Chapter 30

“THIS IS MOON Glow,” Didi said. She leaned forward to give the big brown horse an affectionate stroke on its neck, then she dismounted gracefully. “Hold his reins while I go get you a horse.”

I took the long leather straps attached to the bridle and held them the way she had.

“Are you sure you want to go to this trouble, Didi? I don’t want to take up your time if you’re practicing for a show.”

“It’s okay. I can be here as long as I want.” She hurried toward a hitching rail attached to the south wall, a dozen feet outside the riding ring, where a saddled horse with a reddish coat was tethered.

Returning with the red horse, Didi said, “This is Cinnamon. She’s a good one to get started on—kids ride her.” She took back Moon Glow’s reins and placed Cinnamon’s in my right hand. “Now to get on, you have to face the same way as the horse.”

I laughed. “That’s the one part I’m sure of.”

Didi said solemnly, “You think that’s funny, but you’d be surprised at some of the things I’ve seen people try to do on their first lessons.” She regarded my desert boots with a critical frown. “That’s not the right footwear. I guess it’ll be all right this time, but get some good riding boots.”

“Will you tell me where to buy them?”

For the first time since we met this morning, Didi smiled. “I know the best places for all the stuff you’ll need, and what bootmaker to go to. It’s much better to have boots molded to your foot. Those store-bought ones can mess you up.”

Standing as close as I was to Didi, I saw that the two inches of hair visible below her helmet were ragged at the ends, strong indication that she had done the cutting herself. The dark shade that had been shining with natural highlights only a few weeks ago was now dull and limp, and the healthy pink tint was gone from her lovely face. She’d lost some weight, too; her custom-tailored riding jacket was a little too big on her. Thinking of the grief she suffered, my heart went out to her.

Didi regarded me with the serious concentration of a brand-new teacher with her first pupil. “Put your left foot in the stirrup, and swing your right leg over the horse and get your foot into the other stirrup,” she said.

I did as instructed—a little awkwardly, but I got up on my first try. Once in the saddle, old muscle memories awakened and I automatically gripped the horse with my knees.

Didi vaulted easily into Moon Glow’s saddle, and now we were next to each other on our respective mounts.

“Hold the reins the way I am,” she said, demonstrating.

I did.

“Now copy what I do.” Didi inclined her head slightly toward Moon Glow’s neck and made a clicking noise with her mouth. Moon Glow started to move forward. I followed Didi’s lead and we walked our horses side by side around the ring. Didi was a patient teacher; before I realized it, I was feeling comfortable on horseback.

At first, from just inside the second ring, Mrs. Wood-bury watched us with narrowed eyes and an apprehensive frown. Then, apparently satisfied that Didi was being careful, her face relaxed and she turned away to check on other students.

“This is fun,” I told Didi, meaning it. “I don’t think I’d have thought of trying to ride if I didn’t know you.”

She looked pleased. “You mean I inspired you?”

“Absolutely.”

We had almost completed our first circuit of the ring when I said gently, “I’m so very sorry about your mother.”

Tears started to form in her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay, subject closed,” I said quickly. “I had an idea. Remember how impressed I was that night we first met when you told me you’d spotted Cody’s previous girlfriend as a phony? So, I wonder if you’d like to come to the studio when you have time. I’ll show you some tapes of future episodes, and you can tell me what you think. You’ll be my special test-marketer.”

Didi turned toward me enough so that I had a three-quarters view of her face..

She asked cautiously, “Will he be there?”

“‘He’? You mean Jay Garwood? If you like, I can arrange to have you come up when he’s there—”

“No!” Her voice was so sharp it startled both of our horses.

I’d touched a nerve in Didi, and pressed the point. “Jay and your mother were seeing each other, so I thought you must like him.”

“I hate him!” Didi pulled back on Moon Glow’s reins so hard the horse tossed his head, shorted, and lifted his front hooves off the ground for a moment. From across the stable floor, Mrs. Woodburn yelled an admonishing, “Hey! Don’t do that!”

I saw Didi’s eyes fill to overflowing with tears—and I saw something else in those eyes: fear.

“I hate him!” she cried, “And I hate you!” Then she jumped off Moon Glow and raced toward the big barn doors and out onto the street. The horse started to follow Didi, but I leaned over and grabbed the reins to stop it.

Mrs. Woodburn hurried and over took Moon Glow’s reins as I dismounted.

“What happened?” she asked sharply.

Digging into my pocket for cash, I asked, “How much is it for her time and for mine?”

She shook her head in confusion. “I bill Didi’s father. And you didn’t have a lesson . . .”

I handed her a twenty and a five. “Will this do?”

“Sure. But what—”

I pushed the money into her hand and hurried out of the stable before she could finish the question.

Out on the street, I looked for the silver Lincoln, but it was gone.