Secrets and Revelations (Bellingwood #4) (23 page)

He glanced back and forth and finally said, "Could I? That way I don't have to worry about using the public showers upstairs."

"Sure, do you know where towels and stuff are?"

"I can find my way."

"When Jason comes back down, would you give him Doc Ogden's shirt and ask him to take it to the barn? Then you can have my apartment as long as you need it."

"Thanks, Polly."

"See you at the parade!"

She found Sylvie in the kitchen. Cinnamon rolls and pecan rolls were already served up on the counter and the coffee smelled heavenly.

"Can I help myself?" she asked.

"Please do!" Sylvie said. She was already dressed in jeans and her blue Sycamore House shirt. When she looked up from the oven, she grinned. "We're twins!"

"It's going to be a theme today. Do you have a camera to take pictures at the parade?"

"I didn't think about it. I was just going to use my phone."

"If I give you my camera will you take a lot of pictures? I know your son would love to have some and so would I."

"I'm not that good."

"Oh, come on. Just point and shoot.
Make sure you zoom in so the subject is as close as you can get it and take the picture. That's all you have to do."

Sylvie nodded begrudgingly. "I'll try. But don't hate me if they stink."

"No hating, I'll be right back." Polly spun around and ran to her office and came back with the camera. With a few lessons in turning it on and using the zoom, she hoped Sylvie could figure it out."

"Have you talked to your oldest this morning?" Polly asked.

"He ran past me to go upstairs to take a shower. Thanks for that."

"I think he had a great time last night, but I suspect he'll be wiped out soon."

Sylvie chuckled. "He should do that every once in a while. There's only so much mommy one boy can take. Speaking of what one boy can take, what in the hell was up with Beryl last night? Andrew talked about it until I finally sent him to bed."

"She didn't tell you?"

"No!"

"I guess she does this for the boys of all her friends. Especially when their moms are going to get stupid and emotional and all mommy-like. She figures that she'll be the most embarrassing thing in the room and that's what they'll remember rather than their moms
being emotional and crying because their babies are growing up."

"Don't you just love her?" Sylvie said.

"I think she's a little batty, but yes, I love her. I suspect this isn't the last time you're going to see that outfit. Andy and Lydia were quite familiar with it."

"You know that just gives me permission to be as emotional as I want, then."

"Works for me! Where's your little boy, by the way?"

"Where do you think?"

"Back here?"

"Of course. That nook is either the best thing that ever happened to him or the worst. He used to read a lot at home, but now he
always reading. I want him to spend more time outside!"

"Aw mom," Andrew complained as he came into the kitchen. "I heard you talking about me.
I go outside enough."

He had his blue shirt on and looked absolutely adorable. Polly wanted to hug him, but thought better of it. "Will you ride in the back of the wagon with me and Mark? We'
re going to put Obiwan in there with you."

"Cool! Can I, mom?"

"Sure!" she said.

"Thanks! Do you want me to come down to the barn?"

"Why don't we drive up to the front door and pick you up. Sylvie, there's a bench in the back of the wagon. I can give the camera to Jeff if you want to ride with us."

"Oh no," Sylvie said. "I'll be just fine taking pictures and standing in the background. I don't want to be gone that long from here anyway. You all go be stars of the show. I'm staying on the ground."

Polly smiled, "You're going to miss out!"

"Nope, I'm not going to miss anything, I promise."

Polly could feel the excitement building inside her. She knew it was only a small-town parade and would be over before she knew it, but she'd never done anything like this before. When she was in high school, she always marched with the band, but this felt different. She could hardly wait. She looked at the clock. Nine-fifteen.

A door slammed and Jason ran into the kitchen. "Can I go back to the barn, mom?" he asked. He was fully decked out in everything he had received the day before. He had his new boots on, he was wearing his hat and he carried his leather water bottle holster.
The shirt made him look like part of the team and he even had a red bandana tucked into and hanging out of his back pocket.

"What's this?" his brother asked, pulling it out. "A kerchief?"

"That's what cowboys use to blow their nose, runt." Jason said.

"Jace?" his mother warned.

"Well, he is a runt. See how much shorter he is?" Jason stood beside his brother, the boots adding a little extra height.

"Do you want me to repeat the warning?" Sylvie continued.

"No ma'am," he said, his shoulders drooping. "Sorry."

"Can I go to the barn?" he asked politely and much more sedately.

"You may," Sylvie said.

"Jason, could you stop by Jeff's office and pick up the box with Mark's shirt in it and take it with you? And tell him that the shower's free."

"Okay!" Jason ran out of the kitchen before he could get stopped by his mother.

"You go on back and read," Sylvie said to Andrew. "I'll come get you when it's time to leave."

He snaked a cinnamon roll from the counter and peeked up at her to see if she would stop him. She just gave him a swat on his bottom and said, "Go," and laughed.

"I'm already going grey and it's their fault," Sylvie complained. "I know Jason feels like he is a man, but it is going to be ugly wrangling him back into shape after this weekend. Between the party and sleeping over with the older guys, then the parade and riding with Eliseo, he's going to be impossible to live with. Do you want him for a couple of weeks?" she asked Polly.

"Ummm, no?" Polly giggled. "I feel like I should say yes because I've probably had a hand in introducing him to the dark side, though."

"Exactly! This is your fault! I like that. When he puts me over the edge tonight and I send him to bed without any supper, I will tell him that it's your fault."

"That seems fair," Polly said. "Oh well, at least it was fun for him while it lasted. It's a good thing you raised a couple of good boys."

"It hasn't been easy, but having you and everyone here at Sycamore House in their lives has made it better. Have I told you thank you for that lately?"

Polly hugged her. "You say it often enough. We love your boys. I'd better get down to the barn. Mark is going to be here to hitch up the wagon and I am so excited I can barely stand it."

"Text me when you are coming
to get Andrew and I'll have him bring Obiwan outside and be ready for you."

"Great."

Polly headed back to the barn, passing several people looking at the quilts. She smiled and nodded and as soon as she cleared the side door, she broke into a run. Mark's truck was in the parking lot and she didn't want to miss any of the excitement with the horses this morning.

Jason met her at the door and said, "You have to wait here for just one more minute."

"Why? What's up?"

"Eliseo just wants to finish something before you come in. You're going to like it. He sent me out here to make you wait."

"What am I waiting for?" Polly tried to peer around Jason into the barn.

She heard a whistle and Jason pushed the door open. Demi and Daisy were already hitched to the wagon and Eliseo had tied blue ribbon into their manes, weaving it in loosely. Polly had expressed her dislike of the tight braids, she loved the look of a flowing mane, but he had managed to get the ribbon to flow naturally, accenting their dark hair with the bright blue.

"They're beautiful!" she said. She rubbed Demi's forehead and then Daisy's. "You are beautiful! Do you know how proud I am of the two of you? This is going to be the best day for us! The whole town is going to fall in love with you as much as I have." She stood up on tip toe and kissed Daisy above the nose and then Demi. "I love you guys."

"Eliseo, this is perfect. Thank you," she said.

"It's no big deal. Mark had his assistant find the ribbon for me."

"Thank you Mark," she said. "Are you all as excited as I am about today?"

"I don't know about us, but these two are ready to prance," Mark replied. "They know they look fabulous and are ready to show off. It will be good for them."

"I'm so glad to hear you say that. I worry that I might be asking too much."

"You could never do that, Polly. Come on, get up in the wagon and we'll get out of here so Jason and Eliseo can saddle Nan and Nat. Is Andrew ready to ride with us?"

"I told him we'd pick him up at the front door."

"Let's go do that and see if we can get everyone settled down before the parade starts."

Polly climbed into the wagon and Mark handed her the reins. When she got them in her hands, she was sure that she could feel the horses vibrating with excitement.

"They're really ready to go, aren't they! How do they know this is different than when we go out for a ride?"

"They're picking it up from all of us. Things are different today and they feel it."

He clicked his teeth and gave them the signal to move and they left the barn. He drove them to the front door and Polly texted Sylvie they were coming early. They only had to wait a moment until Andrew and Obiwan were at the front door.

"He was sitting on the bench in the lobby," Sylvie said. "He couldn't wait any longer."

Mark got down and lifted Andrew up. He crawled into the back of the wagon and sat on the low bench back there. Then Mark bent over and lifted Obiwan in to sit beside him. He'd tossed one of the saddle blankets on the floor so Obiwan wouldn't slip and slide around. Before he climbed back up, he said. "There's room if you'd like to join us, Sylvie."

"No thanks," she replied. "I've already been invited. But, you get in and don't go anywhere. I'm going to practice my picture taking skills while you are all standing still."

She fumbled with the camera and finally raised it up. She backed up and then backed up some more. "There's a lot of horse to get in this picture!" she said. Polly heard it click several times.

She waved as they pulled away. Mark drove down the lane to the highway and instead of turning onto the road, he turned back into Polly's drive and headed down the back yard to the barn. "If this was wet, I wouldn't dare, but we're fine," he assured his passengers. He turned up the other side of Sycamore House and went out to the road. He signaled the horses to halt in front of the barn. Polly turned around to check the boy and dog in the back. Obiwan had his paws up on the bench beside Andrew, who wrapped his little hand around the dog's collar.

"He won't jump out, Polly. I won't let him."

"I don't think he will either, Andrew. I'm not worried." Polly looked up at Sycamore House. Sylvie was standing in the driveway shooting pictures. Digital cameras had changed everything. It no longer mattered how many pictures you took. As long as there was memory available, Sylvie could practice all morning.

They waited until Eliseo and Jason emerged from the barn. The sight was nearly more than Polly could take. Jason had used the new saddle blanket that Lydia had given him and he sat up straight and tall beside Eliseo. The horses walked together toward the wagon and even Andrew had stopped breathing.

Finally he said, "Wow. Look at that."

In their blue shirts and white hats on those dark black Percherons, they looked stunning. The man whose face had been destroyed by fire and a boy who was learning to be a man. This was what it was all about.

Mark called out to Eliseo. "You lead. We'll follow. Just don't lose us, okay?"

Eliseo tipped his hat and Jason followed suit as they passed them and rode out onto the road. Polly poked Mark in the leg. "Can you even believe how gorgeous that scene is?"

"I can tell that you have missed out on one of the best things in life, Polly," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean there is nothing more stunning than
a rider and the horse who loves him. They're a perfect team. That's what you're seeing."

"It's kind of kicking my emotions all over the place," she said.

"It's supposed to. And you know what?"

"What?"

"We look good, too. This is going to blow people away in Bellingwood. The shirts were a nice touch. Good idea, girl."

"I can't wait," she said.

"Then, let's go." He set a pace behind the riders and followed them as they headed for the beginning of the parade route. The sky was blue and people were gathered along the streets. The parade had already started and they had only to wait a short time before they were riding through the streets of town to friends waving, cameras and phones clicking pictures. All Polly could feel was pride for her horses and the people she had surrounding her.