A Little Bit of Charm by Mary Ellis

a future champion. After checking his watch, Jake took the colt back to his stall for a good rubdown. Training at his tender age took place in baby steps, not in leaps and bounds. Just as he released Eager to Please from the cross ties, Jessie wandered up the main aisle.
    â€œHe’s growing bigger day by day.” She chewed on a long green weed.
    Jake added a few cups of feed to the colt’s bucket and closed the gate behind him. “You’re exactly the person I want to talk to.” He bobbed his head left and right to see if anyone was with her.
    â€œBet I know what you want to talk about.” Jessie lifted one of her boot heels to a tack trunk.
    â€œWho’s the new girl?” They both spoke simultaneously.
    Jake busied himself scrubbing the water trough to hide his embarrassment. “I know her name is Rachel and that she’ll give tours while you’re in college. Virgil told me that much.”
    â€œYeah, he ate lunch with us at the picnic table. I believe thatboy is smitten with Rachel. He kept watching her from the corner of his eye, subtle-like, at least in his own mind.”
    â€œIs that so?” Jake refilled the newly cleaned trough with the hose.
    â€œWell, she sure is attractive. Don’t you think so?”
    Jake shook his head and faced her. Never in his life could he keep a single secret from his sister. Jessie had been born with the intuition allotment meant for a dozen people. “I suppose she is, but what I want to know is where did she go?” He turned one of the plastic chairs backward to straddle.
    â€œShe’s taking Buster and Bess around the tour circuit a few times to get used to handling them and so they can get familiar with her. If she keeps giving them apples, they’ll be putty in her hands.” She plopped down on the trunk lid.
    â€œBy herself?” Jake felt oddly protective of a stranger. “Why didn’t you go with her?”
    â€œYes, by herself. We already rode around twice together. Now she needs to relax and practice without someone watching over her shoulder.” Jessie glanced up at him. “She’ll have to do it alone soon enough.”
    â€œHow will she know what to say?”
    â€œI gave her the notebook I made for Keeley as a training manual. It has everything in it you’re supposed to say on a tour, including the history and background on Twelve Elms in case people ask questions.” Her lips pulled into a smile. “She’s caught your eye as well as Virgil’s.”
    Jake checked the open doorway. “Few women under forty show up here, so why wouldn’t she catch my attention?”
    â€œRachel is a dream come true for me, Jake. She knows a lot about horses and is willing to memorize everything in the manual. She should be ready to give the tour next Wednesday.” Jessie crossed and uncrossed her feet at the ankles, unable to sit still forlong. “And if she runs into trouble, one of my Sir Galahad brothers will ride to her rescue. Be sure to saddle up a white horse.”
    Jake ignored the wisecrack. “What else do you know about her?”
    â€œLet’s see…her name is Rachel King. She lives on Route 738 with a cousin and her husband—”
    â€œRachel’s husband or the cousin’s?”
    â€œThe cousin’s. They own an organic chicken farm.” Jessie propped her chin on her index finger. “She doesn’t much like free-roaming chickens except for supper, so that’s why she needs a job. Oh, and she’s from Pennsylvania.” She jumped to her feet. “That’s about all I know. I don’t demand official résumés with references for part-time, temporary jobs.”
    â€œI’ll have to find out more details when I sweep her off her feet with my wit and charm,” he said with false bravado. He stood and pushed away from the stall wall, ducking his head.
    Suddenly, Jessie’s eyebrows arched as