CHAPTER NINETEEN
It was refreshing to see Silas outside and taking a walk in the gardens after being so sick for the past few days. Fresh air, a bronchodilator, and antibiotics had done him a world of good.
The views and the multitude of vistas from the decks along the back of the property were breathtaking. Silas seemed determined to cover every inch of it. He followed the brick path beside artful trellises and arbors handcrafted with starburst designs. Those were usually overflowing with roses in the summer. As a matter of fact, during the spring and summer months, blankets of flowers literally covered the lawn, making it look like a beautiful holiday package.
Silas walked past the gleaming white, six-sided gazebo with elegant benches lining the spacious interior. A pair of bickering cupids couldn’t divert his attention away from his goal, and that was to reach an elaborate waterfall fifty feet away. Several dozen carp came to the surface to greet him. Kneeling beside the languid pond, he marveled at the series of falls before him. Only the classic lion head fountain with water streaming from its mouth and nostrils seemed angry today. The curved jets of water spilling out made hundreds of air bubbles as they hit the water’s surface.
Getting up slowly, Silas crossed a timber bridge to the other side of the pond. Fluted urns, statues, and a stone sundial peppered the grounds, adding a true Victorian flavor as much to the outside as the décor did on the inside of the manor house. The ferns and foliage plants were greener than Elaine had ever seem them; the boggy soil between the rocks and boulders provided the perfect place for plant life to flourish.
Zach had done a masterful job of shearing the yews this year; the topiary resembled all sorts of magnificent animals. The birdbaths were being occupied by a vast array of eager partakers: goldfinches, cardinals, robins, orioles, chickadees, blue jays, doves, and woodpeckers. Contrary to what Carl had tried to make everyone believe, Zach’s talents would be missed and, in Elaine’s opinion, could never be replicated.
When Silas stopped to rest on a cast iron garden bench before continuing was the first time he seemed tired. Sitting slumped down in his seat, his fingers traced the white daisy motif on the back of the bench.
Eventually Silas came back inside and took the stairs to the second floor sitting room, which led to a small, semicircular balcony on the west side. From there he was able to see the horses grazing out in the pasture and beyond that, the polo field where his father had played many matches with friends and acquaintances. As he sat in one of the white wicker chairs with patterned cushions, he watched the horses enthusiastically. His favorite horse, Absolute Integrity, was there, as was Napoleon, his second best. Integrity was a Morgan horse, radiant, versatile, and very fast on the track. Napoleon was a sleek Arabian with slender yet solid limbs and a delicate head. He was always prancing, being the liveliest of all the horses, and was ready to run anytime a rider felt up to the challenge.
Sam Giles was over in one of the pastures longeing a quarter horse. Around and around the stallion went, getting agitated at times, but still showing a strong sense of obedience. Short and stocky, the animal occasionally protested, but soon fell back to the task at hand. The roan-colored beast reminded Elaine of Detective Slye, that short, cunning, and cocky investigator bent on throwing people off by pretending to be lazy. And once their guard was down, he’d let them have the full blast of his law enforcement acumen.
When Elaine stepped out onto the balcony, Silas acknowledged her with a smile. “Hi,” he said. “How’s it going?”
“Fine, but how are you?” she said, taking a seat in a wicker rocker beside him.
Shrugging, he said, “It’s hard. I want to make Mom feel better, but she doesn’t want to talk about it.”
“You can’t really blame her for not wanting to talk, Silas. It’s too soon.”
“Do you think she loved my dad?” he asked, almost pleading for the kind of assurances she just couldn’t give him.
“I can’t answer that. I’ve only known your parents for a short time, but I would imagine that she did.”
He looked disappointed at the noncommittal response, but said, “Fair enough,” and let it go at that.
When silence ensued, Elaine didn’t know what else to say. She stared at the fresh flowers on the white table beside a silver tea set. The purple dome asters from the garden were the only blooms besides the chrysanthemums left now that cooler weather was coming. Along the outside wall of the house was a trellis that still had green vines on it, but they were curling up and browning. Silas’s coughing brought Elaine’s thoughts back to him again.
“Dad’s will is going to be read tomorrow. There’s a list of people that Katerina Waltke has asked to be assembled. She’s the executrix, you know.”
“That’s pretty standard. Everyone who’s mentioned in the will should be present for the reading.”
“There were a couple of names the lawyer emphasized that surprised Mom. I could tell she was surprised.”
“Whose names?”
“Tasia’s and Nicolette’s.”
“Nicolette?”
“Yes. Evidently Dad has left her with significant control of the business.”
“What about Marlon and Alex? Won’t they have a share in the control of the company?”
He shrugged. “They’re good at what they do, but Nicolette is better. Everybody knows that.”
“Marlon sure doesn’t see it that way.”
Silas looked at her with a slight grin on his face. “Marlon doesn’t see much of anything.”
“So Tasia is also in your father’s will?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Does she know it yet?”
“Everyone on the list knows by now. Dad’s lawyer called first thing this morning. Besides, Katerina made sure everyone knew.”
“Where is Tasia?”
“She’s right over there,” he said, pointing toward the pasture beyond the stables. “She’s about to put a saddle on Integrity.”
Tasia was wearing a pair of black leather boots, show breeches, string gloves, and a hunt cap to protect her head. Elaine watched as she threw an all-purpose saddle onto the horse’s back. After securing the cinch straps under his belly and making them tight, she grabbed Integrity’s bridle by the throat latch and then climbed up on his back.
Once mounted, she started the horse off at a slow walk. Stopping him at the gate, she leaned over to open it and then closed it again on her way through. Bringing the horse to a trot, she had a way of making riding look easy, but her nonchalance in the saddle could easily have been mistaken for regarding her personal safety as inconsequential. Elaine was afraid for her at first, realizing the dark days past, but it didn’t take long to see that Tasia knew what she was doing. Soon she brought the horse up to a canter, her long, blonde hair drifting in the wind behind her.
“Boy, she really knows how to ride,” Elaine said. “I’d never have the guts to encourage a horse to move that fast.”
“Tasia’s from Texas,” Silas said. “She grew up on a horse.”
Elaine studied Silas’s astute fascination as he watched Tasia disappear down the path. Although his cheeks were still pale and dark red circles were under his eyes, he was still a very beautiful child, with his straight, blond hair, blue eyes, and perfect features. “Do you know much about Tasia’s family, Silas?”
His relaxed smile crumbled and at first, he looked as if he didn’t know where to begin. “Yes, I know her family,” he said. “Why?”
“I was wondering about her parents. Did they own a ranch?”
“No, but they had relatives who had plenty of horses.”
“I know her mother died when she was very young. But her father…?”
“He’s still around,” Silas said, standing up. “Well, I guess I’d better go in. I’m starting to feel queasy.” Hesitating, he rubbed his stomach as if it was really starting to bother him. “If I overdo it, mom’ll kill me.” He shuddered after referring to his mother and the word ‘kill’ in the same sentence
. Perhaps he wasn’t completely convinced of her innocence after all.
“You go in and get some rest,” Elaine said, touching the top of his head before letting him pass by. She felt sorry for bringing up such painful memories for the boy, especially when she knew most of the answers anyway. A simple way to apologize was to mother him, which was something he rarely got to experience with his own family.
“Did you take your asthma medication today?”
“Yes. Thanks.” He tried to smile, but the effort was futile. “I’ll see you later.”
“You bet.” She watched him until the thunder of hooves drumming against hard earth drew her attention back to the path Tasia had just taken.
Tasia had Integrity going at top speed now, zipping past the polo field and down an open trail. She was bent down low on the horse, her chin almost touching his neck. The scene would’ve been thrilling if it hadn’t been so reminiscent of days not so long ago. It might’ve been stretching things a bit, but she almost looked suicidal again, having Integrity jumping over every post, fence, and trough in sight. Just one mistimed step could’ve sent her hurling off onto her head.
Elaine’s heart started beating as fast as Integrity’s hooves drummed. Tasia slid off the saddle, bringing Elaine racing to the edge of the balcony. Latching tightly onto the balustrade, her knuckles whitened from the pressure. If Tasia’s body had slipped under the horse, it would’ve killed her for sure.
Instead, as soon as Tasia’s feet touched the ground, she pushed herself up and rolled back into the saddle again. Her gloved hands never left the reins or the pommel. The instant it took Elaine to realize that Tasia was doing tricks seemed like an eternity. Small wonder why her heart never forgave her previous assessment, nearly pounding its way out of her chest even after her brain had rightly perceived that the danger was over.
Sitting down again in one of the wicker chairs, Elaine put her head back and closed her eyes. Despite having been relatively still for nearly three quarters of an hour, she felt as if she’d just finished running a marathon. The low she’d plunged herself into after the high of the excitement sent her mind spinning back into the past, remembering the first time she ever saw Tasia truly happy.