"You're richer than Wes!" Eric exclaimed still looking around the room. The two blondes turned to look at him when he finally spoke. Ryan looked at Taylor confused as she laughed.
"Well I'm not sure about that but I'm sure we're pretty close. Wes's dad has actually owned some of our horses in training before. I'm surprised Wes didn't recognize the place when he booked the cottage," Taylor said walking over to the picture he was looking at on the wall of said cottage she was talking about. "This land has been in my family for well over 100 years. That was the original house before they built this. Many generations have grown up and died in both these houses. But the cottage has the most activity between the two."
"So what exactly is this place?" he asked as a man in an apron walked in from the kitchen. He gasped as he saw the long blonde hair of Taylor before she turned around to face him and her face broke into a smile.
"Hello Reggie," she said smiling at the older man as he wrapped her into a hug.
"Oh Miss Taylor! It's so good to see you again! I thought I was seeing a ghost for a minute. What are you doin here? Has your father seen you yet? Who is this young man with you here?" Reggie rattled off question after question. Taylor just laughed before answering the old man.
" It's good to see you too Reg. It's kinda a long story. Yes Nick has seen me on his way to the Fritz place. This is Eric Myers a friend of mine from California," she answered every question he threw at her with ease. Reggie extended his hand to Eric as he spoke.
"Reggie Matthews. Loyal servant to the Earhardt's for 40 years," he said.
"You are not a servant Reggie. How many times do I have to tell you that. You are a dear friend," Ryan said sighing.
"That brings you food and drinks when you need it. Speaking of which would anyone like something to drink? You must be parched from your journey," Reggie said looking at all of them.
"We're good Reg. We stopped at Sonic. But I'd sure love some tea for dinner," Taylor said shaking her drink that was halfway empty.
"And you Mr. Myers? Would you like tea for dinner also?" Reggie asked looking at Eric directly. Eric was a little taken aback by all that he had learned in the past 30 minutes and being called Mr. Myers reminded him of being at Wes's house when they were younger. When he didn't answer after a minute Taylor turned to look at him and laughed at the spaced out look on his face.
"Yes please Reg. He's a lil slow sometimes. That's what happens when you live in Silver Hills," Taylor said laughing at the glare that was directed her way.
"Very good Miss Taylor. I shall see you all at dinner," Reggie said before walking away back into the kitchen.
"Wow. I didn't realize Reggie was still working," Taylor said turning to her brother who had found a seat on one of the couches.
"Yeah dad's told him multiple times he can retire and enjoy his golden years but he just keeps saying when dad retires then he'll retire. And we all know dad's not retiring until he dies," Ryan said shaking his head. "But anyways I have to get back to the barn got some new ones coming in today for training. Maybe while you're here you can hop on some?" he said standing up and walking to the front door before turning to look at her again.
"Yeah not likely. We don't plan on being here long Ryan. Besides I actually have a job to do while I'm here. And I haven't ridden in years," Taylor said shaking her head at her brother.
"It's just like riding a bike sis, comes back in no time," he said smiling at her before walking out. Once he had shut the door behind him Taylor turned around to see Eric looking at a painted picture above the fireplace. She stared at it a minute before walking over to his side.
"That was my Sophomore year of college. The last picture we have of my mother and the rest of us. She died exactly a year later. The other lady is my older sister Jamie. You'll meet her later tonight with her husband Michael," she said placing her hands on her hips.
"You look just like her," he said not turning away from the picture.
"Yeah we all got her blonde hair but Ryan and Jamie got dads look and her attitude and i got her look and his temper," she said lightly chuckling. That's when he turned to look at her. They stared in each other's eyes for a moment before Taylor broke the contact by walking away and picking up her bags. She motioned for Eric to grab his and follow her. "C'mon. You gotta call Wes and I need to go see Wonder," she said walking up the stairs.
He just stared after her as she reached the second floor landing. When she realized he wasn't right behind her she turned back around to see him staring at the picture again. "I could have sworn I saw her move," he said before going up the stairs after her.
"Yeah that happens a lot. You'll get used to it. It's a very old house Myers lots of family passed away in that room right there," she said pointing to the closed door of the master suite that occupied most of the second floor.
"Ghost aren't real you know that right Earhardt?" Eric said after glancing at the door and then following her up to the third floor.
"This place will make a believer out of you Myers. If not then I'll quite the Air Force and join the Guardians," she said as she walked to a closed door just to the right of the staircase.
"Deal Earhardt," Eric said smirking at her as she opened the door. She walked into the room housing a queen bed and a 30 in tv and a wardrobe and dresser. The big bay window with a seat looked out over the training track and outdoor arena of the farm. Eric set his bag on the bed as he walked over to the window and looked out at the horses on the track.
"Race horses? That's what your family does?" he asked turning back to look at her as she stood in the doorway.
"Race horses, show horses, raise beef cattle," Taylor said nonchalantly.
"And that seems to be lucrative," he said as he looked around the room again. "No closet?"
"The house was built before they started building closets into the house. None of the rooms have a closet just a wardrobe. This was my great grandmother's room when she was young."
"So where's your room?" he asked as he opened his suitcase and pulled out the future communication device and worked to set it up on the desk by the bed.
"Two doors down the hall. It's attached to the bathroom which is just next door," she said as Eric rang Wes on the futuristic computer.
"Hey Eric...woah! Where are you? Victorian England?" Wes asked laughing as he saw the decor behind Eric when he answered the call. That's when Taylor walked into view laughing.
"Nope just my house. You can tell whoever booked the cottage that they will be getting the money back by the end of the week. Since we aren't going to be using it I'll make sure the full refund is given," she said leaning against the desk next to Eric.
"Well it's nice to see you two haven't killed each other yet," Wes said looking at the two of them.
"Are you kidding?! I think I'll marry her! She makes more money in a week than I do in 3 months," Eric said slinging his arm around her shoulder. The elbow in his side pushed him back a couple feet away from her. Wes just laughed more at the glare they shared.
"Well of course! Those race horses aren't cheap!" Wes said. Eric stared at him in shock.
"You knew?!" Eric asked. Wes just laughed.
"Well of course I knew! I knew the moment we pulled her over who she was. Can't forget someone like that," he said. He stopped laughing and rubbing his arm as Jen came into view.
"Well dang I apparently never stood a chance," she said as Wes gave her the puppy dog eyes to say sorry.
"It's ok Jen. He's not my type anyways. First time he got on a horse he lasted all about 20 seconds," Taylor said laughing.
"Ok enough of this," Eric said coming back into view on the screen.
"He's right. You guys get settled. You have a long week ahead of you," Jen said as they started to end the conversation.
"You have no idea," Eric and Taylor said at the same time. They looked at each other as the other two started laughing as they ended the connection.
Taylor and Eric were still staring at each other when they heard feet running up the stairs. They both turned around and going to grab their weapons on their hips but when both realized they weren't there they both drop into a fighting stance. Soon after they heard the feet hit the third landing they saw a blonde whirl of hair coming at them. Before either could react Taylor was bundled up in the arms of what Eric could only assume was her older sister Jamie. Her footsteps were slowly followed by a couple more pairs of feet that the owners of appeared in the doorway. They turned out to be a man and a woman who looked like they were around Jamie and Ryan's age respectively. Eric was lost as to who they were until Taylor addressed them after the arms around her let her breath again.
"Michael. Tara." she said nodding at them as they walked forward and Tara wrapped her in another hug. Eric was almost positive if she had to show any more affection today she would combust.
"And you must be her boyfriend. Ryan was right, her taste really has changed. Though she does like them strong," Jamie said extending her hand to Eric. "Jamie Gentry formerly Earhardt. I'm the cool older sister."
"Eric Myers. Nice to meet you ma'am. And sorry but we are not a couple, just colleagues." he said as he shook her hand and then Michael's and Tara's.
"That's not the way Ryan see's it. He says you two are perfect for each other," Tara said laughing.
"Yeah well that's been said about a lot of people. And it's only true for you and my dear sister here," Taylor said as she grabbed her bag and started walking out the door to go to her room. "I'm putting my stuff in my room and going to see Wonder, if you need me."
"She keeps talking about going to see Wonder. Who is that?" Eric asked the others in the room as he heard her say that name for the second time in 30 minutes.
"Come on I'll give you a tour of the place. I'll leave it up to her to show you Wonder," Jamie said hooking her arms through his and dragging him out the door and down the stairs.
She then walked out the door and down to the door at the end of the hallway that led into her childhood bedroom. As she opened the door the bed with the curtains drawn back around it came into view. She set her bag on the ground between the two wardrobes she had in her room and walked over to the window that looked out over the turnout paddocks. She could see the broodmares and their fillies enjoying the warm spring day and the show horses getting some time off of show training. She scanned the pastures looking for a certain chestnut mare with a small star on top of her head. When she saw her in the far left pasture she took the hidden staircase down to the back door. As she started to make her way to the back paddock she let out a high-low whistle. The chestnut thoroughbred mare lifted her head and looked at Taylor then let out a high pitched whinny and ran from the back of the field to the gate where she knew Taylor would be coming in at. When the mare took off running so did Taylor. But what she didn't know was that she had six pairs of eyes on her. Eric, Jamie, Michael, Tara, and Ryan were up in the barn watching her but what no one knew was the silver Jeep that pulled in the driveway that was watching her with confusion and shock and anger when the driver saw the strange man in the barn with the others and put two and two together.