by Tonya Kappes
“What do they have that we don’t?” The young farm hand asked a very good question.
“It’s a state-of-the-art farm with treadmills for horses,” I sort of laughed at the sound of it. It felt good to give a little giggle. “And they are hooked up to these electrodes.”
“How does that break a horse?” Grace asked.
“The monitors, somehow, read the horses and signal when the horse is pushed to the point where the horse will buck and rebel.” I leaned against the fence. “Right before that point, the treadmill slows so they can keep the horse under control. Their theory is that they can push the horse a little at a time and not have so much trauma with roping, etc.”
Silence hung over the group. Their minds were trying to process and picture the story I was telling.
“It was really weird.” I shook my head. “I don’t agree with their theory and I tried to protest that the outside environment was the best scenario with the birds chirping, other horses, people, just everyday noises that could spook a horse.”
“And?” There was a small bit of hope on Earl’s face.
My lips pinched, I closed my eyes, and shook my head.
“The Sheikh fell for that crap?” Grace’s mouth dropped. “Did you show them the video of Clay and Brilliance together?”
“We didn’t make it that far.” I left out that Clay Preston was a traitor, not to mention a snake. It wasn’t worth the breath or energy to tell them about Clay and his role in the situation since we would never see him again.
“Where is Clay?” Earl asked.
“He. . .” How was I going to get out of this one?
“Since the Sheikh will be moving Brilliance, there is not a job here at the Lady B for him.” Leonard stepped up, letting me off the hook. “It was a hard decision for Vivian, but as the manager of this department, hard decisions come with the job. Mr. Preston knew that coming in.”
Grace’s forehead collapsed into a complex set of wrinkles. I kept my game face on knowing she was watching my every move.
“So.” Earl stood ramrod straight. He crossed his arms across his chest. “What does this mean for the future of the Lady B? We all know we don’t have other horses to break right now. And it doesn’t take a college-educated farm hand to know this department of the farm can’t go on without horses to break.”
“We aren’t even thinking that far ahead,” Leonard lied, but his voice was strong. “We are a family here. Vivian and I will be meeting this afternoon and we have some things in motion. We will reconvene and let you know the future. As of now, we are still a working farm and we still have Brilliance here.”
“Earl, can you take Brilliance out for his morning workout?” I gave Clay’s duty back to Earl.
Without uttering another word, Earl hung his head and walked away.
“I’ll see you in a minute.” Leonard jogged ahead of me and caught up with Earl.
He did owe Earl an explanation, though I knew he would never let Earl go without a job. It was true that Leonard could sell the property and live on his fortune, but it wasn’t the money Leonard cared about. It was truly the horses. The Lady B was in his blood as much as it was in mine.
“Are you going to come clean with me? Or are you going to pretend I’m some dumb girl that can’t read a heartbroken girl when I see one?” Grace wasn’t going to let my little speech go. She rushed up beside me as I made my way to the barn.
Comet was the only thing that was going to make me feel better.
“Do you think the rest of them bought it?” I murmured under my breath.
“Yes. But something is really wrong here.” Grace put her hand on the barn door to stop me from sliding it open.
I jerked her hand off the door and glared at her.
“Grace,” I had to remember to keep my cool. She was only trying to be a friend. “I was used by Clay.”
I walked in the barn and flipped on the lights. Comet stuck his head out of the stall. Out of excitement, he shook his head and blew loudly out of his nose.
“Hey buddy.” I tapped his nose, grabbed his ears and brought his head down to mine. Nose to nose. “I love you.”
“What do you mean?” Grace wasn’t going to let it go.
“Our friend, Clay Preston, works for Infiniti Farms and he was a little spy for them. Getting all the details about the farm and what we were doing.”
“Oh my God. He got to know Brilliance.” Her face dropped. “I knew he was too good to be true.” Her eyes bolted open. “Did you?” She wagged her finger at me.
“Yes.” I dropped my head in shame. “We made love. I told him secrets about Brilliance and the farm I should have never said out loud. I gave him everything he needed to take down the farm.”
I broke down and fell against the stall door, sliding down to the ground. With my head in my hands, I sobbed.
“I can’t believe I let him do that to me!” I screamed out.
The pain was so deep, I felt like a knife had cut me from head to toe.
“I let him touch me!” I beat my palms on the ground. The fury almost choked me. “I’m so humiliated.” I sunk on the ground.
“Don’t you let him take how wonderful you are.” Grace bent down. She reached out to touch me, but drew back. It was as though she didn’t know what to do. Crossing the line between boss and friend was lingering on her fingertips. “He knew just how to manipulate you. He had this all planned out.”
I pushed myself back up to sitting. The lighter had fallen out of my jeans. I dragged it to me and started to flick it on and off.
“Why don’t you take off the day? I’m sure Leonard understands.” Grace didn’t try to feed me all the crap that Luvie and Momma had used.
“You’re right.” I put the lighter in my pocket and crossed my legs. I held my hand out for her to help me up. “I am going to ride Comet. Get some fresh air. It always helps clear my mind. Maybe I’ll head over to Yolo and let Millie work on my mojo.”
“Perfect.” Grace opened Comet’s stall door.
Comet stepped forward and I jumped on. As soon as my butt hit his bare back, he knew what I needed.
I dug my heels in, grabbed his mane and let him take off like a jet. Faster than he had done in a long time.
He cut through the wind and the fog that hadn’t been burned off by the morning sun. The fresh farm air surged up my nose, clearing my head.
Before long, Comet stopped shy of our little tree line where the pond was waiting.
“Not today.” I patted his neck. He didn’t move. “Not today Comet.” I made a clicking noise with my tongue.
He still didn’t move.
“Comet. Not today!” I clicked again. The last thing I wanted to do was dig my heels into him. He still didn’t budge.
I rubbed my hand down his mane. He had worked up a small sweat.
“Do you need a drink?” I gave in. I threw my leg over and jumped down.
Like every other time, Comet followed me through the trees and he dipped his nose down into the pond.
The sunlight peered through the branches and dazzled down into the pond as the breeze brought the promise of a new day into my soul. The rock, the pond, the images of making love to Clay were branded in my memory.
I shed my clothes and walked into the pond in a rebirth. There was no reason to look back on the past few weeks with him. There was a reason to move forward. Luvie, Leonard, Lucia, and Momma. The Lady B was our life and no one, especially Clay Preston, was going to take that away from us.
I lay back and let the pond embrace me. My arms extended, ears under the water, I let the sounds from the depths ring in my ears. The sun beat down on my eyelids and lips.
The rustle of the trees and clicking branches brought me to my feet. Comet lifted his head and looked back. Clay Preston appeared on the path. The bags under his eyes made him look tired.
“God, Viv.” He didn’t bother taking off his clothes. His body flung down into the pond. His eyes dropped. His voice drawn. “I never i
ntended to fall in love.”
I backed away with my hands out in front of me. Memories opened before me like a curtain had been ripped opened. Images of his eyes staring me down as he worked his lips down my body quickened my breath.
“Get away from me now,” the words spilled out through gritted teeth. “Or I will call the police.”
“Viv,” he gasped and dropped his head. “I traveled all morning to get here. Please just hear me out.”
“I don’t give a shit how you got here. Just leave. You are not welcome here!” I screamed and scrambled to the bank of the pond, clawing my way out. Faster and faster when I heard the water splashing.
My head shot back. There was little time before he reached me.
“Viv.”
“Don’t call me that!” Hurriedly I put my clothes on and grabbed my boots.
“I would’ve never come here if I’d known I was going to fall in love with you!” he yelled after me.
I ran. I ran as fast as I could. Comet galloped next to me, throwing his head in the air. After I reached the first peak, I jumped on Comet’s back and he took off. We flew back to his stall.
“Are you okay?” Grace had Brilliance by the lead.
“No. We need to call the police.” My chest heaved up and down. “Clay Preston is here.”
I put Comet in the stall. There wasn’t time to brush him or water him. I had to get to Leonard.
“Here?” Grace’s eyes flew open. Brilliance jumped, dragging her to the ground. “Shit!”
“Are you okay?” I grabbed the lead from her and let her get up. I steadied Brilliance before I shoved him in the stall next to Comet.
“Fine. I’m just shocked.” She brushed the dust and hay off her jeans.
“Leave them.” I gestured for her to follow me. “We have to take care of Clay first. They will be fine.”
The sky had darkened to a dull grey. Raindrops trickled one-by-one out of the sky. We had little time to get to the office before Clay beat us. I wasn’t sure how he’d gotten to the pond. There wasn’t any sign of his truck.
“What did he say? Did he apologize? Did he have an excuse?” Grace’s questions shot one after the other.
“He said something about being in love with me and he wouldn’t have followed through if he knew,” I spouted in a rush to the office.
“That’s great!” Grace tried to keep up with me. She stumbled along. “That means he might be able to help us save the Lady B.”
I flung the door open. Leonard, Earl, and Rosemary stood inside. The three of them bent over a computer.
“I just got an email from the Sheikh,” Leonard said. “It’s not great news.” He hung his head.
“I don’t give a shit about that right now.” I wiped the rain off my face and pointed to the door. “You need to call the police. Clay Preston is here.”
“Here?” Earl tilted his head to look out the window. “I didn’t see him come through the gate and I’ve been out all morning with Brilliance.”
“He wants to apologize.” Grace clapped like a schoolgirl.
“Would you shut the fuck up!” I screamed at her. “This is not some ‘I’m so sorry’ and accept him back. He has single-handily helped take down this multi-million dollar farm. Leaving me and you jobless. Not to mention Leonard, Lucia, and Luvie losing this business!”
“I’m just trying to help.” Grace stomped her foot like a schoolgirl.
“You know what,” I’d had enough. “I’ll save the trouble for Leonard to have to do it in a couple days. You are fired. Go get your shit.”
“Vivian, I think. . .” Leonard stepped between me and Grace.
“Am I wrong?” I asked him. My eyes hooded.
His silence spoke volumes.
“I have done everything I could for you and you do this?” Grace’s jaw tensed.
“I’ll do whatever cuts it takes to help save this farm,” I spit back.
“You are ruthless. They all think you are so cute and little miss savior.” Grace poked my chest with her finger. “Let me tell you something. You are nothing. Leonard is going to get rid of you just like you are doing to me. Cut the fat.”
“Grace,” Leonard put his hand out. “I think it’s best to just take a few days off. Until things cool off.”
“Unlike you,” I ignored Leonard, “I would do anything to save the Lady B.”
“Vivian,” Leonard had the voice of reason. “Rosemary will call you in a couple of days.”
“What?” My mouth dropped to the floor. “Are you kidding me? You are making me go and her stay?”
“I think you need a break. You have been through a lot and this is not helping matters.”
Grace stood behind Leonard. She didn’t have the nerve to look at me.
“After all I have done for you?” I asked.
Leonard stood silent. He pushed his glasses up on his nose. Earl and Rosemary couldn’t bring themselves to look at me.
“Really?” I asked again. Tears welled in my eyes. “You know I would do anything to save this deal. Anything!”
“I’m not saying you wouldn’t. I love you just like my own and it’s nothing I wouldn’t have done if Luvie was standing before me.” Leonard stepped forward like he was going to hug me. I took a big step back. “Vivian, honey. Get some rest. You have been through a lot.”
“God, I’m sorry.” I looked down. “I think you still need to call the cops.”
Before I left, I looked at each and everyone in the office. None of them but Leonard would look at me.
“I’ll get my stuff.” I pointed down the hall.
“No. Don’t worry about it. You aren’t fired. Just a break,” Leonard assured me.
I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. I walked to the door and put my hand on the handle to open it.
“Grace, I need you to work on this email. . .,” I heard Leonard say before I walked out.
I felt numb as if my emotions were paralyzed. Over the last three days, I fell in love, lost a multi-million dollar deal, brought down a farm, got my heart broken, and was on the verge of being fired. Leonard was right. I did need a break.
Chapter Seventeen
The rain continued to fall at a steady pace. Momma had brought by dinner. Comfort food. Chicken pot pie.
“Leonard came to me and told me that you just need a break.” She rubbed down my back. “Have you left this bed since you got home?”
“No,” I whispered. My eyes burned from all the crying. “How did I let this get so out of hand?”
“It’s not your fault. It’s not Luvie’s fault. I think you owe her an apology for trying to be your friend.” Momma’s touch was just what I needed. She was right. I treated Luvie terrible and needed to apologize. “You had no idea Clay was with Infiniti. Leonard said that you said Clay was here.”
“Did he find him?” I shot up. I had kept my phone turned off as well as barricaded the door in case he tried to come to the cottage.
“No. No sign of him at all.” She stood up and got the plate of food off the dresser. “In fact, he called down to Infiniti and they said Clay Preston was there.”
“There?” I shook my head. “No. Impossible. He was right there in my pond.”
“Are you sure?” Momma asked as if she didn’t believe me. “You have been traumatized and are you sure you didn’t imagine it?”
“No.” I shook my head in disbelief. “I know he was here. He . . .” My voice trailed as my mind wandered to the image of him coming into the pond with all his clothes on. His sad eyes haunted me. I remember running as fast as I could.
“There are no video images of him from any of the security cameras. Plus the gates weren’t opened,” Momma said.
I pushed the tray of food out of my way.
“I’m not lying.” Tears streamed down my face.
“I’m not saying you are. But I think maybe you need to see a doctor because you are traumatized.”
“I don’t need to see a doctor.” I glared. “I�
�m not crazy. I saw him. I saw him!”
“The doctor said that you have had a lot of big changes in the last few days and maybe you need to take something to calm you down. Help you think straight.” She took a piece of paper out of her pocket and sat it on the side table. “The Beidermans and I think you need to call their doctor. He makes house calls.”
“I don’t need a doctor,” I reiterated. “I’m not crazy!”
“Vivian,” Momma said in her reason voice. “You aren’t. But you need something to help you. How on earth are you going to handle moving from here? Watch someone come in here and take over?”
“That’s not going to happen.” I clenched my jaw. Anger seethed through my veins like hot lava.
“There is nothing we can do about it.” Momma stood up.
“There is something I can do about it.”
“What?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out. You’ll see,” I promised.
“Call the doctor,” Momma instructed and left the cottage.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to do to save the Lady B, but I knew it had to be something.
Next thing I knew, Luvie was standing over me.
“Wake up.” She shook the bed with her knee. “Wake the hell up.”
“I’m so sorry I called you a bitch. I had no right to be mean. I know you love me and want what is best for me. Only this time I think you are wrong about Clay.” I rolled over to the other side and put a pillow over my head. “He’s completely out of my life. All I need is time alone.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She plopped on the bed, belly first.
“Please, Luvie,” I begged. My head throbbed and the last thing I wanted was to entertain Luvie Beiderman.
“Nope. In fact,” she got up and drew the covers off the bed, “Millie is on her way over.”
“Give me the covers,” I instructed, my head still under the pillow. “I have a headache.”
“And you need to take this.” She jerked the pillow off my head and held her palm out. There was a little pill. “This is from the doctor. He said to take it and you will relax a little better.”