Summer on Kendall Farm

Jace bent down to Ari and said, “I will if you promise me something?”

“What?”

“Promise me that you won’t go running after the horses even if you see me or Kelly getting on them. You’ll always, always call us first. So you won’t get hurt?”

Ari had given his full attention to Jace when his voice became serious.

“I promise,” he said. Then he looked at Kelly. “Did I hurt you?”

“No,” she and Jace said at the same time.

“The horse hurt me, Ari,” Kelly said. “I need to be careful, too. And I wasn’t. That’s why I got hurt.”

“You’ll be careful, too?”

“I will,” she told him. “I promise.”

“We have to go now, Ari.” Jace caught the boy’s hand.

“Ari?” Kelly called. He faced her. “Do you think I could have a hug?”

He smiled and ran to the bed, reached up and Kelly leaned down and hugged him.

He let go and turned to his dad. “You hug her, too, Dad.”

Kelly felt the color drain from her face. Then a flash fire took possession of her and her face was no less red than a cooked lobster. Glancing at Jace, she saw his face reflecting the exact same color.

* * *

KELLY’S LEG WAS still throbbing when she woke for lunch four hours later. The swelling had gone down some, but not totally. Mira came up and helped her wash and change clothes. The effort took more energy than she thought it would.

“Where’s Ari and Jace?” Kelly asked.

“In the kitchen. Ari is making you a special lunch. At least, he’s trying to, and Jace...” She seemed to intentionally leave the sentence hanging.

“What about him?”

“You’re attracted to him.” Mira stated it as if the entire world knew it to be true.

Kelly didn’t bother to deny it. “Nothing new, I’m afraid. You know I’ve been drawn to him since he was a wild teen riding across the fields.”

“But this time, he’s attracted to you, too.”

Kelly leaned on the cane she’d come home from the hospital with and stared at her cousin.

“Don’t look at me like that. You should see how he looks at you when you’re not paying attention.”

“That’s just because of Ari,” Kelly said.

“It’s not only because of Ari. When he carried you out of the truck yesterday, he held you as if you were the most precious thing on earth.”

“I’m sure you’re wrong. I’m betting Jace wants the Kendall. He’s only hanging around here until he can get on his feet and find a permanent place.” Kelly said the words, but she knew the man who’d kissed her, and those kisses couldn’t be delivered by someone who had no feelings for her.

“If you say so.”

Kelly knew Mira didn’t believe her. She didn’t truly believe her own words.

“I can have proof in just a moment. He’s coming up to carry you downstairs,” Mira said. The smirk on her face was unmistakable.

As it was, both Kendall males came to fetch her. Jace didn’t hesitate. He swept her into his arms and carried her down the stairs and into the large kitchen. The table was set for five and everyone took a seat. Drew arrived just as they were sitting. Since Mira had come to help for a few days, Drew had joined her.

Kelly glanced at Jace. She considered whether Mira saw something she had not. Sure he’d kissed her more than once and she enjoyed it. She admitted she wouldn’t mind exploring where their relationship might go, but she still had a purpose that took top priority in her life. Men, she knew, could complicate that. Did Jace?

His coming to the Kendall had nothing to do with her. Even when they were kids, he had never really looked at her. She had noticed him, though. Often she could only see him from a distance. Yet secretly she wanted him to notice her, too. But he was into himself, his problems, and his efforts to get his father’s attention. From what Kelly could tell, that never happened. She didn’t know that at the time. She thought he was rebelling, like most teenagers. And then he was gone. For months she wouldn’t see him. Then she’d get off the bus to watch the horses and he’d be racing along the far fence or driving through town as fast as the car would go.

But even her red hair, which everyone said was like watching fire burn, wasn’t bright enough for him to see her. She was invisible perched on that fence.

“You’re very quiet,” Jace said. “Are you in pain?”

Kelly shook her head. “My leg is beginning to tingle.”

“Wow. Tingle,” Ari said. “Tingle, tingle, tingle.”

He must have liked the sound of the word, since he repeated it several more times.

“What do you mean?” Jace asked.

Kelly could feel the vibes coming from Mira. She refused to look at her cousin for fear she’d say or do something to give Kelly away. “The doctor said that was a sign it was healing.”

“Put no weight on it for three full days,” Jace said.

She nodded.

“He just wants to carry you around,” Mira said teasingly.

“I do,” Jace admitted. “It’s the hair.” He indicated Kelly’s red hair. “It smells good.”

Mira laughed. “It used to smell like horses.”

“I’ve grown up,” Kelly said. “Now I wash it.”

“Can I wash it?” Ari asked.

Kelly suddenly had an image of Ari’s little hands tangling in her mass of hair.

She hadn’t said anything and the child must have thought she was going to say no. As a suggestion, Ari said, “Dad can help.”

Mira and Drew laughed. Kelly and Jace turned red.

* * *

KELLY HADN’T BEEN in her office in days and she was glad to be ambulatory again, even if it was with a cane. The swelling had gone down on her ankle enough for her to put on shoes. She finally had a chance to feel elated at the income from the first open house. They’d taken in enough fees to cover the expenses for the month. The next four weeks would be gravy. Kelly looked up from her computer screen. Tears gathered in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. It worked, she thought. She was going to be able to support the house at least through the summer and fall seasons. Winter would have far fewer visitors. She’d been working on school programs, but they required deep discounts to look appealing. Still...

More than likely, there would be some loss leaders, but over time they would gain other paying guests.

She went back to the computer. She needed to prepare for the next open house. Even though one open house had gone well, there was no guarantee that others would be the same. Kelly had enough inventory of brochures, donation forms and one-page summaries of the history of the house. She was going to have to hire more kitchen staff and maintenance people. Jace had done an excellent job, but she couldn’t be sure of his continued employment.

The thought of him leaving, however, had her heart sinking. There wasn’t enough money at the moment to make the changes she needed, but by this time next year she may be able to afford the racecourse.

“Hi.” Ari stood in the doorway. He was wearing his father’s jacket.

“Hi,” Kelly said. “Who are you? Am I looking at my little Ari or are you the all grown up Ari?”

He walked in the room, the coat dragging the floor. “I’m the all growed up one.”

Kelly smiled. Seeing Ari’s sweet face always brightened her day.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m working on the books.”

“Books, like my story books?”

“Not like those,” she told him. “These books help me keep track of paying the bills.”

“Oh,” he said. Kelly knew he had no idea what she meant. “Look here.” Kelly pointed at a column of numbers on a piece of paper. Ari put his finger in the same place.

“See that number?”

He bobbed his head up and down.

“That’s how much I need to feed the horses.”

He looked at Kelly. “I have a paper with how much I need, too.”

Ari pulled a folded set of papers from the pocket of his father’s jacket. He put his hand on a number and held it up for her to see. “This is how much will feed the horses.”

Kelly took the offered pages and looked at them. She held back a gasp when she realized she was looking at the contract of sale for the Kendall. It was a copy. Not the original. Her heart thudded, banging against her chest. Where had Jace gotten this? Straightening the document, the underlined words jumped out at her. Three years she read. Then she read the entire clause and saw that it said the original seller had three years to rescind the contract. The tears she’d shed moments ago over being able to support the Kendall, were now tears of gloom. How could Jace do this to her?

For an instant, Kelly wanted to ball the papers up, tear them into confetti-sized pieces and shower the room with them, but she resisted. She needed them intact.

* * *

THE CANE MADE a rhythmic cadence on the hardwood floor as Kelly walked down the hall. Her pace was slower than was necessary even with her condition. She was angry and she was doing her best to rein in her emotions.

Reaching the stairs, she put her hand on the railing and ascended one by one. She could hear Jace singing on the upper floor. His voice became louder with each step. He was happy. How could he be? In his bedroom doorway, she stopped and watched. Jace was entertaining Ari, who was sitting, transfixed, on the bed.