Grand Theft Equine - Chapter 5

Here are the links if you missed previous chapters by our featured writer, Margo Moon:

Chapter I – Rider Up

Chapter II – Off Track

Chapter III – Early Fractions

Chapter IV – Setting the Pace


Chapter V - Jockeying for Position

Light drizzle had fallen for most of the night, but by the time Brie stumbled from her room, a crisp breeze was skimming the puddles, blowing them away.

Joan fixed a cup of coffee Brie’s way, and as she handed it over, she commented, “Cailen has been here since just after I arrived. She’s mucking your second stall now.”

For the umpteenth time, Joan had talked herself out of the possibility that Brie and Cailen could be lovers. They seemed like such pals. No, all the evidence pointed away from sex or romance between them.

Brie frowned down the tunnel of serene white stall fronts, rich brown dirt, and alfalfa green hay nets, at the solitary moving element, Cailen dumping a water bucket. “I told her not to do that. Just like I used to tell you not to bring me food on class nights.” A little sip of the coffee mellowed her some. “Thanks, though. I was famished by the time I got in last night.”

There we go, more proof, Joan thought. If I were on the outside looking in and saw how Brie and I take care of each other at times, I’d have to wonder about the nature of our relationship.

*****

Training was no sooner over that morning before the barn was graced with the fanfare and fluttery-voiced entrance of Sassy Rainier. Sassy was tallish, with smooth blond hair, and designer draped to the point of vulgarity. Halfway pretty, though, if you could overlook her personality and adornment.

The second the chauffeur opened her door Sassy zoomed to Joan’s side as if drawn by suction. “Joanie, I’ve missed you more than you can imagine. Why do you never come to Camden anymore?” She stomped her foot and tried to look pouty, but her spiky heel kept on going when it hit the fluffy shedrow dirt, and she nearly tipped over.

All this was happening just outside the office, and Brie had to dash into Jade’s stall to avoid breaking her promise about not mocking or starting trouble with Sassy.

Cailen was in there putting final touches on Jade’s bedding. She’d heard Sassy, and seeing Brie’s bottled-up hysteria, she asked, “Who, what, was that?”

Brie put a shushing finger to her lips. “Jade’s mommy.”

“Huh?” Cailen didn’t whisper very well.

“That’s the bitch who owns Jade and most of the other top horses in this barn.”

“Bitch? Why?”

“You’ll find out soon enough. Be quiet for a minute and listen.”

Over by the tack room, Joan was weighing her options as Sassy gave her a big hello squeeze. She didn’t particularly like risking Sassy’s rudeness to the grooms and hotwalkers by entertaining her in the shedrow, but she absolutely dreaded being alone with her in the office.

Brie and Cailen heard Sassy croon, “… and Mag sends her love. Joanie, I saw our last group of horses out there on the track.”

“You did? Then you must be pleased with Dreamer’s workout,” Joan said, trying hard to keep this morning’s visit focused on business.

Sassy flipped her hair and said, “Sure. He seemed to be running very fast. But Joanie, this new exercise girl. Now there’s a reason to watch the horsies go round and round. How long have you had her? Sorry, poor choice of words. I’m sure you haven’t had her. I meant how long has she been straddling your horses. Another unfortunate choice, but you know what I mean.”

Inside Jade’s stall, which was a perfect place to eavesdrop on the conversation, Brie rolled her eyes and made kissing motions at Cailen, who slapped her arm.

Joan gamely pursued her chosen conversational bearing. “Dreamer has improved seventy percent. He’s really filling into his potential.”

Not caring much for watching horses train, Sassy had only had the man drive her over to the track because she’d spotted Joan near the rail. And she only knew Cailen was galloping one of her horses because Dreamer had worn a Caulder saddlecloth.

“What’s her name?”

Joan played it cool, not doubting for one second that Brie was in that stall, probably with Cailen, listening. She did appreciate Brie’s effort to keep her word, though. “Whose name?”

“The exercise girl with the ass!”

“Sassy, I refuse to—”

“Okay, okay.” Sassy measured her syllables with care. “What is the name of that nice new employee who worked my horse a few minutes ago?”

“Cailen Eagleton.”

“Thank you for answering.” Sassy touched Joan’s arm as if to acknowledge a private joke they’d just shared. “She has a lovely body, which I hope you intend to stay well away from.”

“How long will you be here, Sassy?” Sassy tipped her wrist to the narrow, specific angle from which she could actually see her watch face through an obscuring border of diamonds. “Forty-five more minutes. The plane’s taking me back at noon.”

“Ah hah.” Joan nodded once and silently released a long breath.

Sassy liked to play the important owner by having Joan take her on a tour of the shedrow whenever she came to town, so Joan didn’t waste any time getting started. The minute Joan and Sassy had rounded the corner to the backside of the barn, Brie bounced back out in the open shedrow.

The tour was brief as usual, and as Joan and Sassy were completing their circuit, approaching Brie’s stalls, Sassy squealed, “My boy Jade! I have to talk to Jade for a minute, Joanie.”

Joan pulled up and braced her shoulder against the doorway of Jade’s stall, noticing Cailen in there brushing him.

Sassy hadn’t looked in yet. She had her eye on Brie, who was just beyond Jade's stall, her back still to Sassy, as Joan’s attention strayed for a few seconds to compliment Cailen on Dreamer’s workout.

Sassy took that opportunity to brush her hand across Brie’s back, to draw her notice, then said, “Oh, excuse me Brie, that was only a shadow on your shirt, I thought your back was wet.”

Both Joan and Cailen caught the remark, with Joan positioned to see Brie whirl and face Sassy at the same time Cailen tossed her brush down and lunged for the door. In one deft effort, Joan blocked the stall door with her body and hooked Brie by a belt loop. She pulled Brie toward and behind her, then she turned and pushed Brie into Cailen, who was still trying to dodge out to Sassy, so Joan had to use Brie as a block. She somehow made eye contact through Cailen’s rage, and Joan’s intensity won.

Out of breath, Joan sounded more forceful than she meant to. “You two stay put. I’ll handle this. Cailen, we do not want Brie standing trial for murder. Do you understand? I mean it. Keep her away from that office!”

Cailen nobbled Brie by another belt loop as sign of concession, and Joan cautiously released the one she’d been controlling her with. Then Joan spun around and nearly laughed in the face of Sassy’s driver, who stood in an overly defensive posture, shielding his boss.

Brushing past him, Joan asked civilly, “Sassy, would you mind stepping into the office for a moment, please?”

When Joan and Sassy were out of sight, Cailen asked Brie, “Can I trust you if I turn you loose?"

“Yeah, because she’s gonna get hers. That was Joan’s dangerous look.”

Cailen released her, saying, “Don’t bet on it. That’s the money lady, remember.”

Cailen and Brie got back to work, not even trying to avoid hearing the occasional raised voice, Joan’s, booming from the office.

Ten minutes later, the door opened and Sassy strolled decorously up to Brie. “Brie, Ms. Caulder has gotten the impression there was some acrimony between you and me earlier. To make her happy, I have agreed to apologize to you for any misunderstanding that may have arisen.” She glanced over her shoulder to make sure she had to say the rest of it. Joan was in the doorway with those dark blue lasers trained on Sassy, who faced Brie again. “I am sorry, Brie.” Then she stood there, waiting.

Brie was calm and cool now, not saying a word.

Sassy oozed, “So, do you accept my generous apology?”

Joan was as still as stone and her voice sounded as if it had blown across a glacier. “She doesn’t have to accept it, Sassy.”

“All the better.” Sassy shot Brie a dirty look that Joan couldn’t see and turned on her heel, making sure to keep her full weight forward this time. “Joanie, dear, I do have to go now.” She tried to cop a hug from Joan, the usual goodbye grope that Joan hated and evaded.

Luckily, today there was good reason to flatly refuse it. Joan remained frozen, in expression and in posture, arms folded across her chest, until Sassy dropped her hug-me stance and left.

When Sassy was good and gone, Brie wagged a forefinger at Joan. “You should let me handle things like this. If you end up losing these horses—and by this I mean if you lose Jade—I will never forgive you.”

Joan stared vacantly at Brie for a moment before taking two slow, deliberate steps backward and, with the toe of her boot, gently shutting the office door between them.

Brie giggled all the way over to Cailen, who had hopped up onto the half-wall. “So, what do you have to say about Joan now, Cailita?”

“You people are odd, you know that?” Cailen was less and less sure she had Joan figured out.

Brie cracked up some more. “We are odd. Joan is odd. I am odd. Rainier Farms is pure evil, though.” She focused on a clump of boot-molded mud laying in the shedrow for a few seconds before amending, “No, evil is too simple. Rainier is a weak person who has her hands on a lot of power, and that’s much scarier than plain evil. Don’t ever forget that.”

Sassy Rainier’s moral quality was no concern of Cailen’s. She shrugged and slid from the wall, lightly saying, “Okay, I won’t forget. Guess I'll take off now, maybe catch a nap.”

Brie said, “A nap is my next order of business. Then there’s feed time, then research at the library.”

Cailen firmly informed her, “You can either take an extra long nap or start your research early. I’ll be back to feed for you this afternoon.”

“Oh, no.”

“Oh, yes. Now, just listen to me for a second. I told you about Penny. I’m coming back to try and get her to eat again anyway. You might as well let me fluff up your stalls and top off your waters while I’m here.”

Brie picked up the hunk of mud and tossed it over the wall. “For one thing, please be careful about getting too attached to that filly. I don’t like to see your heart broken over horses whose fates are out of your control.” Brie’s smile, which had been tender, broadened. “Only thing about you coming back to feed for me is that I don’t want extra nap time or extra homework time. What I would like is extra Cailen time. Will you come by the room?”

“What time?”

“Around one-thirty.”

“And after, you’ll do your homework like a good girl?”

Brie’s deepening dimples cinched the deal. “Promise.”

*****

Cailen wasn’t a minute late and Brie opened the clanky green metal door on the first light tap.

“Before I forget,” Brie said, “don’t worry about setting up the feed later. Joan or Car, whoever comes back today, will do that part. You just have to hang it inside the stalls when it’s time.” Brie was cramming books into her backpack.

Realizing she hadn’t noticed much about it yesterday, Cailen regarded the room. “How do you manage to keep a tack room so clean? I was never able to make one this cheerful.”

Brie shrugged and inspected her desk once more for anything else she might need at the library. “Looks like that’s it. I’m all ready to leave, and all yours until three-thirty.” She tossed the book bag onto a cushion. “Whatcha wanna do, ‘exercise girl with the ass?’”

Cailen winced at the reference to Sassy. “That woman’s hard to take.”

“Yeah, poor Joan. She has to put up with her way too much.” Brie put her hands on her hips and waited. “Go ahead, I know you have some nasty comment to make about Joan. Don’t rupture something holding it in.”

“Nothing nasty. Joan’s not all that bad.” Cailen’s eyes continued to roam the room.

Through a huge grin Brie warned, “Better watch out. You’ll soon be falling on your knees when she passes, like the rest of us.”

“Let’s talk about something else. Better, let’s not talk.”

“Oh, yes, the old Cailen is returning.”

As Cailen caught the top of Brie’s sweat pants with a forefinger and led her toward the mattresses, the tugging and the throb of pleasure it brought reminded her of restraining Brie by her belt loop earlier. “You were a real fireball out there this morning.”

“Nothing like Joan.” Brie laughed aloud, remembering the incident, as Cailen encouraged her to sit on the bed, then pulled the sweats off. “That’s one strong woman. Have to be, to hold you and me both back.”

Cailen was about to lie down beside Brie, but paused while still upright. “Did you ask me here for an in-depth discussion of Joan Caulder’s physical attributes?”

“No, but she sure has some, doesn’t she?”

Cailen unfolded the sweat pants she’d just helped Brie out of. “Here, put these back on. I think this afternoon, which is quickly getting away from us by the way, would be better spent composing how you’re going to ask Joan for her hand in marriage.”

Refusing the pants, Brie pulled Cailen down with her. “Okay, no more talking. Sorry.” She accepted a few of Cailen’s delicate caresses. “Anyway, I don’t have to ask Joan to marry me. She proposes every Christmas.”

Cailen’s hand stopped moving, but it rested in a nice spot. “She does?”

“That feels good, stay there.” Brie could really soak up the attention. “Every Christmas, after we’ve had a few eggnogs, she proposes and I accept.”

Cailen continued stroking where Brie had requested. “So, when’s the ceremony?”

“Not going to be a ceremony.” Brie sighed with mock disappointment. “We always call it off the next day because we both want to be the one wearing the tux. Nobody to wear the dress. Okay, Cailita, I’m agreeing with you now. No more talk.” Brie’s breathing was neither smooth nor deep anymore.

When Cailen dipped into Brie for some wetness to smear, Brie pushed after the retreating finger, trying to keep it there, but Cailen eluded and traced slick circles around the outside until Brie grasped her by the wrist and tried to guide her inside. “Please, Cailen.”

Cailen entwined two fingers and shoved them deep, which pleased Brie no end, but it was Cailen’s breath that caught, her excitement escalating almost beyond Brie’s as she drove Brie repeatedly to the brink then brought her back again. Finally, to keep from being late for afternoon chores, Cailen crossed a leg over Brie’s thigh and moved rhythmically against her. The slight change of hand angle brought Brie to the edge again, and they came together, with very little time left for sharing the aftermath.

Not long enough later, Cailen kissed the top of Brie’s head and vaulted out of bed. “Do any of your horses get medication or bandage changes?” she asked, while tucking her shirttail in.

“Take your pants back off, so I can watch you put them on again.”

“Right, and be late first time covering your job? Not a chance. Want a Coke?”

“No, I’m up. Gotta get to that library.”

From the door Cailen called, “Have fun. Learn legal stuff.”

*****

She was the first one to show up for afternoon chores it seemed, so Cailen went to say hello to Penny and found Joan down there making a mint delivery. After the way Joan had stood by Brie earlier, Cailen felt even less inclined to be short with her, so there was actual expression in her voice when she asked, “How’s our girl doing today?”

“About the same. Didn’t eat breakfast or lunch.”

Joan had taken Cailen off her guard on a few other counts, too. The concern for Penny, which appeared genuine enough, was one of them. But she was still having some trouble reconciling that encounter while they’d cleaned tack together, which had seemed extremely sexually charged at the time, with these friendly talks about Penny.

For her part, Joan had been going around halfway giddy since sharing pizza in Penny's stall the night before. After putting her cards on the table in the tack room, Joan had forbidden herself any additional advances of that sort. It would have to be up to Cailen from that point on. But last night’s thawing between them was certainly encouraging.

Cailen stepped up beside Joan to pet Penny. “Will there be a hotwalker around to graze her before feed?”

"Of course that’s covered. I don’t expect you to be pinned down to that every afternoon.”

“I don’t mind grazing her when there’s time, but today I’m filling in for Brie so she can get an early start at the library.”

Joan cast an approving appraisal over Cailen. “Brie certainly has a good friend in you.”

For some reason she couldn’t quite name, Cailen had to control a flush of embarrassment. “Look who’s talking.”

“Huh?”

“Pizza waiting for her last night.”

Joan smiled under cover of the remark, but mainly because of the new freedom to look into Cailen’s eyes like this.

Cailen asked, “Are you really going to bring her homemade food next week?”

Joan nodded resolutely and kept the eye contact going strong. “Unless something unexpected comes up, I do.” ,

Sounds of others returning to the shedrow began filtering in and Cailen glanced in their direction. “I’d better get out there before Brie fires me the first day.”

Joan laughed, gave Penny a parting pat, and accompanied Cailen to the more active end of the barn.

In the course of her first trip through the shedrow measuring oats into each feed tub, Joan happened to come by Brie’s stalls when Cailen was away from them. The next trip, with a wheelbarrow full of sweet feed and vitamins, was no luckier—Cailen was at the spigot rinsing out a water bucket that time. But Joan finally caught her within chatting distance on the bran round.

“So, horse whisperer, which sounds better for this evening, submarine sandwiches or something hot?”

When the reference to the way Joan had teased her that first day made her grin in spite of herself, Cailen thought, I'm as malleable as everybody else in this barn. She made a prop of her pitchfork and leaned on it. “Neither. It’s not a class night for Brie and bringing supper for me is really not necessary.”

Joan was prepared for resistance and countered, “For your information, Brie’s library nights tend to run even later than her class nights, and she’s twice as hungry when she gets home.”

“Good for Brie. Bring her a sub then, she loves those things. But you do not have to worry about me. Thanks, truly, but I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Subs, then. What would you like on yours?”

Cailen had moved closer to Joan to wring out Brie’s water bucket sponge. She threw it at Joan and got her on the upper arm, saying, “Go home. Enjoy your dinner, instead of eating it crouched in a cold, damp stall.”

Joan snatched the light, springy wrung-out sponge as it bounced off her bicep and tossed it up and down. Catching it for the third time and she held it outstretched to Cailen. “May I please have the pleasure of your company for dinner tonight in Penny’s stall?”

Cailen thought, How does she do that? She looks utterly vulnerable. “Turkey on whole wheat, with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.”

Joan’s amplified plaintiveness gave way to smug exuberance. “Care for a semi-warm beer with that?”

Now that she’d been strong-armed into it, Cailen had to admit she was looking forward to the evening, so there was a hint of a smile as she said, “You know I do.”

*****

When Joan dropped off blankets and a mint by Penny’s stall on her way to the sandwich shop, Cailen threw one blanket haphazardly across her shoulders without securing the edges and was about to do the same with the second.

“For heaven sakes.” Joan repositioned and tucked it in, then added the second one on top. “Be back in a bit,” she called, hurrying to her truck.

Not being an overly analytical person, Cailen tended to live in the moment, let things happen as they might, more than either Joan or Brie. But sitting there in Penny’s stall, warmed as much by Joan’s attentiveness as by the horse blankets, an awareness of the growing ease and affection, almost, between Joan and herself began to form. Just two days ago she had thoroughly discounted and mistrusted this woman. And she was still tempted to keep the trainer image squarely superimposed over this charismatic personality. But doubt was definitely establishing itself with respect to Joan’s presupposed ulterior motives.

First thing upon returning, Joan asked Cailen about Penny’s feed.

“She’s paid some attention to it. No more than a quarter is gone yet, though.”

“Well then, let’s show her how it’s done.” Joan sank down in the straw next to Cailen and divided up their food, enthusiastically proclaiming, “Brie’s is in the office. This feast is all ours.”

“Looks like more than subs.”

“I was hungry and went wild. We have chips and a container of pickles and a bunch of macadamia nut cookies.”

“Cookies with beer?”

Joan looked aghast at the audacity to question her judgment. "Nuts go with beer."


“Just because the word ‘nut’ is in macadamia nut cookies, does not mean they’ll go with beer.”

“Cailen, turning your nose up at the food is no example to set for Penny.”

They tore into the sandwiches and Joan pulled their beer from one of the bags. Cailen’s hands were cold again, so Joan twisted off her bottle top. “You should wear gloves.” Joan said, on top of a big swallow.

“Don’t like them. You don’t wear gloves.”

“I don’t like them either, but I'm immune to the cold.” She put her hand over Cailen’s to demonstrate how warm it was, even without the benefit of blankets, and could have sworn Cailen wouldn’t mind if it stayed there. But Joan had vowed to leave the next physical move, if one was to come, up to Cailen. So she patted one time and took it back.

“People are supposed to feel cold in cold weather.” Cailen took another big bite and aimed for a superior tone. “Your metabolism is probably out of whack. I’d have it checked out if I were you. Thyroid would be my guess.” She popped a ketchup-drenched chip into her mouth.

“You can be a brat, can’t you?”

“When called for. Speaking of brats, what kind of sub did you get Brie?”

“The deluxe foot-long, with everything except black olives.”

“She’ll be in her glory.”

“Yeah.” Joan took a drink of beer. “How long have you two known each other?”

“Oh God, thirteen or fourteen years. Haven’t seen each other for about two, though.”

“Really? Then this is the first time you’ve been through a semester with her.” Joan started on a cookie and said thoughtfully, “Around next week, she’s going to get pretty cranky from lack of sleep. I estimate she averages five to six hours of rest a night when classes are in session, less than that during mid-terms and finals.”

“Big load to carry.”

Joan nodded agreement. “But you know what? Brisada Contenta is going to be one hell of a high-powered immigration lawyer someday.” Joan held her bottle out for a toast to that statement and Cailen obliged wholeheartedly.

Then Cailen said, impatiently, “All right, you’re making those cookies look good.”

Joan passed the cookie bag, and Penny, who’d been staring at them as if taking in every word, swung her neck around and dropped her nose into her feed tub. Cailen and Joan hung their attention on every oat eaten, until when the mash was gone, Penny licked the sides of the tub.

“And that’s the end of that,” Joan said, thoroughly pleased, as she crumpled wrappers and consolidated their trash in one bag then stood and offered Cailen her hand for a boost.

For no reason she could think of when they got there, Cailen walked Joan to the feed room, but she busied herself putting the two unused blankets away as if that was why she had followed.

“Joan.”

“Yes?” That’s the first time you’ve said my name. Joan’s heart soared.

“Tomorrow evening, do not bring food to Penny’s stall. That’s an order.”

Joan hadn’t had time to think up arguments in favor of tomorrow’s supper yet. “But—”

“Bring yourself, bring warm blankets to cover me with, but don’t bring food. It’s my turn to do that.”

“Well, if it’s a direct order, what can I say?”

“You say, ‘Yes, Cailen.’”

“Yes, Cailen.”

*****

Cailen drove around for a long time before going home, trying to reach that mental state where situations sort themselves without the application of conscious, deliberate thought. Her life with Lara, their home in Chicago, was a complete loss. Brie was absolutely on target in pushing her to put that behind. It would take time though, even after she went back, because Lara would pull out all the stops in resisting finalization, and the house still had to be sold. Also, Cailen was at Churchill courtesy of a leave of absence from SoliSoft Consultants, an IT firm she had been with for a few years, and she felt she really should give them some notice.

Leaving Louisville immediately to do all that was becoming an increasingly complicated choice to make because, for one thing, reuniting with Brie was definitely a joy. Plus, taking some pressure off Brie during such a demanding semester was something Cailen had privately committed to follow through on. And now there was also Penny to think of. So, she should go home and take care of business. But she also had strong reasons to remain in Kentucky for the next couple of months.

Then there were the accumulating Joan-induced complications. Being honest with herself, Cailen faced up to the fact that she would love to be free to pursue Joan. But before that could happen with anybody, she would have to inform Lara—a courtesy, it was true, that Lara had never extended to her. But that was Lara’s problem. Cailen had meant it when she told Brie that breaking up felt like failing. Making a full and open break was the only way she would ever feel worthy of giving herself to anyone again.

One thing for sure, flirting, if that was what she had been doing this evening, with Joan Caulder or anybody else was an indulgence she currently had no right to. Penny was making progress, and as soon as she began eating reasonably well on her own, their suppertime threesome had to disband. Relieved to have settled all that in her mind, Cailen returned to her apartment, shocked at how late it was by the time she got there.

*****

Joan had gone directly home from their rendezvous with Penny, anxious to get in bed and dwell on the day’s encounters with Cailen. Before long though, she was at the mercy of those replays, as well as a few added thoughts and fantasies about Cailen. Until deep into the night, she resisted the only available relief, but images of Cailen riding, the sound of Cailen’s voice, that brief moment holding Cailen’s hand, Cailen’s intractable eyes, everything that was Cailen forcibly pushed aside other less volatile thoughts. Eventually, the pressure that had been pumping itself steadily into her breasts and between her thighs built to an unbearable level and her left hand seized an already stiff nipple as her right hand sought the aching site where release could be won with a few knowing strokes. Joan inwardly screamed Cailen’s name as she came, and hard and ripping as the orgasm was, it brought only a brief reprieve from the raw desire to be with Cailen. Nobody else, only Cailen.