A Season Beyond a Kiss (16 page)

The floors throughout were of hard-packed clay covered with a thick layer of shavings from the Birminghams’ lumber mill. A clean, fresh scent pervaded the place, due in part to the mulch and the breezes, but also to the small amounts of lime that had been mixed in with the bedding to control the odors.

Here again, trainers and grooms were hard at work, either readying two- and three-year-olds for their morning workout or cleaning stalls and bathing horses. Some of the men tipped their hats politely to her while others grinned either broadly or sheepishly, whatever the particular disposition of the man. Again Raelynn’s mind spun beneath the avalanche of names that descended upon her. Still, she recalled the anxious employee who had met her husband upon his return to the stable after the latter had raced his black stallion, Brutus, across the countryside at a breakneck pace in an effort to ease his frustration with her. That incident had happened almost a fortnight ago, shortly after she had announced that she needed some time to consider Nell’s accusations before she could willingly yield to his husbandly right to consummate their marriage vows.

“Sparky, here, is one of my trainers,” Jeff announced, identifying the one she had heard that particular night. The young man had snatched off a scruffy hat in polite deference to her gender and proceeded to crush it between large, calloused hands as he cast shy glances toward her. “Sparky keeps the horses in line for me, including Brutus who is without question the orneriest beast I’ve yet ridden. I’ve sworn at times that Sparky’s mother must have whelped him on the back of a steed. He has a natural way of handling horses that makes it look a lot easier than it really is.”

The trainer waggled his bright red head as a ruddy hue infused his freckled cheeks, but his wide grin clearly evidenced his pleasure over his employer’s praise. “There you go again, Mr. Jeffrey, raisin’ everybody’s expectations o’ me. You’re gonna get me into an awful heap o’ trouble one o’ these days, talkin’ the way you do. Soon folks’ll be expectin’ me ta do miracles or somethin’.”

“Never fear, Sparky,” Raelynn consoled him cheerily. “I shall expect nothing more from you than what I see you do with my own eyes. Is that fair enough?”

“Yas’m, Miz Raelynn, that’s real fair,” he agreed with an eager nod.

“It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Sparky,” she assured him warmly. “Now tell me, if a lady were to ask you to find her a very noble horse among the steeds my husband owns, which one would you choose?”

A small, wiry individual with bowed legs and a broad grin scurried in from outside before Sparky could answer. Inclining his head in greeting first to Raelynn and then to Jeff, the older man spoke with the lilt of his native Ireland. “Ah, sir, I see ye’ve brought yer pretty missus ta have a look at yer fine collection of steeds, eh? An’ there’s yerself, sir, lookin’ for all the world like the mouse what chewed a hole ta the grain.” He cackled gleefully as the others laughed, and then, squinting an eye toward Jeff, queried, “Would ye be a-thinkin’ o’ takin’ yer missus out for a ride on Kelton this fine day, sir? Ta be sure, the mare would give yer lady a nice, smooth ride, that she would.”

“Gerald O’Malley is in charge of the breeding program,” Jeff explained. “Several years ago he came over with the studs and brood mares I had purchased in Ireland. Under his care, the horses endured the voyage without suffering any harm. He has been proving his worth ever since. I couldn’t do without him.”

The elder’s face compressed into a multitude of wrinkles as he grinned at her. “O’Malley be what folks call me, missus. If’n ye’re o’ a mind, I’d be honored if ye’d be doing the same.”

“Of course, O’Malley.” Smiling, Raelynn tipped her head to indicate her compliance, and then cast a glance down the long row of stalls. “But tell me, O’Malley, where is this mare, Kelton, you mentioned? Is she here in the stable?”

Jeff gestured behind her. “Kelton is a nice, gentle mount. Very level-headed and sure-footed. If you think you need a horse to take care of you, then she’ll certainly do that for you.”

“ ‘At will be Kelton, all right,” the Irishman agreed with a chortle. “Takes her time, she does, but she’ll be gettin’ there in the end wit’ no undue fuss along the way. Aye, that she will.”

Raelynn wasn’t overly thrilled with all the reassurances she was receiving. There was such a thing as being too well-broke, which usually meant
boring
. A quick glance into the stall where the mare stood lazily scratching her neck against one of the supporting timbers left visions of the two of them plodding lazily along far behind Jeff and his steed. Peering askance at her grinning husband, who she was beginning to suspect was finding some humor in her apparent aversion, Raelynn smiled gingerly. “A small measure of excitement wouldn’t go unappreciated, Jeffrey. I’ve ridden before and don’t need to be babied.”

Curbing his grin, Jeff faced his young trainer. “The lady asked your opinion, Sparky. Which steed would you choose for her?”

Jeff’s amusement had already proven contagious, and Sparky was eager to contribute some of his own wit. “Well, suh, there’s always Ariadne. Your lady would see some
real
spunk with that orn . . .”

“Where is she?” Raelynn asked without waiting for him to finish.

Sparky gulped at her readiness to chance such a ride and, now more than a bit apprehensive, glanced toward Jeff, whose change of countenance lent visual evidence of his sudden concern. Warily the trainer pointed toward the third stall down the aisle, and before Jeff could object, Raelynn hurried toward it. As she stepped near, a fine, high-headed, liver-chestnut mare of perhaps three years snorted and shied away from the bars of her domain.

“Is this the one?”

“None other than Ariadne,” her husband acknowledged reluctantly.

Raelynn tilted her head aslant as she looked back at him. “As in Greek lore?”

“Aye, the daughter who was turned to gold by her father, King Midas.”

“Is the mare truly a treasure?”

“She has the bloodlines to make an excellent brood mare,” Jeff acknowledged. “But she’s spirited and not easily ridden, definitely not by novices.”

“She’s beautiful,” Raelynn replied with a measure of awe as she reached a hand through the bars of the stall.

The mare snorted and danced back instantly, but as Raelynn’s slow, coaxing voice encouraged her, the animal tossed her fine head and paced forward cautiously, obviously curious. Murmuring softly, Raelynn stroked the velvety nose as Ariadne stood very still and blinked her large eyes, relishing the attention and the soothing tones. “I wish I had an apple to give you, Ariadne, but if you’d let me ride you today, I promise to bring you one after we return. Would you like that?”

Blowing into the extended palm, the mare arched her elegant neck and nickered softly, drawing laughter from Raelynn. Pleased that she was making progress, she continued stroking the steed even as she became mindful of her husband’s approach.

“I don’t think you should ride Ariadne,” he announced with measured care. “She’s high-strung and can’t be trusted. Quite simply, madam, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Riding was one of my greatest pleasures before my family’s fortunes changed so drastically, Jeffrey. We not only lost our home and all our possessions, we had to stand and watch our horses being led away by the king’s stable hands. We were told that they would be given to the men who had brought evidence of treason against my father once their claims were verified. Regrettably he died before his trial, and the accusations against him were allowed to stand.”

Jeff understood only too well how a magnificent animal like Ariadne could placate a distressed soul and heal it of past hurts. Consolingly he laid an arm around his wife’s shoulders and drew her near. “Perhaps Ariadne will be a better mount for you once she has been worked for several more months. She needs to learn some manners before she can be trusted.”

Raelynn gazed up at him pleadingly. “But couldn’t I exercise her today while we’re out riding?”

“She’ll get all the exercise she needs, madam, but with the trainers, at least until she starts behaving herself. We can decide later if she’s fit for you.”

“But she seems perfectly suited for me now,” Raelynn cajoled. “She came to me readily enough and seems quite gentle.”

“Nevertheless, madam, I must stand by my decision. I’ll not chance your getting thrown, perhaps even seriously injured. You’re too precious to me.”

Raelynn doubted that any amount of pleading would make her husband change his mind. He knew the mare far better than she, and she had to respect him for doing what he considered right under the circumstances, no matter how disappointed she might be. After all, this was no weak-willed individual she had married. He was considerate and kind, far more than the men whom she had casually known in her lifetime, yet he wasn’t at all reluctant to deny her request when he thought it prudent.

Realizing that she hadn’t yet asked his opinion, Raelynn peered up at him from underneath the brim of her bonnet as her lips curved upward flirtatiously at the corners. “So which steed would you suggest I ride, Jeffrey?”

He smiled, relieved that she hadn’t become miffed by his refusal to yield to her pleas. “I have in mind a nice-tempered gelding that I’m sure you’ll enjoy taking out for your first tour of the area.”

Lifting his head, Jeff gestured to O’Malley. “Saddle Stargazer with the sidesaddle Miss Heather uses when she comes.”

“ ‘At I’ll be doin’ right away, sir,” the Irishman answered and scurried off to do his employer’s bidding.

Several moments later, Raelynn gasped in pure delight as O’Malley led a tall, handsome bay from the last stall on the right. Raelynn couldn’t remember ever seeing a gelding so striking. His neck was wonderfully arched, his ears small and pointed inward, his head and large eyes seemingly without flaw. But that was hardly the best of it, for the animal seemed to literally dance sideways down the aisle, elevating his hocks in a flashy, high-stepping gait.

“Oh, Jeffrey, he’s gorgeous!”

“I thought you might like him. He’s got a lot of action in his gait, but he minds well and is very gentle with Heather.”

“Would ye be wantin’ Brutus saddled, sir?” the elder queried.

“I’d like to enjoy the ride with my wife today, O’Malley, instead of cursing that beast from here to hell and back again. Saddle Majestic for me, if you please.”

The wiry man grinned and touched his brow in a brisk salute. “Right away, sir.”

A short time later, Jeff lifted Raelynn to the back of Stargazer and then swung up onto the handsome stallion that had been readied for him. They rode away from the stables but, upon espying Cora waiting near the house with a basket and an old cotton quilt slung over her arms, they reined their steeds to a halt near the housekeeper.

The black woman grinned up at her master. “Ah thought yo’d be agreeable ta havin’ a picnic somewhere, Mistah Jeffery, so’s ah packed this here satchel wit’ lemon cake, fried chicken, corn fritters, an’ de lak. Dere’s even some chilled lemonade in a corked jug if’n yo’ gets thirsty. Maybe today it’ll even stay cool for a change.” Cora glanced about and drew in a deep breath, as if savoring the fragrance of the day. “Yo’ sho’ picked a fine day ta take off from work, Mistah Jeffrey. Ain’t many days yo’ve given yo’self ta relax lately, so’s I figgered yo’ is well deservin’ o’ some time off ta enjoy a picnic.”

“Cora, you’re a dream,” Jeff declared with a chuckle as he dismounted. Taking the items from her, he secured them behind Raelynn’s sidesaddle before swinging up on the stallion again.

Reining Majestic alongside the prancing gelding, Jeff took his wife past the crops closest to the grounds of the main house, letting her see the plants from which cotton was harvested. The bolls were still green, but Jeff dismounted, cut one open, and allowed her to view what was inside. In the weeks to come the cotton would be maturing, the pods would be opening, and the field hands would be sent out to pluck the white fluff from its sharp nest, no easy task when the bolls pricked nearly every finger bloody and the broiling sun beat down upon their backs.

The couple progressed to the rice fields, and there Raelynn saw acres of land flooded over with water, creating the essential conditions and nutrients to produce a bountiful crop. From there, they traversed along a winding lane, looking over fields, one where a small herd of cattle grazed and, nearby, another where cornstalks had grown taller than a man. They rode leisurely on for another pair of hours and, upon passing through a wooded copse, finally halted near a live oak which dominated a knoll beside a sunlit stream. The tree’s widely spreading, gracefully draping limbs not only furnished abundant shade for the area but also provided a protective screen around the tree.

Jeff swung down and came around the back of the gelding to sweep Raelynn off its back. Holding his wife clasped within his arms, he let her slide down the length of his body until his parting lips snared hers. For a long moment he kissed her without reserve, and when he finally relented and tried to set Raelynn to her feet, she refused to stand alone. Sighing dreamily, she leaned against him, seeming as weak as a rag doll. Jeff did the only sensible thing and laid her over his shoulder, drawing giggles as he fondled her very fetching backside through the cloth of her gown. When he freed the ties securing the quilt and basket, he slipped his free arm beneath them and gathered them up within the crook of his elbow.

Taking his burdens to a spot beneath the wide canopy of moss-draped limbs, Jeff lowered the leather pouches to the ground before whipping the quilt around and spreading it out, at least as much as he was able while still holding Raelynn. He kicked the curled and rumpled corners flat with a booted toe, and then leaned forward to lower his giggling wife to the quilt. Smiling at her with eyes glinting puckishly, he bent near with a suggestion. “ ‘Tis a perfect spot for sporting on a quilt, don’t you agree, my sweet?”

“ ‘Twould truly seem that way,” Raelynn agreed, smiling coyly. His opening mouth lowered, almost covering hers until she added, “The food smells wonderful though. Shall we eat now? I’m starving.”