His Golden Heart (18 page)

“They may have miscalculated, never anticipating you’d be so seriously hurt.”

Peter was doing everything to avoid looking at Beau in his wheelchair.

“Sounds like you know more than you’re letting on,” Beau said dryly while eyeing Peter speculatively. “Spill it, man. Are you confessing?” The last was said jokingly.

Peter shifted uneasily in his seat. “I’d never pull something like that, Beau. I’m only repeating what I hear.”

“Go on.”

Beau’s whole body had tensed up. There was that tingling in his legs again. Except this time it was so intense he feared he might spasm. Why was that happening? He’d meant to talk to his doctor about it, speak with Shayna, maybe. He’d never gotten around to it.

“Come on, man,” Beau urged. “Talk to me.”

Peter bent in closer. “I heard…”

The doorbell chose that inopportune moment to ring. Beau cursed softly, then said, “Talk about bad timing. Looks like more company’s here. Our conversation will have to wait until later.” He moved his joystick into position and headed for the door.

“Who are you expecting?” Peter called after him. “Anyone from the ski team?”

“No. Just David, my agent, and Shayna, my physical therapist, and her little brother. Kelly will be joining us, of course, and I invited Mohammed, who manages Hill Of Dreams. My mom might also stop by.”

“What about your dad?”

“He’s out of town working on a case. Will you stick around until after the barbecue? We can have a more in-depth discussion then.”

Peter scrounged up his nose, seeming to debate. “Normally I would love to, but I have a first date. I want to make a good impression so I’d better be on time. I’ll call you and we’ll set up another time to talk.”

“Let’s do that, soon. Curiosity is just about killing me.”

The doorbell jingled again.

Kelly shouted, “I’ll get it,” at the same time rushing to the door.

The conversation was placed on hold, temporarily. But Beau was left with a sense of frustration. Frustration with the situation. Frustration with himself. Ever since the injury he’d allowed his world to stop while he wallowed in self-pity. So many people had tried to tell him that his accident was no accident, but he hadn’t wanted to believe them. It was still hard to believe that someone would intentionally want to hurt him.

Hats off to Shayna for giving him a purpose in life again, in getting him mentally back on track. His self-esteem had risen and with it his fighting spirit had returned. He needed to get his hands on that equipment, examine his boots and skis for himself. He would ask David to take care of that.

David breezed in, Kelly on his heels. His agent had brought an attractive brunette with him. He introduced her all around. “This is Alia, everybody.”

Peter rose to greet Alia while Beau smiled and waved. She was a petite delicate type, a little taller than Shayna. She had a big wide smile and a warm way about her.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” she said, approaching Beau, hand outstretched.

Beau took the delicate palm she offered. “I trust it’s been all good.”

“Absolutely,” David said, interjecting, and presenting Beau with an envelope. “Your fan mail,” he explained.

The doorbell jingled again. The tingling sensation Beau felt in his legs had moved into his arms as well.

He was on pins and needles, anxious to see Shayna again. While Kelly headed for the door, Beau sipped his water. He listened distractedly to Peter’s and David’s conversation. They were talking about the athletes they knew. He sensed Shayna’s presence even before she stood before him. Then he smelled her heavenly perfume. She had that surly brother with her.

Shayna’s looks were a sharp contrast from Kelly’s freshly scrubbed, girl-next-door appearance. But Beau knew that under that cinnamon skin and wide-eyed appeal hid a sexy, flirtatious woman. While she might look like a cute teenager, she didn’t act like a teenager. And she sure didn’t kiss like a cute teeny bopper.

“I brought you this,” she said, holding out a foil-covered tray to Beau. “Where should I put it?”

“What is it?” Beau asked.

“Brownies. Baked from scratch.”

“Yum,” Kelly added, “I’ll gladly take them from you.”

True to her word, she relieved Shayna of her tray and immediately lifted the foil, helping herself to one of the heavenly smelling baked goods.

“Anyone else want one?” she asked, offering the tray around.

Peter was the only one to accept. Beau watched in amusement as he flirted with Kelly. He wasn’t worried. Kelly would expertly ward off any unwelcome advances. He’d seen her in action before. Reggie still hadn’t opened his mouth. He stood by watching them as if they’d flown in from the moon.

“Have a seat,” Beau invited, gesturing to one of the comfortable overstuffed chairs.

“First you say hello to everyone,” Shayna said, nudging Reggie forward.

Reluctantly the teenager greeted everyone before flopping onto the vacant chair.

Big chip on that kid’s shoulder, Beau decided. In many ways Reggie reminded him of himself. When he’d first come to live with the Andersons he’d been in such pain. He’d still been inwardly grieving for his parents but was afraid to cry. Afraid that it would make him appear less of a man. So he’d been surly, obnoxious, and difficult to deal with. And even after the Andersons had adopted him, he’d steadfastly refused to change his last name. It was his legacy, the only thing left of his parents.

“You’re looking well,” he said to Shayna, who’d taken a seat next to him.

“You don’t look so bad yourself. Love the shirt.”

He was wearing one of his favorite designers. Marc Jacobs.

“You look good, period,” she continued, smiling at him. Immediately his mood lightened. This afternoon would be promising after all.

“Ready to go riding?” Beau asked Reggie when he noticed the boy was making no effort to join the conversation.

Reggie grunted something unintelligible.

“Why don’t we all go riding?” Beau said to no one in particular.

“You’re going riding?” Kelly asked, entering the conversation. She set down the tray of brownies on a side table. “This I have to see.” She was over treating him with kid gloves apparently.

“Yes, I think I am.”

Kelly looked from Beau to Shayna and back again. It appeared she knew a secret.

Shayna placed a hand on Beau’s forearm. “Riding’s therapeutic. Remind me to tell you how working with horses helped me.”

Beau covered the hand on his forearm. “I will,” he said, staring at her until she blushed.

The connection was broken when David cleared his throat “Alia and I will pass,” he said. “We’ll fire up the barbecue and by the time you guys get back we’ll be ready to eat. How about you help us, Peter?”

“I’ll gladly act as your sous chef,” Peter offered, looking at Kelly as if she was dessert.

“Good. I’ve got things to attend to,” Kelly added. “You three have fun.”

“Get one of the guys to bring Vodka, Scotch, and Whiskey around,” Beau suggested.

Kelly danced off, eyes sparkling. She turned back to glance at Shayna and Beau briefly. Beau could tell she was up to something. And whatever it was wasn’t good.

Chapter Fifteen

Shayna was surprised at the rapport Beau had with his horses. As everyone watched, he carefully approached from the side, stroking them reverently and whispering softly in their ears. All three seemed delighted to see him, snorting and neighing, vying for Beau’s full attention.

She’d read somewhere that coming up directly on a horse was not advisable. Horses had peripheral vision and a head-on approach might spook them. But the obvious trust between owner and equines was hard to miss. Scotch, Vodka, and Whiskey were crazy about their owner.

Bowing their heads, the horses nuzzled Beau. He continued to stroke their manes while cooing at them softly. Shayna was relieved to see the parking brake on his wheelchair was secured as she had visions of him rolling away.

“Hey, bud,” Beau said to Reggie. “Come closer, let me show you where my babies like to be rubbed.”

Reggie, looking as if he would rather be anyplace but here, was coerced into touching and stroking the horses. Beau told him that even the way one groomed a horse was essential in establishing trust. Shayna was curious as to how he knew so much about horses. She remembered reading that one of his favorite pastimes was teaching disadvantaged kids how to ride.

A versatile, caring, person her Beau was turning out to be. Her Beau! Perish the thought.

“Okay, how about we get in a good forty minutes of riding?” he said.

Shayna nodded her agreement. It had been a long time since she’d been on a horse. Too long. She’d be sore tomorrow.

After some strategizing, Beau let David and Peter hoist him out of his chair and onto Vodka. Shayna, with some assistance, mounted Scotch, and Reggie, who initially refused help, was eventually seated atop Whiskey. All three horses postured restlessly. They snorted and salivated, tossing their heads from side to side. Shayna wondered if they were being ridden regularly. But she assumed Beau must have that worked out with the stable hands. It wasn’t as if he’d been home much, even before the accident.

After Vodka, Scotch, and Whiskey were stroked, soothed, and calmed down, they set off. The threesome trotted down a winding path amid flurries of “Have fun,” Beau leading the way.

It was no longer raining, but the soil underfoot was moist, and damp leaves brushed against Shayna’s face and arms. For a while no one spoke, and the occasional snort of a horse was the only sound penetrating the quiet. Shayna followed Beau, staring at his broad back with its rippling muscles, and his strong column of neck. His sinewy thigh muscles were what women dreamed of having wrapped around theirs. He sat tall and proud, an extension of his horse. A beautiful extension.

Shayna’s entire body pulsed. Who would believe Beau was no longer able-bodied?

Reggie rode even farther ahead of them, still gamely holding on, his entire body flopping from side to side. Her brother seemed awed by the newness of his riding experience, but so far he was behaving, and that was all she asked for. In the air was an incredible smell of newness. Spring on the verge of summer. They crunched their way down another leaf-strewn path and Shayna finally relaxed. She gave in to the feeling of the horse beneath her and quickly got used to sitting up high. Silently she began to count the numbers of Russian Olives they passed. It was times like these she wished life wasn’t so complicated. Why did Beau have to be her patient? Why did her brother have to be in trouble? And why did Beau’s father have to be the prosecuting attorney? Why? Nothing ever made sense.

Shayna continued to stare at Beau. Beautiful Beau. Temperamental Beau. Beau whom she loved. The thought jolted her. When did this happen?

Get off the thought, Shayna. Stick to safe.

“What made you take up horseback riding?” she called to him, her voice catching in the breeze.

Beau slowed his horse down and slanted a look over his shoulder. His closely shorn hair gleamed with moisture. She guessed he was exerting muscles that hadn’t been used in a while. The gold earring glistened. He smiled at her. A perfect smile. One that went straight to her heart. All reservations were immediately put aside.

“Probably for the same reason I took up skiing. I didn’t have a choice, I was made to,” he answered.

“But you’re a natural on horseback. It’s so obvious you love your horses.” She’d caught up with him and they simply stared at each other.

“Had you fooled, didn’t I?” Beau said lightly, flashing another wicked grin. “I used to be petrified of horses. They were these huge, intimidating, uncontrollable beasts, I thought.” He patted Vodka affectionately.

The horse neighed. “Hey, Reg, how you doing?”

Her brother was aggressively charging ahead, forcing his horse to canter.

“I’m managing,” he threw over his shoulder.

Barely, Shayna thought, suppressing a grin. Her brother was actually hanging on to Whiskey, letting the horse choose its own path. She could tell behind the brave response lay a terrified child who was simply acting out. Reggie was a whole lot of bluster. An overgrown piece of mush.

“Sit up straight, and get control of your reins,” Beau called at him, while demonstrating what Reggie should do. At that exact moment a cat darted from the underbrush directly into Whiskey’s path. The horse was spooked. It railed, and then bolted. Reggie’s calls for help were hardly cool. Beau galloped after him, his horse’s hooves splattering mud everywhere.

Shayna listened to Reggie’s terrified cries for help and Beau’s equally loud calls for him to stay calm and hang on. Beau assured him he was on the way. But what if he was thrown? Beau couldn’t afford another injury. Her stomach cramped with just that thought.

“Easy, boy. Easy,” Beau soothed, catching up with Whiskey.

It had all happened in a split second. Whiskey bolting and Beau shouting instructions to Reggie, repeating them over and over. Yet her brother had seemed incapable of hearing. All systems had shut down.

Beau was alongside Reggie now, taking hold of the reins. Shayna closed her eyes.
Please, God, let it be all right.
When she opened them again Beau had both horses under control. Thank God.