The Family Plan

“He’s excitable. That’s what made him a champion barrel racer and headlining performer.”

Her father smiled. “He was good in his day. So were you.”

At twenty years old, Jolyn had left Blue Ridge and joined the Wild and Wooly West Equestrian Show. She and Sinbad traveled with the show until fourteen months ago, their signature bareback jump over a wagon full of mock settlers one of the show’s biggest crowd pleasers.

In a split second, the time it took for Sinbad’s right rear hoof to catch on the side of the wagon, their career was cut short. Sinbad was laid up for six weeks after the accident. Jolyn for six months. She was lucky she could walk again, much less drive a truck and trailer.

It was the worst and, if things went well for her here in Blue Ridge, the best thing to ever happen to her.

“Do you have any antibiotics in the barn?” she asked her dad while patting Sinbad’s neck.

“No. My supplies are a little low.”

She wasn’t surprised. Her parents hadn’t kept horses on the property since she moved out. Anything out in the barn had been recently purchased in anticipation of her coming home.

She reached for her cell phone in her pocket. “I’m going to call Chase.”

“Is that really necessary? He’s probably in the middle of dinner.”

“It’s a bad cut, Dad, and needs to be treated.”

“We’ve got some peroxide in the house.”

“I’d feel better if Chase looked at it.”

Chase Raintree was the local veterinarian, the only one in a thirty-five-mile radius. He and Jolyn had been friends since before they could remember. Despite only sporadic contact in recent years, she was certain he’d come if she asked him—in the middle of dinner or not.

“The horse’ll be fine until morning,” her father said, dismissing her concerns. “You can head over to the feed store first thing after breakfast and pick up some medicine.”

“I will if Chase isn’t available.”

She flipped open her cell phone and began to press buttons, assuming the number hadn’t changed. Chase had taken over his parents’ house when they semiretired and moved to Mesa a few years earlier and lived there with his eight-year-old daughter, Mandy.

Jolyn’s father stayed her hand. “Maybe that’s not such a good idea.”

“Why?” She gave him a curious stare.

“Your mother and he are…well, let’s just say they’re having a difference of opinion.”

“About Mandy?” Jolyn asked.

“Yeah.”

“Oh, no.” Jolyn’s heart sank. “I thought Mom agreed to let that go.”

“She’s recently changed her mind.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Her father heaved a tired sigh. “I didn’t want to upset you before your trip. Figured you had enough to deal with.”

Jolyn groaned. “What brought this on?”

“I’m not sure. Mandy started taking lessons…oh, sometime last fall I guess it was. But your mother didn’t get pushy with Chase again until recently.”

Dottie Sutherland operated a small dance studio out of the community center, offering classes three afternoons a week and Saturday mornings. Most of the girls in town, and even the occasional boy, studied under her at one point or another while growing up. As a child, Jolyn endured two years of lessons before permanently trading her tap shoes for cowboy boots.

“Can’t you stop her?” Jolyn asked.

Her father raised one eyebrow and gave a short laugh. “You’re joking, of course.”

She hadn’t been but didn’t contradict him.

“This isn’t just about Mom. There are other people’s feelings to consider, including Mandy’s. She still doesn’t know, does she?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I can’t support Mom in this if it means hurting Mandy.” Or going against Chase, she added silently.

Her father scowled. “I don’t know what’s with your mother lately. She’s been acting funny.”

“Funny how?”

“Just not her usual self.” He exhaled. “I’ve asked her again and again what’s wrong but she keeps insisting nothing’s the matter.”

“Maybe I can get her to open up.”

“It’s worth a shot, I guess.” His tone implied she’d get no further with her mother than he had.

Sinbad, evidently tired of standing in one place, began pawing the ground. The movement caused his injury to gape and seep fresh blood.

Jolyn made a decision. As much as she wanted to see her mother and get to the bottom of whatever was bothering her, Sinbad’s injury needed attending. Turning him around, she walked toward the trailer. “I’m going to drive over to Chase’s.” She hated loading the horse back into the trailer after a grueling four-day road trip but saw no other choice.

Her father followed her. “What about supper? Your mother won’t be happy after all the work she’s put into it.”

“This won’t take long.”

“You baby that horse too much considering what he did to you.”

“Not now, Dad. Please.” She’d just returned home after a long absence and wasn’t in the mood to dredge up old arguments. To ease the tension, she gave him another kiss on the cheek. “I won’t be long, I promise.”

Chase lived half a mile away. She’d phone him on the drive over there. If he happened to be away, she’d wait for him and cleanse Sinbad’s wound using a garden hose.

And what if he doesn’t want to see you?

Of course he does, Jolyn told herself. Chase might be angry with her mother but he’d never refuse to treat a sick or injured animal.

He’d looked good the last time she’d seen him—two Christmases ago, was it?—though tired. His dark brown eyes had lacked their usual warmth, and his killer smile struck her as forced. The divorce and grueling custody battle had obviously taken a toll on him. Had he changed since then? And what would he think about the changes in her? Both the good and bad ones? Would he even notice?