The words that slipped so easily from Pop’s mouth shocked even Jake. The old guy always ran at the mouth a bit, but now he’d really put his foot in it. Jake felt sorry for him, because Pop realized his mistake and appeared embarrassed. Mel had gone pale. Her teeth gnawed the corner of her lower lip. She took a deep breath and stood again, drawing herself up to her full, though diminutive height. Pain and resentment were in the gaze she cast at him.
“Look, I came home to do what I could to help my father and this farm. I didn’t know you had hired Jake. If I’m not wanted here, I can certainly find a job elsewhere.” Mel put the chair between her and the others. She clutched its back as if to keep from fleeing the room.
Dismayed, Jake drummed his fingers on the arms of his chair.
“Well,” Vanessa drawled with a shrug. She circled the desk and sat behind it.
For once, Pop held his peace. No one seemed to know what to say. Silence settled intensely around them.
“I think Pop may be right,” Vanessa finally said. She tapped her fingertips on the desktop. “For the time being, that is.”
Jake inhaled deeply. His gaze shifted among the three of them. He wasn’t a quitter. Now Pop and Vanessa were giving him a second chance—an opportunity to rebuild from the ashes of total ruin. A gush of excitement shot through Jake’s veins as his competitive spirit burst into life. Mel. Her name ran through his mind like a horse newly turned out to pasture runs through the grass. Mel had become a fractious filly. He liked the change. He’d always regretted not marrying her. Maybe he shouldn’t quit on Mel either.
“Okay. Let’s go for it,” he told Pop.
“That’s my boy!” Pop said with a smile.
“I don’t have a say in this?” Mel asked in an indignant tone.
Pop brushed aside her objection. “Got any better plans for your future?”
“Pop!” Vanessa scolded. “Whatever you may think, Mel is not a child. She can decide for herself what she wants to do, but I’ll be glad to have her on our team if she wants.”
Jake found himself holding his breath. What would Mel do?
The library door burst open and a white and black dog bounded into the room. The English setter was followed closely by a dirty little girl with sandy brown hair and big blue eyes.
Mel’s heart twisted and she gripped the chair even tighter. Being here with Jake, having a conversation as if they had no past and no history, was tough enough. Now this. She knew coming home would be no picnic.
“Pop!” The child threw herself into Pop’s lap, all legs and arms, and hugged his grizzled old neck.
“Hold your horses, darlin’. You’re like a runaway filly.” He tried to sound tough, but Mel saw his eyes soften and his arms creep around the bundle of energy.
Her heart lurched. Fighting the emotion that threatened to give herself away, she ignored Jake’s razor sharp glance.
“Cory, don’t jump on Pop like that. Remember he’s been in the hospital,” Vanessa chided.
“Oh, sis, he don’t mind.” Cory’s dimpled and adoring smile beamed at the gruff trainer.
“Doesn’t mind,” Vanessa corrected. “And take those boots off right now. There’s horse manure all over them!”
Pop wagged his finger. “You act like a mother hen to this child, Vanessa.”
“Well, I don’t want Cory growing up like a wild street urchin. She’s my responsibility now that our parents are gone.”
Cory spotted Mel. Disregarding the talk around her, she jumped out of Pop’s lap, dirty boots and all, and planted herself right in front of Mel’s chair, looking up at her with keen eyes that mirrored Mel’s own. “Hi ya, Mel. Pop said you’re home to stay. Can you give me a riding lesson today?”
“I don’t know about being home to stay, but I certainly can give you a lesson. Not today, though. Soon.”
“Great! You sure were brave yesterday. Thanks for savin’ the horses.” She quickly turned her attention to Jake. “You’re Jake Hendricks. I’m Corrine Noble. I’m adopted. Vanessa’s my big sister. I know all about you.”
“You do?”
Mel’s heart ached to see the dimpled smile Jake turned toward the little girl. His blue eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Yeah, an’ I know you’re here to take Pop’s place, an’ I know you trained Stone Davidson’s horses out there in Hollywood.”
Stone Davidson happened to be the most popular rock star for young pre-teens. That he rode and showed American Saddlebreds doubly endeared him to Cory.
“You’re right on all accounts, Miss Noble.” Jake gave her a formal nod.
“Hey, you’re cute. Pop didn’t tell me that.”
“Not somethin’ I’d think to tell a nine-year-old, now is it darlin’?” The old trainer clambered to his feet. “You come along out of here, will ya, youngster? Your sister don’t want a mess in the house. I’ve told you time an’ again to wipe your feet before you come inside.” He extended his hand to the child.
She clasped Pop’s hand and together they left, the white dog Major romping at their heels.
“What a pair.” Vanessa sighed. “Pop accuses me of spoiling Cory, but he’s no better.”
“They’ve gotten really close,” Mel mused.
“Yes, especially after my father died.” Vanessa went around behind the desk. “I thought Cory took my mother’s death hard, but not as hard as my dad’s. Pop sort of stepped in to fill his shoes.”
“I’ve never seen that side of Pop,” Jake commented as he came to his feet.
Vanessa glanced up at Mel. “Isn’t that strange? He never was one to show his softer emotions, even to you Mel. It’s almost as if he has a special bond with that child.”
Only Mel knew Vanessa had accidentally bumped into the truth. Her breath was shallow and a knot of fear wrenched in her stomach. Her fingers bit deeper into the fabric of the chair as she took a quick look at Jake. He was watching her through half-closed eyes, measuring her as he would an unfamiliar horse.
“What are you staring at?”
A crooked, mocking smile spread across his face, his dimples blatant. He took a step toward her. “I was wondering if you were going to work with me.”
Trying to act nonchalant, Mel shrugged. “I haven’t made up my mind.”
“Fair enough, Mel,” Vanessa cut in. “Remember, I’ll be glad to have you help as long as you can. After the championship, I’ll understand if you make other plans.”
“Thanks, Vanessa. I’ll let you know what I decide.”
Turning on her heel, Mel left the library and the big house. Outside, the morning heat and humidity seemed to suck the breath from her. She paused to adjust to it.
“I’m glad you waited for me,” Jake said coming up beside her.
“You assume a lot. I was just catching my breath.” Mel started down the gravel driveway.
“Once you would have waited for me.” Jake lengthened his strides to catch her.
“That was a long time ago.”
“I have a long memory.”
Mel tried to ignore him and his very real presence beside her. The atmosphere grew even hotter. She had a long memory too. She remembered spending long summer days watching Pop’s new assistant exercise horses. One day from astride a young mare, he had looked back. His shirt deliciously open at the neck and his sleeves rolled up revealing the muscles of his arms, the sun glinting behind him, Jake had smiled at her. His dimples had dazzled her, his smile had enthralled her, and the approval in his eyes had swept her away. At eighteen, she had been head over heels in love.
Six months later Jake had left for a job in California, telling her they were too young to get married—telling her this was a great opportunity for him—telling her to go to college like her father had planned for her to do.
“Wait, Mel.” Jake caught her arm and swung her around to face him. “Don’t let what happened between us years ago affect your decision to help.”
Mel tossed off his hand. “I think I’m mature enough not to l
et that happen.”
Her skin prickled as he watched her. When he didn’t say anything, Mel looked away. “I came home to help my dad. I’ve just gotten divorced. My emotions are on edge. This fire and talk about arson have me on edge as well.”
Jake drew himself up and backed away. “You’re right. I have no business hassling you.”
“No you don’t.” She turned and strode away.
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” he called after her. “We were too young.”
Mel paused. Her eyes suddenly stung with unshed tears. “I’m sure things worked out for the best,” she said without glancing around.
Keeping her back to him, she walked away.
Chapter Three
Why had she let Jake get to her like that? Why had she acted like a hurt child? With angry strokes, Mel moved the rubber currycomb around and around Dreamcatcher’s brown coat. The circular motion cast up dirt and dander, bringing it to the surface. Her thoughts moved in the same manner, around and around, casting up irate epithets. She wanted to kick herself.
Mel tossed the curry into the grooming box outside the stall door and snatched the hard brush. With firm, quick strokes, she raked the dirt and loose hair off the horse. She had promised herself she wouldn’t do anything foolish where Jake was concerned. Never again. Never. And then look what had happened yesterday. She’d reacted impulsively to his hesitancy, his lack of desire to hire her as a trainer. She had taken it personally, just like ten years ago.
Well, it was personal. He had tried to reject her again. She still wasn’t good enough. Last time he didn’t want her to be his wife. Now he had the nerve to apologize for it. What did that transplanted Californian know anyway? Mel moved the brush down the horse’s rump with one vicious stroke.
Dreamcatcher snorted in response and kicked out with his left hind leg.
“Shut up, you.” Even the horse gave her no respect.
“Ain’t you finished with that stallion yet?” Pop stuck his head inside the open door of the stall. “You’re gonna rub the hide off that animal.”
Mel dropped the hard brush and picked up the soft one. “Oh, hold your horses, Pop. I’m almost finished.”
“Well, Jake’s done with the first horse. Hurry it along.”
Familiar with her father’s gruffness, Mel slowly continued the final brushing, and then toweled out the animal’s nose and ears. What had gotten into Pop? He certainly was a contradiction. She had thought for sure the loss of Royalty’s Reverie and the seven other horses he had bred and trained would have left him dejected and demoralized. Instead, her father had a new lease on life. He was on some holy crusade, which, unfortunately, included Jake and her.
Dreamcatcher was tied to the walls of the stall by two chains that fastened to either side of his halter. Mel ducked under them, and picked up the hoof pick. Turning her back to the door, she touched the massive stallion’s left leg and stooped down to catch his hoof as he lifted it. She rested the horse’s leg against hers and bending low began scraping out the caked dirt, cleaning out the “v” of the frog.
A cocky wolf whistle punctured the silence.
Dreamcatcher snorted and shied. Jerking upward, trying to avoid being stepped on, Mel bumped her head against the cross-ties, and tangled herself in them for one awkward moment. Flustered, she turned to see Jake standing in the doorway, his saddle in his hands.
“Hey, you startled the horse!”
“Sorry, just a natural reaction when I see a pretty animal.” Jake’s voice was vibrant, the sparkle in his eyes irrepressible. “Dreamcatcher is a magnificent horse. Need any help?”
She wasn’t fooled by his explanation. “No thanks. I’m almost done here.”
His gaze caught hers. Mel lifted her chin, her heart pounding. Jake raised one heavy brow in response.
“Good. I’ll just set my saddle down outside the stall,” he said and with a wink, turned away.
Mel watched him as he walked back to join Pop. Now what had that look meant? Was he rushing her on purpose? In his not-so-subtle way, was he trying to tell her how to do her job? She knew how to groom a horse, doggone it. She’d been doing it since she was five. Bending back to her task, a stab of embarrassment pricked Mel’s heart when she realized she had unknowingly presented Jake with an excellent view of her upturned derriere.
A low growl reverberated deep in her throat. Mel hated to be at a disadvantage. No telling what the man had thought, seeing her rump stuck up like some provocative flag. She wasn’t a slim schoolgirl anymore, she admitted to herself with a scowl. Finishing the fourth hoof, Mel stood up and threw the metal pick into the box. She wiped her hands on the fabric of her denim riding jeans and stepped outside the stall. Pop and Jake were in front of Royal Tiara, the equitation horse he had just ridden.
No longer was Jake a slim teen either. Dressed in black Kentucky jodhpurs that cupped his trim hips and stroked his muscular thighs, the young trainer was a picture of a mature, athletic male. Mel caught her breath, unable to still the sharp pang of nerves that churned in her belly. She fought the sudden quickening of her heart. His long-sleeve shirt failed to mask the taut muscles of his arms and shoulders beneath it. He stood with his legs slightly spread, his riding crop slapping the side of his booted leg. She sensed Jake’s impatience, even from this distance. He was like a horse chomping at his bit, impatient, but he was totally absorbed in his task, his concentration on whatever Pop was saying.
Jake’s cutback saddle rested upright with its pommel in the dirt floor. It had been in his truck during the fire and had not been destroyed. Mel hefted the English saddle into her arms, smelling its leather and Neatsfoot Oil. Jake took good care of his equipment, just like he took good care of his body. Mel swallowed hard. Why that thought? Why was she obsessing about Jake Hendricks’s body? With a huff, she made herself attend to the task.
After placing the saddle carefully on Dreamcatcher’s back, she fitted the cutout portion around the horse’s prominent withers. Mel ran her hand over the flat saddle until her fingers touched the brass nameplate on the back of the cantle. Her fingertips traced his name. Jake Hendricks.
The irony of the situation weighted her soul.
Jake Hendricks, now trainer at Royalty Farm. Pop O’Shea was retired because of a bad heart. Mel O’Shea, the once up-and-coming female trainer, was now acting as a groom. Sure, she could be assistant trainer here if she wanted it. But did she? Mel wasn’t sure. She had promised herself when Jake had walked out on her, she wouldn’t look back. She hadn’t been consumed with becoming as famous as her father in the Saddlebred world. Not like Jake. A career hadn’t been everything to her. A woman in a man’s profession, she had just wanted to make her living as a trainer and be respected for her talent.
At first, it had been hard holding on to her dream. Getting pregnant at eighteen hadn’t helped. When Jake had announced he was heading to California to pursue his career, Mel had not told him her problem. If he thought they were too young to get married, then she knew he would think they were too young to be parents.
Desperate and strapped for money, she had turned to Bert Noble. He had paid the medical bills, and had given her spending money. Thank goodness she had been able to use the excuse of college to prevent Pop from finding out. When Bert and his wife adopted Cory at three days old, Mel knew she had done her best for her little girl. Their secret went to their graves with them and Mel was the only one who knew the truth.
Frowning, she lifted the saddle flap and tightened the girth. Mel wished she had done the best for herself during that time. Why had she married Lenny Stephenson? She’d never really loved him. She knew that now.
Mel sucked in a breath. What a mistake. She had realized it for sure almost four years into the marriage after Lenny had refused to start a family. Maybe she had been trying to make up for losing Cory by having another child. Lenny had not wanted children and Mel didn’t believe in divorce. Not sure her motives for marrying him were that pure, she had tried to make the be
st of it.
Until the rumors had started. Until Lenny ’s veterinarian had been caught in some horse insurance scam, and her husband had been implicated. Nothing had been proven against him, but Mel had never felt right about him after that. And then she had discovered Lenny’s gambling debts.
Circling the horse to his opposite side, she pulled the girth underneath Dreamcatcher’s barrel and lifted the other flap. Thank heavens that part of her life was over and done with. Not like the weird instant replay going on right now between her and the man she should have married.
“Maybe the girth will slip and then Mr. Hendricks will fall off and break his stupid neck,” Mel muttered as she gave an extra tug to the leather and buckled it on the snuggest notch.
“What’d you say?” Dave asked.
Startled, Mel looked up to see the ex-jockey behind her.
“Nothing.”
“Need any help?”
“I can tack a horse, thank you.” Her reply was curt.
“Sure. No one said you couldn’t.” Dave shrugged and left her alone.
Mel took a deep breath. Dave didn’t deserve to be the butt of her anger. He’d done nothing. She was furious with herself, and her reaction to that tall and tanned trainer from California.
For once in his stubborn life, Dreamcatcher let her put the bit in his mouth. She had worked with the colt during the holidays last winter, and knew what a pain he could be. Like some men she knew, Mel thought as she tightened the cheek strap and adjusted the curb chain.
“C’mon, big boy.” She clucked to the stallion and led him out of the stall.
“It’s about time,” Pop grumbled.
Mel forced back the caustic retort she normally would have snapped at her father. All too aware of Jake’s compelling presence, she frowned, refusing to be drawn again into a compromising position.
“Get out,” she ordered Dreamcatcher. She nudged the horse’s front left hoof with her boot, and the stallion obediently stretched out so that his weight was equally distributed on all four legs.
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