Jockey Girl

by Shelley Peterson

  “Hello, Grayson.” Mary sounded calm to Evie, and she looked very composed, although her own knees were trembling. “Evie came to visit me. Both of us are here to help find Jordie.”

  “Get back in your truck and leave.” The tall man stood ramrod straight, inches from Mary, looking down at her with hostility, even though his mouth was still smiling. “You’re not welcome. You should know that by now.”

  Evie stared at him, uncomprehending. “Jordie’s missing! You can’t turn away help!”

  “You call it help?” said Grayson, still focused on Mary. He laughed rudely. “I call it interference. I’ve never needed your help, Mary. Not with Angela, not with Evie, and not with Jordie. Stay out of my business.”

  Mary blinked, but stood firm. “When it’s family business, it becomes my business.”

  “You never stop pushing yourself where you don’t belong. I’m in charge of this house, and I demand that you leave. Immediately.” His face darkened.

  Evie slowly put the picture together. How many birthday cards had been delivered that she’d never seen? “Dad? What are you saying? Has Aunt Mary tried to help us before?”

  He turned his cold gaze on Evie. “Your aunt is an interfering busybody who has no place here,” he rasped. “She thinks she can solve everyone’s problems. What Angela became is no fault of mine.” For the first time in her life, Evie saw confusion on her father’s face. Fear, even. But then the insecurity vanished, replaced by the familiar aggression.

  “And you, young lady.” He pointed a finger two inches from Evie’s nose. “You caused this whole situation. My wife has taken to her bed and won’t come out. I’ll deal with you later. You get to your room, you ... horse thief!”

  “I won’t do a thing until Jordie’s found!” Evie ran out the door. She looked back and yelled to her father, “And I didn’t steal Kazzam! I saved him! I heard what you said to Jerry Johnston!”

  Evie ran toward the stables with Magpie right behind her. She felt wronged. She’d come back to help, in spite of her father’s certain wrath, but her father could never accept that there was an ounce of good in her. He was horrible to her. And to Aunt Mary, too. It’d been awful to listen to him hissing at her!

  But right now she had to find Jordie. “Please let him be in our secret hiding place,” she prayed. Whenever their father was mad at them, really mad, Jordie and Evie went to a special place. Beatrice didn’t need it. She did no wrong in his eyes, or Paulina’s.

  Evie ran as fast as she could. Just as she was passing the stables, Jerry Johnston stepped out.

  “Whoa there, girl,” he called good-naturedly. “Just the girl I’ve been looking —”

  “Jordie’s missing!” panted Evie. “I have to find him.”

  Jerry’s brow furrowed. “Oh, no. You go, but take this. Call me.” He reached into his pocket. “It’s about No Justice.” He handed Evie a business card. “It’s important.”

  “I’ll come back as soon as I find Jordie.”

  “Evie, I won’t be here. I’ve been fired.”

  “Fired?”

  “I knew it was coming.” He looked resigned.

  Evie had trouble keeping up with everything that was happening. “I’m so sorry.” She put the card in her pocket. “I’ll call you!” she said, and sped away.

  Why had Jerry been fired? And why had Grayson never told her about Aunt Mary? Evie had never known that Aunt Mary had been trying to connect until now. What else was Grayson hiding?

  She jogged through the back hayfield. Once past the treed fenceline, she scrambled down the brambly embankment and stepped from rock to rock across the stream. It was low for this time of year, she noticed. All this dry weather.

  Magpie shot past her, all excited. Her nose was to the ground and her tail wagged madly. She had a scent!

  Just past the oldest and biggest maple on the farm was a rocky ridge. Evie and Jordie had dug a small cave in the far side and had furnished it with old stools and sacks. She’d taken a green curtain from the Goodwill box and tacked it up over the entrance to keep out the wind.

  Magpie’s nose brought her to the mouth of that cave. The big black dog stood there panting, wagging her tail and looking proudly at Evie.

  “Good girl, Magpie!”

  Evie knelt down in front of the cave and pulled back the curtain just a little. “Jordie?” she whispered, hoping against hope.

  “Evie? Is that really you?”

  Evie’s body went limp with relief. “Yes. It’s me.” She was suddenly exhausted. “I’m so glad you came here. I’m so glad you’re safe.”

  Jordie’s head popped out from behind the curtain. His face was stained with tears. “I thought you were gone for good.” The little boy crawled out and hugged his big sister. “I thought you were dead! I saw the sheet and I thought.… I don’t want to go home if you’re not there!”

  Magpie pushed into the embrace and licked the boy’s face.

  “Who’s the dog?” he asked. He reached out and gingerly touched her head. Magpie lay down on her back and allowed him to rub her tummy, which made Jordie smile. He wiped his teary face on his sleeve.

  “Her name is Magpie and I found her last night. Or she found me. I hope I can keep her.”

  “She’s super cool!”

  “She likes you. She found you with her nose!” Evie watched her little brother pat the dog. “I’m so sorry, Jordie. I’d never hang myself, I promise. But I should’ve told you I was going.”

  “Was it because Dad’s so mean? Or Mom?”

  Evie snorted. “Try both. I’m not exactly their favourite.”

  “I know. Beebee is. But you’re my favourite. Don’t ever go away again!”

  Evie had to be honest. “Jordie, I need to go away again. Just for a while. I need to find my mother.”

  “But your mother is dead, Evie. Dad says so.” He stopped playing with Magpie and looked at her earnestly.

  “He told me that, too, but Aunt Mary says she’s alive and living in Toronto. I want to meet her.”

  “Who’s Aunt Mary?”

  “My mother’s aunt.”

  Jordie looked skeptical. He wiped his nose on the curtain. “If she’s alive, why isn’t she your mother instead of Paulina?”

  Evie wasn’t sure how much to tell Jordie. “She’s been very sick. Maybe I can help her get better.”

  Jordie stood up and brushed himself off. “Then I’m going with you. I can help her get better, too.”

  Evie saw how eager he was to come, but she shook her head. “It’s not a good idea.” There was no telling what her mother might be like, or in what shape. Her imagination conjured up an emaciated, horrible, wrinkly lady with a shaking, outstretched hand.

  Evie wondered if she could handle it, let alone a seven-year-old.

  Jordie persisted. “I won’t be a problem, Evie. I’ll help! I’ll stay quiet and I won’t eat anything if there’s only enough for you.” A single tear fell down his cheek.

  “Oh, Jordie!” cried Evie. She hugged him tightly and said, “We have to go back to the house. Paulina won’t come out of her room, she’s so sad that you’re gone.”

  “She’s drinking her red wine. That’s why she’s in her room!” Jordie was indignant.

  Evie knew he was probably right, but the police were looking for him. “She’s drinking because she’s unhappy. Come on, let’s go.”

  Magpie sat up and sniffed the air.

  Jordie stared at something behind Evie. His eyes grew round. Evie spun around to see Beatrice climbing down the embankment.

  “Did you tell her?” whispered Jordie.

  “No. Did you?”

  “Never! This is our hiding place!”

  “Jordie!” yelled Beatrice, stumbling awkwardly toward them. “Jordie, you’re safe!”

  “What’s with her?” asked Jordie. “She’s looking for me? She never cared about me before!”

  “Funny, I thought the same thing. Until she hit me.” Evie rubbed her shoulder.

  �
��What’re you two ... whispering about?” demanded Beatrice, red in the face and catching her breath. “You always keep ... secrets from me.”

  Evie answered, “We were saying how nice you are to be looking for Jordie.”

  “Why ... wouldn’t I? He’s my ... brother!” She put her hands on her knees and gasped for air. “Idiot!”

  “How’d you find me?” Jordie wanted to know.

  “I followed ... Evie. She runs ... fast. Mom’s gonna be so mad.”

  The three kids trudged back toward the big white house, followed by the only happy one in their little group — Magpie. Every flower, every stump, every rock was a delight to her. Somehow, her mood became contagious. How could they be sad when there was so much to enjoy? Soon Evie found that her spirits had lifted. She noticed that Jordie was smiling, too, and the dark cloud that usually followed Beatrice had gone. All because of Magpie.

  Once they got to the house, Sella met them at the door. The housekeeper threw her arms in the air and clapped, overjoyed to see Jordie. She hugged him until he begged for mercy. Then she wiped her eyes and said, “Missus is asleep. Don’t wake her. And Mister is in his office with Aunt Mary.” She made a quick sign of the cross. “He’s going agaga.”

  That was Sella’s way of describing the rage that sometimes possessed their father. Not a good sign, thought Evie.

  “Come, come! I have so much to eat!” When Sella was upset, she made food. Evie smiled. They followed her into the kitchen and she promptly shut the door. This was another habit. Sella always tried to protect them from Grayson’s temper.

  Before Evie could take a bite out of a deep-fried chicken leg, the kitchen door opened. Aunt Mary came in and closed it softly behind her.

  “Evie, your father wants you to come home with me. Can you get some clothes together for a little visit?” Aunt Mary was flushed but composed.

  Jordie’s eyes bulged. “Who are you?” he said through a mouthful of warm bread.

  “I’m Evie’s Aunt Mary.” She smiled at the small boy.

  “I wanna come, too.” Jordie looked like he might cry again. “I need to be with Evie.”

  Mary sat on the stool beside him. “I’ll invite you and Beatrice soon.” She included Beatrice in her smile. “But your father would like Evie to visit me for a while first. Alone. Then we’ll talk about both of you coming, okay?”

  Beatrice stared at Mary, picking at her bread. “I’m not going. You’re not my aunt. I have dance practice and it’s horse-show season.”

  Mary’s eyes took in her slight frame and defensive manner. “Wonderful! Evie tells me you’re a lovely rider and such a good swimmer.”

  Her compliment made Beatrice relax slightly. “I am.”

  Evie stood up. “Jordie, I won’t be gone long. I’ll write down Aunt Mary’s number. You can call me anytime.”

  “I’ll give it to them, Evie,” said Mary. “You go get packed.” She looked more than a little stressed.

  Sella put her hand on Evie’s shoulder. “You go now, quickly, my dear. Beebee and Jordie will be fine with me. You know I’ll look after them good.”

  Evie hugged the housekeeper. “I know that, Sella. You always do.”

  She gave Jordie a warm embrace. “I’ll see you before you know it.” The little boy nodded bravely as tears filled his eyes.

  Evie went to give Beatrice a hug, but the smaller girl shoved her hard. “Just go already!”

  Somehow that made things easier. More normal. Evie ran up the stairs two at a time. She wanted to go back to Parson’s Bridge, but Grayson was so weird and she hated leaving her siblings with him. They’ll be fine, she told herself. Just fine. Paulina was their mother, after all. They should stay with her. And Sella would look after them.

  Once they were in the truck and through the security gates, Aunt Mary let out a huge breath. “I forgot the effect he has on me!” she exclaimed.

  “My father?” asked Evie.

  “Yes. Grayson is a formidable man.”

  “So, what did he say about Kazzam? Is he mad that I took him?” Evie needed to know.

  “Yes, he’s mad. But he knows where the horse is.” Mary blew air through her teeth. “He told me to feed him for now, and that at least he’s not paying for him.”

  “So I can keep him?”

  “I wouldn’t go that far. Let’s just say that he doesn’t want us to drive him back today.”

  Evie sighed. “That’s a start. And did he say anything about us winning the Caledon Race?”

  “Not a thing.”

  It would’ve been too much to ask for a little praise, thought Evie bitterly. Not one of his high-priced jockeys could even stay on!

  “I’m sure he’s very proud of you,” said Mary.

  “I’m sure he doesn’t give a crap.”

  “Don’t be so sure. It’s hard to know what people think.”

  Evie snorted. “How did you convince him to let me go with you?”

  “It was actually his idea. Jordie and Beatrice will be better behaved without your extremely bad influence.”

  Evie felt defensive until she saw the sparkle in her aunt’s eyes. “Not funny. Do I have to live with your awful sense of humour?”

  “Family trait. Get used to it.”

  Evie groaned, but briefly wondered if her mother shared that trait. “So really. Why did he let me go?”

  “I was surprised, I admit. He’s so controlling. But it was his idea. Paulina needs her own children with her for a while. He thought it would be better this way. For a while.”

  “And now the translation.” Evie felt hollowed out, and tried to keep the hurt out of her voice. “Paulina kicked me out and he agreed. And Kazzam was thrown in to sweeten the deal.”

  “But, Evie, dear, you left home yourself first.”

  “It’s not the same at all.” Or maybe it was. She didn’t want to live there, anyway. “I’m so confused.”

  “I’m sure you are, dear. It’ll work out. It always does, one way or another.”

  “I don’t even know what you just said!”

  Aunt Mary chortled. “Just words, Evie. Meant to comfort you.”

  “Thanks.” She watched miserably as the fields went by.

  “Did you like how he told me I wasn’t welcome and to stay out of his business?” asked Mary.

  “That’s my father for you.” Evie chuckled begrudgingly. “You and he talked for a long time. What did he say?”

  “It was mostly a rehash of what he said to me in the hall. That I wasn’t welcome in his world. That he had done everything possible for Angela before she left.”

  “You mean, before he kicked her out.” Like me.

  “He can’t think differently, Evie. It’s his defence. It would kill him to think otherwise, to imagine that he’d been wrong. Or negligent.”

  Evie remembered another thing she wanted to clear up. “It sounds like you’ve been a pest since my mother left.”

  “You mean to Grayson?”

  “Yes. He called you an ‘interfering busybody.’”

  Mary nodded. “I am indeed and will remain so.” She gave Evie a serious look. “I keep trying to right the wrongs, and I’m not ashamed of that. He kept me away from you, though, until you found me.”

  Evie twisted her hair and slumped, full of undiagnosed emotions. Lots to think about. Her throat tightened, but she managed to say, “I’m glad I found you.”

  “I’m glad you did, too, my dear,” said Aunt Mary softly. “I’m glad you did, too.”

  Magpie plunked her head onto Evie’s lap and stared at her with love. She rubbed the dog’s soft ears between her fingers. “Maybe we’ll hear about Magpie’s chip when we get back. I hope nobody’s going to claim her.”

  “She is a lovely dog,” said Mary. “Somebody must be missing her. Don’t get your hopes up too high.”

  Evie had only known Magpie for a day, but the thought of losing her was quite distressing.

  Her mind turned to the reason she’d sought out Aunt Mary in th
e first place. “When do you think we can go see my mother?”

  “How about tomorrow?”

  Evie’s breath caught in her throat. “Tomorrow?”

  “Oh, what was I thinking? Tomorrow is Monday. You’ve got school.”

  Evie shook her head. There was no way she was going back to school. Not now, maybe not ever. A little white lie would solve this. “No, I don’t. It’s a PA day.”

  “Professional Activity? Great. Then why not? The sooner the better.”

  The thought of meeting the woman who was her mother was intimidating, but somehow easier to face than her classmates. “Yes, why not?” she echoed.

  When they drove up the lane at Parson’s Bridge, the sun was just beginning to set. The entire sky was striped with variations of reds and blues, and the little yellow house had turned pink. It’s beautiful, Evie thought. Kazzam, grazing in the field, had a pink halo, and the three horses in the next field were rosy, too.

  “What are your horses’ names?” Evie asked.

  “The tall bay is Paragon. He’s a show jumper. The retired old chestnut with the blaze is Bendigo, and he was a racehorse. The palomino quarter horse mare is Christieloo.”

  “They’re beautiful.”

  Mary nodded, pleased at the compliment. “Thank you. I think so, too. I just got Christieloo. She’s a rescue.”

  “Really? Rescued from what? She looks great.”

  “She wasn’t malnourished, but she was neglected and smacked around. I’m going to start from the beginning and retrain her. She doesn’t accept people telling her what to do yet. She’s very suspicious.”

  “Maybe I can help.”

  “That’d be wonderful. You’ll be an enormous help.”

  Evie felt a thrill in her chest. She looked forward to working with the little mare. She felt sure she could make a difference. Kazzam had been suspicious, too. Very.

  Just then, she remembered the card in her pocket. “I have to call Jerry Johnston.”

  “Jerry?”

  “Yes. I almost forgot. I don’t know why he wants me to call.”

  Mary looked at Evie knowingly. “Let me guess.”

  “What?”

  “Jerry thinks about racing and racing only.”

  “But he doesn’t know....”