you're not madly in love by then, we'll do something radical.
Like what? A lobotomy? Samantha looked serious as she took another sip of hot chocolate.
We'll think of something, but I don't really think we'll have to.
Hopefully by then I'll be back on Madison Avenue, killing myself with a fifteen-hour workday.
Is that what you want? Caroline looked at her sadly.
I don't know. I used to think so. But now that I look back at it, maybe I was in competition with John. Still, I have a good shot at becoming creative director of the agency, and there's a lot of ego involved in that.
Do you enjoy it?
Samantha nodded and smiled. I love it. And then she cocked her head to one side with a shy smile. But there have been times when I've liked this kind of life more. Caro She hesitated, but only for an instant. Can I ride Black Beauty tomorrow? She suddenly looked like a very young girl.
But Caroline slowly shook her head. Not yet, Sam. You ought to warm up on one of the others. How long has it been since you've been on a horse?
About two years.
Then you don't want to start with Black Beauty.
Why not?
Because you'll land on your fanny halfway out the gate. He's not easy to ride, Sam. And then more gently, Not even for you, I suspect. Caroline had seen years before that Samantha was a splendid rider, but she knew only too well that Black Beauty was an unusual horse. He even gave her a hard time, and he terrified the foreman and most of the ranch hands. Give it time. I promise I'll let you ride him when you feel sure of yourself again. They both knew that that wouldn't take Sam long. She had spent too much time with horses to feel rusty for long. You know, I was hoping you wanted to do some serious riding. Bill and I have spent the last three weeks tearing our hair out over the ranch papers. We have a lot of things to tie up at year end. As I told you, we're two men short on top of it. We could use an extra hand. If you want to, you could ride with the men.
Are you serious? Samantha looked stunned. You'd let me do that? Her big blue eyes lit up by the light of the fire, her golden hair was alight with its glow.
Of course I would let you. In fact I'd be grateful to you. And then, with a gentle smile, You're as competent as they are. Or you will be again after a day or two. Think you'd survive starting out with a full day in the saddle?
Hell yes! Samantha grinned, and Caroline walked toward her with a look of affection in her eyes.
Then get to bed, young lady. You have to be up at four o'clock. In fact I was so sure you'd say yes, I told Tate Jordan to expect you. Bill and I have to go into town. She looked at her watch then. It was a simple watch that Bill King had given her that Christmas. Once, thirty years earlier, the only watches that had graced her wrist had been Swiss and encrusted with diamonds. There had been one in particular that her husband had bought her in Paris, at Cartier's. But she had long since put it away. Sometimes she found it hard to believe that she had ever had another life. She stood looking at Samantha now with a warm smile and gave the younger woman another firm hug. Welcome home, darling.
Thank you, Aunt Caro.
With that, the two women walked slowly down the hall. Caroline knew that the fire was safely contained in the fireplace, and she left the tray for the Mexican woman who arrived every morning to work on the ranch and clean her house.
She walked Samantha to her bedroom doorway and watched as Sam eyed the room with delight. It was a different room than she had shared with Barbara during the summers. Caroline had long since turned that room into a study. It had pained her too much to remember the young girl who had visited and lived there, growing into young womanhood in the pink frills of that room. This room was entirely different. It was equally feminine, but stark white. Everything was white eyelet and wonderfully frilly, from the canopied bed to the handmade cushions to the wicker chaise
Like what? A lobotomy? Samantha looked serious as she took another sip of hot chocolate.
We'll think of something, but I don't really think we'll have to.
Hopefully by then I'll be back on Madison Avenue, killing myself with a fifteen-hour workday.
Is that what you want? Caroline looked at her sadly.
I don't know. I used to think so. But now that I look back at it, maybe I was in competition with John. Still, I have a good shot at becoming creative director of the agency, and there's a lot of ego involved in that.
Do you enjoy it?
Samantha nodded and smiled. I love it. And then she cocked her head to one side with a shy smile. But there have been times when I've liked this kind of life more. Caro She hesitated, but only for an instant. Can I ride Black Beauty tomorrow? She suddenly looked like a very young girl.
But Caroline slowly shook her head. Not yet, Sam. You ought to warm up on one of the others. How long has it been since you've been on a horse?
About two years.
Then you don't want to start with Black Beauty.
Why not?
Because you'll land on your fanny halfway out the gate. He's not easy to ride, Sam. And then more gently, Not even for you, I suspect. Caroline had seen years before that Samantha was a splendid rider, but she knew only too well that Black Beauty was an unusual horse. He even gave her a hard time, and he terrified the foreman and most of the ranch hands. Give it time. I promise I'll let you ride him when you feel sure of yourself again. They both knew that that wouldn't take Sam long. She had spent too much time with horses to feel rusty for long. You know, I was hoping you wanted to do some serious riding. Bill and I have spent the last three weeks tearing our hair out over the ranch papers. We have a lot of things to tie up at year end. As I told you, we're two men short on top of it. We could use an extra hand. If you want to, you could ride with the men.
Are you serious? Samantha looked stunned. You'd let me do that? Her big blue eyes lit up by the light of the fire, her golden hair was alight with its glow.
Of course I would let you. In fact I'd be grateful to you. And then, with a gentle smile, You're as competent as they are. Or you will be again after a day or two. Think you'd survive starting out with a full day in the saddle?
Hell yes! Samantha grinned, and Caroline walked toward her with a look of affection in her eyes.
Then get to bed, young lady. You have to be up at four o'clock. In fact I was so sure you'd say yes, I told Tate Jordan to expect you. Bill and I have to go into town. She looked at her watch then. It was a simple watch that Bill King had given her that Christmas. Once, thirty years earlier, the only watches that had graced her wrist had been Swiss and encrusted with diamonds. There had been one in particular that her husband had bought her in Paris, at Cartier's. But she had long since put it away. Sometimes she found it hard to believe that she had ever had another life. She stood looking at Samantha now with a warm smile and gave the younger woman another firm hug. Welcome home, darling.
Thank you, Aunt Caro.
With that, the two women walked slowly down the hall. Caroline knew that the fire was safely contained in the fireplace, and she left the tray for the Mexican woman who arrived every morning to work on the ranch and clean her house.
She walked Samantha to her bedroom doorway and watched as Sam eyed the room with delight. It was a different room than she had shared with Barbara during the summers. Caroline had long since turned that room into a study. It had pained her too much to remember the young girl who had visited and lived there, growing into young womanhood in the pink frills of that room. This room was entirely different. It was equally feminine, but stark white. Everything was white eyelet and wonderfully frilly, from the canopied bed to the handmade cushions to the wicker chaise
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