The Girl in the Window

by Douglas, Valerie

  Josh stood close at hand by the gate with the squirming puppy tucked against his body.

  The horse regarded her first with one eye and then the other.

  Reaching into her pocket Beth pulled out a carrot and held it out to him.

  She waited.

  Fair paced, first one way and then the other.

  Beth could see what Josh meant now about Fair’s gait, the way his feet struck out so crisply, the way his muscles moved so smoothly beneath his hide.

  He was grace in motion, fluid, beautiful to watch, his tail streaming a little in the breeze of his passage.

  The beauty of him caught her breath.

  Suddenly he stopped, turned and looked at her.

  He tossed his head, shook it almost reluctantly, then he sighed and walked toward her.

  When he was close enough to reach he stretched his neck to take the proffered carrot.

  Beth smiled.

  Chapter Eleven

  It was so clean, so new. The stainless steel of the counters, sinks, and appliances gleamed. The floor was spotless. The space smelled fresh, clean still. Beth knew she’d only see it like this this once, but that was all right. She patted her pocket where the keys to the building resided and walked to the back with a glance through the door outside to the common room, as brand spanking new as the rest of the building that awaited the residents to come. She went to answer the knock that had summoned her and opened the door to the delivery man.

  He’d brought help with him for this very first delivery.

  They carried in the boxes of vegetables and fruits as they were the most perishable. She directed them to unload the boxes into the proper bins and refrigerator drawers as they brought in the canned goods and boxes, as well as the shakers of individual and mixed spices she’d ordered. They were the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to introduce some vitamins and minerals into the diet. And they made things taste good, too.

  She remembered the way Josh had reacted to her sandwich and how the boys had enjoyed her spaghetti. And all the meals since. There was satisfaction in that.

  Maybe it wasn’t the old dream, the one she’d made with Matt, but perhaps she could make some new ones.

  There was something to be made here.

  Maybe.

  For a moment she stood there, fighting a moment of panic.

  What if she couldn’t handle it?

  She locked the fear down firmly, held control of it before it could rage out of control, and looked around again. She could do this. Would do this.

  One step at a time.

  If nothing else, it was all neat, clean, properly stored, and put away.

  They’d hired her, she knew, as much because she was cheaper than the others who’d applied as for her experience, gained working the summers at restaurants during college. Jobs that had also helped pay the bills.

  In a few days the residents would arrive and be assigned to their rooms, they’d told her. As she drove home she fought flashes of anxiety. Would she be able to manage? Would they like the food she prepared?

  Beth was already considering having Wolf trained as a therapy dog, although the manager of the home had already designated him one with a wink and a smile. It was hard to imagine the happy puppy not being good for people.

  And if he grew to be as big as promised, some of them could use him as a walker, she thought with a grin.

  Happy yips and barks greeted her from inside the house as she walked to the door, Wolf having heard her car in the drive.

  Opening the door for him, he tumbled out. She laughed and grabbed him before he fell down the rest of the steps in his excitement.

  He took advantage of the opportunity to wash the parts of her face he could reach thoroughly and enthusiastically.

  She set him on the ground and he dashed to the grass to do his business.

  While he did she walked around the house, pinching off dead flowers, picking some vegetables from the garden. As big as Wolf might be, but he wasn’t yet big enough to make the steps up into the house easily, so she picked him up to carry him inside with her.

  All the while there was a sense of anticipation, a nervous energy running through her.

  Today was the day in more ways than one.

  Putting some food out for the dog, she slipped an extra treat for the horse into her back pocket.

  The puppy attacked the food like he was starving, as usual.

  Already the day was growing warm, but she didn’t mind so much. Heat and cold rarely bothered her.

  “C’mon, dog,” she said.

  Wolf looked up from his lunch, his black eyes bright as he bounded after her.

  Racing to the door, barking in anticipation, as always he tumbled down the steps as much as bounded down them, but already it was getting easier for him. He was growing so fast.

  He raced ahead of her across the yards into the weeds leading to the yard next door.

  Beth followed more slowly.

  Josh must have been watching for her because he came out of the barn even as she started across the grass.

  For a startling moment her breath caught just to look at him, at his broad shoulders, strong arms and lean body, the thin white t-shirt accentuating that and his farmer’s tan. Some off-hand comment Will had made had seemed to indicate that Josh had some native heritage, too, and in that moment Beth thought she could see it in his cheekbones, despite his blond hair.

  It was shockingly intense, that moment, but she put it aside and kept walking.

  He was beautiful, though, and she wasn’t thinking about the horse.

  Then Josh smiled and she almost stopped breathing altogether.

  “How did it go?” he asked, knowing it was her first day at the home.

  Involuntarily her hand went to her stomach, to the nerves that threatened there, but she smiled in answer to his.

  “All set and ready,” she said. “It’s all so clean, so new.”

  “You’ll do fine,” he said, and startled her by giving her a quick one-armed hug and a kiss on the forehead. “We’re all here for you if you need us.”

  Russ and Will had said much the same thing.

  She blinked in surprise as she suddenly realized that it was true and her throat locked.

  Warmth washed through her, too, at the gesture, and she ducked her head.

  She could still feel Josh’s arm around her, his lips on her forehead as if they had been branded there, even as she stepped away from him.

  Gestures of affection always took her by surprise, caught her off guard, but this was different.

  It had been an impulse to hug her, one Josh almost instantly regretted, except that to his astonishment and delight she hadn’t pulled away. He thought he saw a faint blush color her cheeks as she ducked her head. She bit her lip, but he also thought he saw her lips curve in a faint smile.

  He resisted the urge to cheer.

  “All right,” he said, briskly, moving on before she had too much time to think either about what had just happened or what was about to.

  They’d talked about it, rehearsed it.

  Beth was aware that the boys – that Russ, Will and Tony – were in the barn, just in case.

  Regardless of anything else, Fair was a big animal, and he could be dangerous as they all knew. This would be a big step and no one wanted to risk her getting hurt.

  “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Josh asked.

  Beth nodded.

  This was the scary part, for all of them.

  Including Fair.

  Josh took the harness off his shoulder, draped it over hers, and fought the urge to hug her again. The leather traces seemed to dwarf her.

  He looked at her.

  She smiled and nodded.

  They’d gotten Fair accustomed to her coming inside the gate, but the horse was still alert to her presence, a little excited in anticipation of a treat, but aware, too, somehow, that something was different.

  As she had before, Beth left the harne
ss over her shoulder, standing and waiting patiently with the carrot in her hand while another waited in her back pocket.

  Slowly, ears flicking, Fair ambled over, eyeing her a little cautiously.

  “It’s nothing we haven’t done before, horse,” she said to him softly. “Nothing you haven’t done in the past.”

  He took the offered treat while she stroked his nose, the long arching curve of his neck.

  After a moment, Josh joined them.

  “Will you let us do this, Fair?” she asked, her stomach a bundle of nerves.

  The horse eyed her as she let the harness slip off her shoulder and into her hands. This she’d done before, too.

  Carefully, she gathered it properly, held it to let him see it.

  Then, slowly, she brought it over his nose, and to her and everyone’s astonishment he lowered his head so she could fit it over his ears. He waited patiently while she buckled it in place with Josh’s help. Together they settled the harness over him. The horse nudged her for his other treat.

  Stunned, a little in awe, she laughed, brought out the carrot and gave it to him, stroking his cheek.

  “Good boy,” she whispered, and patted his neck.

  The reality of it, of the ease of it, of the task being accomplished, had her walking on air. It was an effort not to run, not to make any sudden moves that would startle him.

  Josh opened the gate, grinning. It was clear it wasn’t the first time Fair had been harnessed, something that had worried him. If it was a new thing, it would throw his training off by months. Fair was already behind his age group, they had a lot of ground to make up.

  But not as much as he’d feared it seemed.

  That training track Josh was having Russ lay out on some bottom land in anticipation of just this moment might see some use after all.

  Grinning back Beth jumped on Josh in excitement, throwing her arms around his neck to kiss him on the cheek.

  “We did it!” she said.

  The puppy started barking and racing around.

  Long used to that, Fair hardly flinched.

  Josh was so excited himself, and so startled by the kiss, that for a moment he could only hold onto her, looking down into her delighted, laughing face.

  Those watching in the barn were almost as excited. Will and Tony high-fived each other.

  All but Russ, although he was clearly pleased.

  A hard hand clamped down on Will’s shoulder as he started out of the barn.

  Surprised, Will glanced at Russ.

  “If either one of you move one inch,” Russ said, although his eyes weren’t on either of them, “in the next moment, you’ll answer to me. Kiss her, boy. Kiss the damn girl.”

  Will glanced out the doors, grinned, and then looked at Tony. Who grinned back.

  As one, they stepped further back into the shadows of the barn.

  “Kiss her,” Russ said, in exasperation, peering out through the doors.

  Russ was a romantic.

  Who would have guessed? Will thought.

  Wanting to laugh, wanting to see what happened next, Will peered out the door beside Tony.

  His arms full of Beth, for a moment Josh froze, caught by the light in her eyes, by the beauty of her, and by long days of control.

  But her mouth was right there, soft, laughing, and she felt so good, so right in his arms.

  Right at that moment nothing else mattered, nothing else existed, except Beth.

  Slowly, so as not to startle her, he lowered his head.

  His lips just brushed hers, an invitation, an offer, giving her the chance to turn away.

  It was as if all the air left Beth’s lungs as she looked up into Josh’s eyes.

  The moment between them seemed to stretch endlessly.

  Something shifted, changed between them, blossomed, and then his mouth touched hers.

  A spark shot through her, an almost painful yearning, and she lifted up on her tiptoes, holding him as her lips met his.

  Her heart ached, not with pain this time, but with want and need and a burst of love inside her that was so intense her head swam.

  If Josh had thought that kissing her would be sweet, the thought was nothing against the reality of her in his arms, her mouth against his, her body pliant against his as she kissed him back. A surge of emotion erupted inside him, rushed through him. One arm tightened around her, the other he plunged into her silky hair, and then he was savoring the taste of her, the feel of her.

  “Now,” Russ said, with a nod.

  Better not to let either of them think about it too much.

  Besides, they both knew he and the boys were there, waiting. In a moment, they would remember. It might be awkward.

  This way was better.

  Laughing, Will and Tony ran out, Russ following at a walk.

  “We did it,” Will shouted.

  Josh and Beth broke apart as Will reached out a hand. Josh met it, and Russ clapped his shoulder before he caught Beth up in a bear hug.

  Clearly startled, she didn’t bolt or stiffen, as he’d half expected.

  Russ took a breath, nodded in satisfaction, and then looked at the horse.

  It looked as if they might save him yet.

  Chapter Twelve

  Wolf barked frantically, insistently, the sound irritating, high-pitched puppy barks. Paws skittered as he bounded down the stairs, and then the unmistakable sound of him hitting the dog door Russ had installed. The flap of it. Pulling her pillow over her head, Beth groaned. It was late. Too late for puppy madness.

  Half awake, she frowned. Was that laughter? At this hour?

  She glanced at the clock. It was past two in the morning.

  Hooves pounded, drummed nearly frantically…

  She was pulling a nightgown over her head and running even as the sounds took root in her consciousness.

  No one should be laughing at that hour, not that loudly.

  Her feet were nearly silent on the stairs as she raced down, threw open the front door as it was closest, and ran out.

  A huge pickup truck was parked by the roadside. Its motor rumbled. Headlights speared through the darkness, pointing away from her. The cab was empty.

  There was laughter, odd laughter, from the paddock, and the sound of hooves as the puppy barked hysterically.

  Heedless, Beth ran toward the corral and the sound of both.

  “Josh,” she cried, “Josh! Wolf, come here. Wolf, come here, now!”

  Josh’s house was set further back from the road than hers, the barn somewhat between it and the road, muffling the sounds.

  The shadows cast by the headlights were nightmarish, huge.

  There were three or four of them.

  Wolf charged ahead recklessly to protect his buddy, his round puppy body disappearing into the high grass and the darkness.

  “Wolf!” she cried out.

  He didn’t answer, yipping frantically.

  In the paddock, Fair charged this way and that trying to avoid the laughing, drunken boys as they tried to corral him.

  Looking at the size of them, at the skinny gangly bodies of two of them she had time to think they were surely too young to be that drunk. Their movements were unhinged, loose. If they’d been more sober they would’ve been able to catch Fair more easily.

  Fair. “Stop it,” she cried, “leave him alone.”

  He was just getting used to having his harness on and attached to a training bike.

  They hadn’t yet managed to get Fair in under cover inside the barn. That he’d still refused, tossing his great head up, fighting them, clearly reluctant to go inside the dark cavern.

  That had been another of his problems, he hated being inside despite the shelter it offered.

  Rather than force him, they’d decided to wait, to let him get used to wearing the harness, to the bike, the weight of it as Josh, Russ and Will began his training in earnest.

  One of the boys leaped, caught the halter, and hung on it, bringing Fair’s great proud
head down while another tried to jump on him.

  Everything they did risked undoing weeks of work.

  “He’s not a riding horse,” she shouted, “he’s a trotter, a racehorse. Let him go, get off him.”

  A couple of the boys turned, startled at the sound of her voice.

  They were all bigger than she was, but two seemed older than the others somehow.

  The distant headlights barely illuminated their faces, a chiaroscuro of light and shadow, like masks. Both looked ugly in that hard light, mean, and one had a bottle of something in his hand.

  Charging to the rescue, Wolf shot out of the darkness to nip at the pant leg of one of them, snarling puppy growls.

  “Wolf, no!” she shouted.

  The boy kicked, lashed out hard and viciously at the dog.

  The puppy yelped and tumbled back into the shadows.

  “Wolf!” Beth cried as she ducked between the rails and grabbed for the paddock rake by the gate.

  She put herself between the boys, the horse, and her dog, the boy hanging onto Fair’s halter surprised enough by her sudden presence to let go.

  Suddenly she was her nine-year-old self fighting the evil schoolyard bullies as she had when she was a child, facing them down alone.

  No one was going to frighten her or intimidate her anymore.

  She was terrified for her dog, for Fair, but not for herself.

  The horse milled around behind her, but she wasn’t afraid of him, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her, it was the boys who concerned her.

  She faced them, seeing a pack form and set the wooden rake in her hands.

  They were a bunch of drunken kids, at least one of them fairly well off to judge by the expensive truck, out for a joyride in Daddy’s pick-em-up.

  It was there in their eyes, the viciousness she’d seen in her father sometimes, the hate and the anger, meanness seeking expression. Looking for a target…

  Tossing her hair back, she looked at them, saw the calculation in their eyes, in the way their bodies set, even in the darkness.

  It was going to get ugly, she could feel it in the air, see it on their faces.

  She looked at them as she’d looked at the bully on the playground.