It was past midnight when the battered van pulled into the show grounds. Lonny stopped at the gate and asked the watchman which way to barn number four. As they pulled up in front of the stable it was deserted except for a group of grooms who were shooting craps on a tack trunk under a swinging light bulb. One of the boys looked up and said...“ what happened to your van, Buddy... it looks like you lost a game of chicken.” Neither Lonny or Little Joe answered him. as they slowly climbed out of the cab and stretched their legs.
The group broke up their game and came up to Lonny. A big fellow stepped up and said,“ you Mista Lonny Barnes ain’ t cha?.” Look like you had some real trouble. Need any help?”
Lonny smiled and said...“ we had a little trouble alright. Turned this van over about fifty miles outside of town. Our brakes gave out coming down that long grade just this side of the hills.’’ With that, the boys all pitched in to help Lonny and Little Joe unload the horses.
I TV QUEST CMF A. ItlX E by Charles Barry Sanderson
As Lonny turned his van onto the highway, he gave one last look at the stable and beautiful rolling color-filled Fall countryside surrounding his property and wondered if he would exchange this freedom for a little bit more security. He had thought a lot about the proposition that had been made to him and had discussed it at length with Helen, his wife.
The roads to Birmingham were good most of the way. He had picked up a super highway about fifty miles from home and was rolling along at a good clip. He was thinking about the up and coming“ Southern Jubilee” horse show, wondering if he had done the right thing in taking TIGER BAY. He had mentioned his plans to Mr. Mack Malone and had been assured that it was a good idea. Mr. Malone had even stated that he would“ put in a good word for him.” This brought to mind the fact that up until this time, nobody had ever been interested enough to bother with him or his stock.
Little Joe was asleep in the front seat when it happened. He was awakened by the lurch of the van as the right rear wheels went off the pavement and by Lonnv’ s loud curse.“ Damnation... we got no brakes”... Lonny hollered, as Little Joe suddenly sat up and noticed that they were traveling down a sleep grade at a terrific rate of speed. Lonny broke out into a cold sweat as he maneuvered the six horse van around the curves of the road.
In the back they could hear the slamming of horses’ hooves as they struggled to keep their footing. A loud
crash and breaking of wood was followed by the whinny of a horse in panic. Lonny knew that at least one of them was down and had probably broken the separator and cross chains.“ Little Joe,” said Lonny. yelling above the shriek of screaming tires on hot pavement and the roar of the engine as he tried to gear down,“ see what the hell has happened back there.’’ Little Joe was obviously scared to death by now and sat motionless, holding onto the dashboard with both hands.“ Joe... look through the window and see what is.. Lonny halted his statement as he saw the curve ahead. He knew he would never make it.“ Jump, Joe,.. jump!”
The next morning, after a sleepless night, Lonny was eating breakfast alone at the motel restaurant when he heard a familiar voice.“ Well, if it ain’ t Mister Lonny Barnes... giant killer.” Lonny looked up in surprise through bloodshot eyes and saw his friend, Dink Fuller.“ Hi Dink... had breakfast yet?” Dink sat down and got the whole story from Lonny about the night before. He heard how the brakes had quit on him and how he had slammed into a clay bank going into a deep curve and laid his truck on it’ s side for what seemed like a hundred yards before coming to a halt. Dink said,“ you are lucky that you came out of it with no more than cuts and bruises.” Too bad about the marc though! She was a good one!
When Lonny telephoned Helen, he tried to break the news to her as gently as possible, but she was in tears after she heard that their mare had been killed.“ How about
TIGER BAY... was he hurt bad.’ Helen inquired. Lonny assured her that TIGER was fine, although he had his doubts about showing him because of a bruised shoulder and a bad scrape on his flank. Lonny explained about the
• accident and how another trainer had stopped and gotten a wrecker and a crew of men to come out and tow the truck in and get the horses fixed up. He had gotten a vet to come out and examine his four horses and to arrange for disposal of the mare that’ had broken her neck. After assuring Helen that everything was fine, considering what had happened, Lonny hung up and turning to Dink, said...“ well, let’ s go take a iook at OL’ TIGER and see if you think I should try to show him.”
It was about an hour before time for the Two-Year- Old Class and Lonny was putting the finishing touches on the braid on IIGER BAY. He had been forced to keep his Junior Horse out of competition the night before and his juvenile rider had tied fifth on her horse, so it was up to 1 IGER BAY to keep the Lonnv Barnes Stables in the limelight. Dink Fuller had worked with him early that morning and was still not sure that he should try to show this World Champion Two-Year-Old after he had been banged up. in the wreck. He appeared to work well enough but just didn’ t have the bloom that he should have. This worried Dink!
34 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse