Bareback

by D. Jackson Leigh

“Good. I have a little present I picked up for you the other day.”

  “A present for me?”

  “Actually, it’s for me because I get to look at you when you wear it.” Jessica pulled a gold chain from her pocket and fastened it around Skyler’s neck. A small, 24-carat gold horse head charm hung from it. “That’s why I asked you to wear that V-neck sweater. I knew you’d look stunning in it, and you do.” Jessica stepped back to take in the fine gold chain draped over her lover’s perfect collarbones.

  “Well?” Skyler asked.

  Jessica placed her mouth in the sexy hollow of her lover’s shoulder, then continued along her graceful neck to tug gently at her soft earlobe.

  Skyler blushed. “You’ve got to stop, Jess. It’s tough enough to have to meet your mother for the first time. I don’t need my legs to wobble when I walk into the house.”

  At that moment, Kate opened the door and stuck her head out. “Dinner’s ready. Are you two going to stay out here all night, or have you worked up the courage to come in? Or do I need to get my bucket of ice water?”

  Jessica laughed at Skyler’s puzzled face. “Come on, tough stuff. My mom really doesn’t bite.”

  Laura was in the dining room, putting the last of the food on the table. Jessica held tight to Skyler’s left hand as she led her into the room. Kate brought up the rear.

  “Mom, this is Skyler. Skyler, my mother, Laura.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Black.” Skyler offered her free hand.

  “Please, call me Laura.” The older woman smiled warmly and took Skyler’s hand in both of hers. “You know, this may be the first time we’ve been introduced, but I’ve seen you ride many times. In fact, Jessica and I were in the stands when you won that gold medal. You had quite a ride that day.”

  Skyler began to relax. Talking horses was familiar ground. “Con Man was quite a competitor.”

  “I’ve always been curious. What happens to horses like him when they’re past their prime?”

  “Stallions and mares are usually retired to breed.”

  “But your horse was a gelding, wasn’t he?”

  “Yeah. He didn’t belong to me. The owners sold him to a fairly well-known writer. Now he lives on a Virginia farm where he only has to fox hunt once in a while. Most of his days are spent grazing in lush pastures with a warm stall to snooze in at night.”

  “Sky owns a full brother to Con Man now, Mom,” Jessica said. “But he can’t keep up with Rampage. You’ve got to see him jump.”

  “I’ll see him jump tomorrow,” Laura said.

  “Enough horse talk,” Kate commanded. “Let’s eat and see if any of us know something about anything other than horses.”

  The conversation did move away from horses for a while, but not far. The four talked at length about the center’s young equestrian program and the potential applicants Kate had asked Jessica and Skyler to help her interview. Jessica persuaded Skyler to explain her bareback lesson she gave to each group of kids, then thoroughly enjoyed retelling the picnic incident in which Charlie thought Skyler was disrobing.

  “So, Laura, how long are you going to be able to visit?” Skyler asked.

  “I don’t really have a schedule.” Laura glanced over at Kate. “I have a bit of news I haven’t had a chance to tell Jessica yet. I’m in the process of selling my public relations business in Atlanta. The deal won’t conclude until after the first of next year, but the buyer has already taken over management. I was thinking of traveling a bit.”

  “Really?” Jessica smiled. “It’s about time you did something for yourself, Mom.”

  “So,” Kate said slowly. “If you don’t have an office to get back to, why don’t you just stay here through the holidays?”

  “Well, I had thought of that, but I didn’t want to wear out my welcome.”

  “Honey, you are always welcome here, for as long as you like,” Kate answered breathlessly.

  “Okay, then,” Laura said softly, her eyes never leaving Kate’s.

  “Excellent. It’s settled.” Jessica squeezed Skyler’s hand painfully tight in her excitement. “We can Christmas shop together.”

  Skyler and Kate looked grateful that the shopping plans didn’t seem to include them.

  Finally, a yawn from Jessica reminded them all that the farm woke up early, about five a.m. The evening was no longer young. Skyler announced she should be heading out to the Creek Barn and Jessica stood with her.

  “Walk me out?” Skyler asked.

  “Walk you out? I’m going with you just like always.”

  Skyler blushed. “I just thought since your mom was here.” Her voice trailed off and she glanced nervously at Kate for help.

  “It’s okay, Skyler,” Laura interceded. “At twenty-six years of age, Jessica has been a consenting adult for a while now.” Her eyes narrowed in mock sternness. “But before you carry my daughter off to your bed, I do want to know what your intentions are.”

  “Mom.” Jessica gasped. “I can’t believe you said that.”

  Skyler smiled. “That’s an easy one, Laura. I intend to make your daughter as happy as I can for as long as she will have me. I’m crazy about her.”

  Then and there, Jessica fell in love all over again. God, she was really afraid her mom would scare her off. Well, that’s one hurdle they’d made it over. She didn’t even want to think about the ones down the road.

  “In that case, you have my blessing,” Laura said. “Now get out of here. You two are keeping us old ladies up way past our bedtime.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The holidays went by quickly with Laura staying until mid-January, when she returned to Atlanta to wrap up the sale of her business. She was back at Cherokee Falls six weeks later, just in time to travel with them to Southern Pines for the entire month of March. One of the last things to be taken care of was a final vet exam for Rampage. They were pulling out for North Carolina the next morning. Con Air would be coming along, too, so Skyler could accompany Jessica on Rampage’s workouts. The trip would take about three hours and they planned to drive straight through to keep the time the horses would spend in the trailer to a minimum.

  Skyler, Jessica, and Laura were standing in the hallway of the barn when Tory’s truck pulled up next to the outdoor ring.

  “Let me talk to her first,” Jessica said. Tory had been sending associates out to the center ever since their uncomfortable parting, but Kate had persuaded her that the exam was too important for her to hand off. “I’ll wave to you when she’s ready for you to bring Rampage out to the ring,” she told Skyler.

  Tory was pulling instruments and syringes from the cabinets in the back of the truck when Jessica approached. She didn’t acknowledge her right away. Jessica remained silent, waiting until she was ready to speak. After a cool greeting was finally offered, she asked, “Are you still angry with us?”

  Tory let out a long sigh. “No, I guess not. I talked to Kate. She said you guys are serious. I guess it was fate, not Skyler’s normal carousing after all.” She gave Jessica a tepid smile. “I mean, I know we weren’t sleeping together or anything. I’m just sorry it was Skyler that snagged you, not me.”

  “Can’t we still be friends?”

  Tory nodded and smiled. “Sure. I’d like that. I’ll even give your damned trainer the benefit of the doubt, I guess. But I’ve got to warn you, I lied when I said I wouldn’t take her leavings. If Sky ever walks away, I want to be the first person you call.”

  Jessica smiled. “You’ve got yourself a deal there, lady.” She grabbed Tory in a quick hug.

  “Hey!” Tory juggled the syringes in her hand. “You better be careful. I almost got a sample of your blood rather than Rampage’s.”

  Jessica laughed. She was relieved they had mended their friendship. She really liked the amiable veterinarian. She waved the all clear for Skyler to bring Rampage to the ring. Laura trailed behind them.

  “Hey, Sky,” Tory drawled as Skyler led the stallion up to the truck. “You c
an drop that deer in the headlights look. Jess has talked me into putting my scalpels away.”

  “I’m really sorry about how everything happened,” Skyler said. “But I’m not sorry about being with Jessica. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “Well, let’s check this big guy out,” Tory said as she walked around to his neck to draw some blood.

  “He’s already got a negative Coggins test. How come you are drawing blood?” Jessica asked.

  “The Olympic folks have gotten so drug-test crazy with their athletes, Kate and I feel it wouldn’t hurt to test his blood ourselves before he leaves, and right before and after he competes. It’s our insurance in case the tests get mixed up or return a false positive. The Olympic vets will draw blood right before the trials begin and test random horses at the Sunday morning vet check before the show jumping concludes the event.”

  “Then you’re coming to the trials?” Jessica asked hopefully.

  Tory smiled. “Sure, I wouldn’t miss it.”

  Skyler interrupted. “Hey, Tory. Do you have an extra bottle of Bute in your truck? Clint says he is getting low, and that old pony still founders on him every once in a while.”

  “Yeah, I think so, but you better take it now or I’ll forget it later.” Tory turned to Jessica. “Jess, can you look in that bottom right drawer and grab it? I need Sky to help me with the flexibility tests.”

  Jessica nodded and walked to the rear of the truck where a cabinet full of drawers held medical supplies and equipment, while the others headed inside the ring for the testing. “Did she say left or right?” She pulled a few drawers open and glanced through the tubes and syringes. Another drawer was filled with vaccines and a dozen vials of…Carbocaine!

  Jessica glanced nervously at the group. They were all engrossed as Tory flexed and felt Rampage’s legs. Jessica had never taken anything in her life. Well, there was that piece of bubble gum at the drug store when she was six years old. She had later tearfully confessed it to her mother and returned to pay for it.

  But she was down to her last bottle of lidocaine and they would be in North Carolina for a whole month. There was a lot of money and months of hard work at stake here. She quickly palmed two of the vials and slipped them into the pocket of her jacket.

  “Did you find it, Jess?” Tory called. “Be sure you get the one that isn’t opened yet.”

  Jessica quickly pulled out the bottom right drawer and located an extra bottle of the big white anti-inflammatory pills. She held it up for Tory to see. “Got it right here.”

  Tory was meticulous and the exam lasted for more than an hour. She listened to Rampage’s heart, his stomach, felt his legs, X-rayed his front feet and legs, and then completed a long series of tests in the ring to check for any sign of lameness.

  “Well, I think I’ve never seen a horse in better shape,” she said when she finally put her clipboard down. “The blood test will take a day or two, but since it’s just for the record, it won’t keep you from leaving for North Carolina tomorrow. I’ll go develop the X-rays and call you this evening to let you know if they turned up anything we should be concerned about. But I don’t expect to find anything.”

  “Thanks, Tory,” Skyler said sincerely. “It makes me feel better knowing you’re going to be with us in Southern Pines.”

  Tory smiled. They’d been friends too long to let Tory’s disappointment come between them. “I know you two have worked very hard for this. I wish you both the best of luck at the trials…and personally.”

  Skyler gave her friend an affectionate hug. “Thanks, buddy.”

  *

  Tuesday morning was a great day for traveling. Mild temperatures and cloudless skies promised an easy trip. Skyler drove the farm’s new Ford 350 truck that pulled the two-horse gooseneck show trailer. The front of the trailer was a camper complete with a small kitchen, half bath, and room to sleep four. They would get hotel rooms, of course, but there was always a field where the horse trailers could be parked to provide refuge during the long days of the competition. Those who didn’t have trailers with campers would pitch open tents to lounge under while they waited their riders’ turns.

  Behind the camper were a tack compartment and padded stalls. Jessica rode with Skyler. Besides the fact that the two women seemed inseparable, Jessica was designated navigator for the trip. Kate and Laura followed in Jessica’s Explorer, pulling a trailer filled with hay and feed. Skyler was always careful to carry their own feed so the horses wouldn’t have any change in their diet.

  Virginia’s winter-bare hardwoods gave way to lush ever-green pines as they neared North Carolina’s Sandhills area, named so because of the sandy soil that made it ideal equestrian footing.

  Skyler expertly pulled the big rig onto the field where a few early arrivals like themselves were setting up. Kate and Laura had stopped at the training center to register and get their barn assignment while Skyler and Jessica walked the horses to let them stretch their legs and graze on the winter rye grass around the trailers.

  “Wow, this place is everything they said it would be,” Jessica said.

  “I guess you’re more used to soggy fields that end up being mud quagmires in the spring,” Skyler said. “It is great down here. This is where Con Man and I trained. The sandy soil here dries out fast. That’s what makes it so ideal for horses.”

  The Explorer pulled up next to them, and Laura climbed out of the passenger seat and stretched from the long ride while Kate issued orders. “Okay. The boys will be in that first barn over to your left. Here are their stall numbers. They said the stalls are already bedded. Laura can take Con Air and go with Jess to the barn. Skyler, you and I will unhook this U-Haul and load some feed and the tack trunks into the back of the Explorer and drive it up to the barn.”

  Accustomed to traveling, the horses settled quickly in their large stalls. This barn was only for geldings or stallions. Mares were housed separately. When Kate and Skyler joined them at the barn, a thin, grizzled man wearing a security uniform stood smiling at Jessica’s side. She carried out the introductions, explaining, “Fred is the head security guy for this barn. Fred, this is my trainer, Skyler Reese, and my sponsor, Kate Parker.”

  The guard squinted at Skyler. “I know this young lady. How have you been, Sky?”

  Skyler grinned at him. “Great, Fred. It makes me feel better to see you’re still around. You’re good, too, I hope?”

  “Well, other than putting up with my arthritis, I can’t complain.” He went on to take down their phone numbers and explain the routine, pointing out that someone called Melvin watched over things at night. “We’ve both done time in the backstretch stables at Churchill Downs before we came here, so we know horses.”

  Slipping easily into his role as head groom, he pointed toward the stalls.

  “Any special instructions need to be written on the clipboard on each horse’s stall door. We walk the barn every hour, on the hour, to check on the horses. If we’re not walking around out here, we’re in that office right there. We got us a fancy security system now. It beeps every time anyone comes in any door so we know to stick our head out and see who’s prowling around.”

  Kate nodded, satisfied the horses would be secure. “I think we’ll just settle our boys in and go check into our hotel. We’ll come back after supper to check on them before we turn in.”

  Jessica tugged at Skyler’s arm. “Don’t you think we need to tell them about Rampage?”

  Skyler nodded. “Right. Why don’t you write a warning on his stall clipboard.” She turned back to the guard. “Fred, that bay stallion doesn’t take kindly to strangers. In fact, he’ll bite a plug out of just about anyone he doesn’t know. The stable hands can muck the gray’s stall, but we’ll take care of Rampage. I don’t want anyone hurt or the horse upset before the competition. Oh, and as always, I’ll feed and water my own horses.”

  “Whatever you say, Sky. Hey, is that Con Man you’ve got there with you?”

  “Thi
s is his brother. He’s mine, but we’re not competing. I’m here as a trainer, not a rider this time. Jess here is one of the best riders you’ll see compete and that bay stallion is good enough he might have taken the gold from Con Man if they had competed against each other.”

  “Well, I sure wouldn’t mind seeing someone different take the wind out of some of these bluebloods’ sails.” The old man scratched his chin. “Especially after the way they treated you.”

  “Don’t sweat it, Fred. Things work out for the best. I really love what I’m doing now. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.” She glanced at Jess.

  “Glad to hear it. Get on, now. I’ll see you after supper. If I’m not here, just introduce yourselves to Melvin.”

  After putting the tack trunks away and locking up the horse van and truck, they checked one more time on the boys. Con Air and Rampage were contentedly munching their hay. Laura laughed when she spotted the orange cat curled up in the corner of Rampage’s stall. “I can’t believe you brought that cat. Aren’t you afraid he’ll run away?”

  “He always sticks close to Rampage,” Jessica said. “I just hang the water lower so he can reach it, too, and he’s fine. The whole stall is one big kitty box.”

  Laura smiled. “I guess I’ve seen stranger things, but I can’t remember when.”

  *

  The hotel, of course, was elegant since the small town was accustomed to hosting professional golfers and wealthy equestrians. They unpacked quickly and headed downstairs to the hotel restaurant. It had been a long day, but the conservation was pleasant. Before they left, Skyler ordered two double slices of bourbon cheesecake to go.

  “You’re not going to fit into those sexy riding breeches very long eating like that,” Jessica teased.

  “It’s not for me, thank you very much. It happens to be Fred’s favorite,” Skyler said.“When I was hiring out as a rider, I sometimes had to supplement my income with a kitchen job at some of Southern Pines’ finer restaurants. I would swipe a piece of bourbon cheesecake whenever I could for him. In return, he would tip me off when people were looking for a rider. He helped me through some lean times.”