Sneaking into the barn undiscovered was a challenge. She had taught the dogs to walk quietly next to her, a game they seemed to understand and happily engage in. Sometimes the mist was so thick, even Top Hat couldn’t see them, but by nine o’clock in the morning, it had usually burned off and the barn was quiet again.
Chris finished with her vacuuming, put the upright away, and began dusting. After a while, Cagney came back downstairs with her head low and her tail swaying from side to side.
“Hi, little one,” Chris said as the Lab walked meekly toward her. She set aside her cleaning rag and spray and sat down on the floor.
Cagney squinted and pulled her lips back. She trotted to Chris, wagging her tail fiercely, and traded a belly rub and a hug for a big slurp up the side of Chris’s face. Cedar and Sadie quickly joined them. All three dogs walked over her lap, taking turns licking her face. They suddenly stopped and looked at her expectantly. Their ears were perked and butts wiggling.
“I know what you beasties want. Can’t you wait until I’m done cleaning?” Chris laughed and tried in vain to dodge wagging tails and wet kisses.
The dogs responded by dancing around her. Cedar ran to the door, turned to look at Chris, and ran back. The three dogs sat down and stared at Chris, waiting for her to give them the word. She finally gave in, got up, threw the dusting rag into the laundry room, and put away the spray.
“All right, all right. It’s probably warm enough by now. Let’s go swimming.”
The dogs whined impatiently as they waited for the much slower Chris to let them out. She slipped on her sandals and sunglasses and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. After wading through the small throng of dogs, she reached the door and opened it. The girls raced across the yard and down the path.
“You could at least wait for me,” Chris called after them.
The dogs paused long enough to look back and then took off as fast as they could. Chris entered the woods soundlessly, stepped off the trail, and hid behind a tree. She didn’t have much of a wait before the dogs noticed her absence and turned around. She heard them long before she saw them. The three dogs ran past her in a blur. She had to work hard to stifle her giggles.
Sadie came to a halt before the two Labs noticed. The Jack Russell turned around abruptly and trotted up to Chris, where she stood wagging her little stump of a tail. Chris sat down on a log and motioned for Sadie to jump into her lap. The two sat stock-still until the Labs finally backtracked. Relying on their noses, they discovered the duo’s hiding place.
For a few minutes, Chris sat quietly with the dogs, enjoying the faint whisper of wind in the trees and the sun shining bright in a cloudless sky. The day moon made a spot of bright white against the blue. The tamaracks were just beginning to turn gold before they lost their needles. A flash of goldenrod complemented the red and yellow maple and birch leaves. As the sun’s rays made their way to the leaf-covered ground, the smell of the woods was intoxicating.
Although the summer warblers had long since migrated south, a fair amount of birdsong could still be heard in the branches above her. Chickadees fluttered in the pine trees, competing with gray squirrels for seeds. Across the trail, a Nuthatch made its way down the bark of a young oak tree, undoubtedly looking for any remaining summer bugs.
“Good girls,” Chris said when she returned her attention to the dogs. “Okay, let’s go.” Cagney, Cedar, and Sadie were up and away like a shot. Lap vacated, Chris sauntered the remaining distance to the pond. A few Canada Geese had been grazing the short grass, minding their own business, before the dogs came bounding in. The birds honked their annoyance, heaved their bodies into flight, and quickly disappeared.
Chris relaxed as she walked to the water’s edge. She slipped off her sandals, tested the water, and let it cover her feet. She smiled in satisfaction as she felt the sun-warmed water. She took a step back and pulled her T-shirt over her head, exposing her breasts.
She unzipped her jeans and let them and her boxer shorts slip down her legs to the ground. She lifted her feet out of the pile of shed clothing and waded into the water, relishing the way it softly enveloped and caressed her body. Standing there with her eyes closed, all thoughts and cares melted away.
After a moment or two, she pulled herself through the pond, passing over a couple of small springs before finally treading water to stay afloat.
The Labs had finished playing and sat waiting in the grass. Sadie meandered through the cattails, looking for frogs, no doubt. Chris took her time swimming back to the shore. She stood and drops of water clung to her cooling skin. She walked over to Cedar and Cagney. “Can I share that spot with you guys?”
The Labs didn’t move as Chris lay down in the grass between them. The sunlight dried her damp body, and she warmed up quickly. She folded her hands behind her head, stretched out flat on the ground and relaxed, completely at ease.
She closed her eyes. She had been working so hard the past few weeks; it didn’t take long for her to fall fast asleep.
* * *
Mary Jo knocked three times and got no answer. She turned around and scanned the farm for signs of Chris. A movement caught her eye across a field. She stood watching as Sadie trotted out of the woods toward her. “So, we meet again,” she said, acknowledging the little dog as she approached. “Where’s your mom?”
As if understanding the question, Sadie turned and started down the trail. Apparently sensing Mary Jo’s hesitation, she stopped and waited for her.
“All right, I guess you want me to follow you.” Mary Jo remained a bit uncertain. She had no idea where the dog might be leading her.
Sadie continued down the path.
“I don’t know where you’re taking me, little dog, but it sure is beautiful through here.” Mary Jo admired the fall colors while she walked behind Sadie.
They broke through the tree line, and Mary Jo stopped abruptly when she caught sight of a sleeping woman in the grass. Two familiar Labs stayed next to the woman, unmoving except for wagging tails. Sadie quietly joined them and sat down.
Mary Jo stared. The woman was Chris, and Chris was naked.
She couldn’t stop staring at the perfect, tanned body in front of her. Her mouth went dry, and her mind went blank as she lost her ability to look away.
Chris’s breasts, while not small—maybe slightly more than a handful, she thought—were perfect. A firm abdomen accentuated her faultless physique.
Oh, my God, she’s beautiful. Mary Jo couldn’t get her feet to move, and suddenly her predicament struck her. Oh, shit, what do I do? Do I wake her and try not to look like a complete idiot? Should I just turn around and leave? But sweet Jesus, she’s gorgeous.
Finally gathering her wits, she turned to leave, hoping her intrusion might go undetected, but the dogs gave her away. All three jumped up, rushed over the sleeping woman, and woke her up.
Aw, shit!
Chris opened her eyes and slowly turned her head to look after the dogs. She looked intently at Mary Jo before recognition set in. Chris stared, then sat up, blinking against the sun.
At last she broke her steady gaze. She located her shirt and pulled it over her head before standing up. “I didn’t know I was entertaining today.” She put on boxers over well-defined legs and turned her attention back to Mary Jo.
God, how can a woman look so sexy in boxers? Mary Jo hoped she wasn’t gaping like an idiot. She was half-turned toward the trail, ready to flee. She pointed over her shoulder and said in a squeaky voice, “I… uh… I… I’m sorry. I should have called.”
Chris’s bold, unhidden appraisal made Mary Jo feel like a bug under a microscope. She’d chosen to wear a white T-shirt that fit tightly over her chest. Her jeans fit comfortably over her hips and down her legs. For a change, her hair hung loose, not pulled back under a cap.
“That’s okay. I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep.” Chris ended her stare. She looked down at the dogs, who had rejoined her “You beasties were supposed to wake me if som
eone came.” Chris frowned at them and returned her gaze to Mary Jo, who found herself stricken mute, unable to think of anything intelligent to say.
“Is there something I can do for you?” Chris rested her hands on her hips a moment. Then she bent and retrieved her water bottle from the ground, unscrewed the cap, and took a long swallow.
Chris’s gaze traveling the length of her body had sent shivers up Mary Jo’s spine. “Um, Donna said I should stop by sometime,” she said, fidgeting. “And I wanted to thank you for returning my stethoscope.” She didn’t want to bring up the details of how the instrument had been lost.
Chris casually pulled on her jeans, slipped on her sandals, and began to walk toward her. Mary Jo was rooted to the spot. She couldn’t pull herself away from Chris’s mesmerizing eyes.
As she came to stand beside Mary Jo, Chris said, “Well, next time you could call ahead and make sure I’m around.” She smiled again. “Maybe you’d like to come out for a swim sometime.” A fleeting shadow crossed her face, as if she were unsure she should have extended the invitation.
Chris began walking back to the house. Mary Jo followed, catching up to walk next to her on the trail. Their bare arms brushed when they had to make room for the dogs rushing by. Mary Jo jumped, feeling like a surge of electricity had run up her arm from the brief contact. She wondered if Chris had felt it, too.
Mary Jo found she could talk and walk at the same time, though barely. “Yeah, uh, swimming. That sounds nice.” She hoped her nervousness didn’t show, since she was barely able to hold herself together.
“I know we kind of got off on the wrong foot,” Chris started to say, but Mary Jo interrupted her.
“No, no, that entire thing was my fault. I was stupid for going into that horse’s stall. Reading horse behavior is one skill I was never much good at. We learned about it in school, but it wasn’t one of my best subjects. I know the science, but sometimes I have difficulties with aggressive animals. I just hope it doesn’t get me into trouble too often.” Mary Jo fell quiet again, very aware of the woman walking beside her.
Chris remained silent as well.
When they arrived at Mary Jo’s truck, Chris turned to her. “Would you like a cup of coffee? It’s too early for beer, so…” She grinned as she left the question dangling.
“Sure. Thanks.”
“All right, come on in the house. I need another cup to wake me up, anyway.” Chris turned toward the house and whistled. The dogs were at her side in an instant.
Mary Jo followed the two Labs and the terrier, marveling at their behavior. “These guys amaze me,” she said.
“Yeah, they’re good girls. I don’t know what I’d do without them.” Chris reached down and grabbed Cedar’s ear. The Lab glanced up and wagged her tail. Chris let go, and the dog joined the rest of the pack as they ran to the door and waited to go inside.
“Welcome to my humble abode.” Chris motioned Mary Jo inside.
Mary Jo walked into the house and found herself in the mudroom. She knew she had failed in her attempt to be subtle as she studied the place when Chris smirked.
“Go ahead and look around if you want,” Chris said. “I’ll get the coffee going. Sugar? Milk?”
She glanced at Chris and said, “Black, please,” and wandered into the living room. The area was huge and appeared to be more of a great room. The furniture sat on oak hardwood floors punctuated by a giant red and black striped rug. Though well used, it seemed top of the line.
She spotted a few end tables with lamps, and a cluster of dog beds lay next to the wall. Catching sight of several pictures on the mantel, she moved toward the fireplace. A couple of them showed Bill and Chris with the dogs. Some depicted the dogs as pups. Most of the photos were of various horses and some foals. She assumed they were pictures of Chris’s horses. Oddly, there were no family photos. She recalled Doc telling her about Chris being a runaway.
“Bill was the photographer,” a quiet voice said.
“He took all of these?” Mary Jo could tell Chris still missed him. The sadness in her voice was evident.
“Uh-huh.”
“He was quite good.” Mary Jo picked up a framed picture. “I was so sorry to hear about him passing.” She offered Chris a sympathetic smile.
Chris turned away from the photos and walked out of the room. But not before Mary Jo glimpsed the pain in her eyes. Perhaps it was difficult to look at those pictures in someone else’s presence.
Mary Jo followed Chris into the kitchen and took a place at the counter.
“Let’s go outside. I’ll show you around the barn if you want.” Chris poured their coffee into tall travel mugs and snapped the lids on.
Mary Jo noticed Chris drank her coffee black as well. “That sounds good.” She accepted the mug handed to her and followed Chris to the door, where the dogs joined them. “They don’t let you get out of their sight do they?”
“No, they don’t. It sounds silly, but I play hide-and-seek with them a lot. I’ve done it since they were pups. It teaches them that it’s their job to know where I am, not the other way around.”
Mary Jo took a sip of the hot coffee. “Wow. This is delicious.”
“Thanks.” Chris raised her mug to her lips. “I can’t take all the credit. Frances Cook got me hooked on this brand. It’s the only kind I can drink now.”
Mary Jo recalled how she had used cream to cover up the flavor of the coffee Frances had served her. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“Except for the three new mares I got in, I’m not sure if anybody will be in the barn this time of day,” Chris said. “I’d rather have them outside grazing anyway.”
“Why don’t the new mares get to go out?”
Chris’s gaze settled on Mary Jo. “They all came directly from the track, so I have to teach them that they don’t have to run like hell everywhere they go.” She swallowed another gulp of coffee. “They’ll eventually be able to go outside. Right now, I work them in the round pen to give them some exercise.”
“I thought you only took in breeding mares”
“I do, these mares just aren’t bred yet. They aren’t even going into season because they’re in racing condition. This coming spring they’ll start to have heat cycles, and then we’ll breed them.”
Once again, Mary Jo noticed the cleanliness of the barn as they entered, although this time there was no cat taking a mouse meal in the aisle.
As expected, they found the barn mostly empty. Chris and Mary Jo walked to the last stalls before the riding ring. Three huge, incredibly fit mares contentedly munched hay in their stalls. The first was a light roan gray. The name on her stall read Blue Ghost. The next was a dark bay named Moon Shadow. The last mare was a liver chestnut named Ramquette.
“They don’t look like they’re high-strung,” Mary Jo remarked as she admired Moon Shadow.
“Oh, believe me, when I lead any of them out, I’m holding nothing short of dynamite. They’re quite used to stall living, but they’re also conditioned to know that when they come out they’re usually going to run.” Chris glanced at the riding ring. “This is about it. The ring is two hundred by three hundred feet. I have enough room to have a seventy-five-foot round pen at one end without feeling crowded over here.”
Mary Jo walked into the ring. Soft sand crunched under her feet. Skylights in the roof and just below the eves allowed as much natural light as possible to enter during the day. There were also fluorescent lights mounted every ten feet in the ceiling. Mirrors lined the walls, adding to the brightness. At the far end stood the round pen Chris had mentioned. It consisted of several large gate panels hooked together in a circle to form an enclosed exercise area.
“Nice setup,” she said.
“The foaling stalls are down this wing.” Chris pointed down a separate aisle off the ring. “We built it this way so the mares will have some seclusion when they foal.” She nodded toward a room, adding, “That’s the office. It has all the monitors from the foaling stalls w
ired into it.”
Mary Jo went to the room Chris had indicated. “Geez, it looks more like an apartment than an office,” she said, leaning in the doorway.
Chris walked past her into the office. As she went through the doorway, her breasts brushed against Mary Jo’s back. Mary Jo had to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape, surprised by her body’s response to such a light touch.
“The dogs and I pretty much live in here during the foaling season.” Chris sat on the edge of her desk, seemingly unaware of the effect she had on Mary Jo. She crossed her arms over her chest, stretched her legs out in front of her, and watched Mary Jo peer briefly at the various things hanging on the walls.
Mary Jo felt awkward in the sudden silence and knew she had to get out of there before she said something stupid. She handed Chris her empty travel mug and hoped her face wasn’t as red as it felt.
“Thanks for showing me everything.”
When Chris responded with a raised eyebrow, she realized what she had implied. “I mean, I should probably let you go. I know you’re busy.” Okay, so much for saying something really stupid, you moron.
Chris shot her a teasing grin. “Anytime. Come anytime.” She pushed herself from the desk and joined Mary Jo at the door.
Mary Jo glanced everywhere except at Chris and started walking in the direction of the barn entrance. She could feel Chris right behind her as they stepped into the sunlight. Not knowing why, she turned and extended her hand. Chris took the offered hand and squeezed gently before letting go.
“It’s been nice. Thanks again,” Mary Jo said quietly and got into the truck. She reached down, turned the key in the ignition, and quickly put the gear in drive. The unexpected attraction she felt for Chris confused her. She needed to put some space between them so she could think.
Laurie Salzer - A Kiss Before Dawn Page 7