A Touch of Autumn(12)
“Unreasonable? I’m being unreasonable?” She stood. “I’m not the one thinking up ridiculous excuses to make a point. I’m surprised at you, Charles. And very disappointed. Now please stop banging that spoon before you break the cup. And take me home.”
He stood, and glanced around, relieved that the few people who remained in the dining room were focused on their meals. He motioned for the waiter to bring their bill.
When they were in the buggy, he turned to Olivia. “Please don’t be angry, Livvy. If you’d think it over, you’d see that I’m right.”
“No. You’re being unfair to the girls again and I won’t stand for it. P.H. gave me permission and I won’t back down and disappoint those girls.”
He sighed. Should he tell her he knew about her fear of horses? That this was the reason he kept trying to stop her from continuing? But, no, if she wanted him to know, she’d have told him. He’d just have to do what he could to help.
The buggy wheels rolled through the wooded area and they came out in a clearing. If only he could clear away the past hour and not bring up the subject of the riding class at all. All he’d done was make Livvy mad.
Funny how her anger affected him. He’d seen her mad plenty of times and merely laughed it off. But this was different. She hadn’t said a word since they’d left Magnolia Junction and she radiated pain. Somehow, he’d hurt her. He didn’t know how, but this was about something more than horseback riding lessons.
* * *
So much for Charles wanting her company. He’d only wanted to convince her to back out of teaching the girls to ride. And that she would not do. Pain ripped through her. She might as well face it. Charles Waverly would never have the feelings for her that she did for him. And right now she wasn’t even sure he wanted to be her friend.
Chapter 6
By the time Charles drove the buggy into the barn, the knot in his stomach was tighter than ever. He allowed his mind to wander back and forth over the afternoon in an attempt to decide what had made Livvy so mad. They’d had the same conversation before, sort of. And she was irritated. But to get so mad that she just hopped out of the buggy on her own and didn’t even say goodbye?
He had to clear his mind. He’d promised the boys to take them riding before dark.
But why was she so upset?
The boys came running out the back door.
“Mr. Charles!” The younger ones were almost bouncing in their excitement. He broke them into two groups and instructed one group to help Albert in the stable while he took the other four for a short ride.
The ride down a familiar and well-traveled path started out pleasantly and uneventfully, and the boys’ excited chatter was almost enough to keep Charles’s mind off Olivia.
Then a scream rent the air and Jimmy slid to one side of his saddle, waving frantically, his eyes wide with fear.
Charles jumped off his horse and hurried to shove the youngster upright.
Jimmy grabbed Charles’s arm and held on, his small body trembling. “A cougar! I saw a cougar!”
Charles scanned the area, seeing nothing resembling a cougar or even a bobcat. “Where did you see it, Jimmy?”
Jimmy pointed a shaking finger toward the woods to their right. “Over there.”
“There’s nothing there now, Jimmy, and cougars don’t usually come out in the daytime.”
“But I saw it, Mr. Charles.”
The boy had likely spotted a large barn cat or some farmer’s hog, but Charles didn’t want to embarrass the child. “Well, whatever you saw is gone now. Let’s turn around and head back. The other boys are waiting their turn.”
By the time they got back to the barn, Jimmy had calmed down a little. But as soon as his feet hit the dirt, he ran to the other boys and told them about the cougar. His audience listened with bated breath and wide eyes. Charles grinned and shook his head.
“All right, boys, it’s your turn to work in the stable. The rest of you adjust your stirrups for your ride and check the cinches well.”
They hurried to comply, but continued to talk excitedly about the cougar Jimmy thought he had seen. All except Jeremiah, who threw them all a disgusted look and headed for his horse to check the stirrups.
Charles watched carefully as the boy tightened the cinch, and then loosened it slightly. “Good job, Jeremiah.” He’d seen Jeremiah help saddle one of the horses earlier. Whoever had taught him had done a thorough job.
Jeremiah nodded slightly. “Can I mount?” Amazing how clearly he could speak when he wanted to.
“Yes, but keep him steady and wait for the rest of us.”
This trip would include Charles, Jeremiah, Sonny and Tommy. Taking Jeremiah out with the two younger boys was risky. Charles had seen more signs of bullying lately, but he couldn’t prove anything. He’d just have to keep an eye on them all.