My Forbidden Mentor

by Laura Mills

  “Lord Blackburn, I was currently on my way to Chief.”

  “What’s going on, Kurt?”

  “Sir?” Kurt responded, a little shaken.

  “I saw you lead that gelding in there. What are you gentlemen up to?”

  “Well, sir, the gelding belongs to a friend of mine and I was looking after the horse. I’ve put him in a separate place, that’s all.”

  “I see. Where’s your friend now?”

  “My friend is tending to the horse, sir. They like their privacy,” he revealed, motioning to the small building behind him.

  John’s patience began to wear. “Does your friend have a name, Kurt?”

  “Mel. It’s Mel, sir.”

  “Kurt, I’d like to talk to Mel. Can you arrange a meeting for us?” John’s suspicions grew with Kurt’s continuing agitation.

  “Well, what is it about, sir, if I may ask?”

  Yes, something strange was happening here. “I was quite impressed with his riding skills. I believe he has tremendous talent and I’d like to know his plans for the future.”

  “Sir, Mel is an amateur.”

  “Kurt, I’d like to talk with Mel myself, if I may.”

  “When, sir?”

  “As soon as he’s done tending his horse.” When Kurt stood there staggered and unmoving, John pursued further. “Are you going to let him know then?”

  “Yes, sir,” he responded with shifting eyes. “What about James?”

  “James is busy with congratulations so he can wait a moment longer,” John told him.

  Kurt sauntered through the groaning wooden door, making Melissa jump at his early arrival.

  “I thought you were caring for another rider?” she inquired, taken back by Kurt’s quick appearance.

  “I will be, but we’ve got trouble,” he responded in distress.

  “Trouble? What kind of trouble?”

  “Lord Blackburn is standing right outside this door, inquiring about you.”

  “What? Well get rid of him, Kurt.” What in the world is he so worried about she wondered as she continued brushing down her gelding.

  Kurt stepped to her side, whispering in harsh tones. “I can’t get rid of him, Mel. He’s the owner of a couple of horses I take care of. He’s a highly respected man round here.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of his title Kurt?” Melissa still couldn’t figure out what was so urgent.

  “That is beyond the point.”

  “Are you absolutely sure?” she asked, reaching for the gelding’s tail, taking long sweeps with the grooming comb.

  In defense, Kurt answered her. “I do not fancy myself being in the same circles as those superior snobs, but Lord Blackburn is different. He’s a real person, like you and me.”

  “So what does he want to talk about then?”

  “About your plans for the future. You impressed him with your riding Mel, and now he wants to talk to you about it.” Kurt sat on a splintered chair, raking his fingers through his hair. “Of all the luck, why did you have to ride so well?”

  He looked distressed and exasperated. “Forgive me for disappointing you Kurt, but that’s what I came here to do.” Now she was feeling sorry that she had put him in this position. She went over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. “Tell Lord Blackburn that I’m not interested in meeting with him and that I have another engagement I must attend.”

  “It will not be that easy with him. He sees potential in you Mel. He’ll want to train you to ride on his team. I’ve seen it happen before. That’s how he got James.”

  The grooming comb slipped from her dangling hand to the hardened dirt floor. “Train me? He’s a trainer?”

  “Yes.”

  “You didn’t tell me he was a trainer Kurt.”

  “Why would it matter?”

  “This is brilliant! In a thousand lifetimes I wouldn’t have dreamed of this kind of luck! A trainer!”

  “I don’t know what you’re rambling about Mel. It cannot work,” he informed her as he stood.

  “And you say that even though he’s “Lord Blackburn,” he’s like you and me?” After he nodded she spun around. “This is turning out splendidly.”

  “Mel, have you heard a word I’ve said?” He had to snap her out of this daydream.

  “What is it Kurt?”

  “He thinks you’re a man!”

  John waited with controlled patience, disappointed that they spoke so low he couldn’t hear. He went to lean against the building when Kurt came out. “Well?” John asked as he turned to face him.

  “Mel’s got another engagement Lord Blackburn and cannot meet with you today.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Sir?”

  “You were in there quite a long time. You must have discussed this in length?”

  “Mel has quite a lot going on,” Kurt responded, finishing with a hurried statement. “I really must be off. I need to tend James and Chief.”

  Kurt took off in a hasty stride while John stood there watching him. Then he shifted toward the door, examining it. Something mysterious was going on here. Unable to contain his curiosity John burst through the old door, intent on confronting the young man who rode in the last race. After colliding into the rump of the gelding he stepped to the side of the horse, catching the sight of a young lady in the process of disrobing.

  Hearing her gasp, John stood dumbfounded, letting the stroll of his eyes confirm the least of what he had expected to encounter. Men’s boots were drowned by over-sized trousers which were being held up by a double-looped material of sorts. She’d been in the process of lifting an oversized shirt above her head, he realized, when his gaze rested on the prettiest, daintiest belly button he’d ever seen. She must have followed his blatant stare because all of a sudden her hands were in his sight, covering her stomach while shirttails followed covering her hands, which made his eyes leap to the part of her body previously protected. It couldn’t be helped. He stared some more because further investigation verified for a fact that she had ridden in that race and almost beaten him. A leathered belt flattening her bosom exposed itself from the opening of the gaping shirt. Even though he’d already witnessed the truth self-consciousness had her hands struggling to hide herself from him. With one hand gripping at her shirttails and the other clutching her collar in a tightened grasp she looked positively devastated.

  Purposeful gray eyes trapped hers, demanding a confrontation, and hazel eyes beamed back, returning the challenge.

  “Who are you?” she asked, adding a bold gesture by raising her chin a notch.

  Brave too, John thought as the sound of her voice permeated his ears. There was an earthly attraction about her. She stood mid-height, her face free of powder and rouge, with eyes that sparkled with flashes of brown and green, and her hair, at least the few strands he could see, gleamed golden. Knowing that a female body was nestled in men’s clothing, and that same female rode like the devil, tempted him to make her the original offer he had in mind, except training with her would present a few added conditions. He trailed on that thought as he answered her. “Lord Blackburn. And who may I ask are you?”

  Upon clearing her throat, she replied, “Melissa Howard.”

  When his gaze dipped below her neck she sought to adjust the situation. “Can you turn your back, please?”

  His eyes lifted to hers. “Pardon?”

  She clutched her clothing even tighter, thinking it should be obvious what she meant. “I’d like to change my clothing.”

  “Of course.” He turned to face the door and took the opportunity to question her. “Have you performed this kind of act before?”

  “Do you mean riding in disguise?” she replied, taking her clothing off in haste.

  “Yes.”

  “No, this is my first time,” she answered while tugging her father’s over-sized boots off, sparing a glance his way to ensure he faced away from her.

  All stayed quiet for a short time until sequential grunts of fr
ustration sounded from Melissa.

  When a cuss word was mumbled in between grunts, John took a peek over his shoulder, then wished he hadn’t. At first he saw a leather strap tightening along her backside and then loosening when she finally gained release of the leather apparatus, but the last jerking effort that lent her freedom also caused a luscious side-to-side sway of her bared breasts greeting him in teasing glimpses of rounding softness. John swallowed hard and faced the wooden door again. There wasn’t any way he could train this woman. “Well you should make it your last,” he stated in a cool manner.

  What John couldn’t see was a female with a temper that flared at his bold statement, motivating her to whip a lavender dress over her head, buttons undone, just so she could face his back and scold him. “How utterly brazen of you to offer me such advice,” she voiced with fisted hands on her hips.

  “I’m not being brazen. It’s common sense,” he said with a shifting of his head.

  “Perhaps it’s common sense for the average woman being influenced by her male counterparts, but I’m not average.”

  No, indeed you’re not, John thought. “This is quite unfair, don’t you think?”

  “What am I being unfair about, Lord Blackburn?”

  “Chastising me behind my back.”

  “I’d be delighted to do it to your face my lord, but my buttons remain undone.”

  Why did she have to reveal that bit of information? He had to get out of this secluded shack with the half-dressed young woman and the horse. He shifted to check on the horse since he had nothing better to do and wished he could be half as content nibbling on scattered grain. “Can I turn around yet?” he asked, agitated.

  “One moment.”

  He listened to more shuffling before she announced that she was decent. Once he turned he didn’t waste any time giving his opinion. “If I may make a suggestion, don’t get caught again. The next person may not be as nice about it.” And with that he turned and went through the door. Was he making a mistake, not giving her a chance? Come on John, how far would you get with a female rider?

  She tried, with all her might she did, but restraint gave way. Unable to hold back any longer and knowing the possibility of seeing this man again was slim, her thoughts about his type of man came spilling forth. Not thinking of the consequences while peeking her head out of the wooden doorway, she raised her voice so he’d be sure to hear. “You seemed to be different but now I see you’re like all the other men in the world: arrogant, loathing and self centered.” Her voice kept getting louder the further he trailed away. “Against women’s rights for anything except spreading their legs and having babies, and even that is in question!”

  She’d hit a nerve, stopping him in his tracks. When he shifted back toward her with narrowed eyes, nostrils flaring, and teeth gritting, she smelled victory.

  He spoke while striding in her direction. Her head slipped back inside the wooden building the closer he got. “My advice to you was for good reason. You could get in a lot of trouble with this, and you know I’m right.” Her eyes squinted as he approached. “And as far as women’s rights, I mentioned nothing on how I feel about the subject.” His brows creased even more when he stopped in front of her. “Also, I would hope I’m not like all other men in more ways than one.” Feeling satisfied that he’d put her in her place he made to leave, but then added out of pure maleness, “And another thing: women spread willingly for me, on their own accord. There’s no forcing in that department, and I’ve had no complaints.”

  Redness claimed her honeyed cheeks and her eyes opened wide in shock. “That was more than I wanted to know about your personal life.”

  “You brought up the subject,” he tossed back.

  Her hands went to her hips. “Yes, but did you have to answer so honestly?” she said, her eyes daring his, then her gaze faltered as she tried looking away when the reality of the subject hit her again. Melissa wasn’t shy about a lot of things but when it came to sexual intimacy, her experience lacked unlike other areas of her life. Her embarrassment became overwhelming when she saw that she hadn’t hidden her reaction from him.

  It didn’t take long for John to figure out that he had an innocent young lady on his hands or that her experience seemed limited. He tried covering up the words that had already done damage. “I don’t know what came over me. I suppose I was trying to make a point,” he told her, and he looked away as well.

  “Your point was well taken,” she said with a shaken voice. There was a brief, uncomfortable silence between them until Melissa offered, “Forgive me for assuming the worst about you. It gets tiresome dealing day in and day out with the ways of the world, at least where women are concerned. I’ll try to be more careful.”

  “You know that although I haven’t any interest in causing trouble for you Miss Howard, you should be aware that there are others who wouldn’t think twice about it.”

  “I am aware of that Lord Blackburn and I appreciate your being agreeable, however, I have to be honest here and say that my main goal is recognition, whether positive or negative. I need to be noticed.”

  “I understand your reasoning but positive acknowledgment would be a much better route.”

  “And how do you propose that’s possible with the obstacles I have to face?”

  “Well, knowing someone on the inside would help. Of course, I don’t have as much power here as I do at my own track.”

  Melissa sat on the splintered chair to contain her excitement. “What are you saying, Lord Blackburn? It sounded as if you were making me an offer?”

  “I had planned on it in the beginning, when I thought you were a man.”

  “Is that all, because of my gender?”

  “Truthfully, yes.”

  “But if you have an interest in me as a rider why should my gender matter?”

  John rested against the timbered wall adjacent to the door. “Because there are certain circumstances we would have to contend with.”

  Her brows rose elegantly while she made her inquiry. “Not able to rise to the challenge, Lord Blackburn?”

  “Now who’s being brazen, Miss Howard?” he stated in interested fascination.

  “You strike me as a very determined man my lord, as in always getting what you want?” she teased.

  “You’re not only determined yourself Miss Howard, but perceptive as well.”

  “I have a proposition for you then. Why not begin training me and in that time you can decide for sure whether to have me ride for you. I will work extra hard to prove to you that a woman can ride just as well as a man.”

  He gave a short nod. “I haven’t got a doubt that you’ll ride well, my doubts lie elsewhere.” Then, with an arch of his brow, he pointed out, “Let’s say I agree with this arrangement. I begin training you and for whatever reason it doesn’t work out. What kind of reward do I get in return when you’ve just received free training?”

  “I can’t imagine that happening,” she answered.

  He chuckled, not because she was being humorous but in reaction to her persuasive argument. “Regardless I’m not giving my time away for free. I’m a busy man Miss Howard. My time is worth money.”

  “You will make your money back and then some when I win for you,” she urged.

  He inclined toward her, speaking each key word in slow deliberation. “You are the most stubborn, bold, risky woman I’ve ever met.”

  She stood and met him halfway, her face inches from his, mimicking his slow deliberation. “And you are the most cautious, logical, follow-the-rules man I’ve ever met.”

  His teeth ground together. “Follow-the-rules?” He straightened, shaking his head. “Listen, I’m not cautious.” He paused with tightened lips, not wanting to get into a battle of words with a woman he had met less than an hour ago. His head shook again as he peered at a ceiling of distorted wood, cursing aloud. “Damn my curiosity.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “I was chastising myself,” he explained, tilting h
is head in her direction.

  “I’ve got an idea.”

  He saw a fresh gleam in her eyes and his hands flew up in position, as if to stop her words from hitting him in the face. “Please, I don’t believe I want to hear this.”

  “Yes, you do. You can breed your top stallion to my mother’s mare. She has championship in her bloodlines.”

  “What are you talking about?” he asked with focused interest.

  “Insurance of payment for my training. An offspring of your top stallion.”

  “And what will your mother have to say about this?” He became fascinated at the plans she made without the knowledge of all parties involved.

  “My mother won’t, my father will. My mother has passed on,” she informed him in a low voice.

  John sympathized quickly. “I see. I’m sorry about your mother.”

  She formed the beginnings of a smile. “It’s fine. You didn’t know. And don’t worry about my father, I’ll take care of him.”

  He studied her for a moment. This was becoming complicated. “I don’t like the sound of that.” he said in weary contemplation.

  But his doubts only boosted her confidence. “My father will back me. He’s behind me in all that I do.”

  It was his turn to smile. “Including being here at a racetrack by yourself, and now alone with a man in an abandoned shack?”

  Her features sent a flash of defeat. “All right, I admit he might be unknowing about my little adventure today and being alone with you. That might raise some questions.” He sent her a smile of delight. “But he will understand once I explain it to him,” she added.

  His face went serious again. “And what if you were caught today? You would’ve needed to be bailed out. You don’t think your father would not have become aware of this?”

  “Yes, but it didn’t happen.”

  He stared at her in amazement. “First of all, your idea of breeding our horses will not work because it has to be approved, and it won’t be approved in time because Chief isn’t a champion yet, but besides that, there’s a lot to think about here. I’m not making sudden decisions on something like this, and I don’t particularly care for the fact that your father is unaware. There would already be enough sneaking around. I don’t want to include your father in that.”