Ride a Dark Horse

by Laura Moore

  Sophie held her arms open wide. “A big one.”

  “Well, perhaps Caleb can help us with that, too.”

  “Yippee!” Then, “Wait ’til we tell Aunt Grace! Can we go see her now?”

  Caleb had to leave before he had the pleasure of meeting Great-aunt Grace. As Alex had informed him when he came down to the kitchen, Aunt Grace preferred her breakfast and morning paper in bed. It was carried up to her on a bamboo tray with a deep purple hydrangea blossom tucked in a glass vase. The woman who performed this morning ritual was named Tilly, and lived in the house as a companion to the ninety-one-year-old lady.

  Caleb was truly sorry he’d missed her. Aunt Grace sounded like quite a character. Alex claimed that despite her advanced years, she was mentally as sharp as a tack. Physically, too. Apparently, the old lady attributed her good health and longevity to the daily walks she took on the beach, rain or shine. Unfortunately Caleb couldn’t afford to wait until the grande dame put in her appearance. He had to get the ball rolling if this thing was going to work.

  32

  T he Hamptons were sparkling brilliantly, gloriously, on Grand Prix Sunday. The sky was an endless sweep of saturated blue, puffy, cotton-ball clouds floating lazily overhead, promising only perfect weather.

  On the horse show grounds, the stripes of the colored tents gleamed brightly in the sun. Most dazzling of all, however was the Grand Prix ring itself. The beauty of the jumps simply breathtaking. They rose up from emerald green grass, massive and high. Around their bases, a florist’s fantasy: enormous arrangements of flowers, plants, and shrubs created borders as fantastic and rich as the prestige of the Grand Prix event itself.

  “Hey, Hank, how are things going?”

  “Where the hell have you been? I sat up half the night, expecting to hear from you, wondering whether I’d have to go and bail you out of jail or some other such nonsense.”

  “Sorry about that. I ended up spending the night where Alex and the twins are staying. There was extra room there, and I figured Cassie wasn’t too eager to see me. I tried to call you earlier but you’d already left for the show grounds.”

  Hank wasn’t in a very forgiving mood. He’d suffered through a lousy night followed by an even lousier morning. It had been a real treat to be with Cassie this morning. Kind of like hanging out in Siberia during the winter months.

  “Well, it’s real nice of you to bother to show up at all.” Sarcasm laced his voice. “Or perhaps you’d forgotten Cassie’s due to ride in a couple of hours?” He shook his head in disgust. “You know I’m beginning to believe all that terrible stuff she was muttering about you last night.”

  Caleb grinned with all the charm of a schoolboy as he wrapped his arm around the shoulders of his friend and partner. “Hank, I hate to admit it, but I am probably guilty of every heinous crime Cassie lay at my feet last night. But don’t you worry. I spent the greater part of last night and all of this morning working on a plan for major redemption. Has she talked about me at all this morning?”

  Hank gave a quick negative jerk to his head. “Not a word.” He let out a harried breath as he continued. “Caleb, you know I love you like a second son, and I’m really pleased you’re going to try to mend your fences with Cassie, but I gotta tell you . . . I am beginning to suffer from massive migraines whenever you and Cassie have one of your tiffs. And . . . I don’t think it’s anything to laugh at, either.”

  “Sorry, Hank, really. But I need all the help I can get, from you especially. This operation requires precision timing.” He looked at his friend, his expression utterly serious. “I love her, Hank. I want her to be my wife.”

  Hank’s jaw dropped, stunned. “No kidding?” His aston-ishment was almost comical. “In the Jeep last night, I thought I heard her mention something about someone proposing marriage, but I couldn’t figure out whether it was her brother, Alex, who was getting hitched, or someone else.”

  Caleb had the grace to look chagrined. “Yeah, well, I’ll explain that mess to you some other day. But let me fill you in on what I’ll need you for later. Like I said, it’s the timing that’s crucial: it’s got to happen just after Cassie’s completed her first round with Limelight, but before she’s up with Orion.”

  Her mother used to love that old show tune from South Pacific, the one with the lyrics that went, “I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair.” Since last night, she’d taken those words to heart. Caleb was banished, locked from her mind, and her heart. As far as she was concerned, Caleb could take a long walk off the shortest pier in Montauk.

  For Cassie, the only thing that remained was the anger.

  Such wonderful, righteous anger. She didn’t care a fig whether she was being unreasonable or irrational. It was hers, and she embraced it, feeling it flow through her veins, strong and bracing.

  33

  S ometimes it was the little things, the ones one might brush aside as having only trivial importance, that ended up tipping the scales in an event like the Grand Prix. For instance, take the order to go, as it was called in the showjumping world. With the Grand Prix, the order of the riders was determined by the number of faults the rider had earned from the earlier qualifying event, the rider with the most faults going first.

  The Grand Prix class had been whittled down to the thirty best rides. As Cassie’s round with Limelight in the qualifying class had racked up eight points, she would be riding early, near the top of the jumping order. Then the others would come after chasing down her time, trying for an even better round.

  It could be a nail-biting kind of experience, riding early in a class, then watching your competitors come hustling after you. Determined to outride you, to outgallop you. Luckily, Cassie would barely have time to watch. Once Limelight’s round was under her belt, she would have only minutes to spare, just enough to dismount, regroup mentally, and hop onto Orion’s back for a second chance at that all-too elusive, perfect round.

  It was a beautiful day, but it certainly didn’t seem to be going beautifully for the riders. Horse after horse rode into the ring, exiting a grueling sixty seconds later, with each of their riders’ mistakes captured in the bright summer sun, witnessed by a crowd of close to twenty thousand.

  No one had yet gone clean, or even close. Shallow cups let poles fall if a hoof so much as grazed them. The two water jumps had already claimed three horses. Tight corners had led to knockdowns and refusals. One ride had been particularly ghastly, causing the crowd to cry out in sympathy and horror. One of the horse’s had, instead of clearing the course’s double-oxer, landed on top, straddling it. Managing to free himself only after bringing down the entire fence. These sorts of accidents happened in the sport of show jumping. But because today was Grand Prix Sunday, and the competition was riding for a purse of one hundred thousand dollars, the tension heightened unbearably. Each success, each failure stirred the excitement of the crowd.

  Now it was time for Limelight. Cassie nodded to Hank. He smiled briefly and gave her a jaunty thumbs-up sign.

  She trotted into the ring. Limelight’s dapple grey coat glistened in the afternoon sun. His neck arched gracefully the line emphasized by the neat, dark grey row of braids along his mane. Cassie slowed him to a halt, saluted the judges in their stand, and urged the gelding into the smooth rhythm of his canter.

  She couldn’t know it, but, as soon as Cassie trotted into the ring, Caleb appeared at Hank’s side.

  “How’s she doing? Nervous?”

  “Not that I could tell. Real quiet, real focused.”

  “I would have given my right arm to be there with her but I was afraid of lousing things up.”

  “You might just get your chance to louse things up pretty good if this plan of yours doesn’t go like clockwork. I’d sure hate for her to be rattled riding Orion.”

  “Like Alex said, I’m going to have to do some mighty fast talking.”

  She was riding Limelight with the precision of an artist, her form perfect and clean, a lesson straight from r
iding’s great masters. She handled her horse with an inner sense of timing that was uncanny. Carefully, she guided the small grey gelding over fence after fence. Giving him time to set up so that he took the fences, his knees tucked tightly underneath him, soaring through the air like a silver rocket, then landing clear.

  At the water jump, he didn’t even hesitate, flying boldly over the incredible construction built to resemble an ocean dock. His confidence was such that he could have leapt the Long Island Sound.

  The murmurs of the crowd grew stronger with each perfectly negotiated jump. By the time Cassie and Limelight reached the water jump, Hank and Caleb were grinning. The thunderous applause for the horse and rider was the music they had dreamt of. Two more fences and they too were clapping, urging her on.

  It was great round, by far the best of the day, but even so, Cassie had accumulated a fault and a half as a time penalty. Because she’d allowed Limelight to set up so carefully, she hadn’t managed to beat the clock. Still, Cassie’s ride put her in first place in the class’s standings. Now she’d just have to go one better, this time with Orion.

  Her heart was thumping from exertion and excitement as Cassie trotted back to Hank, only to remember he was alone. Her spirits plummeted and her lips tightened.

  Never mind. You did it for yourself, you don’t need anyone else. But a niggling voice inside her head replied that it was so much better to share success with someone you loved.

  “Congratulations, Cassie. The way things are going today, you may have come up with the winning ride.”

  “Shame on you, Hank. What about Orion?” Cassie swung her leg over the saddle, slipping gratefully to the ground, even as her aches and bruises descended on her in a rush of pain. She patted Limelight’s neck, thrilled with the gelding’s accomplishment.

  “He was great out there, a real gem. I feel like kicking myself. If I’d been just that much faster . . .”

  “You mean like those other riders, tearing around the course, knocking everything in sight? No, you rode it fine. It was beautiful.” He cleared his throat as if remembering. “Now, you’d better go fetch Orion. He’s back at the stall.”

  Utterly dumbfounded, Cassie stared. “What’s he doing back there, Hank? I’m up in about ten minutes!”

  As he couldn’t answer her question without blowing Caleb’s scheme, he settled for a brusque order. “Well, then, you’d better get back there double quick.” His lips mum-bled a quick prayer as she took off, running toward the far end of the show grounds.

  Cassie tore into the stable area, her lungs heaving, a stitch shooting up her side. In all her life competing at horse shows, she’d never missed a class yet. She wasn’t about to start today. When she saw him, she stopped so abruptly she almost tripped over her feet. God, he was so tall, so handsome, standing there next to Orion. She stood frozen.

  “Cassie, love, if you want this horse, you’re first going to have to listen to me apologize.”

  “Better make it snappy because I’m up in a few minutes . . . Not that I’m interested,” she quickly added.

  She refused to retreat as he approached. Holding her ground, she looked up at him defiantly, her jaw set, waiting for him to hand over the reins.

  Smiling solemnly he held them out to her. But when she grasped the reins he refused to relinquish them. Lifting the reins and her clenched hands, he kissed her knuckle softly.

  “I was so proud of you out there just now.” Feeling her skin shiver beneath his lips, he kissed the knuckle again. “I love you, Cassie. So very much. I’d give anything in the world to take back last night.” His eyes met hers, pleading that she believe him.

  “I’d been planning on asking you to marry me for some time, wanting it to be perfect for you. Never finding the moment, perhaps too scared to create one. But it tears me apart that I ruined it for you, my love.”

  Moving closer, he angled his head, his lips brushing her lips, lightly coaxing. Their very gentleness undoing her. “Please, Cassie, forgive me. Let me try to make it up to you.”

  Desperately she tried to summon the anger, the outrage, the indignation she’d felt last night. But somehow those emotions paled in comparison to the memory of the crushing loneliness when Caleb hadn’t been there, waiting for her by the gate.

  “Yes,” she said simply, not needing to say more.

  Not quite believing his good fortune, he stilled. In the next instant, his arms were wrapped about her, crushing her close, his mouth raining kisses, at last reaching her parted lips. “Oh, God, Cassie, thank you, thank you. I love you so much!” He knew he was flooding her with his love. Never absolutely never, would he let her go.

  “Caleb.” She was breathless, unsure of how much time she’d been submerged, still struggling to the surface. “I’m going to be late for my class.”

  “Right,” he agreed, reluctantly controlling himself. “Let’s get going. You’ve got a huge crowd of fans out there. Did you hear them applauding, roaring for you?”

  They were walking quickly out of the stable. Suddenly Caleb pulled Orion to a halt, holding out his hand to give Cassie a leg up. “Come on, love, you’ll go faster riding him. Trot over to the in-gate. I’ll follow behind. Don’t worry, I won’t miss your ride.”

  “Caleb, wait.” The unsteady waver in her voice had him searching her face. “Caleb, that last round, on Limelight, I think I did as well as I did because I was so mad at you. But I’m not mad at you now.” Her eyes were frantic.

  He was silent for a second. “Yeah, I can understand that. It helped block everything out for you.” He reached for her hand, pulling it against his lips. “But now, Cassie, you’re going to go out there and win because you’re the best rider in the whole damn place, you’ve got the finest horse, and you have a man ready to throw himself at your feet, who will love you until the end of time.”

  She looked at him, a dazzling smile spreading across her face. “Oh, yeah. Thanks for reminding me.”

  The smile never left her face.

  The only word to describe it was magic, the way she rode Orion. Proving again and again to the crowd just how magnificent a creature he truly was. It was a ride that made the brilliance of the horse and rider, melded together as a team, absolutely thrilling. It left the crowd gasping with awe. Excitement rose with each turn, each stride, each powerful take-off and flawless landing. The spectators were on their feet, cheering them on, as Cassie and Orion headed for the final jump. Orion cleared it, and Cassie galloped him madly joyfully to the wire. The clock stopped.

  “Holy God,” said Hank. “That was one to remember.” A perfect, crazy, dizzyingly fast round.

  They were all waiting for her, tears of laughter and joy moistening their eyes, smiles splitting their faces.

  Cassie’s eyes searched and found him standing off to the side, shaking his dark head in admiration. His smile, the smile she loved, was achingly tender.

  As though in a dream, Cassie dismounted. She hardly noticed Orion being led away by a grinning Raffael. Even Sophie and Jamie, jumping wildly with excitement, barely registered. For the moment her eyes were for Caleb alone. Her breath caught tight in her throat, she watched him approach.

  In front of her at last, Caleb dropped to one knee, reaching out to clasp her left hand in his. His voice was warm with love, making her heart pound with joy. “Cassie, my love, I’d like you to look up. Right now.”

  She blinked, wondering whether she’d heard him correctly.

  “Please, Slim, I’d hate for you to miss this.” His own eyes drifted upwards, scanning the sky.

  Baffled, she obeyed his request, staring up at the sky not knowing what she was looking for.

  Not understanding until the small biplane roared above trailing a long white banner. Not sure until she read, CASSIE, BE MINE in bold, bright red letters. Not breathing until she felt Caleb slipping the engagement ring on her finger.

  She fell to her knees in front of him, laughing and crying. Tears filled her eyes and streamed down her cheeks for
Caleb to catch them with his kisses, as he murmured words of love.

  “I wanted it perfect for you, Cassie. I love you. Be my wife.”

  She kissed him softly. With eyes still moist from tears, she smiled. “Caleb, I love you so much, I don’t need perfection. The only thing I need is you.”

  “Love, I hope you’ll have me forever.”

  Hank’s deep voice, bursting with laughter and pride, floated down to them. “Uh, Cassie, I hate to interrupt, but I wanted to be the first to congratulate you. You’ve just won the Grand Prix.”

  Cassie only smiled, knowing that if she had Caleb’s love, she’d won all that truly mattered.

  Epilogue

  H ank had been put in charge of the procession, so as soon as he saw Tod and Delia arrive, he called out cheerfully, “Hi, good morning. Welcome to ‘The Peaceable Kingdom.’ Hot Lips should be almost ready, Tod. Raffael’s just double checking that her braids are perfect.” He gave Delia a careful embrace. “So this is young Samuel.” He smiled, looking down at the newborn cradled in Delia’s arms. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Hank. Don’t you look wonderful. Very dashing,” Delia said, taking in his dove grey morning coat.

  Hank blushed, fingering the silk tie at his throat. “Thank you. I know I’ll feel a little overdressed standing beside Barney but even that old donkey’s going to look good today. Cassie convinced Raff to put a garland of flowers around his neck. Of course he’ll probably try to eat it during the middle of the ceremony.”

  Tod grinned, looking around at the other guests who had begun to congregate, many of them already paired with an animal. “This is truly extraordinary I’ve never seen anything quite like it. You know on the invitation we received, Cassie wrote that she would love it if I could accompany Hot Lips. Until I talked to her and Caleb, I thought accompany meant driving her mare here from Pennsylvania.”