Whoa, where did that come from? Skyler raised her hands in surrender. “Not at all, Kate. I swear. I’ve never actually met her. I’ve just heard on the circuit that she’s a real handful.”
Bareback
A devastating accident that claims the life of her Olympic-bound mount lands Jessica Black and her new stallion at Cherokee Falls Equestrian Center, where she is teamed up with an arrogant, womanizing trainer. Skyler Reese is a former gold medalist, now blacklisted as a professional rider. The sparks that fly between the two women are anything but friendly at first, but the heat between them changes to passion as Skyler helps Jessica prepare for the upcoming competition. Still, a dark secret Jessica is hiding threatens both her bid to win a spot on the U.S. Equestrian Team and Skyler's triumphant return to the eventing circuit.
Glossary
Chevrons: a series of V-shaped jumps.
Coggins test: detects equine infectious anemia in a blood sample. EIA is transmitted to horses by insects such as deerflies and horseflies, so infected horses must be quarantined for the remainder of their life. There is no known cure, and the disease is ultimately fatal. An annual negative Coggins is required for horses to be transported.
Cross-country course: a rugged course through the natural terrain, filled with obstacles the horse must jump.
Double ski jump: two jumps at the end of earthen ramps with a downhill drop on the other side of each.
Flying lead change: a lead change in which a horse changes leads at the canter while in the air between two strides.
Lead: Refers to which front hoof a horse steps out on first—left or right—when taking a stride.
Oxer: a jump with two elements that create a spread, forcing the horse to move both vertically and horizontally. Quirt: a short limber whip made of braided rawhide.
Steeplechase: a level racing track that has artificial jumps the horse must jump.
The wall: a jump of solid appearance such as a stone or board fence.
The combination: a series of three fences placed only one or two strides apart.
The water jump: a fence with a shallow pool of water on the other side that the horse must land in but retain his footing.
Chapter One
Skyler Reese poured some glistening oil into her palm and rubbed her hands together to warm the lubricant. She smiled as she began a loving massage.
Her long fingers danced softly over the gentle curves of the shoulders and stroked the perfect arch of the backbone. She was mesmerized by her sure, strong hands as she watched them in the dim light, dipping into the cup of oil at her side, then moving over the supple, tanned surface. They were the hands of a sculptor, smoothing and shaping a classic form.
Dip, stroke.
Her fingertips moved quickly to catch the excess liquid as it dripped down smooth flanks, gently spreading the droplets until they were absorbed.
Dip, stroke, stroke.
The object of her attentions yielded and grew warmer, more pliant under each brush of her fingers. The musky aroma coaxed forth by her touch filled the small room. The rhythm of her movements and the rich scent filling her senses brought calm to her restless soul. Skyler sighed and closed her eyes, reveling in the elusive peace that settled over her.
“I sure wish that was me you were rubbing oil all over.”
The low, silky voice came from the doorway behind her, but Skyler didn’t pause in her task. She’d heard the scuff of boots against the hard-packed clay of the Creek Barn’s hallway before the curvaceous redhead appeared in the tack room. She could feel Alexandra Rourke’s cool, hazel eyes moving over her, visually tasting. The bored socialite took in the dove gray riding breeches that hugged her long, lean thighs before disappearing into dusty, knee-high riding boots. The cool stare then lifted to sun-streaked locks that fell over Skyler’s forehead. She kept her hair in a short, practical cut layered against her neck. The look was boyishly sexy, and she was used to second glances from women, and some men.
Alexandra sauntered forward, moving purposefully into her field of vision. She leaned against the wall, folding her arms across her ribs in a way that called attention to her ample breasts. The flirting had slowly escalated in recent weeks from small hints to blatant propositions. Skyler continued to work the leather of the jump saddle secured to a metal stand in front of her. Cleaning and oiling the saddles and bridles in her barn was her time for thinking. The wall full of soft, gleaming leather in front of her was a testament to many hours of reflection. That is, when she felt like thinking. Sometimes she just felt like polishing and not thinking at all. That’s why the saddles in Creek Barn were the softest of any on the farm; she kept them well oiled after they were cleaned with saddle soap.
“What can I do for you?” she asked when her visitor showed no sign of leaving her to enjoy her solitude. “Isn’t Clint keeping you busy enough?”
Alexandra pursed her lips in a practiced pout few men seemed able to resist. Perhaps she expected to wield the same power over a lesbian horse trainer. “That’s why I came to see you,” she purred. “Some trollop at Edward’s law firm met Clint at a party and has been gossiping around the office about what a stud he is. Now, my idiot husband is insisting that I change trainers.”
Skyler chuckled. Clint Hansen was the trainer at Cherokee Falls’ West Barn and a good friend. “Well, he is a pretty fine specimen.” She shrugged one broad shoulder upward to wipe the sweat that trickled past her temple onto the sleeve of her dark blue polo shirt. “So, did Eddie catch you getting more than a riding lesson?”
“Don’t be crude, Skyler Reese. Of course not,” Alexandra replied with an irritated toss of her shoulder-length curls.
Her pretense at indignation was wasted on Skyler. “Not that you haven’t tried, I’m sure. You must be slipping, Alex. I’ve never known you to fail to snag whatever man you set your sights on.”
Alexandra scowled. “Seems he has some rule about not touching married women.”
That particular restriction wasn’t in Skyler’s rulebook. She looked up from her task and arched a “do tell” eyebrow.
Alexandra’s pout slowly turned to a smirk. “But I know he wanted to,” she purred. “There’s always that certain part of the male anatomy that doesn’t lie. I’ve had fun torturing him.”
Skyler rolled her eyes. “That’s my friend you’ve been torturing,” she warned as she dipped her fingers in the oil again and continued rubbing it into the leather.
They were quiet for several moments as Alexandra’s eyes followed the movement of her hands. Dip, stroke, stroke. Her fascination was almost amusing. Alexandra viewed other women as nothing more than competition, but, like quite a few straight women, she made an exception for Skyler, instead seeing her as a challenge.
She moved to the wall of saddle racks and pretended to study the equipment. Licking her lips, she lowered her voice to a husky Lauren Bacall timbre. “So, Sky, I thought my husband would be happier if I had a female trainer.”
Skyler paused, lifting her gaze from the saddle to Alexandra’s full red lips. “Did you?”
Alexandra sashayed over and ran a manicured nail along Skyler’s tanned forearm. “I’ve never had a female trainer before. I’ve been thinking lately that maybe a woman might be an interesting change.” She watched as Skyler resumed her swirling strokes across the gleaming leather. “So, I’ve talked to Kate about transferring my mare to Creek Barn. I’m betting the fact that I have a jealous husband doesn’t bother you in the least.”
Skyler took a deep breath and leaned back. She brazenly ran her eyes over Alexandra’s voluptuous figure before returning her shameless gaze.
“No, I wouldn’t have a problem with that, Alex. I feel sure you would prove to be an eager student.”
They both smiled at the double meaning.
A cloudless, blue sky hung over the sandy driveways that tied the Cherokee Falls Equestrian Training Center compound together. At the center of the farm was a huge, white two-story house with a porch, which, true to its Southern heritage, wrapped three-quarters of the way around the structure. The long, main drive to the house was flanked on one side by a large outdoor riding ring and on the other by an indoor arena of equal size. Five twelve-stall barns and an indoor pool/gymnasium building were positioned on the perimeter of the compound like spokes on a wheel. Green enameled metal roofs gleamed atop each oak-sided building. Past the barns were a thousand acres of paddocks, pastures, and forest.
The grand matriarch of the Parker family had established the center two generations ago. Old money made from a once-booming tobacco operation on the Virginia property now rested in an endowment that provided for the equestrian center and its heiress, Katherine Leigh Parker—Kate to her many friends. Although the task of running the facility fit her perfectly, the role of rich heiress wasn’t exactly descriptive. Her deep, sometimes booming, voice had loosened more than one rafter at the local country club in her wild, younger days, but time had softened her demeanor. Loose gray curls cut up over her ears were an attractive contrast to her tanned face and electric blue eyes. While she was still a formidable figure with an equestrian’s grace and erect posture, the once muscular shoulders of her tall frame had softened and were now, like her waist, slightly more padded.
Sitting behind the steering wheel of her golf cart and staring across the Cherokee Falls compound, she paused to soak up the good weather and the tranquility of the moment. The smell of freshly mown pastures and the nickering of contented horses as they drowsed in the spring sun were as close to heaven as she could imagine. She sighed as her eyes settled on the Creek Barn, and her mind turned back to the task before her. So much for peace and quiet. She’d delayed this conversation but she couldn’t wait any longer to spring her news on Skyler. Resigning herself to an uneasy discussion, she pressed on the accelerator and guided the cart toward the barn.
She found Skyler exactly where she’d expected. Skyler was the only horse trainer she knew who loved cleaning tack. It was the grunt work usually imposed on low-paid stable help.
“I don’t know why you just don’t delegate that to the barn help,” Kate said.
Skyler flashed a smile that showed white against her tanned face. “It keeps me out of trouble.”
“Then we need to haul a hell of a lot more tack down here for you to polish. I saw Alexandra leaving just now. If that’s not trouble, I don’t know what is.”
The two women shared a grin of acknowledgment before Skyler returned her attention to her task. “I love the smell and feel of the leather.”
Kate’s shoulders shook with a deep chuckle. “I wouldn’t spread that around. That would drive some of the women around here crazy.”
Skyler’s mouth curled in a slight smile as she stood to hang the saddle on its wall rack. She wiped her oily hands on a soft cloth. “Well, all done here. Want to saddle up and take a ride with me to the south pasture? One of the boarders said they saw a broken fence board near the oak grove.”
“Not right now,” Kate said. “I came down here to tell you that we’ve got a new horse coming in for your barn, and they should be here this afternoon. It’s a stallion, so I want you around to help out in case he’s a handful.”
“Whose horse is it?”
“Jessica Black is the owner.”
“Jessica Black?” Skyler frowned. The name was familiar, probably another spoiled debutante whose trust fund allowed her to play with horses rather than get a real job. Just what she needed. “Is she going to be training here or just putting her stallion in training?”
“You’ve got a problem with Jessica?” Kate’s blue eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me you… Just how well do you know her, Sky?”
Whoa, where did that come from? Skyler raised her hands in surrender. “Not at all, Kate. I swear. I’ve never actually met her. I’ve just heard on the circuit that she’s a real handful.”
Kate’s expression relaxed, but she still seemed wary. “Jess is just very intense, and something of a perfectionist, exactly like you, Sky. Her goal is to make the next Olympic team. And she was well on her way, too, until her horse slipped on the cross-country course.”
“I think I heard about that. Her gelding was put down, wasn’t he?” News of a horse being euthanized on the course traveled fast around the world of competitive eventing.
Kate nodded. “The fall broke his leg and hers, too. Pretty badly. She’s had two surgeries and six months on crutches.”
“That’s rough.”
“Yeah, well. This horse shipping in here today is her chance to get back on the circuit. He’s been campaigned by another rider and is in good enough shape to make the trials. But Jess has to get herself into shape and get to know her new mount. I’ve promised to help her.”
Skyler stared at the saddle, her hands completely still. There was nobody she would like to help more than Kate Parker. She owed her. But she knew what this meant. It meant going back to the circuit that had banished her as a professional rider several years ago. It meant probably running into Sarah again. “Kate, you know I’m not the right choice for this.”
But Kate’s tone left no room for argument. “I’m putting her in your barn because I want her to have the best trainer available. You’ve been there, Sky. You know how to get there again.”
Yeah, she remembered the hard work, seven days a week. The relentless push for perfection. The egos. The politics. She shook her head. “Plenty of trainers know how to get there.”
Kate held her gaze. “You can’t hide here at Cherokee Falls forever. One day, you’ll have to go back, and this is the best reason you’ll ever have. Trust me, please.”
Skyler released a drawn-out breath. Each trainer who supervised a Cherokee Falls barn was given full authority over the horses and riders assigned to that barn. But the Parker Foundation owned the training center, and Skyler realized that Kate’s insistence was a gentle reminder of that. “All right. I’ll give them a look.”
Kate smiled her relief, then waggled a stern finger in Skyler’s direction. “And…I love you, old friend, but I’m here to warn you that this one won’t be another notch on your bedpost.”
“She’s that cute, huh?” Skyler grinned, glad for the move back to a lighter subject.
“Beautiful, just like her mother.” Kate grew serious again. “Really, Jess is like a daughter to me, and she’s coming here to recover.” After a brief pause, she said, “Her mother means a lot to me. I promised Laura I would take care of our kid.”
Our kid? Skyler was surprised. It was the first time she had ever heard Kate mention her only serious relationship. She knew there had been someone in Kate’s life, but during those years Skyler had been a rider for hire, traveling the eventing circuit to make a name for herself. By the time she returned to Cherokee Falls, Kate was a confirmed bachelorette again and never spoke of what had happened.
Keeping private thoughts private was something Skyler understood and she had no desire to pry further, so she smiled and executed a mock bow. “Enough said. I’ll be a perfect lady.”
Kate laughed. “That I’ve got to see.”
Chapter Two
Skyler leaned against the barn door frame as a big pickup truck drew close pulling a sleek aluminum gooseneck trailer. After a sloppy parking maneuver, the driver climbed out of the vehicle and surveyed the paddocks while Kate looked over the paperwork he’d handed her. Powerful hooves drummed an angry message from inside the trailer.
“Son of a bitch!” the driver cursed. “I’ll be glad to be rid of that devil spawn.” He rubbed a fresh bandage on his forearm. “I’d watch him when you unload him. He bites and means business when he does.”
Skyler made no move to approach the trailer. “It’s your job to unload him. He’s not my insurance responsibility until he crosses the threshold of this barn.”
The driver mumbled something under his breath and motioned to a blond man waiting in the truck. “Come on, let’s get rid of him.”
Hooves slammed against the side of the trailer again as the two men cautiously opened the back door and stepped inside. The trailer rocked violently, and the blond man backed down the ramp in a hurry as a large Hanoverian charged headfirst after him, teeth bared. The driver yanked on the horse’s lead line as the stallion dragged him across the yard, oblivious to the stud chain digging into the top of his nose.
“He’s well-named,” Skyler said.
“Rampage…yes. Jess said he was spirited.” Kate turned around as a white Ford Explorer hurtled down the driveway.
The vehicle had barely skidded to a stop when the driver’s door opened and a booted foot hit the ground hard, followed by the end of a cane. The young woman who sprang out quickly assessed the situation, then flung her cane down to hurry over and grab the lead line from the struggling man. Elbowing him out of the way, she spoke to the frantic horse in quiet, soothing tones that didn’t match her quick movements and angry ice blue eyes. She turned the big bay in tight circles until he calmed and finally stood still, lathered with sweat and snorting his displeasure.
The driver spat on the ground and waved his arm in a good-riddance gesture.
The horse squealed, bared his teeth, and aimed for the nearest flesh—the young woman’s arm. But she dodged his open mouth and grabbed his nose, rubbing it hard. The surprised stallion rolled wide eyes at her and withdrew his head.
“Still playing that game, huh?” she said firmly. “I’ve got your number, tough guy, and I’m not intimidated.” She turned back to the driver. “I thought I told you to wait until I got here to unload him.”
“I wanted him out before he hurt himself and tore up my trailer. You’ve got your work cut out for you there, lady,” the man said before heading back to his truck. “Good luck,” he threw back over his shoulder.
“What does he know, big boy? Dumb jerk got you all worked up,” she muttered as she walked the big horse, watching his legs for any signs of lameness.
“Jess, Jess, Jess.” Kate smiled. “You never have been one to take the easy way.”
“Kate, it’s so great to see you.” Jessica moved away from the restless stallion to give her a lingering hug. As she stepped back, Rampage tried once more for a nip at her arm, but she dodged him without turning her head, grabbed his nose again and rubbed hard.
“I hope he’s a quick study or you’re going to rub all the hair off his nose before he quits biting.” Kate laughed.
“He’ll learn.” Jessica’s eyes danced. “You should see him move, Kate. I’ll admit he’s more high strung than I would usually take on, and I prefer geldings. But he’s got more potential than I’ve ever seen in a horse.” Her excited words tumbled out. “He’s been trained for advanced dressage, but the people who owned him ignored the fact that he loves to jump. That was their first mistake. Their second mistake was the guy who was riding him didn’t understand him and tried to muscle him. They racked up some good points on the circuit this year, but I think I can get more out of this horse with a different approach.”
“Whoa, we’ll see.” Kate chuckled. “How about you, kid? How’s that leg coming?”
Jessica rubbed her thigh. “It’s okay. The therapists keep telling me to slow down, but I’m going to be ready for the trials. You’ll help me, won’t you, Kate?”
The pleading look was one Kate had never been able to resist, not when she saw it on Jessica’s face, or, as she had many times, on the face of Laura, Jessica’s mother. “I’ll do everything I can, honey, but I won’t help you hurt yourself if your body just isn’t physically ready.”
Jessica glanced around the riding center complex. It hadn’t changed much since she was here last. Still felt like home. She gave Kate another hug, this time closing her eyes and pressing her cheek into the strong shoulder. Kate felt like home, too. “I’m so glad to be here,” she said with a sigh. “Don’t worry. I’ve made arrangements for a physical therapist to visit me out here twice a week to help strengthen this leg.”
“That’s fine.” Kate laid her cheek against the top of Jessica’s head. “Oh, honey, I’ve missed you so much.” She was about to ask about Laura when a hideous scream erupted from the Explorer. “Lord! What in the world do you have in your truck?”
“Oh, that’s Peach. He comes with Rampage. How about grabbing the pet carrier and bring it in the barn. I’ll get Rampage settled.”
“Second stall on the left,” Kate said. She slid the carrier from the back of the vehicle and hefted it with some effort. “Are you sure you only have one animal in this box?”
“Yeah, just one. He’s a really big cat.”
Jessica turned the stallion toward the barn where a lean figure stood slouched against the door frame. The image of muscular thighs, slim hips, and broad shoulders burned instantly into Jessica’s mind. Who the hell was that? Kate had mentioned a trainer she thought would be ideal. She hadn’t included the word “hot” in her description.
As she led Rampage past the woman, he wheeled and snapped large teeth in the tall stranger’s direction. One second of hesitation and the instinctive sidestep would not have saved her skin from the sharp incisors. But the woman was quick. Rampage threw his front foot out at her and squealed his anger. Jessica yanked his lead line hard to the side, spinning him around and through the open stall door. Hooves rained against the oak boards of the stall.
“Quick, bring Peach,” she called to Kate.
Kate pulled a huge orange, battle-scarred tom with one tattered ear from the pet carrier. She slid the stall door aside just enough to shove the cat in with the agitated horse.
“He’s going to kill that cat.”
The low, sultry voice sounded very close to Jessica’s ear. Goose bumps raced along her arms and she turned to find herself staring into velvet brown eyes. “No, he won’t.”
Skyler had to force herself not to hold that stare. Kate hadn’t exaggerated. Jessica Black was certainly a head-turner. Skyler couldn’t help but notice the way the gray riding breeches and short-sleeved polo hugged Jessica’s firm, but feminine frame. Raven-black hair was held back in a loose French braid. Jessica’s eyes seemed even bluer by contrast with her coloring, and something in her stare made Skyler feel a little off balance. It irritated her that the young woman’s gentle, but commanding presence had the cranky stallion, and Kate, instantly eating out her hand. Worse still, Skyler wanted to like her, too, for the same reason. And she hadn’t missed the quick, assessing glance as Jessica approached.
Skyler frowned. She wanted to gaze into the unusually pale blue eyes once more. That also bothered her. She moved her attention to the stall as the cat yowled like his tail was being trampled. The stallion stopped in mid-tantrum to sniff the demanding feline. The cat rubbed against the horse’s legs and Rampage shifted carefully so he could rub his nose against the cat’s fur.
“Well, I’ll be!” Kate exclaimed. “I’ve never seen a horse quiet down so quick. Peach? That cat looks more like he should be named Killer.”
She and Jessica grinned at each other.
“I don’t want that horse in my barn,” Skyler said, ignoring Jessica’s challenging stare. I don’t want you here either. I don’t need complications in my life. “He’s dangerous. Besides, it’s a waste of time. You can’t take the cat in the ring with you.”
“Your barn?” Those disturbing blue eyes swept her up and down. “Geez. All this time I thought the center was owned by the Parker family.”
Kate moved hastily between them. “Oh, allow me to make the introductions. Jessica Black, this is Skyler Reese, your trainer.”
Skyler Reese. Jessica turned the name over in her mind. She’d sometimes wondered what had happened to the notorious Ms. Reese after the scandal that made her name taboo around the circuit. “Your reputation precedes you,” she said pointedly.
Kate shot her a warning look.
As if to clarify her earlier statement, Jessica added, “You and Con Man were an awesome pair.” Now why did she say that? To spare this woman’s feelings?
“Your reputation precedes you, also,” Skyler returned stiffly. Her face was unreadable, and, apparently, she wasn’t going to elaborate.
Jessica turned back to the stall and watched Rampage snuffle his food trough. Anyone who hadn’t been there five minutes earlier would think he was gentle as a lamb. “He’s not dangerous,” she insisted, in full defense mode. “He’s just worked up because of those idiots who trailered him here today.”
Skyler stared hard at her. Then, with a disgusted snort, she told Kate, “This horse is dangerous, and I’ve got too many of the kids working in this barn. Get one of the other trainers to take him.”
She turned away abruptly and left the barn. End of discussion.
Jessica stared after her in shock. It had been a long drive, her leg ached, and she had only months to prepare for the trials. She didn’t need a hassle. Who was this arrogant woman? Had someone finally taken her mother’s place in Kate’s life? Fuming, she muttered, “What a bitch.”
“Whoa, now,” Kate soothed. “I’ll talk to her. She’ll come around.”
Jessica wasn’t sure if she wanted a trainer who had to be talked into accepting her. “Maybe you should put me with someone else. I’ve got enough obstacles to deal with. I don’t need a trainer I have to fight every step of the way.”
“Skyler Reese is the best there is,” Kate insisted. “She’s the best trainer, you’re the best rider, and you say Rampage has the potential to be the best horse on the circuit. She’s been there, Jess. She’s stood on that podium and had a gold medal hung round her neck. She can take you there, too. We’ll find a way for you to work together.” She gave Jessica’s shoulder a little squeeze. “Trust me?”
Jessica did trust Kate. She’d trusted those merry blue eyes and bearlike hug since she was small child. She had her doubts, but she could see that Kate was determined to help and she respected her views. If Kate thought Skyler was the best, Jessica believed her. “Of course. You’ve never let me down before.”
“And I won’t this time. You’ll see.”
Skyler helped a twelve-year-old girl mount a Welsh pony and sent her to join the three other kids posting around the outdoor training ring. “I’m serious about that stallion,” she told Kate. “What would happen if he bit a plug out of one of them and a parent sued the center?”
“Skyler, every day these kids ride, we risk an accident. I know you’ll take every precaution to warn them about the stallion. And if one of them doesn’t listen and gets hurt, the center is well insured.”
“Damn it, Kate. You know I have a hard time saying no to you.”
Kate paid her trainers well and provided them with state of the art equipment. The only thing she, and the center, demanded was that, in addition to the top equestrians they coached and horses they were paid to train, each accepted several youngsters to teach from beginning riding to advanced technique. The program was funded by the center’s endowment and children were chosen through an application process. Some had minor juvenile records and most came with troubled histories at home and at school. The program was free, but the kids were expected to work around the barns, mucking stalls, feeding horses, and cleaning tack to build their character as well as their equestrian skills. It was the same program that had been a refuge for Skyler once.
“Good. Then I’ll play that card if I must to get my way on this,” Kate said. “I want to help Jessica, Sky. She’s been my heart since Laura and I lived together. I had to pretty much walk out of their lives back then, and I’ll never forgive myself for letting Laura push me away. I can never get those years back that I didn’t spend with Jess, but I want to be there for her this time. Do this for me, please?”
“I’ll think about it,” Skyler conceded. She rolled her eyes as a final act of rebellion.
“I’ll count on it.” Kate had never in any way insinuated that Skyler owed the Parkers for anything they had done for her or her twin brother, Douglas, but her tone left no doubt she was calling in that marker now.
Skyler rubbed the toe of her boot in the dirt. She could imagine what she was condemning herself to. Jessica was a distraction, the kind she didn’t need. Cute. Smart. Great with horses. I bet she gets her way a lot.
“Looks like this group is coming along fine,” Kate said, changing the topic before Skyler could invent another reason to refuse her. “You’re great with the kids, even though I thought I’d have to hog-tie you to get you to do this.”
“I wasn’t too sure about working with them in the beginning,” Skyler admitted. “But I guess too many of them remind me of myself at that age. Besides, you can never have enough little grunts around to muck stalls.”
“Right, tough stuff. And that’s why all the kids love you,” Kate teased.
“Hey, I don’t need you spreading rumors about how nice I am. It will ruin my reputation.”
The easy banter between friends was their way of communicating “no hard feelings” from the earlier confrontation. But Kate wasn’t going to let Skyler completely off the hook. “Well, you did a pretty good job upholding your reputation as a hard-ass with Jessica.”
“That must have been quite a novel experience for her,” Skyler said dryly.
Kate gave her a long look.
With a shrug of resignation, Skyler said, “Okay. I’ll do it. But if there’s trouble—”
“There won’t be,” Kate said cheerfully. “Jess is a professional. And so are you.”
Skyler stifled the reply she wanted to make, instead calling to a tow-headed girl, “You look like a piston bouncing up and down, Jamie. This is a ballet, a dance. Let the horse’s movement move you. Relax.”
The girl’s shoulders visibly relaxed and she closed her eyes to shut out everything but the movement of the sorrel Thoroughbred mare she was riding. Skyler smiled. She loved working with the kids. It was the only time she could drop her guard. They didn’t judge her.
Chapter Three
Jessica put the last of her clothes away and shoved the suitcase into the closet. Her leg ached and she reached for the pain pills she had been trying to avoid all day. I’ll just take one, she thought. Better go see what was up with Rampage. By now, Ms. Reese might have moved him to another barn. She hesitated and then dropped a second pain pill into her pocket. She limped badly as she headed for the door where she stopped again. Letting out a deep sigh, she turned around and picked up the cane that was propped next to her bed. Her pride didn’t want Skyler to see her using it, but her more practical half told her that she should pamper the knee as much as possible when she wasn’t riding.
She leaned heavily on the cane, hoping the pain pill would kick in quickly as she trudged down the long drive to the barn. When she entered the cool, cavernous building, her eyes took a moment to adjust from the bright sunlight to the dim interior. A neatly raked dirt hallway was lined on both sides with roomy, twelve-by-twelve stalls that had eight-foot-tall walls, four feet of rough-cut oak at the bottom and four feet of vertical iron bars at the top. The wide hallway was empty except for a young girl pushing a wheelbarrow that contained a muck rake and manure droppings she was cleaning from the stalls. With her back to Jessica, she began to slide back the door on Rampage’s stall.
“No!” Jessica yelled as the horse squealed and charged toward the opening. She flung herself forward using her cane to push the door shut. The girl instantly dropped to a crouch and threw her hands up to shield her face. At the same time, Rampage whirled and drummed his hooves against the stall door.
Heart pounding, Jessica stood frozen as a voice yelled, “What did you do?”
A hand seized her wrist. Ripping the cane from her hand, Skyler Reese shoved her roughly against the stall. The fury in her face was startling. Pain seared up Jessica’s thigh. Her mouth worked, but no words emerged as she hunched against the rough boards.
“Did you hit her?” Skyler demanded. She was shaking.
Jessica glanced down at the trembling girl, puzzled by her defensive reaction. “No, I couldn’t get to the stall door quick enough, so I used my cane to push it shut.”
Skyler’s dark eyes burned into her for another long minute before she turned to the girl. “It’s okay, Jamie.” Her face and voice softened as she pulled the girl to her feet. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I should have told you not to go in that stall.” She shot another withering look at Jessica. “This lady will clean that stall herself. It’s her ill-mannered horse.”
Jessica watched, speechless, as Skyler guided the girl into the barn’s office and pulled the door firmly shut behind them. Jessica rubbed her aching leg and took a few slow breaths to gather herself. What just happened here? Well, I guess it was just too much trouble to thank me for saving her butt because she didn’t tell the kids to leave that stall alone.
She pulled a chair into Rampage’s stall, and placed it in the corner before sliding the stall door shut again and carefully lowering herself onto the seat. She wedged the cane against the chair to use as a prop on which to straighten and rest her painful leg. The big stallion shifted nervously and snorted at the human in his stall. Her confidence obviously puzzled him. He pinned his ears and shook his head. Jessica showed no sign that she’d noticed the display. Shifting to try to find a comfortable position, she reached into her pocket and found the second pain pill. After swallowing it, she worked to push the incident to the back of her mind. She didn’t need the stallion to pick up on her agitation.
“You’re not so tough, big guy,” she told him once she had her temper under control.
The stallion’s ears relaxed a little. He lowered his head and nudged his feline friend, but Peach only batted at the big nose. He seemed more interested in snuggling down into the hay and returning to his catnap. The Hanoverian shifted his white-stockinged feet and stared at her curiously with large liquid brown eyes that flanked a blaze of white.
“How’s it going, handsome?” Jessica pulled a paperback book from her back pocket. “This is where we get to know each other better, boy. I hope you like Black Beauty.” She flipped through the opening pages, and settled back. “Chapter one…”
The horse’s ears flicked back and forth as he listened to the melodious inflections of her voice.
Jamie’s sobs slowed to hiccups as Skyler swabbed her injury and taped a Band-Aid across it. The elbow scrape wasn’t that bad, not enough to cause the fear and pain Skyler had witnessed. Jamie was one of her favorites. She wasn’t aggressive and belligerent, as Skyler had been at that age. But, like Skyler, she was a natural around the horses and quietly private about her life outside Cherokee Falls.
“Tell me what happened,” Skyler asked. “Did she hit you or just scare you?”
“She didn’t hit me.” Jamie’s voice hitched. Shame-faced, she looked down at her hands. “I didn’t see her coming, that’s all. It’s no big deal. I’ll just go finish my work.”
Kids didn’t just fall apart like that from being startled. Giving Jamie’s new bandage a finishing pat, Skyler requested softly, “Jamie, turn around for a second. I want to make sure you didn’t scrape your back when you fell.”
Terrified eyes glanced toward the door, calculating the distance to escape.
“Come on, James,” she said, using Jamie’s favorite nickname to coax her. “You know I won’t hurt you.”
Jamie hesitated, then let Skyler draw her closer. She lifted Jamie’s shirt just enough to expose her back and swore when she saw the old bruises crisscrossing the flesh. Jesus Christ. She should have realized it earlier.
Jamie shrank away. “I just fell down. It’s nothing.”
“No, it’s something. Jamie, my teachers thought I was the most accident-prone child around because I always had bruises.” Jamie stared at the floor, unable to meet her eyes. Skyler knew she needed to be gentle, but she struggled with the anger she felt, knowing someone had beaten this child. “When I was ten, my father twisted my arm so hard he broke my wrist. That’s when the social work people stepped in, and I ended up here with Kate’s mom. I know what it feels like to be too embarrassed to tell anyone.”
“Please don’t tell anyone.” Jamie’s voice grew plaintive. “Dad isn’t home much. He drives a truck and goes away weeks at a time. Mom gets lonely, and when she starts drinking…I do stuff that makes her mad.”
Skyler was shocked. “Your mom does this to you? Does your dad know what goes on when he’s not around?”
“No, Mom and Dad love each other. She’s good when he’s at home. I swear she is.”
Skyler wanted, instantly, to rescue and protect this child from further harm. But she knew firsthand the pain of a family breaking up. No matter how dysfunctional they were, the loss was a permanent sorrow. She took Jamie’s hand gently.
“I know what it feels like to blame yourself, like it really could be your fault that an adult is using you for a punching bag. But it’s not.” She moved to the desk, scribbled a number on a small piece of paper, and tucked it in the girl’s pocket. “This is my cell phone number, and I don’t give this number to many people. Promise me that you’ll call me if you ever need help, or even just to talk. You call me any time, day or night. You understand?”
Jamie nodded and wiped her nose on her sleeve. Skyler offered a box of tissues and a tentative smile crossed Jamie’s face as she took a few. But the smile was fleeting, and she shifted her feet nervously. “My mom’s not really a bad person. It’s just hard for her when Dad’s not around.”
Skyler’s heart ached at Jamie’s plea on her mother’s behalf. It never failed to amaze her the capacity some children had for forgiveness. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost that herself. “Sure, James. That goes for what I told you about my dad hitting me. This is just between you and me.”
Jamie looked relieved, as though the sharing of secrets reassured her that Skyler understood. “I better get the rest of my work done.”
“Stay away from that bay stallion,” Skyler warned sternly.
“I will.” Jamie paused at the door. “I guess that lady did save me from getting run over by that horse. You really yelled at her.”
Skyler cocked an eyebrow at the gentle admonishment. “Yeah, I guess I did. I’ll make it right with her. Don’t you worry about it.”
After the door closed behind Jamie, Skyler sat in her office for a while, contemplating her discovery. She absently rubbed her left wrist as visions of her drunk and angry father surfaced in her mind. She’d worked hard to lock those images away and she didn’t feel like revisiting them now. She considered telling Kate about Jamie’s home situation, but she didn’t want to lose the girl’s trust. Undecided, she left her office and strode down the wide hallway. Ahead of her several kids scrambled up from where they were squatting beside the oak door of Rampage’s stall, and darted out of the barn. The little scamps were supposed to be doing barn chores, but Skyler didn’t yell after them. She could hear a muted voice coming from the stall, and realized they’d been eavesdropping.
Jessica was reading to Rampage.
Skyler smiled to herself and turned back to avoid disturbing her, but the stallion’s head jerked up and he snorted a challenge.
Jessica peered through the iron bars. “Oh, it’s you.” She sounded irritated. “I guess you’ve come to move us to another barn.”
“You guess wrong.” Skyler looked into the palest blue eyes she’d ever seen. They were more like white clouds swirling in a blue sky. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you,” she said at last. This was harder than she thought. But she’d promised Jamie. And Kate. “I hope I didn’t hurt you, shoving you like that.”
Jessica stared at her but did not reply. It was unsettling, the way those eyes seemed to probe her innermost thoughts.
“I guess I’m just a little overprotective of the kids around here.” Skyler shifted from one foot to the other. She could see the suspicion in Jessica’s eyes. She didn’t want to betray a confidence. “You just scared Jamie, that’s all.”
Jessica frowned. So, the gruff trainer had a soft spot after all. The fact that Skyler averted her eyes and shifted her feet told her there was more she wasn’t saying.
Skyler cleared her throat. “So, it was really my fault for not already posting a warning against entering that stall.”