Dancing in Circles (Circles Trilogy) (5 page)

Swallowing her fear, Julie's eyes darkened. "What are you doing here?" Her fingers tightened on the teacup handle.

He stared at the teapot. "I thought I'd come by on my way home from the hospital."

"Not your Dad, again?" Julie's mothered offered him a cup. Chris shook his head to her offer. "No, Stephan. That Shore guy beat him up."

"What?" Julie's eyebrows popped up. Tea sloshed out of the cup and splashed on the table. She grabbed a napkin and sopped it up.

"We went back to get my car and, he jumped them. Put Steph in the hospital with a broken jaw."

"Yes!" She pumped her arm. After seeing her parents' horrified expressions, she lowered it. "Derek kicked Robert and laughed, saying it wasn't true that Shoresmen always win their fights. He may've been down, but he wasn't out. He came back and he got them." She snapped her head in Christopher's direction. "You!" The heat of anger rose in her.

He stumbled back a step.

Her eyes narrowed as she set her cup on the table. "You tried to rape me."

"No! I was—"

"Being drunk isn't an excuse." Julie rose out of her chair. "You weren't dating me because you liked me. You just wanted to get some. You disgust me. Get out." She pointed to the door.

Without making eye contact or saying a word, Chris' shoulders slumped, his head dropped and he exited the house.

"I thought we—"

Julie held up her hand to stop her father. "Robert rescued me from Chris' attack, and took an unjustified beating in the process." She inhaled a deep breath to steel her nerves. "I owe him a lot, and I'm going to pay him back with my friendship. You brought me up to make decisions for myself and if need be, pay the consequences of those decisions. Well I became friends with one of your most respected friends' son, and he almost raped me. So now I'll be friends with someone I want to be with."
Oh my God, I just talked back to Dad.

"Julie." Her mother rested a handed on her daughter's arm. "One supposed act of heroism doesn't make him a decent fellow."

"These Shoresmen boys have often been in my court." Her father's brow was pulled low. "What makes them dangerous is they don't understand the difference between right and wrong. I talked to Mr. Morris about this. He said his hands are tied. The boy met all the admittance requirements, and until he does something wrong, he can't be expelled."

"Isn't that always the case? Someone has to get hurt before the authorities will act." Mrs. Anderson shook her head.

"Listen." Julie rubbed her forehead. "You're condemning Robert, and you don't even know him." Parents!

"We know his type." Her father sipped his tea.

With the conversation ending on such a flat note, Julie refilled her teacup and returned to her room. Were her parents right? He's a gang member, and everyone knows you can't trust someone who runs with a gang. Her parents were wise. She knew that. They'd been right numerous times in the past, but this time Julie's heart insisted they were wrong.

***

Sunday was a new beginning. Full of energy, Julie prepared breakfast. One by one, the Anderson family entered the kitchen, devoured her french toast creation and ambled off. Julie and her mother cleaned up. "You're a piece of sunshine this morning." Her mother gave her a little hip bump.

Julie placed the last of the dishes into the dishwasher. "I'm sorry I lost my temper, yesterday." She wrapped her arm around her mother's waist and rested her head on her shoulder.

"I thought about what you said, and I think you were well within your rights. I'm very disappointed with Christopher's behaviour, and I told his mother just that." Her mother dropped in the dish detergent cube then pressed start.

"Mom." Julie shook her head. "It was the most awful night of my life. The dance was a bore. Then Chris. Then the fight. I didn't know what to do." She shuddered. Her smartphone chimed. She picked it up off the counter. "Hello. Hi, Jennifer. No, I didn't forget. I'll be ready. Bye."

She leaned on the counter next to her mother. "Did I tell you Francine's dad arranged for us to go riding at the Murran stables? It's Francine's birthday present. I don't want to ride, but I've got to see the Estate."

"If you meet Emily Murran say hello for us. When your father was younger, he did some work for the Estate. You go get ready. I'll finish clearing up."

Standing before her open closet, Julie pondered what to wear. Should she dress formal? She was going to the Estate. Or casual? It's a horse ranch. She settled on a lace and denim outfit, which suited both situations – perfectly.

Julie put the final touches of lip-gloss on as Jennifer and Heather burst in. "Come on. You're such a slow poke."

"Coming. I'm coming. Bye Mom. Dad," she shouted as she left the house.

As Julie slid into the limousine, the other girls greeted her with a chorus of "hellos" and "good mornings." The friends settled back to enjoy the ride.

"I think it was the worst dance ever." Francine shifted to a more comfortable position.

"Don't blame me." Jennifer spoke while texting another friend. "Mrs. Brill suggested I let the junior committee members organize it. No fears though, I'm still in charge of Prom."

"I want to hear what happened between Trish and Robert." Heather kicked her friend's foot and winked.

"This is my party, and I don't want him discussed. End of conversation." Francine's eyes flashed anger.

"What's your problem with him?" Tricia asked.

"Julie, how was dance class?" Francine checked her watch then looked out the car window.

"Didn't go, didn't feel good."
If only you guys cared.
She watched the trees pass by.

Trying to ease the tension, Jennifer said, "Olivia almost died when I told her we're going riding today."

"Did you see what she was wearing Friday night?" Tricia rolled her eyes. "What? We're bringing back the sixties. Again?"

The chatter turned to gossiping about the fashions at the dance until they stopped at the entrance to the Murran Estate. Butterflies tap-danced in Julie's belly.
Be a big, brave girl. Ride the horse. How hard can it be? If Heather can do it, so can you.

She glanced out the limousine window as the gates opened to reveal a maple tree lined drive. The car followed the path, and when it forked, the car continued along the right-hand road. Soon they exited the tree tunnel and entered a large parking area.

Dressed in a gardening outfit, knees stained with mud and a broad straw hat, Mrs. Murran slowly straightened and stood near an immaculate flower garden. As the car braked, the lady advanced towards them.

Removing her gardening gloves, Mrs. Murran extended her hand. "Good afternoon. I'm Emily Murran and I'm so pleased you've come for a ride."

One by one, the girls introduced themselves.

"I'm Julie Anderson, Bill and Sandra Anderson's daughter. My mother wishes that I say hello."

"You're little Julie Anderson? I remember you. You must've been four or five when I saw you last. My, you've become a beautiful, young lady. How are your parents?"

"They're fine."

"Since you're not here to talk to me, I suppose we should get you on your way. Who's the one who doesn't know how to ride?"

Julie waved.

"The rest of you may ride anywhere around the Estate or out on the neighbouring fields, but please not near the flower gardens. The horses love to eat my flowers. Julie, someone'll look after you. Don't worry. You'll have a good time." Her eyes twinkled. "Enjoy yourselves, and the final day of summer, then come back to the house and we'll have tea."

As she talked, she led them to where a tall, tanned man stood next to a team of horses hitched to a hay wagon. "This is Carl." She smiled at him. He nodded a greeting to the girls. "Have a pleasant ride." She waved and retreated to her garden.

They clambered onto the hay wagon like eight-year-olds rather than like the sophisticated teenagers they were. Francine pointed to a person riding a horse. The magnificent beast pounded its way around the track, raising a cloud of dust. The wagon stopped near a large white barn with the Murran crest posted high on its side. Carl halted the wagon then walked around to where the girls sat. "Who can't ride?"

Julie stepped forward.

"Have a seat on the wagon. I'll get these ladies on their way first."

The four girls followed Carl into the barn. Francine exited first. She led her horse to where Julie was standing. "Doesn't this one just remind you of old Mr. Tonkins?"

Julie burst out with a laugh. "Put glasses on him and he's the spitting image."

Francine cleared her throat. "Class, I would like to make one thing perfectly clear, first..." Still chuckling, she mounted her horse and wandered over to the nearby field.

Heather and Jennifer waved as they trotted by. Julie tilted her head to see if Tricia was exiting the barn. She waited. And waited.

At last, Tricia exited on a beautiful, chestnut brown horse. She smiled from ear to ear and paused next to Julie. "I just couldn't decide which horse to ride. But this one compliments my outfit."

Julie swallowed back a laugh, smiled and waved as Tricia rode on. She glanced back towards the barn. Somebody walked between two horses leading them in her direction
. Oh great, my turn. Remember, big, brave girl. You can do it.

When the rest of the body emerged from between the horses, Julie broke into a wide grin.
You're alive!

"How're ya?" Robert wrapped the reins over a rail. "Recovered from Friday night?"

"Me? You were the one who got beat up. How are you?"
Why do I feel like giggling? That is so a thirteen-year-old thing.

"Ok." He rubbed his forehead. "Got a helluva headache though."

"I'm so sorry I couldn't stop Stephan. I had no idea what to do. I was so scared. I...." She bit her bottom lip.

"Ya were in shock. Chris scared ya worse than ya realized. I could see ya were losin' it." He stood near the saddle of the light grey horse. "Let's get ya up on this guy."

Julie looked at the horse and gulped. "I don't think I can do this. I've never ridden before. He's kind of big, and I'm a little scared."
Lot scared
was more like it.

"If I can do oriental mushrooms, ya can do horses."

"You didn't eat the mushrooms."
He's so cute.

Robert patted the horse's neck. "This isn't actually a horse. He ain't big enough. He's a pony. His name's Whisky. He's an old school pony who's used to people who don't know how to ride. Like ya." He pointed at the stirrup. "Put your foot in here."

She looked around the ranch. "What kind of horses live here?"

He chuckled. "Gonna try stallin', huh? This is a breedin' ranch and a racin' stable. We got two world class stallions and several champion mares to breed with."

Julie wrinkled her nose.

"When a horse has a good bloodline his genes become valuable for breedin' purposes. For every good stallion, male horse, ya need a good mare, female horse. Think biology class."

"I thought that was about birds and bees."

"No, that was sex ed. This is genetics." He checked the girth straps were snug and held out his hand. "Now quit stallin' and come here."

Damn.
Her eyelids opened wide.

"Do I gotta go through the mushroom bit again? I won't let anythin' happen to ya." He walked around behind her. "Put your left foot in the stirrup. Grab the horn."

She pointed to the grip on the front of the saddle.

"Yea, that thing. Now swing yourself up."

As she did, he pushed and Julie landed in the saddle. "This isn't so bad."

Robert adjusted the length and tightened her stirrups. "Here are your reins." He gave a brief version of Horse Riding 101. "And to get him to go, squeeze your calves against him."

Julie tightened her legs, and the horse stepped forward. "Hey."
Where are the brakes for this thing?

"It's ok. Let him walk. Try turnin' and stoppin' him." Julie looked so nervous, Robert fought not to jump on her horse, wrap his arms around her and assure her everything was alright. Instead, he mounted his horse and rode alongside.

After a few moments, Julie relaxed. Look at me, on a horse. Doing the cowgirl thing. She giggled. "I feel like a kid who's discovered ice cream." She glanced over at Robert.
Ice cream with hot chocolate sauce. Very hot sauce.

Robert led them to a path, which opened into a meadow. "How come if your friends learned to ride, you didn't?"

"I was usually at class."

He slowed his horse to match hers. "What kind of class?"

"Dance. Ballet. You know, ballerinas in tutus, dancing on their toes." Julie swayed with the rocking rhythm of the horse's movements.

"Ya any good?"

"I can hold my own in class."

He raised his eyebrows. "Never known a ballerina before."

"When I was little, mom and dad took me to The Nutcracker and there's this great
pas de deux
...."