"Cayden!" Flint cried out to his son at the other side of the barn, the musty odor of horse manure dominating the space, making him scrunch his nose from the smell. Usually, it didn't bother him, but from the high temperature that had lasted for two weeks straight, even Jaye's chocolate pudding smelled odd. But today, the heat wave had broken, allowing some form of comfort, for now at least. "I need the hose! Wilma is over heating!"
He gently patted the mare, his hand stroking the horses' neck. "Easy girl, calm down." He listened to the horse's panting, and watched the white foam drool out of its mouth. The mare's stomach heavily moved, in and out, as if she had raced for several hours straight. But he knew she didn't. The horse was in her stall all morning. He had moved her there himself! There was no way she could have left the stall. It had been locked! But finding her in this condition rose a panic in his veins.
"Cayden!" Flint cried out once again, glancing around. Quickly, he took off his short blue shirt, and dipped it in the mare's water bucket, then started wiping the horse down, trying to cool her off. He loved this animal, she was one of his favorites, and a gift from his Aunt Brody.
Cayden came in with the hose turned on. "How can she be over heating?"
"I don't know," Flint answered him, taking the hose from his fifteen year old son. He glanced at the boy, discovering the identical features in his face, just like his own, though his eyes were a deep shade of green, just like his mother's. "She was fine last night when I put her in her stall. Did you take her out?"
"No Dad. I would have told you if I was going to," Cayden said and started to help his father cool down the beautiful mare.
Flint patted his son on the shoulder. "I know you would had told me. I'm just making sure." He then turned his attention to the chestnut Arabian, who continued to pant while the cold fresh water dripped all over her body. "Easy Wilma, easy my girl,"
Cayden felt the mare's legs. "Dad, her muscles are really tight."
"WHAT?!?!!" Flint exclaimed, bending down immediately to examine the muscles. "Damn it! She's been running, but how?" He stood up, throwing his baseball hat to the ground with a grunt of irritation. "I locked the pen myself!"
"Mom left for a few hours this morning. Maybe she saw something," Cayden suggested.
"I highly doubt it, but it might be worth a shot to ask her too," Flint replied, continuing to cool down the mare.
A galloping sound of horse shoes echoed on the ground and a white blur came bursting though the door— a white wingless horse with a rider on its back, which made Wilma edgy and rear up, almost hitting both the warrant officer and his son.
"Damn it, Nancy!" Flint hollered at his sister, trying to steady the frightened mare. "Easy, girl, be good, it was only Nutsy Nancy and her horse." He stroked the mare's head gently with his hand.
"Morning to you too, grumpy!" Nancy scoffed at him, dismounting her horse. She then noticed the animal's posture. "You had her running this morning?"
"No," Cayden answered for him. "But he was going to call and ask mom about it."
"Allie was running her this morning?" Nancy asked, holding her horse's lead.
"No, but she might had seen something. I'll ask Matthew too. He's my new stablehand. He may had seen something himself." He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the house number, then let it ring three times, before he hung up and redialed, waiting for that special voice to answer.
"Faireborn Farms," Jaye said as she answered the line.
"Hi honey," Flint replied, glancing towards his sister then his son. "Listen, by any chance did you notice anyone or anything near the stables? Wilma looks like she had a good run."
"Are you suggesting that I took your beloved horse out for a run?!" Jaye demanded hotly.
"No! No!" Flint stammered, making sure he wasn't going to get any of her raging wrath from her Scottish heritage. "I only meant, while you went out this morning, if you noticed anything suspicious.
"I think I saw Brad by the barn this morning," Jaye told him. "I think he was heading towards the stables. But I'm not sure."
"Brad?" Flint asked, not knowing if he heard right. From the corner of his eye, he caught his sister's eyes widen from the mention of her husband's name. Why would Ace be near their stables? But he did recall that sometimes they borrowed horse equipment from one another. "What time was this?"
"This morning when I went to take care of the chickens," Jaye told him as she was looking for the truck keys. "Where are the keys?"
"Right where we always put them," Flint replied, watching Cayden and Nancy wash down the Arabian down with the hose. He caught his sister's curious glance and knew she would be asking questions, after he hung up.
"They aren't there, Dash." Jaye said in frustration. "You know the ones to the truck that we have the horse trailer on."
"Are you driving a horse somewhere?" Flint asked in bewilderment.
Nancy and Cayden glanced up, giving him odds looks, while continuing to wash down the tiresome animal.
"No, remember I have to move the cattle, I need the trailer for the new calves that were born last night," Jaye told him as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Right, right, " Flint recalled the plan. "Don't forget to take Dufus with you. He can help with the round up."
"That stupid dog hates me," Jaye grumbled.
"Correction, you hate that stupid dog," Flint amusedly said to her on the phone, winking at his son's shocked look. "Do you need help with this?"
A jiggling sound on the other end stated that Jaye found the keys. "Why were they on the kitchen counter?" she asked more to herself. "Yes, I might. Walter and Ed are over at the south field fixing that irrigator."
"All right, let me take care of Wilma here, and I'll be right there," Flint informed her, before saying goodbye and hanging up. He shook his head.
"Dash, we washed her down. She's fine for the moment," Nancy stated, patting the horse on the neck.
Flint nodded. "Good." He walked over to his mare, checking her over again just to make sure none of her legs were swollen.
"What about Brad?" Nancy calmly asked, her heart pounding in her chest, all ready thinking the most obvious thing. She felt dazed, and leaned closer to the mare, making sure they didn't notice.
"Allie said she had seen Brad heading toward the barn early this morning," Flint turned towards her.
Nancy slightly stiffened. "I know one of our calves took off last night, I assume he went looking for it," she lied through her teeth.
"Did he find it?" Flint inquired.
"I think so," Nancy answered in a small voice. She left the mare's side and went over to her mare that greeted her with a nudge. She patted the horse, letting her fingers travel through the horse's mane.
"All right, you two, Wilma and I both thank you," Flint thanked them. "You both should start for that picnic, I'm sure the evil plastic things are starving by now. How many are you taking?"
Nancy glared at him. "Do you honestly think I would take them along? Dash, I'm no longer a child!" she snapped at him, making him step backwards.
"Easy, I forgot they also melt in the sun," he teased, taking several steps backwards, before turning and fleeing from her strident voice.
"DASHIE!!!" Nancy almost went after him, but something made her stop. She didn't need this right now, and certainly there were questions to be answered. She knew who took the horse out and was going to kill him! That was for certain! How could he? How? Taking the horse! He knew better! She just wanted right there and then to run to the airport, and demand to know the reason, but sadly she knew. The reason—betting, that was the reason!
A voice snapped her out of her thoughts, Cayden, she had forgotten her nephew was there!
Cayden walked up to his aunt and looked at her worriedly. "Aunt Nancy, are you alright?"
Nancy turned to him, her smile widening, covering the truth underneath. "I'm fine," she assured him. "Are you up for a picnic? With Aunt N's special fried cold turkey?"
"Oh yes. I'm starving," Cayden said with a wide grin.
Nancy laughed at her nephew's appetite. "Good." She grinned, enjoying the moment they spend together. She watched him head to the next stall and take out a black Friesian. "Ahh, you are riding Conrad's Challenging Red today I see," she pointed to the magnificent animal given to him by Flint and Jaye's best friends, Duke and Scarlett five years ago. "I'm glad you are."
"I've missed riding him," Cayden said as he began to saddle his horse.
The black horse snorted, nodding his head up and down, demanding to be ridden by his friend and owner.
"I think he missed you too," Nancy stated, climbing on Pegasus, who pawed on the ground, wanting to burst out of the barn and into the fields, galloping freely. She patted the soft white coat, her heart tearing. 'Soon you will be free, my friend,' she thought.
A bark came from the other opening of the barn and in strode Dufus, with a wicked evil smirk on his face—if the dog even had one—holding in his mouth a lacy red bra. He raced towards them, passing them, and headed towards the other exit, his tail high in the air, gallantly.
"Dufus! Get back here with Allie's bra!" Flint charged through the barn, now not only shirtless, but also pantless. His blue underwear slightly downward, making even the horses in the stable blush!
"Gracious!" Nancy covered her eyes from the scene before her.
"Well, that's dad for ya," Cayden said with a laugh and mounted his horse.
They watched the warrant officer race after the four-legged thief shaking their heads.
"Come on, Cay Cay," Nancy said, leading her horse out of the stables. "Even I don't want to know the conclusion to that!" She giggled while controlling her horse, which wanted nothing more then to burst at top speed in the open fields. But from the heat wave that had dominated the weather for the past month, it was best to start on a walk. They rode for an hour, passing fields, workers who were watering the crops, and horses who were left under the shade, with plenty of water supply.
Nearing their destination, the two of them had started a conversation on college, books and languages. Cayden had taken a class on Ancient Greek Mythology during the last semester as an elective to his medical major. Entangled in various mythical storytelling, the two didn't notice until the horses nearly halted, that they had come to the lake, right at the end of the boundaries of the farm's land, and to the wilderness beyond. They settled right under a large fur tree, with a nice shaded area, right by the water's edge, letting the mist cool their hot faces.
Nancy began taking out the sandwiches, fried chicken, fruit, set them down on a red tablecloth, and lastly took out some lemonade. "So, any girls I should know about?" she asked, with her eyes twinkling with mischief, watching her nephew blush profusely.
"Ummm...no. I'm so much younger than the rest," Cayden admitted softly.
"So?" Nancy countered. "At least you are much more mature then the other boys there." She handed him a large piece of cold fried turkey on a plate.
The horses neighed, jerking their heads back and forth, wanting to be sprung free.
"I'm not saying that I don't have a bunch of friends, Aunt Nancy. But my age difference makes a big difference with the girls," Cayden said then tore into the piece of fried turkey.
"Yes, but you can't be the only genius there, Cayden," Nancy pointed out, starting to munch on her sandwich, leaning against a large boulder, and looked into the lake's crystal blue water. "I'm sure there must be at least several younger girls there."
"No. What I have they say is a gift and doesn't happen very often and usually skips a generation. I guess I was lucky and got it from my mom," Cayden shrugged.
Nancy nodded. "I understand completely." She looked at him. "It's hard to fit in when you really can't. People look at you funny, and even talk behind your back. But I will tell you this, from experience. It doesn't matter what they think, in the end, they will all come to respect you." She took another small bite and swallowed. "And take your time in finding a certain someone, because they will love you for being you, handsome, strong, smart, Gaelic cursing, and not to mention owning an evil plastic thing named Jessabelle"
"You always know just what to say," Cayden said and leaned over kissing her on the cheek.
"Thanks." She smiled at him, knowing at how much they shared the special gifts. "Too bad it didn't rub off on my brother though."
"Well you know dad, always putting his foot in his mouth," Cayden chuckled then took a swig of lemonade.
Nancy giggled. "Oh yes, that brother of mine always says something he shouldn't." She glanced back at the lake. "But whatever he says, or even does, he always loves us, no matter what we do, or what we say."
"Aunt Nan, can I ask you something?" Cayden said softly, obvious that something was bothering him.
Nancy reached over and touched his lower arm, motherly. "Cayden, you know you can ask me anything," she stated gently, her brown eyes turning softer. "And if I can, I will always answer you honestly and truthfully." She bit her lower lip, listening to her own words, knowing that she actually may lie through her teeth. She waited patiently for his question, hoping she can give him a answer, an answer that will hold truth.
"Is something wrong with my mom?" Cayden asked, desperately hoping that everything was fine.
"Cayden, what are you talking about?" Nancy asked back confused, glancing at his green eyes which were filled with deep concern.
"Well she's really grumpy and snaps at everything. She's always tired," Cayden said looking away from his aunt and out at the lake.
"It can be just the heat you know," Nancy told him gently, her hand staying on his arm. "We've been having a really bad heat wave this month."
"You're probably right." He looked back to her and smiled.
"Don't you worry," Nancy soothed him, like being her own child. "I'll even ask her myself. Just to be on the safe side." Her smile became gentler, more kind and caring.
The horses started pawing on the ground, making small dust clouds from the dry land.
Nancy turned around, sending a low whistle, a sign to the animals to calm down, and they listened, immediately. Pegasus let out a snort, teasing her, her head bouncing playful. Her eyes turned sorrowful, knowing that this could be the last time with Pegasus, and she promised herself, no matter what, she would always remember their special bond, and vowed to have her back. No one knew, none of them did really that she sold her beloved horse to pay off the bills. Lies will come out of her mouth, but no one will know. Hopefully not even her husband.
She turned back to the lake, enjoying the peaceful surrounding, watching several Canadian geese fly through the air. Her eyes traveled to her nephew, who had finished eating. "There's more chicken in the hamper." She pointed out with her finger. "You always know I made plenty."
"No, thanks. I've had plenty. Don't want to eat too much I promised to help bring in the sheep this afternoon," Cayden told her. "John's still out."
Nancy nodded to her brother's son. "All right, how about we start heading back? I'll have Cassie come with you for the herding." She stood up from the dusty ground, and started gathering their picnic.
"Donatello is coming as well," Cayden said as he helped his aunt.
"If your father has caught him by know," Nancy snickered, already picturing the scene in her head of Flint running after the mutt with the bra in its mouth.
"He sure likes to torment my mother, doesn't he?" Cayden asked with a chuckle.
"Honey, I think every male likes to torment your mother," Nancy joked, finishing gathering everything and headed for her horse.
Cayden helped her load up her horse before he mounted his.
"Let's go, Pilgrim," Nancy said in her John Wayne imitation, sending the younger Faireborn into fits of laughter. She turned her horse, starting the way back to the farmhouse. The hour passed slowly, both joking and making fun of each other, like two best friends enjoying a special time together.
Leading the horses back into two stalls, they cooled down the animals and gave them extra water and several carrots. Nancy slowly brushed down Pegasus's coat, a little slower with each stroke of the brush, savoring the moment. She kissed Pegasus on the nose, patted her neck, and whispered a small, "I love you." before leaving the mare's side, and closed the stall's gate, watching the magnificent animal starting to eat her oats. She glanced down at her white shirt and dusty jeans, then turned around, walking over to the next stall. "Ready?"
"Yep," Cayden said as he shut the stall.
Nancy wrapped her arm around his shoulder. "Let's russle up some lemonade, partner," she said in her John Wayne voice, starting to walk towards out of the barn, and head towards the old farmhouse which had stood on this land for over one hundred years. It always impressed her, no matter how many times she glanced at the white, blue shutter windowed structure. This was her home, the one she was born and raised, and the one now which had been home to the youngest Faireborn.
They climbed on the steps right into the house, where cool air greeted them from the air conditioning system that had been installed that week. "Allie?" she called out, wondering if her sister-in-law was inside or not.
"I'm in the kitchen," Jaye called out. "Your house was closer and I ran out of water."
Panic rose to Nancy's throat. What the devil? She glanced at her nephew who looked more worried then she was. She strode into the kitchen, spotting Jaye at the sink, filling buckets of water, two already at her feet.
"Allie, are you all right?" Nancy asked, walking closer to the woman.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Jaye said. She was sweating.
"No you're not, sit down." Nancy gently took her elbow and lead her to the kitchen table, sitting her down on the chair. "Cayden, get me a cold wet cloth, please."
Cayden rushed over to the sink and did what he was told
"Nancy, really, I'm fine," Jaye tried to argue.
Nancy leaned down right at eye level to the younger woman. "Allie, whose house is this?" she calmly asked, not wanting to panic more then she already was.
"Your house," Jaye said as if something were wrong with her.
Cayden handed his aunt the cloth and looked at her worriedly.
Nancy sat down in the next chair, and took Jaye's hand in hers, never leaving the eye level. "Allie, this is not my house," she slowly explained to the woman. "This is your house." She placed the wet cloth on Jaye's forehead, dappling it around, letting the water drip.
"I'm going to get Dad," Cayden said walking toward the door.
"No," Jaye told her son.
"Yes," Nancy said sternly. "Cayden, get your father now."
Cayden ran out the front door and over towards the field where his father was supposed to be. He ran the entire way. "DAD!" he yelled as he caught sight of his father.
Flint waved at him. "Hey! All set for the herding?" He gave him a proud smile. Dufus barked in agreement.
"No! There's something wrong with Mom. She's at home and thinks she's at Aunt Nancy's," Cayden said as he ran up to him.
"Come on." Flint grabbed his son's arm and started racing at top speed back to the farmhouse, panic filling his heart, which hammered in his chest, tightening from the fear. He shouldn't have left her out in the field alone. Damn it!
He raced up the porch steps, dragging Cayden along, like a little toddler, and rushed directly to the kitchen, his own face with sweat running down it. But he didn't care at the moment. "Allie!"
Nancy turned to him, while holding the wet cloth on Jaye's forehead. "She's a bit warm," she explained.
Flint bent down next to his wife, taking her hand in his dirt filled one, holding hers tightly. "Allie, how are you feeling?"
"With my fingers," came Jaye's smart assed reply.
Cayden just shook his head. "She's a smartallic even when she's not feeling well."
Flint was not amused and scowled at her features, his face turning hard. "No joking," he scolded to his wife. "You stayed out longer then I told you too, didn't you?"
"Well, I have to get the orchard watered and the irrigators are still not working," Jaye told him seriously.
"You are not watering anything, I'll have the men water the orchard after we are finished with the cornfield," Flint informed her. "And the irrigators are going to be in working order by tomorrow."
"But..." Jaye tried to argue.
"No buts. Am I clear, Alison?" Flint stared seriously at her. "I'm not going to have you get a heat stroke or passing out in the field!"
Nancy flinched from his words, knowing that Jaye had already had fainted during the heat wave, and still had not told her husband about it.
"Fine," Jaye relented but it was obvious that she was not happy.
"Mom, please listen to Dad," Cayden all but begged.
"Yes, please listen to Dad," Flint smirked at his wife, kissing her cheek. "Besides, we have plenty of help right now and the weather is turning. So I think its time for a little break for Mrs. Faireborn."
Nancy walked over to the refrigerator, took out the lemonade and started pouring them into glasses.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Jaye asked irritably.
"Well, there is a lot of bookkeeping left to finish," Flint pointed out. "And we all know who here is the best at keeping the books straight and the bills going out smoothly."
Nancy overflowed the lemonade, spilling some of the liquid on the counter. "Darn it," she muttered, grabbing a towel.
"Alright fine. I'll take care of the accounting," Jaye told him.
Cayden let out a sigh of relief.
"That's my old girl," Flint amusedly stated patting her hand tenderly. He stood up and sat in the other chair.
Nancy and Cayden exchanged a alarmed look. This was not going to be good, nope. Nancy quickly raced at the table, bringing them each a glass of lemonade before the volcano that was going to erupt, didn't.
"I think you need to stay in and help me with the books," Jaye told him, looking at him worriedly.
"Dad..." Cayden said with slight concern.
"What?" Flint turned to his teenage son, with a puzzled expression on his face.
"I'll take care of the sheep. You stay in here with Mom," Cayden told him and turned to walk out.
"No." Flint stood up, making his son stop in mid-step. "You're still to young to move the herd. Especially with Tomax and Xamot loose! Those two black sheep can be a handle, even for me!" He rested his hand on his son's shoulder. "Wait for Uncle Brad, then both of you can move the sheep together. I don't want anyone else getting sick around here."
Nancy nodded. "I agree with your father, Cayden." She glanced at Flint. "Unless you want me to help Cayden."
Flint arched one eyebrow. "When is Brad coming home?" he asked, thinking his brother-in-law was probably finished with the flying lessons.
"I-I don't know, Dash," Nancy replied, hiding the fact that he might be at the track instead of teaching his flying lessons.
"Nancy..." Jaye asked. "How about you and I go for a little walk towards your house."
Nancy went to reply but the warrant officer cut her off.
"No Allie, you are not going anywhere at this moment," Flint stated strictly, but with a note of concern. "You're not feeling well and I don't want you getting worse. Not until we see the doctor tomorrow."
"Allie, he's right," Nancy said gently. "You should rest."
"I am not going to the doctor tomorrow," Jaye snapped defiantly.
"Mom..." Cayden said pleadingly.
"All he ever does is poke and prod and stick me with needles and nothing ever comes out of it. I'm not going!!!" Jaye growled and stood up a little too quickly.
Flint caught her before she fell to the floor. "Allie!" his voice rang with fear.
Nancy looked at her friend in concern. "You need to go to the doctor!" she stated, wanting to help, as always.
"She's right, you are going!" Flint stated, his voice now turning into dead serious. "And yes, you will poked and prod and stabbed with needles!"
Jaye started to cry almost hysterically.
Cayden really looked worried, his mother hardly ever cried.
"There, there," Flint wrapped his arms tighter around his wife, soothing her. "I know you hate going, but it has to be done. I'm really worried about you, we all are."
Nancy walked over to her nephew and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, sending him a reassuring smile.
"No. I'm not going!!!" Jaye shoved away from him and headed for the door.
"Run where ever you want, Allie, but you are going!" Flint shouted at her, making sure she heard his determination.
Jaye grabbed the keys to the old truck which only way of having air conditioning was having the windows down and going sixty five miles per hour. She walked out the door.
"You're just going to let her go, Dad?" Cayden asked in shock.
"You want to go after her, be my guest," Flint stated, sitting down and taking a long sip of lemonade.
"Dash!" Nancy scolded, taking a step forward, going after her sister-in-law.
"Nancy, don't even think about it," Flint said, making his sister stop in her tracks.
"I can't believe you, Dad," Cayden said, shaking his head. "There is something wrong with Mom, she's acting funny and you are just going to let her go." He walked away from his father, feeling like his entire world had changed.
"Cayden," Flint called out to his son. "You need to trust me. She took the keys to a truck that has two flat tires. She's not going anywhere."
"Dad, I fixed those tires this morning," Cayden told him as he left the room obviously not happy.
"What!" Flint shot up from the chair, spilling his lemonade on his jeans, and raced out the door. But just as he stepped on the porch, Jaye tore out of the driveway stirring up dust.
Cayden followed his father, patted him on the shoulder. "Well Dad, you really did it this time." He walked off to go help with the herding.
"You are an idiot sometimes," Nancy scolded from behind her brother's shoulder, watching the truck drive further and further away. "You need to go after her."
"Nancy, you know she's liable to head, north, south, east of west!" Flint stated, knowing she could easily take any of the turns.
"Well, get on a horse and move!" Nancy pushed. "Take Pegasus, he's fast."
"You are so like Mom." He kissed her cheek, then ran at top speed to the barn, mounted the steed and raced out of the stable at full gallop, going after his crazy Scottish world.