by Iris Abbott
“You’re probably right Mason, but it’s important that Jay and Emily are comfortable living here. That isn’t going to happen if I’m out of sorts. All I’m trying to say is that it’s a good thing we are spending the weekend here. That way I can become more familiar with your home.”
“It’s your home now too,” he reminded her.
“I realize that,” Abigail said in frustration. This talk was getting her nowhere. She had wanted to smooth things over between them, but she was only making things worse. “We skipped the dating stage of this relationship. I haven’t had time to become familiar with the more personal aspects of your life. Familiarity leads to comfort that’s all I’m trying to say.”
“Good, because it’s a lovely day and the weather is perfect for spending the day outdoors. I packed a picnic lunch while you were sleeping. I thought I would give you a horseback tour of the property. That way you’ll be familiar with it when the children want to go exploring in the afternoons after school when I’m still at work.”
Abigail had to admit that what he was saying made sense. She was just wary of being on the back of a horse so soon after moving in. “Mason, it was a lovely thought, but I’m not sure about the horseback riding.”
Mason picked up on the sound of fear that was threaded through her voice. “It will be all right Abigail. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ve had both of these horses for years and they are well trained. Plus I’ll be right there behind you. All you have to do is sit pretty in the saddle.”
Abigail had her doubts, but it wasn’t worth arguing over. She looked down at her old jeans and cotton top. “What does one wear horseback riding anyway?”
Mason looked at her feet and frowned. You need a pair of study boots, not those high heel numbers you used to wear to work in the winter.
Abigail blushed at the thought that Mason had paid enough attention to her to be familiar with her wardrobe. “I never had a need for anything other than the decorative kind of boot.” Abigail perked up. Maybe she could get out of the outing after all.
“I know what you’re thinking and it’s not going to work. Tennis shoes will work for today, because I’ll help you mount the horse. We are going to need to remedy the problem soon however. What about the children and their shoe situation?”
Abigail glared at him. Was he trying to make her feel bad? “Jay and Emily have plenty of shoes. They just don’t have boots. We’ve never needed them. This is Florida. It’s not quite the snow capital of the country. You’re the school superintendent. I’m sure you have some idea of what my salary was as a teaching assistant. Roger pays a minimum amount of child support. I have never had extra money for the children or myself.”
Mason could have kicked himself for making her think of her ex-husband. “It’s no big deal, Abigail. I was not implying that you didn’t know how to take care of the children’s needs. I’ve already told you several times that I think you’re an excellent mother.”
Abigail felt herself warming at his compliment. “Thank you. I just hope you’re not the only one that thinks so.”
Mason nodded to accept her thanks. “What little time I’ve spent around Emily it’s obvious that she loves animals. She is going to want to learn to ride. And if I know you there’s no way she’ll be allowed on unsupervised rides at least not for years to come. That means you and Jay are going to have to learn to ride too. I’ll ride with her when I can, but you know I put in long hours at the county office, even in the summer.”
Abigail held in a shudder as she nodded in agreement. He was definitely right about that. As much as she feared horses there was no way she’d ever let her daughter go riding alone. “Of course you’re right,” she relented at once.
“I’m caught up with most of my work. I can afford to leave a coupe of hours early one day next week. We’ll pick the children up from school and we’ll go shopping for riding boots for the three of you then. Now let’s take care of your initiation first.”
Abigail felt his hand grab hers and pull. She allowed herself to be guided out of the master bedroom and toward the kitchen. She was far removed from the thirteen year old she’d been when she’d had the scary run-in with a circus horse. She kept telling herself as she followed Mason out of the kitchen and toward the barn that she was doing this for Emily.
They stopped outside the two inhabited stalls. A dappled gray mare poked her nose outside the stall looking for attention. Abigail stiffened and took three quick steps back when the horse’s head came closer. The horse startled by her quick movements let out a neigh and moved back as well.
Mason shot Abigail a strange look and reached out to rub the horse’s nose. “It’s all right, girl. This is Abigail and she’s just a little nervous around horses.”
Abigail watched the horse react to Mason’s attention with obvious delight. The mare even stuck her nose into his shirt pocket, most likely looking for a sugar cube or apple slice. Abigail felt some of her fear slipping away and inched closer to Mason’s side. She was rewarded by a warm smile from the man she now called husband.
“This is Dolly,” he introduced the horse to Abigail. “She’s as gentle as they come. I would trust her around Emily and Jay without hesitation.”
Abigail sucked in her bottom lip and gently nipped it before slowly raising her hand toward the horse. She hesitated at the last second right before she was about to make contact and yanked back her hand. Once again Dolly neighed in agitation at the newcomer.
“You’re transmitting your nervousness to the horse, Abigail. Maybe you should tell me what you’re so afraid of so I know what I’m up against here.”
Abigail bowed her head then looked at Mason with half a smile. “When I was thirteen we went to the circus on a family outing. We took a tour of the stables. Aubrey was three and it was her first circus. We were all pretty excited. I was busy playing the mother hen looking after Annabel and Aubrey. I didn’t notice that I was too close to one of the horse’s stalls and he was agitated. He nipped me in the chest. It was really fast and I think it was just a warning because he didn’t break the skin, but it scared me and I cried.”
My mom insisted on taking me to see our family physician and we had to leave the circus. Aubrey cried all the way home, because she hadn’t got to see the elephants yet. She wasn’t old enough to understand why we were leaving.”
Mason felt the angst flowing through Abigail when she talked about her only experience with a horse. “It could have happened to anyone Abigail. I’ve been around horses my whole life and they have mood swings just like any animal. You have to be aware and pay attention around them at all times and that is something we’ll teach Emily and Jay.”
She gave Mason a halfhearted smile. “I don’t know. Maybe I can just admire them from afar. They are gorgeous animals, even if I’m scared of them.”
“No Abigail. You’re going to have to trust me on this. You fall off a bike you get back on. Well you got bitten by a horse now you’re going to make friends with one.”
Abigail let out a deep breath. “You’re right. I don’t want my fear to put a damper on Emily’s enthusiasm for the horses. They’re all she’s talked about the last couple of weeks you know. She was more excited about these horses than being flower girl in our wedding.”
Mason threw back his head and laughed. “Of course, every little girl dreams of having her own pony. I’m sure we can make that happen for Emily, but you have to conquer your fear first.”
Abigail knew he was right. This was something she had to do. If she was going to be living near horses she couldn’t be afraid of them. She stepped an inch closer to Mason. Just being near him gave her the strength to try. She couldn’t help but tease him though. “Maybe a pony would be less daunting.” She looked up at him through half closed lids. “Perhaps I could start there and work my way up.”
Mason looked down at the woman pressed against his side. “You have to learn to trust me Abigail.” He waited for her answer. It was an important
one and really had nothing to do with the horses.
Abigail hesitated a second too long. Deep down where it really mattered she wanted to trust Mason, but Roger had taught her a hard lesson and she didn’t give her trust easily, not anymore. “I know you’d never intentionally hurt me or the children,” she offered in response.
Mason bit back a sharp retort. It wasn’t enough, but it would have to do for now. He was going to have to bide his time and gentle her like a cowboy would an untamed filly. Eventually she would trust him, after he’d had time to smooth away all the damage her ex-husband had caused. “That will have to be enough for now then,” he answered without giving away his inner struggle. “Let’s see what we can do about having you make friends with Dolly.”
Mason produced a sugar cube from his pocket. “Hold out your palm,” he instructed Abigail. When she did, he placed the lump of sugar into her hand and guided it toward the waiting horse. He felt her stiffen and whispered words of comfort. “It’s all right. Dolly loves sugar. One cube and she’ll be your friend for life, just wait and see.”
Abigail had to admit that Dolly seemed friendly enough and Mason’s presence gave her the courage she needed to reach her hand the rest of the way toward the big gray mare. Abigail held her breath when the horse bent toward her hand. She laughed when the horse’s tongue danced across her palm licking away sugar crumbs as it went.
Mason took the laughter as a good sign. “See, I told you that you didn’t have anything to worry about. Dolly is as gentle as they come.”
Abigail bestowed a sparkling grin on Mason. “That’s a good thing,” she eyed the stall next to Dolly with a wary glance at the large black stallion inside. “I don’t think I’d ever feel comfortable around that horse.”
Mason tipped his head back and let out a deep laugh that startled both Dolly and Abigail. “Midnight affects most people that way, not just you. He’s not really dangerous just high-spirited. I definitely don’t want you or the kids to risk riding him.”
Abigail tried hard, but she failed to hide her relief. “Good to know, because I think I’d have a heart attack if I saw one of my children on that horse.”
Abigail stepped back when she realized that Mason was opening the door to Dolly’s stall. She watched with anxious eyes as he prepared the horse for their afternoon ride. Finally after what seemed like forever she followed when he led the horse out of the barn into the bright sunlight.
Mason motioned for Abigail to come closer to where he was standing on Dolly’s left side. Then he checked the cinch one more time to make sure the saddle was tight. “Hold these with your left hand,” he handed her the reigns. Then he placed her left hand on top of the saddle horn and placed both of his hands around her waist. “Okay, I’m going to lift you straight up. I want you to place your left foot in the stirrup and then swing your right leg over the saddle.”
Abigail took a deep breath and nodded her agreement. She felt herself being lifted off the ground and followed the directions Mason had given her. Much to her relief Dolly didn’t fidget at all under the extra weight, but stood her ground as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. She took the picnic basket Mason was holding out to her and placed it across her thighs. She felt Mason mount behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and took the reigns from the fingers that were holding on for dear life.
“Let’s start out slow and work our way up shall we?”
Abigail tossed him a shy smile over her shoulder. “If you ever want to get me near another horse again that might be wise.”
Mason laughed. He had to admire her feisty spirit. He knew she was probably terrified to actually be on a horse for the first time after her traumatic experience as a teen, but she could still tease. He calmly flicked the reigns and lightly tapped his heels into Dolly’s side. “We’ll start with the slowest gait. It’s really just walking, nothing at all to be scared of. Then we’ll work our way up to a trot and eventually a canter. I will save the galloping for another day.”
Mason guided the horse around the perimeter of the property where the most horse trails existed. Eventually they came to a grove of large oak trees full of long strands of Spanish moss.
Abigail thought it was one of the loveliest sights she’d ever seen. Something about Spanish moss and oak trees just said home to her. “It’s beautiful here,” she admitted to Mason before she even knew she was going to say anything.
“I’m glad you like it. This is one of my favorite spots on the property. When I’ve had a really trying day at work like with the recent layoffs, I come here to focus and clear my head. I thought it would be a perfect spot for our first picnic.” He dropped the reigns to the ground. Let me dismount first and then I’ll help you down.
He quickly sprang to the ground and reached up for the picnic basket. Once it was set aside he returned for Abigail. “Ok, I want you to swing your right leg over Dolly’s rump until your standing.
Abigail cautiously did as she was told and was relieved to feel his arms immediately circle her waist and lower her straight down to the ground.
“Just slide down and make sure you don’t push Dolly away in the process. It’s important to form a strong bond with the horse you’ll be riding and Dolly’s now your horse.”
Abigail waited until she had both feet firmly on the ground before reaching up to scratch Dolly’s ears. “She’s a lovely animal and the ride wasn’t nearly as frightening as I thought it might be, but your jumping the gun in assuming I’ll be riding so much I’ll need my own horse.”
Mason gave her one of his irritatingly smug grins. “Like you’re going to sit at home alone while I’m out riding with Emily and Jay, I know you better than that Abigail.”
Abigail knew he was right, no use in denying it. She patted Dolly one last time. “It looks like we’re going to be best friends then Dolly.” The horse nickered in response. She turned her attention back to Mason. He was busy spreading a blanket he had taken from Dolly’s saddlebag.
Abigail grabbed a corner of the blanket and helped stretch it out. “I have lots of experience with picnics thanks to Picnic in the Park every summer. I can’t wait to see what you came up with for lunch! I’m starving.”
They started taking containers from the basket. “I doubt if there’s anything in here that compares to your mother’s famous potato salad, but everything will be good. My housekeeper left these finger foods in the fridge for us to snack on throughout the weekend. I think she felt obligated what with us being newlyweds and all,” he gave Abigail a wink.
“Oh that’s right. You and your Aunt Linda joined us a couple of years ago during the summer celebration. I was wondering how you knew about my mamma’s potato salad.”
Mason was enjoying the easy banter that had developed between them. “I think all of northern Florida knows about your mamma’s potato salad.”
Abigail couldn’t help the smile that slipped past her lips. She’d been worried that their marriage of convenience might stress the easy friendship they’d shared over the past several years, but right now they were both falling into the old pattern of familiarity and she was grateful. Abigail nibbled on some of the finger foods while Mason chatted about the property and the highlights of a couple of the horse trails.
After a relaxing hour they packed up and headed back toward the house. Silence was a comfortable companion until they neared the barn. They had been traveling at a nice canter, but Mason slowed the horse down to a walk. “I always walk the horses in the last half mile or so. That way they can cool down and I can unsaddle them as soon as I return to the barn. I’ll show you what to do once we get there.”
And he did. Abigail listened and watched as he walked her through the steps of after ride care for horses. “Then I wipe down the saddle, bridle, and bit to remove any dust or sweat.”
Abigail gave Dolly one last scratch behind the ear before Mason lead the horse to a fenced in pasture to enjoy the rest of the day.
“I want to thank you for taking the time to
teach me the basics of horseback riding. It really went a long way in helping me get past my fear of horses. I feel pretty confident that I won’t have any problem handling Dolly when we take our first horseback ride together as a family.”
Family. Mason liked the sound of that word more than he ever thought he would. Roger Davidson had to be the world’s biggest fool to throw away a beautiful caring wife like Abigail and two wonderful children like Jay and Emily. “You’re welcome, Abigail. Just don’t plan on taking her out anytime soon by yourself. You need a few more lessons before you’re ready for that. And I know we didn’t exactly plan this marriage, but there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work, we’ve been friends a long time.”
Abigail had a reason, a really big reason. Mason didn’t love her and she was afraid she was falling in love with him more and more everyday. She didn’t know what she’d do if he got tired of playing house and decided to abandon her and the children just like Roger had done.
Ten
Monday morning was like entering a whole other universe for Abigail. It was a school day, but she didn’t have a job to get ready for and no children to get ready and push out the door. She heard Mason’s alarm go off and had every intention of getting up to fix coffee and a quick breakfast, but Mason nipped that idea in the bud. “Don’t worry about getting up just yet. The coffeemaker is on an automatic timer and I usually just eat a banana during the drive to the office.”
Abigail was more than half-asleep when she felt Mason brush his lips across her forehead. “I’ll see you and the children later on tonight. I don’t have any late afternoon meetings scheduled so I should be home by six o’clock.”
“Umm okay sounds good,” Abigail stifled a yawn. “I’ll plan to have dinner on the table by six fifteen. Call if you’re going to be late. I hate eating cold food.”