A Fair to Remember by Barbara Ankrum Page A

boy. There you go. We’re friends now.”
    Zabar blew out a breath and dropped his head down. Jake could almost feel the animal’s relief at not having to run anymore. He patted along his hot, front flank and cupped a hand under his jaw. “Okay now.” The gelding leaned into his touch like a cat.
    He met Olivia’s eyes over the top of the horse’s head. “That really was magic.”
    Her heart tripped a little at his words. “It’s just the beginning. The first step. He has a long road ahead, but I think he’ll be fine. Maybe tomorrow, Carrie, you can start working with a saddle blanket and a little weight.”
    “Maybe Magic should be his new name,” Jake suggested. “Zabar sounds like some kind of demon sword.”
    “You know, you’re right,” Carrie said, ducking under the rail with Monday. The gelding dropped his nose to sniff the dog. “I like it. ‘Magic’ it is.”
    Jaycee appeared down at the corrals as they were walking Magic toward the bathing stall.
    “Hi, Jake,” she said, and hugged him briefly. “It’s been a long, long time.”
    “Yes, ma’am, it has.”
    “I came down to invite you to Reed and Olivia’s birthday dinner on Tuesday night at Beck’s Place. We’d love to have you if you’re still in town.”
    “Reed officially turns into an old man at sixty on Tuesday,” Olivia said.
    “I-uh… should be.” Jake glanced at Olivia, then off into the distance at a speck approaching in the sky from the north. “Thank you. I’d love to, if that’s okay with Olivia.”
    She started to answer, but the thwap-thwap-thwap of a helicopter approaching drew her gaze to the west pasture. Olivia took hold of Magic’s halter as the horse backed away, white-eyed from the sound.
    “Have you done something to incur the wrath of the DEA, the ATF? The Marietta PD?” Carrie asked, as the chopper swooped down into the empty east pasture and landed like some kind of huge, misplaced bird.
    Olivia gaped at Jake, who was half-smiling. “Not that I know of.”
    “Wanna go for a ride?” Jake asked her.
    From the cockpit, the pilot gave them a thumbs up.
    “You said you’d go up to Deke’s with me. This’ll save us a long drive. He’ll come back and get us tonight. It’s only for the day, Liv.”
    She snapped her mouth shut. “Bold move, Lassen.”
    “I take ‘em where I can get ‘em, Canaday.”
    “Oh, go on,” Jaycee said. “You two have fun.”
    Olivia protested. “But Magic needs—”
    “I’ve got it covered,” Carrie said.
    “—and, Carolyn’s coming this afternoon for the equine therapy session with Lizzy and Jacob. And Lucy’s coming to practice her dressage drills later today—”
    Jaycee said, “Carolyn does just fine with the class by herself. I can help if need be. And Lord knows, Lucy is as ready as she can be for the fair demonstration on Friday.”
    Carrie gave Olivia an unsubtle nudge in Jake’s direction. “What are you waiting for? It’s a helicopter. Go!”
    Two minutes later, she, Jake, and Monday were strapped in, pulling into the sky with Jake at the helm.

Chapter Four
    D espite her protests, the ride was spectacular. Though her fists were coiled for most of the trip, she stared out the window in awe. She’d never flown over this part of the country before and never in a helicopter. Torn between watching the landscape and watching Jake fly the thing, she settled back in her seat and simply enjoyed both.
    His command of the cockpit was impressive, and Sammy, the copilot, relaxed beside him. Jake knew flying like she knew horses. The helicopter was an extension of him like riding horses used to be for her. She decided he would never let anything happen to her. Monday sat beside her and she sank her fingers into the animal’s fur, more to calm herself than the dog. Monday looked like she’d been flying forever.
    Then she found herself becoming distracted by Jake’s muscular forearms as he flipped switches and steered the helicopter, not with a steering