Chapter Nineteen #2
Yvette crossed her arms. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at. I don’t see what any of this has got to do with the horses Jessica wanted you to work with and if you’ll excuse me, I need to get Candy ready for the show coming up. I really don’t have anything to tell you about anything.”
“Hey!” called a voice and we turned to see Kenzie waving to us. “Looking forward to your next clinic,” she called.
“Great!” I called back, motioning to Lily to figure out what we were supposed to be doing next. Lily nodded and walked over to Kenzie, engaging her in conversation.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” I said when I turned back.
“It’s fine.” Yvette sniffed, then added. “I’m upset Jessica is gone. I’m sorry. I’m not myself.”
“It’s great you and Joel can lean on each other.”
Yvette wiped a tear with the back of her hand. “Yeah. I’ll do whatever I can to help him. He’s so cut up, of course. I’m afraid he’s going to fall apart, especially if he finds out that…” She stopped, her jaw stiffening.
“Finds out what?”
“Well, I don’t think Jessica was exactly true to him at the end,” she said softly, studiously staring at something on the ground.
“Do you mean, she had someone else?” I asked, surprise causing me to blink.
“Yes, no. I don’t know. All I know is she was spending more and more time with Sebastian Moore and people were beginning to talk.
I just hope Joel didn’t hear any of that ridiculous gossip.
” She stepped forwards, reaching the threshold of the stable.
“People around here are irrepressible gossips, you know.”
I was about to ask Yvette who Sebastian Moore was when someone called her name from across the yard and we both turned. Harvey walked over, coming to a stop next to me. “Are you okay?” he asked Yvette, casting me an irritated glance.
Yvette wiped both eyes this time. “Tough day,” she said.
“Perhaps you can cut Yvette some slack,” said Harvey. “She’s grieving. She doesn’t need to be talking shop on top of that.”
“I didn’t mean to intrude…” I started.
“Then don’t,” snapped Harvey. “Candy is looking good, Yvie. Why don’t you get back to looking after him? Maybe head home after that. I’ll help Lexi and her assistant with whatever it is they need.”
“She was asking about Jessica’s dramas,” said Yvette, shaking her head as she stepped back into the stable. “I told her we all forget things sometimes. It’s hardly a big deal even if Jessica did carry on like it was.”
Kenzie walked past us and out through the barn doors, brushing her hands together and sending us a bright smile.
“Prince needs some exercise,” said Harvey. “What do you think?”
“I don’t think anyone’s ridden him since…” Yvette’s chin wobbled again.
“Prince is on your schedule with Kenzie riding at the end of the week,” said Harvey brightly, looking at me. His demeanor changed so quickly, I wondered what could have caused the sudden interest in the horses on my schedule. “Have you had a session with him yet?”
“Not yet,” I said, trying to recall if I’d heard anything about the horse.
“He was one of Jessica’s favorites. Strong, fast, smart. A little headstrong but nothing Jessica couldn’t handle. She loved eventing with him.”
“He sounds great.”
Harvey checked his watch. “I’ll get you a helmet. You must be eager to ride after all your time here with your feet on the ground.”
I glanced across to the school where Lily had drifted to lean against the fence and was watching the horses currently trotting in circuits.
“The school looks a bit busy,” I said, seeking an excuse not to get on any one of the enormous horses.
“Plus, I need to check my schedule. I don’t think I have time.
” I didn’t have time to show them I couldn’t ride!
“Nonsense. There’s plenty of time. We can all get to know each other better. Plus, there’s no better way to get to know a horse than by riding it.”
“Do you ride your rehab horses often?” I asked, attempting to steer the topic away from getting me on top of a horse. The only horse I was equipped to ride was a rocking horse.
“They’re rehabbing,” he said, a note of condescension in his voice. “They’re often on stable rest so they don’t sustain further injuries. The ones with attitude problems aren’t rideable either.”
“I’d love to see them. Why don’t we…”
“Rehab is off limits.”
“Perhaps we could take some out for a walk on a lead rope. I often find I get ideas when I’m walking a horse,” I said.
“We have walkers for that,” said Harvey.
“But…”
“Jessica hired you to aid the horses here, not to assist me. I can manage my own horses. Actually, I have a better idea than riding in the school.” He looked around, waving to TJ as he marched past with his hands hooked under a saddle, and beckoned him over.
“Saddle up Prince and Tulip for me,” he said.
“They’re not on the schedule until later,” said TJ. “Has it changed?”
Harvey smiled. “We’re switching things up a bit. Yvette?”
Yvette shrugged. “Sure. A ride out will be nice.”
“Out? Not in the school?” I asked, fear knotting my stomach.
“And bring London for Yvette,” he added.
I glanced nervously at the school. There was no getting out of this. I was going to have to get on the horse. My only hope was the horse knew what to do because I sure didn’t. “Okay!” I said with a bright enthusiasm I didn’t feel. “Can’t wait!”