Summer Magic (10 page)

The vet sent her a cold, hard glare then rolled up his sleeves.
 
"Well, Walter.
 
Let's get to work.
 
Bessie's tusks will have to be shortened.
 
There's no point waiting any longer."

*****

Late that night in an open field that joined the circus grounds, Lisa rode Ebony.
 
They were galloping at full speed, just as the day's events continued to gallop through her mind.
 
She yearned to be alone, to unravel her frenzied thoughts.
 
Right now not even Michael could comfort her.

All she needed was peace and solitude--plus one special horse.

Happy sounds drifted from the auditorium, contrasting her melancholy.
 
The last minutes of the evening show.
 
The applause from the crowds.
 
The roll of drums.
 
The explosion of sound from the marching band. As they started galloping around the next loop, a swirl of dust rose, a chalky billow in the gray twilight.
 
What if Michael's right?
she wondered as the clopping of Ebony's hoof beat faded into her thoughts.
 
What if I'm forced to leave?
 
What if I can't pass my probation?
 
I'm already half way through.
 
Can I redeem myself in the remaining four weeks?

Michael.
 
The thought of him twisted her heart.
 
She couldn't face him now.
 
Most likely, he'd already heard what had happened.
 
She was certain everyone at Jessell and Stern had heard.
 
As they slowed to a cantor, she breathed in the tangy smells of salt water.
 
The beach wasn't far away, she remembered.
 
The ribbon of highway they'd traveled early that morning had paralleled the coastline's lengthy expanse--miles and miles of white sand stretching along the Gulf of Mexico.

What she'd give to be there now.
 
Away from Dr. Woodstock and the trainers.
 
Away from the circus.
 
Away from her problems.

"I told Estelle.
 
She must've forgotten."

"Oh.
 
Maybe she did."
 
In the purple darkness, she could feel him regarding her earnestly.
 
"Are...are you all right, Lisa?"

"Yes.
 
Just exhausted."
 
She jerked her eyes away, her voice hushed.
 
"I suppose you heard."

"Uh-huh."
 
He paused.
 
"Come on.
 
Get down.
 
Let's take Ebony back to the horses' tent."

Without protest, Lisa dismounted and, gripping the halter, started walking.
 
"I...I needed to get away by myself with Ebony," she explained half apologetically.
 
"I needed to think things through."
 
The rustle of the parched field grass beneath their feet melded with the sound of their voices.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No.
 
I'm fine now."
 
She avoided looking at him.
 
If she did, he'd surely read it in her eyes.
 
He'd know she was lying.

They sidestepped a large rock, then came to the gate. "Listen, Lisa.
 
Even if you don't need to talk, there's something I have to say."

"What?"

"Don't beat yourself up.
 
Everyone learns by their mistakes."

"But Walter was right!
 
I could've gotten us all killed!"
 
Her head still throbbed as she recalled his outburst of anger.

"All right.
 
But now you've learned.
 
And as far as the broken tusk goes, Doc and Walter were going to shorten it anyway.
 
Besides--"
 
His voice softened.
 
"It wasn't your fault that bottle went crazy and you knocked over the treatment cart."

"No point making up excuses, Michael," she insisted. "I'm sure Dr. Woodstock's still so upset with me, he doesn't see it that way."

"Sure, he's a perfectionist, but he's not totally unreasonable."

"Well, that may be."
 
She sniffled.
 
"But I still wouldn't blame him if fired me first thing tomorrow
."
 
Be grateful,
a little voice inside her spoke
.
 
At least Michael's not saying I told you so.

"Speaking of tomorrow," he said, pushing open the gate. Ebony let out a snort and whinnied.
 
"We have a day off. It's a holiday, you know."

"A holiday?"
 
One day had blurred into the next.
 
She'd nearly forgotten about the Fourth of July.

"Absolutely.
 
No travel.
 
No shows.
 
Sometimes we perform on the Fourth, but this year we negotiated not to." They arrived at the first of several horses' tents.
 
The familiar shouts of the stable boys, the smells of sawdust and animals wafted on the night air.
 
"I've even promised myself for twenty-four hours, I'll forget about practicing," he added.

"Really, Michael?"
 
She laughed softly, feeling a little better.
 
"You sure you can handle all that free time?" she teased.

"Absolutely."

"So what are you going to do?" she asked, looking up at him.

A smile lifted one corner of his mouth.
 
"Maybe you should be asking what
we're
going to do."

"Oh?"

"I'm taking you to Galveston.
 
Right now you need a break more than I do."

He was right.
 
She did need a break, a chance to clear her head--but certainly not with him.
 
He was much too enticing, too wonderful in every way.
 
She opened her mouth to turn him down, but the eagerness in his voice cut her off.

"Let's do some sight-seeing, Lisa.
 
Check out the shops and the Historic Railroad Museum.
 
Or if you'd rather maybe we could pack a big picnic lunch with lots of junk food, head for the beach and spend the day lying in the sun."

"But maybe Dr. Woodstock won't let me."
 
It was a logical excuse, the first to spring to her mind.
 
"You know how overworked we are right now," she reminded him.

He shrugged.
 
"Everyone else will be getting the time off.
 
Why shouldn't you?
 
Besides, I'm sure it's written in your contract."

"I don't know, Michael.
 
Give me a while.
 
I'll have to think about it."

He shrugged.
 
"Suit yourself."

They proceeded to tie up Ebony and give her fresh water and hay.
 
Then they started for the far end of the lot where the trucks and trailers were parked.
 
As they ambled along, approaching the Figaros' RV, he cupped his hand against the back of her neck.
 
His touch warmed her, chipping away at her resolve.

In her peripheral vision, she thought she spied movement through the RV window.
 
Squinting, she peered harder just as a human-shaped shadow faded away.

"So what do you say?" he asked again, his eagerness resurfacing.
 
"Will you say yes about tomorrow?
 
Will go with me to Galveston?"

She stopped to face him, and again wrestled with her misgivings.
 
Her heart was winning out. "Okay, Michael. But only on two conditions."

"What?"

"First, I want to make sure Dr. Woodstock hasn't any objections.
 
Secondly, a lot will also depend on the animals. I'll go only if there are no emergencies."

"You won't be sorry, Lisa.
 
Besides, Doc Woodstock can work alone now and then.
 
He's done it before."

She released a slow, steadying breath.
 
One day with Michael.
 
For one precious day she could forget her troubles and have Michael Figaro all to herself--away from the showgirls, away from the groupies, away from the responsibilities and schedules.
 
The thought tugged at her, caused her heart to beat faster, filling her with unexplainable pleasure.

A door from the RV creaked open, then slammed shut.

"Hi."

"Hi, Claudette."
 
Michael grinned openly at her.

Lisa held her breath.
 
Had it been Claudette watching them?
 
In a flash her thoughts rolled back to that first morning when she'd been alone in Estelle's trailer--the horrid green fabric, the humongous soiled jeans.
 
Every time she'd come across them, she'd resolved to throw them away. For some reason, though, she never had.

"Guess what, Michael?" Claudette drawled.
 
She lifted a shoulder and flashed him a coy smile.
 
"The only thing I have to do tomorrow on our day off is have a friendly little chat with Doc Woodstock.
 
Then I'm as free as a bird."

"Chat with Dr. Woodstock? What about? Lisa wondered in horror.
 
Would Claudette convince him to fire her before Lisa's probation was up?

"Lisa and I have been talking about our day off too," Michael replied amicably.
 
"We've already decided what we're going to do."

"You have?

"Uh-huh.
 
We're going to drive to Galveston.
 
Spend the entire day kicking around."

Claudette clasped her hands together in a gesture of eagerness.
 
"Oh, Michael.
 
What a terrific idea!
 
Why didn't I think of that?"
 
She paused, her smile growing wider, a strange glint springing to her eyes.
 
"Can Rita and I come with you too?"

Chapter Six

"Gosh, Claudette. That’s a stupid thing to ask," Michael answered between clenched teeth. "Lisa and I need time alone."
 
There she goes again
, he thought glumly.
Trying to set me up with Rita. Well, she'd better not try to interfere this time, because I won't let her. There's too much at stake. If Lisa's not careful, she's gonna stress out for sure.

"Now don't get your hackles up," Claudette said. "I...I just thought it might be a cozy four-some, that's all."
 
She lowered her gaze, exposing a dark fringe of eyelashes against maddeningly flawless skin. "After all, Galveston's a great big city. Rita and I might need a little extra help finding our way around."

"Oh, come off it, Claudette!
 
You expect me to believe that?"

"Some brother you are!
 
You're impossible."
 
She threw up her hands in defeat and sighed. Then she turned on her heel and stepped back inside the motor home. "Sorry I asked, Michael. Goodnight all."

*****

The morning dawned bright and sunny with the promise of clear skies. What perfect weather for a holiday, Lisa thought as she hurried to get dress. She reached inside the closet for a red, white and blue T-shirt with a star in the middle and a sporty pair of red slacks.