11- The Evil Giran
Cotey Mallory stalked down the aisle in the barn. It was seven thirty in the morning… the morning after they had found the note from Sam’s brother Patrick. Sam was crutching in front of her, eyes fixed forward.
“So you think I did, don’t you?” she demanded angrily. He didn’t answer. He went into Law’s stall and leaned his crutches against the wall so he could groom the mare. “How could you believe that I could have an affair? Especially with him! How could you think that?” she asked in a whisper. Sam turned to her, his eyes filled with anger and hurt.
“I don’t know what to believe right now,” he muttered, turning back to Law.
“He isn’t their father. It’s not even a possibility, because I was never with him,” she said. Sam ignored her once again.
“Mommy, can I ride Sunny?” a voice from behind them said. Cotey turned and smiled at Rachel.
“Sure honey. Why don’t I come help you with him? Maybe we can work on some jumping today.” Rachel grinned.
“OK! I’ll go start grooming him,” she said, taking off the aisle at a run. Cotey turned back to Sam once more.
“If you think about this logically and rationally you’ll know that I’m telling you the truth,” she said, turning and walking down the aisle. Sam sighed.
Jess arrived later that day. Cotey turned at the sound of someone entering the stall she was in.
“Hey Jess. You sure you still want a lesson? I may not be the best teacher today.” Jess smiled and walked over to the grooming bucket and picked up a hoof pick.
“That’s ok, I may not be the best student. I just found out this morning that I’m supposed to be going to the National in September. Daddy sent in my application without telling me, so now I have to train for that and the races I’m in.”
“What classes did he enter you in?”
“Adult hunter jumpers, dressage, grand prix, and pleasure,” Jess said.
“I guess I’ll see you in the ring then.”
“Oh great! Why does my father do this to me?” Jess demanded. Cotey felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth.
“Congratulations Jess, you just gave me my first smile of the day. Let’s get Fantasy ready. You can train on her and then decide later who you’d like to ride in the show.”
“Probably Magic… you’ll probably want to take Fantasy.”
“No, actually I was planning on riding Miami. Maybe you’d want to ride fantasy?” Cotey asked. Jess’s jaw dropped.
“Really?” Cotey nodded and put an arm around Jess’s shoulders. They walked down the aisle, Cotey’s thoughts drifting to Sam.
Cotey walked up to her bedroom quietly, wondering what Sam was doing. She went into the room slowly. He was sitting by the window, staring out. The twins were with Jess for the rest of the evening, and Cotey knew she had to talk to him.
“You’re not as good at sneaking up on people as I am,” he muttered suddenly.
“I wasn’t trying to… never mind. You aren’t in the mood to listen to me anyway.” He turned.
“Am I supposed to be? I don’t want to hear the same old story all over again… you saying that you didn’t cheat on me with Patrick and that the twins aren’t mine. You have no proof though.”
“Damnit Sam, I have all the proof you should need! I said that I didn’t… I said that he wasn’t. That should be enough!” she exclaimed.
“Why? Because I love you? He’s my brother, why would he make this up!”
“Before we got married he told you that we were together, and that wasn’t true. He’s out of his mind Sam.”
“Just be quiet. I’m going down to the barn for awhile. Don’t wait up.” Cotey sighed, but let him go.
The next morning Jess met Cotey at the track.
“What happened last night?” she asked. Cotey sighed.
“He thinks that Patrick might be telling the truth. I don’t know how he could think that. He won’t talk to me and I don’t know what to do.” Jess put her arm around Cotey’s shoulders.
“He’ll come around Cotey. He loves you too much to just give up.”
“Thanks Jess, but I think that this time it may take more actual proof than anyone has right now.” She turned and almost ran into Jason Fute. He was looking at her seriously.
“What’s going on?” he asked, adjusting Elizabeth on his shoulders.
“Patrick is just causing some trouble. Don’t worry though… you haven’t been worried about me in awhile.” Jason nodded, but his mind was spinning.
“You’re right, I didn’t. Why don’t we talk some time Cotey? I know that I was wrong to get so angry with you before.”
“I have too much to do Jason, like getting my husband to believe that I didn’t sleep with his brother.”
“What did Patrick say?” Cotey watched Jason carefully.
“What do you know Jason?” she asked suddenly. Jason shook his head.
“Nothing. I was just wondering, but if you don’t want to tell me I understand.”
“He said that he was the father of my kids. I’ll see you around Jason, I have work to do,” she muttered, walking off. Jason and Jess looked at one another.
“I have no idea what to do,” Jason said, sitting down on a tack box. Jess frowned.
“What do you mean?” she asked. He looked up at her, a frown on his handsome face.
“I heard Patrick a couple months back… he was saying how he was going to get back at Cotey and Sam. At the time, I was upset with Cotey so I didn’t say anything. Now I can’t say anything because Sam won’t believe me. He’ll just think I’m making it up to get them back together.” Jess sat down next to him.
“What are you going to do?”
“I think we should get Patrick to admit this to a former pace rider… someone who’s becoming a great jockey now… because she’s coming on to him.” Jess looked at him incredulously.
“Jason,” she began, already understanding what he wanted her to do.
“Come on Jess, it’s for Cotey and Sam. We’ll plan it all out for the next few weeks, and hopefully by then we won’t even need to do it.” Jess thought for another minute and then nodded.
“OK, I’ll do it.”
Cotey rode Sierra around the track at a gallop, smiling broadly. It was almost two weeks later. She was one of the only people who could handle the unruly black stallion. She glanced to the gate and could see Sam, the twins, Jess, and Mr. Giran watching her closely. She let Sierra go around one more time before pulling up and leaving the track.
“How was that?”
“It was ok… better than last week anyway. He goes better for you than he does for Jess,” Sam said. Cotey glanced at Jess and shrugged.
“I’m just glad he’s moving for someone. I’ll take him up to the barn and then bring Law down. She needs some work before her race tomorrow.” Sam nodded and held Sierra as she dismounted.
“Can I come with you?” Jess asked. Cotey smiled and nodded.
“Sure, you can give me a hand with him.” Jess followed her to the barn. “So what’s up?” she asked her when they were in the stall. She handed the saddle to Jess and watched as she put it over the stall door.
“You’re probably going to be upset, but I have something to tell you. I think I like Sam’s brother,” she said quickly. Cotey cleared her throat.
“I don’t think it’s me you have to worry about. Your father will kill you. He knows Patrick and what he’s all about. My feelings about Patrick shouldn’t change your opinion about him. You’re a grown up.” Jess nodded, hating lying to her friend, but knowing that it would help in the long run.
“OK. So you won’t tell Daddy?”
“I’m not going to cover for you, but I won’t call him up and tell him either.” After a moment of silence she said, “This is against my better judgment Jess. I know Patrick, and I know what he’s capable of. Just be careful, ok?” Jess nodded.
“OK. I have to get going. I need to exercise Magic this afternoon.”
“Just remember what I told you. Be careful.” Jess nodded and walked out of the stall. Cotey sighed, shaking her head and patting Sierra’s neck. “I wonder what the hell she’s up to?” she muttered. Sierra glanced at her and nudged her shoulder. She smiled sadly and began to groom him again.
Jason picked up the phone that night on the second ring. He was hoping it would be Christine, but even though it wasn’t he still wasn’t disappointed.
“Hello?” he said. There was a pause, but when the person spoke he smiled.
“Jason, it’s Jess. I talked to Cotey and she told me she wouldn’t tell my Dad. I don’t think she’ll say anything to Sam either.” Jason sighed with relief.
“Great. Now we just have to convince Patrick that you really like him. I know we can get him to tell you the truth.”
“You don’t think he’ll hurt me, do you Jas?” she asked suddenly.
“Not if you do things the way I tell you to. Before you do anything I need you to tell me where you’ll be and what you’re planning on doing. I’ll make sure to be where you are, or close by just to make sure things don’t get out of hand. Beth is visiting her grandparents for a couple of weeks so I’m free.”
“OK. Listen, I need to go. I’m supposed to be mucking out stalls for Dad.”
“Alright. Thanks Jess, I really appreciate your help.”
“You’re welcome. Everything will be ok. You and Cotey will be friends again, and Sam and Cotey will be happy again.” Jason smiled a little.
“I’ll see you soon. Just remember, don’t do anything until I know about it.”
“OK. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.”
“Bye.” He put the phone back on the cradle carefully, thinking how dangerous things could be if Jess took things into her own hands.
Jess walked through one of the barns at the track. She was wearing jeans and a mini t-shirt from the GAP. She checked on Law, then on Sierra, making sure they were ok. They were, so she walked further down the aisle. Patrick’s horse was in almost the very first stall, the least expensive accommodations.
“Hey girl, how’re you?” she crooned. The horse nickered softly, nuzzling her shoulder. Jess smiled and rubbed behind the mare’s ears.
“Get away from my horse,” Patrick muttered. Jess turned sharply.
“Oh, sorry! I was just checking on our guys, and I decided to stop by and see her. She’s such a beautiful animal… I had to give her a minute of attention.”
“Yeah, she is pretty isn’t she? Cotey’s horse Incense sired her before he was gelded.”
“That’s so cool that you have the only relative of Incense. Cotey loved that horse so much.”
“So where is Cotey? I figured she’d be around the night before a race.”
“I have no idea… we haven’t talked to Cotey in a couple days. We had a fight over something… or rather, someone.”
“Must’ve been a guy,” he said. Jess smiled and patted the mare’s neck.
“Yeah. I like someone who’s like eight years older than I am, and she kind of freaked out. I told her that I could like whoever I wanted to.
“She can be kind of overprotective. You’re old enough to make your own decisions. How old are you now anyway?”
“I’m twenty one… almost twenty-two. I’m just too shy to tell this guy that I like him.” Patrick grinned.
“Really? Why don’t you practice on me?” he suggested. She smiled and leaned against the stall door.
“Alright. Patrick, would you like to go out with me sometime?” she asked.
“That was really good.” She laughed softly.
“No, I mean it. Would you like to go out with me sometime?” Patrick stared down at her, his eyes suspicious.
“Are you serious?” he asked quietly. She looked up at him, smiling broadly.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t. So do you want to? Or do I have to face yet another rejection?”
“I have a feeling that you haven’t been rejected too often, but sure. I’ll go out with you Jess.” She smiled.
“Great.” She turned and started to walk away. Patrick watched her closely.
“When do you want to go out?” he called. She turned, walking backwards.
“I wasn’t expecting you to say yes, so let me check my calendar and get back to you!” she replied. Patrick nodded, still wondering what was going on. Shaking his head he walked into the stall.
Jess walked up the driveway at Sam’s farm. Jason was the manager, and he was also probably asleep. It was well past midnight, but she needed to talk to him. She knocked on the door twice before he answered. He was wearing a T-shirt and boxers, and his hair was rumpled. He squinted for a moment before he realized who it was.
“Jess?” he muttered. She nodded, pushing past him and going into the house.
“Sorry it’s so late, but I needed to talk to you. I know what you told me, but it was an accident that this happened.”
“What?” he demanded, closing the door and following her into the living room.
“I was at the track checking the horses for Daddy, and I ran into Patrick, and…” she trailed off.
“And what?”
“I asked him out.” Jason was suddenly completely awake, his eyes angry.
“You did what?” Jess nodded slowly, sinking back into the couch.
“Yeah, crazy huh? I know you told me not to do anything until I talked to you, but it just happened. He said that he’d go out with me, and I told him I’d call him. I’m sorry Jason.” He put his arm around her shoulders.
“It’s alright. You meant well. Next time just wait. He could’ve suspected something Jess, then you would’ve been in trouble.” She nodded.
“At least I got everything started.” Jason smiled.
“You did a good job Jess. Cotey and Sam will appreciate it.” She nodded, but was already half asleep. Jason smiled and grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and laid it over her.
Two and a half weeks later Jess walked down the aisle at the track with Patrick. They dated almost every night, and were getting along very well. She and Cotey, however, were not.
“She’s being pretty weird Pat,” Jess muttered. Patrick nodded and glanced down at her.
“I’m surprised she hasn’t’ talked to me about the twins.” Jess looked at him, trying to appear confused.
“What about the twins?” Patrick looked around and then motioned for the tack room.
“Come here and I’ll tell you.” They went in and he closed the door behind them.
“I wrote Sam a note that told him that Cotey had cheated on him… and that I was the father of the twins. I just wanted to break them up. Of course she didn’t actually sleep with me. Now I don’t care what happens with them. I have you.” She smiled up at him and closed her eyes when he kissed her.
“I’m glad I have you too,” she murmured. “I have to go get ready for the race. I’ll see you later.” She hurried from the tack room, running into Jason. He took her hand and they rushed off.
Jess pushed the rewind button and they listened to the tape for the tenth time.
“You got it!” Jason exclaimed. She smiled and plopped down on his couch.
“After all this time of carrying the stupid tape recorder in my purse… I never thought he’d say anything. I couldn’t believe it when he started talking.”
“I’m so glad he did. Now we can let Sam hear it, and he’ll know that Cotey was telling the truth.”
“That’s all I care about,” she said.
“You did a really good job Jessi. I can’t believe you let him kiss you.”
“More than once,” Jess muttered with a shudder.
“Come on, let’s get this over to Sam.” He took her hand and then led her out the door.
Sam walked slowly down the stairs. He had just gotten out of his cast, so the going was still slow. He smiled when he opened the front door and saw Jason and Jess.
“Hey guys, come on in,” he said. They smiled and walked in.
“Is Cotey home?” Sam shook his head and walked into the living room.
“No. She took the twins down to the track for awhile. She’ll be back soon. What’re you guys doing here?” Jess handed him the tape recorder.
“Here, listen to this,” she said. Sam took it from her and pushed play.
Cotey dropped the twins off with Jess and then went home. She had to train for the National, and was really dreading it. She was tired from all the exercise that day. She got out of the truck slowly, and then went to the barn. Sam was standing at the door, watching her closely.
“Listen Sam, I don’t want to fight right now. I’m too tired, and…” Sam cut her off, taking her in his arms and kissing her. She wrapped her arms around him. When it broke she looked up at him with stunned eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “Jess was here… and I know now that Patrick was lying.” He held her for another moment and then said, “You should really forgive Jess.”
“How did you know that I was upset with her? Did she tell you or did Patrick?”
“Patrick is going to be telling me a whole hell of a lot more than what he mentioned to Jessi. I have to go ok? But I’ll see you la…” The phone rang in the office and Cotey jogged to get it.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Cotey, have you seen Jessi?” Mr. Michael’s asked frantically.
“No, I just dropped the twins off. She told me earlier to just let them meet her at the barn. The twins are there, aren’t they?” she demanded.
“Yes, but Jess is gone.” Cotey drew in a shaky breath and sat down slowly.
“Did she leave a note or anything?”
“No, but Magic was in her stall still tacked up and sweaty.” Cotey sighed.
“I’ll head down to the track. Maybe someone has seen her. Will you meet me there with the twins?”
“Sure. I’ll see you there.” Cotey hung up the phone and looked at Sam seriously.
“How did you know that Patrick was lying Sam?” she asked quietly. Sam shrugged and took her hand.
“Jess pretended to like Patrick, and she got him on tape saying that he was lying.” Cotey put her face in her hands for a moment before looking up at him again.
“Then we have a huge problem… Jess is missing.”
