by Danni Roan
“I don’t know anyone who would be willing to ride that nag,” Mel started, then stopped mid-sentence when she saw the gleam in her brother’s eye. “What are you up to?” Her green gaze narrowed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Melissa Elise,” Reese replied, but his smirk said something else.
Mel nudged her horse into a canter with her crop, leaving Reese to struggle with both his mount and the ugly roan.
Reese pulled his leggy chestnut to a halt at Mrs. Johnson’s front door. He was shocked to see his sister already walking back down the front stairs pulling her gloves on.
“She’s not coming,” Mel called flatly, but Reese could see that she was upset.
“Is everything alright?” Reese struggled to keep his voice soft. “Does she need a doctor? I’m not qualified yet but…”
The twist of Mel’s mouth had him closing his with a snap.
“Mrs. Johnson told me that Mae has a headache but will be able to see me in a few days.”
“Days?” Reese blinked at his sister. “Mae?”
Melissa waited patiently for a groom to bring her a mounting block before climbing back into the saddle.
“Reese, you look like a cod fish, please close your mouth.”
“Mel, this is ridiculous. Mae is not riding because she has a headache. I’ve never heard anything so preposterous.” Awkwardly, he turned his mount to follow his sister.
“Miss Middleton,” a quiet voice called. “It’s me, Ginny.”
Melissa pulled her horse to a stop near the hedge the girl was peeking around.
“She ain’t got a headache, Miss,” the girl’s voice only a whisper.
“Where is she, then?” Reese pushed closer to the girl, fencing her in with the abundance of horseflesh. “Is something wrong?”
The girl pressed her lips into a hard line, “She’s well enough and all Sir, but her aunt’s in a snit.” For a moment, the thin girl covered her mouth a frightened look in her eyes. “I’m sorry Miss, Sir, I don’t mean to…”
“It’s alright, Ginny,” Mel’s voice was kind, “No one needs to know.”
“Well, Miss Mae angered her last night at dinner. Mrs. Johnson wanted her to wear a dress that was cut very low.” The girl blushed, “I gave Miss a lace collar that covered everything nicely and now Mrs. Johnson won’t let her leave her room.”
A snarl rumbled from Reese’s throat. “Why that old...”
“Ssh!” Mel snapped. “Thank you, Ginny. You’d best get back before you’re missed. Tell Mae we’ll be back in two days.”
“Yes, Miss,” Ginny said, curtsying before she scurried away.
“Mel, what are we going to do?” Reese turned to look back at the house. “She can’t do that.”
“We are going riding,” Mel replied, “and yes she can do that. Mrs. Johnson is in charge of Mae’s wellbeing at this time.” She let her horse move into a trot as they moved toward the street.
“It isn’t right, Mel.”
“I didn’t say it was right. I said it is what it is.” She looked at her brother and smiled. “Now tell me what you’re really up to, bringing that horrid animal with you.”
Reese smiled wickedly. “You’ll just have to wait and see, dear sister.” He punctuated his sentence with a wink, before he turned out the gate.
“Reese?” a gravelly voice called from above, making Melissa start.
“Step down here, will you, Sean?” Reese’s smile could be heard in his voice.
“Melissa, I believe you know Mr. Blakely, Mae’s cousin.”
“Yes, I do, but where is he?”
From the shadows the lithe, dark form of Sean Blakely dropped to the pavement with barely a sound, causing the horses to shuffle restlessly.
“A pleasure to see you again, Miss Middleton,” he offered, tipping his bowler cap with a bright smile. “Your brother sent a note for me to meet him here, but failed to tell me why.”
His deep forest green eyes turned toward Reese.
“The idea was for you to go riding with us,” Reese said, lifting the reins. “Mae was supposed to come but is now…”
“Mae is indisposed and not able to join us,” Mel interrupted. “Nothing serious, of course, but we’d be delighted for you to ride with us.”
“Who was that girl you were speaking to at the house?” Sean asked suspiciously.
“That’s Ginny, Mae’s maid.”
The young man shook his head. “Mae’s maid. Ma would have a fit if she knew, and Nona’d be scandalized.”
“Things are different here,” Reese said. “I know Mae’s used to far more independence back home, but that’s not the way things are in Boston.”
“I didn’t mean to be rude.” Sean lifted his eyes to Mel.
“Here,” Reese lifted the reins to the young man before him. “I’m still not really sure if this beast belongs to me or your cousin, but I thought that at least he could be of use to you.”
Melissa watched as Sean studied the animal and couldn’t help but laugh at the raised eyebrows in his dark face.
“He is a sight, isn’t he?” she offered.
“Yes, but he looks sound enough.” In one smooth motion, he threw himself into the saddle and settled his feet in the stirrups.
Reese looked at his sister who was looking at him. “Where are we going?” The other man asked, not catching the significance of the sibling’s glances.
“I had planned on all of us going riding together.” Reese finally spoke as they moved toward the riding park. “I know you seldom get to see Mae.” He paused for thought. “We’ll manage it next time.”
“That was very thoughtful. I’m terribly busy at the college but I do miss seeing Mae. I worry about her.”
Melissa’s laughter made both men look. “Mae will be just fine.”
“How do you know?” their voices mingled.
“Because she’s Mae.”
***
“Did she understand?” Mae asked as soon as Ginny had closed the door behind her. “What did Jemma tell her?”
“Miss Middleton said she’d be back in two days and not to fret. Mrs. Johnson told her you had a headache,” Ginny smiled shyly. “She didn’t believe a word of it, Miss.”
Mae sagged onto the bench at the foot of her bed. “Thank goodness. I don’t know what I’d do if Mel stopped being my friend.”
“That won’t happen, Miss,” Ginny reassured. “Her handsome brother was with her,” she added with a grin.
“Reese is always with Mel; he feels it’s his duty to watch over her,” Mae said absently.
“Your cousin Sean joined them as they were leaving as well,” Ginny said. “He’d been sitting on the wall and then rode off with them on a funny looking, reddish white horse.”
“Sean?” Mae asked, finally showing some interest.
“Tall with black hair and a beautiful smile.”
Mae studied the young woman before her, noting her down cast eyes and flushed face, perhaps the excitement was all too much for a timid soul. “That sounds like my cousin, Sean, the one who brought me Bagger.” she finally spoke. “Oh, it would have been so nice to see him,” she added sadly.
“Yes, Miss,” Ginny replied absently.
“Well, there is no point moping about it now, we will just have to entertain ourselves today,” Mae spoke again. “I’m sad I can’t be with my friends, but I’m sure we can find something to do.”
Aunt Jemma fainted dead away when she saw what the girl had done to her hair the next day.
Chapter 14
“I am studying veterinarian medicine,” Mae kept her voice still and calm as she spoke to her aunt.
“Animals are not the type of thing a young lady should be messing with,” Jemma retorted. “It’s not fitting.”
“Aunt Jemma, my mind is made up. I’m here to learn something that will be useful at the Broken J and veterinarian medicine will be very useful. Besides, Sean is studying it, so why can’t I?”
“Becau
se it is a disgusting profession only fit for…” Jemma stopped eyeing Mae. “I mean to say it’s only fit for men. It is entirely too taxing a job for the weaker sex. Besides, you came here to better yourself.” She smiled sweetly as if trying to keep the peace. “You’re a beautiful young lady, Mae. You’ll marry well and bring wealth and respectability to your whole family.”
“My family is already respectable,” Mae bridled. “Pa and Benji have even been to Cheyenne to meet the governor and the James family is well known in Casper and other small towns in Wyoming.”
“I’m sure that’s true, but just the same dear, you are a lady now and will study something appropriate like the household sciences.” She patted Mae’s arm as if dealing with a fractious child. “I don’t know why you need to go to college at all,” she simpered.
“I’ve already waited nearly a year, Aunt Jemma, and classes start again in August.”
“I don’t see your friend Miss Middleton going off to college,” Jemma sniped.
“Pa sent me here to study,” Mae said, exasperated.
“Yes and young ladies do not study veterinarian medicine,” the older woman glared at her niece.
Mae could see that her aunt’s mind was made up and that there was not use arguing with her further. “Whatever you say, Auntie,” She finally replied. “Now you wouldn’t want me to be late for my outing with the Middleton’s would you?” she added. If she were to be treated like a child, she would play the part.
Mae stepped out the front door, still yanking her riding gloves on and stormed down the stairs to where a groom held her horse. “Thank you,” she snapped tersely, taking the reins and allowing herself to be helped into the saddle.
“Someone’s in a mood,” Melissa Middleton whispered to her brother and Carl, who sat silent in their saddles.
Without even a greeting Mae pulled her bay mare around and galloped down the drive.
“Reese?” Mel snapped, waving a hand in Mae’s direction, “Go after her.”
Pulling his chestnut gelding around, Reese spurred the animal after the girl who was now halfway down the lane.
“Shouldn’t we go after them, Miss?” Carl spoke, as he awkwardly reined his horse around, slapping its sides with his legs.
Melissa pulled her gloves a little tighter, adjusted her seat and replied, “No.”
“But, Miss, what if she gets hurt?”
“Carl, I commend your concern for my friend, but it is not her safety I am thinking of. If we were to go chasing after her, I am confident that it would not be Mae we were picking up off of the street, but you.” She pinned him to his saddle with a glare, then urged her horse forward.
Reese let the chestnut have its head and soon he was catching up to Mae. Her bay horse was fast, but the chestnut loved to run. He was only a length behind when her horse turned onto the quiet residential street.
“Mae, slow down,” he shouted, enjoying the chase but not wanting anyone else to be injured if something should happen, but instead of slowing, the woman before him leaned low in her saddle and urged her horse to go faster.
It was like chasing the wind. The big chestnut gelding stretched his neck, laying his ears flat as he pounded along the pavement, but with every stride the out-matched bay still held her lead.
Mae was nearly laying down along the horse’s neck now, black mane lashing her face as she whispered into the horse’s ear.
Gritting his teeth, Reese spurred his mount for more speed and the chestnut lurched and churned forward, gaining the mare’s hip.
“Mae,” He called again, hoping the girl would slow before she ran someone down, but still she raced on, turning toward the park gate at breakneck speed.
A sudden shifting of the surface of the heavy riding habit where it covered Mae’s posterior was the only warning Reese had of what was coming. On instinct alone, he shifted his weight to his stirrups and guided his horse over the seven-foot-tall fence of the riding park right behind Mae.
Silvery laughter overrode the sound of his own blood pounding in his ears as he pulled his horse to a heaving stop next to his prey.
Mae James threw her head back and laughed, a rich tinkling sound that washed over him like a hot flood.
She’d brought Maud to a stop, and was patting the mare’s neck as she eased her onto the riding path at a slow pace.
“Mae James, what were you thinking?” Reese could hear the quiver in his voice. “You could have killed yourself. You could have killed me!”
His horse danced under him nervously, picking up on his agitation and requiring his full attention for a few moments.
“Did I scare you Reese?” the girl asked, her eyes still full of joy from the thrill of the ride.
“Yes, as a matter of fact you did,” he answered crossly as he pulled his lathered horse up beside hers. “Whatever made you do such a thing?”
“Whoa, Maud,” Mae said, pulling her mare to a stop and turning to look at him. “I really did scare you, didn’t I?” she asked, her eyes wide with sudden realization. “I didn’t mean to frighten anyone,” she added, moving her horse close to his and resting her hand on his arm.
“I’m, I’m sorry,” she implored, her eyes full of regret that tugged at his heart.
“Well I suppose there’s no harm done,” he said, even while a little voice in his head told him he should give her a piece of his mind on the matter.
“I was never in any danger,” Mae said. Her hand was still resting on his sleeve, causing the skin beneath his coat to tingle. The honesty in her eyes did something funny to his chest, and he cleared his throat trying to find his voice.
“Maud and I take jumps like that all the time in the corral, I never thought anything about it.” Her sudden jerk on the reins made her mare back-peddle several steps before stopping.
“Reese, I could have killed you,” her voice shook. “I didn’t give you any warning at all. What if your horse had balked at the fence?” She lifted the hand that just moments ago had rested so warmly on his forearm to her lips.
“It’s alright, Mae,” he said gently. This time it was Reese who reached out to her, pulling her hand down and squeezing it.
“Mel would have never forgiven me if I’d killed you.”
The words were like an icy blast to Reese’s ego. “Damnation, girl,” he said in frustration, then apologized when he saw the confusion on her face.
“I truly am sorry, Reese,” Mae said, a bright tear appearing in her eye.
“Never mind.” He squeezed her hand again. “Whatever made you so angry to go racing all this way in the first place?” He urged his mount closer as together they began ambling back the way they had come.
“Aunt Jemma, of course,” Mae sighed and slouched in the saddle, her face turned heavenward as if in supplication.
“What is it this time, perhaps I can help?” He pitched his voice in hopes it sounded reassuring.
“It’s all about attending college.” Mae sat up straighter, turning to him. “Aunt Jemma insists that I can’t study veterinarian medicine, but that is exactly what I want to do. There must be a way.”
“Mae, I don’t believe they allow women to study in that field. It’s grueling work and back-breakingly hard.”
“That’s it!” Mae cried excitedly.
“What’s it?” Reese knew he had missed something, but had no clue what, and he had no time to explore it as a new voice intruded on their party of two.
“Yes, Mae what is ‘IT’ exactly?” Sean Blakely rode up the path on the ugly roan cart horse Reese had sent on for him to ride, sitting easily in the small saddle.
“Sean!” Mae, squealed, “Oh Sean, you are just the person we needed to see, how did you ever find us?”
“I heard there was a commotion on this end of the park, so assumed that you had arrived, what else cousin.”
Mae leaned out of her saddle to kiss her cousin on the cheek as he pushed his horse up next to hers.
“Sean, I know how I can study to be a veterinaria
n with you.”
Sean scowled, “Mae, women don’t study that subject.”
“That’s what Reese said, but that’s what makes it so perfect.”
“How is that perfect?” the two men turned bewildered eyes on her, then glanced across at each other over her horse’s neck.
“It’s simple; I won’t go as a woman.” Her smile was bright and hopeful and her eyes sparkled. “Reese you’ll help too, won’t you, even if I did almost kill you?”
“Who’s killing whom?” Melissa’s voice cut through the conversation. “If it’s my brother, don’t think that I haven’t already considered it, but father said if I did I wouldn’t inherit anything, so please let’s keep him around a while longer.” Mel turned her horse to the side of the path to let two other riders pass, and smiled at her companions.
“Mel, I’m truly sorry, I didn’t mean any harm and I never even thought until we were over the fence.”
Melissa raised a pert blonde eyebrow at her brother, who nodded. “Yes, she sailed right over the fence and I followed.”
“Please don’t be angry Mel, I didn’t mean to almost kill Reese, and besides he’s fine, see.” She pointed at the man as if to prove her point.
Melissa Middleton began to laugh. “Mae, you are a gem. How could anyone be angry with you? As for my brother, I’m sure he can look after himself. He manages to find his way home each night doesn’t he?”
“Does he?” Mae questioned, looking at Reese who shifted uncomfortably in his saddle.
“It doesn’t matter anyway, no one was hurt,” Reese rushed, “no harm done, and besides Mae was just going to explain to us how she is going to study veterinarian medicine at the University of Boston with her cousin, Sean.”
“She was?” Mel, asked sounding delighted.
All eyes turned to Mae, who instead of looking ashamed, beamed at them.
Turning toward home, Melissa let her horse slow and moved in beside Carl McCain, letting Mae and her cousin catch up while Reese trailed behind them, an odd expression on his face. As they pulled their mounts to a stop, Mae looked at each member of the group.
“Does everyone know what you’re to do?” she asked cheerfully. Sean scowled, his forest green eyes dark with doubt. When no one replied, Mae waved and pointed Maud up the drive.
