20- Final Frontier
Jessica Michaels saddled Juliet for her student, Cory. In the past year, she had taken over teaching dressage lessons for Cotey.
“Are we going to work on piaffe today?” Cory asked. Jess nodded, leading the mare out of her stall.
“Yup, you’re ready for it. You’re eighteen now aren’t you Cory?”
“Yeah, I’m heading off to Kentucky University this fall. I can’t wait… I’m going to miss Jul though,” she said, patting the mare’s neck.
“I went to Cornell, but I brought my horse with me.”
“You were lucky Jess. I have ride the horses they have there, get use to them, then leave again at the end of school.” Jess smiled at her.
“You’ll do fine. Let’s get moving. I have a wedding rehearsal at seven tonight.” Cory nodded and mounted up.
That night Cotey and Sam arrived at the church and went inside. They saw Jess and Jason standing by the alter kissing.
“Hey guys, you’re supposed to wait for the priest to say ‘you may now kiss the bride,’” Sam told them. Jason pulled away from Jess, both of them blushing.
“Thanks for the timely interruption Sam,” Jason muttered. Sam shrugged.
“Anytime Jas, anytime.” Cotey put her arm around Sam’s waist, and they walked down the aisle.
“Dejavu,” Sam kidded. She elbowed his side, shaking her head and laughing.
“You’re such a nut,” she muttered.
“I sure am,” he agreed.
“Where are the twins?” Jess asked. Cotey smiled and pointed toward the door.
“Outside playing. They’re pretty excited about being in the wedding. Rachel can’t wait to throw flowers all over the place.”
“Hopefully Dominick knows he doesn’t get to throw the rings,” Jason kidded.
“He won’t. Is Beth excited?” Cotey asked. He nodded, glancing at Jess.
“Very. I think it’ll be strange at first having Jess living with us, but she’ll get use to it.”
“She better,” Jess said with a smile. They all laughed. The rest of the wedding party had come in, along with the priest.
“Hello Jason, Jessica. How are you today?” he asked.
“Fine Father, how’re you?” she asked.
“Yes Father, how’ve you been?” Jason asked.
“I’ve been fine. Let’s get started. This is our last rehearsal before the real thing.”
Cotey walked into Jess’s house two weeks later, August fifteenth. It was the day of the wedding, and the bridal party was going to get ready with Jess.
“Hey Jess where are you?” Cotey called, standing at the bottom of the stairs. Jess appeared with one of her friends, Crystal. They were both wearing jeans and T-shirts, and smiling broadly.
“Right here. Come on up!” she exclaimed. Cotey ran up the stairs, her thick brown ponytail trailing after her.
“Nervous yet?” Crystal asked, brushing Jess’s long blonde hair. She shrugged and then smiled sheepishly.
“I’ve been nervous since last week. Well, maybe not nervous, but really excited. I love Jason so much.”
“Well he loves you too. Let’s start getting dressed. We need to be at the church in a couple hours,” Cotey said.
Jess sat at the head table at the reception watching Jason carry Beth around the room. They were dancing to the song ‘I Will Survive’. Cotey was laughing at Sam and the twins, who were trying to dance too.
“Sam you better sit down!” Cotey called. Laughter rippled through the room. Sam glanced around sheepishly, then shrugged.
“I know when I’m not wanted,” he muttered. Cotey laughed.
“Then get off the dance floor!” Jess and Jason exclaimed at the same time. Suddenly Beth wiggled out of her father’s arms and ran to Jess.
“Jessi do we have any popsicles?” she asked as she coughed. She had a bad summer cold.
“I’m sorry kiddo, but we don’t. Maybe Daddy will go out and get you some,” she suggested loudly. Jason smiled and glanced at Sam.
“Come on Sam, you can go on a popsicle run with me,” he said. He leaned down and gave Beth, then Jess a kiss.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you too. Be careful,” she said. He nodded and they left.
Jason carried a box of popsicles toward the reception hall. Sam followed, but suddenly stopped walking.
“Sam are you coming?” Jason asked. Sam nodded, beginning to walk again.
“It’s just that everything’s really quiet in there… no music or anything.” Jason looked at the building.
“Maybe the DJ is taking a break or something. Come on, let’s go.” They walked in, but Sam stopped him at the top of the stairs.
“Something’s wrong. I can hear people crying,” he said.
“I’m going to see what’s happening. Go call the police.” Sam nodded and went out the door. Jason continued down the stairs, peering around the corner. Patrick Giran was standing in the center of the room, hands on his hips. Jess was sitting on the ground, looking up at him with tears running down her cheeks.
“Patrick please don’t do this,” she begged.
“Shut up,” he ordered, walking toward her and Beth.
“Stay away from me!” Beth screamed. He grabbed her arm and pulled her away from Jess.
“I think your Daddy should’ve taught you better manners,” he muttered, backhanding her. She began to cry harder, clutching her face. Jason walked into the room, ignoring Jess’s frantic motions for him to go back. Patrick saw him and smiled.
“You stood there in the shadows quietly for almost five minutes. I’m impressed,” he muttered.
“What the hell is this about?” he demanded.
“You don’t know?” he demanded.
“Nobody ever knows what’s going on in that screwed up head of yours,” he replied. Patrick hit Beth again.
“Next time it’ll be Jessi,” he warned. Jason nodded.
“What do you want Patrick?” Jason asked.
“Revenge,” he said angrily. Jason swallowed hard.
“So are you just going to hold us all hostage?” he demanded. A smile appeared on Patrick’s face.
“I’m going to kill people,” he said. Jason frowned as he moved toward Jess.
“If you touch one hair on her head, I swear to god I’ll kill you,” he said, his voice angry and quiet.
“I’m not going to hurt her… she’s suffered enough. I’m going to put her out of her misery.” Jess began to cry again.
“You’re crazy,” Jason said seriously. Patrick grabbed Jess by the hair.
“No, you are. You’re the one that caused all this, and everything before it. You never should have interfered with things.” Jason glanced at Cotey and she nodded slowly.
“Why was I crazy?” he asked. Before Patrick could answer, sirens were heard.
“Who the hell called the police?” Patrick demanded, looking around with wide eyes.
“I don’t know… maybe they people upstairs. They were told this party would be pretty loud.”
“I think you called the police,” Patrick said. “Maybe you should watch your daughter die now to teach you a lesson.” Jason took a deep breath, watching Cotey out of the corner of his eye. She was moving silently along the wall.
“Kill me first, I want to die,” Jason said.
“You want to die? What for. You have everything, everything anybody could possibly want.” Suddenly Cotey sprang on his back, taking him by surprise. Jason raced at him too.
“Jessi, got everyone outside quick!” he yelled. Jess stood and began ushering people from the room. Jason didn’t see the gun until it was too late. It went off just as the police rushed in.
At the hospital Jess and Sam paced back and forth. Beth, Cotey, and Jason were still being looked at.
“They said someone got shot, but who was it?” Jess asked herself quietly.
“I wish they’d tell us. I’m going crazy,” he said. Jess nodded, glancing up as a doctor came in.
“Hello folks. The little girl is doing a lot better, but she’ll need to stay here over night,” he explained.
“What about Cotey and Jason?” Sam demanded, putting his arm around Jess.
“Jason’s ding better, but he broke his wrist in the scuffle. Cotey got shot in her thigh. She’s going to be here for about a week.”
“But she’s alright?” he whispered. The doctor nodded, smiling at the same time.
“Yes, everyone is fine. A little shook up, but ok,” he said. Jess put her arms around Sam’s neck and hugged him tightly. “You can go in and see them. They’re all in the same room for the time being.” Sam and Jess nodded, hurrying down the hall together.
Cotey and Beth were both asleep when Sam and Jess walked in. Jason smiled when he saw them.
“Hey guys, how’re you?” he asked, rubbing Beth’s back.
“We’re fine. How’s your wrist?” Sam asked. Jason smiled.
“It’s been better. Come here Jess,” he said. She stepped over to the bed and he wrapped his good arm around her waist.
“I’m sorry everything was ruined. We’ll do it again,” she murmured.
“We don’t have to do it again. We’re married. The reception is just to entertain the guests.”
“I’m sure they were entertained,” she muttered. He grinned and kissed her cheek.
“Go home and get some rest tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.
“OK. Sam, tell Cotey when she waked up that I’ll take care of lessons until she’s feeling up to it.”
“Thanks. If you could go be with the twins, maybe let them ride for awhile? Let them know everything is ok,” he said.
“Want me to let them jump?” she asked.
“No, right now they’re working on their galloping. They suddenly want to be jockeys.”
“Aren’t you thrilled,” she kidded, beginning to walk from the room.
“I don’t know. After all the injuries I’ve seen come down the pipes, I’m not sure I want my kids doing it.”
“That’s bull Sam,” Cotey muttered hoarsely. Jess laughed, shaking her head and walking out the door.
The twins and Jason’s mother crowded around Jess when she walked into the house.
“OK, everybody relax! Jason has a broken wrist, but he’s ok. Beth is just a little shaken up, so she’s staying with her dad. Cotey got shot in the thigh, but she’s fine too.” Dominick and Rachel were clinging to her legs.
“So Mommy’s going to be able to come home soon?” Rachel asked.
“Yup, in about a week. Why don’t you guys go change and we’ll work on galloping,” she said. They both nodded, racing up the steps. Jess turned to Mrs. Fute and smiled weakly.
“That was quite the wedding,” she said.
“Are you sure he’s ok Jessica?” she asked.
“I was talking and joking with him at the hospital. He was in a pretty good mood considering Patrick just ruined our wedding.”
“I’m glad he’s ok. How about you, are you alright?” Jess nodded, starting up the stairs slowly.
“I’m great. Jason and I got married, Jason is ok. And Patrick Giran is going to go to prison for a very long time.” Mrs. Fute nodded again.
“I’m sorry how I was when you and Jason first started dating Jessica. That was totally uncalled for.”
“Thank you Mrs. Fute, but call me Jess.”
“I’ll call you jess if you call me Mom.” Jess turned, smiling down at her happily.
“I think I can handle that. I’ll see you later Mom.” The woman nodded, turning and walking from the house. Jess went up the stairs, holding her dress up so she wouldn’t trip. She went into Cotey and Sam’s room and changed into a pair of jeans so she would be ready for the twins.
Jess saddled Miami carefully, listening for the twins at the same time. It was two days later, and she had stayed at Cotey’s to help with lessons. After she was done she led him out into the aisle.
“Are you two ready?” she called. The twins led their ponies into the aisle, their eyes growing wide when they saw the big warmblood.
“Are you going to ride today Jessi?” they asked at the same time. Dominick turned to Rachel
“Quit copying me!” he exclaimed.
“I’m not, you’re copying me!” she shot back. Jess held up her hand.
“Knock it off guys. Yes I am riding today.” The twins looked at one another.
“I didn’t think you were allowed to ride,” Rachel said.
“Well I am. Come on, let’s get going.” She led Miami out of the barn and used a mounting block to mount up. The twins, who had just turned seven, followed her lead.
“Are we going into the field?” Dominick asked. Jess nodded, adjusting her stirrups.
“Yup. Come on.” The twins nodded and they all trotted into the field. After they were warmed up, Jess pulled up.
“I’ll canter so you guys can keep up,” Jess said. The twins nodded. “You guys can start before me,” she said. The twins asked their mounts to canter, and then galloped, going into their two-points. When they had gotten a good head start, Jess moved Miami into a canter. They caught up quickly and she kept him right beside Rachel.
“Hi Jessi!” Rachel called. Jess smiled, watching the twins and where she was going at the same time.
“Heels down Rachy! Dom, stay low in the saddle.” Suddenly there was a sound on the other side of the field. “Guys pull up for a minute!” she called. The twins eased Sunny and Island to a stop. Jess turned Miami, still cantering, toward the fence. Jason was standing at the fence watching her carefully.
“What are you doing in the saddle?” he demanded with a smile.
“What are you doing home?” she shot back, also smiling. He shrugged.
“They decided I could take care of myself for awhile. Now what are you doing up there? I leave you alone for two days and you’re already breaking the rules?”
“It was bound to happen. My knee doesn’t hurt… I won’t jump, but I’m not waiting another year.”
“Alright. I will cover for you if it comes to it,” he kidded.
“You’re crazy,” she said.
“About you.”
“Mrs. Jessica Fute does have a nice ring to it doesn’t it?” she murmured, cantering off again.
