Even Rebecca’s lesson earlier in the week had been a surprising delight. She’d taken to jumping as if she’d been doing it for months, and Jill was still astounded. Now, the promise of a gorgeous afternoon spent with Chase, giving sweet Jamie Barnes the desire of her heart, drove from her mind all thoughts that anything could ruin her life.
Her only uncertainty came from the pages of notes she’d made while researching techniques for teaching physically challenged riders. She was so far from being an expert, and her main concern was keeping the teen safe. She wished she could magically absorb her sister’s expertise for the day.
She dressed for the clinic, grabbed a yogurt and orange juice from the empty kitchen, and headed for The Creature. In a fit of goodwill she stroked its side mirror. The Suburban had run without incident or breakdown all summer—one of its longest healthy stretches since Jill had bought it. She tossed her notebooks onto the passenger seat, climbed in, and frowned at a white envelope taped to the steering wheel. With her brows scrunched, she pulled out a sheet of paper covered with Dee’s rounded, feminine handwriting.
Jill—
Yesterday I finally managed to reach a colleague who works in therapeutic riding. Here are some ideas she had for your first few lessons. Add them to your own plans if they make sense. The biggest rule, I was told, is don’t do too much too fast. I put a couple things in your backseat. I need to return them in two weeks, but try them before you invest in anything expensive.
Good luck,
Dee
The enclosed list was elegantly simple. Several suggestions matched what Jill had come up with, but the sample first lesson was far less advanced than what she had planned. Each exercise focused on confidence, not riding skill, and the wisdom was obvious.
After reading all the notes, Jill craned her neck to check behind her. There was a wide, leather strap that cinched around a horse’s belly. The vaulting surcingle sported two solid handles for a rider to grip. There was also a molded plastic saddle seat permanently attached to a heavy foam pad. It had stirrups and a horn but was light, smooth, and free of seams or buckles.
Tears welled in Jill’s eyes without warning or hope of being stopped. “Dee,” she whispered, and a dull pain from something wounded deep inside eased, as if it had received a healing touch.
CHASE EXITED THE arena, leaving Jill and Michael in charge of the lesson. The past half hour he’d walked on one side of Jamie astride Sun, while her father walked on the other. Side walkers, Jill called them, their job to steady and encourage Jamie as needed. Not that enthusiasm was in short supply. Jamie’s face glowed in equal parts rapture and concentration as she gripped the surcingle handles to keep her balance on Sun’s broad back. She’d figured it out quickly, though, and all she needed now was her father.
Chase took a spot along the fence not far from Robert, Becky, and Gypsy, whom Becky had ridden for fun. Angel came to sit beside him, and he knelt to pat her, not noticing the Miata until he heard the click of its door swinging open. He turned to the sight of Dee easing her long legs out of the sports car’s sleek, crimson body.
Half the summer had passed since he’d seen her. To his surprise, she closed the car door and stood for a moment, looking not cocksure as he remembered her, but hesitant.
The old Dee, right down to the purr, instantly resurfaced, however, when she spied him. “Hi there, stranger.”
“Hey, Dee. Haven’t seen you since we gave a dog a bath.”
“Ah. For which you still owe me since Elaina never found out.” She arched a brow. “This is her?” Angel approached and thumped her tail on the ground. Dee reached for her head. “She certainly looks different. What a pretty dog.”
“She’s a little fatter and a lot sassier. Jill’s taken good care of her.”
He braced for a caustic reply, but if anything, Dee’s pretentiousness faded a little and she pointed toward the arena. “How’s the lesson going?”
“Admittedly, we’re new at this.” Chase paused. “But look—kid can’t keep a smile off her face.
Jill had Jamie reaching—up, sideways, cross-ways—and Jamie clearly thought it worth all the effort she had to muster in order to find balance. Dee’s gaze came to rest on huge Gypsy standing placidly at the log hitching rail.
“What’s up with the Clyde?”
“Creative teaching, I guess you could say,” he said with pride. “Miss Becky there is Jamie’s sister. This all started with her, and she has a real talent for irritating the good mood out of anyone she meets. But a little girl on a big horse loses her attitude problem right quick.”
“A draft horse for riding lessons.” Dee returned her eyes to Jill. “She’s a good teacher, isn’t she?”
He nodded. “A gifted teacher.”
“And a good rider. And an A-student. Is she really giving up vet school?”
“She’s fighting with that decision.”
“Jill’s dream is to do what will make everyone else happy.”
“I keep trying to convince her to make herself happy.”
Dee held his eyes, and her measuring look embarrassed him, until she broke into a grin. “You love her.”
Denial was pointless. “Yeah. God help her but I’m afraid I do.”
Dee stiffened. “God help her? She touches something and it’s an instant success. It’s always been that way. She doesn’t need help.”
“You know something?” Chase crossed his arms over his chest and nodded at Jill. “I think you’re as stubborn as she is. And you’re both scared.”
“Of what?” Dee scoffed.
“Look what you did for her today. It wasn’t necessary. And you don’t have to be here—but you are. You both care, yet you won’t give up the hostility, and Jill won’t give up the hurt. I think you’re afraid you might like each other.”
“There’s a lot of resentment between us.” Dee remained stoic. “I’m not sure I’m ready to forget it all.”
“Not ready to forget it or not ready to admit it was never justified?”
“You know?” Resentment tinged her voice. “You’re a little prejudiced. After all, she won you. I left you cold.”
“When you and I first met, you were all over me like a hound on a hunk of steak, but you weren’t showing me the real you. Maybe the biggest difference between you and Jill is that she was honest.”
As soon as the words escaped, Chase’s guilt clutched at him with familiar tenacity. He averted his face. “Not that I should be lecturing on honesty. It hasn’t really been my strong suit this summer either.”
“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to explain?”
He considered it. Explaining Tiana to someone whose opinion didn’t really matter seemed like a great dress rehearsal.
“I would. But it’s an explanation I owe to Jill first.”
“You aren’t wanted for something dreadful, are you?” she teased.
Not wanted, but not a free man either. “No, but a fugitive of sorts.”
“Enough. No more cryptic puzzles if you aren’t providing answers.” She looked back to the lesson where Jamie was laughing. “I’ve got to get back to the hospital. I just wanted to make sure she—”
“I wish you’d talk to her.”
“It sounds like an excuse, but I honestly do have a patient coming that I couldn’t reschedule. I’m not sure what to say yet anyway.”
“Try, ‘You did a good job, Jill.’ ”
“I will. I’ll tell her, I promise.”
“Don’t let the time get by you. Don’t waste any more years.”
He walked her to her car and sent her off with a cheery thumbs-up, but the pall of unfinished business hung like Minnesota humid air around him. A huge gap had closed between the sisters, but it was difficult to watch the healing process without wishing for an instant cure.
He returned to the ring and was immediately part of a rowdy celebration. Jamie, still mounted, was outside the arena, chattering like a world traveler.
“Did you see me,
Chase? I’m so free!”
“I saw everything, honey. I’m real proud of you.”
“I’m prouder of both you ladies than I can say,” Jill echoed. “Here, Becky, will you take Sun’s reins?”
“Sure.”
Chase grinned when Rebecca jumped, then consciously masked her enthusiasm. She continued silently, but couldn’t manage to keep a bored look in place. He watched the girls, struck at the irony of Jamie and Becky’s relationship in light of his talk with Dee.
Chase spoke little as the girls performed their final tasks, but the warmth of Jill’s gaze and the repeated brush of her hand on his arm filled him with confidence and resolve. He was looking forward to telling her everything tonight and, when she reacted as he’d made himself trust she would, figuring out the future. Minnesota. Florida. It didn’t matter. He’d follow her, and he never needed to return to Memphis once Jill knew what had happened. He could do other things besides practice medicine—he’d proved that. His stomach danced with trepidation, but he forced away the urge to give in to fear.
As soon as the Barnes’s Explorer had disappeared up the driveway and Robert had headed to the house for a nap, Chase grabbed Jill in the aisle of the barn and whirled her into a deep, hard kiss. She joined in eagerly, weakening his knees as she probed the warm secrets of his mouth.
“Was it worth the emotion, this super-lesson of yours today?” he asked when they parted.
“Every bit of it.”
“Ready to celebrate? Dinner tonight? A real dinner—no pizza, no fortune cookies, no prying eyes at the Loon Feather. Come with me to the cities. Maybe we’ll stay overnight. There’s a dive in Minneapolis I’ve heard about called Murray’s.”
“Chase! That’s one of the most expensive steak houses in the Twin Cities.”
“A little pampering after such a big success would be a good thing,”
“I never knew my guy was hiding such a romantic streak,” she teased. “What about Robert?”
“He’ll babysit the dog. In fact, reservations are made.”
“Pretty certain of yourself.”
“That’s what I’d like you to think.”
“If I hustle Sun to Bridge Creek, then run home and shower, I can be back here by four.”
“Need help?”
“With the horse or the shower?” Impishly she snaked her arms up and over his shoulders. “One shower would be environmentally more responsible.”
He growled and grasped her bottom, pulling her against him and lowering his mouth to her ear. “If I thought for a second Robert would sleep soundly enough—”
The snap and crunch of tires on the driveway gravel broke their clinch, and they spun to the most unwelcome sight of Jim Krieger’s green Navigator.
“What is with that man?” Jill didn’t bother to hide her grimace when the Lincoln stopped and the door opened, depositing Krieger in their path.
“Preston. Miss Carpenter,” he said. “Good afternoon.”
“It was,” Chase replied. “What are you doing here?”
He thought he knew. Krieger had to know by now Chase had brought his suspicions to Connery.
“Protecting my company. Finishing some business with your landlord.”
“I thought we made it clear that your dealings with Mr. McCormick are done.”
“You don’t speak for Robert McCormick any more now than you did before.”
“Robert isn’t available,” Jill said, her voice calm, her face tightly furious.
“You’ll excuse me if I knock on the door myself? Robert McCormick handled his business fine before you two started playing watchdog for him.” Krieger headed for the porch without a word about accusations.
“He’s sleeping.” Chase reached for Krieger’s arm. “He’s eighty-two years old, and he worked hard this afternoon.”
Krieger spun and jabbed his finger to within inches of Chase’s face. “I am not letting you pull shit like that out of the air anymore. Push hard enough and I’ll squash you.”
“Knock on that door and I’ll lay you out before you can squash a bug.”
“Never mind.” Robert’s stony voice stopped the argument.
Krieger smirked. “Nice try, Preston.”
“The boy wasn’t lyin’,” Robert growled. “I don’t sleep well with vermin runnin’ around in my yard.”
“Look, Mr. McCormick, it’s come to our attention that you’ve been to see your lawyer and perhaps changed some things in your will. The company feels that it’s our right to—”
“It ain’t any of your ‘right to’ anything.” Chase caught Jill’s questioning look, but he could only shrug. “How do you come to know what I do in my lawyer’s office? That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
Krieger didn’t blink. “We make it our business to know anything that could affect the future of our company.”
“My farm don’t affect your goddamn company.” Robert’s voice stretched into a higher pitch like an over-tightened piano wire. Angel whined, slipped through Jill’s legs, and moved to sit at Robert’s feet. “Now get off of my property.”
“I’ll leave, McCormick, but don’t do anything rash.” Krieger slid his oily gaze to Chase. “As for you. I assume you’ve told these good people about a certain Miss Washington?” He laughed when Chase said nothing. “Oh yes, Mr. Preston. I’ve had quite an interesting few weeks of research into your rather checkered past.”
Chase’s head swam dangerously. He could handle Krieger revealing his secret, but having him say Tiana’s name was having him too close. A tic pulsed at the corner of his mouth.
JILL SET A hand on Chase’s forearm, worried about the hard lines formed in his features.
“That’s enough,” Robert interjected. “Shut your mouth, Krieger, and get the hell off my land before I shoot you off. And if you threaten this boy again you’d better damn well have a lawyer in your back pocket.” He waved his sprightly arms like a riled banty hen and took three steps toward Krieger. “Now go on. Get out.”
The whole sight would have been comical if it hadn’t been for Robert’s florid face in stark contrast to Chase’s pallor. For an instant Jill didn’t know who to be most concerned about.
“Robert, Robert,” she called finally and tugged on his arm. “He’s leaving. It’s all right.”
“Son of a bitch,” Robert spat, not bothering to apologize as he usually did when his language slipped in front of Jill.
“He’s all talk, Robert, you’ve said it yourself.”
“You have no right, you hear me? You cheating son of a bitch …” Robert ignored her and took one more step toward Krieger, but he was suddenly the pale one, and sweat broke out on his forehead before Jill’s eyes.
“Robert. Stop!”
Slowly he shook his head and then rubbed at his chest.
“Robert?” Chase snapped out of his trance and grasped Robert’s shoulders. “What is it?”
“I’m fine, just indigestion.”
“Come on. Sit down,” Chase said firmly.
Jill helped him guide their friend to a seated position on the lawn.
“Stop fussin’.” Robert’s voice carried none of its normal pepper. He rubbed harder at his left shoulder.
Chase’s voice grew calm, almost mesmerizing.
“Robert,” he coaxed. “Tell me where you hurt. Don’t brush it off. I need to know.”
“Shoulder, chest, stomach mostly. Feels like the flu. Damn sudden.” Robert coughed and grimaced, then clutched at his stomach and moaned. “Just churned up that hotdish I had at lunch. That’s all it is.”
“Maybe, maybe,” Chase soothed. “Don’t worry now, we’ll get you some help.”
“Don’t need …”
Leaning swiftly onto one elbow, Robert bent to the ground and vomited. When he was finished Chase laid him flat, then turned him expertly onto one side.
“Jill, there’s a blanket in The Creature. Krieger, quit hyperventilating and get the cooler over by the fence.”
Jill’s first flush of panic calmed. She knew what was happening and she followed Chase’s instructions, thinking what they’d do for animal in shock. When she returned with the blanket, Robert lay on his back moaning softly, and Chase had two fingers pressed against his neck. Krieger set the cooler full of water next to him.
“You know exactly what to do, don’t you.” Krieger’s voice, even in the midst of the crisis, held derision and threat. Chase didn’t spare him so much as a glance.
“Shut up, Krieger. You stand there until I need you. Don’t you move a damned muscle.”
Jill unfolded the blanket and spread it over Robert’s legs. Chase wet Robert’s handkerchief with the cooler water and wiped his mouth, then squeezed some liquid past his dry lips.
“Okay, honey,” he said to Jill. “Sit here and keep him calm and warm. I’m going right over there to call 911. He doesn’t need to hear me.”
She nodded and bent low over Robert. “You’re going to be fine, I promise.” She stroked his thick white hair. “Chase is getting help.”
Tears beaded in her eyes at Robert’s unmistakable discomfort. She pulled the blanket up to his chin and tucked it tight around his body. His forehead was clammy, his hair in disarray. She smoothed it again, and he began rolling his head restlessly.
“Robert?”
His eyes flew open, and he forced one hand free to clutch at his chest. After several desperate gasps, his body went first rigid, then limp. Horrified, Jill waited five, ten, fifteen seconds but Robert’s chest didn’t rise again. Now she felt the hole in her training. This was a human, not a horse.
“Chase!” she screamed, but he’d disappeared around the house.
It had been far too long since her one CPR course. She begged Krieger with her eyes. “Do you know CPR?”
“From a very long time ago.”
Compressions first? Breathing first? She placed her hands on Robert’s breastbone.
Chase appeared beside her, and Jill nearly cried in relief. “He’s stopped breathing.”
“Robert?” Chase knelt beside their friend’s ear and shook him firmly. “Robert, can you hear me?” There was no response. “Damn it, Robert, no.”
Rescued by a Stranger Page 27