Page 89 of First Date: Divorce
The man — introduced as Ted Weston — took charge of the other two couples, assisted by a teenage boy.
Cambria came over to them, saying, “I’ll take these folks.”In a low tone, she added, “I know Eric’s riding ability.How about you, K.D.?Experienced?”
“Yes.Started riding as a kid.”She looked at the glorious animals.“Never could afford my own, though.”
Cambria put K.D.on a gelding she said Eric usually rode and gave him a new mount, a young mare.“This way you’re each on an unfamiliar horse,” she said cheerfully as she swung up into her own saddle.
She led them single file on a path, then came alongside through a pasture with cows at a distance.
“We’ve learned to separate the couples.The other couples are raw beginners who’ll stay closer to the barn, so this worked out great.Either of you have anything you want me to relay to Cully?”
“No,” K.D.said.
“Yes.”Eric added to his answer, “Didn’t have an opportunity to tell you without being overheard—”
K.D.saw Cambria’s increased interest as she looked from Eric to her.“—I got into Harvey’s system while you were in this morning’s solo session with Melody.They had a chunk of money come in about two weeks ago.I heard your favorite smiler’s voice coming down the hall and I had to go out the window — good thing they’re big and on the ground floor.Also a good thing Lily wasn’t closer, because the window squeaked like crazy.Anyway, didn’t have time to see if there were earlier ones that might form a pattern.Possibly a loan.Equally possible a kickback from our favorite divorce lawyer.It was a weird amount, so also equally possible it’s nothing.Tried to get back in before we came here, but Melody shooed me away to the van.”
Back to Cambria, he said, “Tell Cully to work it from his end.Can you remember a transaction number, Cambria?”
“No way am I risking that to my memory.Here.”She took her phone out of a pocket.“Type it in here and I’ll send it to Cully.”
He did that, rolling slightly with the walking motion of his horse.
“Great.”Cambria took the phone back and stowed it.“If it’s all right with you two, I’m peeling off and checking on another pasture.I’d never do that with a real couple from Marriage-Save — we’ve had some doozies — but I can see K.D.can ride and Eric won’t get in big trouble.”
They each muttered agreement.
“Follow this track to the gate.The next pasture’s empty and makes good cantering.This track keeps on through there and will take you to a stream and a nice spot to take a breather and water the horses.We can meet back here in forty-five minutes.”
Cambria waved as she left them.
“This is where you ride?”K.D.asked him.
“Yeah.Cambria’s been teaching me.Started with Cully dragging me away from working on the house.Brought me here to meet the Westons last fall.Cambria got me up on a horse for the first time in my life.I like it.”
She smiled at that simple conclusion.
“There’s something about it, isn’t there,” she said.
“Uh-huh.Like running changes your perspective, what you’re looking at, and shifts awareness of how your body functions in the world.Get up on a horse and it does the same.Changes your angle.On the world, on yourself.”
It was so much how she viewed running and riding she felt oddly vulnerable at that moment.
“How about a canter, cowboy?”
“You’re on.”
They signaled their horses at the same time and swooped across the open ground side by side until pulling up as they neared denser vegetation by the creek Cambria pointed out.After letting the horses drink, they walked along, following its path.
He gave her a slightly more detailed account of how he’d found the financial transaction on Harvey’s computer.They discussed the implications if the organization of Marriage-Save fed client information to Gail Bledsoe.Talked about possible individuals involved as an alternative.Considered options of what else to explore while mitigating the chance of being seen.
Somewhere amid that, she realized the trouble was gone from his eyes.
Not subdued or hidden.Gone.
She almost asked him about it, but a kind of shyness held her back.
Or was it something else?
