She leaned on the counter next to her mother. "Did I tell you Francine's dad arranged for us to go riding at the Murran stables? It's Francine's birthday present. I don't want to ride, but I've got to see the Estate."
"If you meet Emily Murran say hello for us. When your father was younger, he did some work for the Estate. You go get ready. I'll finish clearing up."
Standing before her open closet, Julie pondered what to wear. Should she dress formal? She was going to the Estate. Or casual? It's a horse ranch. She settled on a lace and denim outfit, which suited both situations – perfectly.
Julie put the final touches of lip-gloss on as Jennifer and Heather burst in. "Come on. You're such a slow poke."
"Coming. I'm coming. Bye Mom. Dad," she shouted as she left the house.
As Julie slid into the limousine, the other girls greeted her with a chorus of "hellos" and "good mornings." The friends settled back to enjoy the ride.
"I think it was the worst dance ever." Francine shifted to a more comfortable position.
"Don't blame me." Jennifer spoke while texting another friend. "Mrs. Brill suggested I let the junior committee members organize it. No fears though, I'm still in charge of Prom."
"I want to hear what happened between Trish and Robert." Heather kicked her friend's foot and winked.
"This is my party, and I don't want him discussed. End of conversation." Francine's eyes flashed anger.
"What's your problem with him?" Tricia asked.
"Julie, how was dance class?" Francine checked her watch then looked out the car window.
"Didn't go, didn't feel good." If only you guys cared. She watched the trees pass by.
Trying to ease the tension, Jennifer said, "Olivia almost died when I told her we're going riding today."
"Did you see what she was wearing Friday night?" Tricia rolled her eyes. "What? We're bringing back the sixties. Again?"
The chatter turned to gossiping about the fashions at the dance until they stopped at the entrance to the Murran Estate. Butterflies tap-danced in Julie's belly. Be a big, brave girl. Ride the horse. How hard can it be? If Heather can do it, so can you.
She glanced out the limousine window as the gates opened to reveal a maple tree lined drive. The car followed the path, and when it forked, the car continued along the right-hand road. Soon they exited the tree tunnel and entered a large parking area.
Dressed in a gardening outfit, knees stained with mud and a broad straw hat, Mrs. Murran slowly straightened and stood near an immaculate flower garden. As the car braked, the lady advanced towards them.
Removing her gardening gloves, Mrs. Murran extended her hand. "Good afternoon. I'm Emily Murran and I'm so pleased you've come for a ride."
One by one, the girls introduced themselves.
"I'm Julie Anderson, Bill and Sandra Anderson's daughter. My mother wishes that I say hello."
"You're little Julie Anderson? I remember you. You must've been four or five when I saw you last. My, you've become a beautiful, young lady. How are your parents?"
"They're fine."
"Since you're not here to talk to me, I suppose we should get you on your way. Who's the one who doesn't know how to ride?"
Julie waved.
"The rest of you may ride anywhere around the Estate or out on the neighbouring fields, but please not near the flower gardens. The horses love to eat my flowers. Julie, someone'll look after you. Don't worry. You'll have a good time." Her eyes twinkled. "Enjoy yourselves, and the final day of summer, then come back to the house and we'll have tea."
As she talked, she led them to where a tall, tanned man stood next to a team of horses hitched to a hay wagon. "This is Carl." She smiled at him. He nodded a greeting to the girls. "Have a pleasant ride." She waved and retreated to her garden.
They clambered onto the hay wagon like eight-year-olds rather than like the sophisticated teenagers they were. Francine pointed to a person riding a horse. The magnificent beast pounded its way around the track, raising a cloud of dust. The wagon stopped near a large white barn with the Murran crest posted high on its side. Carl halted the wagon then walked around to where the girls sat. "Who can't ride?"
Julie stepped forward.
"Have a seat on the wagon. I'll get these ladies on their way first."
The four girls followed Carl into the barn. Francine exited first. She led her horse to where Julie was standing. "Doesn't this one just remind you of old Mr. Tonkins?"
Julie burst out with a laugh. "Put glasses on him and he's the spitting image."
Francine cleared her throat. "Class, I would like to make one thing perfectly clear, first..." Still chuckling, she mounted her horse and wandered over to the nearby field.
Heather and Jennifer waved as they trotted by. Julie tilted her head to see if Tricia was exiting the barn. She waited. And waited.
At last, Tricia exited on a beautiful, chestnut brown horse. She smiled from ear to ear and paused next to Julie. "I just couldn't decide which horse to ride. But this one compliments my outfit."
Julie swallowed back a laugh, smiled and waved as Tricia rode on. She glanced back towards the barn. Somebody walked between two horses leading them in her direction. Oh great, my turn. Remember, big, brave girl. You can do it.
When the rest of the body emerged from between the horses, Julie broke into a wide grin. You're alive!
"How're ya?" Robert wrapped the reins over a rail. "Recovered from Friday night?"
"Me? You were the one who got beat up. How are you?" Why do I feel like giggling? That is so a thirteen-year-old thing.
"Ok." He rubbed his forehead. "Got a helluva headache though."
"I'm so sorry I couldn't stop Stephan. I had no idea what to do. I was so scared. I...." She bit her bottom lip.
"Ya were in shock. Chris scared ya worse than ya realized. I could see ya were losin' it." He stood near the saddle of the light grey horse. "Let's get ya up on this guy."
Julie looked at the horse and gulped. "I don't think I can do this. I've never ridden before. He's kind of big, and I'm a little scared." Lot scared was more like it.
"If I can do oriental mushrooms, ya can do horses."
"You didn't eat the mushrooms." He's so cute.
Robert patted the horse's neck. "This isn't actually a horse. He ain't big enough. He's a pony. His name's Whisky. He's an old school pony who's used to people who don't know how to ride. Like ya." He pointed at the stirrup. "Put your foot in here."
She looked around the ranch. "What kind of horses live here?"
He chuckled. "Gonna try stallin', huh? This is a breedin' ranch and a racin' stable. We got two world class stallions and several champion mares to breed with."
Julie wrinkled her nose.
"When a horse has a good bloodline his genes become valuable for breedin' purposes. For every good stallion, male horse, ya need a good mare, female horse. Think biology class."
"I thought that was about birds and bees."
"No, that was sex ed. This is genetics." He checked the girth straps were snug and held out his hand. "Now quit stallin' and come here."
Damn. Her eyelids opened wide.
"Do I gotta go through the mushroom bit again? I won't let anythin' happen to ya." He walked around behind her. "Put your left foot in the stirrup. Grab the horn."
She pointed to the grip on the front of the saddle.
"Yea, that thing. Now swing yourself up."
As she did, he pushed and Julie landed in the saddle. "This isn't so bad."
Robert adjusted the length and tightened her stirrups. "Here are your reins." He gave a brief version of Horse Riding 101. "And to get him to go, squeeze your calves against him."
Julie tightened her legs, and the horse stepped forward. "Hey." Where are the brakes for this thing?
"It's ok. Let him walk. Try turnin' and stoppin' him." Julie looked so nervous, Robert fought not to jump on her horse, wrap his arms around her and assure her everything was alright. Instead, he mo
unted his horse and rode alongside.
After a few moments, Julie relaxed. Look at me, on a horse. Doing the cowgirl thing. She giggled. "I feel like a kid who's discovered ice cream." She glanced over at Robert. Ice cream with hot chocolate sauce. Very hot sauce.
Robert led them to a path, which opened into a meadow. "How come if your friends learned to ride, you didn't?"
"I was usually at class."
He slowed his horse to match hers. "What kind of class?"
"Dance. Ballet. You know, ballerinas in tutus, dancing on their toes." Julie swayed with the rocking rhythm of the horse's movements.
"Ya any good?"
"I can hold my own in class."
He raised his eyebrows. "Never known a ballerina before."
"When I was little, mom and dad took me to The Nutcracker and there's this great pas de deux...."
Robert tilted his head as his brow crinkled.
She scratched her nose. "Oh, uh...pas de deux when two people dance. This one's between the Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy. I wanted to be the fairy. I thought she was the most wonderful thing I'd ever seen. She had on a purple tutu, stuck straight out at the sides, and she danced on her toes. I told mom that's what I wanted to do, and I've been taking class ever since."
"I hope ya get to dance her someday."
"Oh, I'm not good enough. It's just a dream." She held back a sad sigh.
"How do ya know? Maybe ya are good enough. Ya gotta believe in yourself and in your dreams. Dreams is what keeps us alive. People trapped in a hopeless situation survive by their dreams. Their dreams of freedom, of a better life, whatever."
What are your dreams? Can I ask you? Or is it too soon to get that personal? Julie picked at the leather-covered saddle horn.
"I gotta question." Robert shifted around in his saddle to face her. "Doesn't it hurt to stand on your toes? It hurts like hell when I stub mine. I can't imagine jumpin' up and down on'em."
Julie laughed. "When I first got my pointe shoes I thought my toes were going to break. Imagine trying to walk around with your foot stuck in a glass."
"Why do it if it hurts?"
"Good question." She released the hair tie, shook her head and let her long, brown hair drape around her shoulders. "Dancers are driven by a passion. An obsession. I've heard of ballerinas dancing with pulled muscles, sprained ankles, cracked bones in their feet. I'd love to spend nine or ten hours a day in a dance studio. I could deal with any of the physical discomforts if given a chance. Am I smiling all stupid like?" She looked at the saddle, the reins and the field to the left of her.
Robert, who was on her right, tapped her arm. "Ya have to look at me so I can see. And why the weird question?"
The heat rose in Julie's cheeks. "Mom says whenever I talk about dance I get this big grin on my face and I light up. Whatever that means."
"If ya love dancin' so much, go be a dancer? Go join a company or somethin'."
Julie paused as she looked at the trees starting to change to their fall colours. "It's not that easy. You have to audition. There are a million dancers for one job. Besides, my parents want me to go to college."
"It's not your parent's life. It's yours. Ya gotta do what's right for you. If ya don't try you'll never know if ya coulda been the fairy thing. If ya audition and don't get the job then you'll know ya ain't good enough, and ya can get on with your life."
She bit her lip. "That's the problem."
"What is?"
"What if I audition and fail?" Julie stared at her saddle.
"Ya go home and cry then swear at them, for being stupid. Your friends're way more concerned with their lives than yours. They'll forget about your failure long before ya do."
"You're so right. I've known them since we were babies and I swear, I've talked to you more about my dancing in ten minutes than I ever have with them." Ever.
The two rode on in silence. Julie watched Robert. He was relaxed, so different than at school. She urged her horse alongside his. "How long have you been working here?"
"Off and on for six years."
Wow, did he ever just brighten up. That grin is so sexy. "You like it there?"
"I love working with the horses. Carl swears I can communicate with them. This is where I wanna stay. Eventually I'd like Carl's job. I think I can run this place, but who knows." He shrugged. "Carl's taught me everythin' from this-is-a-horse to how to ride, train and breed. I'm in charge of deliveries. Messy job." He shook his head. "And they always deliver in the middle of the night."
"It's my turn for a question, but it's changing subjects."
"Fire away." Robert knew he had to let her ask almost anything to get her past his Shore reputation.
Enjoying herself, Julie suspected her instincts about Robert were right that there's a compassionate human under his gang member skin. "Wednesday, when Steph and you fought. He went white as a ghost. He instantly knew you're Shoresmen." She raised her eyebrows. "Major surprise to me. And how did your...friends know to show up?"
"I called 'em. I knew I needed backup. Figured Stephan would bring the whole friggin' football team."
"How did he know you're…Shoresmen?" She tried to say the word without any obvious disgust.
Robert looked at his saddle then held up his right hand with his knuckles facing Julie. A tattoo of a serpent coiled around a dagger started on his middle finger's last knuckle, circled around and its open mouth stopped at the base of his fingernail. "Shoresmen markin'. Can't lay down our colours. That means quit the gang."
"Why did you become a gang member?" Julie mentally crossed her fingers hoping she wasn't pushing Robert too far. She just wanted to get to know him.
"I…uh…needed a home, friends, family. The guys became all that." He held up his other hand and showed a black dagger tattoo. The hilt started at the base of his fingernail and ran along the length of his middle finger. The point was red with droplets trickling down the back of his hand. "The markin's of a leader."
"Francine said gang initiations are pretty violent."
"I don't wanna talk about it. Ya can't understand why I joined. It's got nothin' to do with drugs or an easy buck."
"That's not what I asked."
His eyes darkened as his brow tightened. "It's what ya implied."
Julie's horse tossed his head and stamped. She reached down and patted his neck then turned her attention back to Robert. "I didn’t imply anything. You're being a bit defensive. Which I can completely understand. Let me try again. A straight question, no hidden meaning, why did you join?"
Did she just tell me off? Robert let his thoughts tumble around for a moment, then urged his horse forward. "Total survival. You're involved in your gang of dancers because of some urge that's gotta be filled. I joined this gang to survive. Very basic here – life or death." He heaved a deep breath to calm his anger. "I won't condemn them, and I won't make excuses for runnin' with'em. This ain't no lady's tea party. We're a gang and we do gang stuff. Can we change subjects, please?" He pulled on the reins and turned his horse.
Not good. Just made him mad. She followed him back towards the stable. "One more question. No, two more."
Robert halted his horse. "Can I guess the first one? What the hell am I doin' at Westland?"
Julie nodded. "I know it sounds rude. I mean, you can go wherever you want, but why Westland?"
His horse snorted and stomped his hoofs. "Whoa. What's wrong?" He reined up his horse and patted its side while checking the ground and area for what startled it. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he turned his attention back to Julie. "Short version. Either do time at Westland or do time. End of that conversation." His tone was sharp. "Next question."
She bit her lip, looked out at the pasture, took a big breath then blurted, "Did you and Tricia…you know."
"That's so not what I figured for your next question. What's it to ya?"
"Inquiring minds want to know." She shook her head. "Lame, I know. Tricia and I haven't talked and I'm curious."
"Bold too." And cute as hell. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Tricia and I hooked up. If some female throws herself at me, I'm gonna take advantage of it. 'Sides I figured I deserved a little. Trish is usin' me, so I used her. Still wanna talk to me?" He clicked his horse.
"Yes." Her heart pounded. "Because we're talking about things I don't talk about with anyone else." Sex. We're talking about s-e-x.
Calling over his shoulder he said, "Maybe you should get some new friends. Someone who's interested in you rather than themselves."
"I thought I had found a friend." Julie spoke to Robert's back. Talking to it was easier than to his face.
He twisted around in his saddle. From his puzzled, but surprised expression, Julie knew her admission caught him off guard. "I'll never be able to explain you to my friends or to my father. Before you ask, I owe you something for rescuing me the other night, and the only thing I can pay you back with is my friendship. I figure you could use one ally at Westland. Friends?" She stuck out her hand.
"Friends." They shook. "Now let's get you back to the rest of the group."
***
Robert hopped off his horse then hurried over to help Julie off hers. When her feet hit the ground, her legs wobbled and her bottom tingled. "Ooh, I think I'm better on my feet than on my seat." She rubbed her backside.
He grinned. "I guess we're not good enough friends for me to massage that cute little behind."
If only I were brave enough to let you. "You said a man's got to have dreams – well, keep dreaming." She laughed, waved and walked across the yard to the waiting wagon.
Feeling strangely chipper, Robert watched as the wagon pulled away. He'd had a great afternoon, too bad she was Westland. He might stand a chance of becoming a friend but never a lover. He shrugged, turned and entered the barn.
The girls jumped off the wagon, shouted thank you to Carl then walked over to the patio where Mrs. Murran sat waiting, with a pot of tea and a plate of cookies. While everyone chatted about the day's adventure, Julie stared towards the stables. If Trish hadn't known Robert was there, Julie wasn't about to let out his secret. All too soon, the girls agreed it was time to go home. With sad thank yous, Julie and her friends left the Estate.
Dancing in Circles (Circles Trilogy) Page 4
