Chapter 37 – Sounds of Joy

Gran stood and looked at Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth, dear." Gran said. "I am going to ask you to go change before the boys come back. There should be a suit that either Emily or Melissa left the last time that they were here."

Elizabeth just looked at her.

"That is a very tiny suit." Gran said. "You will be down in the pool with two young red-blooded boys. No need to add fuel to the fire. Please."

"Yes, ma'am." Elizabeth said. "I guess I didn't think of that. I just took what Katie picked out for me."

"And that is fine for laying out to get some sun." Gran said. "But please be a little mindful of the boys. Not only Jack and Nathan, but Tommy is around as well."

Elizabeth blushed a little.

"I will keep that in mind." Elizabeth said.

"Good." Gran said. "That is all I ask."

Gran headed inside and Elizabeth picked up her stuff and headed to her room to change. She quickly found the purple one piece that Gran talked about. It was three shades of purple with material criss crossing across the entire front of the suit. The bottom and back were the solid middle purple color. Elizabeth put the suit on and it fit her well. She did pin the straps in the back, just for a little more insurance, since it was just a tad too big. Elizabeth then threw her cover up back on and headed out to the pool. When Elizabeth walked outside, she saw Tommy sitting under one of the umbrellas. He had headphones on and was playing some kind of handheld game. Elizabeth thought at least he was outside. Elizabeth found a spot in the sun, but still slightly away from the pool. She laid back and opened her book while she waited for Jack and Nathan to get back. She had only read a few chapters when she heard voices. She turned to look and saw Jack and Nathan coming up the back steps to the pool deck.

"Hey, you two." Elizabeth said. "How was riding practice?"

"Fine." Jack mumbled before heading into the house.

"What is the problem?" Elizabeth asked as Nathan took a seat near her.

"Oh, he's just mad I beat him." Nathan said.

"You beat JP." Tommy said.

"Yes." Nathan said. "By half a second. We set a seventy second course. Marco timed us. We both had good times, but four faults."

"Four faults?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes." Nathan said. "Four faults are knocking a rail down or stepping in the water. You get four for each one. We both clipped the water tray which is a fault according to Marco."

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

"Anyway." Nathan said. "Jack challenged me to a jump off. Marco reset a smaller course for forty-five seconds. The fastest with the fewest faults would win. Jack lost rock, paper, scissors and went first. He went forty-one seconds, no faults. I really pushed it and went forty point five, no faults."

"Wow." Tommy said. "No one has beat him in three years. The last person to beat him was Laura."

"Oh." Nathan said. "I didn't know that. Marco was the one that made it a competition. He wanted to see how we did."

They all sat there for a moment, just looking at each other and then at the house.

"It is okay." Charlotte said.

They all turned to see her standing at the top of the steps leading down to the yard.

"Marco called." Charlotte said. "He wanted Dad to know what happened. I am telling you, JP will be okay."

"But, Ma …." Tommy said.

"No buts." Charlotte said. "Someone had to do it at some time, better it was Nathan here and not someone else at a competition."

"You said this was the first time since Laura." Elizabeth said. "I thought he quit jumping when Laura got hurt."

"Yes and no." Charlotte said, taking a seat.

Nathan and Elizabeth just looked at her.

"Laura got hurt after the season was over." Charlotte said. "We, Dad and I, convinced JP to jump the following season. He was so angry, but he took that anger and focused it into his jumping. He went undefeated that season, easily winning the championship. When he won, he turned to us and yelled how he would never jump again and he hoped we were happy. It took months for him to get back on a horse at all. We never pushed him to jump again. He would jump here and there against riders here at the farm, but not in real competition. He would regularly beat every other rider he faced, yet refused to enter a competition. This charity event will be the first competition since he won the fall championship two years ago."

"Maybe I should apologize." Nathan said.

"You will do no such thing." Charlotte said. "You won fair and square. He needs to deal with and use it to make him better. He is not a small child who doesn't understand competition. He will be fine. He might sulk for a bit, but that is on him. If he doesn't use this to make him better, then that is on him as well."

"Okay." Nathan said. "Marco did say that if neither of us would have had faults it would have been an outright win at the competition last weekend. Jack actually had a better time than me on the course, but with four faults each we did the jumpoff."

"As you should have." Charlotte said. "Good jump Nathan. I look forward to watching you jump this week."

"Thank you." Nathan said. "Everything taken care of down at the ring."

"Yes." Charlotte said, letting out a harsh breath.

"I was going to ask what happened." Elizabeth said.

"I will let Nathan tell you." Charlotte said. "I don't want to talk about it."

Charlotte got up and walked into the house.

"So what happened?" Elizabeth asked.

"There was a timber rattler." Nathan said. "No one got hurt, but it spooked the horses."

"How?" Tommy said. "No wonder Ma is upset, she hates snakes."

"Someone didn't do their job." Nathan said. "I figured something was wrong when both horses acted up and were antsy. I spotted it when we were trying to figure out what was going on. That was why we went to the arena. I assume Charlotte and James did what they needed to so we can jump down there tomorrow."

"What did they do with the snake?" Elizabeth asked.

"Conservation officer." Gran said coming outside.

"Uncle Bill was here." Tommy said.

"Briefly." Gran said. "He will be back with Abigail and the family next Sunday."

"Uncle Bill?" Elizabeth asked.

"Family friend." Gran said. "Bill Avery and Charlotte grew up together. He is married to a woman named Abigail and they have three children. They are all coming next Sunday for lunch and a trail ride. I also invited Father Mark to come next Sunday to ride with you. He still will try and come see you jump this week."

Elizabeth got a look of panic, thinking about all those people coming over. Nathan saw the look and knew that he needed to check. Nathan got up and went over to Gran. He pulled her away from the other two to talk to her privately.

"I assume you know." Nathan said.

Gran nodded.

"Do I need to be worried?" Nathan asked.

"Heavens no." Gran said. "Bill and Abigail are some of our closest friends. Peter, their oldest is sixteen. Then there is eight year old Becky and almost three year old Cody."

"Okay." Nathan said. "I had to check."

"I know." Gran said.

They walked back over to the group.

"So it sounds like a houseful next Sunday." Tommy said

"Yes." Gran said. "I expect you to behave and not have your face glued to that phone the entire time. Elizabeth, dear. It will be fine. The Averys are wonderful people. I think you might like Abigail. If you are uncomfortable you are more than free to take a step back and have some time to yourself."

"Yes, ma'am." Tommy said.

"Thank you." Elizabeth said.

"We will have to figure out something to eat." Gran said. "I just realized with the competition and charity event the night before it will be busy."

"I know that you don't like to do it." Charlotte said. "But you can arrange to have catering brought in. It might just be easier, especially with six extra guests on top of everyone else who will be here."

"You are right." Gran said. "Any preferences for next Sunday?"

"I already called Kathy." Charlotte said. "She is expecting your call. She can either make something to bring in or cook here, while we are at church."

"In that case." Jack said joining the group. "Can she do pork chops on the grill with corn on the cob?"

"Yes." Nathan said. "That sounds good."

"Fine." Gran said. "But you three will need to go to the Farmer's market on Friday morning then. You will need to pick up things for a very large garden salad and get enough corn."

"Why don't you call a couple of the farms." Charlotte said. "And reserve what we will need. Let them know that we will be there to pick it up and pay for it on Friday."

"I will do that." Gran said. "I want to make sure we have enough."

"Sounds like a plan." Nathan said. "Maybe I can pick up some more wine from Galway."

Both Gran and Charlotte stifled a small laugh.

"What?" Nathan said.

"The wine was a lovely gesture and will go well with supper tonight." Gran said. "But you don't need to do that."

"Technically." Nathan said. "Jack paid for it. I just had to get it in my name since I was of age."

"That is not what I mean." Gran said. "We have a very large, well stocked wine cellar."

"Oh." Nathan said, shooting Jack a look.

"Nathan." Gran said. "It is fine. I like Galway wine. It was the thought that counts. It was nice of you to think about doing it. The wine will get used, but unless there is something specific that you want. It is good."

"Thank you." Nathan said. "No, I picked up a couple bottles of spirits as well. I usually have that more than wine, except with a good meal."

"Then no harm done." Charlotte said.

"So what are we having for supper?" Jack asked.

"John Parker." Charlotte said. "Is food all you think about?"

"No." Jack said, flashing them a full dimpled grin.

Charlotte shook her head and headed back into the house.

"So?" Jack asked.

"Food." Gran said with a laugh.

Jack just looked at her as she followed her daughter into the house.

"Just because you are a sore loser." Nathan teased. "Doesn't mean you have to get the rest of us in trouble."

"Sore loser." Jack said. "I will show you a sore loser."

With that, Jack pushed Nathan and then took off across the deck. Nathan was up and after Jack in a flash. With his long legs, he was able to catch up to Jack quickly. They continued to push each other until Jack got the upper hand and pushed Nathan into the pool. Jack laughed as Nathan surfaced. Elizabeth and Tommy were both laughing as well. Tommy quickly hid his face and pulled his headphones back up as Nathan got out of the pool and headed their way.

"So you think that is funny." Nathan teased.

"No." Elizabeth said, trying to hide her grin.

"I will show you something funny." Nathan said.

In one quick motion, he had grabbed Elizabeth's book and scooped her up. He walked over to the pool and dumped her in. As Jack was laughing, Nathan walked over and pushed Jack in.

"Now we are all wet." Nathan said with a satisfied grin on his face.

Elizabeth pulled her wet cover up off and laid it on the deck to dry. She then grabbed one of the beach balls and bounced it off Jack's head. Which brought another round of laughter from them. Nathan jumped in the pool and continued to play fight with both Jack and Elizabeth. Finally, they were all laughing so hard, they had to sit on the steps on the opposite side of the pool to catch their breaths. Each was very aware of the others sitting there. Jack was wearing a really tight pair of board shorts that tied low across his hips. They were a solid blue color with a tie at the waist. For a moment, Elizabeth thought about reaching over and pulling on the string that held Jack's shorts, but had to quickly shake that thought from her head as she was already struggling with her thoughts. She was also struggling with what she was feeling at the moment. She had a hard time looking at Jack because of what she was feeling sitting there seeing him.

Nathan was wearing an above the knee three tone swim trunks. Neither was wearing a shirt and both were very muscular and good looking. Jack was doing whatever he could to will his body not to react to seeing Elizabeth. Nathan was doing the same, though he had no real attraction to Elizabeth. It was just the sight of a beautiful young woman in a swimsuit. Jack had noticed her legs before Nathan threw her in the pool, but when she pulled the cover up off and Jack saw her swimsuit, he had sucked in a breath. The sight of Elizabeth stirred things in him and he had to quickly try to think of anything else. Jack knew that Elizabeth had been a dancer when she was younger, but when he saw her legs in her swimsuit, Jack saw the long toned legs that she had worked hard at. Jack knew he was in trouble as he watched the water run down Elizabeth's legs. He was struggling to keep his body calm and knew that he had made a poor choice of swimwear. Elizabeth couldn't look at either, because the sight of water dripping off their muscles was doing things to her that she had never felt before. She watched a drop of water roll down Jack's chest and across his muscles and she felt something in her that she didn't understand.