“Keanu!” She jerked the door open. “You scared me to death. What are you doing here? Is something wrong at the farm?”
“Everything’s fine,” he said as he walked in. “We were all in the office when Lynn called you. Everybody wanted to come, but I won. Truthfully, I out-ran them.” he laughed as he crossed the living room and headed for the first door on the right. “I’ll be here in your guest room. I’m a light sleeper, so, have a good restful sleep and know that I’m on the job. No yo yo is going to get to you if I can help it.”
She stared speechlessly as he walked into the room and firmly shut the door cutting off any chance of an argument. Anger washed over her and then she almost giggled. It doesn’t matter what I say, they’re going to try to protect me whether I want it or not. She shook her head and smiled as she went on to her own room.
“Pon my honor,” Sharon exploded. “The whole gang’s standing in a row, like birds on a fence, to see me arrive.” Keanu brought her car to a stop in front of the stables. She burst out of the car with the intention of telling them off. As she looked at their anxious faces, she realized it was their love and caring that made them hover. Her heart leaped knowing that each of these people would do whatever possible to keep her safe. They would be just as concerned about any of the others.
“Hey, gang. You folks look as if you’re waiting for something exciting or important. What’s the occasion?” she teased.
David strode toward her. “We just want to be sure you’re okay.”
Sharon was startled when she saw the expression in his eyes. He really cares. She had to look up so far at him that the back of her neck felt the pressure.
“I’m fine,” she stammered, stepping back so that she would not be looking straight up at him. “It would take a mighty stupid person to try to get to me past all of you.”
“He hasn’t been too smart so far,” Jake explained. “The thing is, we have no clue who this bozo is or if he’s even sane. Until we have a clue as to who it is and what he - or she - wants, you need to be extra careful and let us watch your back.”
“I’ll get your case and take it in.” Keanu turned to get her suitcase from the car. “One of you will have to drive me back later. I left the stable car at Sharon’s and drove her here. I’ll need to go back and get the car.” He didn’t add that it would give him a chance to see if anyone was hanging around.
The teen volunteers gathered around, concerned, but not knowing what to do or say.
“I’m truly grateful, folks, but business needs to go on as usual. Are we going to let this unknown person run our lives?” They looked at each other and shook their heads. Lynn blew her whistle with a catch in her throat. “Okay, group, time to roll.”
Volunteers led horses to the ring and gave a last safety check. Gabe walked the ring and checked all of the equipment. Lynn released a sigh of satisfaction as she watched the organized manner in which all of them proceeded with the day’s work.
Martin no longer needed a leader or side walkers. With his therapy, massages and riding, he was rapidly gaining strength. He continued use of the wheelchair on the open, grounds, but depended on leg braces and special canes indoors.
“Lynn, Martin looks at you as if he could eat you with a spoon. Has he talked to you about his feelings toward you?” Sharon asked, concerned and pleased at the same time.
Lynn blushed. “Hush, Sharon. Others will hear you.”
“Darling, it’s no secret. All of us have eyes, and we hear the softness in his voice when he says your name.”
“Well, he hasn’t actually said it aloud, but his actions and, yes, his expressions, let me know he’s interested.” Lynn looked as if she wanted to say more but was unsure.
“Do you return his feelings? How do you feel about him?” Sharon was pleased for Lynn and wanted the best for her.
“I don’t really know. I’ve concentrated so long on realizing my dream of this school that I haven’t even given it a thought to have a relationship other than as a friend with anyone. I know he’s a gentleman and a gentle man. He’s intelligent, compassionate, kind to all those around him and we do have a lot of the same interests.”
“But you haven’t given it much thought,” Sharon laughed.
“Talking about feelings, little sister, how do you feel about David? It’s obvious to everyone how he feels about you.”
“I guess I feel about him like you do about Martin. I think David cares about me, but we’ve never had a chance to discuss our feelings. My priority is my education for the present. If we’re meant to be together, then it will happen in time.”
Martin rode up behind them. His face was actually shining as he looked at Lynn. His eyes were so full of love that it was no secret how he felt. “Is this a private discussion or can a poor slob join in?”
“Poor slob,” Sharon jeered. “Are you digging for compliments or giving a character reference?”
“Neither. I was lonely and thought I might find stimulating company over here.” He smiled at Lynn and winked. She immediately blushed which brought a hearty laugh from Martin.
“Lynn, you’ve blushed more since Martin came here than I can remember,” Sharon wisely excused herself to go help with some of the students. She looked back to see Lynn leaning against Martin’s leg and talking seriously with him. She smiled to herself when Martin leaned down and gave Lynn a quick kiss. Hooray! I hope they let each other know completely how they each feel, and soon.
“Hey, Hank. It’s me, Duke. Nothing interesting going on. The whole stupid gang is circling around the little witch like a herd of wild cattle guarding their calves.”
“You know you’re not supposed to be there. You were told to leave and go back to Texas after the bombing. You’re lucky you’re still alive. The Boss is really mad about you taking things in your own hands. You were told to watch, not to do. Get away from there before you’re discovered.”
“Okay. Okay. One more day. I’ll be in touch.”
On the following morning, Lynn and Sharon, with some of the girl volunteers, were stacking hay bales in the loft and cleaning in the storage barn. The men were riding fences, checking and mending breaks as well as any chores that needed doing. Lynn had been teasing Sharon because David had made several trips back to the barn. Each time he called Sharon to him and whispered to her.
“It‘s so romantic,” Rebekah sighed.
Jardine grinned at Lynn. “On the subject of romance, Martin wasn’t letting your lips get cold last night.”
“Oh, ho,” Sharon sighed. “Tell all.” She was thankful for the change of subject.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Lynn said blushing.
The girls started teasing each other and wrestling in the stacks of hay. Suddenly Amelia Reardon screamed. “I’ve been bitten. A snake bit me. Is it poisonous?”
Lynn and Sharon, alarmed and frightened, grabbed a shovel and a hoe to find the snake while Ashley and Betsy helped Amelia down from the hay loft. They all laughed nervously when Sharon called, “Never fear. I’ve found the - um - snake.” Laughing she held up a short length of barb wire. “I don’t know how this got here, but someone was very careless.”
David had raced his horse to the barn when he heard the scream. He looked at Amelia’s wound. “Ouch. That must hurt,” he sympathized. “Sharon, go to my car and get the bottle of peroxide in the glove compartment. I had to buy some yesterday for myself.”
Sharon ran outside the barn to David’s car while he checked Amelia’s wound. “How long has it been since you had a tetanus shot?”
“I don’t know,” Amelia sobbed. “I don’t remember having one.”
“Hold it.” Lynn spoke with authority. “That’s a requirement for working here, and you told me that you had a tetanus shot.”
“Oh, I remember. I had one when I went for my physical for school.”
“Thank goodness. Gang, this is why I insist on all of us having up-to-date shots. On property like this, there’ll be splinters, barb wire, scrapes of all kinds and sometimes animal bites. What’s keeping Sharon?”
Sharon stumbled in looking pale and shaky. She handed the peroxide to Lynn without looking at anyone.
“Poor dear. Don’t tell me you’re squeamish,” David teased her.
“All right, I won’t tell you,” she snapped and wobbled out to go to the office.
After David had treated and wrapped Amelia’s hand, Lynn advised her to ask her mother if she wanted their doctor to check the wound. Lynn then excused herself and went to see about Sharon. I hope she isn’t sick. What can be troubling her other than the usual irritants that she’s lived with for a time?
“Sheilah, did you see Sharon come in?” Lynn asked as she stepped worriedly into the office. There was an unnatural silence in the building.
“Yeah. She was acting funny. I ask her if she was sick, but she said she wasn’t and went to your apartment walking like a zombie.”
Worried, Lynn went quickly up the stairs with her heart aching for Sharon. Lynn’s breath was short and fast in her anxiety. “Sharon, where are you?” Lynn walked into her living room area to see Sharon sitting on the sleep sofa looking as if she might pass out.
Her arms were wrapped around her stomach and she was rocking back and forth staring into space.
“Sweetie, when did you become so wimpy? I’ve never known you to be so sensitive about a small wound, especially when you found it wasn’t a snake after all.”
“It wasn’t that,” Sharon sighed deeply and got up to pace while wringing her hands. “Lynn, do you remember me telling you about the murder at the motel and the man who accidentally knocked me down?”
“Sure, and you said you wished you could have had the opportunity to get acquainted with him.” Lynn waited patiently for Sharon to continue.
“Well, I’ve gotten to know him, and now I wish I never had.”
“What!? Who? Where?” Lynn squeaked anxiously.
“Let me finish. I didn’t tell you something else because I kind of forgot it in the excitement of learning there was a dead man in the room beside mine. The man who ran into me was polite and reached his hand to me to help me up. I noticed that he had an unusual gold ring looking like a coiled snake with ruby eyes. It was obvious that it was an expensive piece of jewelry.” Sharon looked as if she had lost a loved one in death.
Lynn was curious, but waited to hear Sharon explain her behavior.
“No. You never mentioned the ring. You just said he had a deep, sexy voice and was obviously a gentleman in spite of the circumstances. What do you mean you now know him?”
“I saw that ring today.”
“Good grief. Who had it? Where did you see it?”
“Remember when I went to David’s car to get the peroxide?” Lynn nodded but wisely said nothing. “I found that ring in David’s glove compartment.”
“Sharon, that doesn’t mean it’s the same ring. There might be others like it. Besides, David never has let on that he knew you or anything about your accident, even though he has heard the story of the motel murder.”
“I hope and pray that he’ll have a good story of his own, but the more I listen to his voice, he sounds like that man. When he ran toward his car to go with Keanu, I had a memory jog because he ran just like the man ran to that car that night.”
Lynn started to answer when a buzzer sounded. “Sheilah is signaling that one of us has a phone call on the business line.” She answered the phone in her apartment and turned, with a puzzled expression, to Sharon. “It’s Larry wanting to speak to you, Sharon.”
“Larry, I’m so glad you called. You must be a mind reader. I need to talk to you. I think I have some news you’d like to hear.”
Lynn hissed. “Careful, Sharon. You don’t know that David is the mystery man.”
“What? I’m sorry. Lynn was talking to me. Do you remember when we met at the motel and you wanted to question me about the murder?” She listened for a few seconds.
“Do you remember me telling you about the two men that ran after one accidentally knocked me down? He was wearing an odd ring made of a gold coiled snake with ruby eyes. Yes, I know I didn’t tell you about it before, because I forgot it in all the excitement. I found a ring just like that today in David’s glove compartment. That made me remember it. Too, David has a deep voice as that man did and is about the same height and size of that man.”
Lynn could hear his raised voice over the phone. She was standing by Sharon shaking her head. Sharon said, “Okay, I’ll do that. See you then.” She hung up and sat down quickly because her legs were trembling.
“Sharon,” Lynn was disapproving, “I have a bad feeling that you’ve done the wrong thing. You owe it to David to let him explain first before you mentioned it to anyone else. You know how kind and helpful he’s been. Besides, he loves you. It’s as clear as the nose on your face, and we’ve all recognized it.”
“Then why haven’t we seen that ring before now?”
“He doesn’t wear any rings. Neither does Jake. A lot of men who work in the open or with dangerous equipment will not wear rings.”
“Larry said for us to sit tight and say nothing to anyone else. He’s coming down here tomorrow morning and he’ll question David.
The men were concerned because Lynn went about with a serious face, not smiling at anyone and looking as if she was upset. They were also concerned because Sharon was staying inside and talking to no one. There was no explanation except that Sharon didn’t feel well. When David said he wanted to talk to her, Lynn advised him to let her rest and wait until the next day.
Neither young woman rested well that night. The next morning Lynn skipped breakfast feeling nauseous. She felt sorry for Sharon knowing the frightening things that had happened in her life. Lynn also felt sorry for David and felt that he didn’t deserve this kind of treatment. She wanted to talk to him herself, but she had promised Sharon that she wouldn’t.
Sharon stayed in Lynn’s apartment and wouldn’t even come down to the office for fear she’d have to face David and talk to him. David was upset and worried about her.
“Lynn, what’s wrong with Sharon? I need to see her and see for myself that she’s all right.” David said anxiously.
“She has a personal problem that she’s trying to solve, David. I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it soon.” Lynn’s heart was so heavy thinking of Sharon’s fright and the accusation against David.
“Lynn, maybe I could help. I’m worried about her.”
“I know David, but she has asked to be let alone. She didn’t even want me to stay with her.”
David looked crest-fallen. “I do hope she’ll talk to me soon. You know how much she means to me.”
“I know, David.” Lynn turned away quickly so that David would not see the tears that she couldn’t keep from her eyes. I’m ashamed that Sharon didn’t trust David and let him explain first before she told Larry. I don’t know why, but I don’t feel comfortable with Larry knowing.
With a heavy heart, David doctored two young male horses that had gotten into a fight. He helped groom and tack a few horses and gave a jumping lesson out in the field over natural obstacles. I can’t put it into words, but I feel as if a thick blanket has been dropped over my head making it hard to breathe.
Just as all work began to slow around eleven thirty, Larry pulled in - carefully this time. He didn’t speak to anyone; just jumped out of his car and walked rapidly toward the office.
“What is his highness doing here?” Jake asked while David stood beside him looking bewildered. David felt anger washing over him. Is Sharon in more trouble? I’ll tear anyone apart with my bare hands that causes her more grief.
Lynn felt guilty, but she had promised Sharon not to discuss her business even though she didn’t agree with her. She continued to feel that Sharon was making a mistake.
Keanu, Andrew and Gabe came to stand by David and Jake. The rest of the young people were not far behind. None of them liked Larry and did not approve of him.
After about half an hour, Larry and Sharon walked to the stable. It was obvious from Sharon’s red eyes that she had been crying. David started to walk to her giving a hard, angry look at Larry. Larry stalked to meet him and stood close in front of David.
“All right Baughman. I have some questions for you. First, let’s go to your car and you can show me a ring that you have in your glove compartment.” The two tall men were standing eye to eye; one blonde and one dark.
David’s jaw dropped and he looked at Sharon like a wounded animal, much as a kicked dog might. Sharon sobbed aloud. Jake became belligerent to Larry, and all the male volunteers gathered around looking angry. The girls looked worried and horrified.
“Who do you think you are coming in here demanding anything of David?” Jake barked. “Lynn, are you going to condone this?” Keanu clinched his fists and stepped closer to Larry.
“David deserves a chance to explain the ring and certainly deserves respectful attention. Larry Dauber, you may be an officer of the law and feel you’re within your rights, but you’re on my property and I’ve not seen a warrant. David is not only a valued employee, but he’s a trusted friend.” She glared at Sharon who hung her head, sobbed harder and turned her back to them. Lynn continued. “If David chooses to answer you, that’s his business, otherwise, get off my property and don’t return unless you have a warrant.”
The crowd cheered and moved threateningly toward Larry. Sharon gasped, “Lynn!”
“Not a word, Sharon. Not one word. I’m so disgusted with you right now that I don’t trust myself to speak. David, what do you want to do?”
“Sharon?” David spoke with deep hurt in his voice, looking imploringly at her.
“Sharon, what have you done?” Jake barked.
Matthew Ryder ran to them breathlessly. “I’ve called Martin, and he’s on his way.”
“Who’s Martin?” Larry sneered.