Once again, she hadn’t checked the caller ID. She was expecting to hear Adam Dane again—maybe wanting to push back their appointment, if she was lucky.
Instead, Alex’s voice spoke into her ear. “Hey, Tommi. Welcome home!”
“Alex!” Tommi closed her eyes for a moment, shifting gears. “Hey. I was going to call you later.”
“So how was the big college weekend?”
“Pretty cool. We had fun, hit some parties, you know.”
“Cool. Hey, speaking of fun parties, I checked out this new music club over the weekend and—”
He was off and running, describing the awesome new band he’d seen on Saturday night. Or something like that, anyway. Tommi wasn’t really in the mood.
“Listen, that’s great,” she broke in after a moment. “But I’m kind of in the middle of something, so—”
“Oh! Okay, I’ll let you go,” Alex said. “But maybe we can get together later. You have dinner yet?”
“Tonight?” Tommi hesitated, wondering if she should go. She wouldn’t have the chance to see Alex again until Summer’s party. But even thinking about getting dressed and heading back out tonight made her feel more exhausted than ever. “Um, I can’t,” she said. “Sorry. But I’ll see you at that party on Friday night, right?”
“For sure. See you then.”
Tommi said good-bye and hung up. Alex sounded a little disappointed, but she figured he’d live. With a yawn, she tossed the phone aside and then slipped back into the rapidly cooling water.
Chapter Sixteen
The first day of a show was always a nonstop zoo. Especially a big, prestigious show like Washington Crossing. Pelham Lane’s block of temporary tent stalls had to be checked for hazards, then the horses settled in, water buckets hung and filled, tack room set up, feed stall stocked … Kate felt as if she hadn’t stopped moving since the trailers had pulled into the parking area that morning. And as far as she was concerned, that was just as well. The harder she worked, the less time and energy she had to think about other things.
She was giving the aisle a quick sweep when Tommi hurried in, car keys in hand and a large hobo bag slung over her shoulder. “Hey, Kate,” Tommi said. “How’s it going? Sorry I’m late; there was crazy traffic at the tunnel.”
“Oh.” Kate brushed a sweaty strand of hair out of her face, then glanced at her wrist. It was bare; she’d misplaced her watch somewhere along the way. Probably when she’d taken it off to give Jamie’s Grand Prix horse a bath earlier. “Um, hi. What time is it?”
“Little before two. Are you okay?” Tommi peered at her. “You look kind of pale. Did you eat lunch?” She dug into her purse and pulled out a small bag of pretzels.
Kate took a deep breath, maybe the first she’d taken all day. “Thanks,” she said, accepting the pretzels. “Actually, things have been a little crazy lately.” Her lower lip trembled.
Tommi noticed. “You mean the usual show stuff?” she asked. “Or something else?”
Kate glanced at her bare wrist again. Force of habit. “Both, I guess,” she said. “But I can’t really talk right now—somebody needs to go lunge Mrs. Walsh’s mare, and I—”
“It’s okay. I just saw Miguel taking her out to the lungeing area.” Tommi took Kate by the elbow and gently steered her into the tack stall, which was deserted except for Jamie’s old bulldog, Chaucer, who was lounging in the wood chips. “So let’s talk, okay?”
Kate was about to argue. But the concerned look in Tommi’s eye reminded her that she was supposed to be leaning on her friend. Trusting her.
“Okay,” she said softly, sinking down onto the edge of a monogrammed director’s chair. “It’s about Fitz …”
She went on to tell Tommi about their fight yesterday. And what had happened afterward. He’d sped off to meet “Sharon” for their Broadway date, leaving Kate uncertain what had just happened. But when a hired car had arrived an hour later to drop off the things she’d left at his apartment, she’d figured it out.
“So I guess we’re, you know, broken up,” she finished with a sniffle.
Tommi was scowling. “What an asshole,” she said. “I mean, I always knew Fitz was a dog. But I thought …” She shook her head, her voice trailing off. “Never mind. Forget him. You’re too good for him anyway. You did the right thing, Kate. Know that, okay?”
Kate just shrugged. “I guess. Anyway, I ended up staying at the barn late, then sneaking home to sleep. I don’t think my parents even knew I was there.”
At least that was one good thing. Another was that her brother had already been home and asleep when Kate had tiptoed in at midnight. There hadn’t been any yelling, at least for the few hours Kate was there.
Tommi was digging into her shoulder bag. She pulled out something soft wrapped in a plastic bag and handed it to Kate.
“Here, this is for you,” she said. “Sorry I didn’t have time to gift-wrap it.”
“What is it?” Kate opened the bag. When she saw what was inside, she gasped. “Breeches? But what—”
“Call it an early Christmas present.” Tommi smiled. “Let me know if they fit—otherwise we can exchange them.”
Kate couldn’t speak for a moment, running her fingers over the little red and white Tailored Sportsman label on the side seam. Tommi was still the only one who knew about the disaster with old show breeches, though Kate had assumed her friend had forgotten that she still didn’t have anything decent to wear. She should have known better.
“I shouldn’t accept these,” she said softly, admiring the fabric. “I cleaned up my schooling breeches well enough—I can just—”
“Forget it, I insist. The breeches are yours.” Tommi hoisted her bag back up her shoulder. “Anyway, I’d better go. I’m supposed to show Legs to someone in like an hour, and I haven’t even found his stall yet.”
She hurried off before Kate could come up with a response.
Tommi was still thinking about what Kate had told her as she slipped the bit into Legs’s mouth and buckled the noseband and throatlatch. She couldn’t believe Fitz had dumped her. Well, okay, maybe she could believe it. He’d always had a short attention span when it came to girls. That didn’t mean Tommi had to like it.
But she couldn’t worry about it right now. She needed to focus. “Ready to go, boy?” she asked, giving the horse a pat on the shoulder. He jumped in surprise, almost breaking out of the cross-ties. Oops. He was pretty amped; she’d better get out there and start working him down.
She led him outside, giving him a chance to check out the surroundings as they walked around in search of a warm-up spot. The Washington Crossing show had one of the most picturesque settings of any A show on the East Coast. Hundreds of acres of rolling meadows and patches of forest surrounded a sprawling stone mansion. The showgrounds spilled out from the estate’s original stableyard into several acres of what had once been pasture. It was a charming place to show, even if the parking area got muddy at the slightest hint of rain and the warm-up and lungeing areas were a hodgepodge of various fields, random open areas, and far too few actual rings with footing.
Twenty minutes into her warm-up, Tommi saw Adam Dane approaching the small, grassy turnout paddock behind the temporary barns that Tommi was using as a schooling ring. He was tall and tanned and blond, broad of shoulder but narrow everywhere else. Walking beside him was a middle-aged woman with an extra few pounds around the middle and a slightly nervous smile. Her boots and breeches looked brand-new and expensive.
“Hi.” Tommi rode over to the fence. “Hope you don’t mind trying him in here. All the rings are busy right now.” She waved a hand at the line she’d set up in the middle of the paddock. “Someone left some jumps we can use.”
“No problem.” Adam looked Legs up and down. “Nice-looking animal. Just as Jamie described.” He nodded toward the woman. “This is my student, Marie. She’s been riding hunters for a while, and now she’s looking for something to help her learn the ropes in the jumpers.”
<
br /> “Hello,” Marie said. “He looks lovely.”
“Hi.” Tommi hesitated, shooting the client an uncertain smile before turning back to the trainer. “Maybe I wasn’t clear enough on the phone,” she said. “Legs has a lot of potential, but he’s not exactly a schoolmaster type. He can be a tricky ride.”
“Well, that’s why she has a trainer, right, Marie?” Adam chuckled and patted the woman on the back. “Now let’s see what he can do, all right?”
Tommi nodded. Marie didn’t look like the kind of rider Legs needed. At all. Then again, looks could be deceiving. Maybe the woman was a more accomplished rider than she appeared. Otherwise, why would Adam bring her to see a horse like Legs? Tommi was sure Jamie had been honest when he’d described him.
With a cluck and a pulse of her calves, Tommi sent Legs into a trot. She spent a few minutes showing what he could do on the flat, then hopped him over the line offences a couple of times before handing him over to Adam.
“He’s a beautiful horse,” the client said as Tommi joined her at the rail. “Adam thinks he could be just the thing for me.”
“Hmm,” Tommi said noncommittally. She held her breath as Adam swung into the saddle and Legs put his ears back and scooted forward. But the trainer settled him quickly, and proceeded to put Legs through his paces with little trouble.
“All right, Marie.” He rode over on a loose rein, then jumped down and started adjusting the stirrups. “Want to give him a try?”
Marie ducked into the ring, then glanced around. “Is there a mounting block?” She tittered. “He’s taller than my horse!”
“I don’t think so, sorry,” Tommi said. “Maybe Adam can give you a leg up?”
Legs tensed up again as the trainer hoisted the woman awkwardly into the saddle, where she immediately started fussing with the reins. “Take your time, Marie,” Adam said, moving to the horse’s head to take the reins from Tommi. “We don’t have to do much on this first ride, all right?”
Finally the woman got herself organized. Adam stepped away, telling her to ask Legs for a walk.
Tommi winced as Marie booted the horse in the sides and he shot forward. “Easy with your legs,” she called. “He’s pretty responsive.”
Adam shot her a look, then turned his attention back to his client, who was hauling on the reins to stop the horse. “Relax, Marie,” he called. “Just remember what we’ve been working on. Quiet hands, quiet legs. Now circle him around and see if you can get in sync with him.”
Tommi barely dared to take a breath for the rest of the woman’s ride. Fortunately it didn’t last long. Adam had Marie do a few minutes of flatwork, then lowered one of the jumps, making it into a tiny crossrail which he had her canter Legs over a couple of times. The woman was just as novice as Tommi had guessed, if not more so, and Legs was clearly getting more confused by the moment.
“Good,” Adam called as Legs cantered over the tiny jump, ears going back as the woman thumped down into the saddle afterward. “Pull him up. That was excellent.”
“Okay,” Tommi said, forcing a smile. “I guess it was worth a try, right?”
Adam glanced at her. “Hang tight, we should talk,” he said. Then he stepped out to meet Marie and Legs, helping the woman down.
“He’s probably a little much for me, I’m afraid,” the woman told Tommi, huffing and puffing from the exertion of her short ride. “Don’t you think so, Adam? He’s a lovely horse, though.”
“Thanks.” Tommi took the horse from her and ran up the stirrups.
“If you don’t like him, we’ll keep looking,” Adam told Marie smoothly. “But listen, I’ll meet you back at the barn, all right? Tommi and I need to take care of some business.” As soon as the woman was gone, he turned to Tommi. “Okay, let’s talk price.”
Tommi glanced up, startled. “What?” she blurted out. “But I thought she decided to pass. They didn’t really seem to be the best match.”
Adam ignored that. “I’m sure there must be some wiggle room on the price you quoted me,” he said. “I mean, the horse is clearly still green.”
“Um, I don’t know.” Tommi was feeling a little blindsided. “I mean, everything’s negotiable, but I really feel he’s worth what I’m asking.”
Adam shrugged. “The horse has got potential, sure. But you saw how difficult he was for Marie. I know you’re new to this, but it’s clear to me that he’s a pro ride. Lucky for you, I kind of like him despite his issues. I’m willing to take a chance on him—for the right price, of course.”
Tommi didn’t respond for a moment. Now she got it. Adam was clearly hoping to pick up Legs at a bargain price, using his client’s poor performance as an excuse. Hoping Tommi was naive and inexperienced enough to buy his story—to maybe even think he was doing her a favor. If Tommi fell for it, he’d probably be riding Legs in Grand Prix classes before the end of the summer, then selling him on for many times what he’d paid. Did he really think she was that stupid?
“He hasn’t really been on the market that long.” Tommi did her best to keep the annoyance out of her voice, though she wasn’t sure she succeeded. “We’ve had some interest at full price, so—”
Adam rolled his eyes. “Look, I know your daddy’s the hardball dealmaker of Wall Street, but cut me a break, okay, sweetheart? I’m just trying to make a living here. And we all know you don’t really need to get full price, right?”
Tommi felt her cheeks go red. She was about to tell him exactly where to stick his obnoxious comments and shady business tactics. At that moment, though, she spotted Jamie hurrying past on the little gravel path leading toward the main ring area. He didn’t see her, but seeing him made Tommi bite her tongue. Just as she knew he would do.
“Sorry,” she said as politely as possible. “The price is firm.”
He frowned. “Fine. Call me if you change your mind.” Spinning on his heel, he hurried off without a backward glance.
Tommi spent the next few minutes walking Legs around the ring to cool him down, though she felt anything but cool herself. Was this crap really worth it?
The buzz of her phone interrupted her thoughts. It was Alex.
“Hey,” he said when she answered. “How’s the show going?”
“It’s going.” Tommi’s voice came out sharper than she’d intended.
He didn’t seem to notice. “Cool. So listen, I’m bummed we didn’t get to hang out last night. And I’m not sure I can wait until Friday to see you again. How about if I drive down a day or two early? I swear I won’t get in the way—I’ll just watch you ride and cheer you on or whatever.”
“Oh.” Tommi couldn’t help being flattered that he missed her so much. Her bad mood retreated, at least a little. “Um, are you sure you won’t be bored? I won’t have much time to hang out.”
“That’s okay.” He paused. “So is your friend Zara riding in any of the same classes? Just wondering—she’s fun to talk to.”
Just like that, Tommi’s bad mood came screaming back. Yeah, that was just what she needed—Alex following Zara around, blabbing at her about how Zac Trask was some kind of musical genius, and Zara sniping at Tommi as a result.
“Listen, I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” she said. “I’m going to be pretty busy for the rest of the week. You’d better just show up on Friday like we planned, okay? Anyway, I’ve got to go. Talk to you later.”
She hung up before he could respond, not in the mood to deal with him anymore just then.
Zara scanned the Facebook photo album she’d just opened on her laptop, clicking on a sexy shot of herself in a bikini. She attached it to the e-mail she’d just typed up urging Marcus to say he’d come to Summer’s party. It was Wednesday already, and he hadn’t given her an answer yet. And after that delicious first kiss the other day, she didn’t want to leave anything to chance. Hitting send, she waited for the e-mail to whoosh off into cyberspace and then smiled.
There. That should help convince him.
She glanced up, winci
ng, as her mother hit the high note in the octave she was do-re-mi-fa-so-ing. Or tried to hit it, anyway. Gina was having a singing lesson over by the piano at the opposite end of the loft. Her instructor, a pale-faced dude in his fifties who looked like the unholy offspring of a human and a ferret, just cleared his throat and told her to try again.
Zara returned her attention to her computer, idly wondering how the show was going so far. Most of the barn had gone down there yesterday, though Zara wasn’t scheduled to show up until Friday, since her first classes were that afternoon.
Thinking about the show reminded her about that blog Summer had showed her. She ran a quick search and found it easily. HORSESHOWSECRETS, the headline read. WHERE YOUR SECRETS ARE NEVER SAFE.
She rolled her eyes. Pretty corny. She scrolled down past the latest few entries. There were five or six of them posted over the past couple of days—whoever was writing the blog had been pretty busy. But most of it was boring stuff involving people Zara didn’t know at other East Coast barns.
Then her own name jumped out at her. She leaned closer, scanning the entry. It was pretty short:
Rumor has it that Zara Trask might be giving up on her spicy new hunter mare, Eleganz. Our sources say she’s barely ridden the mare lately, instead letting superstar trainer Jamie Vos take over. Has the A circuit’s own rock & roll wild child met her match?
“What?” Zara blurted out, reading through it again to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. “Oh, so not cool!”
Gina broke off in mid-scale and glanced over. “What’s that, love?” she called.
“Nothing.” Zara glared at the screen. Who came up with this garbage? Was there a spy at Pelham Lane, or was some bored pony rider at another barn just making up random crap about strangers?
She noticed one more new entry below hers. Scrolling down, she realized this one was about Tommi. Something snarky about how “the circuit’s brand-new billionaire horse trader” was so picky that she’d probably be stuck with her “so-called sales horse” forever.
Off Course Page 16