High Stakes Page 8

  Hopping out of her car, Carole dropped her keys in her coat pocket and then smoothed a wrinkle out of her newest pair of navy breeches, which she’d changed into in the bathroom before leaving school. Even though she wouldn’t have thought twice about riding in jeans with Cam before—and even though she still wasn’t sure whether this was a real date or just a casual ride—Carole couldn’t help wanting to look her best.

  She didn’t see any sign of Cam in the stable yard. Denise McCaskill was talking to a couple of adult riding students over near the schooling ring, though. Giving the pretty, petite stable manager a quick wave as she hurried past, Carole entered the main building through the big wooden doors. Blinking quickly to help her eyes adjust to the relatively dim artificial light after the brilliant autumn sunshine outside, she glanced around and then headed across the entryway. A quick check of the student locker room, tack room, and office failed to turn up any sign of Cam. Wandering back into the main entryway, Carole stopped in the middle, wondering where he could be. Maybe she’d been wrong about the Jeep—maybe it belonged to one of Max’s adult students and Cam hadn’t arrived yet.

  Suddenly she had an idea. If their positions were switched, where would she be? She certainly wouldn’t be wasting time hanging around an empty entryway. No way, she thought, already turning to hurry toward the nearest end of the U-shaped stable aisle. I would have headed straight for the horses. And maybe Cam’s changed a little since the old days, but he can’t have changed that much.

  Sure enough, as soon as she entered the long arm of the first aisle, she spotted Cam leaning on the half door of a stall a few yards ahead, rubbing the nose of a friendly old gelding named Patch. Carole’s stomach lurched nervously again.

  Wrapping her arms around her waist, she hesitantly called Cam’s name. I have to figure out what’s happening here before it gives me an ulcer or something, she thought, pasting a smile on her face. He turned and spotted her, a grin lighting up his handsome features. I’ve got to know whether I’m just a pal to him, a blast from the past, or if maybe he’s hoping for something more.

  Cam gave her a clue right away by hurrying over and greeting her with a tight, lingering hug. “Hi,” he whispered directly into her ear, his warm breath tickling her skin. “I was waiting for you.” Carole hugged him back, wondering if it was normal for her stomach to be jumping around like a rambunctious colt kicking up its heels on a sunny spring day. Her throat was giving her trouble now, too. It couldn’t seem to make a sound as long as Cam’s strong arms were wrapped around her that way.

  As she pulled away from the embrace, Carole caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Glancing toward the end of the aisle, she saw a familiar figure coming toward them, leading a tall, solidly built bay gelding. Ben Marlow.

  Carole gulped. If she’d been uncomfortable before, it had just been multiplied by about a thousand. As usual, Ben’s face revealed little about what he was thinking, but Carole caught his dark eyes darting nervously from side to side and guessed that he was also feeling awkward.

  “Um, h-hi, Ben,” Carole stammered uncertainly, glancing from one guy to the other. She couldn’t help being struck by the stark differences between them. Cam looked relaxed and pleasant as always, a smile already forming on his handsome face as he watched Ben approach. For his part, Ben kept his gaze trained steadily on his horse, his face as impassive as a block of ice. Carole winced, wishing that for just once he would at least try to be as friendly and caring with the two-legged variety of mammals around Pine Hollow as he was with the four-legged types. “Uh, this is my old friend Cam. Cam Nelson. Cam, this is Ben Marlow.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Cam said politely. He took a step toward Ben, starting to extend his hand. At that moment, the horse Ben was leading suddenly let out a loud snort and tossed his head violently. Cam jumped back, startled, and laughed nervously.

  Meanwhile, Ben had turned all his attention to the horse. Carole felt her cheeks burn. She could never prove it, but she couldn’t help suspecting that Ben had done something to make the horse, a normally placid gelding named Windsor, act up at that precise moment.

  Don’t be stupid, she chided herself. Why would he do that?

  She tugged at Cam’s sleeve. “Come on,” she said, doing her best to sound normal. “Want to say hi to Starlight?”

  As they turned away, Ben moved on. As soon as he’d disappeared around the corner, Cam raised one eyebrow and looked down at Carole. “Wow,” he said. “Is it just me, or is that guy definitely the strong, silent type?”

  Carole smiled weakly. “He gets really focused on his work, I guess. Now come on—let’s hit the tack room. We’ll stop off in the office on our way and sign you up to ride Diablo. Okay?”

  “Lead the way.” Cam gave a little bow and gestured her forward.

  Not too long after that, the two of them were tacked up and mounted in the stable yard. Carole was happy to see that Cam’s recent lack of practice hadn’t hurt him much—he still had a terrific seat and his hands on Diablo’s reins were sure and firm. Soon they were riding out of the stable yard side by side, heading toward the woods beyond the big south pasture, where several of Carole’s favorite trails began.

  Carole had expected the familiar activity of riding across the fields to calm her nerves, at least a little. But instead her stomach was bucking and twisting more than ever. Still, she did her best to focus on Starlight and on the pleasant, sunny afternoon.

  Eventually it worked. She started to relax. By the time she and Cam rode into the dappled shade of the woods, they were chatting easily. Once again Carole found herself talking away like she might never stop. Cam always seemed to have an interesting question or comment for her, and just when she thought they would run out of things to talk about, she would think of something else she wanted to ask him or share with him.

  She wasn’t even sure how much time had passed when they reached the part of the trail that followed the meandering course of the narrow, babbling brook that had given the town of Willow Creek its name. Soon the trail narrowed, forcing them to ride single file. Carole let Cam go first. She was glad that they were moving at a walk, since she was really having trouble staying focused on her horse and the trail. Her gaze kept straying back to the same place: Cam’s broad, strong back. She still couldn’t quite get over just how good-looking Cam was now, and now that they couldn’t really talk much, she once again started to feel anxious and a little awed that he wanted to spend time with her.

  I don’t know what I’m getting so worked up about, though, really, she told herself, adjusting her balance automatically as Starlight moved around a slight bend in the trail. It’s not like he’s really given me any serious indication that he wants to be anything more than friends. And why should he? I’m just getting my hopes up because he’s looking so fine these days and it’s gone to my head.

  After thinking about that for another minute or two, she almost had herself convinced. Seeing Ben back there at the stable had reminded her of just how clueless she could be about guys and their intentions. After all, hadn’t she practically gone into orbit after Ben had kissed her at that horse show last month? It had been a huge surprise, but that hadn’t stopped her from making all kinds of assumptions about his feelings. She had totally misread him though, obviously, since he hadn’t so much as alluded to that kiss since then. How likely was it that Carole was doing the same thing again now, assuming too much just because Cam acted happy to see her again?

  “Hey, check it out,” Cam called over his shoulder, gesturing at a wide part of the creek. “That looks like a good place to give the horses a rest and a drink.”

  Carole nodded and pulled up her horse, swung herself out of the saddle, and then led Starlight off the trail. Cam did the same with Diablo, and soon they were standing side by side between the two drinking horses.

  Cam glanced over at her. “This is nice,” he said, his voice so soft that Carole could barely hear him over the slurping sounds Starlight and Diablo were
making as they quenched their thirst.

  She nodded, feeling shy. They were standing awfully close together, the horses’ big bodies seeming to shelter them from the rest of the world. “Yes,” she said. “I’m glad we—ulp!”

  The last exclamation slipped out when Cam took a step closer and put his right arm around her shoulders. She stared up at him, frozen in surprise and bewilderment.

  “I’m so glad I came back,” Cam murmured, gazing into her eyes as his arm tightened around her. The horses continued to drink, oblivious to what their riders were up to, as Cam squeezed Carole’s shoulder gently. “It was worth moving all the way across the country to get a chance to know you again.”

  Carole’s mind raced. She wanted to come up with an intelligent response—something to show him that she felt the same way—but her brain seemed to be moving in slow motion.

  Cam didn’t seem to mind. Loosening Diablo’s lead a little more, he raised his left hand and pushed back the brim of her hard hat. Then he slipped his hand behind her neck, pulling her toward him.

  Yikes! Carole thought frantically. Is he going to—

  Before she could finish the thought, Cam kissed her. Carole found herself kissing him back, her body relaxing into his embrace. After a moment, Cam pulled away and looked at her, his dark eyes serious and thoughtful.

  Uh-oh, here it comes. Carole steeled herself as her stomach dipped nervously. This is where he mumbles something unintelligible and makes an excuse to take off.

  She was only half serious, but it was still a bit of a surprise when instead of releasing her, Cam touched her softly on the chin. “You really are beautiful,” he whispered. “You know that, don’t you?” Without waiting for a reply, he leaned down and kissed her again.

  This time Carole didn’t think anything at all. She was hardly even aware that Starlight had finished his drink and was slobbering icy water down her back. She felt like a character in a movie—a wonderful romance film with a happy ending—and all she wanted to do was enjoy it.

  FIVE

  Ablast of chilly wind propelled Lisa through the glass entryway. She took a deep breath of the warm, faintly pine-scented air and glanced around, unzipping her coat.

  Just a few weeks before Christmas, the mall was a frenzy of blinking lights, fake greenery, and red-and-green bunting. It was also crowded: People of all shapes, sizes, and ages hurried along every which way, most of them loaded down with packages. The sounds of various holiday songs playing tinnily in the surrounding stores was all but drowned out by the hordes of people talking, laughing, arguing. Somewhere not too far away, an unseen baby was crying in a high-pitched whine. Just a few yards ahead of Lisa, in the broad plaza surrounding a holly-bedecked fountain, two toddlers were chasing each other back and forth, shrieking in a tone that Lisa would have thought only dogs should be able to hear. For a moment she was tempted to turn around and head right back out to her car, which was wedged into a too-small parking spot at the very end of the second-to-last row of the lot.

  But she resisted the urge. This will be good for me, she thought determinedly. I can get a little last-minute Christmas shopping done, maybe buy myself a present to cheer myself up. I could use a new pair of earrings to wear with my blue dress on Friday.

  Somehow the thought of accessorizing didn’t excite her much. She wasn’t even sure whether to look forward to the CARL fund-raising party or not. On the one hand, it would be a great chance to get out and have some fun with her friends instead of sitting at home alone as she’d done much of the previous weekend. And she already knew that Alex wouldn’t be there—Stevie had told her that. But she also didn’t relish the thought of hanging around some crowded party without Alex at her side, making her laugh, being glad that she was with him and making her feel loved and appreciated.

  Still, she had to move on sometime. It had been her idea to take a break from their relationship, and the agreement had been that they would stay away from each other for the next few weeks—and that they would see other people in the meantime. Maybe if she survived going stag to the CARL event, she’d start thinking about going out with an actual other guy on an actual date sometime soon. Maybe she would even work up the courage to ask someone out the following weekend.

  She felt a stab of intense guilt and sadness at the very thought. What would Alex say if he knew she was thinking this way? If he found out she was getting ready to move on to other guys before they’d been broken up a week?

  Forget about Alex, Lisa told herself firmly, dodging around a portly woman pushing a baby carriage piled high with shopping bags and packages. There was no baby in sight. No matter what I decide about dating, I definitely can’t just keep moping around the house—not unless I want to turn into Mom.

  Shuddering slightly, she plunged forward into the sea of humanity, making her way by memory toward a small store beyond the fountain plaza that sold costume jewelry and other small accessories.

  “Welcome to Accessorama,” a tired-looking woman dressed as an elf said perfunctorily as Lisa finally pushed and dodged her way to the store entrance. “May your holidays sparkle like rhinestones.”

  “Thank you,” Lisa responded politely, feeling sorry for the woman. She knew what a thankless job it was working in a retail store during the holiday shopping season—her mother worked at a clothing store at the other end of the mall, and she had just about had a nervous breakdown the year before during the pre-Christmas rush.

  Of course, that shouldn’t be a problem this year, Lisa reminded herself ruefully, thinking of the way her mother had been calling in sick left and right ever since her loser boyfriend had dumped her right after Thanksgiving. There’s no chance of her getting overworked these days. The only real danger is that she won’t have a job at all come the New Year. It will be a real Christmas miracle if her boss doesn’t sack her after this.

  She tried not to think about what would happen if her mother really did lose her job. There wasn’t much Lisa could do about it one way or the other.

  After browsing in the shop for a few minutes, Lisa decided to move on. She didn’t see any earrings she liked there, and besides, she really did want to do some shopping for her friends. She’d already bought Stevie a bracelet, but she still needed to find a Christmas gift for Carole. Fortunately, Carole wasn’t hard to shop for. After leaving Accessorama with a sympathetic smile for the woman at the entrance, she headed straight for the tack shop a few stores farther down the mall. She figured she could find something there for Carole, and also for the other people at Pine Hollow. Lisa always liked to buy a little something for Max and his family, and for the past couple of years she’d also exchanged gifts with Red and Denise.

  As soon as Lisa stepped into The Saddlery, the scents of leather and saddle soap surrounded her, replacing the aroma of pine and peppermint that permeated the rest of the mall. She breathed in deeply, enjoying the pleasant, slightly spicy smell as she surveyed the store, but then let out the breath in a surprised whoosh when she spotted a familiar face at the checkout counter. It was George Wheeler, and he was setting a pile of items in front of the cashier.

  Lisa was tempted to duck out of the shop again before he saw her—she’d never quite felt comfortable around George. He had a weird way of staring at people just a little too long that she found rather unsettling. But she felt guilty for the thought. This is supposed to be the season of fellowship and good cheer, right? she said to herself. So let’s do some season’s greetings.

  “Lisa! Hi!” George said in surprise when she tapped him on the shoulder. As he smiled at her, she noticed a faint smudge of something brown—chocolate ice cream?—on one round, pink cheek. “What are you doing here?”

  “Shopping,” Lisa said lamely, forcing a smile as George laughed as if it were the funniest thing anyone had ever said. “How about you?”

  “Oh, you know.” George winked, or at least that was what Lisa assumed he was trying to do. One eye closed completely, while the other twitched halfway shut. “Just doing
the Santa thing.”

  “Hmmm.” Lisa was getting ready to move on when she glanced down at the items on the counter. The cashier had turned away to run George’s credit card through the machine, and she hadn’t bagged his purchases yet. Along with several small items—a snaffle bit, a pair of grooming gloves, a tube of leather conditioner—Lisa noticed a gorgeous tweed hunt coat. “Wow! Are you buying this?” She glanced at him uncertainly, wondering if he realized it was a woman’s garment. With George, you couldn’t take these things for granted—he wasn’t exactly the king of fashion, as evidenced by his wrinkled blue pants and striped button-down.

  George smiled coyly. “Oh, yes,” he replied, giving her his sort-of wink again. “This is for someone very special.”

  For a second Lisa was relieved that he wasn’t buying the coat for himself. Then she gulped as she realized what his words might mean. Someone very special? I wonder if that means Callie. She thought back, trying to remember if Stevie had told her anything about George’s crush on Callie lately. I thought that was all over. She gaze at the expensive coat. But it looks like maybe George didn’t get the memo.

  “Okay,” Lisa said to George. “Well, I’ll see you around.”

  “Bye, Lisa,” George said distractedly as the cashier returned with the credit slip for him to sign. “See you.”

  Lisa moved on farther into the store, glancing around at the well-stocked shelves and waiting for inspiration to strike. It didn’t take long. Within five minutes, she’d found a horse-shaped picture frame for Red and Denise and a set of equine-themed Christmas ornaments for Max and his wife Deborah, as well as stuffed ponies for their two young daughters. A moment later she found an embroidered sweatshirt that she was sure Carole would love. Holding it up, she stared at it blankly, imagining what Carole would do if, say, Ben Marlow bought her something as extravagant as the fancy tweed coat George was buying for Callie.