"Well if you have just joined us you do so at a pivotal time for the equestrian team." The commentator paused looking down at the arena, the coloured jumps had been arranged and it was obvious that everything was ready. "There is just one rider left and that is Caroline Gibbs, she has the chance for both the individual and team gold medals. All she has to do is to jump clear. This is truly a unique situation and what a lot of responsibility Caroline has on her shoulders right now as she prepares to ride."
Caroline was obvious to the commentators words as she sat on her horse in the collecting ring, Mozart playing in her earphones, an idea from the team trainer to block out anything that could disturb her before she rode in such a nerve racking environment. She closed her eyes for a moment allowing the piano notes wash over her. She knew that she could do well, she had ridden well throughout the previous rounds and she had a wonderful horse, together they were unstoppable. She felt a hand on her knee and opened her eyes, her groom looked up to her smiling. Caroline pulled the earphones out from under her helmet and handed her iPod to her.
"You can do it..." The girl was close to tears in just another couple of minutes it would be over, she paused, gulping in air. "Good luck!"
Caroline smiled taking up the reins and rode into the arena. If she had not been aware of the near deafening sound she was now, she briefly glanced up at the stands all filled to capacity and the many cameras which would be beaming the event around the world. It had been said that this had one of the largest audiences because of the unique situation that Caroline found herself in with the two gold medals in her grasp.
She cantered her horse on allowing the cheers and applause to bolster her, then there was the sound of the bell, a hush fell over the stadium and it was time for her to perform. She pushed the horse on and towards the first jump. It was a simple upright; she approached counting the strides before pushing on. There was a moment when she was hanging in the air, and then clear one jump cleared and ten more to go.
Caroline pushed on clearing jumps, she knew that she had to be quick but could not make a stupid mistake she just had to jump clear. She took a tight line into the next jump... 'Slow down' she said in her mind, she was showing off trying to trim strides on the approach, the jump was clear but it had been close.
It was now onto the last approach, it was towards a simple upright. She pulled the reins checking her horse’s progress towards the simple fence, this was it, jump this clear... She put the thought from her mind.
Caroline counted the strides, four, three, two... Suddenly something was wrong; there was someone in front of her. She blinked there was a woman standing in front of the jump, she was facing away from the approach, seeming to study the fence. There was only one stride left, she was about to hit the woman who seemed to be obvious to her approaching. The horse started his take-off stride, Caroline stared at the woman who was unflinching she could not hit her.
It was a split second decision; Caroline hauled on her horse’s reins as he took off and leaned out of the saddle to the side dragging the horse to the right. The horse was unbalanced and hit the wings of the jump landing heavily, its legs buckled beneath it and Caroline felt herself hitting the ground hard before the full weight of the horse slammed into her body.
***
"...And at the last moment she seemed to pull out of the jump. Team captain Sebastian Bowen-Smyth was unwilling to comment..." The television was re-showing the show jumping and in particular Caroline's spectacular last jump.
Caroline slowly opened her eyes, the light blinding her as she blinked and tried to fathom where she was and what was happening. Caroline attempted to sit up but found that she was unable to move. Even her head was prevented from moving, her neck held in place with a solid brace.
"Oh, you are awake. What a shame..." Caroline froze she recognised the upper class drawl of Sebastian Bowen-Smyth. He sounded angry, this was not difficult or unfamiliar as he was always angry with Caroline, she had risen through the ranks from the lower classes as he had once sneered at her. She did not fit into the moneyed nature of the team and he had made it his aim to ensure she knew her place even if it was that she was one of the best riders. She could hear footsteps moving around her bed and the scent of Sebastian's aftershave before he appeared in her line of sight.
"Do you want to tell me what you were doing?" He paused, his usual sneer playing across his face, Caroline stuttered to afraid to answer. "No?" He sniffed. "Shall I tell you? I think that you tried to sabotage the team, I don't think you wanted to share the gold and wanted it all to yourself."
"No..." Caroline's voice croaked her mouth dry.
"Shut up!" He snarled. "I am not asking you Miss Gibbs. I know that you hated your team mates," He paused. "It is just good news that you are unlikely to be able to ride again."
"What?"
"Oh have they not told you..." Sebastian stared down into her face; a sudden smile crinkled his features. "You are not going to be able to walk again!" He laughed shaking his head. "Serves you right you stupid girl..." Caroline started to sob. "Oh shut up you snivelling bitch!"
"But the woman..." Caroline blinked. "There was a woman standing in front of the jump...” She gulped. "I had to stop, if I had hit her..."
"What are you babbling about?" Sebastian snarled. "There was nobody there. What are you trying to say?" He paused. "You pulled your horse through a jump for no reason." Caroline felt a sudden pain as Sebastian grabbed her neck brace and dragged her into a sitting position. "Look!" He gestured towards the television, which was high on the wall in the corner of the room. The screen showed the jumping again and a slow motion review of Caroline's last jump. She watched as the camera tracked showing her dragging her horse into the side of the jump. She gasped, there was nobody there. Sebastian let go of her and her body slammed back onto the bed. "There you vindictive bitch. You saw what you did. You had a clear jump and you blew it." He stood up. "You know they had to put it down?"
"What?"
"The horse... It had a broken leg. It had to be shot in front of the crowd." He stopped with his hand on the door. "Just think of the shame you have brought on us all. I pity you..." He paused and turned stepping back into Caroline's view. "I have a word of advice for you Miss Gibbs." He snarled. "Go away. And by that I mean get out of the UK. You will be a hunted person; you know the police are standing outside this room, for your protection." He laughed. "I should send them away, let the public at you." He stood up. "So my advices, get out, go and hide because you are no longer welcome here." He reached across to Caroline's show jacket and ripped the union jack badge from the pocket. With that, he stepped out of the door slamming it as he left.
***
Caroline tossed and turned in her bed, sobbing silently as she slept, Jacqui her roommate lay quietly snoring. In the shadows the woman stood unseen a smile playing across her face.