Nine Steps to Sara (12 page)

“What fair?”  That caught Jack’s interest.

“Oh, didn’t I say?  The town’s so overwhelmed with joy at the return of the heir to
Darling
Park
, they decided to hold a fair in your honor.”

“In my honor?” Jack squeaked.  If Will had told him aliens had landed in the front driveway Sara didn’t think he could be more amazed.

“That’s the long and short of it.  So, if you’ve a mind to practice your skill at tossing rings or throwing arrows, I think tomorrow should be a fair bit of fun,” he grinned.  “You’ll all come, won’t you
?
” his eyes swung to catch Sara’s gaze again. 

“Can we go, Mom?”

“Of course,” Sara smiled, wondering how much of the fair was Will’s doing and how much was driven by the town’s regard.  “We can’t deprive them of their guest of honor, now can we?”

“I think it’s a fabulous idea,” Joanie piped up, tired of being left out of the conversation.  “The fair, the ride through the countryside, sign me up,” she smiled, eyes on Will.

“Alright then, I’ll go make the arrangements.  Be ready to leave in say… an hour?”

“That sounds fine,” Sara nodded.  “Maybe I’ll get Mrs. Poole to pack us a snack too.”

“Grand.  I’ll see you then.”  Sneaking a last piece of bacon, Will gave a playful half bow and left. 

“I’m gonna go see if I can find some toys in the playroom to help me practice for the fair,” Jack swiped at his mouth with his napkin, already half out of his chair.

“Okay, have fun.  Maybe someone could even scare up a few balloons and darts?” Sara gave Katie a hopeful look and the maid gave her a puzzled look.

“I don’t know about that, but there’s a horseshoe pit out back by the stables, you could practice there,” Katie offered helpfully.  “There’s bound to be a horseshoe booth at the fair.”

“Can I, Mom?”

“Yes, but only if Katie comes with you.  Remember the grounds haven’t been cleaned up yet, it could be dangerous to go wandering around on your own.”

“I’ll see to him, my Lady,” Katie promised, trailing after Jack, who had already made a break for the stairs. 

“So, a country ride with Will,” Joanie leaned back in her seat, feet propped up on the chair next to her once they were alone.  “You’ve never been on a horse in your life.”

“I have so,” Sara frowned, pouring herself another cup of tea; it was starting to grow on her.  “It’s just been a while.  I don’t remember you knowing how to ride either.”

“I’m not gonna let a little thing like ignorance come between me and the chance to get to know the guy a little better.” 

“Since when are you interested in drivers?”  What Sara really meant was since when was she interested in
Will
, but she stopped short of actually coming out and saying it, more than a little aware that she had no right to say who Joanie went after. 

“You know what they say about drivers, they know what to do with their hands,” Joanie smirked.  “Besides, if you’re not gonna take him, why let him go to waste?”

Sara opened her mouth to reply that she’d never said she wasn’t interested but snapped it shut again without saying anything.  She wasn’t in a position to start something serious, no matter how cute his smile was, not yet.  That didn’t mean she wanted to watch Joanie chew Will up and spit him out either.  Then again, Will hadn’t seem
ed
at all impressed by Joanie’s attitude on their trip into town… suddenly Sara didn’t feel so threatened by her coming along after all. 

“
S
uit yourself, happy hunting then,” Sara shrugged, thinking it might be amusing to watch Will fend off Joanie’s advances.  Not as much fun as spending the afternoon with him alone, but probably safer for her good intentions.

“Are you a country mouse or a city mouse?”

“Huh?” Sara looked up from tying her shoes to find Will standing over her, bridle in hand. 

“Just trying to work out how hard or easy I should be on you today.  I know you’re from
Los Angeles
, but are you a city girl or a country girl at heart?” he grinned, offering her a hand up.

“If I say take it easy
,
do I lose any respect I might have earned so far?” she gave him a sheepish smile.  “I’m pretty much a city girl, but I’m a quick study.  Still, I’ve never ridden on a saddle like that, so I’m not sure how hard or easy it’s going to be.”

“Now what kind of man would I be if I based my good opinion of you on whether or not you knew how to ride an English saddle?  Just take it slow and start by meeting your mount.”  Will drew her closer to the chestnut mare, placing her hand on the soft muzzle. 

“What’s her name?” 

“Rhiannon.”

“She’s beautiful.  Aren’t you, baby?  Such a pretty girl,” she crooned to the animal, hand stroking the side of her neck.  “I hope I don’t fall off and scare her half to death.”

“I’d be more worried about you breaking your neck,” Will chuckled, fingers brushing against hers where they met on the horse’s back.  “And before you give it a moment’s thought, any loss of good opinion over taking such a spill, I think, would be instantly re-won by spending the morning in your company, my Lady.”

“It’s Sara,” she turned to find his face very close; close enough to smell the soap on his skin.

“Forgive me, I hate to give up the one chance I have to call you mine,” his lips quirked into a wistful smile
,
and Sara’s imagination kicked into overdrive. 
What would it be like to taste those lips? 

“Are we ready to get this show on the road?” Joanie sang out from the front
door
, perching a pair of enormous sunglasses on her nose.  Sara pulled away from Will guiltily, her jaw dropping as she caught sight of her friend.  Dressed in a traditional riding garb down to the boots and red jacket, she looked like she was all set to go fox hunting or something.  Joanie struck a pose, riding crop balanced on her shoulder like a parasol.  “What do you think?”

“Where did you get that?”

“Do you like it?” Joanie made a slow turn, happy to have all eyes on her.  “I picked it out in town yesterday while you were inhaling carbs at the bakery.  I figured, when in
Rome
, might as well do the Romans do.  It needed a few alterations and when I heard we were going riding today, I had them run it out to the house.  It came out nice, didn’t it?”

She had to admit, Joanie did look well put together, and Sara glanced down at her own schlumpy flannel shirt over faded jeans.  A moment ago it seemed practical, but now she felt like
a
backwoods cousin.  “It’s very… sophisticated.” 
Probably something a Lady should be wearing.
  “It’s nice.”

“Good, cause they’re charging it to your account.  What do you think, Will?” Joanie practically batted her eyelashes coquettishly and Will’s eyes swept over her, an appreciative smile on his lips.

“It suits you, I think.  The huntress about to stalk her prey,” his head canted to one side as he regarded her.  “That riding crop doesn’t come anywhere near the horses though or I’ll have to use it on you.”

“Promise?” her eyes lit with mischief and Sara started to feel a little like a fifth wheel. 

“Seriously, Joanie,” she added.  “No crop or we’re canceling the whole thing.”  Joanie might think it was funny, but the horses didn’t deserve to be flogged because she thought it was fashionable.

“
Don’
t be so dramatic, I got it for show,” Joanie tossed it aside negligently, sharing a smile with Will.  “Which one of these babies is mine?” 

“Ah, this one,” Will drew a black gelding forward.  “He’s a bit of spirit, but I think you’ll manage just fine.”

“Bet on it,” Joanie winked.  “Help me up?” 

Sara looked away as Will assisted her into the saddle, determined to get up on Rhiannon’s back without help.  “Come on, girl.  We can do this together, right?”  Leading her to the
low stone wall bordering what used to be decorative planting beds
, she used the height to get her foot into the stirrup, vaulting easily astride the mare.  Once there, she almost lost her balance as the horse shifted its stance, but after a heart-stopping moment, her equilibrium kicked in and she regained her stability.  “Good girl,” she patted the horse’s neck fondly, feeling a surge of pride for doing it without landing on her ass in the gravel. 

“Well, look at you, well done,” Will
beamed
up at Sara, checking her feet were seated properly in the stirrups.  “You’re better at this then you let on.”

“We’ll see if you can still say that at the end of the day,” she smiled back, warmed to see him fussing over her horse while Joanie sat uncomfortably in her saddle; the horse slowly edging backwards.  Katie came out with a leather satchel and Sara motioned her over.  “I had Mrs. Poole pack us a lunch in case we weren’t back in time.”

“Ah, brilliant,” Will took the satchel and fixed it to the back of his horse.  Not to be outdone, Joanie produced a silver flask.

“I brought a little something too.”  Taking a sip, she offered it to Will who accepted a nip, but Sara waved it off.  It was a bit early for her.  Instead she waited for
Will to mount his horse, a big
dappled gray.

“Shall we be off then?” Will asked once he was ready to go.  “I’ll start off slowly; we’ll take a nice,
leisurely
walk down the lane.”  The odd procession began, with Will leading the way, Sara behind and Joanie bringing up the rear, having a little difficulty in getting her horse to go before it decided to follow the others of its own volition. 

“What’s your horse’s name?” Sara asked, maneuvering her way up beside Will.  Once she got the hang of the rolling gait, it wasn’t too hard to keep her balance at the slow pace he set. 

“
Ajax
.”

“Ah, the mighty warrior,” she replied, remembering her mythology and Will’s answering smile told her she’d hit it right.

“Just so.  Though this mighty steed has never seen the battlefield,” he patted the animal’s proud neck. 

“How familiar are you with the property?  You seem to know your way around for a guy who doesn’t officially work here.”

“I grew up here,” he shrugged.  “When I was a boy, my father was the head groundskeeper at
Darling
Park
.  That meant I spent every waking moment here in the summers, helping out where I could, keeping the gardens.”

“I didn’t know that,” Sara smiled.  Of course she knew precious little about the estate’s past; that was hardly a surprise.  “Is your dad retired now?”

“Semi, though not by choice.  There isn’t much work for him in these parts, not since the
Sir Stephen
decided to let the property go to pot,” he looked over the grounds in dismay.

“It really is a shame,” Sara agreed.  “You know I dreamt about the garden last night, only the way it must have looked back in the day
,
when it was full of life.  Was there ever a hedge maze on the property?”

“Indeed there was,” Will nodded, warming to the subject.  “There beyond the formal gardens was a maze that stood twelve feet high, with false turns and little stone benches to rest on along the way, all leading to a gazebo at the heart of it.  You could easily see the pattern from the windows of course, but guests often swore the true path was deceptively difficult to find, almost as if the walls had a life of their own.”

“Really,” Sara could easily imagine it after the dream she’d had; it’d been impossible to find her way, though that was fueled by her own imagination.  Looking out over the ruined gardens, she tried to picture it, but the tangle of old brambles and weeds looked like a big mess.  “I wonder how hard it would be to fix it all up again?  Do you suppose the gazebo’s still in the middle of that?”