"How about some hot cocoa to warm up?" Marion suggested as everyone pulled their horse's tack.
"Mmm…," "Yes, please," and "That sounds delightful," echoed from Mallory, Soraya and Amy.
"Lisa?" Marion asked.
Lisa pulled a face, "I would love to, but I'm still a bit drenched from my adventure in the river."
"All the more reason for hot cocoa, right, Jack?" Mallory asked.
Jack grimaced, shaking his heat at Mallory's cheek.
"Mallory's right," Marion cut in. "Plus, I have some dry clothes you can change into."
Lisa started to politely object.
"They're not going to take no for an answer, Mrs. Stillman." Amy cut in and Soraya shook her head.
"Okay, then I guess I'm in." Lisa said, smiling, before adding, "But it feels wrong that you guys are making me cocoa. I feel like I should be providing the beverages."
"What do you mean?" Soraya asked, cocking her head to the side.
"In my dad's race barn, and at the barn I rode at growing up, if you fell off, you had to provide drinks for the rest of the riders."
Everyone laughed, and Lisa shrugged, "Usually beer, but it could be a case of soda, or wine…"
"I'm keeping that one in mind." Amy said laughing.
Marion agreed, "That is a great idea. I might adopt that policy."
"Now I really want some cocoa." Soraya said happily.
"Alright! Let's head in then," Marion said, since everyone's tack was away and the horses were settled in.
As they walked out of the barn, Marion slowed her steps. Mallory caught sight of what had caught Marion's attention and she rolled her eyes, nudging Amy. They all stopped, and came face to face with a grinning Val Stanton.
"Hi, Val, to what do we owe this pleasure?" Marion asked, tightly.
"Hi, Val," Jack said, tightly.
"Mrs. Stanton," Amy said, tightly.
Soraya pursed her lips, tightly.
And Mallory crossed her arms over her chest, tightly.
Lisa cast a glance at the rest of the group. It appeared that they felt much the same way she did about Val Stanton. She'd never seen a group of relaxed, happy people tense up so quickly. She too smiled, tightly.
"Well," Val started, "I told Jack the other day that I had some old rain sheets for him for that bunch of rescue horses you have, Marion. But Jack never came over to pick them up…" here she cast her eyes reproachfully at Jack, "So I figured I'd drop them by."
"I'm sorry about that, Val," Jack said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I've been pretty busy lately."
"I can see that." Val said, casting her eyes at the rest of the group, and taking in the sight of Lisa wearing Jack's coat with a nasty expression on her face.
"Dad's been helping me with Lisa's horse." Marion said happily.
"Jack, you've been working with a horse?" Val said, surprise etched on her face.
"Well," he shuffled his feet, "Marion and Lisa are doing most of the work, but I'm happy to help out."
"I didn't know you did that." Val sneered, "And Lisa, I almost didn't recognize you there. You look different from the last time I saw you."
"Really?" Lisa said, knowing that Val was trying to make a crack about her disheveled appearance, "you don't seem to have changed at all." Lisa smiled, and Mallory and Soraya had to hide their smiles behind their hands.
"So, you finally found someone to work with that psychotic mare of yours, then?" Val continued, crossing her arms over her chest.
"No," Lisa said, and Val looked self-satisfied, "she's actually doing great. And has been for years now." The smile slipped off of Val's face, Lisa continued, "Marion's working with a colt for me, and she's doing a heck of a job."
Marion smiled happily at Lisa. "Thank you for the sheets though, Val." Marion said, "I'm sure the rescue horses will appreciate them."
"We just brought them back from a trail ride. They're doing great." Amy said, adding, "They'll be ready to be adopted out soon." She didn't want Val Stanton to feel too good about bringing over rain sheets that the rescue horses could have actually used four months ago.
"Do you need us to help you unload the sheets from your car?" Marion asked, "We were just about to head inside…"
"No," Val said, shaking her head, adding, "not if Jack will help me."
Jack took a breath, he had known this was coming, "I'd be happy to help you, Val."
Marion, Amy, Soraya and Mallory headed inside, and Lisa started with them, but turned back and crossed over toward Jack.
She removed his coat, and held it out to him, "You'll probably be needing this. I wouldn't want you to catch cold." Lisa said, smiling up at him.
Jack smiled at her, taking the coat, "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," Lisa said, mischief playing in her blue eyes, "it's probably still a bit damper than it was when you started your day."
Jack laughed, siming down at her, "Well, thanks all the same." Their eyes stayed locked even as they fell silent.
Val cleared her throat.
Jack smiled down at Lisa, "I'll see you inside."
"Yeah, see you inside," Lisa said, her eyes lingering on Jack's as she turned to head into the house. "Bye, Val."
"Bye," Val called after her.
Lisa walked into the house and into the kitchen where Mallory, Amy and Soraya were getting out the fixings for hot chocolate.
"Lisa," Marion called, seeing her walk in, "Let's go get you some dry clothes."
And Marion and Lisa walked into Marion's room.
"Your house is lovely," Lisa said, as Marion pulled out a pair of drawstring plaid pajama pants, a white sweater and a fresh pair of socks.
"Oh, thanks." Marion said, "I didn't even realize you'd never been inside. I'll give you a tour later. It's a bit different in style than Fairfield."
"That's okay, it really suits you guys." Lisa said, "You can tell a family lives here. It feels happy."
Marion shrugged, "I don't know how happy it's felt these past few years."
Lisa smiled at her sadly, sitting down on the edge of her bed. "Wanna talk about it?"
Marion shrugged again, "Things have just been really hard since Tim's death. Or even before then, since my mom's death." Lisa looked at Marion sympathetically. Marion continued, "You wouldn't know it from dealing with my dad lately, but he can be a crab apple, and he really hated Tim…" Marion trailed off, before adding, "He's not always easy to live with."
Lisa paused, her lips twitching, she had a question she wanted to ask, but wasn't sure that she wanted to know the answer, she ventured forth anyway, "So, your dad and Val Stanton…?" she trailed off and left the rest unsaid.
Marion laughed, "No, Val Stanton wishes, but," she laughed again, "No, my dad is decidedly not interested."
Lisa looked down to examine the bedspread, trying to hide her smile from Marion.
"Here," Marion said, tossing her the clothes, "I'll show you where the bathroom is, and you can put these on!"
As Lisa walked into the bathroom, Marion smiled to herself. Lisa was definitely interested in her dad. The poor woman had it bad.
Meanwhile outside Val turned to look at Jack, her arms still crossed over her chest, "So, I guess Lisa Stillman's been spending a lot of time here lately."
Jack nodded his head, leading Val in the direction of her car, so they could get these sheets and get the job done, "Yeah," he paused, "she's been working with Marion with her horse."
"How nice for all of you," Val said, pursing her lips.
Jack opened the door to her car, and took out the sheets, "What're you getting at, Val?" He asked, as he hauled the sheets into his arms.
"Oh, just that having Lisa Stillman's horse here, must be pretty good for your bottom line…" Val said, shrugging her shoulders.
"I don't reckon you came over here to talk about my bottom line," Jack said, hip checking the door of her car shut.
Val fell into step with him as they crossed toward the barn. "No, I was wondering if Marion had given any thought to my job offer? It won't be on the table forever." Val said.
Jack turned and looked at her, "Well, that would be between you and Marion." Jack said, carrying the sheets into the tack room and depositing them on a trunk.
Val leaned against the doorframe, looking at him intently.
"Was there anything else you wanted?" Jack asked, his thumbs in his jean pockets.
Val looked him over slowly. Her face clearly indicating that there were several things she wanted from him, and she leaned toward him, attempting to be seductive, "You know I have a 25 year old bottle of Dalmore scotch back at my place. You'd be more than welcome, if you wanted to stop over later tonight for a drink."
Jack breathed in, steeling himself, Val Stanton had been periodically propositioning him like this ever since her own husband died. Jack had been friendly to her when her husband died, it was true, but that was because he knew the pain of unexpectedly losing a spouse. He had never assumed that Val would misread his intentions. And even though he had tried to be clear with her, and to let her down easy. It was clear that she didn't understand that he just wasn't interested. It was almost as if she just didn't think she had been clear enough in her pursuit of him, so she tried even harder. Jack shuddered internally. He didn't have the heart to be harsh enough to set her straight, so he just forged ahead, trying to spare her feelings and hoping that she got the picture sooner rather than later.
Val continued to look at Jack hopefully, waiting for his response. Jack smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, and he said, "Some other time, Val."
"Of course," she said, trying not to sound too disappointed.
Jack walked Val to her car. Val got into the driver's seat and Jack held the door for her. "About Lisa Stillman," Val said, and Jack gritted his jaw, "try not to get too attached. I have it on good authority that she doesn't have a great track record with sticking around." Val put her keys in the ignition, "I wouldn't want to see you put all your eggs in one basket."
Jack nodded grimly, and said, "I'll keep that in mind. Have a great night, Val." And shut the door. He turned and walked back into the house as he heard Val drive away.
Jack walked into the house and his breath caught in his throat. There at the table was Lisa, leaning against the table, and wearing a pair of Marion's pajama pants and a white sweater. Although Lisa's clothes were always immaculately tailored, Marion's clothes showed off a bit more of her figure. She really was an inordinately attractive woman. Jack took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen.
Everyone greeted him warmly as he entered the room. "Here's your cocoa, grandpa." Amy said, handing him a mug.
"Have a nice chat with Val Stanton?" Marion asked, grinning.
"Your sheets are in the tack room," Jack said, steadfastly avoiding answering her question.
"Cold?" Mallory asked, grinning at him.
Jack shook his head, confused.
"You're still wearing your jacket…" Mallory said, taking a sip of her cocoa.
"Oh," Jack said, shaking his head, "must've just been distracted."
Mallory looked at him as if she knew exactly what, or who, had distracted him. And Jack removed his jacket and hung it on the hook.
"So, mom," Amy said, addressing Marion, "Soraya was wondering if maybe I could show her Fancy. Do you think that would be okay?"
"You're interested in Fancy?" Marion asked Soraya.
"Well, my mom and I had been talking about bringing in another horse that could do both the English and Western disciplines, you know, since George is getting up there in age." Soraya said tentatively, adding, "If you think I might be a good match for her."
Marion beamed at Soraya, "I think you would be a great match for her. And she's definitely got the movement to be versatile and competitive."
"That's what I thought." Soraya said, smiling.
"If you want to, you guys can go look at her right now." Marion said. And Amy and Soraya grinned at each other. This was what they'd been hoping for. Amy rushed over to kiss her mother on the cheek, and they both bundled up and headed outside.
"Well, one rescue horse down." Jack said, smiling.
"Looks like it," Marion agreed.
"Any takers on the other ones?" Mallory asked.
"Not yet," Marion said, "but I haven't even advertised them yet."
"You know," Lisa started, "I might know someone who would be interested in Marley and possibly in Pete too."
"Really?" Marion asked.
"Yeah," Lisa said, "My head groom, Harry, he'd be a great fit for Marley, and he happens to be looking for a horse for himself. He just mentioned it to me the other day."
"From everything you've said about Harry, he sounds like a great horseman." Marion said.
"He really is," Lisa agreed. "And he and his wife have three little boys, and they all ride. So Pete might be a great fit for Marie or one of the boys."
Marion smiled, "I like that plan. Will you give him my number?"
"I absolutely will," Lisa said grinning.
"Now you just need to find a home for that little Arabian," Jack said.
And Marion rolled her eyes, "Yeah, poor Gizmo's going to be the hardest, since he needs an experienced rider."
"Um, clearly, Gizmo's coming to Fairfield." Lisa said.
"You can't be serious?" Jack asked.
And Mallory added, "He threw you into the river." Even Marion looked surprised by the idea.
"Granted," Lisa started, "our first ride was maybe not the stuff of fairy tales, but I'm sure I could rely on Marion to work on his issues with water if I adopted him."
"Ah, you've got yourself a deal, Lisa!" Marion said, holding out her hand and shaking Lisa's.
"Now that that's settled," Lisa said, turning to Mallory, "Do you need a ride home?"
Mallory nodded, excitedly.
"Do you mind if I return your clothes tomorrow?" Lisa asked Marion, "I promise I'll wash them."
"No problem." Marion said, pulling Lisa into a hug, "Thanks for coming today."
"Thank you for having me," Lisa said, before turning to Jack and adding, "Night, Jack."
And Lisa and Mallory headed out, but not before Mallory shot Jack an exasperated look that clearly said, 'you should have hugged her…you're blowing your chance.'