performance.  But mom told her firmly 
that the horse was young and didn't even have all his size yet.  In a couple 
of years, he'd be giving Sam more than he could handle--especially if Audry 
could train him to keep his head in what he was doing.

Two more meets before Nationals.  Audry and I battled back and forth.  Sam 
and I even beat Shannon on the jumps once--Sam had a superlative day.


Nationals was held at Atlantic City.  We'd never been there and enjoyed 
seeing Boardwalk and Park Place.  Marvin Gardens was a disappointment.

The arena was nice, but the cross-country course was disappointing.  It was 
flat, with some hastily-erected jumps and barricades, but generally not very 
challenging.  I was concerned that it favored the mediocre horses.

In the arena events, Audry and Shannon won both times.  They both had the 
greatest competitions I'd seen from them.  I was second in the jumps and 
third in dressage.  Sam did OK, but not as good as his best.

I confess, I was thinking more about the 3-day than what we were about.  
We'd have to do these same events again in a couple of days.

At the 3-day dressage, Sam and I won, narrowly beating Audry and Clay.  The 
third-place horse was good, but not in our class.  His rider, in my opinion, 
deserved a better mount.  He was really a talented guy.

The cross-country speed and endurance event should have been a walk-away for 
us.  It wasn't.  Sam and I had the best time, and Audry was third, but the 
mediocre horse with a superior rider was second.

Audry and I both needed to do well on the jumps.

Mom talked sternly to us and to our horses.  She told me to keep Sam in hand 
and hollered at him to pay attention to the gates, not the crowd.  Audry was 
cautioned to give Clay firm guidance, but to give him his head at the jumps. 
  And mom told Clay he was a wonderful, strong horse, with plenty of energy 
to do the day's tasks.

I don't know if the animals understood what she told them, but they did all 
we asked of them, and went one-two.  Both horses have us fast, clean rounds 
in the jumps, even though two of the gates were higher than I've ever seen 
in the 3-day, where horses are usually pretty tired when they get to the 
jumping.
The good rider placed third.


Afterwards, he invited us all out for dinner and drinks on him.  Uncle Rick 
was caring for the horses and would get them back on their airplane.  
Grandma was watching the kids--she didn't have any gentleman friends in 
Atlantic City--and told us to go, and have a good time.

The guy's name was George Lemmer.  He was from Long Island and turned out to 
be a really nice guy.  He knew several of mom's family and seemed to have a 
good attitude towards the sport and the horses.  (The family had only good 
things to say about him, when mom checked.)

Over brandy, he grinned and asked if we had any horses for sale.  He knew he 
needed a better horse.  He had made the Olympic team, but his horse just 
wasn't good enough to compete at that level.

Mom and dad just looked thoughtful.  Then talked about other things.

Later, when we were getting ready to return to the hotel, dad said, "George, 
why don't you come on out to the ranch in a week or so?  You can see what we 
have.  Who knows?"

No fool, he settled the details on the spot.


The following Thursday, we saw a jeep Cherokee enter the yard.  George got 
out and looked around.  Mom rode her hack over and told him to put the jeep 
over by their house, then walk back to the corral.  She rode along, to keep 
him company.

In the corral, dad was working with another of Sam's offspring, a big mare 
we called Ginger.  She wasn't as big as Sam, but she was very strong and as 
smart as a horse gets.  She had a nice personality, too.  She tried hard to 
please her rider.

"We'll show you all the horses we have, George.  Some are spoken for, and 
some won't ever be good enough for you.  For starters, why don't you try 
that mare?  Her name's Ginger.  She's never competed, but I think she shows 
promise."

George replaced dad in the saddle, adjusting the stirrups a bit.  Then he 
led her through some dressage.  You could see George start to smile.  After 
a soft canter around the ring, he took her over the school jumps, his smile 
widening into a grin.  He rode to the gate and opened it without 
dismounting.  Pointing Ginger down a lane that leads to the north pasture, 
he gave her a nudge and she was off.  A few minutes later, they came flying 
back, literally skidding to a stop in front of us.

Jumping from her back, George hugged the horse and patted her.  Ginger knew 
she'd done good.

"Are they all like this?" George asked.

"Well, a few.  Ginger's one of the better ones.  You know about Clay and 
Sam.  Of course, they're not available.  And a couple of the yearlings 
aren't available, either.  Beyond that, look around, ride any horse you want 
to try.  There are some that I don't think would work for you... I'll let 
you know if we disagree on any of them."

Dad removed the tack and turned Ginger into the other corral, where she 
promptly had a good roll, then wandered over to the manger for a snack.

"It's supper time.  We'll all eat in the big house tonight, George.  Do you 
want to change?  Or just wash up?"

"Both, if I may?" he said.

At dinner, he met the rest of the family.  George was an investment banker 
and came from old money, though he hadn't inherited enough to be rich, by 
the family's standards.  His wife had died several years before from a very 
virulent form of cancer.  He'd never remarried, having never met a woman who 
interested him.  There were any number of available, presentable women in 
his social circles, but none he wanted to spend significant time with.

Horses were his passion and relaxation.  He had a real gift for getting the 
most from a mount--as we'd discovered.

For two days, George threw saddles on just about every four-legged critter 
we had.  Mom knew--Ginger was his horse.  He kept coming back to her.  The 
difficulty was that she was just three and had never competed.  We didn't 
know how she'd do, the first couple of times.  Mom knew that, eventually, 
she'd be a superior horse.

Audry and I wanted to go for a ride.  For us, a ride was an overnight or 
longer jaunt up into the hills.  Grandma was away on one of her trips, but 
Elin was happy to watch the kids.  So we went.  Seeing our preparations, 
George asked what was going on.  His wistful look when we told him prompted 
an invitation for him to join us.

Expressing surprise that we'd use our competition animals that way, we 
assured him that the vacation was as much for them as for us.

I gave him my old western saddle to throw on Ginger and mom fixed him up 
with a bedroll and small tent.  We were off.

The horses loved the trip, as always, and cantered halfway up the mountains. 
  We brought Clay along as packhorse, but with a western saddle on him, for 
his pride.  Audry would ride him back.


By the time we returned to the ranch headquarters, George knew he'd found 
his horse.  I suggested to him and mom that we set up some loudspeakers, 
with crowd noise, by the training ring.  That would get Ginger used to the 
noise, at least.

Two more days for training under mom's critical eye, and the van George 
hired showed up to carry Ginger to the airport.

We shook hands with George, promising to keep in touch.  We'd see him at the 
Olympics, where he'd be a competitor in the 3-day.


~~  * * * *  ~~


Our second Olympics were again a marvelous experience.  In spite of 
assurances, there was a bit of trouble with the horses at customs.  It 
turned out somebody wanted a bribe.  We let the host country Olympic 
committee handle it.

This time, our national body had made sure those in charge of arrangements 
put Audry and me in a room for a married couple.  In fact, we even had a 
private bath!

Uncle Rick and dad were the official 'grooms' for the horses.  Since we took 
three of them, we added Aunt Elin to the list, though she took care of Rick 
a lot more than she did of the horses.  Mom was our coach and trainer, and 
an official of our national governing body.  In fact, she would be a judge, 
on the days Audry and I were not riding.

Grandma stayed home with the kids.  We offered to bring them all.  She just 
said, "No.  We'll do fine.  I'll spoil them rotten.  And I don't want to go 
trolling for Asian men, anyway.  This is better, really."  I just kissed her 
in thanks.


Again, we participated in the opening ceremonies and got a real kick out of 
being part of that great assembly of athletes.  Later, in the 'village', we 
mingled and met many of them, including several NBA stars, who were on the 
'dream team' or representing their native countries.

As expected, we had to constantly try to explain what 'dressage' is, and why 
the 3-day is the decathlon of equestrian events.

The day before our events were to start, Audry woke with terrible stomach 
cramps and nausea.  Throwing up half the night, she looked awful in the 
morning.  Mom quickly got a doctor in to look at her.  She was diagnosed as 
having food poisoning.  Apparently several athletes had come down with it.  
Medication was prescribed and rest suggested.

The doctor smiled.  "I know you won't do that, since your events start 
today.  But take it as easy as you can.  Lie down whenever possible.  Drink 
lots of water... bottled water.  If you aren't better by tomorrow evening, 
be sure to see me again."

I suggested that she scratch the arena events and just do the team 3-day.  
Struggling out of bed, Audry wouldn't hear of it.  "Shannon would never 
forgive me.  He'll carry me.  The horse knows the routine better than I do, 
anyway."
Mom helped her with more makeup than usual.  Rick had Shannon saddled and 
ready to go.  All Audry had to do was show up and get on.

That's about all she was able to do.

She always looks elegant on a horse.  Hell, she always looks elegant.  That 
day, there was just a little bit missing--but you had to know her well to 
catch it.  As she'd said, Shannon saved her.  We made a fuss over him, 
telling him how great he was, and he almost pranced through the dressage 
routine, getting near-perfect marks.

Audry finished the day in the lead.  I was third.

The next day, the finals, Audry felt a bit better, although she'd thrown up 
twice during the night.  She had a bit of spark and Shannon sensed it.  He 
outdid himself and ended up with even better marks than the day before.  
Audry had another Olympic gold medal.  I had to settle for bronze, being 
beaten by an Austrian rider, who was a superb horseman.  His horse just 
wasn't up to Shannon's performance.

We had a day off.  The doctor was called, since Audry really didn't feel 
much better.  He said she needed to be in the hospital, with IVs in her.  
She was getting dehydrated.  Dad had a bit of trouble with that.  We were in 
another country.  Audry needed to compete in another day.  Would they let 
her out?  The doctor didn't know.  So we arranged to do it in our room.

A stand was rigged and the IV bottles suspended.  Mom, Elin and I were all 
instructed on how to change the bottles--they were set up so they only 
needed changing every 8 hours.  The idea was to pump her full of saline and 
Ringer's, to combat the dehydration and help her body regain its strength.

She was also encouraged to eat and drink all she was willing to take in.
Dad and Rick took care of the horses and exercised them for us, so we didn't 
have to be concerned about that.  I went to the stables a couple of hours 
myself, and told the horses that they were wonderful boys, and we'd have a 
great time in the morning.

A weak but determined Audry dressed in her pinks in the morning.  Again, mom 
helped her with her makeup, to put a little color in her face.  Leaning on 
me more than a little, we made our way out to find transportation to the 
stables.


The first jumping round was in the morning.  Audry and Shannon were their 
usual perfection.  Maybe with not quite as much flash as usual, but hard to 
beat.  At the end of the round, she was in first place, with Sam and me in 
second.  The Austrian who had beaten me in dressage was right behind me and 
a German rider was close in fourth.

For the second round, the competitors rode in the reverse order from the 
first round finishes.  So I rode right before Audry, who would ride last.

Mom made Audry lie down; that's what she was doing when I mounted Sam for my 
turn at the gates.  I'd talked to him and told him we needed a little 
concentration from him, since I was worried sick about Audry.  I hadn't been 
getting a whole lot of sleep, either.

Sam paid attention and gave it one of his better efforts.  We went over 
clean and in excellent time, putting us in first place.

Now it was up to Audry.

When I rode out of the arena, to her, I didn't see her, at first.  Rick was 
holding Shannon's head and mom was helping Audry walk to her horse.  She 
looked so shaky, I didn't think she'd be able to get on, much less stay 
there over the jumps.

"Honey, you sure you want to do this?" I asked.  To say I was worried would 
be a gross understatement.

"Damn straight!" she said, looking me in the eye.  She stiffened and stood 
on her own.

Uncle Rick gave her a leg up and told her to show them what the family can 
do--especially HIS side of the family.

Grinning weakly at that, Audry rode to the entrance to the arena, where she 
was announced.  They cantered around the ring, made their manners to the 
judges, and started the course.  I almost couldn't watch.  Audry and Shannon 
were so perfect, so elegant, and so quick, it was uncanny.  But I couldn't 
tell what was keeping her on the horse.  She was riding on instinct and her 
horse was covering for his rider.

When they finished, they had beaten me out again, by less than a tenth of a 
second!  My wife, deathly ill, had won two Olympic gold medals!

As soon as she and Shannon were out of the arena, she started to dismount 
but instead collapsed to the sawdust.  Rick and I were there instantly.  So 
was the doctor who had been treating her.  She was running a fever and he 
insisted that she be hospitalized.

"Athletes are crazy anyway.  But she has two medals.  Now she needs to take 
care of her own body."

Audry didn't like the idea, wanting to go back to the IV in the room regime. 
  The doctor said that wasn't enough.  He wanted to treat the illness and 
needed better facilities and trained help.

We had two days of rest before the team 3-day.  Uncle Rick would make sure 
the horses were ready.  (I didn't worry about Sam, though I rode an hour a 
day, just to keep us both loose.) Surely, with rest, antibiotics, and lots 
of fluids, she'd be OK by then.

After we saw her settled into the hospital and she had fallen into an 
exhausted sleep, the doctor told us that she was really in danger.  The 
particular 'food poisoning' they'd seen in the village was a bacterial 
infection that was resistant to most antibiotics.  They were trying a couple 
of new treatments, and most who had become ill had recovered on their own in 
a couple of days.  But if it got into the system solidly, like it had with 
Audry, it could be very difficult.

"Are you saying that this bug could kill her?" I asked, incredulously.

"Worst case, yes," he said.  "But no one here has died of it and there are 
only two other cases as bad as Audry's.  One of them seems to be coming 
around OK.  The other is in the hospital, too.  For now, Audry doesn't seem 
to be in severe danger, but I want to be sure she's mending.  OK?  Her 
condition really is serious."

That was a lot more dire than the worst we'd feared.

"But, doctor... She has to compete in two days!"

"Not if she wants to live, she doesn't.  She should have been here instead 
of jumping...  OK.  She did that.  Now it's my turn.  She'll be here at 
least a week, maybe more... If it's any comfort, we know where the infection 
came from--a bug from one of the African countries, transmitted through raw 
fish.  We've cracked down on the source of the infection at the Olympics.  
And I'll stay here until she's ready to be released, or at least well enough 
to go home.  OK?"

It wasn't OK.

But it was the best we could get.

Later, Audry woke and saw me, holding her hand.

"It's bad, isn't it, Rob?"

"It's not good.  You'll be in here a while.  They think they have it under 
control, but it's some bug that resists normal antibiotics, so they're 
trying some new stuff on you.  And they don't know how effective it is.  The 
good news is that no one in the village has died from it and most recover on 
their own.  You and one other athlete have the most severe cases and you 
both seem to be hanging in there."

"You mean, I won't get sicker?  That's good, since it feels like I've puked 
my insides out.  It's like the worst hangover you can imagine, with a fever 
and aches in the joints."

"Whatever it takes, let's get you well."

"Rob?  Did I miss the 3-day?"

"No.  But you will.  The doctor says flatly that you'll be here a week.  But 
you haven't missed any days."

"With the fever, I have strange dreams.  I'm not really sure of the time... 
Rob, let George ride Clay?  Ginger isn't really ready yet.  And Clay needs 
the experience, too."

I wept.  My marvelous, brave darling--more concerned about her horse and our 
friend--even while she was fighting for her life in the hospital.

"OK, baby.  I'll do it.  You won two golds this trip.  Now win this battle, 
too.  Fight this bug, baby.  I need you..."

Her fingers gently twined in my hair.  "I won't leave you, Robbie.  I love 
you so much... Now get out of here, so I can sleep.  Go get drunk, so you 
can relax."

I grinned through watery eyes.  "I'll have a couple glasses of wine, baby.  
I don't think I'll be getting drunk, though.  See you in the morning."


Mom and I went to see George.  It took us a while to find him, but he was 
pleased with Audry's offer.  "Rob, I really don't know what to say.  Audry 
is more than generous.  That's about the nicest thing anyone's done for 
me--ever!

"But I think I'd better stay with Ginger.  Audry's right.  She's not really 
ready for an Olympic 3-day.  On the other hand, she's come a long way in the 
couple of months I've had her.  We're a pretty good team.  I don't think I 
could mesh with Clay in just a day.  Even though he is, right now, a better 
horse."

Mom said, "We understand, George.  And Ginger's one of our horses, too.  So 
we'll be rooting for you to medal--right behind Rob!  You know that, with 
Audry out, you can compete in the individual 3-day?"

"Yeah.  I was going to do that.  But who will take my spot in the team 
event?"

Mom grinned.  "I will.  I was thinking I'd ride Ginger.  As it is, I'll ride 
Clay... Who knows, maybe I'm not too old to win an Olympic medal, myself."


Two days later, Audry was much better--though still much too weak to even 
think about getting on a horse, much less competing on one.  (We still 
didn't understand how she'd been able to stay on over the jumps.) The doctor 
let her come to watch the dressage portion of the 3-day, provided she'd 
return to her hospital bed and stay there the next day, while we ran the 
cross-country.
Mom saluted the judges, then moved the horse down the stands a bit and 
saluted Audry.  Then she helped Clay to the best dressage performance he'd 
ever done--showing that, though she may be a grandmother, she still had a 
magic rapport with horses.

Audry was thrilled and the press and fans made a big thing of the family and 
the sport.  After all, how many sports allow men and women to compete on 
equal footing?  And age doesn't matter very much, either.  We suffered 
through a lot of interviews and submitted to numerous photo sessions, in the 
name of publicizing and popularizing the equestrian events.  Horses got 
almost as much TV time as the tiny pre-teen gymnasts that year.

The two-week Olympic schedule allowed the entire team 3-day to be run 
without overlapping the individual event.  So Audry was permitted to be back 
in the stands to see mom and Clay win the jumping portion of the team event. 
  Clay looked very strong, as we'd hoped he would.  His performance, with 
mom guiding him, helped our team take the silver medal that year.  Mom was 
delighted--her only Olympic medal was a bronze, from before I was born.  She 
and dad celebrated all night after that one!

The next day, Audry was released from the hospital, with the understanding 
that she would report to the doctor at 9 every morning for a short 
check-up--and she wouldn't get on a horse!

So she was in the stands, to cheer George and me on.  We both saluted her, 
after the judges, when we rode out for our turns at dressage.  Sam had an 
incredible day--I wish he'd done that well earlier, in the individual event. 
  Anyway, we won dressage and George placed a close fourth.  Ginger still 
had a bit of trouble with crowd noise, it seemed.

The speed and endurance course was pretty demanding this time.  Sam and I 
like it that way and we churned out a really fast time.  Mom had done almost 
as well on Clay, but no one else was close to our new course record.  George 
was second on that stage, but well over two minutes behind.

Audry was again in the stands, with our parents, to watch us jump.  Sam 
turned in a solid performance and we had another gold medal.  To our 
surprise, George coaxed a superb round out of Ginger and took the silver.  
There were some really disgusted Austrian, German and English riders, who 
weren't used to Americans doing that well, other than me and Sam.


After the medal ceremony, I put the medal around Sam's neck for the 
photographers.  He'd earned it, even if he did consider it all a big game.
With Audry up and about, the photographers clamored for picture after 
picture of the entire family, and the horses, posed this way and that.  I 
finally called a halt.  Audry was getting tired and the last thing we wanted 
was a relapse.

Dad, Uncle Rick and Aunt Elin flew home with the horses.  Audry, mom and I 
stayed for the closing ceremonies.

Another surreal episode involved a group of gymnasts--all names and faces 
well-known from the TV coverage they got--approaching us, very shyly, in one 
of the village restaurants.  They wanted to say hello, and was mom really a 
grandmother? A couple of them had medals of their own.  So they knew what 
mom's achievement meant.  Soon we were the center of a dozen or so very 
small girls, all clamoring and chattering and asking questions about the 
equestrian events.
I finally arranged with the TV people to get us several copies of a special 
tape--that reported all of their coverage of the horses, including a lot of 
material that was never aired.  We showed the girls our performances and 
tried--with very limited success--to explain why one performance was better 
than another.  It didn't matter that they didn't understand about changing 
leads on turns: I don't understand much about judging a performance on the 
vault, either.

Ginger was still at the Olympic stables.  George graciously allowed us to 
use him and her as 'teaching aids'--when we took a crowd of giggling 
gymnasts out there.  He even took a few of the more daring in front of him 
in the saddle, so they could get some feel for what jumping the hurdles was 
like.  It was a most enjoyable couple of days.

With one or two tiny gymnasts usually, we hung out in the village, meeting 
other athletes and occasionally going to the stadium to watch some of the 
track events.  The horses were on their way home, so we didn't have to 
concern ourselves with their care and exercise.  (They'd get a couple of 
months 'off', anyway, with some trail rides, but no strenuous work.)

Many of the other athletes recognized Audry and me.  After all, between us, 
we had an impressive collection of Olympic medals.  Of course, the story of 
Audry's courage and determination to win the jumping competition when she 
was so very ill had gone around.

To our amusement, mom gathered a lot of attention, too.  She'd competed and 
won a bronze 25 years ago, and now came back, as a last-minute substitute, 
to win a silver.  A few even had some understanding of how difficult a test 
the 3-day was-on rider as well as on horse.

One of the proudest memories of the games was when the 'dream team' came, en 
mass, to invite us to watch their gold medal game.  After the game, they 
gave us a basketball with all their autographs and later a poster, also 
autographed, arrived at the ranch.  The inscription read, "To some REAL 
Olympic champions." (We sent them each posters of the family and horses, 
with our autographs, too.  It resulted in some really strange, but enduring 
and cherished friendships.  If mom, Audry or I visit any major city during 
the winter months, our attendance at any NBA game going on is almost 
mandatory.)


Finally home on the ranch, Audry gathered me in her arms and started 
nibbling on my neck.  A sure sign that she had designs on my body.

I responded by a caress over her breasts--still without sag, after nursing 
two lusty babies--and dipped lower to her gently rounded tummy.

"Not tonight, darling.  Just get in.  Now!" as she pulled me into position 
above her.

The hot, wet, velvet tunnel surrounded me, clasping and clenching in its 
always-exciting rhythm.

"Now, darling," Audry panted, between nibbling on my neck, as I slid easily 
in and out.  "Do you think we can breed a couple more champions before the 
next Olympics?"

When I just grunted, she said, "I stopped taking my pill when I was in the 
hospital.  I'm probably fertile tonight."

THAT did it.  My climax came on me so suddenly, as the thought that I was 
impregnating her sunk into my consciousness, that I was taken by surprise.  
So was Audry, though she caught up and went right over the top herself.

Two more times that night, I pumped myself dry into my lover's greedy womb.
She would get her wish.  We had two more children in the next two years.



* Heart of a Champion is the fifth of the Audry Stories.  (c) 1997, 2001, 
Extar International, Ltd. All rights reserved. Single copies for personal, 
non-commercial use may be downloaded or printed. Any other uses, including 
reposting, or posting on an archive site, must have prior permission from 
Extar International. Comments always welcome.  <extar@hotmail.com>


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