Believe in Me: A Rosewood Novel (44 page)

Owen was beside her at the pasture gate. They were waiting to open it for Ned and Tim, who were leading Mystique and Cascade up to the barn. She realized he’d
been watching her when he said, “A penny for your thoughts.”

“I was just thinking of how much I like heavy cream,” she said simply.

“That so?” he asked huskily.

She nodded, smiling a little wider.

She would have said more but the two men were approaching, Tim already addressing her, obviously ready to monopolize the conversation once again.

But Owen only needed to brush the back of her hand with his for her heart to quicken.

After another hour and a half of looking over Cascade, Tim had finally left. But Ned’s patience in answering his every question and her agreeing to be nominated for a position on the hunter trial committee for the Warburg Hunt Club, where Tim sat on the board, paid off. When he said good-bye, Tim asked Jordan to let Travis know he’d be calling in the evening.

“I’ll tell Ron Hood you’re interested in serving on the committee. Having a Radcliffe involved in organizing the hunter trials again will be a real boost to the hunt club, Jordan.”

They waited in silence until his car disappeared down the allée. It was as if they were collectively holding their breath, fearful he might turn the car around to come back and talk some more.

Ned spoke first. “Dang, Tim must have wax in his ears. I didn’t say a thing different today than I did during his first three visits, but he was acting like it was all news to him. I should’ve made a tape recording for him.”

Though ninety-nine percent positive Tim would be buying the colt, Jordan was too superstitious to declare it a done deal. “If he buys Cascade, all your efforts will be worth it, Ned. Even sitting on a committee with Ron Hood will be worth it. And as connected as he is, the news will
spread far and wide that he’s got one of Nocturne’s first foals and that Travis is working with him to train the colt.”

“So he would have Travis train Cascade?” Owen asked.

Ned nodded. “Tim’s a good rider, but training a green horse is a big challenge. The idea would be to have him board Cascade here so Travis could teach him how to bring Cascade along.”

“Is that something Travis usually does? And who’s this Ron Hood?”

“Travis has been thinking of expanding our business by offering training and boarding to a few horsemen,” Jordan told him. “Ron Hood is Nonie’s brother-in-law. He has a daughter, Blair, in Jade’s grade. Let’s say that his dislike for my sisters and me is perfectly matched by our distaste for his daughter. Luckily I’m sure Ron will nix Tim’s nifty suggestion that I sit on the committee.”

“Well, watching the two of you go the extra mile with Tim Mitchell has made me ravenous. And as I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t want a foal like Cascade, I think it’s only right to celebrate. Lunch is on me.”

“That sounds pretty fine, don’t it, Miss Jordan?”

They had fun that afternoon. Jordan wasn’t surprised when Ned managed to talk Owen onto Sava’s back. Clever as a fox, he laid it on thick about how far they’d fallen behind because of Tim Mitchell, then mentioned that it would be a huge help if Owen would cool the mare down after Ned had finished exercising her, so that he could hop on Night Wing while Jordan rode Sky Light. Then the broodmares would be exercised and they could start on the remaining chores. With both Jordan and him in the ring, Owen would be getting two instructors for the price of one.

Owen did well for his first time in the saddle. Not a big surprise since he was athletic and coordinated. Moreover, he’d picked up enough from observing them all to understand that good riding was composed of minute adjustments
of one’s body. Abrupt, jerky movements that put stress on a horse’s back or hurt its delicate mouth were to be avoided. His concentration as he followed their instructions showed her that already he felt the wonder of a horse listening and accepting the pressure of his legs and hands. Even walking sedately on the rail astride a docile broodmare could impart that extraordinary magic.

Ned kept him in the saddle just long enough to ensure that Owen’s appetite was whetted.

“You did real well on her, Owen. Thanks for helping us out. Next time, we’ll get you trotting. Sava’s got one of the smoothest trots around. Kind of like sitting on a puffy cloud. You should think about getting some breeches and boots at Steadman’s. Tell Adam you’re a friend of ours. Now, you always want to walk your horse into the middle of the ring when you dismount …”

When Kate and Max telephoned they bubbled over in excitement as she told them Owen had ridden Sava. “Sava’s a really big horse,” Max said.

“Yes, and Owen did just fine on her.”

“Maybe we can ride together. Tell Owen I want to go riding with him.”

“I’ll do that,” she said, glancing at Owen. He was dividing the hay bales and dropping three sections into Miss Molly’s stall, but she was sure he could hear Max’s enthusiasm because he had a little smile on his face. “Have you been having a good time with Daddy and Cynthia?”

“We went to the park and got ice cream afterward.”

“That sounds like a great day.”

“Yup, and tomorrow we’re going to see dinosaurs and then we’re coming home. And the day after
that
we’re going to Owen’s house.”

“That’s exactly right, Max. I know Owen’s looking forward to it, too.” Maybe that was a bit of a stretch, but he was being an awfully good sport about having the children come and see Hawk Hill.

She’d only just slipped her cell back into her breeches pocket when the unmistakable sound of the van pulling into courtyard reached them.

Ned opened his hand on the hose’s nozzle, shutting off the water. “They’re back early,” he said, and a frown knit his brows.

“We can finish up here, Ned. Why don’t you go see what’s up? Do you mind watering the remaining stalls, Owen?”

“Not at all. Here, let me take the hose, Ned.”

While they were watering and feeding, they heard the heavy thud of the van’s ramp being lowered, followed shortly by the stomp of hooves on the rubber footing, changing to a clatter as the horses were led across the gravel courtyard.

Jordan had yet to dispense the grain and the supplements they gave to the broodmares, so it was another fifteen minutes before she and Owen left the broodmares’ barn.

Felix was alone in the courtyard, in the midst of slamming the bolts home on the van’s ramp. “How’d it go today, Felix?” Jordan asked.

“Travis and Margot did real good,” he said, dusting his hands off on his jeans. “Andy got reserve champion hunter on Saxon, and Mistral went well for him. And Travis was happy with how Gypsy Queen handled the jumper course.”

“So Jade didn’t end up riding Gypsy Queen?”

He gave a terse shake off his head.

“Not a good day for her?”

“Not a good day,” he repeated. The flatness of Felix’s tone let Jordan know that “not a good day” didn’t begin to describe it. “She’ll be okay in a day or two,” he added. “She just needs to shake it off.”

Her heart sank. “Did she fall off?”

Felix nodded. “She didn’t have Sweet William balanced going into the rail jump. He stumbled and then slammed on the brakes. She went straight over his head.”

“I can’t believe Jade fell. Her reaction time is so quick.”

“Yeah. But she was pretty rattled after her round with Aspen.”

Jordan sighed. “You better give me all the bad news, Felix, so I don’t say something unbelievably clueless to Jade.”

“She went off course with him.”

“Off course? Does that mean Jade missed a fence?” Owen asked.

“Yes,” Jordan said. “The rider is supposed to memorize the jump course and follow the path the course designer has devised to test the horse’s strength and balance on both leads. Jump courses can get fairly tricky, but not at the green hunter level. She must be so embarrassed.”

“She cried.”

“Oh, no.” This was not the Jade they knew. “I better go see what I can do to help.”

“Good luck to you,” Felix said with a tired smile.

As she turned to go into the main barn, she sent Owen an apologetic look. “If you prefer to go up to the house, I understand completely.”

He shrugged. “Jade might tone it down if I’m around. It’s harder to be utterly obnoxious in front of non–family members.”

Angry teens didn’t seem to faze him the way preverbal tots did. In that respect Owen and she were very different. “Thanks,” she said.

“No problem. And afterward you can go take a hot shower, and we’ll go to your friend Marla’s so you can tell her all the great things you’re going to do to her house, and then we can go to Hawk Hill where you can tell me all the great things you want me to do to you.”

She smiled at his generosity and also because he sounded so very much like Max had on the telephone. “That sounds like an excellent plan.”

* * *

The temperature in the main barn was a good twenty degrees cooler, and it wasn’t because they’d retreated from the late-afternoon heat. Jordan saw Travis, Margot, and then finally Jade in a line down the aisle. Each had a horse attached to the cross ties and was busy unwrapping the bandages in silence. Jade moved with an extra urgency, her hands flying around Aspen’s hind leg.

When the loosened quilted wrap fell to the cement floor, she scooped it and the other bandages up and carried them over to the side of Aspen’s stall, unsnapped the cross ties, and walked her horse into the stall.

“There. I’m done,” she announced, her voice carrying in the tense silence.

“You’re done?” Margot asked, from where she was kneeling beside Saxon’s leg. “What about Aspen’s braids?”

“I’ll deal with them in the morning. Sweet William’s, too,” she replied, not even looking at Margot as she marched past her. Spotting Jordan and Owen, she stuck out her chin pugnaciously.

“Hi, Jade,” Jordan said.

Echoing her, Owen also added, “I like your new hair.”

“Thanks,” she muttered. To Jordan she merely gave a long look.

“And how about your saddle bag? Your tackbox?” Margot asked, rising to her feet and coming up behind her.

Jade didn’t turn around. “I don’t have time.”

Margot came around to Jordan’s side and crossed her arms. “May I ask where you’re so fired up to go?”

“The library.”

As one, the adults looked at her.

“The library closes at five on Saturdays, Jade,” Travis said, joining them.

Jade scowled even as an embarrassed flush crawled over her cheeks. “So I’m not going to the library. Whatever. But I’m still out of here.”

“Well, I’d really appreciate knowing where.”

“I don’t see why I have to tell you. I’m almost eighteen.”

“You won’t be eighteen for another six months, Jade,” Margot said, and from the evenness of her tone, Jordan knew how hard she was trying to be patient. “Until then I have to act as your guardian—”

Jade gave a snort of disbelief. “More like my prison guard. I’m tired of being locked up here with you and Jordan watching everything I do. I don’t need your permission to go out.”

Travis cleared his throat. “Jade, all Margot’s asking is where you’re going. Not an unreasonable request.”

Perhaps it was because it was Travis speaking, his deep voice rumbling with authority for all the mildness of his observation. Jade pursed her lips as if tasting something bitter and then, with obvious reluctance, said, “I’m going to the movies with Blair and Courtney and some other friends.”

“With Blair?” Margot blurted.

“Oh, Jade, are you sure—” Jordan began.

“I knew it. I just
knew
you’d be this way. Why do you think I didn’t want to tell you? Because you and Jordan would immediately go into tragic mode.”

“Because we’ve already seen that Blair’s not a good person—”

“Compared to whom? My mom, maybe?” Jade sneered. “Compared to me? For God’s sake you don’t even know Blair.”

“Maybe I don’t know her well,” Margot said, “but I know you, and you are
not
a bad person. It is important that you stay out of trouble, though. Remember what Officer Cooper said.”

Jade rolled her eyes. “You’re too much. What do you think he’s going to do, arrest me for going to the movies with my friends? This is really boring. Why don’t you just try leaving me alone for once? I can take care of myself.”

“Jade—”

“No. I’m done here.” Turning to Travis, she said, “I’ll be back later.”

They listened to the scrape of her boots against the concrete floor. Then it changed as she hit the graveled courtyard and broke into a run, making her getaway.

“If she really thinks I’m her prison guard, why can’t I put a microchip in her cellphone and track her,” Margot asked no one in particular. Moving to Saxon’s hind leg, she bent down and began unwrapping his dark blue bandage, her hands moving with furious speed.

“Because Jade would somehow figure out what you’d done and toss the thing in the river. Or set it on fire. Or run over it with her car,” Jordan said.

“Then how about one of those electronic ankle bracelets? Damn it, why can’t she see what she’s doing to herself?”

“That might be asking a little too much, given her current frame of mind,” she replied quietly.

“It kills me that she wants to screw up her life by hanging out with those bitchy girls. They’re not interested in being her friends.” Still kneeling beside Saxon, she slumped her shoulders in despair.

“Come here, darling.”

With a shaky breath Margot rose to her feet and walked into Travis’s open arms, burying her face against his chest. Watching them, Jordan knew she’d have given anything to know Owen loved her so deeply, that he’d be there for her, forever.