LITMIR.BIZ

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will do you good.”

      Silence ensued before Lena said, “It’s too hot in the South this time of year, and you know I have to stay out of the sun. Maybe I’ll come down in October.”

      Her mother had had a pre-cancerous lesion removed near her hairline four years ago, which prompted her to take extra precautions whenever she went out in the sun. It was always layers of sunscreen, long sleeves and a floppy hat during the summer months.

      “Maybe isn’t an answer, Mama.”

      “I’ll promise only if you’ll promise to come back here to live. You’re my only baby and I miss you like crazy.”

      Peyton closed her eyes. Please, not with the guilt, she mused. “I miss you, too, Mama. I’ll come up to visit, but please don’t ask me to stay.”

      There came a beat. “When are you coming?” Lena asked.

      “I’ll be up for my birthday. We’ll have a girls’ week when we check into a hotel, order room service and get beauty makeovers.”

      “That sounds wonderful. Oreo’s looking at me, because he knows I feed him his breakfast around this time. Let me go, baby, so I can call and find out when I can send him back to you.”

      Peyton rang off. When she’d moved into a studio apartment close to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York, she saw a flyer advertising pet adoptions at a local shelter. When she visited the shelter and spied the chocolate British shorthair kitten with a tiny patch of white on one paw Peyton knew they were meant for each other, and she now looked forward to reuniting with her furry baby.

      She made her way down the main staircase to the first floor, stopping on the last stair when she saw Sheldon’s housekeeper dusting a bleached pine table cradling a crystal vase filled with a bouquet of wildflowers.

      The housekeeper was like a specter, floating silently in and out of rooms dusting and vacuuming where she’d cleaned the day before. “Good morning, Miss Garrett.”

      Claire Garrett turned and smiled at Peyton. The twinkle in her green eyes sparkled like polished peridots. She placed her feather duster on the table. “Good morning to you, too. I figured you wouldn’t be up until later this morning.”

      Peyton returned the tall, heavyset woman’s friendly smile. “I couldn’t sleep. Not with that annoying woodpecker drumming on the tree outside my bedroom. I also need to check on the horses.”

      “You don’t have to check on the horses, because I overheard Ryan tell Sheldon he was going to make the rounds this morning because you probably would be exhausted from the wedding.” Claire smoothed back the stick-straight strands of snow-white hair she’d pinned into a neat bun. She wore her ubiquitous pale gray uniform and white rubber-soled shoes. “Now about that woodpecker. I hear that little sucker whenever I dust and vacuum your room. I wish there was some way to get him to move to another tree.”

      “There are a few alternatives,” Peyton said. “We can use a repellent without harming him. It’s known as the flasher. It is a combination of colors, fluttering and sounds that mimic the strike movements of predatory birds. I’m going to go online and order one.”

      “Once you get it I’ll have one of the men hang it where the little annoyance can see it. By the way, you looked spectacular last night dancing with Mr. Thomas. I heard some of the young fellas talking about asking you out.”

      She forced a smile she didn’t quite feel. She wasn’t interested in going out with the young fellas. “Did you enjoy yourself last night?”

      Claire nodded. “Yes. I thought it was ingenious to use a real wedding as a theme for an open house. But I’m really looking forward to ours because I love barbecues. The chefs ordered three whole hogs. They’re planning to smoke one and roast the others in the ground on hot coals like they do in Hawaii.” Claire excitedly outlined the entire menu for the farm’s open house. She then revealed what she’d heard about the Harridans’ get-together. “They’ve decided on a Vegas theme, complete with table and board games, slot machines and roulette wheels. When they heard we were going to have a live band and karaoke, the Harridans hired several celebrity impersonators: Cher, Elvis, Bette Midler and Lady Gaga.”

      “I’m really looking forward to that,” Peyton admitted, stepping off the last stair.

      “Bruce Thornton’s housekeeper told me their open house will be a drive-in movie. Most young folks nowadays don’t know anything about drive-ins.”

      “There’s one only a few miles from where I grew up.” Claire’s talkativeness shocked Peyton. Normally the woman never said more than good morning or good evening whenever they encountered each other. And it’d taken the housekeeper a long time before she’d stopped calling her Missy rather than Peyton.

      “Sheldon and Renee are sleeping in late this morning.”

      “Where’s Virginia?” Peyton asked.

      “She and the other kids spent the night with Gus and Beatrice.” Claire shook her head. “Those kids love hanging out at Tricia’s grandpa’s house. God bless Beatrice. I don’t know how she’s able to deal with six little children underfoot. The Lord knew not to give me any because as one of eight all I ever wanted was peace and quiet.” She flushed attractively. “I know I’m running off at the mouth this morning, but I suppose I’m still wound up from last night when the DJ played all of my favorite songs from the ’70s and ’80s.”

      “He was good,” Peyton confirmed.

      The DJ had arranged his music by decades. He’d begun with the ’50s and brought it up to date with hip-hop, techno and dance favorites. And he’d programmed his computerized playlist to play nonstop, intermingling decades so there was something for everyone. At no time was the dance floor empty.

      And Peyton couldn’t remember a time when she’d danced that much. She’d danced for when she’d missed her junior and high-school dances because she’d elected to stay home and study. She’d also danced for when she’d opted not to go to the club frequented by her college friends whose weekend partying began Thursday night and sometimes didn’t end until Sunday morning. She smiled, because she intended to do it again later that afternoon. There was no way she would be able to make up for the sacrifices she’d made for her career choice, but Peyton intended to enjoy herself until she established herself as an independent equine veterinarian.

      “I’m going over to the dining hall for breakfast. Would you like me to bring you anything back?”

      Claire picked up the duster. “No, thanks, Missy. After I get through with my dusting I’ll call and have someone bring me a plate. I don’t need to be rattling pots and pans if Sheldon and the missus want to sleep later than usual.”

      Peyton groaned inwardly. The housekeeper was back to calling her Missy. “I’ll see you later.” She decided to walk to the dining hall instead of driving to ease her overworked leg muscles. What she wouldn’t give for a massage this morning.

      The instant she stepped out of the house the distinctive aroma of grilled food wafted to her nose. The tradition of hosting a yearly open house had begun to exhibit new spring foals for sale and/or breeding purposes. Then Sheldon went one step further when he served food and included music. That year he sold three retired Thoroughbreds he’d put out to stud. Several of the owners met, deciding to hold the event every two years instead of yearly, and that each farm would adopt a specific theme. The owners and their trainers now met prior to the open houses to negotiate the buying and selling of horseflesh.

      It felt good to walk, something Peyton didn’t do enough of and would begin now that she had a natural spa in which to exercise. Most of the farm’s ten thousand acres had paved roads and footpaths. There was also the pool for swimming laps. The schoolhouse had been expanded to include a gym for the children to play and work out.

      She reached the dining hall, pushing open the door. There were six men standing around the inside. The tension in the large space was so strong it was palpable.

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