The Charity (15 page)

Her heart skipped a little as she lowered her eyes with embarrassment. The man continued in his conversation until he was gently pulled away by another group of people.

“So, wouldn’t Friday afternoon be okay for you then? Tess?”

Jessica forced her attention back to Hoyt. “Oh, I’m sorry. Yes of course.” She felt foolish at her reaction to that man. She focused her thoughts on what she had just agreed to. She couldn’t remember. “Friday?”

“Yeah, Tess. Friday ‘ill be the day that ev’ry one chooses their teams for the Harvest Hunter Pace comin’ up next month.”

“I remember hearing something about that. I don’t have a decent horse at the moment. I’ve been so busy getting my house and barn fixed up I haven’t given any thought to riding in it. The two horses I have are certainly not ready for any events. Maybe some other time.”

Hoyt pressed, “I think ya ought ‘a be there for more than the spectacle though, eh?”

“Um, yes... but,” her voice waivered. The brief moment of happiness vanished. As welcoming as everyone appeared, Jessica sensed she was moving forward too fast and tried to distance herself.

“What? Well, come by my farm tomorrow mornin’. I’ve got a couple a’ animals you can pick from, and we’ll get you suited up to a decent horse for Friday.” Hoyt held up his hand to stop the flood of protest he felt about to spill forth from his companion. “It’s settled an’ I won’t hear nuthin’ more about it. Ya’ll come down to Percival’s Proper, my farm, tomorrow. It’ll do ya good.” Hoyt patted Jessica on the shoulder and walked back to join his daughter.

Saturday’s Cleanup Day dawned as a bright cloudless day. A bit stiff from her ride the day before, Jessica arrived early to help with the final preparations of the sale items but also to have a chance to spend a bit more time with some of the school’s residents before the day got busy. She saw Karen’s brown pigtails and made a point to spend a lot of time with her touching her hands and talking to her. It took a few minutes, but Karen started to relax and smile. Her head lagged back on her neck, but her smile was strong.

“There you go, sweetheart. There you are, my friend. How are you today? Do you smell that fresh air?” Jessica took an exaggerated inhale. She kept a running dialogue with her friend, forging a connection. ““Mmm. Smell that, Erin? Um, good girl.”

“It’s Karen.” Hoyt’s voice broke through the morning.

“Oh! Right. Of course... Karen.” Jessica stammered.

“That was some ride you had yesterday!” Hoyt stepped up and gently held Karen’s hand as he spoke with Jessica. “Ya’ll said you could ride, but my Gawd! I hain’t never seen anythin’ like that before. Why it was like you an’ my ol’ gelding were one animal! You jest met that horse not more than two days before an’ then there you were, glidin’ over fences and climbin’ mountain sides like an Alpine goat. It was like you had some kind of special connection with that horse. It was just amazin’!”

Jessica flushed at the compliment. She knew Hoyt was a bit concerned when she took him up on his offer and inquired whether she could try out his big chestnut gelding, Gapman. His concerns were immediately pushed aside when he saw the dialogue she began with the big animal. Using soft tones and cues from her hands and legs, it seemed to anyone watching that she just told the horse what she was going to do and then did it. The horse never gave her an ounce of trouble and looked like it enjoyed the ride as well. Gapman had been keenly conditioned by Hoyt, so it was just a matter of getting the horse and rider to know one another.

The talk at Cleanup Day was dominated by Friday’s team picking and even Jessica had to admit yesterday’s event was spectacular. She took in every detail when she was there. The far end of the valley and the mountainside had been marked into two courses, one advanced and the other for moderate skills. Points were given to riders on the basis of the course ridden, the time it took to complete the course and how ‘clean’ the run was, that is, whether a horse ticked a fence with its hoof when it jumped or whether a rider misjudged an approach to an obstacle causing a horse to refuse to go over it. All riders were then given scores. Teams were formed on the basis of scores or whether the riders just wanted to be on the same team or not. Some teams were purely social in nature and others focused on the event itself with an obvious intent to win.

Jessica and Gapman finished with a respectable fourth ranking. Being the new face in town made the townspeople take more notice of her. Jessica wasn’t sure that she liked being the center of attention, but she knew that being a strong equestrian in this community would make it easier for her to establish her reputation as a trainer.

She was a bit miffed at her own ranking, however. She thought the advanced course was easy, but Gapman was not accustomed to taking the terrain in the way Jessica coaxed. She opted for a more conservative style of riding to bring both of them home safely and still friends. She did not want Gapman to have any bad memories of the day or Hoyt would have trouble from him in the future. Horses had a way of remembering bad experiences and becoming ruined with just one ride. In fact, the gelding seemed invigorated by the challenge she gave him.

Jessica was relieved when she had been approached by a team from down the valley that was serious about winning. “I learned last night that Chad Bleauvelt invited me to join his team. He mentioned that he had a horse or two I might be interested in riding for the Hunter Pace. Of course you know that as captain, Mr. Bleauvelt has final say on the horse I ride. But let me work with Gapman for the next few weeks and see what I can do with him. I can’t promise you anything, but if what I sensed with Gapman is true, Mr. Bleauvelt will end up begging you to let me ride Gapman in the Pace.”

Hoyt was tickled at the thought of the snobby Chad Bleauvelt begging him to let his horse be ridden by Bleauvelt’s team. He reached his hand out and patted Jessica’s shoulder. “I’ve been in Perc all my life and know what a good reputation of a horse or rider can do for a person.”

“Gapman is a great horse. He seemed to really respond to the terrain. Have you taken him out on that type of pace before?” Jessica stood up and stretched her back. She had not ridden that aggressively in a while and her muscles felt a bit sore.

“No. Not too often. We thought Gapman was just as happy takin’ it easy too, but after looking at ‘im yesterday you’d a think we were drivin’ ‘im crazy with boredom. ClaireAnne and I stick to the easier hunts and events now. I love the thought of having one of my horses do well at the Harvest Hunter Pace. I even fancy that my hardware business would pick up if Gapman did well. And I’m sure that Tess White is just the woman to do it.”

“I would love to train Gapman for you!

“Great! I’ll see you Monday morning. ClaireAnne will be at the farm and will help you get started. Now then, where’s my pum’kin?” He turned quickly to locate his daughter.

Jessica spent the remainder of the day helping out where she thought she was most needed, lifting furniture or running for more change. Once the tag sale was over, unsold items were boxed back up and placed into storage. The happy and hungry volunteers made their way into the main dining hall of the school for the promised supper. Jessica was quite aware of people smiling and nodding in her direction. Judging by the tilt of their heads and the slow glances in her direction, Jessica knew she was the grist for the conversation mill. Breaking away from one such huddle, a slightly overweight woman with graying brown hair approached her. Jessica recognized her as ClaireAnne Percival.

“Tess! Tess! Over heyah, Dahlin’!” Jessica stood stiffly while ClaireAnne kissed her cheek. “My Gawd, child. We were just talkin’ ‘bout you! Why ridin’ our ol’ horse an’ makin’ ‘im look like some kind of champion er sumthin’. And havin’ Chad Bleauvelt ask you on his team!” ClaireAnne’s round face lit up with delight. “My Stars! Well, I just ne’r seen anythin’ like that!”

Jessica nodded in greeting as she was introduced to ClaireAnne’s circle of friends. She could tell that each woman was soaking up the details of how she looked and acted so that the information could be passed on to the next circle of friends. Jessica remained guarded but pleasant. The sudden novelty of fame she was experiencing would wear off soon enough.

She chatted pleasantly with the women about Cleanup Day as they made their way through the buffet line. Hoyt and Father Steeves joined them. Hoyt regaled Father Steeves with the details of the team picking and delighted in the fact that his horse might be up to being on Bleauvelt’s team. Jessica listened with enjoyment to the banter and was pleased to learn that Mr. Bleauvelt had won the Harvest Hunter Pace several times in the past and was serious about doing so again.

Jessica learned that the Bleauvelt family had lived in Perc for generations. They had made their fortune off of the riches of the land in coal and timber farther north of Perc’s valley. They had also been instrumental in keeping Perc’s original beauty, preventing the scarring that those enterprises could do to a hillside. The Perc Land Preservation Trust, created by Bleauvelt’s great grandfather with other wealthy landowners, tried to keep as much land open and pristine as possible for the enjoyment of all residents.

The conversation turned to how the Bleauvelts had spent their riches. Chadwick Bleauvelt IV, Chad’s grandfather, was determined to win the Kentucky Derby. He spent vast sums of money on horses, trainers and jockeys and eventually won with Bleau Your Horn in the mid sixties. Having succeeded in accomplishing what he set out to do, and after losing more money than he won, he determined that horseracing was for the foolish and the lucky. He loved living in the world of horses, and he traded in his expertise. He focused on recreational riding and hunts, growing a fine stable of specially bred horses.

Learning of his racing background, a certain unease settled within Jessica over being pulled into Bleauvelt’s influence. She could not escape her love and knowledge of horses and had chosen to stay out of the thoroughbred racing world for fear of being recognized by a past affiliate of Wyeth’s Worldwind Farm. Kentucky had a long history of horse-focused sports, and she naively thought that a person who was steeped in the life of one sport rarely crossed over to another. If she stayed away from racing, she thought she could live undetected in the world of hunting and jumping. She realized the problem she had created for herself.

“My son just made detective in the Lexington District.” The gray-haired friend of ClaireAnne’s flushed with pride as she announced her son’s promotion. The others at the table extended their congratulations and raised their coffee mugs in a toast. Jessica felt the color drain from her face as she forced a smile.

“Oh? You must be very pleased,” Jessica replied without conviction. She had long felt that police were good for little more than community service and issuing the occasional traffic ticket. She massaged her temples that had suddenly begun to throb.

“Are you okay, Tess?” Father Steeves was suddenly standing next to her.

“What? Oh, yes. Of course. I just realized how tired I am. I’ve been up since 4:30 this morning. I guess I’d better be going.” After a round of thank yous and good-byes, she gave a lukewarm smile and turned to leave.

She nearly bumped into the sweater-clad chest of a man. “Oh! I am so sorry! Please excuse me, I didn’t see you.” Jessica flipped her hair out of her eyes and looked up. Her stomach fluttered.

“No Miss, please. That was my fault.” The man Jessica had seen from across the school green the other day smiled down on her. He held Jessica by the shoulders to steady her. The touch was strong and electric.

“Michael! Hello!” Father Steeves greeted this new arrival robustly. “I didn’t think you were able to join us tonight. What a pleasant surprise! Come, sit. Have you eaten?” He rose and indicated an empty seat for Michael to join them.

“Um, no thank you. I’ve just come to see how everything was going for the school. Looks like a great turn-out this year, don’t you think?” Michael still gripped Jessica’s shoulders. He looked at her and paused for a moment before he dropped his hands. He addressed the woman across the table, “I heard about your son. Congratulations. He was long overdue for that slot. I know he’ll do a great job.” He extended his hand in greeting to the men and accepted the kisses of the women with a hint of embarrassment. He looked expectantly at Jessica.

“Michael, I don’t know if you have had a chance to meet Perc’s newcomer. This is Tess White. She bought the old Smythe farm up on the ridge. Tess, this is Michael Conant.” Father Steeves enjoyed the chance to introduce the two young people. Jessica’s momentary flutter was not lost on him.

“Tess White?” Michael hesitated a moment as he considered the name. “Why yes. I have heard a good deal about you. That’s some ride you had yesterday.” Michael looked at Jessica through smiling slate blue eyes. His dark hair was cut short, and he was dressed casually in a dark green Irish knit sweater and khakis.

“Oh!... Um... Well... Gapman deserves a lot of the credit for that ride, too. That horse has heart.”

Michael watched the rosy color in Jessica’s cheeks fade as she regained her composure. “What little I know about horses is that it takes a lot of skill to get a horse to respond like that. Where did you learn to ride?”

More color faded from her cheeks. “I...” she stammered, “I, ah, I’ve spent a lot of time out west working on ranches there.” There was something about how deeply his gaze seemed to penetrate and size her up that made Jessica very uncomfortable. She fought for control over herself and shifted the focus of the conversation to the horse and Hoyt’s invitation for training. After a moment of pleasant conversation, Jessica turned again to leave.

“Are you sure you have to go so soon, Tess?” It was Father Steeves trying to keep the two together.

Jessica smiled. “Yes, really. Goodnight all. See you tomorrow in church, Father.” Before any other protests could be made, she turned and strode quickly to her Jeep.

The early September night air felt crisp on her skin and the sky was filled with stars. The sounds of townspeople enjoying themselves faded away and gravel crunched under her feet. Jessica tried to shake herself to the present. She was angry for feeling so foolish when she bumped into Michael. She had met plenty of attractive men before, and did not like losing control of herself like that. She wanted to make a firm resolve to steer clear of Mr. Conant, but was unable to make a convincing argument to herself.