About a dozen young children were crowded around, hoping Sara would read them one of her new stories. She smiled at them and suggested they all go to the playroom.
She picked up two of the younger ones whom she had known for several months, and they giggled as she stole kisses on their cheeks. They were happy kids even though most of them were at the shelter because their homes had been torn apart by violence.
She gathered the children around her in a circle and made sure each one of them got to look at the pictures as she turned the pages of the book she had titled God’s Butterflies. By the inflections in her voice she could make any character, any story, come alive. She had the children giggling and laughing and fully engaged with the book within minutes.
She loved to watch a child’s face as he or she heard a story for the first time. It was a delight to see. She learned something new about her craft with each group of children. She learned she could write stories that were quite complex and still have the full attention of a three-year-old.
She learned that while adults would look at the artwork and see a good picture, an overall image, a child would look at the artwork and see the details first, then the full picture.
She had changed her style of artwork when she realized that. Now her drawings were quite detailed down to the legs on a butterfly, the raindrop on a leaf, the caterpillar on a stem. An adult would turn the page when the words ran out; a child would look at the picture a long time to see all those details.
Dave stood by the doorway, watching as various mothers came quietly into the room also to listen to the stories. It was a women-only shelter, and he attracted a few curious looks that he answered with a smile.
Sara saw Dave tap his watch. She nodded and took the time to pass out copies of her books so every child had one to look at.
Outside the building, hands on her lower back, Sara stretched, looking up at the light fluffy clouds drifting by. “Since it’s such a beautiful Saturday, would you like to go horseback riding for a couple hours?”
“If you don’t mind us inviting along some company.”
Sara looked over at her brother, alerted by his tone.
“Who did you have in mind?”
“Linda and Adam.”
“No way, Dave. You’re not setting me up on a date. I know you and Adam have become buddies in the last couple weeks—playing racquetball at the health club, jogging together, doing all that macho stuff to see who is in better shape—but no way am I letting you set me up on a date. Besides, it’s a security risk.”
She’d been hurt to learn Adam had taken her at her word and made no further attempt to contact her, which was a contradiction in logic that made her mad at herself. It had been hard to admit in her daily journal how off balanced the situation made her feel. She wasn’t used to dealing with a crush, and that was exactly what she had—on a good-looking guy that half the ladies in the country would recognize on sight.
She was coping by burying herself in work. In the days since she had last seen Adam, she had finished two more children’s books. Dave was in the habit now of coming to her office suite around 7 P.M. and ordering her to put down her colored pencils and come home.
“Sara, we’re talking about a few hours horseback riding in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it’s a minimal security risk, but you know the Graysons or their staff would never talk about who we invite to join us.”
“Then why are you suddenly willing to take the risk?”
“Because it’s my job to consider what’s best for you. And getting you out of that tomb of an office is more than a need right now, it’s a necessity.”
“I don’t need you to arrange my social life.”
“You canceled out on Ellen twice. So say, ‘Yes, Dave, let’s go riding.’ I’ve got the car keys, so you might as well face the inevitable.”
Sara knew she had to say yes. Dave deserved a day with Linda. Horseback riding with Adam…it would be embarrassing to ask him. “Do you know if he can even ride?”
“He can.”
“Then you call him. And make it very clear I had no part in the invitation.”
Her brother used his cellular phone and made the call. It surprised Sara that they spoke less than a minute.
“Adam said, ‘Sure, why not?’ I told him we would pick him up.”
Linda was free as well and eager to go.
Sara moved from the front seat to the back when they picked up Linda, and her nerves began to flutter. Adam. From the address Dave had quoted, they would be picking him up in less than five minutes.
Linda, given twenty-minutes’ warning, had managed to make herself into a man’s delight with colored jeans, a black belt, a top that accentuated her good looks, and her hair pulled back by a gorgeous gold-and-satin clip. Having nothing against Linda personally, for she rather liked Dave’s latest girlfriend, Sara nevertheless slouched in her seat for the first time in ages.
She had planned for a workday, not to see Adam. She was wearing Dave’s old flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up and faded jeans that should have been given a decent burial months ago. It was embarrassing. Anything else in her wardrobe would have been better. She didn’t mind the lack of makeup, but it was a windy day and even a simple barrette would have helped things.
Adam was waiting at the steps of his condominium complex, talking to the security guard.
Sara slid farther over in the seat.
“Thanks for the invite, Dave. It’s been way too long since I’ve had a chance to ride.”
“My pleasure, Adam.” Dave pulled back into traffic. “Let me introduce Linda Olsen. I’m sure I’ve mentioned her on more than one occasion.”
“More than one. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“I had no idea Dave knew you, Mr. Black.”
Adam wanted to groan at the look he saw in Linda’s eyes. A fan. It couldn’t get worse. Not on the one day he and Dave had been trying to get arranged forever.
“Please, call me Adam. I’m surprised you aren’t getting tired of bumping into all of us. Dave knows lots of sports players from the club downtown. Did he mention he was working in a batting cage with Greg Nelson yesterday?”
Linda turned to look at Dave.
Adam understood what had just happened only too well, and he felt intensely sorry for Dave. He was falling in love with Linda, while she was more than willing to move on to the more famous and wealthy at the drop of a hat. No wonder Dave had kept her away from the sports club and the restaurant there.
Sara’s mouth was stiff. Adam suspected she had just come to the same conclusion he had. He had the feeling she would like nothing better than to shove Linda out of her brother’s life. The protective instincts between Sara and Dave went both ways; that was good to know.
Adam touched the hand that was curled into a fist beside him. “Hello, Sara. It’s good to see you again.”
Her head turned and her glare toward the front seat was changed to a polite smile. “It’s mutual, Adam.”
Formal, so she was nervous, but it was not the cold front that he had been expecting. “How have you been the last couple weeks?”
“Good. Busy.”
He knew how busy she had been. Dave was quite forthcoming about the work schedule Sara was keeping, and his words had not been kind.
“Not too busy, I hope.”
Sara shrugged.
The way she answered pleased him, for it meant she wasn’t willing to lie, even to herself.
“Tell me about this farm where we’re going.”
“The Graysons have been breeding and boarding horses for years. They bought a few horses from Frank over the years and have always been good friends of our family. They let us board a few horses with them.
“There are several trails on their property that go for miles. There’s a river that cuts across one corner of their land. It has a natural dam made by beavers some years ago. After a good rain it can be a beautiful sight. Dave and I come out here when we need to get away a
nd relax for a few hours. Even if it’s raining, I like to simply mess around in the stables.”
“Sounds like a nice place to spend some time.”
“It is,” Sara agreed.
Adam watched Sara check that the car door was locked and then turn to rest her back against it, making it easier to face him. She was beautiful to look at simply because she hadn’t known she would be seeing him today. The flannel shirt made her look soft, comfortable; and the patched jeans reflected the fact she was used to working, not just being a pretty face. Her face was bare of makeup, not that it needed any. On top of it all, her poise was refusing to let her apologize for any of it. He wanted to smile but knew she would misinterpret it—certainly not take it for the compliment it was. Not everyone could look superb in what she was wearing, and she pulled it off without even trying.
“I hear you were in Georgia last week,” she offered.
“For three days. A sports-apparel convention.”
“Are you thinking you might add to whom you currently represent?”
“I don’t have the slightest idea what I’m going to do,” Adam replied. “The contracts are coming up for renewal. I’m still deciding what I want to do at this point.”
“No pressing desire to see yourself center stage during a Super Bowl commercial?”
“I’ll be in one of those this next year.”
She looked a little nonplussed. “Oh.”
Adam shifted uncomfortably. His face and name recognition was something he couldn’t undo. It was one of the obstacles they eventually would have to deal with.
They reached the farm in less than an hour. It was truly set out in the middle of nowhere, with no discernable signs to direct someone coming to visit.
“I gather some of the horses stabled here are valuable?” Adam asked Sara as they left the car.
“Very. Some go as high as seven figures.”
The chief stable hand was delighted to see them. The Graysons were in Connecticut for the weekend he told them. They were going to be disappointed they had missed the chance to visit.
Sara strolled toward the nearest paddock by the barn; it went on for acres. A shrill whistle brought several horses’ heads up from grazing, and a few began to wander toward the white fence. She let her hands linger on their muzzles, stroking their necks.
Adam joined her at the fence, resting his forearms on the top bar.
“This is Cobalt, Ruby, First Fire,” Sara strained her arms around one that was nuzzling her shoulder, “and finally this fine creature is Archer. Any particular one you would like to ride?”
“Which do you normally ride?”
“I normally take Ruby, and Dave takes First Fire. Depends on which needs the most exercise.”
“How about Cobalt then, if you think Linda can handle Archer.”
“She’ll have no problem. He’s big but gentle.”
Dave came from the barn carrying the first of the tack they would need. He handed Sara a bridle, rested the other three on the fence, and dropped a loop of coiled rope over the fence post. “Want me to get them?”
“No, I’ll have no problem.” Sara slipped between the rails.
Adam felt his muscles bunch ready for action. She was getting squeezed between the animals. But it was soon clear that this was something she did with ease. He remembered that photo on the mantle and wondered what had happened to Frank Victor’s ranch after his death. Sara would have spent six or seven years there. She was a natural with horses; her movements were smooth and calm and not startling to any of the animals. First Fire threatened to resist the bridle. Sara stepped back and stared at him and the animal came back to her side, seeking her favor again.
Dave and Sara saddled the four horses, both of them moving with deft hands to tighten cinches and adjust stirrups.
Linda was doing her best to start a conversation, but Adam refused to get drawn in. There had been too many Lindas in his lifetime. What he would view as polite conversation, she’d take as encouragement.
“Linda.” Dave had Archer saddled, and with one last glance at Adam she went to join Dave, accepting a hand to mount.
A few minutes later, they were underway.
“Okay?”
Adam turned astride Cobalt to find Sara on Ruby prancing at his side. “Fine.”
“These guys have a disdain for walking, so you’ll have to hold him in check for the first bit. Once we’re in the open country, we’ll let them canter and use up some of their energy.”
Adam answered with a smile and let Cobalt prance sideways toward her. “I fully intend to enjoy every minute of it.”
Sara was magnificent on a horse. Her knees gripped tightly, the reins held lightly, and her balance shifted in tune with the animal as if she were reading the horse’s mind.
They opened and closed the gates behind them, riding single file out from the stable area until they reached a large meadow.
“If you were better acquainted with the mount you rode, I would challenge you to a race,” Sara said.
They were already splitting into couples, still riding as a foursome, but now with almost twenty yards between them. “If I were sure I could win, I’d accept.”
Sara laughed and nudged her horse into a canter.
The day could not be more perfect—the sun was shining, the temperature was comfortable, and the sky was bright blue with drifting white clouds. Adam admired the picture Sara made, storing it away in his memory, then nudged his own mount to follow suit. Sara was headed across the meadow to a line of trees.
It felt good to ride, to leave behind the pressures of work and enjoy her company.
Becoming friends with Dave had not been planned. The first invitation to a game of racquetball had been intentional. Adam wanted to know if security was being improved for Sara’s movements across the concourses, but he hadn’t planned on the friendship. Now it was strong enough it would probably last even without Sara being part of the equation. They were men of like spirits, driven by love for God, care for family, ambition to make their world a better place, and a mutual enjoyment of sports.
Sara was waiting for him at the line of trees, holding Ruby still as she stroked her neck. Dave and Linda were some distance behind them now, for they hadn’t joined the canter.
“Would you like to go to the river, or up one of the trails that circles around the farm for about three miles?”
“Let’s go to the river. It’ll give the horses a chance to drink and us a chance to sit and talk for a few minutes.”
“Dave!” When Sara had his attention, she pointed south, and Dave nodded from across the meadow.
Adam followed as Sara led Ruby into the trees. The temperature dropped noticeably, as did the breeze. There was a path of sorts, narrow, grown high with grass, more a deer trail than one riders often took.
“There is a steep descent to the trail that goes to the river. Cobalt’s been down it numerous times so give him his head and let him make the choices.”
Adam understood when they reached the drop-off. The river had once flowed through this piece of land, then changed course, leaving the land to slowly crumble and smooth itself back out, erosion destroying the former river-banks.
Sara went down the embankment without fear or hesitation, her arm out to provide extra balance and her weight leaning back to give Ruby a better center of gravity. Adam really wished he had decided on the three-mile trail instead. His heart was in his throat until Sara was safely to the bottom.
Without a word, he nudged Cobalt and followed her down. He could feel the horse making decisions as different muscles bunched and relaxed. Adam rubbed the horse’s neck affectionately once they were down.
“So have you thought any more about my invitations?” He watched Sara as they walked their horses side by side down the former riverbed. He hoped she had reconsidered. His question startled her. That was good. Maybe she had been thinking about them.
“I can’t take the chance with the possible publicity, Adam. Th
ere is no link between Sara Richman, daughter of Ambassador Richman, and Sara Walsh without someone digging into deeply classified information. But a picture could establish the link quite easily.”
“I am not followed by the press.”
“No. But you are an opportunity shot. If a photographer sees you with someone, the picture will get taken, and they’ll think about what to do with it later.”
“How about coffee in your office then? It’s private. And we could do dinner at my home, if you wouldn’t take the invitation the wrong way.”
She stopped Ruby. Her hands clenched tight on the reins. “If we did start seeing each other, what do you think it would be like in a few weeks? You couldn’t stand the closed confines I live in. At some point it’s going to get to you—the no-public policy—and you’d want us to go out, and then we’d start fighting about the risks. Either I accept the risks to myself and thereby put Dave in danger just to please you, or you give up chunks of who you are and try not to turn the resentment back on me.” She blinked hard and averted her face. “Please, it won’t work. I would like it to, but I simply know it can’t.”
“You’ve been in this position before.” Adam knew it; her pain was too focused.
Sara didn’t bother to deny it. “I met him when I lived in New York. He was a literary agent, a good one, but you don’t stay in that position without having to court publicity and be seen by your peers. His job was largely parties and dinners where deals could be discussed. I think we were both in love for a time until the complications hit, and he realized how impossible it would be for him to be married yet have a wife who couldn’t accompany him and be an asset to his career.”
“I’m sorry, Sara.”
She shook her head. “Don’t be. I’ve learned that life comes at its own terms, and it’s best that you learn to go on.” She nudged her horse forward.
“Then why can’t we simply be friends?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Do you honestly think you would be willing to settle for that?”
Adam shifted his mount toward her. It didn’t take much to reach across and take her hand. “I like your company. And I would no more put you at risk than Dave would. If we can’t be more than friends, then at least let’s be good friends. Don’t give up without giving us a chance.”
Danger In The Shadows Page 9