Leaping Hearts(31)

“Good morning,” she said, skirting her eyes over him before looking at Chester. Her flush told Devlin she was remembering what had happened up in his bedroom and he thought the color in her cheeks made her look radiant. She was wearing blue jeans and a work shirt and had yet to pin back her hair, so its amber weight was a glorious stole around her shoulders. With her smile of greeting for the older man, she lit up the room like a bonfire.

Chester blinked twice, as if he’d seen an angel.

“I’m A.J.,” she said, offering her hand.

“An’ I’m glad to have somethin’ better to look at over breakfast than McCloud’s face,” the man replied, shaking her hand awkwardly. “Chester Raymond.”

She laughed. Chester looked away and looked back.

Devlin frowned and went to get A.J. some coffee, muttering, “Better watch out. For a confirmed bachelor, he’s a real lady-killer.”

“That your stallion in the stall?” Chester asked.

“He’s my ball and chain, yes.”

“Good composition, smart eyes, lot a’ trouble. What’ll save you is his heart. He’ll perform well for the right person.”

A.J. accepted the mug from Devlin. “You know him?”

“Don’t need to. Took a peek into the stall when I got here.” Chester polished off the last bit of his cereal. “One look at an animal an’ I know what’s in there. Just like catchin’ the headlines of a newspaper.”

“That’s amazing.” A.J. sat down.

“He’s a speed reader, all right,” Devlin interjected.

“Well, when a body’s seen as many horses as I have, a person goes on instinct.”

A.J. leaned across the table. “You know, I’m so relieved to hear you say that about Sabbath. It’s what I thought from the moment I laid eyes on him, but after our first time in the ring yesterday, I’ve been doubting myself. Going over fences wasn’t a good experience for either of us.”

“Don’t be doubtin’ the instinct. A body’s more likely to go wrong ignoring it than listenin’ to it.”

“You are so right,” she said.

Devlin began to feel left out.

“You two want to keep going down this personal empowerment road or should we get to work?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

They looked at him like he was being a grouch and he felt ridiculous. Imagine him, jealous of a seventy-year-old man. Who looked like a basset hound.

Obviously, insomnia could drive a person mad, he decided.

A.J. stood up.

“I’ll meet you all down by the barn,” she said, grabbing a piece of toast and gulping down the rest of her coffee. She gave the old man a radiant look before leaving Devlin without a glance.

Devlin watched her go into the front hall, shrug on her coat with the toast in her mouth and then hurry out the door.

“So when ya gonna marry her?”

Chester’s calm question fell on his head like a bucket of fish bait.

Devlin sputtered on the rim of his mug. “Excuse me?”

“Myself, I’ve always liked the spring weddin’s.”

“Are you channeling Martha Stewart or something?”

“Go ahead, fight this one like ya do everything else you can’t control. Don’t know why ya bother, though. It’s obvious what’s hangin’ in the air between you two.”

“No, wait—you’re doing Ann Landers.”

The older man shook his head as he took his bowl to the sink.

“Say what ya will, but y’re a goner.”

“I hate to break the news but you’re way off base. She’s sleeping on the couch, not in my bed, and it’s only until the Qualifier.” Devlin shot to his feet. Took his own mug and plate over.

“Whatever ya say.”

“I’m not saying anything. That’s what’s happening.”

“Like I said, whatever ya say.”

The two bickered their way to the door, just like old times.

“There’s nothing going on.”

“Yup.”

“I’m serious.”

“An’ so is what’s not goin’ on.”

Devlin let out a curse, halting in front of the coats. “Since when did you turn into a romantic?”

“At least I’m improving with age.”

“Delusions aren’t improvement. They’re evidence of squash rot.”

“Better than goin’ blind from sheer bullishness.”

“Listen, old man,” Devlin said with a grin, “you want to help me set up the ring, or what?”

“I’m ready to go. Y’re the one dragging your feet.”

Devlin pulled on his barn jacket. “For God’s sake, will you stop it?”

“I’m not the one with the problem.”

“Well, I don’t have one, either!”

“I can tell.”

Devlin had just swung open the front door when Chester put a hand on his shoulder. The older man’s eyes were grave.

“I know this ain’t easy, boy. I’m glad you’re back.”

“I’m not back,” he said gruffly. “It’s not me up on that stallion.”