September Morning

“He's gone out,” Kathryn said with an amused smile.

Nan looked wildly disappointed. “Oh,” she said, her face falling. “I just thought he might be going with us.”

Kathryn didn't bother to mention that Blake was doing everything short of joining a monastery to avoid her. That would have led to questions she didn't want to face, much less answer.

“Well, there she is, the golden girl,” Phillip said from the staircase, gazing with exaggerated interest at the petite blonde. “You luscious creature, you.”

Nan laughed delightedly. “Oh, Phil, you're such a tease,” she said. “Come riding with us and let me prove that I can still beat the socks off you.”

He made a mock pose. “No girl exposes my naked ankles,” he scoffed. “You're on!”

Kathryn led them out the door, tugging her green velveteen blouse down over her trim hips as she went, delighting in its warmth in the chill morning air. “It's nippy out here,” she murmured. Her slender hand went up to test the strength of the pins that held the coiled rope of hair in place on top of her head. The wind was brisk, invigorating.

“Nice and cool,” Phillip agreed. “Strange how Blake's run out of time to ride,” he mentioned with a curious glance at Kathryn. “He's literally worked every minute he's been home. And with the Leedses arriving Saturday, he's going to be lucky if he can manage time to pick them up at the airport.”

“Fighting again?” Nan probed, shooting a glance at Kathryn.

Kathryn lifted her head and watched the path in front of her as they took the old shortcut to the big barn, with its white-fenced paddocks. The path led through a maze of high, clipped hedges, in the center of which was a white gazebo, carefully concealed, and ringed all the way around with comfortable cushions. Kathryn had always thought it a wildly romantic setting, and her imagination ran riot every time she saw it.

“Blake and I are getting along just fine,” she said, denying her friend's teasing accusation.

“Nothing easier,” Phillip agreed with a grin. “They never see each other.”

“We do,” Kathryn disagreed. “Remember the other night when Blake was going out on that date?”

Nan glanced up at Phillip. “Who's he after now?” She laughed.

Phillip shrugged fatalistically. “Who knows? I think it's the little blonde he's got in the office. His new secretary, if office gossip can be believed. But I hear she can't spell cat.”

“Blake likes blondes, all right.” Kathryn laughed with an amusement that she was far from feeling.

“Here's one he sure avoids,” Nan groaned. “What's wrong with me?”

Phillip threw an avuncular arm across her shoulders. “Your age, my dear,” he informed her. “Blake likes his women mature, sophisticated and thoroughly immoral. That leaves you out of the running.”

Nan sighed miserably. “I always have been.”

“Blake used to pick us up after cheerleading practice, remember,” Kathryn said, eyeing the gazebo longingly as they passed it. “He still thinks of us chewing bubble gum and giggling.”

“I hate bubble gum,” Nan pouted.

“So do I,” Phillip agreed. “It leaves a bad…well, hello,” he broke off, grinning at Blake.

The older man stopped in their path, dressed in a sophisticated gray business suit, with a spotless white silk shirt and a patterned tie. He looked every inch the business magnate, polished and dignified.

“Good morning,” Blake said coolly. He smiled at Nan. “How's your mother?”

“Just fine, Blake,” Nan sighed, going close to catch his arm in her slender fingers. “Don't you have time to go riding with us?”

“I wish I did, little one,” he told her. “But I'm already late for a conference.”

Kathryn turned away and started for the barn. “I'm going ahead,” she called over her shoulder. “Last one in the saddle's a greenhorn!”

She almost ran the rest of the way to the barn, shocked at her own behavior. She felt strange. Sick. Hurt. Empty. The sight of Nan clinging to Blake's arm had set off a rage within her. She'd wanted to slap her friend of many years, just for touching him. She didn't understand herself at all.

Absently, she went into the tackroom and started getting together bits and bridles and a saddle. She barely noticed when the lithe chestnut gelding was saddled and ready to mount. He pranced nervously, as if he sensed her uneasy mood and was reacting to it.

Nan joined her as she was leading Sundance out into the bright morning.

“Where's Phil?” Kathryn asked, trying to keep the edge out of her voice.

Nan shrugged curiously. “Blake dragged him off to the office for some kind of council of war. At least, that's what it sounded like.” She sighed. “Blake seemed very angry with him.” Her face brightened. “Almost as if he didn't like the idea of Phillip going riding with me. Kate, do you suppose he's jealous?” she asked excitedly.

“It wouldn't surprise me a bit,” Kathryn lied, remembering Blake's remarks about her friend. But, frowning, she couldn't help wondering if he'd meant it. Why in the world didn't he want Phillip to ride with the girls?