The Appearance of Impropriety [The Horsemen] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Skye Michaels

  “Zack, would you please hit ‘play’?”

  “Sure thing,” he said as he ambled over to the CD player strapped to the fence. He hit the button, and the strains of the introductory fanfare he had heard the week before rolled over the arena.

  Tori ran through the entire ride, and as she halted at “X” after the finale, John began his critique. “You need more impulsion coming out of the walk. Lighten your hands and more inside leg on the canter circles. The lengthening on the extended canter should be more definite. The passage wasn’t as good as I’ve seen it. Do the movements of collected canter into pirouette back to collected canter across the diagonal again. This time I want to see the impulsion and collection more graphically. Then do the collected canter to extended canter transitions again also.”

  Zack was beginning to get aggravated. In a teaching or coaching situation, he had always found that a little encouragement mixed with judicious criticism went a long way. This guy seemed to be a tear-down not build-up artist. Maybe I’m just being overprotective. After all, Tori’s a big girl, and she’s worked with this guy for years.

  Tori repeated the different portions of the ride John had requested, subtly altering her performance with each run-through. Zack had to admit that John was getting the required result. The performances of both horse and rider were improving perceptibly. But he didn’t have to like his technique.

  “Tori, I want to see you ride the full routine again to the music. Zack, would you hit play again please.”

  As they watched, it was apparent that Tori had indeed fine-tuned the ride. It was a much more cohesive performance than either the first ride she had done today or the one he had watched at the show. Of course, he was no expert, but he knew what he liked when he saw it.

  “That last ride was really much better,” Zack commented as Tori finished and, totally exhausted, headed back toward the barn, leaving John and Zack to follow.

  “Tori says you were a big help at the show. Are you a dressage rider? I don’t think I’ve heard of you,” John asked dismissively as they walked back to the barn.

  “No, I play polo,” he replied, the hair on the back of his neck starting to bristle.

  “Oh. One of those macho nuts who go rocketing around on the wrong lead cutting people off and generally being a nuisance.”

  “Pardon me?” he said as he lifted an aggressive eyebrow. “I know some of my contemporaries may be a little exuberant, but I don’t ‘rocket around’ on the wrong lead. My horses know right and left lead on a verbal command and do flying lead changes on verbal command as well.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous! Proper cues are given and aids applied, and that is how you get a correct lead.”

  “I beg to differ. If they can learn the words ‘walk,’ ‘trot,’ and ‘canter,’ they can learn ‘right’ and ‘left,’ and I can prove it.” Zack took a deep breath. He wasn’t going to let this arrogant jerk tick him off. He would keep his cool if it killed him.

  * * * *

  Tori could cut the tension between the two men with a knife when they entered the barn. She tried to ease the strain with light chatter, but they both ignored her as she unsaddled Rocky and prepared to turn him over to the groom to be cooled out and hosed down. This is too ridiculous. They’re fighting over me like two dogs with one bone.

  “Gentlemen! What is the problem here?” she said in her best courtroom voice.

  Zack and John both looked up, guilt written all over their faces like two little boys caught with their hands in the cookie jar. I guess it’s true. The difference between men and boys is the size of their toys.

  * * * *

  Zack replied, “John and I were just having a difference of opinion. I told him my horses know right from left on verbal command, and he doesn’t believe it. I was just going to make a little wager with him, if he’s up to it. What do you say, John? Want to put your money where your mouth is?” Why am I doing this? I don’t give a shit what this jerk thinks. Was he that desperate for Tori’s attention? That’s ridiculous. I have her attention in every way that matters.

  “What do you have in mind, Talbot?”

  “Why don’t you come out to my place tonight. You can ride any of my polo ponies. You will give them the verbal commands without any leg cues, and we’ll see what happens. I’ll even throw in dinner. Bring your wife.”

  “What’s the wager?”

  “Whatever you like. Dollars to donuts. I don’t care.”

  “Five hundred bucks says they can’t do it.”

  “It’s a bet,” Zack said as he extended his hand to John.

  * * * *

  Tori was amazed. Zack looked over at her, and she knew she had a dumbfounded look on her face. She couldn’t believe what she had just witnessed—two grown men acting like adolescents. Well, I guess they’re both in for a surprise. Tori laughed with glee. John was going to lose some cash, and he could well afford it. And Zack, the jealous fool, was in for the shock of his life. She couldn’t wait. She had supreme confidence in Zack. She knew he wasn’t a braggart and wouldn’t issue a challenge he couldn’t meet. John could be a little overbearing at times, but he got the results she wanted, so she was willing to overlook his little foibles. This was going to be fun!

  Chapter Twenty

  Tori had a frown on her face when they got back into the car. “What’s up with you, Zack?”

  “What do you mean?” he asked with an innocent look.

  “Don’t be obtuse. Why are you doing this? I hope you aren’t jealous of John. That would be patently ridiculous.”

  “I’m not jealous. I just thought it would be fun to bring him down a peg or two. What an arrogant jerk. I am not a ‘macho nut’ who rockets around on the wrong lead.”

  “Did he really say that? Well, be that as it may, he’s one of the best trainers around. I don’t have to like everything about him, but he’s done wonders for both Rocky and me, and he really does have a good heart.” She shook her head in disbelief. She was going to let them play this out.

  “Why don’t you spend the night. I’ll have the chopper take us down to Miami in the morning. We’ll barbecue something for dinner—I guess I can find some crow for John…”

  “You’re too much. You win. I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”

  While Zack spoke with Manuel in the barn, Tori made herself at home in Zack’s kitchen and began preparations for a barbecue dinner. She started the grill, threw together a huge Caesar salad, chose an excellent bottle of red wine from Zack’s refrigerated wine storage cabinet, took steaks out of the commercial refrigerator to marinate, and set a table on the deck. After everything was in order, she joined Zack in the Jacuzzi for a quick soak. John was not expected until about five o’clock. If, of course, he could find “Bad Road.” That’s it! That’s Zack’s revenge. He’s going to make John drive his white Mercedes down that god-awful road. Now that is devious. Tori smiled to herself. She hadn’t had so much fun in a dog’s age. This was going to be good.

  As expected, John arrived in a snit over the state of the driveway. No civilized person had a driveway ten miles long. It seemed like ten miles anyway, with all that dust. Zack was just coming into the great room to lay a fire in the fireplace as Tori ushered John and Jacques into the room.

  “Zack, I’d like you to meet John’s wife, Jacques DuBois,” she said with a cordial smile that belied the gleam of mischief in her emerald-green eyes as she presented the pleasant-looking blond gentleman.

  * * * *

  Zack was speechless. It didn’t happen often, but this was definitely one of those times. He couldn’t believe his eyes. John and Jacques! A couple? A couple of what was a better question. Like so many really masculine men, Zack was more than a little uncomfortable when presented with a homosexual couple. He knew it wasn’t politically correct, and he did his best to not let it color his reactions. The little green monster that had reared his ugly head earlier had disappeared.

  * * * *

  Tori was grinning to h
erself. John and Jacques, who had been together for many years and were an accepted part of the Wellington horse community, considered themselves married. It might still be thought to be unconventional by some, but it worked for them. Their arrangement barely raised an eyebrow anymore.

  Tori had to give Zack credit. He pulled himself together admirably and greeted his guests with more aplomb than she had expected, shaking hands with both men. Actually she was proud of him. She knew she would have to pay for this later….oh, but the look on his face when she introduced Jacques as John’s wife was worth any payback.

  “Okay, John. Let’s get this wager business out of the way first. After you’ve lost your money, we’ll have a great dinner and get to know each other.”

  “Don’t be overconfident, Talbot. You haven’t got my money yet.”

  Tori and Jacques exchanged knowing looks. Boys would be boys. All four trooped out to the main barn where Manuel, Zack’s right-hand man, had groomed several ponies. They were ready for John to make his choice before he saddled one. Zack said, “Your choice, John. If none of these look good to you, you can chose another.”

  John looked over the ponies standing outside their stalls. All were beautifully groomed, their coats gleaming. They were all in excellent condition, if a bit thinner than the average dressage or pleasure horse. The work they did tended to produce a leaner, more muscular animal. “I’ll try that chestnut filly,” John stated after looking Carly over and running his hands down her legs in a familiar horseman’s gesture.

  “Good choice. Her name’s Carly, and she’s a four-year-old thoroughbred. She’s 15.2 hands, and I hope she won’t get too much taller before she’s through growing. She can be a little headstrong, but she has a lot of heart. Manuel, if you’ll do the honors, we’ll wait out by the ring.”

  They gathered at the rail of the lighted riding ring and waited for Carly to be saddled and brought out. John exhibited no nerves, although his pride and five hundred dollars were on the line. Tori had to give him credit.

  “Here’s my girl. Just hop on, John, and warm her up a bit. Get the feel of her. She’s used to being neck reined with the left hand, although it shouldn’t matter which hand you use. She’ll tolerate a lot of leg, but it isn’t necessary.”

  John mounted Carly and started her off in a walk around the ring. After a few minutes, he was trotting her. Tori thought she had a nice forward movement for a horse not trained in dressage, although not what John was used to. He made circles and did a few figure eights in each direction. Tori could see that John was surprised at the caliber of the horse but that clearly he was thinking he would end this evening five hundred dollars richer.

  “Okay. Whenever you’re ready, from a dead stop, walk, or trot, just say ‘right’ in a firm voice, and she’ll pick up a right-lead canter. She’s a youngster, so if she rushes and gets it wrong, just let her go on for a minute, and then tell her to ‘change.’”

  Much to everyone’s surprise, except obviously Zack’s and secretly Tori’s, on voice command, Carly picked up a one-step canter on the correct lead in each direction as John alternated first to the right and then to the left. Then Zack suggested that John ask for a flying lead change by telling Carly to ‘change’ and she immediately changed leading legs at a canter, not once but several times.

  John dismounted and patted Carly on the neck enthusiastically. He looked a little chagrinned, but he was a good sport. “I guess you can always learn something new, Zack. I have to admit I didn’t think it was likely that your horses would know right from left and that surely a polo player wouldn’t be the one to train them to do it. Anyway, here’s the money I owe you,” he said as he put several folded bills in Zack’s pocket. “You can see I came ready to pay up, just in case,” he said as he offered to shake hands.

  * * * *

  “That’s really not necessary,” Zack said as he took John’s extended hand, a little chagrinned himself. Now that the wager was over, he was embarrassed to have been pushed into such an immature undertaking by his jealousy. That little green monster was powerful. Tori certainly hadn’t given him any cause to be jealous, but then she hadn’t stopped him when she could have either.

  “Yes, it is necessary. It was a wager fair and square. We shook on it. A gentleman always pays his gambling debts.”

  “How about if I match it, and we donate a grand to Horses for the Handicapped or some other therapeutic riding program?”

  “That’s a wonderful idea,” Tori piped up. “Hand it over, and I’ll take care of sending it in to HFH tomorrow. I’m proud of both of you.” Tori took John’s arm and grabbed Zack’s hand and steered them all back to the house. “Let me throw the steaks on. I guess we’re all starved.”

  Zack gave Tori a telling look as he passed her on his way into the kitchen to open the wine Tori had chosen. Her return look could be interpreted as “Don’t mess with me, big guy. You’re in over your head.” He grinned back a silent message that said, “Don’t bet on it.”

  * * * *

  Tori thought that the steaks were excellent—tender and grilled to perfection. The fresh Caesar salad was tangy and crisp. The evening air was a bit chilly, and after finishing dinner, they took their glasses of wine and went into the great room where the fire was blazing. John and Jacques expressed a desire to see the rest of the house, and while Zack showed them around, Tori put the dishes in the dishwasher and straightened the kitchen. The unaccustomed feeling of domesticity gave her a little thrill. She smiled to herself as she folded the damp dish cloth over the kitchen faucet, and then she propped herself in the corner of one of the tan leather couches with her wine glass.

  The men joined her shortly, and the conversation was easy. Tori was glad that Zack seemed to have gotten over his jealousy, and his slight case of homophobia had been aborted. He really seemed to be enjoying John and Jacques. They were nice people, and they had apparently warmed up to Zack as well.

  “Tori’s coming up next weekend for a polo match. We’re going to tailgate on Sunday afternoon. There will be a bunch of people with my teammates’ wives and families and other friends. I’d like to have you join us if you can.”

  “That would be fun. If you can schedule a lesson for me on Saturday morning, John, then I’ll have time to get it all together,” Tori chimed in.

  “Don’t worry about having to do anything,” Zack replied. “The only thing you have to get together is your outfit.”

  “John and I would love to come,” Jacques replied, giving John no chance to refuse. He clearly wasn’t about to miss this. Tori thought he’d probably had enough of stuffy, classical dressage, and this promised to be an interesting party.

  “Great. Wouldn’t miss it for anything. Should I be prepared to wager?” John asked with a grin. “I’d rather bet on you than against you the next time, Talbot.”

  “I’ve heard it said that some dollars do change hands at these affairs,” Zack said with a smile. “I, however, am too busy winning the match to worry about wagering.”

  Tori and Zack saw their guests to the door amid kisses and handshakes. Zack put his arm around Tori’s shoulder as they waved them off with the promise to send out a search and rescue party if they weren’t heard from by morning.

  As the door closed, Zack pulled Tori into a tight embrace, tilted his head back, and said, “You really are full of it, you know?”

  “Full of what?”

  “Meadow muffins, road apples, horseshit.” He grinned back.

  “Next time you’ll think twice about being jealous. One picture is worth a thousand words, as they say.”

  “No…one kiss is worth a thousand words,” he said as he tugged her off toward the bedroom, his intentions perfectly clear. Payback is a bitch! She grinned as she stumbled along behind him.

  * * * *

  The morning dawned clear and bright. Tori rolled over in Zack’s arms a supremely satisfied woman. I love waking up next to this man. It was so warm and comfortable, so safe and secure. It made her heart s
kip a happy beat.

  A quick breakfast eaten on the way out the door had to suffice as Zack and Tori climbed up into the black and white Bell Jet Ranger helicopter. “Tom, I think there’s room for you to land on Tori’s front lawn. If you think it’s too tight, there’s plenty of room in the cul-de-sac on the next street.”

  “Fine, Mr. Talbot. We’ll check it out, sir.”

  “My neighbors will never be the same after this, Zack. Hovering helicopters before 8:00 a.m. are not the usual thing in Coral Gables.”

  “I know, but they’ll get over it. You’ll be in the office by nine o’clock if you hustle,” he said as they lifted off the helipad behind the house and banked off to the south. The sun was barely over the horizon, and mist was still hanging over the pastures as horses and cattle grazed contentedly.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Bob Grossman’s long time secretary, Cindy Johnson, walked into his office on Monday morning carrying a black lacquer tray containing a steaming cup of coffee and a newspaper. Bob looked up in surprise and said in a suspicious voice, “I thought you didn’t do coffee.” This can bode nothing but ill. “Do you want a raise?” he asked with a grimace.

  “No, I only do coffee on special occasions. I thought you’d like to see the paper,” she said with a surreptitious grin.

  Bob took a sip of the steaming coffee and glanced at the paper. “This is yesterday’s paper. Let’s hear it, Cin. What’s up?”

  “Look closer.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake. I don’t believe it.” Bob was in shock as he took in the picture of Zack Talbot and Victoria Alvarez on the Herald society page. “I don’t believe it,” he repeated, shaking his head in amazement.

  “I recognized that handsome face immediately, but was I surprised when I read the caption and saw who his date was.”