The Charity (4 page)

Jessica tended to the tired horse, cleaned herself up a bit and drove to the pub, looking forward to a steak and seafood dinner. When she arrived, she was pleased to see it was Anna’s night to work. The two embraced each other.

“You’re home!” Anna gave a warm greeting, then continued in a lowered tone. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. Really. Oh, and thanks for the card and flowers for Aunt Bridget.”

“Oh, sure! She was awesome to me, Jess. She even helped me get this job here.” Anna gathered up a menu and walked Jessica toward a table. “I can’t talk now but let’s get together tomorrow. Gus is already here.”

Jessica found Gus had secured their table between the small paned window and the large fieldstone hearth. The hearth was dressed with three birch logs and a sprig of evergreen, a reminder of cold New England winters touched with a promise of another spring. They drank beer and laughed over the new crop of stories Jessica had from the last frenzied weeks at college. The hours passed and as the beers took their desired effect on the couple, the two friends whooped with delight at each other’s tales and comforted one another in the loss that was felt so deeply.

“Gus, I’ve made a decision,” Jessica said as she decisively placed her stein down on the bare wooden table, the motion heavy and deliberate. “I want to do more here than just a summer stint.”

“More?” Gus took a sip of his beer. “I thought Bridget had it all arranged for you to go out west so you could ski and work on a ranch out there.”

“She did, but I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to stay at Worldwind and continue breeding and training horses and I’m going to be good at it.”

“Of course you’re going to be great at it, when you are older.”

“No. Now. I’m not going to float around being some trust fund brat while you do all the hard work. I’m going to work at your side.”

Gus put his head back and stretched his arm across the back of the chair beside him. He expected to hear another phrase or two come out of Jessica and prepared for another good laugh. He paused a moment, giving her a chance to say the punch line. When none came, he froze the muscles of his face into a pleasant expression.

“Jess,” he said, “You’re not ready to work here. The horse business is a tough game. You’ll haf to devote two hundred percent of your time to its success. Yer just a child and need more time to grow.” The beers made his brogue even more pronounced.

“I am not a child! I’ve thought about this and I’m ready!”

“I would really hate to see you become swallowed up in the struggle at such a young age. You should try your hand at something completely different.”

“I could be a ski bum in Switzerland for a few years then be a ranch hand in Argentina. What a waste!” Jessica leaned across the table, her face slightly flushed.

“Anything you touch you’ll be successful at. See more of the world before you settle yourself into this grinding life.” The words were spoken in a warm buttery tone, smile fixed on his face and eyes.

“Technically speaking, I’m already destined to be your boss.”

“I’ll haf none of that talk, Missy.” Gus wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Bridget made her wishes clear to you! Hearin’ you talk like this’ll make ‘er roll in ‘er grave at the broken promise.”

“Bridget told me to follow your direction and I’ll do just that. You’re the best trainer in the country, probably even the world. Of course I’ll follow your lead. That’s not breaking a promise.”

Gus lowered his voice and his head, glancing up at Jessica from under his brow. “This business is none of yours.”

Anyone looking at him at that moment would not have mistaken his demeanor for anything other than a warning—a clear beacon waving the observer off the subject and out of danger. But Jessica was too involved in her own thoughts to see the danger behind his words. The beers fueled her false bravery.

“It’s more mine now than ever,” she said. “So why not work as partners, sooner rather than later? I thought you’d welcome our partnership, not pat me on the head and tell me to run along.”

“Jess, the farm’s not ready for you yet.”

“Gus! I’ve thought about this. Raising horses is something I have always done and I’m good at it.”

“My lass. There’s much you don’t know.” Gus almost growled the words but caught himself. He used his best fatherly voice. “Jess. Jess. Jess. You know I love working with you. You’re the best worker and student anyone could ask for. You’ll be marvelous at your future endeavors. I want you to put off deciding to work in this business full time. Having you here for the summer will be great fun for us both. But I just think that you need to keep yourself open to other opportunities and to spend time away from the farm. A beautiful young lass like yourself shouldn’t get bogged down in this tough horsey world.”

“Damn you, Gus! Damn you! Who the hell do you think you are to block me out of my own farm? If... if it weren’t for me y-you would have been gone years ago,” Jessica stammered over the awkward attempt to create a debt. “This is what I want, damn it, and you have no right to stop me!” Regaining momentum, Jessica’s voice boomed across the table.

Gus saw the familiar look of stubbornness and fury on Jessica’s face and tried to steer the conversation into safer waters.

“Hey, my friend. I think the brew has brought us past the happy point and into a good Isle brood. What say we call it a night and talk more about this in the morning.”

“Don’t patronize me.”

“You have six horses to breeze in before seven o’clock. I think we should focus our thoughts on our four legged friends instead of your cranky Irish one, eh?” Gus beamed his brightest smile and straightened himself in the chair. His face was red and the arm of his worn tweed jacket was slightly askew. “C’mon now. I’ll drive you back to the farm.”

“I want to talk about this now!” Her voice was too loud.

“Suit yourself. But you’re in no condition to drive.”

“Go to hell.” Some of her words tangled in her mouth and others were slow and thick. Readying to launch another attack, awareness grew of sideward looks from other patrons. Bristling against anyone’s pity, her anger shifted into a keen desire to leave.

The chair clattered to the floor as she lurched to her feet. “It’s my farm.”

“Not until you’ve proven yourself ready for it.”

Anna heard their raised voices, walked over and righted the fallen chair. She looked at Gus and her tipsy friend. “I’ll drive you home, Jess. You two need a break from each other.” Anna looked over their heads to the bartender who nodded his permission and tapped his watch to indicate Anna should be back quickly.

The sudden departure caught the attention of several patrons and their stunned and overtly inquisitive glances embarrassed Jessica. She made her way to the door with Anna’s guidance. The alcohol released her from the close ties she usually kept on her emotions, allowing fury to flash to the surface. Her heart pounded and her eyes were wide with the intensity of it. Her back felt hot with stares as the trio walked down the slate steps of the pub. Gus, slightly stooped from too many beers, and Jessica bid each other a stiff good night in the courtyard and separated.

Jessica struggled to control her seething anger as she ranted to Anna on the drive home. Rather than risk any defense of Gus which would have been met with a string of drunken profanities, Anna simply listened.

“I just don’t understand,” Jessica opened the window to get the fresh night air on her face. “He
promised
me things. He’s just so
possessive
. He thinks he can tell me what to do when I’m on the farm and when I’m off it. He’s a crazy
control freak
!
Screw
him!” Jessica continued her rants and Anna continued to drive until her friend had sobered a bit. Jessica was noticeably calmer when Anna finally pulled her car up in front of Jessica’s house.

“You feeling better?”

“Yeah. Thanks. I just need to get some sleep and talk with Gus in the morning.”

Anna smiled. “Good idea. Hey, I have to get back to work to help close up now but I’ll be back tomorrow and we can get your car.” She leaned over and gave Jessica a hug. “Take some aspirin, too!”

Jessica stood in the driveway for a moment inhaling a few more lungfuls of fresh air as the tail lights disappeared. She started up the slate path to the house when she remembered that she had left the lights of the barn on earlier. It was one of Gus’ pet peeves and the evening had ended on a bad enough note without adding burning lights to the list.

The long driveway was lit with the faint light of a half moon and there was no sign of Gus. Jessica suspected he went straight to bed and she covered the distance between the house and the barn in a quick-stepped jog. Arms opened wide for balance, her head was clearing with the burst of activity.

The barn’s main doors were open and she was poised to enter when she heard voices. Her first impulse was to continue inside and give her apologies to Gus, but the tenor of the voices made her pause. She recognized Gus’ voice, but the others were new to her. One thing was certain—the tone of the conversation was not pleasant and she was in no condition to talk to anyone. Most of what she heard were muffled sounds with the distinctive rising and falling tones of anger and explanation. Portions of the conversation reached her ear, like waves struggling to meet a high water mark on an incoming tide.

Jessica heard Gus’ voice, “I’ll haf no further part of this...” The rest of his sentence washed away with the snort and scuffle of a nearby horse.

A response was no more complete. “...years of good work. You should be proud to have been of such good service.”

Gus’ voice rose up, “Proud! Never!...” The voices again were smoothed away with the rustle of the wind through the trees.

The cool air did not sharpen her thinking enough. She was no longer concerned about the lights but curious if this visitor had anything to do with the way Gus acted tonight. She pressed herself against the outside of the barn and edged forward toward the door, taking care to keep in the shadows.

Gus’ voice swelled forward. “I will never bring her into this business of mine! That is just too much to ask! She’s smart. She’ll catch on and then what will you do?”

Business of
his
? Gus’ voice was at a fever pitch. With a pleading tone in it? Jessica felt the sting of betrayal and tried to pull herself back into control. She edged still closer. The more she thought about Gus’ patronizing attitude and his rejection of her as a business partner, the angrier she became. Straightening up from a crouched position, she was about to storm into the barn and tell Gus exactly what he could do to himself when she caught sight of his visitors.

Three men stood in the middle of the barn corridor and she could see them clearly in the dimmed light. The two men talking with Gus were strangers to her, but each was familiar somehow.

Jessica searched her memory. Had she seen them any time when hiding out with Anna? They had the same timeworn look of old money woven with a healthy dose of ‘horseyness’ that described many men around Hamilton. Still, her heart began to pound and she could feel her senses heighten. Through her Aunt, Gus or any friend, she could not think of one person that would trigger such a sense of dread within her. She moved as close as she dared while keeping out of the pool of light spilling from the door. The sounds of her movements were lost in the constant stamping and snorting of the barn’s tenants.

The older man had graying hair and was dressed in a proper jacket and twill trousers. He was tall with a once strong build and his ruddy complexion gave away his Northern Isle heritage. The features of his face were partially shrouded in the shadow cast by his hat. She had seen this cultivated image on hundreds of occasions throughout her life. His type could be seen at every horse race and hunt across the country. At any given event, a dozen or so of him would dot the spectator areas, program in hand, surveying the scene with an important air. He was part of the scenery itself. No one would be able to pick him out in a crowd. He just fit in too well. Regardless of this familiarity, she knew this man was a complete stranger to her.

The threat of detection added to her growing sense of dread. The darkness of the night and the shadows did their job of concealing her and she began to regret her accidental spying on Gus. She slowly began to move away when the tone of the voices changed. Words were being spit out in an ever-increasing staccato. The faster the beat of the words, the lower the tones sank, ceasing any chance of being overheard. She tried to glean the gist of the words by the postures of the men. The menace was mesmerizing.

The older man and Gus stood chest to chest, eyes locked onto one another. Gus pulled his shoulders back, drawing himself up to his full height. It was a stance Jessica had seen a few times before when Gus had imbibed a few too many beers at a pub and began a showdown of wills with another patron. Whatever the two men were saying to one another, Gus was not taking ‘No’ for an answer.

“That’s it! It’s final and I’m finished! I should have told you that a long time ago. Get out of here! Both of you! If I ever sense your hand in anything more with this farm, your game will vanish. Get out! I’m through.” Gus waved his arms in the face of the old man to further make his point. He took another step forward, causing the old man to retreat, an effect which only fueled Gus’ bluster. “Remember you owe me. By the pledge to our mother country, you cannot harm this girl. I’ve made certain that she knows nothing about our business. Get out and take your trash with you.”

Throughout this tirade, the older man did not flinch. Gus spat out his last sentence and fell silent. The old man glanced at his companion.

Jessica shifted her focus to the other man, his edge and demeanor demanding her attention. He was taller, younger and had a more muscular build. He stood off to the side, seemingly to use the beams and shadows of the barn for cover. His skin was too white and his teeth were bared by lips pulled to the side by a long ribbon of a scar. His eyes, if one could call them that, were two dark pits into which light entered, and then seized. They swept over and around Gus then moved to the opening of the barn door, looking straight into the shadows where Jessica hunkered. They never stopped their surveillance and with each sweep her heart pounded more.