Free Double Take by Brenda Joyce

niece, who had a beautiful seat even at the age of four, it struck her that there was no place she would rather be than exactly where she was, at Fox Hollow, hanging on to the gate of the indoor arena, surrounded by horses, their scent heavy and thick, while watching Marni ride with her father.
    Her heart skipped again as her gaze settled on Trev Coleman. Trev, like most professionals, did not wear a helmet. That disturbed her, for she knew that even the most experienced rider could have a serious accident at any time, as even the most predictable horses could spook. Most men could not carry off breeches and high boots. They either didn’t have the body for it, or were made effeminate in such attire. Not so with Coleman. Even astride, he reeked masculinity and male strength.
    Kait forced her eyes to Marni. Her cheeks felt hot.
    “Ready for a little trot?” she heard Trev ask.
    Marni nodded.
    Kait watched them both move into a rising trot, Trev keeping his mount at an unbearably slow pace to accommodate the pony’s shorter stride. “Your reins are too long,” he said. “Pick them up, sweetheart.”
    Marni did. Kait’s heart swelled with pride. What four-year-old could post like that? She was working a bit hard, but then a four-year-old child simply did not have the developed musculature of an older child. She murmured unthinkingly, “When did he start her?”
    Jim turned. “I beg your pardon?”
    “When did...” Kait stopped. She felt herself flush. Lana would know when Marni had first mounted a horse. “I can’t remember when he first got her trotting so beautifully,” she said lamely.
    “She’s been working at it really hard for the past few months. Her post just started coming together before you left,” he said. “You all right? You seem different, Lana.”
    She faced him. “Actually, I was really sick in New York. I had the flu, and I dropped quite a few pounds very quickly. I’m still a bit shaky,” she said. She was certainly going to have a relapse, as she couldn’t possibly pretend to be Lana on a horse with her trainer—or Trev— watching.
    His face fell. “Yes, well, I’m sorry to hear that. Take whatever time you need, Lana.”
    “I don’t think I have a choice,” she said.
    He held her gaze, as if trying to read past her words, and he nodded.
    Kait managed to bite back a huge sigh of relief. She was off the hook, for now.
    Kait wandered across the lawns behind the house. Marni and Trev had taken off for their hack and she felt as if a weight had just been lifted off her shoulders. She realized that her temples throbbed from the stress of her arrival at Fox Hollow, and all that had followed. Kait stared up at the house, which remained a magnificent sight. This was a respite, she decided, that she had better enjoy.
    And it was also the perfect time to call Lana. Maybe this time she’d pick up her cell phone—if she was even carrying it with her.
    Kait glanced around. The barns were behind her and to her right, the house ahead and to the left, on the rise of the hill. Directly ahead the pastures swept away toward rolling hills and the horizon. Fall had overcome the countryside with spectacular vengeance, and every oak and elm was turning gloriously gold, red, and orange.
    She was alone. No one was in sight, and no one could be watching. Kait dug her cell phone out of her front trouser pocket, quickly dialing. She was dismayed when she got her own voice mail.
    Kait hesitated, then wondered if Lana might reprogram the code to retrieve messages. It was a long shot. “It’s me,” she said, looking around carefully. “You have to call me, ASAP. It’s urgent! Leave a message with a time that you will reach me on my—your—cell and I will be waiting for your call.” She hesitated, suddenly glancing up at the back of the house. But who would bother to lurk about in one of the windows, in order to spy upon her? She became uneasy. “Things are not going well here,” she said tersely.