High Meadow

by Joan Wolf

  Kate frowned.

  "What's the matter? Don't you agree?"

  She shrugged. "I thought Kim had a better ride. I think Tom gets preference sometimes because he's male."

  The remainder of the ribbons were called out, and Daniel noticed that Nancy Kakos did not get one.

  "What's this I hear about you not charging commissions on horses you are buying and selling?" he asked Kate.

  "You were talking to Nancy," she said.

  "You'll never make it as a businesswoman, Kata, if you give away your services for free."

  "I charged her a commission when I bought the horse, and the horse was wrong for her. She hired me to buy her a suitable horse and I didn't do that. I'm certainly not going to charge her a commission to sell the unsuitable horse and to buy her the horse that I should have bought her in the first place."

  "Have you sold the horse yet?"

  "Not yet. I have someone coming to look at him this week. I'd like to place him with a professional if I could. He's very talented, but he needs a light touch. Adam Saunders is a professional eventer, and I think he might like Aladdin a lot."

  "Well, good luck."

  "Thanks. I have my eye on a horse for Nancy, but she can't afford to buy it until I sell Aladdin."

  "Do you often waive your commission?"

  "Not often, no."

  "Hmmm," said Daniel, who still didn't agree with her.

  "You have a lot of students," he said instead.

  "Thank God. That's what makes the difference between red and black ink in the account books. I just about break even on the boarding, but I make money on the lessons."

  "If you're so profitable, why don't you hire someone to help you with the water buckets?"

  She raised an eyebrow. "The reason I make a profit is that I do almost everything myself. If I took on paid help, my profit margin would diminish considerably."

  Inside the ring, the riders were beginning the next class. Kate said, "I'd better check the barn to make sure the kids aren't terrifying the horses with the costumes they've created."

  Kate left, and Daniel stayed to watch. At the last class of the adult divisions, Ben came to join his father. "The costume show is going to be inside, Daddy," he said. "It's the best part of the whole day. You have to come and watch."

  "I was planning to," Daniel assured him.

  "Did you get something to eat? We have time to go to the caterer's truck to get something before we go inside."

  Daniel squelched a smile. "Your mother sent me some food while I was parking cars. And I think you have probably had quite enough treats for the day."

  Ben looked a little crestfallen. "I was only thinking of you."

  "Well that was very nice of you, Ben, but I don't need any food. Do you want to go inside?"

  "Okay."

  This is so nice, Daniel thought as he walked across the grass with Ben in the direction of the indoor arena. A little girl came up to him and shyly asked for his autograph, and he signed her program with a smile.

  Ben said, "Have a lot of people asked for your autograph, Daddy?"

  "A few."

  "Do you like it when people ask for your autograph?"

  "Most of the time I don't mind. Sometimes it can be a nuisance."

  "Grandpapa must know a lot about horses if he judged the show."

  "He knows a great deal about horses. He is one of the most accomplished horsemen in all of Colombia, Ben."

  "Do a lot of men ride horses in Colombia?"

  "Those who can afford it, yes. By the way, your mother and I are going for a trail ride tomorrow. Would you like to come with us?"

  "Sure," Ben said buoyantly.

  "Great." A girl passed by leading a small white Arabian who was swathed in a floating white garment. "Wow," Daniel said. "That looks great."

  "His name is Ghost," Ben said. "Rebecca Wiley, a girl from my class, rides him. She told me they were going to dress him like a ghost. I guess that's why they have all that white stuff on him."

  "This costume show should be fun."

  "It is," Ben said. "The funniest part is when the horses dunk for apples. Most of them won't put their faces all the way in the water and Shane—he's Mommy's horse— always wins because he just dives right in. Mommy says it's because he's the greediest."

  Daniel lengthened his stride. "We'd better hurry, then, so we can get a good spot to see from."

  "Okay," said Ben, and scrambled to keep up.

  * * *

  17

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  Kate, Daniel, and Ben had a fine day for their trail ride, and they started out from High Meadow under a blue sky with enough of a nip in the air to make the horses feel energetic. Kate was riding Shane, Daniel was on Abraham, the big bay gelding he had ridden previously, and Ben was on Tucker, a chestnut pony who was one of Kate's most trusted school horses.

  High Meadow Farm adjoined a large expanse of land that belonged to the New England Water Company. This land surrounded a reservoir and was crisscrossed with numerous bridle paths that were available to people who had a water company permit. Easy access to these trails was a big selling point for High Meadow when it came to attracting boarders.

  The peak for autumn foliage had passed, but the woods still looked beautiful as they rode along, and Kate inhaled deeply the rich, slightly musty odor given off by the leaves at this time of year. She tried to get Shane out into the woods at least twice a week, but this last week she had been so busy they hadn't gotten out at all. From the bounce in his stride, she knew that Shane was as happy as she to be outdoors.

  She glanced over her shoulder at Ben, who was riding directly behind her, sandwiched between Shane and Abraham. "Aren't the woods pretty, Ben?"

  "Yep."

  "Is Tucker behaving himself?"

  "He's okay."

  The moment Kate finished speaking a squirrel darted across the path in front of Tucker, and he jumped. "Wow," Ben said.

  "The squirrel just startled him," Kate explained. "He wasn't going to run away or anything."

  "I wasn't scared, Mommy," Ben said scornfully.

  "Excuse me," Kate said, and, smiling, she turned around.

  When they got to the trail around the reservoir they were able to ride three abreast, and Ben said to Daniel, "Mommy says that I'm going to your house on Tuesday for a sleepover."

  Daniel, who had a wonderful, gaucho-style seat, erect with his legs hanging straight under him, answered, "Yes. I'll pick you up at school on Monday, you'll spend the night with me, and I'll take you to school on Tuesday morning."

  "Cool."

  From the beginning, Ben had seemed perfectly comfortable with the news of Molly's operation. Of course, they had downplayed it so that it sounded like a routine thing, but still Kate was a little surprised that Ben was so unconcerned.

  She looked at Daniel. "We should be back by the early afternoon, so Ben can take the bus home."

  "I will get him. That way, if you are delayed, you won't be worried."

  'Are you sure?"

  "Yes. But I do have something to do Wednesday night, so I can't keep him for you."

  "What do you have to do, Daddy?"

  Daniel smiled at his son, who was riding in between him and Kate. "I have a party to go to."

  'A party?"

  A party? Kate thought.

  Daniel said to Ben, "I'm going with a lady, so I can't cancel—even for your sake, Ben. It would be rude, and a gentleman is never rude to a lady."

  Ben, bless him, asked, "Who is the lady, Daddy?"

  "You wouldn't know her, Ben."

  "What's her name?"

  "Alicia Peterson."

  Ben continued his interrogation. "Is she pretty?"

  "Very pretty. She has her picture in lots of magazines."

  Kate said before she could stop herself, "She's a model, then?"

  He looked at her with amusement. "You constantly amaze me, Kata. Yes, she's a model. In fact, she's probably the best-known model i
n the country right now."

  "I bet she's not as pretty as Mommy," Ben said.

  Kate could feel her cheeks grow warm. "Don't be silly, Ben."

  "She isn't as pretty as your mother," Daniel told Ben. "Nobody is as pretty as your mother."

  Kate's cheeks grew warmer. He's only saying that to please Ben, she thought. Then, Good God, why should I care if he thinks Fm pretty or not? I despise people who are hung up on looks.

  "Don't worry about Wednesday night," she said a little gruffly. "The doctor assured us that Mom would be able to go home in the morning."

  "Good."

  How well does he know Alicia Peterson? Are they dating? Are they a couple? Kate was perturbed by these questions, and even more perturbed by her own perturbation. Why should I care whom Daniel goes out with? Why should I be surprised that he does go out? I only see him in relationship to Ben and the family. I forget that he has a whole life that doesn't include us at all.

  This was not a thought that made her happy, and she worried, I can't get too dependent on this man. I automatically assumed he would take care of Ben on Tuesday, but I can't do that. I can't rely on him like that. It's dangerous.

  "How about a little trot?" Daniel asked.

  "Do you want to try a trot, Ben?"

  "Yes," Ben said. "Walking is boring."

  "Remember," Daniel said. "You have to stand and sit in rhythm with the horse. It's one-two-sit, one-two-sit. Got it?"

  "Did you trot when you went out before?" Kate asked.

  "Yes. And Ben did very well."

  "All right," Kate said, "Let's go."

  The horses moved into a trot, and, between the two big horses, Ben's pony began to trot as well. He held the horn of his Western saddle and followed Daniel's instruction, "One-two-sit, one-two-sit, one-two-sit. Very good, Ben. It's harder to do this on a pony than it is on a horse because a pony's gait is so much quicker. You're doing great."

  He was doing very well. One of the reasons that Kate was so keen to have Ben ride was that whenever he had deigned to sit in a saddle he had looked like a natural. As he did now, holding the horn for balance but rising and falling by himself. Halfway around the lake he bugged them to go faster. Kate wanted to keep to a trot, but Daniel said, "Oh come on, Kata. A little canter won't hurt him."

  "I'm not a baby!"

  So they cantered, and Ben loved it. He stood in his stirrups, and held on to the saddle horn, and laughed as Tucker stretched out between the two bigger horses.

  "That was fun," he said when they finally slowed down. "If I could do that all the time, I'd like horseback riding."

  Daniel said, "Galloping through the woods is only a part of horsemanship, Ben, like rushing straight down a hill is only a part of skiing. To ski properly you have to learn to steer and manage your skis. The same thing applies to horseback riding; you must learn to steer and manage your horse."

  "Do you ski, Daddy?"

  "I have skied, yes."

  "Could we go sometime?"

  "Perhaps."

  "Do you like skiing?"

  "Not as much as I like horseback riding."

  Kate smiled at him over Ben's head.

  When they returned to the farm, they found Molly sitting at the kitchen table, still dressed in the deep purple suit she had worn to church. She was reading the Times.

  "Why are you still dressed up, Nana?" Ben asked.

  "I'm going into the city with Alberto, Ben. We're going to a concert."

  "I didn't know that," Kate said sharply.

  "He only got the tickets yesterday. I guess I forgot to tell you."

  Kate frowned. "You could have told me this morning while we were going to church."

  "I'm sorry, dear, I forgot." Molly gave her an inquiring look. "Did you need me to watch Ben this afternoon?"

  "No." But the frown remained on her face.

  "Alberto is a great music lover," Daniel said. "He likes classical best, but he'll listen to anything."

  Ben said, "Everybody's going out but Mommy."

  This fact had not been lost on Kate. She said, "I'm the lucky one. I get to stay home with you."

  Ben beamed. "Do you want to play cards?"

  Before she could answer, someone knocked on the door. Molly went to answer it, then she and Alberto came back into the kitchen together. "Did you enjoy your ride?" he asked Kate courteously.

  "Very much. The woods are still beautiful."

  "Yes. In another two weeks, though, all the trees will be bare."

  Molly said, "I'm ready, Alberto. We had better go if we want to make the concert."

  "We will make it, Molly," he returned imperturbably. "Do you have a coat? It will be chilly by the time the concert lets out."

  "My suit jacket is warm enough."

  "Are you sure?"

  Molly smiled at him. "I'm sure."

  "Very well. Let us go then."

  As the couple made their good-byes to the three who were staying, Kate wiped the frown from her face, though she was still frowning inside. There was something about Alberto that was almost too smooth, she thought. I hope Mom isn't going to fall for all that Latin charm. We don't know anything about this guy, really. I hope she's going to be careful.

  It wasn't that Molly had never gone out with a man since her husband's death, Kate ruminated, but the man had always been a fellow teacher, and they had mostly gone to school functions. These outings with Alberto were dates.

  Mentally, Kate shook her head. So what? Mom has a lot on her mind right now, and going to a concert will be a good distraction for her. I shouldn't make more out of this than is there.

  "Earth to Kata," Daniel said.

  She snapped to attention. "I'm sorry. Were you talking to me?"

  "Ben and I were exploring the possibility of going to Friendly's for an ice cream. What do you think?"

  Kate's eyes focused on Daniel. His long length was encased in jeans and a khaki golf jacket, a strand of black hair was hanging over his forehead, and his eyes were glinting with an emotion she couldn't place.

  I see too much of him. I'm getting used to having him around, getting used to relying upon him, and that's a mistake. I have to remember that he has a relationship to Ben, but not to me.

  She glanced at the kitchen clock. "It's awfully close to dinnertime."

  "What are you doing for dinner?" Daniel asked.

  "Good question. I'm sure there's something in the freezer I can cook."

  "Save yourself the trouble of cooking, Kata, and come out to dinner with me. We can go to Franco's in Westport. Ben can have a small pizza all to himself and you and I can have the best lasagna in Connecticut. We'll have the ice cream for dessert."

  The lasagna sounded terrific. "Well. . ." Kate said.

  "Please, Mommy. Let's go. It will be fun."

  She didn't have the heart to deny Ben, so she said,

  "Okay, Franco's it is."

  Daniel smiled at her, and a little butterfly seemed to flutter in her stomach. She frowned. "Do you want to go now:

  "Sure. We're all hungry enough after the ride." Kate had skipped lunch and was in fact starving.

  "Okay. The lasagna sounds great."

  When Molly came back from her concert, Kate was waiting up for her. "How was the concert?" she asked, as Molly looked into the living room.

  "It was lovely. It was a chamber music concert. Alberto knew one of the musicians."

  "That's nice. I'm glad you had a good time."

  "What did you do, dear?"

  "Ben and I went out to Franco's with Daniel, then we went for ice cream for dessert. I'm still feeling stuffed."

  Molly laughed.

  "You really seem to like Alberto," Kate said.

  "I do. I must confess, it's nice to have a man fussing over me. My femininity definitely feels threatened by this operation."

  Kate said earnestly, "It shouldn't, Mom. It's not as if they're taking your whole breast. This is just a little lump."

  "I know, but there will be sca
rring. And the shape of my breast will change."

  "It doesn't matter."

  "Maybe it doesn't matter to you, Kate, but it matters to me."

  Kate had no answer.

  Molly came over to where Kate was curled on the sofa and kissed her cheek. "I'm going to bed. It's late, and I'm tired."

  Kate managed a smile. "See you in the morning." She listened to Molly's footsteps on the stairs, then stared for a long time at the same page of her book. Finally, she, too, went up to bed.

  * * *

  18

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  The first thing Molly and Kate did on the morning of Molly's operation was to check into the hotel where Molly would be staying overnight. The hotel lobby looked like any other hotel lobby, and as they went up in the elevator to the hospital floor, Kate said, "This sure beats checking into a hospital."

  "It certainly does."

  Molly's room was the first room after the elevator. It contained a hospital bed, with all the appurtenances, and a regular twin bed as well. The window looked out on the street. Kate put their joint suitcase down on the small dresser. "This is great, Mom. I'll be right here beside you in case you need anything."

  Someone knocked on the door, and a nurse with smooth brown hair tied at the nape of her neck came in. "Mrs. Foley? I'm Sarah. The nurses' station is just down the hall. Why don't you make yourselves comfortable, and I'll let you know when you're needed in the hospital."

  "Thank you," Molly said.

  "I know you can't eat anything, but there is quite a good restaurant downstairs if your daughter gets hungry."

  "Thank you," Molly said again.

  "There's a menu on the bedside table. You can order dinner from room service this evening. Your meal is paid for, but your daughter will have to pay for hers."

  "Fine," Molly said, and wondered if she would possibly feel like eating just after an operation.

  The nurse smiled at both of them and left.

  "Well, we might as well make ourselves comfortable, Mom. You take the chair, and I'll take the bed."

  Molly obediently sat in the upholstered wooden chair and Kate perched on the side of the bed.

  Kate said, "You know, I was thinking that instead of fixing the roof, we should go for the new furnace first."