It had been over a week since the party and Adelle had seen neither hide nor hair of Regan. He had been MIA when she had gone to work at the Wheelers' two days before.
Her heart told her to stop by before work at Jim's school, but her mind told her she needed to put work before pleasure. Her heart and mind had been arguing all night, and she was exhausted. She continued to fight with herself as she got ready to go.
"You eating before you leave?" Uncle Andy asked, standing over turkey bacon and scrambled eggs.
"I don't think so. I'm not very hungry," Adelle mumbled.
"Bull cookies! You have to eat or you'll waste away," he called gruffly as she walked out of the kitchen.
Adelle sighed and slowly returned to the kitchen. Her uncle was right. She would pass out midday if she didn't have a decent breakfast.
After breakfast, Adelle hastily packed a cooler with her lunch and went on her way to the nursery. She picked up a select few plants to run by Jim. She would keep them in the finished main building until the time came to plant them.
Jim had also told her of the indoor garden he wanted her to handle. A getaway for the kids and teachers filled with plants and flowers that were relaxing to look at.
She found a wonderful selection of orchids, roses, snapdragons, and delphiniums. She made sure to take a few quick pictures of trees and bushes for Jim to decide on what he wanted at the front of the school.
*****
Regan checked Glen Road one more time before holing himself into the barn. One of the two most hated days of the year had arrived. He had groaned piteously when he saw it written on the calendar that morning. He had avoided it as long as he could.
Regan had fed the horses, cleaned all the tack, put the horses to pasture, mucked out the stalls, and hosed down the center aisle. He couldn't put it off any longer. Naturally, not wanting anyone to find him in such an awkward position, he made sure no one was in sight as he led Jupe back to the barn.
"I'm sorry, Jupe, but it has to be done," he muttered as he loosely tethered the gelding.
He brought the bucket of warm water and the soap closer, and pulled on gloves.
*****
In the long run, Adelle's heart won the argument. Before she realized what she was doing, she had turned into the Wheelers' driveway.
"Well… since I'm already here," she said, smiling to herself.
Adelle only saw Susie in the pasture and guessed that Regan would be riding Jupe in the arena. Disappointment knotted her stomach when she found the arena empty. She plopped sadly on the nearby bench and sighed.
She started to rise and go to her truck when she heard Regan's low tones that he used to soothe horses, coming from the barn. Knowing she had to get to the school soon, she hurried to the barn and pulled the heavy door open.
When her eyes adjusted to the dim indoors and saw what Regan was doing, his name died on her lips. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Adelle raced from the barn. The sight of Regan doing what he was doing appalled her. She could feel her face burning with crimson.
*****
Regan swore as he quickly rinsed Jupe off. He rushed to pull off his gloves and wash his hands and arms. All the while, he was cursing insane and spontaneous women.
"She is too much like Trixie," he mumbled a few more choice words about women that get their exercise from jumping to conclusions.
He ran after Adelle with his arms still dripping wet.
*****
Adelle fought to keep her temper in check and her throat from closing. Mental pictures of what she had found in the barn kept searing her mind.
When a wet hand grabbed her arm, she swung around and tried to slap Regan, but he easily grabbed her hand. She stared at him hard for a second before she recovered.
"I can't believe you would do something like that to a defenseless animal! He doesn't know any better, but you sure should. I can't believe you are such a sick person!" Adelle hissed.
"If you'd stop berating me for a minute and let me explain myself," Regan said, trying to sound calm and not moving his hand from her arm.
"I'd love to hear you try."
"Jupe is a gelding. All geldings, and stallions, need to…" Regan blushed and hesitated while he tried to find words that were delicate enough. He decided it would be easiest if he just came out and said it. "They need to have their sheaths cleaned twice a year. You just happened to catch one of those days."
"Sheath cleaning?" Adelle asked as she blushed again.
"Yes, for the health of the horse and his…" Regan faltered.
He might be an excellent groom, but trying to explain sheath cleaning to a beautiful woman, well, it would trip up any man.
Adelle bit her bottom lip and looked from Regan's expressive green eyes to her feet and back again. She felt like a complete idiot.
"I didn't know. I'm sorry."
"I know you didn't," Regan gently rubbed her arm with his thumb. "Now, if you come back to the barn with me and give me two minutes to put Jupe out again…"
Adelle nodded and let Regan guide her slowly back to the barn. She watched, leaning against the stable wall, as Regan easily led Jupe out of the barn.
"Hey, next time you have to… do that, give me a warning so I don't walk in on you again, okay?" Adelle said when Regan returned.
Regan let out a throaty chuckle as he moved next to her. He leaned closer and gently pressed his lips to hers. Slowly, they moved into each other's arms. Their lips met again, hesitantly.
"Regan!" a pained voice called. Celia, who hobbled into the barn, followed the voice.
Adelle and Regan jumped away from each other, both blushing furiously, as if they were caught doing something wrong. It took a moment for them to regain themselves.
"Celia, what's wrong?" Regan asked, rushing towards her, when he found his voice.
In answer to his question, her water broke, spilling all over the stable floor.
"Oh," Adelle said for the both of them, then swore quietly as she ran to the garage to find a car. She didn't think that Celia would be able to get into her truck. She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding when she found a sedan in the garage. She bit her lip and hoped beyond hope that the keys were in the car. She cried out victoriously when she found them tucked in the sun visor.
Adelle drove the car as close to the stables as she could. Regan was helping Celia across the yard from the stables. Adelle jumped from the car and opened the back door for them.
"Where are we going?" Adelle asked, sliding behind the wheel once more.
Regan gave her directions while he held Celia's hand and reminded her to breathe.
Adelle pulled up to the emergency room doors and honked the horn. Regan helped Celia out of the car and into the wheelchair that an attendant had brought out.
Adelle left the ER enterance to park the car, which was some task. Everyone and their uncle seemed to be at the hospital. There were no parking spaces. Adelle grumbled, quite unladylike, as she hiked back to the hospital.
Once inside, she quickly found a payphone and called Jim to tell him why she wasn't there yet. Then she found Regan outside a triage room, rubbing his face and hair.
"They're checking her," he explained and grimaced. Adelle laughed at his expression.
"Where is Tom?"
"He took the Wheelers to White Plains half an hour before you showed up," Regan said.
"He's off at work while Celia's in labor?" Adelle wasn't sure of what to make of that.
"She's actually two weeks early. They both thought that she would be fine." Adelle nodded in understanding. "I just got off the phone with him. He and the Wheelers are on their way."
"Mmm. I'll keep you company until they get here, then I really should get to the school." Adelle moved to lean against the wall beside Regan.
"Sounds good to me. We can take the Wheelers home and you can get your truck." Regan wrapped his hand around Adelle's.
"You were really good with Celia," Adelle said quietly.
"I just did what any other friend would do."
"Sir, your wife is asking for you," a triage nurse said, leaving the room. She favored Regan and Adelle with a scalding look when she saw the handholding.
"She's just a friend," Regan explained, though not very well. The nurse stared at him for a moment, mouth agape, before she hurried away.
"I don't think she liked that answer," Adelle smiled wryly.
"I guess not," Regan replied as she followed him into Celia's room.
"Is Tom on his way?" Celia asked.
"He should be here any time now, Sweetheart." Regan gave Celia's hand a reassuring squeeze.
The anesthesiologist came in them and fixed Celia up with an IV of painkillers. In moments, Celia was in a smiling daze.
"I'm sorry," Celia said.
"For what?" Adelle was confused.
"I interrupted something between you when I came in the barn." It was quite obvious that she was feeling nice and fuzzy from the IV.
"I don't think that matters," Regan said to Celia while he was watching Adelle.
"You two are so cute together," Celia smiled.
"Celia!" A familiar voice called out.
"Tom," Celia said softly as he walked in, obviously relieved. "You made it."
Regan and Adelle took that as their cue and quietly left the room. They found Matt and Madeleine in the hall and they decided to head back to the Manor.
*****
"Boy or girl?" Jim asked when Adelle finally arrived.
"One or the other," she answered. "She was still in the middle stages of labor when we left."
"How's Celia faring?"
"She's got an IV of pain killers. She was feeling just fine." Jim and Adelle laughed.
They quickly got down to business. Jim decided to print out and take some of the pictures with him to get Trixie's opinion as well. Adelle made plans to check back with him in a couple of days and headed for home.
*****
Matt left Madeleine in the library and wandered out to the stables to find Regan. He glanced at his watch and grimaced. He was supposed to have been at Hidden Pines with Regan an hour ago. He found Regan checking Susie's hooves.
"Regan, I need you to come with me. I have a horse I want you to look at."
"But we just sold…" Regan said with a confused look.
"I told you that I wanted to breed Susie once or twice. Ms. Trask gave the 'okay' and I want you to look at a stallion I saw that I like. I think we're ready to try breeding and I want to do so before Susie gets too much older."
"Okay," Regan shrugged. He pulled the truck and trailer around and the men headed on their way.
*****
"Where have you been, young lady?" Andy demanded as Adelle walked by the living room door. She walked right on by, not hearing his question.
"Ad-duh-lee! Where is your mind?" Andy called louder. His southern accent echoed through the room.
"I'm sorry?" Adelle's head popped around the corner to look at her uncle.
"You were a million miles away. I asked you where you have been." Andy eyed her suspiciously.
"I was at the school. And I drove a friend that was in labor to the hospital and waited with her until her hubby got there." Adelle could feel the slight blush in her cheeks as she thought of the earlier happenings.
"And just who is the man who put the blush in your cheeks?" Andy smiled impishly.
"Uncle Andy!" Adelle gasped. "It's nothing… he's just a friend."
"Not for long," Andy snorted. Adelle escaped to her room before her uncle had the chance to embarrass her any further.
Author's notes:
I would like to take this time to thank my wonderful editors, April W, Patte, Trish, Brendin, Debbie, Julie, and Amber. I would also like to thank Amber for persuading me to get to work. She did a great job helping me right along! She doesn't threaten with guns, like many may say, she uses whips more often than not ;-)
Thank you to Chelsea, who dealt with me while I worded and reworded part of this story. You're a trooper! Thanks for your help!
I do not own the Hidden Pines name, and I use it without permission. It was where I started horseback riding lessons (a LONG time ago) and was owned by Miss Kim and Mr. Hall. Thank you for my wonderful lessons Miss Kim!
Sheath cleaning really does happen to both stallions and geldings, icky, I know… but it must be done.
Disclaimer These characters, with the exception of Uncle Andy and Adelle, are property of Random House Publishing. I am making no money from them, I only write because I love them.