“Let’s just say that I’m definitely over the whole, college party scene.” That seemed safe enough to say without having to hand out too many details. “Where’s Grandpa this morning?”
“Probably out in the barn with Mr. Harris and Liam. Mr. Harris came by to see the buckskin rescue again. He says there’s an opening spot in an auction weekend after next. It’s a couple hours from here.”
“Is the horse going?” I asked.
“Liam says he’s ready, and we could definitely use a little extra money and one less mouth to feed.” Grandma shrugged. “There’s this quaint little restaurant there on the riverbank if I remember correctly. Good food,” she recalled.
“You and Grandpa should both go,” I suggested. “I can definitely handle the farm for a couple of hours. Besides, when’s the last time the two of you actually did something fun?”
“We’re old, we don’t have time for fun,” she chided.
“I disagree. I think being old gives you the right to have an endless amount of fun.” I teased her, and she scowled at me in return. “Seriously Grandma, you should go.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said.
“And speaking of extra mouths to feed… I kind of had something I wanted to talk to both you and Grandpa about.”
“Yes?” she inquired.
“It’s about Maverick,” I said. “I know we haven’t exactly discussed my future here, but I’ve been doing some thinking. I really enjoy working with the animals; it makes me feel like I have purpose–like I’m doing something for the greater good. I feel like I’ve been searching for the path that I’m meant to be on, and I think this is it.” I looked up at her, deciphering her expression.
Grandma had her arms extended out on the table, hands folded together. “How long have you been thinking about this?” she asked.
“A while now,” I said. I had actually done quite a bit of research since Liam and I had talked last week on the beach. “I want to train him, Grandma, and prove to myself that I can be good at something. Maverick and I are a team, and apart from working with the animals, I also want to keep him,” I said. I could feel my features scrunching up in anticipation of her response.
Grandma straightened in her chair, resembling a pole. I imagined she was wearing a corset and sitting up like that was the only way she could breathe.
“Grandma?”
“You’ll need to talk with your mother of course,” she started, and I cracked a smile. “You know that we’d love for you to stay here with us, but I’ll have my own conditions–”
“I’ll go back to school,” I told her. “I’ve already enrolled in an equine science program that HU offers. I start fall semester. And–I’ve already talked to mom about going back to school, anyway. She’s fine with that part.”
She looked surprised. “Oh.”
“Yeah, I’m serious about this,” I said.
Grandma smiled. “I’ll discuss everything with your grandfather, but, you really need to talk things over with your mom and make sure she’s okay with your decision to stay here while you’re finishing school.”
“I will,” I told her. “You won’t regret this.” I sat Luna on the empty chair beside me, and pushed out from the table before she could change her mind. “I’m heading out to the barn,” I said, snatching an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter.
“Lunch at noon,” she called after me, but I was already on the porch. Mr. Harris’ truck was pulling out of the drive by the time I reached the barn.
“Morning,” I called out. I felt extra cheery now that I had talked with Grandma about my future plans.
“Hey.” Liam turned and smiled at me. “Looks like this guy might be getting a new home in a couple of weeks.”
“I heard,” I said, reaching over to pet the buckskin. “Where’s Grandpa?”
“Already working on the tractor,” Liam said. “I offered to help him, but he says he has everything under control.”
“Naturally,” I said.
“So how’s Beck doing after last night?”
“She was definitely feeling it this morning,” I said. “I gave her a couple of pain killers and told her to sleep it off. She’s supposed to call me later.”
Liam nodded.
“Were you really out that way last night?” I asked him, thinking back to the conversation we had had in the hallway of the Frat house.
“I don’t live very far from there,” he said, “but I wasn’t exactly in the neighborhood.”
“I didn’t think so,” I said.
“Were you upset that I came?” he asked. I looked up, meeting his gaze. His eyes were soft today, hooded by the thick veil of dark lashes.
“No, of course not. Surprised maybe, but not upset.”
“Beck mentioned the phrase ‘Frat party’ and I’ll admit I was little concerned about your well-being.”
I looked away, biting at the inside of my lip to keep from smiling. I liked that he had been concerned.
“It wasn’t so great,” I said. “Some guy that smelled like he bathed in a bottle of cologne tried to kiss me though.”
“Oh, well, there’s that.” Liam chuckled. “You didn’t though, did you?”
“Kiss him? Oh God no.” I laughed. “The smell literally made me nauseous.”
“His loss, I’ll bet,” Liam said.
I looked up at him, struggling with an overpowering urge to wrap my arms around his neck–but I refrained.
“Are you ready to get to work with Maverick?” he asked me.
“Definitely.”
***
Liam decided to use the buckskin–or, Clipper–as he had been calling him, as part of an experiment. The basic idea was to tack up Clipper with Maverick standing close by, so he could see that nothing bad would happen when the saddle was put on. Clipper was an easy horse to work with. He was a little on the dopey side, laid back and eager to please. Maverick stayed calm during the whole process, nibbling on carrot sticks while Liam put all the riding gear on Clipper.
“Go ahead and put the saddle pad on Maverick,” Liam suggested, and I did as I was told with ease.
“He doesn’t have an issue with this part,” I said. “It’s just the saddle. I’ve been toying with a few different ideas this week, trying to figure out why he’s so traumatized. The best I can come up with is that whatever happened is linked to his flank scar. I think he might have been used in the rodeo, and he’s associating the saddle with pain.” I shook my head, thinking maybe this was a lost cause after all.
“That’s it!” he exclaimed.
“What did I say?” I was completely puzzled.
“Maybe we don’t need the saddle.”
“What?”
“Just go with me on this for a minute,” he said, dropping Clipper’s reins. He walked over to where I was standing and interlocked his fingers together, making a giant oval shape with his arms. He bent slightly, and waited for me to respond. I realized he was trying to give me a leg-up.
“Liam, I don’t know if I can.” My voice was low; hesitant. “I can’t bend normally, remember?”
“We can do this.” He sounded so certain. “Just grab ahold of his mane and take the reins in your left hand–use your right hand for balance when I push you up.”
“I don’t know if I can,” I repeated, looking up at Maverick’s height.
“Just try,” he said encouragingly. “If it hurts and you can’t do it, then I’ll be right here to lower you back down.”
I had lost count of the number of times I had ran my hands over the top of Maverick’s back, pushing into the
muscles there. It had never seemed to bother him; I was sure he would let me climb up. We had developed a mutual bond of trust over the last month and a half, and I knew this would work. If only I could actually pull it off with my leg being in the condition it was in.
“Okay,” I agreed. “Don’t drop me.”
“Impossible,” Liam responded, intertwining his hands once more.
I reached up, gripping Maverick’s mane and reins firmly in my left hand. I took a deep breath and lifted my left leg, planting my foot in the makeshift stirrup Liam’s hands had created and pushed upward. My right hand skimmed across Maverick’s back as Liam lifted me up and over; his hand slipped lower on my hip as I transitioned over the top until there I was–sitting upright.
“Oh my God,” I croaked, a smile spreading over my face. “I can’t believe it.”
“How do you feel?” Liam stepped back and smiled.
I shook my head, searching for a word that could describe the rush of emotions that were circling through my being. “Incredible,” I said, leaning forward to pat Maverick on the neck. He turned his head over his shoulder to acknowledge me, and snorted softly.
“Good. See if you can guide him by using the reins. Try not to move your feet.”
I nodded, and adjusted the reins in my hands, pulling gently in a backward motion. It had been a long time since I had ridden, but some things you don’t forget–like riding a bike. Once you have it down, it’s always there; innate and under the surface. Maverick moved backward effortlessly, and let me guide him in a circle around the arena. I gently tugged the reins to the right, and turned Maverick in a circle at the center of the arena, and then a circle to the left.
“He’s responding beautifully,” I said.
“Did you ride a lot as a kid?” Liam asked.
“Oh sure, I mean just trail riding stuff though. I never competed in anything.”
“You look like a natural out there,” he said.
“Thanks,” I said. I was so giddy with adrenaline and contentment that I couldn’t erase the smile from my face. I dropped the reins and lifted my arms in the air, laughing. The wind had picked up, swirling my hair around my face. I was certain that in all my life, I had never felt freer. Running be damned. I was never coming down from this high.
And then her car came rolling down the drive.
Chapter Fifteen
“Who is that?” Liam asked, nodding toward the Subaru.
“It’s my mom,” I said.
My mom had parked her car beside mine, and hopped out from the driver’s side door. She was wearing a simple pair of gray slacks and a basic white T-shirt tucked into the waistband. She looked refreshed–tan, even. Apparently the West Coast had done her complexion some good.
“Mom, hi,” I said as she approached the railing. I hoped I hadn’t sounded as surprised as I felt to see her here.
“Look at you, Darcy, wow! I don’t remember you mentioning that you were riding in your emails?” She frowned. The frown was quickly dismissed, and replaced by a smile.
“It just happened,” I said. “When did you get in?”
“Early,” she said. “I know I said I wasn’t supposed to be home for another couple of weeks, but, I was just missing you so much. They gave me a two-week vacation.”
“That’s great,” I said. “I really missed you, too.”
“Well aren’t you going to get down from there and give your mother a hug?” she crooned.
“Oh, right, yes.” I shifted slightly, looking around for Liam who was quietly standing beside Clipper on the opposite railing. “A little help, please?”
“Right.” Liam moved forward and looked up to meet my eyes. “Lean into me and I’ll lower you down,” he said, reaching to grip me under the arms as I leaned down. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he carefully lowered me from Maverick’s back, and then my feet were on the ground.
I let go a little more quickly than I would have liked to otherwise, and walked over to the swing-gate where my mom was standing, and gave her a hug. She smelled like the airport and sunshine.
“I missed you so much,” she said, cupping my cheek in her hand.
“Mom, this is Liam,” I said, introducing him. I felt his presence behind my shoulder without turning to know he was there.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, looking up to meet his eyes. “I’m Laura.”
“Pleasure is mine, ma’am,” he said politely. I felt my stomach flitting at the friendly southern formality. I wondered if she thought his demeanor was overkill, or if she was instantly sucked into his charming appeal like I had been.
“I could really use some coffee,” Mom said.
“Oh, shoot,” I said, bringing a hand to my forehead. “Grandma said lunch was at noon, what time is it?”
Liam lifted his wrist. “A quarter till,” he said. “You didn’t miss it.”
“Are you staying?” I asked him.
Liam’s eyes flickered from mine to my mother’s, and then back to mine before he answered. “I still have some work to do out here, but I brought my lunch today. You should catch up with your mom.”
“Yeah, okay,” I said. “See you later.”
“It was so nice meeting you Liam.” My mother grinned, and then linked her arm through mine as she began walking toward the back porch. “Your hair is straightened,” she noted, “I love it.”
“Thanks, my friend Beck did it.”
“I feel like there’s something different about you,” she said. “Other than your hair, I just can’t quite put my finger on it.”
“It’s just the same ole me,” I said, reaching for the door handle.
“Something has changed,” she said, pondering. “I’ll think of it.”
I pulled the door open, and the scent of a strong vegetable and beef soup was drifting through the air.
“You’re just in time for–” Grandma turned, nearly dropping the towel she was using to dry her hands. “Laura, what a surprise!” Grandma recovered quickly with a smile, and walked over to embrace her. “I thought you weren’t supposed to be back for another couple of weeks, is everything all right?”
“Everything is fine, Mother. I’ve been given a two week leave.”
“Sit, sit.” Grandma pulled a chair out from the table, gesturing for Mom to take a seat. “Are you hungry? I made stew and I just put on a fresh pot of coffee.”
“Yes, both sound good, but you don’t need to wait on me.”
Luna waddled into the kitchen, followed by Grandpa who was smiling from ear-to-ear when he saw my mom sitting at the table. “Laura, it’s good to see you,” he said, giving her a hug. I waited as everyone exchanged pleasantries, and then I helped Grandma set lunch on the table. Grandpa said Grace, and we all sat down to a nice warm meal and casual conversation. I listened while Mom filled everyone in on her trip to Phoenix and her job at the nursing home. She seemed happy–lighter, somehow.
I was glad to see my mother, but the surprise of her being back so soon meant that I was going to have to come up with a way to explain my decision to stay on the farm when I went back to HU in the fall. I felt torn, thinking of her going back to our big empty house all alone. I didn’t want that for her, either.
“Darcy, are you all right? You seem distraught.” Grandma pointed this out from across the table.
“Oh, I’m fine,” I answered.
The phone rang, and I was grateful for the distraction as Grandma got up from the table to answer it. Grandpa was clearing his plate at the sink, and filling a thermos with coffee to take with him outside.
“So,” Mom said, “tell me more about
the festival you mentioned in your email. It sounds like a lot of fun.”
“It’s this weekend,” I said. “We’re baking a lot of pies–”
“Sorry about that,” Grandma interrupted, returning to the kitchen. “Mary called about my garden bulbs and said they’re in and ready to be picked up.”
“That was fast,” Grandpa said. “You just ordered those last week.”
“The sooner, the better,” Grandma said.
I pushed out from the table and started gathering the dirty dishes to take to the sink. I set aside a few scraps of beef for Radar, and reached for the rag that was draped over the faucet.
“Want some help?” Mom asked, tucking a stray piece of fly-away hair behind her ear as she stood beside me.
“Sure,” I said, smiling.
“I love that my girls are both here with me,” Grandma said. “Laura, do you remember that we used to do this when you were little?”
“Fondly,” Mom answered with a hint of sarcasm.
“It’s nice to be together like this anyway,” Grandma said, ignoring her. “I don’t know what your plans are for the week Laura, but Darcy and I are making pies for the Spring Beach Festival this weekend, and it would be nice if you could stay and help us. You used to enjoy baking.”
“Oh I suppose I could stick around and help out. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a festival of any kind.”
“Terrific,” Grandma exclaimed. “I’ll make up a place for you upstairs in your old bedroom so you don’t have to share that small bed with Darcy. I think I still have an air mattress tucked away somewhere.” She left the kitchen, her words fading after her as she moved through the living room and disappeared up the stairs.
“Oh, well, I haven’t been home in weeks…”
“Luke is watching the place,” I said. Although he still hadn’t returned any of my texts, so for all I knew, he was still mad at me. I pictured our mailbox at the end of the drive, overflowing with envelopes.
“Is he speaking with you now?” Mom asked softy.
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