The Riding Master (3 page)

Rayne’s hands clenched the reins. “Are you always this…bossy?”

His gray eyes dug into hers. “It’s called teaching, not being bossy. I would have thought you knew the difference.”

“I didn’t come here for a lesson, Trent.”

“Well, you’re going to get one. Now take to the rail and start getting him to move out. I want to get a look at his gait.”

Cursing under her breath, Rayne directed Bob to break into a trot. After making a full circle around the ring, she eyed Trent’s reaction. He was nodding his head and carefully evaluating the horse’s movements.

“Nice. He’s a real pretty mover.”

“That’s why I wanted him,” she replied, feeling a ripple of satisfaction.

“Go to a posting trot,” Trent ordered from the center of the ring.

Rayne let the tension in the reins out ever so slightly and squeezed a little harder with her legs. Instantly, Bob understood and quickened his pace. Out of the corner of her eye, Rayne observed Trent, and as she did, she explored the way his T-shirt clung to his wide chest, and the hug of his blue jeans to his hips and thighs. For a brief instant, she pictured him without his clothes, and the distracting concept took her by surprise, making her legs slacken against the saddle. Bob slowed, but she caught her misstep and encouraged him onward. She checked to see if Trent had noticed, but, thankfully, his features remained unchanged.

After twenty minutes of flatwork, with Trent only suggesting some minor changes, Rayne’s nerves began to settle.

“That’s enough warm up.” Trent motioned to the center of the ring, where two white jumps were set up. “Let’s put him to work.”

Trent went to the first of the fences and placed two red and white-painted bars over each other in the center of the jump, making an “X.” When he was done, he stood to the side.

“Take it at a trot.”

Rayne guided Bob to the fence, and the horse heartily jumped the crossbars.

“He likes it,” Trent expressed behind her.

“He loves to jump,” Rayne shouted back.

Trent went to the fence and raised the cups on each side, increasing the height of the jump.

Bob easily barreled over the hurdle, making Rayne smile with pride. She had never admitted it to Trent, but she had taken the horse through his paces over fences in the past, wanting to see how high he could go. Bob’s enthusiasm for jumping had been one of the main reasons she had wanted him. In the horse business, if the animal loved to jump, it was a sure sign that he or she would win in the show ring. But blue ribbons had never been Rayne’s motivation for wanting Bob. She had seen something in the calm thoroughbred that she had never experienced before; quick intelligence, and a dignified bearing that reminded her more of a person than a horse.

As Trent raised the fence higher, Bob’s interest grew. With every jump, Rayne could feel the animal’s powerful body push up beneath her, carrying both of them off the ground. That was what Rayne loved about jumping…the coordination between horse and rider, allowing them to come together as one, appearing as if they were floating on air.

“He’s impressive,” Trent proclaimed after Bob had cleared another high jump.

Rayne guided a sweaty Bob to Trent’s side. “The higher you go, the more eager he gets.”

Trent patted the horse’s frothy neck. “I agree. He seemed to be asleep on the low fences.” Trent examined the horse with a new appreciation in his eyes. “I would like to help you get this guy ready for the first show of the season.”

“But the first show is at Golden Farms in October,” Rayne anxiously asserted. “That’s only a month away. You don’t think that is too soon?”

Trent shook his head. “Not if you work him hard.”

Rayne’s hands fidgeted with the reins. “I haven’t shown in a very long time. I don’t know if I’ll be ready.”

Trent laughed, smirking up at her. “You’ll be ready. You’re good, Rayne. You can do it.”

“Maybe I don’t want to show.”

He appeared surprised. “You’d better show. You’re an instructor at the stables where I’m riding master. You need to be seen in the show ring. If you look good, then I look good, and we will hopefully get more clients because of that.”

A trickle of anger slithered through her. “Fine. I’ll try not to disappoint you.” She noticed the stainless watch on his wrist. “What time is it?”

“A little past eight,” he answered, checking his watch.

Rayne viewed the stables beyond the ring. “I need to get Bob cooled down before my nine o’clock lesson.”

“Bob?” Trent’s dark eyebrows went up.

She patted her horse’s neck. “His name is Bob.”

Trent’s hearty laughter made her insides hum. “You named your horse ‘Bob’?”

“What is it with the name ‘Bob’? First, Rebecca gives me crap, now you?” She was about to turn Bob’s head away from Trent, but he held on to the reins.

“Don’t go away mad, Rayne. I meant nothing by it. But you have to admit, Bob is a funny name for a horse. I hope you come up with a better show name than that.” He edged away from Bob’s head and up to her. “Perhaps you could let me think of something for you.”

Dread coursed through her veins like a formula car on the track at the Indy 500. “Like what? You’re not into names like ‘Prince something’ or ‘Chief whatever.’ They’re so cheesy.”

“I promise to give it a great deal of consideration, and it won’t be cheesy, I assure you.” Trent led Bob to the gate. “Where did you learn to ride?”

Rayne studied the man’s muscular back and round butt from atop Bob. “Back in New Orleans at Audubon Stables. It was close to my house. When I was eight, my dad bought my first horse, Jester. He was a tall palomino that was great with kids. I started showing him when I was ten. By the time I was fourteen, I had traded Jasper in for a dark bay jumper named Destiny.”

“You ever show in Texas?”

“No, but I did the Louisiana Sugar Circuit. Won two state championships by the time I was seventeen.”

He glanced up at her. “Where did you ride in college?”

“Didn’t ride in college. I had to give it up.”

“Do you mind if I ask why?”

Rayne paused for a moment, considering how much of her past she really needed to share with the man. Then, the slightest crack in her defenses gave way. “My father and younger sister were killed in a car accident during my senior year of high school. My mother kind of lost it, and I sold my horse soon after. We ended up leaving New Orleans and moving in with my grandparents in Dallas.”

Trent slowed up, turning to her. “I’m sorry. I had no idea you—”

“Don’t worry about it,” she interrupted, ignoring the concern in his gray eyes. “It was a long time ago.”

He rested his hand on her boot. “How did you get back into riding?”  

She gently tapped Bob’s sides, uncomfortable with his touch. “My ex, Foster Greer. He wanted me to have a hobby after I gave up my job as a lab technician at his company.” She eyed a figure in the distance dressed all in black coming toward them. “He found Southland Stables and asked Rebecca to let me ride her schooling horses. A few weeks later, she let me train the horses she got in from different racetrack rescue organizations. That’s how I found Bob. Foster got him as a surprise for me but….” She shrugged. “Later I learned that he had just bought the horse to keep me preoccupied.”

“What makes you say that?” Trent questioned, keeping up with the horse.

“About a month after he bought Bob, I found him in bed with someone else.”

Trent let go a low whistle. “So that’s why you’re divorced.”

“I didn’t see much point to being married after that.”

“But you were married to a wealthy man—everyone in Dallas has heard of Greer Laboratories—and still opted for divorce. That’s not something you see every day in this town.”

Rayne jerked Bob to a sudden stop. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”

A woman with sleek black hair pinned back in a long ponytail strutted toward them, her slender hips rolling seductively back and forth.

“I simply meant some women might never have walked away from so much…comfort.” Trent’s eyes turned to see the woman with the pale skin and stunning features drawing closer. “I’ve known more than my fair share of women looking for a meal ticket and not a partner.”

“Well, get ready,” Rayne told him as she quickly dismounted. “Because you’re about to meet their union representative.” 

“Rayne, darling,” the woman purred, coming alongside of Bob. “Are you still trying to turn that scrawny creature into something resembling a horse?”

Rayne curbed her anger and just smiled. “What, no hangover this morning, Selene? So glad to see you’re up in time to teach your dressage class for a change.”

Trent’s eyes volleyed back and forth between the two women.

“Not to worry,” Selene twittered as she observed Trent’s expression. “Rayne and I always tease with each other. It’s all in fun.” Her black eyes examined Trent with the ferocity of a big cat sizing up its prey. “You must be the new riding master Rebecca talked about.” She held out a manicured hand to him. “I’m Selene Kendrick, your dressage instructor.”

Trent took her hand and gave it a gentle shake. “Trent Newbury.”

“You two seemed very cozy just now.” Selene cocked her head seductively to the side and ran her fingers through her silky ponytail.

“Trent was evaluating my abilities,” Rayne explained. “Same way he’ll be evaluating your technique, Selene.”

Selene placed a suggestive hand on Trent’s forearm. “Rayne’s technique I can understand your needing to evaluate. After all, she is a junior rider; but me….” Her fake laugh pierced the air. “Trent, I assure you I’m as senior a rider as you. Rebecca wanted to give me the position of riding master, but I turned her down.”

“Really?” Trent placed his hands behind his back. “Rebecca told me I was the first person she had met who was qualified for the position. Funny, she never mentioned offering it to you.”

Selene never let the slight register on her perfectly made-up oval face. “Well, I also only ride dressage, which means I would be of little help to people like Rayne here.” She flashed her sharp, little white teeth at Rayne. 

Trent’s eyes glided over Selene’s tight black T-shirt, black riding breeches, and shiny black riding boots. “After your class this morning, perhaps you could give me a demonstration of your technique.”

“Me?” Selene’s eyebrows rose on her smooth forehead. “Trent, what could you possibly know of dressage? Rebecca told me you’re a show jumper.”

“Selene, I’ve shown in numerous three-day event competitions. Was even the Texas State Champion a few years back, so I’m well-versed in every element of dressage.” He tipped his head to Rayne. “Rayne impressed me immensely with her riding abilities. I’m hoping for great things from you, as well.”

“Perhaps we could get together later in the week.” Selene tossed her ponytail about her right shoulder. “When I don’t have a class, and I can—”

“You have a class from eight-thirty to nine-thirty.” Trent inspected his stainless watch. “I’ll meet you here at ten.”

“Today?” Selene smiled sweetly, but the irritation shone in her black eyes. “I couldn’t possible make it. Teaching a class takes so much out of me.”

“Rayne just spent an hour in the ring with me and now has to go and teach two back-to-back children’s classes. I don’t hear her complaining.”

“Rayne’s children aren’t expert level, like my classes,” Selene protested.

Trent gave her a tolerant but unyielding smile. “In that case, how about ten-fifteen? I’ll give you an extra fifteen minutes to get ready.”

Selene’s features drooped, showing her age.

Rayne had never noticed how much older the woman appeared until that moment. She had heard it rumored that Selene was rapidly approaching fifty, but by looking at her lithe figure and smooth face, Rayne assumed the woman was not a day over forty.

“I guess if we need to get this out of the way….” Selene reluctantly nodded her head. “I’ll be ready.”

“Good,” Trent grunted. “Better get to your class.” He turned to Rayne. “I’ll head back with you to the barn.”

They walked away, leaving a red-faced Selene behind. Rayne smugly grinned as Selene sulked to the white gate of the ring they had just left.

“Selene’s not used to people telling her what to do. She also never forgets a slight. Be careful with her, Trent.”

He gave her a wary side-glance. “That sounds almost as if you care.”

“I just don’t want to see you get caught up in a power struggle with Selene. She has a way of drawing everyone at the barn into her drama.”

“Is that why you two were so hostile with each other back there?” 

Rayne shrugged her shoulders while dipping her head to the side. “I knew her way before I started riding at Southland Stables. We frequented the same social circles when I was married to Foster and she was married to Judge Steven Kendrick. We didn’t like each other then, either.”

“Judge Kendrick?” Trent’s eyebrows went up. “
The
Judge Kendrick?”

“Yep. Sits on the appellate court bench and is a real mover and shaker in the Dallas social scene.”