HEARTS DIVIDED: Learning to Ride Part I

by tarskeewee08

John walked down the steps onto the cemented drive heading for the stables. It was still fairly early in the day and as he turned he saw the driver pulling up with who he suspected was Carlotta inside. Shaking his head he could see the stables in the distance and headed toward them. Evangeline was just as stubborn as he was. But at least she gave into part of his request and compromised.

Sticking his hands in his pockets he surveyed her land that stretched for miles. The grass green and evenly mowed glistening with morning dew. Many trees outlines the outsider perimeter of he land and a few were spaced out sparing bending slightly with the breeze.

Arriving at the log gate that surrounded the left side of the stables he pulled on the double latch to release it. The wooden gate creaked loudly as he tugged on it swinging it open for him to step through. He looked further up and saw a small medium and large gate positioned several feet apart for jumping. The large one of appeared to be four feet tall.

"How in the hell am I going to do this?" he said standing staring at them in disbelief.
"Do what?"
Turning he saw Antonio with rubber boots on and work gloves. He wore jeans, red and brown plaid shirt and a navy baseball cap.
"I have to jump one of those!" John said pointing at the gates in the field.

Antonio frowned. "You what?"
John shook his head looking back at the gates. "I'm in trouble aren't I?"

He looked at John standing in jeans and white tennis shoes already stained by the muddy grass he had to trek through to get here. "I thought you said you don't ride?"

"I don't"
"So you go from not riding a horse to jumping a gate? Mind if I ask why?" Antonio said smirking.
"Me and the lady have a wager and I want to win."
"A wager? What kind of wager?"
John sucked his teeth. "It's personal. But I need your help."

Antonio shook his head. "Nope…my alliances are with Evangeline!"
John threw his hands up in the air in frustration. "Trust me my winning this wager is in the best interest of Evangeline."
Antonio laughed again. "I'll bet"
"Can you take me to meet Dora?"

"Dora!" Antonio exclaimed in shock "She wants you to ride Dora?"
John sees the surprised amusement on his face and doesn't like it. "What's wrong with Dora?" he asked frowning.

Now Antonio is doubling over with laughter. He grabs hold to the gate to keep from falling to the ground and laughs hysterically. John folds his arms and glares at him. He doesn't like being the butt of the joke. Antonio sees that John is irritated and works hard to collect himself. Finally reducing his laughter to sporadic giggles he straightens up.

"Man, yes I will help you….if I don't you'll break your neck!"
"Why is that?" John snapped.

Antonio shook his head. "Dora doesn't let anyone ride her but Vangie. Not even Kevin could mount her. How soon do you have to be ready for this wager?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

Antonio rolls his eyes. "Why in the hell did you agree to that kind of timeline? Even if it wasn't Dora you wouldn't pull that off"

"Look, just take me to the damn horse!"

Antonio smiles seeing that he's pushed it with him. "Fine, follow me."

John walks across the squishy grass to the stables and is assaulted by the pungent smells of manure and hay. He looks at the horses that seem to all turn and stare at the city slicker that thinks he can ride a champion mare and jump a gate in a day. Why did he agree to this? How the hell would he pull this off?

Antonio points out the different horses to him. "We have a Shire, Dutch Warmbloods and Arabians."

John looks at them and frowned not knowing what any of that meant. He saw they were well groomed and beautiful. One to his left had a white streak down the bridge of its nose with a caramel colored coat. It was beautiful. "What is that one?" he asked

Antonio stopped and looked to where he was pointing. "That's Charlotte and she was Kevin's she's a prize sport horse. A Dutch WarmBlood."

"Oh?" John said staring at the horse.

Antonio moved down the stable and he turned following him looking back at the horse that looked extremely starved for attention. He loved animals even though he rarely saw any. Turning he saw at the end of the stable in the biggest stall was a coal black mare sporting a silky shiny black mane. The coat on this horse shined reminding him of soft velvet. He instantly knew who she was.

"Wow she's beautiful!"
Antonio stood next to him smiling. "You should see Evangeline ride her, now that's a sight."
"Is it?" Evangeline said standing behind them with her hands on her hips.

Llanfair

Jessica went to the door telling the butler she will get it. Opening the door she frowned at Attorney Garrett. "It's about time!" she said clearly aggravated.

The attorney walked in and blushed "I am sorry Ms Buchanan but its Sunday and I had to take my mother to church."

"I'm sorry Garrett, we're all upset since Van and KJ left. This place feels like a crypt without them here. Follow me."

The attorney nodded and walked down the hall with Jessica. She turned and went into Evangeline's office near the parlor and immediately walked behind the desk sitting down.
She looked at him and he saw the anger sparkling in her eyes. "I want to know everything about him! I know her and she did her homework. What do you have?"

"I can't do that Ms. Jessica….you know that."
"Tell me Garrett. You work for my family. This is a family matter!"
"Evangeline was specific she knew you would try this. She called me yesterday after the party, I was told not to disclose the information she collected on McBain."

Jessica glared at him. She wasn't surprised Evangeline threw up this roadblock. But she was determined nonetheless to circumvent it.

"If she went through that much trouble there has to be something you guys have. Why on earth would she suppress it? I mean she is marrying the guy tomorrow."

"And you have to let her. These things were perpetrated by his wife not him. He's a victim too. To expose this would only paint Evangeline as vindictive. The courts wouldn't find him unfit based on this. Hell they may have more sympathy for him."

"So it was something his wife did?"
"That's all I can reveal and the only reason I am revealing that to you is to explain the sensitivity of this matter. Ms. Buchanan is no fool. She knows how to handle Mr. McBain."

"My sister is too trusting. I have to protect her. The first place to start is with the Cramer's. But how on earth do I get them to talk to me?"

"Good luck!" Attorney Garrett said laughing.

Jessica eyes grew big. "That doctor. Spencer Truman wasn't he David Spencer's brother?"
Garrett nodded "He is."
"Mom said David and Dorian split."
"Really?" Garrett said frowning.

Jessica smiled. "Thanks Garrett, you've been a big help!"

Back at Lakewood

John looked at her and smiled. He desperately wanted to see her on the horse. "I hear you picked the one horse for me that no one can ride?" he said amused at her craftiness.

Evangeline winked. "Oh….Dora's a sweetie" she said walking through them to her horse. The horse snorted excitedly greeting her and Evangeline kissed his nose rubbing the side of her face lovingly. John watched her glow around the animal and smiled at seeing a softer side of her.

She turned and looked at John. "Come here John let me introduce you!"

John looked at Antonio who shrugged. The horse eye black and sparkling like a diamond fixed on him and John knew that he should tread carefully.

Evangeline smiled "Now don't hesitate and don't be afraid, horses are sensitive creatures, they can smell fear. Give me your hand."

He stuck his hand out and she pulled him over "Touch her here." She said placing it on the top part of Dora's silky forehead. Dora snorted and bucked her head at the touch.

Evangeline frowned "Dora! Be nice…this is KJ's daddy" she said sternly.

The horse settled and allowed John's hand. John slowly rubbed downward and Evangeline gently pulled her hand away. She watched John stroke Dora and beamed at him. "I'm really impressed. Antonio is the only other man that can touch her."

"And that's only if she's in the mood" Antonio said laughing.

John relaxed and began to be hopeful that he would pull this off. Looking back at Evangeline he smiled "Will you ride her for me?"

Evangeline studied his face. "I haven't ridden her since Kevin died." She said softly.
John looked back at Dora who appeared to long for her touch just as he did "Well she shouldn't be made to suffer any longer."

Antonio went over and put his arm around Evangeline "Come on Vangie, I'll get her ready for you. Plus if you want him to ride her you will have to break her in. You know how temperamental she is."

Evangeline eyes glistened. "Okay" she said weakly,

John stepped away and walked over. "Cool. Then I get my lessons."
Antonio nodded. "Yeah but on Charlotte first not Dora"
"Charlotte? That's Kevin's horse!" Evangeline snapped.

"So Charlotte belongs to Kevin that means she can't be ridden again? Does that make any sense?" Antonio asked looking her in the eye. "It's time we move forward Vangie, it took you two years to come back to a place you love so much. Now that you're here I think you need to breathe some life back into this place."

Evangeline looked at John who was watching her. She knew that Antonio was right. But dammit everything was moving so fast. She was perfectly comfortable in living in her grief but in a matter of days everything had turned upside down. "Whatever!" she said walking away.

John came up and put his hand on Antonio's shoulder. "Thanks man"

Antonio looked at him. "Didn't do it for you. She's a real special lady and in a lot of pain. I want her happy again. She loves that mare and the way she shared her was her way of connecting with you. So I see that you make her smile and I will encourage that."

John nodded. He looked over at Evangeline getting feed and going to Charlotte feeding her out of her hand. "Can you answer a question for me?"

Antonio was walking to pull down a saddle. He looked back and nodded "Sure what is it?"

"Does she have family? I mean real family not the Buchanan's"
Antonio frowned. "The Buchanan's are real family"
John shook his head. "I found this album and I'm afraid to broach the subject with her."

Antonio froze then looked over to him slowly. "Leave it alone John. I can't believe she had it lying around where you could find it. Regardless just leave it alone."

John saw her walking back over. She saw the tension between them. "Everything cool?"
Antonio lifted the saddle and went to Dora's stall. "Sure is" he said going in and working to get the horse ready.

John walked over to her. "So I've been wondering how it would be to see you ride….the horse that is."

Evangeline laughed at his corny joke "Come with me."

Following her out they went over to the edge of the fence where he saw the gates. Evangeline pointed at the smaller one. "KJ could jump that gate….so this should be pretty easy for you."

John sucked his teeth "You think I'll loose this bet! You evidently haven't picked up on how bad I want you." he said moving into her space.

Evangeline blushed and tried to step back but the fence behind her prevented it "Well…I…"

"Don't worry. I'll be gentle." he said in a low smoky voice. Evangeline looked into his face and her heartbeat quickened. She saw his need for her and it awakened something in her that her dead husband hadn't touched and that frightened her. "Excuse me" she said pushing pass him.

John got a whiff of her scent as she grazed pass him making him smile. He watched her walk over to the opening of the fence and greeted Antonio and Dora. Placing her foot in the stirrup and holding onto the handle of the sandal she threw her leg over the back of the horse gracefully. Leaning over she patted the smooth black neck on the animal and clicked her heels. Dora started in a slow gait around the perimeter of the fence. He saw her bouncing on the horse her long mane as black and silky as Dora's blowing in the wind.

It was an amazing sight. She veered him to the right and headed toward the large gate he saw. Evangeline squeezed her thighs and Dora responded picking up speed. Leaning with her hips raised she angled and braced herself as Dora leaped through the air gracefully glided over the gate. Racing around again she went to the smaller gates and did them as well. John was completely mesmerized. Going to the far end of the fence she steered the horse out of the gate and took off across her land and John watched her ride off into the distance her hair blowing in the wind.

Antonio came over "You ready?"

Still thunderstruck by the exotic image of her riding that black beauty he was speechless. Antonio smiled. "Kevin used to come out here and watch her all the time. Most erotic thing to witness her and that horse"

John nodded swallowing hard he found his voice but his heart still beat rapidly in his chest. "What were they like together?"

Antonio leaned on the gate and saw the fading image of Evangeline racing further away from them. "She loved him a lot." He said sadly.

John looked at him and frowned "And Kevin? Did he love her?"

"He loved having her. Kevin Buchanan was a selfish spoiled man and Evangeline is blinded to his imperfections."

John saw the anger on Antonio's face. "You didn't like him?"
Antonio's face darkened. "I wanted to marry his sister."
"Jessica?"
"Yeah, but Kevin made sure that didn't happen."
"How..?"

Antonio let go of his hold on the fence. "You ready for that lesson?"
John nodded "Let's go." Walking behind Antonio he thought of secrets and how the Buchanan's had their fair share of them. He was so glad that he and Kelly didn't have a marriage based on lies and deception.