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“I’d be happy to watch her.” Every extra dime helped, but Jennifer would have done it for free.
“Great.” He deposited Isabella in her run and took the X-ray case from Jennifer. “I’m sorry you have to make a second trip to the post. This won’t make you miss your show, will it?”
“No, I can still get there.” She smiled but it took more effort than usual.
Getting back into her truck, she made a tight turn and sped out of the parking lot back toward the fort. If she picked up the film and got back in thirty minutes, she could still make her events, but it wouldn’t leave her much time to warm up McCloud. The show jumping would be first with the more intricate dressage class scheduled for the afternoon. If she missed the first event she could still enter the later one, but only the horse and rider with the best overall score in both classes would win the top prize money being offered.
It was money she sorely needed. Both her younger brothers had outgrown last year’s school clothes and she had noticed Lizzie’s backpack was falling apart. Every extra bit of cash came in handy to help her mother support a family of four children and two horses.
Ten minutes later, Jennifer stopped at the gates of the fort to hand over her identification. As she waited for permission to enter, she mentally braced herself to face Avery again. Having to admit he had rattled her enough to make her forget her job was a sobering thought.
After being waved through the checkpoint, she quickly drove to the stables and parked beside them. She got out of her truck just as a black limousine drove up and stopped in front of the CGMCG office building. A chauffeur in a dark blue uniform stepped out and moved to open the door for his passenger. A white-haired man in a beautifully tailored gray pinstriped suit emerged.
Distinguished was the first word that popped into Jennifer’s mind when she saw him. Money was the second word.
She tilted her head as she studied him. There was something familiar about him, but he entered the office building before she could place where she might have seen him before.
It didn’t matter. What mattered was getting her job done and getting to her contest on time. She got out of her vehicle and walked boldly into the stable all the while praying she wouldn’t run into Avery again.
Reaching Dakota’s stall without meeting anyone, she opened the door and stepped inside, speaking softly to the big bay who had his nose buried in his feed bucket. The X-ray film cassette was exactly where she had left it leaning against the wall. Snatching it up, she turned and started toward the door when she heard someone call Avery’s name.
“Coming,” he shouted back. He was just outside.
Without thinking, Jennifer dropped into a crouch behind the half door. He must have been in the tack room on the other side of the walkway. She heard the creak of the door and his boots on the stone floor, but they didn’t pass by. They stopped right outside Dakota’s stall.
Jennifer closed her eyes and let her chin drop onto her chest. Realizing just what a ridiculous position she had placed herself in, she tried to think of a way to exit with her dignity intact but couldn’t come up with anything.
“What are you doing here?” Avery demanded with cool disdain.
Chapter Three
J ennifer looked up expecting to see Avery glaring at her over the stall door, but the space above her was empty. He wasn’t talking to her.
“Can’t I pay my only grandson a visit?”
It was Avery’s grandfather. The man Jennifer had tried and failed to contact. His dragon of a secretary had refused to put Jennifer’s call through the day she’d attempted to call.
“I don’t have anything to say to you. Did she put you up to this?” Avery’s cold tone made Jennifer cringe.
Great! He’s going to blame me, anyway.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about. No one put me up to this. Coming here was my own idea. Can’t we at least try to let bygones be bygones?”
“Why should I?”
“I thought perhaps you would have seen the error of your ways by now.”
“I knew you didn’t come to apologize.”
“I have nothing to apologize for. I was protecting you. You would see that if you opened your eyes.”
Jennifer pressed a hand to her mouth. Her foolish pride had placed her in the awkward position of eavesdropping on a family quarrel. There was no other way out of the stall. She braced herself to stand up and let them know she was there when Avery’s next words stopped her.
“I don’t have to stay and listen to this.”
Jennifer heard his footsteps moving away and she breathed a sigh of relief. She just might get out of this with her dignity intact.
“She didn’t love you. All she cared about was your money,” Avery’s grandfather called out loudly.
“No, all you ever cared about was money,” Avery shot back.
“It never bothered you to spend the money I earn,” the older man answered sharply. “You never had to work for anything…and that was my fault as much as anyone’s.”
“What you really mean is that I’ll never amount to anything. I’ve heard this speech before.”
“I have been guilty of saying that in the past, that’s true, but I simply wanted you to stop wasting your life.”
“It’s my life. Which is something you never understood.”
Dakota had finished his meal and walked over to Jennifer. He nickered softly and nuzzled at her pocket. She pushed his head away. He gave a loud snort and she tensed. He snorted again and whinnied.
“Shh,” she whispered with her fingertips pressed to her lips, hoping to quiet him and praying the men wouldn’t notice anything unusual.
“Thanks for the visit, Grandfather. I’m sure you can find your own way out.” Avery’s voice drifted to her from the front of the barn and she knew he had walked away.
“Wait!” the older man called out. “I didn’t mean for this to become one of our shouting matches. Please come back.”
There was no answer. Jennifer heard his heavy sigh, then his unsteady footsteps faded, too.
A wave of sympathy engulfed her. How terribly sad for both men. Avery had always avoided talking about his family except to tell her that his parents were dead. He had never mentioned his grandfather. Now she knew why.
Rising, she opened the stall door and stepped out. A few feet away, the elderly man from the limousine sat on a bale of straw. His eyes opened wide at the sight of her.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. “I’m so sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t mean to, but I couldn’t help…overhearing.”
He closed his eyes and waved his hand. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve lost him. He’s all I have and he hates me.”
The resignation and pain in his voice touched her deeply.
“You mustn’t think that. There is always a chance for reconciliation.”
He shook his head. “You don’t know all that stands between us.”
She took a step closer. “You’re right. I don’t, but I do know that faith is a powerful tool. Faith and hard work can overcome the most insurmountable problems.”
“Wise advice from someone so young, but my grandson isn’t the forgiving kind.”
The old man tried to rise to his feet, but sat down abruptly with his hand pressed to his chest. Beads of sweat popped out on his forehead and his face grew bright red. She dropped to her knees in front of him. “Are you okay?”
Nodding, he fumbled at the breast pocket of his jacket. He pulled out a small, dark glass bottle but couldn’t hold on to it. It tumbled from his trembling hand. Jennifer caught it before it hit the stone floor.
A quick glance at the prescription label confirmed her suspicions. It was heart medication.
She opened the cap and shook one tiny white tablet onto her palm. Pinching it between her thumb and forefinger, she held it out to him. “Put this under your tongue.”
He nodded, took the pill from her and put it in his mouth. She closed her hand around his wrist to check his pulse. It was fast, but not irregular. “I’m going to call 9-1-1.”
He managed a tight smile. “No. The medicine will help. I don’t need an ambulance.”
“Shall I get Avery?”
Shaking his head, he said, “I don’t want him to see me like this.”
“Sir, you aren’t well. You grandson should know that.”
“I’m fine now.”
Although she was relieved to see his color returning to normal and his voice growing stronger, his statement didn’t fool her. “Not to be disrespectful, sir, but you are not fine. Those pills are for angina. If you are having heart pain, you need to see a doctor, ASAP.”
“I thought perhaps I was talking to one.”
“Me? I’m a veterinary student. Give me a lame horse and I can help, but I don’t treat people.”
“That is a pity.” He patted her hand. “You have an excellent bedside manner and you’re much prettier than the crusty old fellow who treats me.”
She relaxed a fraction and smiled at his teasing. “Flattery—while always deeply appreciated—will get you nowhere.”
“I really am feeling better. As you must have heard, I’m Avery’s grandfather. My name is Edmond Barnes. I don’t believe I caught your name, young lady.”
“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Barnes. I’m Jennifer Grant and I should still call an ambulance.”
He rose to his feet. “I’ll simply refuse treatment.”
Rising, she planted her hands on her hips. “When I first saw you I thought I noticed something familiar. Now I see the resemblance. You and Avery share the same strong chin, the same eyes and the same hole in your head where your common sense belongs.”
He chuckled. “You must have more than a passing acquaintance with my grandson.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. “We’ve met,” she admitted.
Edmond studied her intently. “What do you think of him?”
His question caught her off guard. Should she tell the truth, or amend it to make a sick old man feel better? She didn’t want to do either. “Perhaps you should ask his commanding officer that question.”
“I’m asking you.”
“Avery and I don’t exactly see eye-to-eye on things,” she admitted slowly. “Sometimes, I think he is his own worst enemy.”
“That’s very astute.” Edmond began walking toward the stable door. Jennifer took his elbow to steady him. When they reached his car, his driver got out and opened the door for him.
Edmond paused, but glanced back at her and said, “When I was a young man, I started a small real estate firm. Over my lifetime I turned it into a multi-million dollar corporation. I learned to read people well and quickly because I had to, but I’ve never been able to tell what Avery is thinking.”
Jennifer hesitated, then found herself saying, “You shouldn’t give up on him.”
Where had that come from? She was the last person who should be sticking up for Avery.
“I’ll admit things didn’t go well today, but thanks to my crusty doctor and a triple bypass surgery, I’ve been given the chance to make things right. I’m not giving up on my grandson. I’ll find a way to reach him.”
She smiled. “Good.”
“Thank you again for your kindness, Miss Grant.”
After he drove away, Jennifer glanced at her watch. If she left right now she might just make the first round of jumping at the Deerfield Open. Even though she knew she should leave, she found herself staring toward the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard office.
Edmond Barnes was a sick man who wanted to reconcile with his grandson. Could she help? Had God placed her here today for that reason? If it were only Avery’s feelings to consider she might drive off without a backward glance. She bit her lip in indecision.
As if summoned by her thoughts of him, the office door opened and Avery stepped out into the sunshine. “I saw your truck was here again. Where were you? Hiding in the hay loft?”
“I forgot an X-ray film in Dakota’s stall. Avery, I honestly had nothing to do with his coming here.”
“A likely story. Just admit you can’t stay away from me, Jenny.”
She struggled with her rising indignation. Why did he have to turn everything into a joke? “Trust you to kill any kindness I might be feeling.”
“Kindness? Don’t tell me that manipulative old man made you feel sorry for me? Does he want you to help us patch things up?”
“Would that be such a bad thing?”
A shadow flickered in his eyes and she understood what Edmond had meant about not being able to read him.
“Careful, Jenny. Your nose is cute but it doesn’t belong in my business.” The edge in his voice should have been enough to send her on her way, but for some reason it wasn’t.
“Our families are an important part of who we are. You shouldn’t dismiss him out of hand. Forgiveness heals the forgiver as well as the forgiven.”
“Shame on you for eavesdropping.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She folded her arms across her chest. “I wasn’t eavesdropping. I accidentally overheard part of your conversation,” she conceded.
Raising one eyebrow, he asked, “How is that not eavesdropping?”
She glanced down at the toe of her work boot. “Okay, I’m sorry I didn’t let you know I was in Dakota’s stall.”
“Skip it, Jennifer. It doesn’t matter.” There was a touch of defeat in his tone.
She looked up and met his gaze. “I honestly didn’t mean to listen in on a private family matter. I am sorry.”
A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. “I can’t believe I lived to see the day Miss Jenny Grant acknowledged a fault. I’m going to have to mark this on my calendar.”
Raising her chin a notch higher, she countered, “Unlike some people I know, I can admit when I’m wrong.”
