Deadly Revenge (Pearl River #3)

Chapter 28

28

Until that second she hadn’t even noticed how close she stood to Max. The familiar scent of his cologne—the same one he’d worn years ago—teased her. Jenna jerked her thoughts in another direction, anywhere other than on Max. She ran the brush along Ace’s back and then each leg.

“Do you take him to shows?”

That was a safe enough subject. “Sometimes. His show name is Ace of Diamonds.”

Max rubbed Ace’s neck while she retrieved the saddle and bridle from the tack room. “You said your trainer was a retired Olympian rider—I guess you’re training for the Grand Prix?”

His question stopped her. “You know more about dressage than you let on.”

He laughed. “Not really. My niece is horse crazy, and she rides dressage. Emily is working to qualify for the nationals in Michigan next month.”

She put the names together. “Emily Anderson is your niece?”

“You know her?”

“Not so much know her—I see her at shows and always make sure I catch her Grand Prix ride. She and her horse are poetry in motion.”

“Thank you ... but you never said what level you show.”

No she hadn’t. “Nowhere near Emily’s. Ace and I have progressed through second level. My trainer feels we’re ready to move on to third, but I don’t know. It’s much more difficult, and competition and judging are stiffer.”

“I never knew that to stop you.”

She shrugged. Jenna felt Ace was ready but wasn’t so sure about herself. She needed to get over it if she ever wanted to move into what Emily did, the “dancing” part of dressage. That was her ultimate goal now.

“I believe Ace has the ability, but I’m not there yet. The thought of competing against some of the riders in the third level turns my insides to ice water.”

Facing the fear of not being good enough and then accumulating points show by show until she advanced to another level had gone a long way in restoring Jenna’s confidence. She would advance ... just not yet.

“So where do you show?”

“Not on the national level like your niece. Mostly local or regional.” She turned and said, “You know a lot about horses—do you ride?”

He laughed. “Occasionally, when I have time. And I like a saddle with a horn.”

She placed the saddle pad on the horse’s back and then the saddle and buckled it before tilting her head toward him. “Yeah, I don’t see you in a pair of breeches or a top hat.”

Unfortunately, she could easily see him in tight-fitting Wranglers and cowboy boots. She groaned inwardly. Seems the command she’d sent to her brain had been ignored, but she did have a delete button. Jenna immediately erased the image. Unfortunately, it didn’t go away.

“Never understood how a rider stays on in that little saddle.”

Jenna shrugged. “English saddle is what I’ve always ridden.” She studied it. “The cantle and pommel are higher in a dressage saddle, so the rider sits a little deeper.”

“Yeah, that should make you more secure...” Max followed her gaze. “But I still prefer a western saddle with a horn.”

“They’re great for trail riding,” she said. “The Bishops have horses they rent for that, and they provide western saddles ... if you’re interested when this case is over.”

“Are you asking me for a date?”

Her heart stalled. “Ah ...”

“Kidding.” He palmed his hands up. “And yes, I’d love to meet you here some Saturday. But are you sure you want to ride today?”

“I’m just going to run through the test we practiced last week with my trainer—it won’t take long or too much of my energy, just his. Hopefully.”

“If you say so. Mind if I watch?”

Max watching her was the last thing she wanted, but there wasn’t a gracious way to say no. He walked beside her as she led Ace out of the barn.

“My folks raise cutting horses on their farm outside of Franklin.”

“Is that why you went to Nashville? To be closer to your parents?”

“Partly. They’re still in good health, but I didn’t get to see them often when I lived in Chattanooga. Now I live just two houses down the road.”

So he lived in Franklin. Jenna enjoyed going to shows in the quaint little town on the Harpeth River not far from Nashville. She led Ace to the mounting block and prepared to mount.

“Want me to hold his bridle?”

Jenna shook her head. “He’s good.”

Ace didn’t move while she mounted, and for the next fifteen minutes they warmed up with a variety of exercises from walking to trotting to cantering. She praised him often as they practiced transitions from walking to cantering and then in reverse.

Jenna loved days like this when Ace responded to her commands. It was like being one with the black gelding, and time flew by. Once his transitions satisfied her, she walked him around the ring to cool down before they worked on flying changes.

She glanced toward the woods where she’d seen that flash of light yesterday, half expecting to see it again. She didn’t, but the skin on the back of her neck prickled. Was someone out there?

Jenna halted Ace and let him stretch while she scanned the trees. Nothing. No reflection and no movement in the woods. There was no one out there, she told herself, and shook off the feeling. Focus on the flying leaps.

“Let’s go, boy.” She transitioned to a canter, and after fifteen minutes, Jenna leaned over and patted Ace’s lathered neck. He was a dream to ride, and it’d been a good workout, but she was more tired than she realized. “Good boy! Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“You’re good,” Max said as they approached the fence where he waited. He glanced toward the woods. “But let’s get you both inside the barn.”

Jenna followed his gaze. She hadn’t been able to completely shake the feeling of being watched. “Thanks. One day I hope to be good enough to compete in the higher levels like Emily.”

“Looks to me you’re ready for that now.”

“I wish. Pretty sure Ace is, but I have a lot to learn.” Still his praise had her grinning.

The sun dropped behind a cloud, deepening the shadows around them. Ace stared toward the woods on the other side of the arena, his ears pointed forward. He snorted and stepped back. A chill raced down Jenna’s back. “What do you see, boy?”

He stamped his foot, and she glanced toward the trees again. “Yesterday I saw a flash of light like the sun reflecting off glass. Me being me, my mind went to binoculars.”

“Where?”

She pointed to a spot where the pasture and trees made a V. “It was almost like someone was out there, watching us.”

“I didn’t see the reflection, but I agree that someone may be out there.”