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Authors: Kate Welsh

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Jack chuckled. “Your kid’s a natural. I guess horsemanship really is in the genes. We talked about regular lessons. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Nah. He looks good up there,” he said, admiring Mark’s obvious natural aptitude. “If he wants to ride, he can ride. For fun or as a serious pursuit. All I know is, my father won’t be involved. As long as you’re here, I guess you’re elected. What are Laurel Glen’s fees?”

Jack shook his head. “No way I’m charging family. How’s Sunday for you until Daylight Savings Time gives us longer evenings? Ross doesn’t care how I spend my time, but that’s my day off. I’d feel better showing Mark the ropes then.”

“Anytime should be fine. I put in some time doing talks and such for the local recruiting office, but that’s pretty much it. My days aren’t exactly full right now.”

“Beth can teach him jumping and English tack if he wants,” Jack suggested. “Morning handles either,
so I put him up in western gear today. It’s what I know and I think it’s easier to start with.”

Adam leaned his shoulder against the corner of the brick wall of the stable. “It’s all up to Mark. I’m not pushing him either way. I refuse to follow in my father’s footsteps… So, have you and Beth made any decisions about staying in the east or going back home?”

“This was only supposed to be temporary for me. I only came to find my mother and get to know her and the family I didn’t know I was part of. But now Beth is in my life and she’s from the area. Plus my sister married a guy from here and she has no intention of going back to Colorado. Now you’ve come back and that’s another tie for Beth. Frankly, until last night we had more reason to stay than to go.”

“Last night?”

Jack grimaced and glanced around at the heart of Laurel Glen’s operation. Adam followed his gaze, taking in two of the four long and low stone and brick stables that formed an X with the practice ring in the center. That was where Mark was making half-circle reverses, leading the horse in what looked like a figure eight.

Adam glanced over his shoulder at an historic octagon-shaped barn nestled in a copse of winter-bare oaks and towering white pines farther up the drive. There were also two small white cottages, one of which currently was home to his sister and Jack. In the distance Laurel House rose from the top of a hill
overlooking all of Laurel Glen like an elegant lady surveying her children at play.

“My father called,” Jack said at last. “I’ve forgiven him for lying all those years about my being adopted but…” He shrugged. “What can I say? Things weren’t perfect before I found the adoption papers. Dad says he wants to sign the Circle A over to me and my sister. He still wants to live there, but he claims to need to let go of the place emotionally. That makes sense, since he’s been seeing a psychologist for over a year about his obsession with the ranch.”

“How do you feel about the Circle A?”

“I don’t remember when I didn’t want to run the operation, but when I was foreman, Dad was constantly looking over my shoulder and second-guessing me.” Jack sighed. “He promised it would be hands-off this time. He even promised us the house to ourselves.”

“For what it’s worth, I think you should give it a try. There’s nothing worse than giving up on a dream.”

“The way you have by retiring?” Jack asked, then turned away to yell an instruction to Mark, who turned the horse toward the center of the ring, guiding her into a perfect figure eight. Mark beamed with pride when Morning performed as directed. “The kid’s hooked,” Jack said, then raised an eyebrow.

Adam didn’t bother pretending it wasn’t a reminder that he hadn’t answered Jack’s question. “I wasn’t thinking about my career. The Navy was good to me.
Being a SEAL was exciting and gratifying, but it isn’t the only thing I can do with my life. I was remembering how it felt when Mallory left and I all but lost Mark. I took the easy way out for too long, letting Mallory dictate how much I could see him. Letting Jerry be the father. It’s a mistake I’d never repeat. I have a second chance to be a father now and nothing is going to stand in my way.”

“Good attitude. I wish my father had cared as much about us as you do about Mark.”

“Hi, Ms. Lexington,” Mark shouted. “How was your weekend? I didn’t know you come here. I’m going to start taking lessons from my uncle.”

“It looks as if you’ve taken quickly to riding,” Alexandra Lexington called back to Mark as she climbed up on the fence across the big practice ring.

She looked around, seeming to scan the area. He wondered if she was making sure he wasn’t around.

She needn’t have bothered. Adam had no intention of dealing with her a second time in one day. He was sure by her relaxed manner that she hadn’t seen him standing down on the ground next to Jack. He stepped farther into the shadows, hoping to keep it that way.

“How was Fly Boy today?” Jack called to her.

Adam winced and held his breath. Would she see him hiding like the coward he was?

“He was a perfect gentleman,” she yelled back, laughter in her voice.

“Mark, I think you’ve had enough. Dismount and walk him around the ring a bit to cool him down,” Jack said as he hooked a leg over the top of the tall
fence. “Remember to keep the reins in your hand so neither one of you can step on them, and keep your feet under you, not him.” Jack looked back down at Adam. “You need help putting Mischief away?” he asked, clearly puzzled when he saw Adam almost cowering by the stable.

“No problem,” Adam answered. After Jack nodded and jumped to the ground inside the ring, Adam turned away and sighed. It looked as if Murphy’s Law was at work in his life again. Every time he drove Mark over here for a lesson, he’d run the risk of seeing her.

And something else. He couldn’t understand Jack being so nice to a member of the family who’d been so cruel to Beth all these years. Of course, Laurel Glen was a business, and Jack was technically an employee, but the Taggerts saw both him and Beth as family. Why would any of them be willing to deal with a Lexington?

He was going to have to ask Beth. He saw no other way around it. He’d hesitated to even mention it, worried about bringing up such a painful subject. Especially when he felt so guilty for not being there for her all those years ago when she’d needed him.

When Mark was ready to leave, the day that had gone from bad to worse continued to go downhill. All the way home, his son regaled him with more of his unending praise of the wonderful, perfect, unequaled Ms. Alexandra Lexington.

Chapter Eight

E
arly on Monday afternoon Xandra practically flew up Laurel Glen’s drive on the way to Jack Alton’s office. He’d called her at work just as she was packing up to leave for the day. After a little over two weeks of searching, he’d located a horse he thought might be perfect for her. The only catch was that she had to move quickly, because the quarter horse looked like a real prize.

She was in such a rush she nearly passed Fly Boy’s stall without stopping to pet him. But the affable quarter horse trumpeted an insistent greeting, and she froze in her tracks in the aisle. “Oh, sorry, pal. I’m not very loyal, am I.” She blew in his nostrils, saying hello in horse language, and rubbed his velvet nose, then all was forgiven. “I’ll be back to see you later. I promise.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake, dear, don’t let this trickster fool you,” Meg Taggert drawled as she sauntered
up behind Xandra to rub Fly Boy’s forehead. “He just had an apple and a lump of sugar from me not two minutes ago.”

Xandra had always admired Meg. Now in her early fifties, she was a startling sight with her youthful face, dark arched eyebrows and snow-white cap of hair. She was dressed for riding in a classic competition-style jacket, suede jodhpurs, shining leather boots and a velvet helmet. Her only concession to the cold was a heavy turtleneck sweater and gloves.

While Xandra felt a bit underdressed in her ski jacket and jeans, she knew Meg Taggert wouldn’t judge her. She never valued anyone by anything but their heart. She’d once overheard Meg deal her mother quite a set down on the subject at a charity ball. As muddle-headed as she had been that particular night, it had been all Xandra could do not to cheer. She liked to think she’d come so far that these days she might deliver the lecture herself.

“Hello, Ms. Taggert.” She greeted Meg with a wide smile. “Did you have a good time on your trip? I hope you don’t mind that Beth let me ride Fly Boy while you were gone.”

“No thanks are necessary. I heard you and my big boy here became fast friends while I was floating on the Caribbean. He needed the exercise. You’re welcome to ride him anytime. And please call me Meg. ‘Ms. Taggert’ makes me feel so old.”

Xandra chuckled. “You’ll never be old. Old is a state of mind. And thanks for the offer to ride Fly Boy but it may not be necessary. Jack called, and he
may have found a horse for me. He has a video stream for me to look at. I hope it works out.”

“Is that where you were off to in such a rush that you nearly ignored my Fly Boy? If my son likes this animal, you can bet he’s good horseflesh.” Companionably she looped an arm over Xandra’s shoulders. “Let’s go take a look at this wonder.”

They walked down the shadowed, musky aisle to ward the foreman’s office. It was paneled in rich old knotty pine, and the smell of the wood fire flickering in the cast-iron stove in the far corner flowed around them. Meg pushed her ahead, and she noticed Beth curled up on the worn hunter-green leather sofa with a woolen blanket tossed over her legs.

“Mom!” Jack called out, and jumped to his feet behind his desk to give his mother a kiss on the cheek.

Beth looked up and grinned. “Wait till you see this character, Xandra. There’s no way you aren’t going to want a closer look at him. I
have
a horse and I still want this guy.”

“This fellow is at the top of your price range but he comes with his own western tack,” Jack said, and waved Xandra behind his old scarred wooden desk and settled her into his chair. He leaned over her to punch keys and click the mouse.

“Fifteen-and-a-half hands high,” Jack continued, absently cataloguing the attributes of his find as he navigated the computer. “He’s dark brown with a black mane and tail. No other markings.”

Anticipation built until Xandra was hardly able to
stay in the chair. “I feel like it’s Christmas and I’m six again!” she said.

Jack, Beth and Meg all laughed.

“He’s a nice-looking animal,” Jack went on, “and he’s cross-trained in eventing and barrel racing of all things. Jennifer, the owner, didn’t know what she wanted to compete in, so her father decided on a quarter horse since they’re accepted in both arenas of competition. Which is perfect, since you mentioned liking Fly Boy’s western gear.”

“Why are they selling him? Oh,” Xandra said, not waiting for an answer and falling instantly in love as the video splashed onto the screen. “He’s gorgeous.”

Jack chuckled. “They got the name right, that’s for sure. Dauntless. Look at this guy, Mom.”

They all crowded behind the desk then, watching Dauntless fill the computer monitor. With his head held at a perfect forty-five-degree angle, he pranced around a ring, his carriage vaunting his own high opinion of himself.

Then there was a scene switch, and he stood as still as a statue in the center of a competition ring with a pretty teenage girl on his back. Suddenly, his rider gave him a subtle signal, and he wheeled around keeping his rear legs in place. Then horse and rider took to the air, flying over a series of jumps.

Xandra stood transfixed as the video blinked to yet a different scene. The girl, dressed now like a cowgirl, pointed Dauntless toward a line of barrels. Xandra had never seen anything like the way the five-year-old gelding cut in and out of the barrels in a series of
tight turns and then skidded to a dead stop before the judges.

Next they were back at the first location—what looked like a private stable yard—to show off a few tricks. Xandra’s favorites were Dauntless counting off his age with his hoof and his last, making a bow and then using his teeth to doff the girl’s hat. As the video faded out, Dauntless bent his head over his knees to farther deepen the bow, the hat still dangling from his teeth.

Utterly charmed, Xandra covered her heart with her hand and told them, “I don’t care why they’re selling him. I want him.”

Jack laughed. “Not so fast. You need to take a closer look at him. You can’t judge him from what you can see on a video. He looks good. Smart as a whip and good-natured. I doubt there’s anything wrong with him but rein in that enthusiasm a little. Besides, remember I mentioned that you have to go meet Jennifer? That was her riding him. She insists on meeting the person who wants to buy him before she’ll approve the sale. And I’ll warn you, so far she’s turned down three offers.”

“Actually, I think I like her for that. So, just out of curiosity…”

“Why are they selling him?” Jack put in with a wide smile.

“Jennifer decided on eventing and Dauntless isn’t doing well at dressage. If she keeps him as a pleasure horse, Dauntless would spend an awful lot of time not being ridden, and she doesn’t want to do that to him.
They live in Maryland, near D.C. You willing to make the trip to see him?”

Xandra nodded. “Make the arrangements. I can go any day this week after noon because of teacher conferences. I don’t want to chance waiting till next weekend.”

“Whoa. I think you should move on this quickly, too, but I can’t go down there at all this week with Ross and Cole both still away. I’m just too backed up.”

Xandra’s heart dipped. She looked at Beth, who’d retreated to the sofa. “Do you know how to tell if he’s healthy?”

“Not really.” Beth blushed a little. “I’d never even curried Glory until I met Jack. He’s been teaching me a lot, but I wouldn’t feel confident advising you on something this important.”

“I’m sorry, dear,” Meg said. “I’d go, but I promised every afternoon this week to the Historical Society. We’re in the middle of setting up for the charity ball and auction this weekend.”

“I’ve looked through the breeding records on Dauntless,” Jack said, settling on the edge of the desk, “and they look good. Still, I think someone knowledgeable should look him over. This is an important purchase. Do you have anyone you could take along who knows horses?”

Deflated, Xandra got up and walked to the opposite end of the old leather sofa from Beth. “No,” she said, dropping onto the worn cushion. “I don’t know a soul I could take.”

A car door slammed outside. “I do,” Beth said, her eyes brightening. “Hold on a minute.” She was on her feet and gone in a blink.

“I think our Beth had a brainstorm,” Meg drawled as she settled in the chair behind the desk Xandra had vacated.

Moments later the deep timbre of male voices blending with Beth’s made Xandra’s stomach do a freefall.

She couldn’t.

She
wouldn’t.

“Jack’s got a line on a great quarter horse for Xandra,” Beth was telling her brother when they entered the office together.

Adam’s presence seemed to suck every cubic inch of air from the room and the small, cozy office turned claustrophobic. Beth, however, didn’t seem to notice the loss of all available breathing room. Instead she rushed ahead with her explanation, leaving Xandra tongue-tied and aghast at the way her lovely day had fallen apart.

“Could you look him over with her?” Beth asked finally.

“I’ve got the time, but who’s Xandra?” Adam answered.

When he followed Beth’s gaze to the old sofa, it was clear he hadn’t noticed Xandra sitting there. Noah Webster could have used Adam’s picture as an illustration next to several words:
stunned, poleaxed, stupefied.
They all fit. Were she not in this awful, awkward situation with him, Xandra would have had a
good laugh at his expense. But she was in the same soup, and it was no fun at all.

“No, Beth,” she said quickly, scooting to the edge of the cushion and trying her best to glare surreptitiously at her friend. “I’ll be fine. I wouldn’t think of imposing on your brother.”

“But you won’t be.
I
will,” Beth countered, unaccountably blind to Xandra’s signals. “I’m the one who asked.”

“But you asked for me. And really, I can handle it on my own. Besides, you told me it had been years since your brother has been around horses.”

“Adam knew more about horses at fifteen than the average rider ever learns. Tell her, Adam. I don’t want her to chance losing Dauntless by waiting till next weekend.”

“Nice of you two to remember I’m standing here,” he said, looking grumpy and bewildered at once. “I need something cleared up for me. It’s had me puzzled. From what I’d heard our families rival the Montagues and the Capulets. Which should make you two archenemies. Now I walk in on this cozy scene. I’m a little more than slightly confused.”

“Enemies? Xandra and me? Where would you get such a ridiculous idea?” Beth demanded.

Xandra could well imagine—her mother!

Adam frowned, looking uncomfortable. “I’m not sure. I must have misinterpreted something someone, er, said,” he explained, a mile-wide streak of gallantry showing itself and endearing him to Xandra for once.

With the exception of Beth, it had been years since anyone protected her. In fact, no one until Beth ever really had.

“Probably my mother,” Xandra put in.

“That woman!” Meg all but growled as she scooped up a pile of papers from Jack’s desk and tapped them into an orderly stack. Even though she was uncomfortable, Xandra found Jack’s horrified expression funny.

Beth huffed out a breath that sounded tired and nearly defeated. “Adam, I recommended Xandra for her job at the school. Would I do that for an enemy? You don’t want people judging you by our parents, do you?”

Adam grinned, his gaze ensnaring her own. “I believe someone else already said exactly that to me, but I didn’t have all the facts. I’m sorry I’ve misjudged you, Ms. Lexington.”

He looked at his sister, and Xandra was able to take a breath. Beth, she realized, hadn’t mention her involvement at New Life, and Xandra was relieved. But she was also sorry because she couldn’t help wondering what he’d think if he learned what a coward she’d been to allow Michael to abuse her.

“Beth, if you can pick up Mark after school tomorrow,” Adam was saying, “and let him stay here with you till we get home, I’d be glad to drive…Xandra…to Maryland.”

Xandra stood. “I…no, really.”

“Let me do this. It’s the least I can do after giving you such a rough time.”

“You have nothing to make up for. This is just too much to ask even if you are my friend’s brother. I can go alone,” she protested.

“Why not go for a ride and settle the details between you?” Meg ordered, still straightening Jack’s desk. “I have something I want to talk over with Jack and Beth.”

“Good idea. With Cole still away, Mischief could use another good workout,” Jack said.

“You can trust my brother,” Beth whispered for Xandra’s ears only, as she dragged her to her feet. “It’s time to take another step.”

Fine for Beth to say. Buying the horse was supposed to be her next step, not riding with a man. But maybe she could get out of having him accompany her to Maryland by going with him now. That way it would just be the two of them with no Beth, Meg or Jack to throw a spanner into the works. They’d ride together, she’d decline his generous offer and she’d make herself scarce.

Perfect plan.

 

Adam watched Alexandra and Fly Boy race across the meadow toward him and marveled at the change in her. She had such a beautiful smile. A wonderful laugh. And she loved riding. Not even the cold seemed to affect her; her cheeks were reddened and even her nose was pink. With the temperatures now in the high forties, she probably thought of this as warm weather.

For him this was nothing compared to winter in
some of the places he’d been. Mark, however, reminded him daily that this wasn’t what he was used to and he hated it. The teenager spent the entire ride to and from school grousing about the cold and snow. It was better than his previous silence, but tiring all the same.

Adam followed as Alexandra charged up a hill, the horse’s hooves pulverizing the thawing ground and splashing mud everywhere. Suddenly he realized that the joy he’d found in secretly riding Ross’s horse as a boy had returned, and he was afraid it wasn’t because he was at Laurel Glen again.

He wished he could hang back and let Alexandra go off alone. It would make life much easier. Because he knew with a sick certainty that the joy he was feeling came from watching her exuberant happiness.

It was definitely a worry.

BOOK: Abiding Love
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