Kitabı oku: «A Military Match», sayfa 3

“Oh, joy.” Dr. Wilkes was notorious for his bad penmanship.

Stephanie bit her lower lip. “Do you want me to stay and help?”

“No, I’ve got it. Go cram to your heart’s content.”

“You’re a doll, Jennifer.”

“Yes, I know,” Jennifer said, nodding sagely.

Stephanie giggled, then hurried out the door. Jennifer picked up an armful of papers and carried them to the shoulder-high black filing cabinets lining the wall behind her. She peered closely at Dr. Wilkes illegible scrawl and tried to decide if the first letter of the client’s last name was an A, an O or a misshapen D.

Fifteen files later, her eyes were beginning to cross when the sound of the front door opening made her look up in relief. Anything was better than this.

To her surprise, Edmond Barnes walked in followed by his chauffeur. His driver held a glass bowl overflowing with a bright bouquet of autumn-colored flowers.

She smiled at Avery’s grandfather, happy to see he was looking much better. “Mr. Barnes, what are you doing here?”

He took the bouquet from his driver. “I’ve brought a small gift to repay your kindness the other day, Miss Grant.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” Jennifer looked at the small opening in the glass partition between them, then hurried out of the office door and around to the waiting area.

He extended the flowers to her. “I didn’t have to do it, I wanted to do it.”

“How on earth did you know that I worked here?”

“You said you were a veterinary student. A few phone calls was all it took to discover that you both attend school and are employed here.”

Taken aback, she said, “That’s actually a little scary.”

His expression showed his surprise followed quickly by genuine distress. “I’m very sorry, Miss Grant. The last thing I want to do is upset you. Please enjoy the flowers and the knowledge that your kindness touched me deeply.”

“I will, thank you very much.” She couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer. Although it was clearly none of her business, she couldn’t help wondering if Mr. Barnes and Avery had made any progress in repairing their relationship.

“Have you been able to accomplish what you came here for?” she asked, hoping he and Avery had been able to heal their breach.

“Reconciling with my grandson? I’m sorry to say I have not, but I’m taking your advice. I don’t plan to give up on him. I did that once and it was my biggest mistake. I’ll be staying in the area for a while, although the service at my current motel leaves a lot to be desired.”

“That’s an easy fix.” Turning around, she retraced her steps into the office. Setting the flowers on the desk, she pulled her purse from the cabinet and withdrew a card for the bed and breakfast next to the café where her mother worked. She slipped it under the glass toward him.

“This place is on the main street of my hometown. It’s only a few miles from here on Highway 24. It’s called the Dutton Inn, but it’s a bed and breakfast. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus, belong to our church so I can vouch for them. It’s quiet, immaculately clean and the beds have real feather mattresses.”

Edmond took the card. “That certainly sounds better than where I’ve been staying.”

“I’m sure you’ll like it. The town has a historical section that you may enjoy exploring. If you want a really knowledgeable tour guide, my mother, Mary Grant, works at the café next door. She’ll be happy to bend your ear about our history.”

“I may do that. Thank you once again for your kindness and consideration.”

Just then the outside door opened again. Captain Watson and Avery walked in.

Jennifer pressed her lips together and looked down. How long would it take until the sight of Avery’s face stopped twisting her heart with yearning?

Calling herself every kind of fool, she pasted a polite smile on her face and greeted them. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. How may I help you?”

Avery stopped in shock at the sight of his grandfather talking to Jennifer. He had assumed, wrongly it seemed, that the old man had gone back to Boston.

Hanging back as Captain Watson approached the desk and asked to speak with Dr. Cutter, Avery tried to figure out why the head of his family’s empire was still in Kansas.

What motive could Edmond have for remaining in the area? Something wasn’t right.

His grandfather didn’t trust the day-to-day running of his company to anyone. In all the years Avery had known him, he could only remember him missing work once. The day of his son and daughter-in-law’s funeral. The next day, he had gone back to his office, leaving Avery alone in the sprawling mansion.

Jennifer picked up the phone and spoke to Dr. Cutter, then hung up and said, “You may go in, Captain.”

Avery spoke up quickly. “If you don’t need me, sir, I’ll wait here.”

Captain Watson glanced at Avery sharply, but nodded. “I think I can handle it. I shouldn’t be long.”

When his captain left, Avery gave his full attention to his grandfather. “I don’t know how you knew I would be here today, but I don’t have anything to say to you.”

Edmond gave him a tight smile. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I simply stopped by to thank Miss Grant for her kindness the other day. I had no idea you would be here.”

Avery wasn’t sure if he should believe him or not.

With a slight bow, Edmond said, “You have my phone number if you decide you wish to speak with me. Until then, I bid you good day.”

He walked past Avery and left the clinic followed closely by his burley and stoic driver.

Avery watched his grandfather leave, but he knew it wasn’t going to be easy to dismiss the man from his thoughts. Curiosity had the better of him now. What did Edmond have to gain by staying in town?

For a moment, Avery considered the possibility that his grandfather might actually want a reconciliation. The second the idea popped into his head, Avery dismissed it as foolish. And so was the notion that Jennifer had somehow arranged it. His grandfather never allowed sentimentality to influence his decisions.

“He seems like a nice man.” Jennifer said, drawing Avery away from his speculations.

“He isn’t.”

She looked down. “People change sometimes.”

“Not very often.”

He stepped up to the glass in front of the desk. Jennifer turned away and began filing papers, allowing him to spend a few moments admiring her feminine curves.

Watching her, he began to consider that he may have lost more than he’d gained when he’d broken it off with her. He’d been angry when he learned Jennifer had gone behind his back to contact Edmond.

Avery didn’t want anyone to know what a fool he’d made of himself over a scheming woman. Jennifer had made a mistake, but at least her intentions had been good. At the time, her tearful apology and explanation had fallen on deaf ears. All he saw was one more woman who’d betrayed his trust.

He didn’t trust easily, but he’d trusted Jennifer more than anyone in a long time. That was what hurt the most. His attempts at revenge hadn’t eased his pain. They only managed to make him feel worse.

But he felt better now that he was near her.

I miss her. I miss the way she used to smile at me.

Giving himself a mental shake, he looked down. It didn’t matter what he missed. Anything they might have shared between them was long gone. His behavior had made sure of that.

“How have you been?” he asked when the silence had stretched on long enough.

“Fine, thank you.”

“That’s good. How did your meet go last Saturday?”

“Fine, thank you.” Her tone didn’t vary.

“I guess that means you won again. Lee says you’re one of the best riders in the state.”

“Lee is too kind.”

“He’s a fan of yours, for sure. How is it that I didn’t know you were so accomplished? You never went to any shows when we were going out.”

“We went out during the winter. The shows run from April through November.”

“That makes sense. It’s the same for our unit’s exhibitions. To become such an expert you must have had a good teacher.” His show of interest sounded lame even to his own ears.

“I did.” She opened another file drawer without looking at him.

“Who taught you?”

She slammed the file drawer closed and turned to face him. “What do you want?”

He spread his hands wide. “I’m just making conversation.”

“I don’t think so.”

“All right, I’m interested in learning the same type of fancy riding that you do. Who taught you?”

“My grandmother was my coach.”

He decided to cut to the chase. “Does she give lessons?”

“She passed away two years ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” So much for his plan to take lessons from the person who had trained her.

“Thank you. I miss her very much. Perhaps that’s why I tried to intervene with you and your grandfather. I know how final it is when you lose them and how much you wish you had had more time with them.”

“I’ve had more than enough time with Edmond. Look, I need to find someone to teach me the basic dressage moves in the next couple of weeks. Money is not an object. I’ll double the going price for lessons. Are you interested?”

She tossed the papers she held onto her desk and folded her arms across her middle. “You’re joking, right?”

“I’m rarely serious, but today is the exception to the rule.”

“Why?”

“What does that matter?”

She tilted her head. “Humor me.”

“Have you heard of the American Cavalry Competition?”

“Of course. I’ve watched it several times.”

“It’s going to be held at Fort Riley next month and I plan to compete for the Sheridan Cup.”

“I remember now. There’s a military dressage class, isn’t there?”

“It counts for one quarter of the overall score. The saber class is a lock for me and I’m sure I can finish in the top three with a pistol, but Lee tells me I need a dressage coach and I believe him. He’s seen some of the other riders in action. So, what do you say?”

“No.”

“What? I just offered you twice the going rate for a few measly lessons.”

“And I said no. I don’t care what you offer to pay me. Money is not an object.”

His temper flared at being thwarted. “You’re just afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off me.”

Her eyes narrowed. “That is so true. I can picture them around your scrawny neck right this minute.”

“That’s not a very Christian attitude, Jenny,” he chided.

Her eyebrows shot up. She opened her mouth and closed it again without saying anything.

He knew a moment’s satisfaction at seeing her speechless, but it quickly evaporated when he watched her bite her lower lip. He had kissed those full sweet lips before. He wanted to kiss her again.

She said, “It wasn’t a very Christian thing to say, but as you so clearly pointed out to me when we were dating, you are not a Christian. Good luck in finding someone to give you lessons.” She picked up her papers and turned her back on him.

The captain came out of Dr. Cutter’s office with a smile on his face. “Good news. Dr. Cutter has cleared Dakota to return to full duty. I can’t wait to tell the rest of the men. With proper conditioning, he should be fit to ride in the competition.”

“That is good news, sir.” Avery glanced toward Jennifer.

She still stood with her back to him. Once upon a time her face would have beamed with delight at such news. She, as much as anyone, had worked to save Dakota and return him to a full and active life. He wanted her to be happy. He wanted her to smile.

As the captain left the building, Avery hung back. Before he could lose his nerve, he rapped sharply on the glass. Startled by the sound, she spun around.

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I just wanted to say that I know I treated you badly and I’m sorry.”

Jennifer clutched the papers she was holding tightly to her chest. An apology from Avery was the last thing she expected. If Isabella had hopped in and asked for a carrot in perfect English, Jennifer might have been more stunned, but not by much.

She waited without speaking. Somehow, he was going to turn it into a jest or an insult, she just knew it.

Only he didn’t. For a second, she thought she saw sadness cloud his eyes.

He shrugged and gave her a little smile. “Guess I’ll see you around.”

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving the bell over the door tinkling merrily and the faintest scent of his cologne wafting through the opening in the partition.

Jennifer stared after him in amazement. The man had actually apologized. She wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t heard it with her own ears.

Perhaps he wasn’t such a lost cause after all.

Not that she cared anymore. Reaching out she touched the soft petal of a yellow lily in the bouquet his grandfather had left.

“Who am I kidding?” she whispered. “I do care. Oh, so much more than I should.”

Chapter Five

J ennifer realized she was still clutching her files and laid them on the counter. The more she thought about it, the odder Avery’s comment seemed.

“Wow! He actually apologized to me. I’m going to have to mark this day on my calendar.” She repeated his comment with emphasis and wished she had thought of it before he left.

She couldn’t allow herself to be taken in by the man again. She had more backbone than that.

But he had sounded sincere. She could almost believe that he meant it.

No, it was way out of character for him. Was he trying to butter her up and get her to change her mind about becoming his riding coach?

“Right. Like that will happen.”

She had too much sense to get involved with him again, even if some small part of her still found him attractive. “Once burned is twice shy, as my grandma used to say.”

Brian walked into the office with Isabella in her carrier and a cardboard box balanced on top of it. He deposited his burden on the counter. “Who are you talking to?”

She pulled herself together. “No one. Are you leaving now?”

“I am. Thanks for watching Isabella for us.”

“Don’t mention it. Where are you and Lindsey off to?”

“We’re off to Houston. Do you remember Corporal Shane Ross?”

“The tall Texan from the color guard? Sure.”

“He and his wife just had a little girl. He’s stationed in Germany, but he’s here in the States on a short leave. Annie, his wife, will be joining him overseas when she and the baby get cleared to travel. Since Shane will have to go back before then, Lindsey is going to be staying with Annie for the next few weeks.”

“Be sure and tell him that I said hello.”

“I will. Any questions about Isabella’s care?”

She smiled and shook her head. “None.”

“If you need me for anything, you can always get me on my cell phone.”

“Don’t worry about a thing.”

“Remember that Isabella likes to chew on pencils when she is bored, so you should make sure she gets plenty of attention.”

“My littlest brother is looking forward to playing with her again, so I don’t think that will be a problem.”

“I put several of her favorite toys in the box with her food and litter. I’m sure you know not to give her iceberg lettuce, but a romaine is okay.”

Jennifer rose and moved to hold open the office door for Brian. “Isabella will be fine.”

“Of course she will.”

He started to leave, but stopped and turned to her. “Don’t forget that she also chews on any paper she can get hold of.”

“Oh, good. I’ll use that excuse if I can’t get my statistic paper done on time. ‘I’m sorry, Professor Carlton, Dr. Cutter’s rabbit ate my homework.’”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I’m kidding.” She gave him a gentle push out the door.

“Are you sure you don’t have any questions?”

“I’m sure. She’ll be fine. Will you?”

He relaxed and grinned at her. “I think so. I just hate leaving her.”

“No? I never would have guessed.”

“Okay, I’m going.” He made it as far as the clinic door before he stopped again. “I almost forgot. Dr. Wilkes is covering my calls while I’m gone. Be nice to him.”

Jennifer waved as Brian walked out the door. When he was gone at last, she returned to her chair and sat down to gaze at Isabella. “Oh, joy, more illegible charts to decipher. What did I do to deserve this? No, don’t answer that. I’ve had enough shocks for one day.”

Putting Isabella’s cage on the office floor, Jennifer returned to the filing waiting for her and tried to avoid thinking about Avery. It was a losing battle. When six o’clock rolled around at last, she happily turned the office over to the senior vet student who had the night watch and locked the clinic doors.

It wasn’t until she pulled into her own driveway and saw her littlest brother come dashing out of the house that she was finally able to banish a certain soldier’s puzzling behavior from her mind.

Ryan barely waited until the truck came to a stop before he pulled open her door. “Did you bring her? Did you?”

“I did.” Jennifer lifted the carrier from the seat beside her and handed it to him.

He peered into the cage. “Hi, Isabella. Remember me?”

Jennifer smiled indulgently. “I’m sure she does.”

“I’ve got a place for you to sleep all fixed up in my room,” he cooed to the rabbit. He looked up at Jennifer with a wide beaming grin.

It was the happiest she had seen him in months. She didn’t have the heart to tell him that Isabella had to sleep in her cage. That bit of news could wait until bedtime.

Jennifer glanced toward the spot where her mother usually parked. There was no sign of her truck. The horse trailer was gone, too. “Isn’t Mom here?”

“Nope.” He jumped down with Isabella’s cage and started toward the front door.

“Did she call and say she would be late?” Jennifer asked as she stepped out of her vehicle and pulled Isabella’s stuff out from behind her seat. Their mother was almost always home before the kids got out of school. It was one of the reasons she worked the early shift at the café.

“Don’t know.” Ryan disappeared into the house with the rabbit leaving Jennifer to wonder why her mother wasn’t back yet. Surely she didn’t have another festival planning meeting.

Following her brother inside, Jennifer saw Toby and Lizzie crowding around Ryan as he lifted Isabella out of her carrier. Watching all three of them stroking Brian’s pet, Jennifer knew he needn’t have worried that she wouldn’t get enough attention.

“Lizzie, did Mom call?” Jennifer asked, setting her box on the pink and white Formica kitchen counter.

Shaking her head, Lizzie said, “She didn’t call here.”

“That’s odd.” Jennifer could plainly see there weren’t any messages on the answering machine on the counter beside her box.

Toby looked up. “What’s for supper? I’m starving.”

Lizzie rolled her eyes. “You’re always hungry.”

“Are the chores done?” Jennifer asked quickly, hoping to forestall an argument between the two.

Ryan piped up. “I took the trash out.”

The deafening silence from the others told Jennifer what she already suspected. She pointed toward the door. With a last, quick pat for the rabbit, Lizzie and Toby went out to feed and care for the other animals with only minor grumbling.

Jennifer picked up the phone and dialed her mother’s cell phone, but it went straight to voicemail. Staff members at Old Towne weren’t permitted to carry cell phones during business hours, but Mary always turned hers on once she left work.

After leaving a brief message, Jennifer hung up and set about finding something to make into a quick meal. Thirty minutes later, Jennifer was dishing out helpings of spaghetti when she heard the sound of her mother’s truck pulling in. Her relief mingled with a growing sense of annoyance. She could only hope her mother had a good explanation as to why she hadn’t called.

Toby and Lizzie were already seated at the table, but Ryan was still on the floor rolling a red plastic ball for Isabella to chase. At the sound of the truck door slamming, he jumped up and raced toward the entryway. “Mom’s home.”

Jennifer dropped the pan on the table and made a dive for the rabbit. She caught her just as Ryan threw open the door.

Mary rushed in, still wearing her calico work dress. “I’m sorry I’m late. We had a last-minute meeting with Mayor Jenks. You won’t believe what he wants us to do now.”

Ryan bounced up and down beside her. “Mom, Mom, Mom, Jennifer brought Isabella home with her. It’s okay if she sleeps in my bed, isn’t it?” he begged.

Mary’s eyes widened as she caught sight of the rabbit squirming in Jennifer’s grasp and she snatched up the front of her skirt with both hands. “Do not put that beast on the floor. She ruined two of my best petticoats the last time she was here.”

“I’ve got her,” Jennifer reassured her mother.

Later, Jennifer could never be sure if it was the sight of so much white lace or the sound of her mother scrunching up her crinoline that set the rabbit off. Whatever it was, the usually docile bunny suddenly leapt out of Jennifer’s grasp and dashed beneath Mary’s skirt.

Shrieking, Mary spun around, flapping the fabric of her dress as she attempted to escape Isabella’s excited leaps.

Jennifer dropped to her knees and tried to catch the culprit, but Isabella darted underneath her mother’s petticoats. Lizzie and Tony began howling with laughter.

Ryan yelled, “Don’t step on her!” and threw himself under her skirt to save his friend.

Jennifer saw the fall coming but was powerless to prevent it. Her mother went down in a flurry of white lace and crinoline.

Ryan emerged with Isabella in his arms. Lizzie, Toby and Jennifer all rushed to help their mother up. Clearly shaken, Mary tried to rise, but sank back with a loud moan of pain.

Four hours later, Jennifer sat in the hospital emergency waiting area and listened as the doctor detailed her mother’s injury.

“Mrs. Grant has a badly sprained wrist and the MRI shows that she has a severely torn ligament in her right knee.”

Jennifer’s heart sank. “Will she need surgery?”

“We can try keeping it immobilized, but I think chances are slim that it will heal without surgery. Either way, she is going to need a few months of rehabilitation.”

“A few months?”

“I wish the news were better.”

“Thank you, Doctor. You’ve been very kind.”

“You’re quite welcome. I must say, tonight was a first for me.”

“How so?”

“I’ve never been called on to treat a patient in a Victorian ball gown who claims she tripped over a rabbit.”

Jennifer managed a wry smile. “It’s a Victorian day dress, actually, but I can see how you might not be up on 1850s fashions. If you knew my family, you would know that this is really nothing too strange for us. Can I see her now?”

“Certainly. We’ve given her something for the pain and we’re getting a splint and crutches for her. She can go home tonight, but she needs to see an orthopedic specialist as soon as possible. This is his number.”

Jennifer took the information the doctor handed her along with her mother’s discharge instructions and then followed him to the small curtained cubical. Her mother lay propped up on a narrow cart.

“Hey, Mom. How are you doing?”

It was obvious that Mary had been crying. “I’m going to miss my Founder’s Day ride. I worked so hard for that.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. This is all my fault. I honestly intended to keep the rabbit in my room and not let her out when you were home. I just got sidetracked and forgot that Ryan had her out of her cage.”

Mary nodded and reached out to pat her daughter’s arm. “I know you didn’t mean any harm, dear. I just don’t know how I’m going to tell the Festival committee. We have all put so much time and effort into re-enacting Henrietta Dutton’s ride. I can’t let everyone down this way.”

Jennifer was a lot more worried about how she was going to pay the hospital bill. They did have a little insurance, but the deductible was five-thousand dollars. Money already earmarked for Jennifer’s school fees. If her mother needed surgery it would mean withdrawing from school until next year.

“You didn’t let anyone down, Mom. You have a torn ligament in your knee. It’s not like you decided to take a trip to the mall, instead.”

“You don’t understand. Announcements have been sent to newspapers and historical associations all across the country. We have descendants of the Dutton family coming from as far away as New York and Tennessee for this. We simply can’t cancel now.”

“Maybe someone else from the committee can take your place.”

“I don’t know who. Certain not Edna Marcus, even if she is a great-great-great-niece of the woman. She couldn’t fit into one of Henrietta’s gowns if she stayed on bread and water until doomsday. You’re going to have to take my place, Jennifer. I don’t see any other way.”

“Me?” Her voice actually squeaked.

Mary nodded. “You and I are the same size. We won’t have to alter the costume. You’re a better rider than I am. You won’t have any trouble making the charge up Dutton Heights.”

Jennifer shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Please. You know how much this means to me.”

Jennifer did know. And it was her fault that her mother wouldn’t be able to fulfill the dream she had worked so hard to make come true.

“I suppose I could wear the dress for one afternoon and ride up a hill, but I draw the line at wearing a corset.”

Mary scowled and tried to sit up, but winced in pain. Holding her bandaged wrist close, she said sternly, “This is a historical re-enactment, Jennifer. We are striving for the utmost accuracy. The costume must be exact.”

“And exactly what does that mean?”

“As was the custom of the day, Henrietta was wearing a corset, pantaloon and three petticoats beneath her simple cotton dress when she pulled a saber from her dead husband’s hand, threw herself on his war horse and led a band of ordinary farmers in a battle-turning charge straight up Dutton Heights into the very teeth of a pack of murderous raiders.”

Jennifer sighed in resignation. Who could argue with that type of fanatical logic? This was a lose-lose situation. “Okay, okay, I’ll do it.”

“You will? Oh, darling, you have no idea how happy that makes me.” Mary sniffed and used the corner of the sheet to blot her eyes.

When she regained her composure, she said, “You’ll have to start practicing right away.”

“Practice what? I thought I was just going to ride up a hill in a dress.”

“Oh, no. You must do exactly what Henrietta did.”

“Mom, she rode up a hill.”

Mary shook her head. “Haven’t you been listening? She picked up her husband’s saber and his pistol and rode straight into the enemy camp. She struck down six of the brigands with her saber and shot two more with her husband’s pistol before jumping her horse over the wall where their leader cowered and demanded his surrender at the point of her sword.”

“She did all that?”

“Eye witnesses attest to the fact. The Lord was truly at her side.”

“He must have been. So I have to wave a sword while I ride up this hill?”

“Not wave it. You’ll have to cut down six bandits and shoot two more. Of course, they’ll simply be mannequins dressed to look like fearsome raiders. They are rigged to fall down when you strike them or shoot them. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. I’ve been practicing for six months and I’m not perfect yet.”

“Mom, do you own a saber and a pistol?” Jennifer didn’t try to hide her astonishment

“Of course, dear. I store them at the Dutton house in a trunk for safe keeping. I wouldn’t want the boys playing with them. Someone might get hurt.”

Mary bit her lip as her brows drew together in a frown. “With less than three weeks until the festival, you’re going to need a professional coach to master using a saber and pistol from horseback. I certainly won’t be a position to teach you.”

“How on earth did you learn?” Jennifer couldn’t imagine her mother galloping across the countryside wielding a sword or shooting a gun.

“Gerard taught me.”

Jennifer racked her brain, but could only come up with one Gerard. Surely her mother didn’t mean the short, bald man who worked at the local supermarket. “Gerard Hoover from the produce section at the grocery store?”

“Yes. He’s a cavalry re-enactor with a Civil War unit. I know he would be happy to help but his unit is in South Carolina for a re-enactment and he wouldn’t be back until a few days before the festival. He’s playing Colonel Dutton for us. You have friends in the mounted color guard at Fort Riley. Perhaps one of them could show you the basics.”

Avery’s face flashed into Jennifer’s mind. She saw his self-assured smile and that gleam in his eyes.

No, there was simply no way she was going to ask him.