Fatal Charm

by Linda Joy Singleton

  Manzanita Stables was a sprawling ranch with over fifty acres of stalls, pastures, and out-buildings. Frost sparkled from bushes and trees, shining like crystals in the early sunrise. As I stepped out of the truck, I inhaled fresh air mixed with manure and hay smells. Not a smell most people enjoyed, but it reminded me of Nona’s barn.

  Dominic parked in a gravel lot near the staging area where we’d gather to start the ride. Josh had given me a small map showing me the trail route, which would start at the ranch and wind up hills into the wilderness, eventually circling back to the ranch.

  We stepped out of the truck. I looked around for other cars but saw none.

  “I told you we didn’t have to get here so early,” I teased Dominic. “I’ll bet even the horses are sleeping.”

  “They don’t need much sleep.”

  “I do,” I said with a yawn.

  “Sleep all you want tonight under the stars. Want to share my tent?” he asked with a devilish grin.

  “You’re so bad.” I hit his arm playfully. “I’ll be bunking with the girls.”

  “As long as it’s far from your ex.”

  I chuckled. “Jealous?”

  “Should I be?” he challenged.

  “No, but I’d like to know I’m appreciated.”

  “I’ll show you appreciation.”

  He pulled me close and would have kissed me right there in the parking lot if a middle-aged woman wearing a plaid quilted jacket and tawny boots hadn’t shown up.

  “Are you here for the Moonlight campout?” She ran her hand through her short black hair and stepped through a white gate surrounding the front grassy yard of a two-story yellow house. She had a rumpled look and wore no makeup, as if she’d just woken up.

  “Yes.” Dominic nodded. “We’re a bit early.”

  “Much better than being late and holding up the entire group—which happens too often. I’m Francesca Stodder. My husband and I run this spread.” We exchanged introductions and shook hands. She added, apologetically, that they were running late this morning. “A new foal got sick and we’ve been up with the little guy all night.”

  “Is he going to be okay?” Dominic asked, instantly concerned.

  “Yes. The vet just left and the foal is resting. We’ll have to watch him for a while, but he’s a sturdy little fellow. He’ll make it.” She smiled for the first time, which made her look much younger than I’d originally assumed. “Thanks for asking.”

  “Dominic knows lots about horses,” I told her. “He’s studying to be a farrier.”

  “I’ve still got a lot to learn,” Dominic said with a shrug.

  “Been riding long?”

  Dominic nodded. “Long enough. Horses and I understand each other.”

  “Then I’ll make sure Simon gets you a spirited horse, either Skye or Lightning.” Mrs. Stodder glanced over her shoulder at the yellow house. “I better hurry back and get things going. Go on over to the stables and check out the horses until the rest of your group arrives.”

  Dominic didn’t hesitate, hurrying off so I had to run to keep up with him. I didn’t care which horse I was assigned. I’d learned long ago that you were either a horse person or you weren’t. And I wasn’t. Sure, I enjoyed riding and was comfortable riding any trained horse. But I could go months without riding and not miss it. Dominic, on the other hand, had a passion for horses.

  It didn’t take long for Dominic to find an appaloosa named Lightning. He also hit it off with Simon, the tall, forty-something ranch hand Mrs. Stodder had mentioned. Simon had rubbery, weathered skin and was thin except for a middle paunch. He rubbed his goatee as he and Dominic discussed topics like temperaments of different horse breeds, the latest vaccinations, and training techniques.

  Not interested, I wandered from stall to stall, petting horses. A friendly Palomino whinnied at me and once I started to scratch behind her ears, she didn’t want me to stop. I was a sucker for a pushy mare and asked Simon if she could be assigned to me. Simon nodded, adding that her name was Goldie, short for Golden Nugget.

  Soon others from our group arrived.

  The three “Ts,” Tiana, Tiffany, and Tanya, were mentors and best friends. Tiana explained how they signed up for a worthwhile activity each year as a way to have fun together and do something good for the community. They styled their hair alike in French braids and wore shocking pink cowboy boots with rhinestones. Despite their appalling taste in boots, I immediately liked them.

  Cars started arriving, spilling out young campers. Several were siblings, like Evie and her brother Joshua, and Mikayla and her sister Rayanna. Alicia, Vonda, and Tabi looked around ten years old, and they all jumped excitedly, asking a zillion questions about the horses. As more kids gathered, it was hard to remember all their names.

  But I recognized Lindsay right away from Josh’s description and was delighted we were going to be partners. Her black curls bounced as she showed me her scrapbook of horse pictures and a photo of herself from a few years ago on a carnival pony. I laughed when she made a horse’s whinny sound, falling immediately in love with this fun little girl. I really owed Josh big-time for matching us up.

  The other kids were great—well, except for Rocky, who wore baggy, ripped jeans and swaggered with a “gangsta” attitude. He was the oldest kid, about twelve, I’d guess, and nothing was good enough for him. He complained that the air stunk, the stables were too dusty, and the horses were boring.

  While Simon, with some help from Dominic, matched the kids with horses and showed them where to stow their gear, I kept watching the road for Josh. What was keeping him? I knew he liked to sleep in late, but when it came to his commitments, he was always early. So why the delay?

  I turned back to help with the kids. I was assuring Rocky that no one had ever died from the odor of manure when another car pulled up.

  I’d never seen the brown Toyota before, but the little girl and her older brother getting out of the car were dear friends.

  “K.C.! Zoey!” I whooped joyfully and rushed forward. “I didn’t know you were coming!”

  “Sabine!” Zoey cried out as she reached me first and gave me a big hug.

  She was taller than I last remembered and mature for a first grader. Had it been only a month since our last meeting? K.C. looked as average as ever, I thought fondly. He had a way of blending in and not being noticed. When I first met him at school, he’d been homeless, living out of his car and working in the evenings so he could send extra money to Zoey, who was in foster care with her aunt. He wasn’t any older than me but already had huge adult responsibilities.

  “It’s great to see you!” I hugged K.C. “Are you still living with Thorn’s family?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How’s that working out?”

  “Cool.” He grinned. “Although yesterday was weird—serving food in a food kitchen that I used to eat at. I saw some dudes who used to hang on the streets with me. The perks of living with a minister’s family.”

  “Sounds like things are working out for you.”

  “Well, sleeping on a bed instead of in my car is good.”

  “So what brings you here, where you’ll have to sleep on the ground?”

  “Zoey, of course.” He ruffled the curly dark head of his little sister. “She signed up for this ride months ago, and that’s all I’ve heard whenever I visit her. When she found out there weren’t enough teen mentors, she conned me into coming.”

  “You ridden before?”

  “No.” He groaned. “I must be insane.”

  “You’re the best brother ever.” Zoey hugged him. “Come on, let’s pick a horse!”

  K.C. gave a helpless shrug, then allowed Zoey to drag him over to the stables. Having them along would be fun. K.C. was easygoing and hardworking. He had such a quiet manner, people didn’t usually notice him—although I suspected he wished Thorn would notice him. Not that I saw that happening. K.C. was like an earnest puppy, while Thorn was more like a piranha.

  I hea
rd another car and looked up to see Josh’s sports car churning dust and gravel. At last Josh was here. I hadn’t wanted to admit, even to myself, that his delay worried me. I had a flash of him blindfolded as he balanced on a high wire over a sea of sharks and felt like I should warn him about something, but my feeling was vague. Besides, he didn’t believe in psychics. Maybe I was just projecting my own guilt for planning to break up with him. Was I one of the sharks in his treacherous sea? Still, just because we were breaking up didn’t mean I would stop caring about him. We’d always be friends … I hoped.

  The sports car jerked to a stop and the driver’s door flung open.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Josh said in a rush. “But Evan and I had to pick up a last-minute mentor.”

  At the mention of Evan’s name, I frowned. He stepped out of the passenger seat, walking in that macho “I’m an athlete” way, and shot me a sour look. I glared back just so he’d know I wasn’t any happier to see him. We’d long established our animosity. Josh had warned me Evan was coming, and I planned to keep my distance.

  “Sabine, you look great.” Josh came over and brushed a kiss across my lips. “I owe you a huge thanks.”

  “Huh?” I glanced over my shoulder, hoping Dominic hadn’t seen the kiss.

  “She told me you’d be surprised.”

  “She? Who?” Now he had my full attention.

  He pointed to his car, where a girl stepped out of the back seat.

  What the hell was Jade doing here?

  Jade was smiling.

  I wasn’t.

  Once again, my half-sister suckered me into lies and there was nothing I could do without causing an ugly scene. Josh was so happy to have another teen mentor that he practically danced in his boots. And to hear Jade talk about her horse experience, you’d think she’d been born in a stable and teethed on rawhide.

  How had this happened? I’d left Jade sleeping and hadn’t told her about the ride, yet here she was in Josh’s car. Unbelievable!

  “Your boyfriend is just the sweetest guy,” Jade said with a giggle. “He made a special trip just to pick me up.”

  “Glad to.” Josh smiled at her with this dopey expression.

  “I just loooove horses and kids. Being here is a lucky accident.” She flashed this flirty look at Josh and then at Evan. Both guys were hanging on her every gesture.

  “Lucky for us,” Josh said. “Now we have almost as many mentors as kids.”

  “How did you meet Jade?” I asked.

  “I overslept and was running late,” Josh told me. “I wanted to let you know, only when I called your cell phone, your cousin answered. Soon we were talking horses and she told me about her riding lessons and the blue ribbon she won for barrel racing. When she mentioned her volunteer work teaching handicapped kids to ride, I asked her to be a mentor. I don’t know why you didn’t think of it, Sabine.”

  “Yeah, cuz,” Jade said sweetly. “Why didn’t you ask me?”

  “I didn’t want to you to feel obligated because of our … um … relationship,” I said through clenched teeth. “It’ll be rough sleeping outside. I didn’t think you’d like camping.”

  “You thought wrong.”

  “Obviously.”

  I glared, outraged that she’d answered my cell phone and was invading yet another part of my life. I was even more furious when I recognized the embroidered jeans, yellow Western-styled shirt, and brown half-boots she was wearing. My clothes! I seethed inside, especially remembering her snotty comment about not wanting my castoffs. She didn’t want them when I offered, but stealing them—now that didn’t faze her a bit.

  I was tempted to call her something crude, but there were kids around.

  A shrill whistled blasted.

  “Come on over, everyone!” The ranch hand Simon whistled again from a high perch atop the back of a wagon.

  Abruptly, I turned from Jade and stomped over to the assembling riders.

  “Now that everyone’s here,” Simon declared, rubbing his fuzzy goatee, “let’s get this ride started. But first we need to cover some basics. No running or sudden moves because you’ll spook the horses. Do not go behind the horses, you’ll get kicked. Always mount from the left side. And though it may sound cliché, do exactly as Simon says.”

  A few kids chuckled while the older riders groaned.

  Then we were taken over to the horses and shown some basic techniques; mounting, proper reining, and how to flow with the horse’s motion.

  Afterwards, Josh read off a list that matched mentors with riders. Naturally K.C. was paired with his sister Zoey. Evan was matched with a shaven-head boy named Mario. And Josh took two kids: his namesake Joshua and Joshua’s younger sister Evie.

  Josh paired up Dominic to Rocky, the gangsta grouch, and I wondered if this was because of Dominic’s ability to handle difficult kids or revenge. Had Josh guessed something was going on between me and Dominic? But how could Josh know? I was still getting used to it myself. And I’d been careful not to give our secret away. If anything, I went out of my way not to be alone with Dominic.

  More pairs were announced. I already knew who I was matched with, so I didn’t pay much attention. When Josh said Lindsay’s name, I started toward her.

  But the next name he said wasn’t mine.

  “Jade will be Lindsay’s mentor,” Josh stated.

  Lindsay skipped over to Jade, waving her horse scrapbook.

  “Sabine, you’re with Melina,” Josh said as if nothing was wrong. Then he continued on with his list and turned away from me.

  I stood there stunned until Melina tapped me on the back and shyly introducing herself. She was waif-like with light-brown pigtails, olive skin, and round thick glasses.

  “I’m eleven,” she said shyly. “Well, almost eleven. I never ever rode a horse, at least not a real one. Do they bite?”

  I glanced over at Lindsay, who was smiling with Jade, and felt mad enough to bite. Lindsay had no fear of horses. But Melina was so rattled with fears, she didn’t even want to pet her horse. I tried to calm her—not that it worked.

  Melina was a squealer, I soon found out. She squealed when her horse snorted. She squealed when the horse swatted at flies with its tail. And she let out a shrill scream when I hoisted her up on her horse—which spooked several other horses. It took all my strength—and Dominic’s soothing talent—to settle the horses down.

  By noon we were finally ready to hit the trail, with Simon in the lead and another ranch hand, a sturdy-looking brunette named Wendi, holding up the rear.

  Our pace was so slow a lame turtle could have passed us going backwards. When the trail was wide enough we rode in pairs, so I was able to talk to Melina. I don’t know how many times I told her to relax and loosen her grip on the reins. Her nervousness made me nervous.

  We rode for a few hours, pausing whenever someone had a problem. Rocky fell (jumped?) off twice. Melina had to go to the bathroom—which meant ducking behind a thick bush. Then there were the wild-animal sightings, which usually turned out to be rabbits.

  By the time we took our first break, I was exhausted.

  We tethered the horses to trees and stretched our legs. Snacks were handed out to the kids and a few more kids had bathroom breaks. There was some grumbling about that, but it wasn’t like the pack horse could cart along a Port-O-Potty. Josh told the kids that they were getting the authentic outdoor experience.

  I watched Dominic from across the clearing, brushing down his horse and giving him a snack, too. Carrots, it looked like. I considered joining him, but Josh came over to me with his two kids: Joshua (now dubbed Little Josh) and his sister Evie. They seemed like great kids, not at all nervous with the horses, and surprisingly polite. Every other word from their mouths was please or thank-you.

  Melina wandered over to talk to some other girls, so I took the opportunity to ask Josh why he’d matched Lindsay with Jade. “You said I would get Lindsay. Why did you change your mind?” I asked, hands on hips.

  “I di
dn’t.” He furrowed his brow. “You did.”

  “No way!”

  “You think Lindsay’s a brat and didn’t want to be with her.”

  “I never said that!”

  “That’s what I heard.”

  “That’s an outright lie. Did Evan tell you that? You know better than to believe him—he’d do anything to cause me trouble.”

  “It wasn’t Evan.”

  “Then who?” I demanded.

  “Jade.” Josh frowned. “But why would your cousin lie?”

  Because she wants anything—and anyone—that’s mine.

  But I couldn’t admit this to Josh. If he knew war was brewing between me and my “cousin” it would cause too many questions.

  I shrugged it off. “Jade’s idea of a joke,” I said.

  “I don’t see you laughing. Want me to talk with her and—”

  “No!” I shook my head. “I’m happy riding with Melina. She’s a sweetheart.”

  “Really?” He glanced across the clearing. “Wasn’t that her squealing?”

  “She’s excited about riding. But just so you know, Lindsay is great too, definitely not a brat. I would never say that.”

  Then Simon whistled, our cue that the break was over.

  Ironically, it took longer to get all the kids back on their horses than it took for the entire break. But finally we resumed riding, and I relaxed in the rhythm of Goldie’s stride. She was a good mount, not too rough or in a hurry.

  Tree branches swayed overhead, some so low I had to duck. The weather cooperated by not raining, only steel gray clouds that blocked any chance of sun. Climbing up curving hillsides in a slow straggling line took a while. For about an hour the riders laughed and talked a lot, until the trail grew steeper and everyone had to pay close attention to the trail, avoiding bushes, rocks, and holes.

  At first it was just an uneasy feeling—a prickly sense of eyes watching me.

  I shifted in my saddle to look around, but saw nothing unusual; only the other riders and none of them were staring at me. Must be my imagination, I decided. Then I settled back into the ride.

  The feeling hit me again as we crossed through a grassy meadow. Stronger, piercing like a laser beam—so intense I couldn’t shake it as my imagination. Trusting my horse to follow in line, I closed my eyes and looked for answers.