I roll over and pull my pillow over my head. I’m not ready to face the day yet.
“Cami! Cami!” It’s Drogheda and she’s shaking my shoulder. Something must be wrong for her to be in my room waking me up.
“What?” I ask, sitting straight up in the bed, startled.
“You sleep like the dead this morning, chica. I’ve been banging around in the kitchen for over an hour and still, you sleep.”
“Sorry. I didn’t get much rest last night and I’m still tired.” I must’ve dozed off after I woke up the first time, because I didn’t hear all of Drogheda’s finely-honed skills of annoyance.
“What’s the matter, mi Camille?”
That actually makes me smile. Drogheda is the only person in the world who can get away with calling me Camille, and only because she makes it sound like an endearment rather than the name I hate so much.
“Nothing,” I reply with a shake of my head. I don’t look her in the eye. Drogheda’s got some kind of crazy sixth sense and she can tell when I’m lying to her. I’ve learned it’s best to avoid eye contact.
She stares at me, moving her head when I move mine until I’m forced to look at her.
“You tell me now, missy!” Drogheda can be very no-nonsense when the occasion calls for it.
I sigh. “It’s nothing really. Just this guy.” I sit up and tuck my hair behind my ears. “And I mean, I’ve got a boyfriend, which makes the whole thing just really stupid.”
“What whole thing? Tell me from the beginning.”
So I do. I tell Drogheda all the not-so-sordid details. It surprises me when she grins. And, for Drogheda, it’s a pretty devilish grin, too.
“What did I tell you? That boy is not the right one for you. Didn’t I tell you you’d find the right boy?”
“Drogheda, Brent is a great guy. Didn’t I tell you that?”
“Aye-aye-aye! That’s all I hear for years now, but this is what I want to hear. I want to hear you tell of a boy who gets in your head,” she says, tapping my temple with her finger, “and in your heart, too.” She taps my chest over my heart.
“But Brent—”
“Pssssh,” she says, waving her hands at me. “I don’t want to hear any more excuses, mi Camille. Keep that boy around if you must, but don’t turn your back on this new one. You have to give love a chance. When it’s real, it will find a way.”
My laugh is short and bitter. “Can it find a way around Jack Hines?”
“Have faith, chica. Love can even find a way around your father.”
Drogheda’s smile is sweet and encouraging, just what I needed this morning whether I knew it or not. Impulsively, I lean over and wrap my arms around her neck.
“What would I do without you, Drogheda?”
“You’d be lazy all day, that’s what.” She slides off the bed and swats at me with the dishtowel she’s still carrying. “Now, come eat your breakfast so I can clean up the kitchen.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming! Give me a minute,” I complain good-naturedly.
Drogheda rolls her eyes in exasperation and walks away, muttering something in Spanish that I can’t understand, but sounds awfully cute.
Somewhere between my bedroom and the kitchen, I decide to go see the only person I can think of who might know more about Trick than I do, which isn’t much.
My father is sitting behind his desk when I walk into his office. This is the first time I’ve seen him since I got home. I notice a little gray at his temples that wasn’t there at Christmas. Otherwise, he looks the same—short, dark hair, tan skin and sharp blue eyes that see right through me when he looks up.
I smile brightly. “Morning, Daddy.” I lean against the door jamb and yawn.
“I was beginning to wonder if I was going to get to see you at all,” he says with a smile, laying his pen to the side. He leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers as he watches me.
“Sorry. I’ve been with Jenna the last few days and I guess you’ve been…what? Checking out new horses?”
He shrugs. “Nothing you need to be concerned about.”
“What if I want to be?”
He frowns. “What’s the supposed to mean?”
I walk on into his office and sit down in one of the big leather armchairs that face his desk. “Daddy, I’m thinking of spending the summer learning more about the business.”
“Why?”
I shrug. “Because I want to. You know how much I love horses. But I’ve always just loved riding them. I’ve never really seen the business side of things and it’s something I’m interested in.”
His smile isn’t very big, but it is full of pride and pleasure, which makes me feel good. Maybe he’s been waiting for this day all along. Who knows?
“I think we can arrange some kind of internship then.”
Internship. Inwardly, I roll my eyes. I should’ve known Jack Hines wouldn’t throw the least bit of nepotism my way. “Sounds good. I thought maybe I could make a couple of trips with you this summer. You know, check out new horse flesh and meet some of your contacts.”
He nods. “I’ve got one coming up next month that would be a good place to start.”
“Just let me know when and I’m on it.”
He continues to nod. I can practically see the wheels turning. And the expectations rising. “You should make some time to start looking into the genetics of thoroughbreds, then. Financial investment, too. You need to have a good understanding of both those aspects before you start meeting other breeders.”
“I can do that.” There’s a long pause, during which I know I’m being appraised. That always makes me uncomfortable. “So, I met the new guy yesterday. What’s up with him? What happened to Ronnie?”
“Found out he was mixed up in some…undesirable affairs. I let him go.”
“So where’d you find his replacement?”
“Some locals knew of him. He grew up around horses. Supposed to be real good with them. Has some veterinarian training. Thought I’d give him a try. He’s young. If he works out, he could have a long career with us.”
“How long has he been here?”
“About six months, I guess.”
“How’s he working out?”
Daddy nods in that way he has that says he might be a little impressed. Might be. “He’s doing pretty good so far. I think he has a lot to learn, but I don’t see any problems with him being able to do that. Eventually.” Sharp blue eyes narrow on me. They make me want to squirm. That look always precedes something I don’t like. “Why the twenty questions?”
I shrug and try to be as casual as I can, even though nothing about Trick makes me feel casual. “Just normal curiosity about the new guy. Nothing special.”
“I’m sure Brent wouldn’t want you hanging around with the young, male help.”
I feel my hackles rise. What a snob! It amazes me that Daddy, having come from a meager background, can act like he’s had money all his life. Drawing lines between us and “the help,” like some of us were born with silver spoons.
I hold my tongue for a minute so as not to say something defensive that might give away my interest in all things Trick. “I don’t plan to hang around with the help, Daddy. Any more than I ever have. But you know I love to ride.”
“Well, you can do that in the evenings then. Between enjoying your summer and learning some of the business, your days will be pretty full. Speaking of, I think Brent is coming over with his father later today. Perfect day for a swim.”
Thwarted! Damn!
I smile. I hope it’s not as tight as it feels.
CHAPTER TWELVE - Trick
Why did I drink so much last night?
Four Tylenol and nearly a gallon of water into the day and my head still hurts. I’ve already taken Titan through his paces and groomed him, exercised Knight-Time and groomed him and rotated Reverie to a different pasture for a few hours. Surely that’s a whole day’s worth of work in about four short hours.
I’m walking Lonesome, the brood mare, out to the North pasture when I hear a splash. I look toward the house and I see a dark head break the water in the pool. As I walk, I watch it swim across the length and then stand up in the shallow end.
It’s Cami.
Wet, her hair is much darker. Like a rich coppery brown color. As she walks through the water and more of her body emerges, Lonesome and I both stop in our tracks.
She slicks the water out of her hair and mounts the couple steps that bring her all the way out of the water. And then, God help me, she turns in my direction to walk toward a lounge chair where her towel is lying.
My stomach aches a little at the sight of her. She’s wearing a shiny bronze bikini that looks like it was made for her. The bottoms are high cut to show off her long legs and flat stomach. The top is nothing more than two tiny triangles that hang on to each perfect breast.
Oh hell! She looks even better than I thought she would in my head.
I’m standing here, kind of spellbound, watching her rub the water from her arms and legs when she looks up. Her head snaps up fast, almost like she can feel my eyes on her. I wish she could. I’d really give her something to smile about.
She stops drying off and just stands there with her towel in her hands and looks at me. I feel like there’s a piece of yarn tied between us and the longer she stands there, the tighter it gets. Like it’s drawing me toward her. I can’t go to her, of course. But God, I want to!
She jumps, like something startled her, and she turns back toward the house. I see her boyfriend walking around the pool toward her. I don’t really want to see them together, but for some reason, I’m still not moving.
He stops in front of Cami and throws his towel on the chair where hers was. Slowly, he reaches up and takes her towel from her hands. He’s going to kiss her. I just know it. And my teeth are gritted. I don’t know why I should even care, but I do.
He lays her towel aside, too, but rather than kissing her, he bends down and throws her over his shoulder and jumps in the pool. I hear her squeal just before a big splash that’s followed by their laughter.
I move around to the other side of Lonesome and tug on her reins. Their playful voices follow me all the way to the second gate. I imagine what Cami looks like when she laughs, when she’s as happy as she sounds.
I almost wish he’d kissed her instead.
I’m walking back to the stable after dropping off Lonesome, doing my dead level best not to look in the direction of the pool. The fact that it’s awfully quiet makes me wonder what’s going on in the water. It also makes me want to punch that rich prick right in the face.
I grin at the prospect.
“What’re you up to?” Sooty asks me from the doorway of the stable when I get within sight.
“Nothing. Why?”
“You’re smiling like the cat that ate the canary. Why would that be?”
I shrug. “Just thinking.”
Sooty eyes me with his shrewd faded blue gaze. I’d be willing to bet they don’t miss a thing. That perceptiveness, that attention to the smallest detail is part of what makes him a great trainer. He doesn’t miss anything with the horses, just like he doesn’t miss anything with people.
Finally, he smiles. His yellowed teeth are a dead giveaway of his lifetime love of tobacco.
“Wouldn’t have anything to do with a girl, would it?” He spits into the dirt floor and scuffs at it with his boot. He’s one of the only people I’ve ever met that chews tobacco between cigarettes. I can’t help but wonder if he ever sleeps.
“Yeah, it does. A mare. By the name of Lonesome. I just put her out in the North field.”
He inclines his head, his way of saying he’s respecting my privacy. “Fair enough. Females are females, don’t matter the species. You’ll learn that soon enough when you see us breed Lonesome in a few weeks. Doesn’t matter how much she likes that stud, she’ll kick at him at first. It’s nature’s way.”
“That’s all fine and good for horses, but females don’t kick at me, Sooty.”
“Don’t be surprised if you find one along the way that does, though. Just means she’s worth a little extra effort.”
Playfully, I punch the old guy in the arm. “Sooty, you dog! I never figured you for one that likes it rough. You don’t take any of these riding crops home, do you?”
Sooty snickers a little and shakes his head. “Boy, you’re not right in the head.”
“Isn’t that a job requirement for working here?”
He gives me one short bark of laughter, which is like striking humor gold with Sooty. “So it is, Patrick. So it is.”
As he’s walking off, he spits again and then turns back to me. “Mint Julep ought to be ready to foal in the next week or two. You’re welcome to hang around here during the night until she gives birth if you want to. There’s another room up in the loft. Up to you. You can tell Jack I said it’s okay.”
I nod to Sooty. This is a big deal. It’s his way of saying he’s taking me in, that he thinks I’m worth his time to teach a thing or two, even though I’ve seen just about everything there is to see. Sooty likes things a certain way, though. The fact that he’s willing to show me his way means he trusts me. “Thanks, Sooty.”
He nods once and walks off. I’m thinking that plus seeing Cami in a bathing suit makes this not such a bad day after all.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Cami
Ohmigod, would you leave already?