Chapter 15 #2
“Static,” I laugh, but Andrés doesn’t return it. His eyes are fixed on me.
“Wish me luck.”
“I’m sure you don’t need it.”
“Today I do.” His voice is serious.
“Then all the luck in the world,” I say and he finally smiles.
“Go get ’em.” He turns and is on his horse in two strides, joining his teammates as they line up in the centre of the field.
The ball is thrown in and I press myself to the arena boards, wanting to see the action, no longer worried about being covered with snow. I find myself next to Austin.
“Do they have a good chance of winning?” I ask.
“They’re pretty evenly matched, so it could go either way,” he explains.
He tells me a few details about the opposite team but I don’t take it in.
Instead, I keep my eyes on the ball, watching as it shifts from one end of the field to the other, no team managing to get an advantage to score a goal.
All too soon a horn sounds, but play doesn’t stop.
“Isn’t that the end of the chukker?”
“Not yet,” Austin says. The horn sounds at the end of seven minutes but play continues for another thirty seconds, unless a goal is scored or someone fouls. Neither of those happen and the horn sounds again, and they ride off the field. I go to move but Austin catches hold of me.
“They only have a few minutes and they need to talk tactics and change horses. Don’t be the reason they don’t win today.
” His voice is kind despite the warning, and the anger that bubbled up when he caught my coat—Andrés’ coat—dissipates.
He has a point. When I turn back to the boards he joins me and leans on them.
“Do you play polo?” I ask instead.
“I do, but not so much nowadays. I used to play a lot when I was younger, but found less time when I grew the business. Linden is taking on more of that as well, but I hope he can still find time to play. I was coming anyway, so I said I’d play if anyone got injured.”
The horn sounds again and the riders are back on the field.
“Does it happen often?” I ask, a little knot of worry forming in my belly. I hadn’t really thought about it as I haven’t seen anyone get hurt.
“Yes,” he says bluntly, and my stomach bottoms out. “It’s one of the most dangerous sports. I’ve broken my left leg twice, and my right ankle, my left arm once, dislocated my shoulder five times, and had a concussion at least three times.”
I stare at him to see if he’s joking, but he looks deadly serious.
“Why do you play, then?” I’m appalled at the injury record.
“Why does anyone play a sport?” He shrugs. “For the skill, the adrenaline, to be the best. No one ever thinks that they might get hurt. If we did, we wouldn’t be able to play.”
I turn back to the match. It’s still thrilling, and I think about his words.
It’s true of all sports to an extent. I get caught up in the game again, and as the horn sounds again, Gabriel scores a goal ending the first half.
The riders talk and swap horses before they start the third chukker.
This time the opposing team starts aggressively, Gabriel’s team fights back but the score is equalised.
As they start the final chukker, I find myself shouting encouragement along with the rest of the crowd.
Learning a few more points from Austin, I find I can follow the game better.
Gabriel takes control of the ball, and Linden is in a defensive position.
Gabriel passes to Andrés, and he takes a long shot at the goal and misses.
There’s a penalty throw-in, and the teams battle for control again.
Linden blocks the other team from scoring.
When that happens I hear Austin laugh, and I look down to see that I’d gripped hold of his arm.
“Exciting, isn’t it?” He grins at me. I don’t have time to answer as Gabriel has the ball again.
I can see Andrés is in a free space and I shout as I see the ball flying towards him.
He sets off, Chispa galloping as he makes it to the ball, and he takes it with him, the other team hard on his heels.
I see he’s just about to be bumped when he shoots.
I don’t breathe as I see the ball sail through the air and straight between the goal posts.
There’s a minute left of play, but neither team manage to get the ball near the posts, and then the horn sounds—only once in the final chukker, Austin explains. It’s over. They’ve won.
I race towards them as they ride off the field, Andrés slipping off Chispa as Jorge takes hold of her. I’m drawn into a group hug, squashed between Andrés, Gabriel, and Linden. Eventually I’m released, and lots of players and other people come over to congratulate them. I pull Andrés to one side.
“Congratulations,” I say and he beams at me.
“You brought me luck,” he says.
“You played amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.
” I haven’t, I’ve never watched polo before, and I want to see more.
I’d like to see it played on grass for sure.
I laugh at myself, caught up in the giddiness of his win.
Then I remember I was only supposed to be on a break.
Shit. “Look, I’ve got to get back to work,” I say quickly.
“Thank you for coming,” he says and then leans in close, his warm voice in my ear whispering a promise. “I can’t wait to celebrate with you later.”
His words carry me all the way back to the resort and to the kitchen. It’s only when I go to put my apron on again that I realise I still have his coat on.
What more can one more night hurt, I say to myself as I prepare for the evening shift, ignoring my morning resolve, which has been well and truly shattered.
I might as well enjoy one more night. Especially as I’m still buzzing from their win.
With renewed energy I set the staff onto putting the final touches to the after-party dishes, agreeing with Conal that he’ll deal with the usual restaurant meals.
We have all the available staff working and the kitchen is crowded.
So far no one’s dropped anything, but it’s still early yet.
By seven I have everything ready to perfection and the servers are poised to take everything out.
Angie has reprinted the small menu cards with the amended dishes, and they’ve been set out on the table.
At least it’s a buffet and not silver service tonight, so it’s easier.
At five past I give the instruction for the food to go out.
It all goes off without a hitch. I bring out one of the dishes myself, just so I can be nosy.
Everyone is dressed in their finest, men in suits and women in glittery dresses, then I remember that polo is as much a social occasion as it is a sport.
I glance around, trying not to make it too obvious I’m looking for Andrés.
I can see Gabriel and Linden but no sign of him.
I can’t stand there staring so I return to the kitchen; he’s probably talking to someone, or at the bar.
We keep the dishes stocked, replenishing them as they empty, and I manage to get out of the kitchen a few more times but still don’t catch sight of Andrés.
I try not to worry, telling myself he’ll be busy and this isn’t for us.
Our time will come later. The party continues and I hear the sound of speeches.
Everyone seems to have eaten what they wanted, so we start to clear away and tidy up, though the guests will probably continue drinking and dancing for several more hours.
I set the staff to washing and making sure the kitchen is cleaned and head out to the party to make sure everything is properly put away.
It’s getting late and the crowd is starting to thin a little.
I still can’t see any sign of Andrés. Worry forming, I approach Gabriel.
I feel out of place in my chef’s whites, and if Angie saw me I know I’d be in trouble, but I can’t help it.
I half expect Gabriel to dismiss me, as if he’s never seen me before, not wanting to be seen with a member of the staff in front of his posh friends.
But he doesn’t, and he greets me warmly.
“Um, I wondered if you knew where Andrés was?” I ask.
“He didn’t come tonight. He’s out in the barn. One of his horses is sick,” Gabriel explains and my heart flies to my mouth.
“Will they be okay?”
“She’s getting the best care,” he says, which tells me nothing.
I return to the kitchen feeling a little more settled as to why I haven’t spotted him.
I hate that his horse is sick, though, and I can’t help the rising worry that it’s Chispa.
I pace the kitchen feeling restless and powerless to do anything.
Then I remember, there is something I can do.
As the rest of the kitchen staff are dismissed, I take out everything I need and get to work.
Within fifteen minutes I’m ready, and I put on Andrés’ coat and head out to the barn.
When I get there I walk along the line of stalls.
My heart sinks when I see that Chispa’s stall is empty and I can’t see Andrés anywhere.