Corner Of The Housetop: Buried Secrets

by Leen Elle

  Thinking of the old plantation transformed into a horse farm, its sleepy fields fenced and filled with livestock, inspired a joy he hadn't felt in weeks, making him long for the outside air and the scent of the stables. He would almost like to stay….

  "When is Mr. Todd getting here?" Derek asked, his voice more animate than it had been since his illness.

  "What makes you think you're going to meet him?" Mrs. Worthington sneered, obviously anxious to unleash her dissatisfaction on someone.

  "I just thought since I'll be the one caring for it-"

  "Says who? I'm not letting you near my poor animals."

  "My animals," Jonathan corrected smoothly, his tone conversational as he turned a piece of ham with his fork and knife, then cut it in half. "And I maintain that this is not the time to discuss business. I was not speaking only to Gabriel." Looking up for the first time, he quelled any farther argument or comment with an icy stare.

  His question unanswered, Derek began to feel a little annoyed, but he had not been told he couldn't go, so if he stayed quiet for the rest of the morning he might be able to tag along without reprimand.

  The rest of breakfast passed in a tense silence which Jonathan alone seemed immune to. When the dishes were cleared Derek walked out to the porch and sat down. He pretended to want air, but his eyes scanned the distant road for an approaching rider with an extra horse in tow. In moments, he was lost in the quiet of the morning. He finally felt well and a desire to walk to the river almost overtook his longing to meet Mr. Todd.

  Nearly an hour passed before Derek saw motion. Standing, he watched a man with a wide brimmed hat gallop up the drive on a white and brown horse, a deep-colored mare trotting behind him. "Mr. Todd is here!" he called into the house then walked down the steps to meet the man and show him where to tie his horse. He was a little dizzy and the porch seemed to sway beneath him, but his excitement made it easy to push away.

  Upon closer inspection, Mr. Todd presented himself very much as a cowboy. His hat was wide and weathered, the hair beneath it a shade of light, dusty brown. The man's face was young but aged by sun and wind. His eyes, deep brown and narrow from squinting into the sun, were roaming and inquisitive. Mr. Todd stood in the stirrups and swung one leg over the horse then stepped easily onto the ground, his long, buckskin-clad legs slightly bowed, telling of a life on horseback. He was the tallest man Derek had ever seen.

  "I can take your horse, if you want," Derek offered, staring up in barely concealed awe.

  "Much appreciated," Mr. Todd replied with a slight nod as he held the reigns out. "Just let me untie the mare."

  Holding the leather strap while the man worked with the mare's lead, Derek couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of envy.

  "Good morning, Todd," Jonathan said, stepping out of the house and coming down the steps at a light jog.

  Smiling toothily, Mr. Todd walked around Derek, his hand outstretched. "Jonathan Worthington. It's been too many years."

  "Yes," Jonathan agreed, taking the man's hand warmly. He was smiling. "How have you been?"

  Mr. Todd took his hat off and wiped his brow. "Busy. My father broke his leg a couple weeks ago so I've been taking care of the homestead for him."

  "I'm sorry to hear it. He'll be all right soon, I hope?"

  "Knowing him?" He laughed a little. "He'll be up a week before the doctor tells him he can. What about you? How's the missus?"

  His smile falling a bit, Jonathan said, "Still not feeling well, I'm afraid."

  "That's too bad. Sweet girl like her laid up for so long." Hooking his thumb toward Derek, he asked, "This your brother…Gabriel was his name, right? Looks the spittin' image of you at his age."

  At this Jonathan shifted his weight, his frame tensing visibly. "No. That's Derek, the stable boy. Gabriel is inside." Glaring at Derek as though he had been the one to suggest they were related, he said, "When you're done tying that horse up, get Gabriel and come to the stables."

  "Yes, sir." Derek watched the two walk away, talking like old friends. Mr. Todd was nearly a foot taller than Jonathan and it was strange to see someone tower over him yet seem so much less imposing. Working quickly, he tied the horse then bound up the steps and into the house.

  Gabriel was sitting on the edge of his seat in the sitting room looking impatient.

  "Jonathan says we're to go to the stables now."

  Jumping up despite his mother's disapproving glare, Gabriel started towards the door. Derek turned back down the hall.

  "Wait a moment and I will walk with you," Mrs. Worthington said stiffly, stopping both boys with little effort. Though it seemed the only time she had control anymore was when her oldest son was absent, her commanding voice was still enough to stop all movement and speech in those accustomed to her rule.

  When she was ready, Mrs. Worthington swept out of the room between the boys leaving them following behind her down the narrow hallway. They stayed behind her as they stepped outside and started across the drive.

  "I can't wait to see her," Gabriel said softly, his voice bubbling with excitement.

  "She's pretty," Derek answered, glad he had seen her first.

  As they reached the top of the hill the new stables came into view. The building was tall and wide, built for several more horses than just the two they'd had before. It was located where the exercise corral used to be, the new fence encircling the main door and several hundred square feet of grassy field in front of and beyond the stables. The wood was light and new. Mr. Todd and Jonathan were inside the fenced area watching the chestnut mare gallop around the perimeter of the enclosure.

  "Wow," Gabriel breathed, running past his mother and climbing onto the bottom rung of the fence. He leaned forward, staring with delight.

  Derek ran after Gabriel, stopping beside him and resting one foot on the fence, leaning his forearms on the top rung.

  Jonathan and Mr. Todd finished what they were speaking about then walked over to the boys. "Eli, this is my brother, Gabriel. Gabriel, Elijah Todd. His family owns a horse ranch in Connecticut."

  The two shook hands.

  "And this is my mother."

  Mr. Todd tipped his hat at her. "Good to meet you, ma'am."

  Smiling tightly, Mrs. Worthington nodded. Her grimace became less pronounced when she looked beyond the young man to the horse he had brought them. "She is a fine horse."

  "Yes, 'am. Best of the ones born year before last. Hand picked her myself when I heard it was Jonathan who was inquiring."

  At Gabriel's look of confusion, Jonathan explained, "Mr. Todd and I went to school together."

  "Oh," Gabriel said. Forgetting to show polite interest in someone who had gone almost immediately from business associate to guest, he demanded of his brother, "Can I ride her?"

  "Not yet. She needs to get used to being here, and I want to make sure she and Blueberry will get along before we make her think she's ours." Jonathan turned to Mr. Todd. "You're welcome to stay here if you like. Or there's a decent inn in town."

  "Either way. I'd hate to crowd you out or be a bother."

  "It's no trouble. We have an extra room."

  "If it really is no trouble, it would be nice getting to catch up some more. And to get to know your family."

  Mrs. Worthington smiled. "Our home is always open to friends."

  "Thank you."

  "Why don't we go back to the house and let her settle in?" Mr. Todd suggested. "I wouldn't say no to some lunch. Been on the road a while. Come back after. She should be ready to meet your other horse by then."

  Disappointed and a little unsure if he was supposed to return with them, Derek lingered behind, looking from the horse to the retreating family. They did not beckon to him and in the end, he climbed up and sat on the fence. He tried to coax the mare to him, but she seemed content on the other side of the corral when she finally stopped running. Jumping down, Derek walked across to the stable door and opened it slightly, slid into the dark, then pulled it closed. When
his eyes adjusted, he found the inside to be set up much as the other had. The only noticeable difference was that it had two more sets of stalls. It smelled of fresh lumber and clean horse.

  As Derek made his way down the narrow walkway, he passed Blueberry's stall. He stopped and rubbed the horse between the eyes. "Hey, Blue. It's been a while, hasn't it? You look good though."

  The horse swished his tail and stepped forward, nudging Derek's shoulder with his nose.

  "Your new friend is here. I was just going to get her some sugar cubes. You want some too?" Blueberry made a slight snorting sound and shook his head.

  "Yeah, I bet." Continuing to the back of the stable where the tack and food were kept, Derek only had to look for a moment before finding the sugar. Devon never kept much because it drew mice, but he could always be trusted to have a few pieces.

  Come to think of it, there was no room for Devon…. Derek peered around. Where was the man staying? When he found no sign of living quarters, Derek took the sugar, gave Blueberry a couple pieces, then continued out to the yard.

  "Here, girl. I got a treat for you."

  Startled by his sudden reappearance, the mare took off trotting again. She didn't seem frightened, but she also seemed unsure of this stranger being too near her. Derek walked to the middle of the yard and held his hand with the sugar out. "Come on," he said in a soothing voice. "I won't hurt you."

  After a couple minutes, the mare calmed enough to stand still, but it was a while before she approached him with halting steps, her head low, her nose jutting forward towards his hand.

  "See? There you go," Derek said, lowering his hand to her nose.

  She sniffed slightly and shook her head before making an exploratory lick at his palm. As she ate, Derek stroked her mane and spoke softly.

  "There. I wasn't going to hurt you at all, was I?" He dug three more cubes out of his pocket.

  Stepping closer to him, the mare ate the rest of sugar then nuzzled him in the back, looking for more.

  "Not now. I'll bring you more later." She let Derek pet for a few minutes, then trotted to the other side of the yard and peered at him expectantly.

  "I understand you," Derek said with a grin. "'If you don't have more sugar, you can leave.' Is that right?"

  "Exactly."

  Derek jumped and spun stupidly, looking for the source of the voice.

  Mr. Todd, who was leaning on the fence, holding his own horse's lead, laughed a little. "Sorry to startle you."

  "It's all right." Derek wiped his hands on his trouser legs and strode to the fence. "I just didn't realize there was anyone else here." He watched the brown and white horse nibble at a patch of grass.

  "I was just up to drop her off. Seems I'll be here until tomorrow."

  Derek was starting to feel dizzy again from being outside in the heat, but offered, "Should I put her away for you?"

  "Thanks." Mr. Todd handed the lead over to Derek. "Her name is Sky. She's pretty calm most of the time, but it seems you'd have a way with her even if she wasn't."

  His cheeks going red, Derek muttered, "Not really."

  Smiling still, the man replied, either to him or the horse, or maybe both, "I'll see you later."

  "Yes, sir." Derek led the horse to the gate and opened it, then brought her in. She followed him across to the stable door without resistance and was soon in a stall, her saddle and gear stored in the one beside her.

  "I'll be around to feed you later," he told her, patting her briefly and walking away. He needed to go back to the house before too long. If he was still sleeping there, he might as well have some lunch and lie down. If he wasn't, he wanted to take his things out of the guest room before Mr. Todd needed to use it.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Derek arrived at the house just as lunch was being set out for the family.

  "There you are," Gabriel said as he entered. "Come eat."

  Still not liking the sight of food, but unwilling to be so openly rude in front of a guest—Mr. Todd was sitting at the table, watching him with interest and expectation—Derek sat down and waited to be served.

  The conversation was much more lively as Mr. Todd and Jonathan talked about their school days. Mrs. Worthington listened with a frozen smile and Gabriel eagerly asked questions. Derek only pushed his food around his plate, hoping it appeared he was eating to the inattentive eyes of those around him.

  When the food was gone and tea had been served, Mr. Todd asked, "Might I see Catherine? It's been years."

  Jonathan hesitated a moment, then said, "I will see if she is awake." Excusing himself, he pushed back his chair and set his napkin on the table. His footsteps echoed up the stairs.

  "How long have you handled horses?" Gabriel asked.

  "My whole life. My father has been an equine dealer since he was as old as I am now." Mr. Todd turned to Derek. "Do you plan on dealing?"

  "I— I'm not very good with horses."

  "You seem to be. Patience, calmness, and respect are the most important things, and you appear to have all three in abundance."

  Derek felt his face grow hot. He was not used to the praise and it made him uncomfortable.

  Mrs. Worthington sniffed and flapped her fan faster.

  "I might like to," he confessed softly, embarrassed to say these things in front of Gabriel and his mother. "But I hadn't thought of it before."

  The man opened his mouth to say something else, but Jonathan's reentrance interrupted him. "She is awake and she would love to see you."

  "Thank you." Mr. Todd stood up, excusing himself and following Jonathan out of the room.

  Derek longed to follow them, but knew he shouldn't. He was pleased to hear she was awake. When he thought of her sleeping he could only see her still eyes, her long eyelashes resting on deathly pale cheeks as though they would never flutter upwards again. Knowing she was awake brought memories of her smile and the graceful way her fingers turned the pages of her book.

  Suddenly missing Catherine terribly, Derek excused himself and walked out onto the porch. He paced for several moments, then made his way towards the stables. He hated that he could not see her, especially when Mr. Todd was allowed to.

  When he reached the stables, the mare noticed him, her ears turning in his direction, her head perked. After a second, she walked towards him.

  "Still nothing for you, girl," he told her glumly.

  She nudged him and waited to be petted.

  Unable to help it, Derek smiled. "You sure are friendly. I hope they don't give you a stupid name like Blueberry. Call you Strawberry." He made a face at the thought. "You deserve a prettier name than that. Something graceful. Like Kylie Mae. Now there's a pretty name. Her hair is the same color as yours, too," he mused, stroking the horse's nose thoughtfully.

  Derek stayed with the horse until he heard voices coming from the direction of the house. The whole family was returning, Mr. Todd and Jonathan leading the way.

  "It should be all right to let Blueberry out as long as she's still calm," Jonathan commented. When he noticed Derek his eyes narrowed.

  The mare eyed the approaching people wearily and trotted to the far side of the yard. She continued to watch them, periodically looking at Derek as though asking him why he hadn't gone with her.

  "Bring out Blue, but keep him on a lead," Jonathan ordered.

  Derek nodded and walked into the stable. "Ready to meet your new girlfriend?" he asked, taking the rope from the hook and walking towards the stall. "You better be nice because she's kinda shy." He opened the gate and led the horse out carefully, rubbing his neck.

  They walked out to the yard. Blueberry lifted his nose in the air and turned towards the mare almost immediately.

  "This way, boy," Derek corrected, pulling him towards Jonathan and the others.

  "He seems very calm, too," Mr. Todd commented, reaching out and patting Blueberry's head. His strokes were firm and confident, but not rough.

  "Usually is," Gabriel answered.

  "He
was caught in a barn fire a couple weeks ago," Mrs. Worthington said pointedly, "but he seems to have recovered from the trauma well."

  "Poor guy."

  "Yes," Mrs. Worthington agreed, glaring at Derek.

  "It should be all right to take the lead off. She's interested, even if she isn't coming over." Jonathan seemed eager to keep the topic on the mare and take care of whatever business they had. He glanced towards the main house periodically.

  "Playing hard to get, is she?" Mr. Todd chuckled. "Good girl."

  Unclipping the lead, Derek let go of Blueberry and watched him gallop towards the mare. Obviously not liking his quick approach, she started at a light gallop of her own until the two were circling the yard side-by-side.

  "They're all right," Mr. Todd said approvingly. "We should leave them to get to know each other."

  Nodding, Derek looped the lead over the post, then climbed the fence and dropped on the other side. A wave of dizziness hit him and he had to steady himself by grabbing the top rung. It passed in a few seconds, but left him feeling sleepy and nauseous. When he became aware of the conversation around him, Mrs. Worthington was saying, "Something elegant."

  "But not too long," Gabriel replied in a whiny voice. "Lady's name was too long."

  Mrs. Worthington seemed put out, but Jonathan nodded his agreement.

  Oh, names, Derek thought, rubbing his forehead. Recalling his earlier thought, he said, "What about Kylie Mae?"

  Mr. Todd looked thoughtful over it.

  "Kylie Mae," Gabriel said, trying the sound of the name.

  Beside them, however, Jonathan and his mother were having much less favorable reactions: Jonathan was pale and his usually unreadable eyes were narrowed with visible anger; Mrs. Worthington seemed to swell and her face grew first very white, then terribly red.

  "Where did you hear that name?" she hissed ferociously, casting an accusing glare at Jonathan.

  Startled by the reaction, Derek stammered, "I— I read it."