As soon as she left the ring, Trent was there, clapping enthusiastically. “Couldn’t have done it better myself.”
She directed Bob to the side of the entrance. “That’s a first, admitting someone bested you, the riding master.”
He came up to her and patted her black boot. “You bested me the moment we met, Rayne.”
She dismounted and went around to Bob’s head, keeping one hand on the reins. “Don’t talk like that, Trent.”
“Why not?”
Rayne removed her black velvet riding hat, letting her honey-blonde hair fall about her shoulders. “I told you, it wouldn’t work between us.”
“So you’re just going to let Selene win.”
She became acutely aware of his wide chest, and how the top buttons of his white polo shirt were open, offering a peek of his tanned chest. “What has Selene got to do with us?”
He folded his thick arms over his chest, distracting Rayne even more. “Lisa told me everything when she came over that day…about how Selene had arranged for her and Foster to be at that party. She also confessed that Selene had said I was anxious to return to Shelby Stables, and that’s why she showed up with the offer. Lisa assumed I was interested in returning to her bed, as well. When I confronted Selene about all of her lies, she had no choice but to admit to it.”
She shifted her focus to Bob, standing calmly beside her. “You confronted her? When?”
“The day after you ran out of my house. I threatened to fire her and then have Rebecca call her husband and let him know what she had been up to. After that, she was very forthcoming.” He mashed his thin lips together in a disgusted grimace. “You were right about her. She was trying to drive a wedge between us.”
The tension that had been twisting in Rayne’s gut for the past few days eased a little. “Thank you for telling me, but it really—”
“So that’s what you do,” a woman’s craggy voice intruded.
Rayne searched the crowd for the owner of that all too familiar voice.
Standing by Bob’s rump and wearing a violet, long-sleeved A-line dress that hugged her frail figure, Estelle appeared painfully out of place.
“Mother? What are you doing here?”
“Surprise,” Trent whispered in her ear.
She turned to him. “You brought her?”
“Trent and I had a long chat the other day when he came to visit me,” Estelle disclosed, stepping forward. “He told me you had a show this weekend, and when I mentioned that I would love to see you in action, he offered to have me brought here.”
“But you never wanted to come to my shows in the past, Mother.”
Estelle wiped some dust from her low-heeled black pumps. “Well, now I do. I need to see what it is you find so damned fascinating about this sport.”
Rayne’s eyes glided over her mother’s neatly coiffed blonde hair and perfectly made-up face. “I jumped a clear round.”
“Which means you’re up for a ribbon.” She nodded her head. “Trent told me. He explained it to me while you were in the ring.”
The clang of a pole falling inside the show ring made Trent careen his head around to see what had happened. A fat black thoroughbred had knocked a pole from the troublesome last triple fence to the ground.
“One more rider to go. You’re definitely going to place in the top two,” he pronounced.
Rayne took in the enthusiasm in his eyes. Determined to keep it professional, she tried to harden her heart against him, but it was not working.
When he saw her staring up at him, Trent cleared his throat and waved to the practice area beside them. “I’d better go and check on Selene and the other riders. They’re getting ready to start the dressage portion of the show in the back ring.”
“Sure.” Rayne situated her riding hat on the pummel of Bob’s saddle. “And thanks for the help.”
He smiled at her, but it lacked his usual sparkle. This smile was all business. “That’s my job,” he gruffly replied, and then with one last pat on Bob’s rump, he walked away.
As he ventured across the busy practice ring, his black hair bobbed about in the brisk October breeze as his short brown riding boots kicked up the dust around him. When Rayne’s eyes settled on his firm butt beneath his brown riding pants, that familiar tingle came alive in her gut.
“So you want to tell me why you ran away from him? Seems to me you’re still real interested, Raynie.”
Rayne’s right hand squeezed Bob’s reins as she confronted her mother. “Why did you tell Foster about Trent and me? From the way he told it, you were trying to get us back together.”
“Together? Ha!” Estelle cackled. “I got a hold of Foster to get information on real estate agents. He was the one who asked me about you and Trent. He went on and on about seeing you two at that party, so I told him the truth. I can’t believe he said anything to you.”
“He did more than that. He showed up at my house. Even apologized for sleeping with Connie, and pleaded for a second chance.”
Estelle’s nostrils flared. “I hope you told him to go to hell.”
Rayne’s mouth fell open. “I’m confused. Don’t you want me to get back together with my rich ex-husband?”
“No, that’s not what I want. Foster Greer never made you happy, and it’s time you find someone who does.”
“I didn’t think you cared about my happiness, Mother.”
Estelle’s shrewd blue eyes studied her. “I know I haven’t been a mother to you, Raynie. I won’t stand here and pretend we’ve had a good relationship. I wish I could take back many of the things I’ve said and done, but I can’t.” She shifted closer to her daughter. “I’m not asking you to forgive me; I don’t want that. I simply want to spend whatever time I have left trying to have a relationship with you that isn’t founded in anger.”
Rayne bit down on her lip, struggling to keep the tears from her eyes. “Why the sudden change of heart, Mother? We’ve been going toe-to-toe since the moment I was born.” She sniffled. “Why now?”
Estelle tugged at the strap of her black leather purse slung over her arm. “When Trent showed up on my doorstep and invited me to this horse show, I laughed at him, knowing you would hate having me here, but after a while he made me see that perhaps I was wrong.” She paused and watched as the last of the riders in Rayne’s event entered the ring. “He told me a lot of things about you, and…he made me realize how little I know about you. We talked for quite a while about you and him, and about my drinking. He said it was never too late to try with you, and that my biggest mistake would be not trying at all.”
Rayne played with the reins in her hand. “I can’t believe he went to see you.”
“I may be an old fool who has been blind to a lot of things in life, but I still know love when I see it.” Estelle edged her daughter’s head up. “And that man loves you.”
Rayne lowered her mother’s hand from her chin. “Even if he did love me, it can never last. He’s a man who has been with a lot of women. He’ll grow tired of me and move on, just like he has done in the past.”
“You’re wrong, Raynie. He’s a better man than Foster. Foster was only motivated to help others when it suited his needs; Trent’s not like that. He didn’t visit me with the hopes of getting the two of you back together. In fact, he never mentioned it. He did it for you. He wanted me here for you, and all the things he said were for your benefit and mine. He gained nothing by doing any of this.”
A loud crashing noise came from the center of the show ring. Rayne turned to see that the last entrant, a strawberry roan with a silver tail, had just knocked down two poles from one of the double oxer fences at the start of the course. Rayne’s heart soared with relief; she had won the event.
“Does that mean you’re the winner?”
“Yes, Mother. I’ve won the blue ribbon.”
“Congratulations. Now don’t you think there’s someone you should share this victory with?”
Rayne contemplated the green
and white barn behind her and then her eyes traveled to the back ring. In the distance, the dressage competitors were warming up outside of the white railings of their show ring.
“What if…?”
“Raynie, sometimes it takes the wrong kind of man to help you find the right one.” Estelle patted her shoulder, encouraging her onward. “You’d better go and tell him the good news.”
Rayne browsed the crowd outside of the show ring. When her eyes settled on her mother, she handed her Bob’s reins. “Here.”
Estelle was horrified. “Me?” She took the reins, eyeing the horse with utter panic. “What am I supposed to do with him?”
“Just hold him, Mother. He won’t hurt you.” Rayne took off running for the green and white stables.
“Raynie! What if he moves?” Estelle shouted.
But Rayne did not stop to reply. She ran in her black boots, feeling the rigid shoes fighting against her fluid motion. When she came to the main stables, she veered left, heading to the back show ring and the dressage events.
At the edge of the schooling field located outside of the main show ring, she scanned the plethora of horses in all shapes and colors practicing their difficult dressage routines. Trainers were scattered amid the horses, shouting instructions, while a few family and friends looked on. When Rayne caught sight of Trent’s black, wavy hair and wide shoulders on the far side of the ring, her heart lifted.
“I’m an idiot,” she softly berated, and then took off across the ring.
After ducking between horses and trainers, Rayne was within feet of Trent when a figure dressed in black stepped in front of her.
Wearing her everyday black riding breeches, black boots, and black T-shirt, Rayne was surprised Selene was not sporting the customary fitted black coat, white shirt with stock tie, and black dressage boots required in the show ring.
“My, my, what are you doing at this end of the world, Rayne?”
“You’re not dressed out? Aren’t you showing, Selene?”
Selene frowned, but quickly recovered. “I have to help—”
Trent came up to them, his gray eyes awash with worry. “What is it? Is it Bob?”
“No, it’s good news…great news,” Rayne told him. “I won. I won my event.”
His features hardened, and then he directed his attention to Selene. “Get back to Mary Anne and make sure her boots are polished before she goes in the ring,” he barked at her.
Selene’s black eyes ripped into him. “Yes, sir,” she snarled under her breath.
As she sashayed away, Rayne spotted the towel and brush tucked into the back of her jodhpurs. “Why isn’t she showing?”
“Because I made her the team groom. After all the grief she gave me, I felt a little humiliation was in order.” He offered her a businesslike smile. “You did well. I’m sure Rebecca will be pleased with your blue ribbon.”
He was about to rush back to the riders waiting for him when she touched his arm.
“I was wrong,” she blurted out.
He noted her hand on his forearm. “Wrong about what?”
She let go of his arm. “Us. You were right; I was scared. I shouldn’t have run away. I’m sorry.”
The impassive expression remained on his face. “Apology accepted. Now I have students to attend to.” He twisted away from her.
“Wait! That’s it? That’s all you have to say to me.”
He stopped and his shoulders flexed beneath his fitted white polo shirt. When he came around, the anger in his eyes terrified her.
“What else do you want, Rayne?”
She gazed about the ring, uncomfortable with the fact that a few of the riders around them were listening in on their discussion. “You know what I want, Trent.”
He eased closer to her. “No, I don’t.”
“You honestly don’t know?”
He took another step toward her, his features still cold and distant. “Perhaps you should just tell me so I can get back to work.”
She waved her hand about the ring. “Here?”
“Tell me, Rayne,” he bellowed.
“All right…I want you.”
He leaned over to her and touched his ear. “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.”
“I want you,” she exclaimed.
He brought his face right in front of hers. “I still didn’t hear you.”
“You son of a bitch,” she muttered, and then she tossed her head back and yelled, “I want you!”
Trent’s grin was slow in coming, but when it appeared, his face warmed and his eyes twinkled. “I didn’t think you had it in you.” His eyes rose to his students at the railing. “I’ll be right back,” he loudly asserted, and then took Rayne’s hand. “Come with me.”
He carted her back to the guest stables, and once beneath the shadows of the metal roof, Trent dragged her along the shaving-covered aisle to a row of tack room doors. He pushed open a door with a sign reading Southland Stables and shoved Rayne inside.
After he followed her into the tack room, he banged the door closed. “Now say that again.”
“I want you,” Rayne repeated.
“What’s changed?”
“Changed?” Rayne shrugged. “I don’t know. Before I was afraid if I got involved with you, I would end up being hurt like I was with Foster; but you’re not Foster. I know that now.”
“And what made you realize that?” His voice was tense and held none of its usual charm. “Ten minutes ago you seemed pretty dead set against getting involved with me.”
She rubbed her hands together. “Ah, Mother told me about your visit. I guess if she believes in you, then I can, too.”
“You guess?” His eyes probed her face, still not looking entirely convinced. “Now you believe in me. How do I know you won’t change your mind again, Rayne?”
“I won’t. I promise, Trent.”
His gray eyes narrowed, considering her pledge. “Prove it,” he finally said in a low rumble.
Rayne’s eyes grew wide with uncertainty. “How do I do that?”
“You’ll think of something,” he assured her as a devilish grin rose on his thin lips.
Understanding what he was alluding to, she motioned to the tack room door. “What about your students?”
“They’ll keep.”
Rayne took in his cool eyes, and then shrugged. Slowly, she eased her black riding jacket from her shoulders.
“What are you doing?” he questioned.
“Proving that I won’t change my mind.”
He cupped his hands about her face. “That’s not what I meant.”
She wrinkled her brow. “It’s not?”
“Rayne,” he softly whispered, his lips inches from hers. “Just tell me how you feel.”
How do I feel? She breathed in the scent of dust, horses, and the slightest trace of his citrusy cologne, and suddenly she knew the answer. It had been there all along, hiding behind the shadows of doubt in her heart. But now the shadows were gone, and all that was left was her love, shining through.
“I love you, Trent.”
“See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
He leaned toward her, closing in for a kiss, when she stopped him. “Wait a minute. How do you feel about me?”
He paused and his eyes took a turn of the tack room. “I thought that was obvious. I love you.”
She smiled as her heart soared with happiness. “Nothing is obvious with you, Mr. Newbury.”
“It will be from now on, Ms. Greer. I promise.”
When his lips touched hers, Rayne knew she had made the right choice. His kiss made her heart race, her palms itch, and her toes curl inside her boots. This had to be love.
Suddenly he backed away, and a speck of worry crossed his handsome features. “Where’s Bob?”
Rayne fastened her arms about his neck. “With my mother.”
Trent’s boisterous laugh bounced about the small tack room. “I want a picture of that. You’ll never hear the end of it from Estel
le.”
“She’d better start getting used to it, because I plan on going to a lot more horse shows in the future.”
His arms embraced her. “More shows? Don’t you think you should check with your master rider first?”
“Nah. I’m sure I’ll be able to talk him into it.”
He kissed her neck. “How are you going to do that?”
She tilted back from him. “Would you like me to show you?”
His hands wandered down her back until they settled over her round butt. “Yeah, show me.”
Epilogue
Rayne finished carrying the last of the boxes from her Highlander into Trent’s wide living room. Placing the cardboard box on the dining room table, she took in the disarray of boxes scattered about the open room and felt something was missing.
“That’s it for the bedroom, right?” Trent inquired as he came into the room.
“Where’s Frank?” She looked past him to the bedroom hallway.
“Pool. He’s been sitting in the shallow end since you arrived.”
Rayne waved to the patio doors. “You do realize all that hair will clog up your filters?”
Trent shrugged. “So what? If Frank’s happy, then I’m happy.”
“I give that about a week.”
Trent inspected the living room. “You’ve got a lot of stuff. Where are we going to put it all?”
“Be thankful I left the furniture with my mother.”
“How is Estelle adjusting to living in your house?”
“I think she likes it. She’s been a little down since the act of sale, but I know she prefers the money in the bank to the burden of that big old mansion.”
He slipped his arms about her. “You sure you don’t want to sell her your place?”
“Just because I’m moving in with you doesn’t mean I’m giving up my house. Maybe I’ll need it one day, if you ever get tired of me.”
He kissed her lips. “Never, baby. Besides, I don’t see you and Estelle living together. She may be sober now, but she is still Estelle.”
The Riding Master Page 25