Chapter 9
“Take it easy, Michael. You’re making me nervous,” Tiffany Merchant, Michael’s trusted barn manager and friend, had been watching Michael pace up and down the barn aisle for at least 15 minutes before she finally lost patience, and had to say something.
“I’m sorry, Tiff.” Michael at least had the courtesy of looking sheepish when he looked at her. “Mendelssohn is arriving with Tempest any time now, and I’m worried he won’t think this facility is up to his standards.”
Tiffany couldn’t believe her ears. She and her staff of three had been working night and day for the past week to adapt the barn and pastures to accommodate a stallion among an established stable of geldings and mares in training. She was proud of the final product, and was extremely aggravated with Michael for his lack of faith in their efforts. “Michael, I don’t see anything Mendelssohn could find fault with. This place was already well built and beautiful to look at. Now, it’s a model of a modern and efficient equestrian facility.”
Secretly, Tiffany hoped that Michael had the money to fund these improvements, but funds had been notoriously short for quite some time. She sighed. Michael’s finances were really none of her business. As long as she was paid and had enough money to feed and care for the horses, she should be happy. She was also Michael’s friend, however, and she knew about Ian and his problems, and had endured Michael’s despair when Emma left so suddenly and unexpectedly. She knew Michael had suffered these past few months, and deserved something good to happen to him. Having Mendelssohn sponsor him with Tempest would be just what he needed to get himself back on his feet. She hoped with all her heart that this worked out for him.
Tiffany had also met Jessica Warren and Liz Randall, and knew that Michael’s path would not be easy. Both women were impressive, and she had recognized Liz’s name from dressage publications Michael subscribed to and loaned to Tiffany to read. She had Googled Jessica, and learned what she could about her as well. It was clear she was an up and coming young rider with a great deal of talent, who desperately needed a horse if she wanted to continue to compete internationally.
Like Michael, Liz had international dressage experience, and when Tiffany gave her and Jessica a tour of Michael’s training yard and introduced her to the horses Michael had in training, Liz asked pertinent questions, and offered some tips for some minor care issues Tiffany had been experiencing. Liz had even asked Tiffany if she thought Michael would allow her to ride one or two of his training horses so she could stay in shape. Privately, Tiffany thought Michael would be thrilled at the prospect, but couldn’t make that commitment to Liz, so she told her she would have to ask Michael about that.
Just as they completed their tour, Liz’s cell phone rang, and after checking the number, Liz quickly excused herself to take the call. “Hello, Bob, what’s up?” Liz knew that her attorney would not be calling her unless some aspect of her divorce proceeding had changed.
“I’m sorry, Liz, but I have bad news. Rick has filed a motion asking the court to grant him full custody of Amy. He’s using your extended trip to the UK as evidence that you’re unfit to share equal custody.”
“No!” Liz’s heart sank. “I can’t believe it.” After recovering from her initial shock, Liz’s mind raced to find a solution to her dilemma. First, she had to determine how serious Rick’s suit was. “There’s no way he can win, Bob, right?”
“Well, Liz, I can’t rule out the possibility. This trial period will keep you away from home for over two months, and Amy requires constant care. The temporary situation you’ve set up with your sister moving into your home isn’t ideal, and the fact that the reason you’re gone centers on dressage bolster’s Rick’s allegations that you care more about your career than you do about being a mother.”
“I hate to admit it, but you’re probably right. This change in plans has put me in a terrible position.” Liz sighed deeply. “Is there anything I can do short of abandoning Jessica and coming right back home that will give me a fighting chance to keep custody of Amy?”
“I’m not certain, but I think if you can establish a regular schedule of visits over the two months you’re training Jessica, it would help. It would also help to establish that this two-month period is the only time you’ll be out of the country, and that you won’t be leaving again any time soon,” Bob replied.
“I’ll speak with Charlotte McMillan right away and make those arrangements. I think I can give Jessica enough to work on during the brief periods I’ll be gone to see us through this two months.”
“Good. I’ll start preparing my response to his motion and request a hearing. I’ll send you dates as soon as possible. In the meantime, I recommend you call Amy and tell her what’s happening.”
“Good idea. She will want to know that her mother and father are fighting again, and why. I think it’s best for her to hear it from me before Rick has a chance to call her and tell her half-truths or some other nonsense.”
“All right. I’ll let you go to do that. Call me or text me your travel schedule so I can include it in my filing with the court.”
“Will do, Bob. Thank you.” Liz resolved to make sure Bob knew exactly how much she appreciated his dedication to her case. He was a one-in-a-million attorney, and she was lucky to have found him.
As she walked back to the barn to let Tiffany know she would be going back to the manor to make a private phone call, her thoughts drifted back to a happier time, when she was pregnant with Amy, and she and Rick were like most expectant parents, excited and, yes, a little anxious, about having their first child. Liz remembered how protective Rick was of her, and of the baby she carried, monitoring her health, and reading everything he could get his hands on about childbirth and baby care.
To her chagrin, Rick also was insistent that Liz give up her riding until after the baby was born. Of course, Liz knew she had to be more careful in her riding, but everything she had read and heard from other professional riders in her situation indicated that in at least the first three or four months of her pregnancy, it would be safe for the baby if she rode a normal schedule and didn’t overdo it. Rick begrudgingly agreed, and the matter had been closed as far as Liz was concerned. At five months pregnant, Liz had stopped riding. There had been no visible effects on her pregnancy.
Then, at the age of three, Amy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Rick was certain that the cause was Liz’s riding during the first four months of her pregnancy. Despite their pediatrician, obstetrician, and other specialist’s assurances that his conclusions were wrong, Rick persisted in his belief that Liz’s riding was the cause of Amy’s disability. Ever since the diagnosis, and as Amy’s symptoms became more pronounced, Rick had become more and more hostile to Liz, until it became difficult to live with him.
When Liz decided to dedicate a portion of their dressage horse training farm into a therapeutic riding practice to help Amy cope with the effects of the CP, Rick was not at all supportive. He also didn’t support Liz going back into competition, so her riding career was essentially over. Despite Liz’s best efforts, her marriage still suffered.
Earlier this year, saying he needed time to think, Rick moved out. It wasn’t long thereafter that she was served with divorce papers. She had always felt that he would somehow come around and realize that his assumptions had been wrong, but obviously that was not going to happen.
As Liz approached the barn, she heard raised voices and followed them. As the voices became louder, she could see Tiffany in front of an open stall that contained a horse that appeared to be agitated and was acting aggressively toward one of Tiffany’s barn workers. Tiffany, who was a petite 5 foot 1 or 2 inches tall, with wildly curly red hair, shoulder length, pulled back into a ponytail, was using a broom to get the horse to back away from the worker, who was trapped in a corner of stall, too terrified to move. Tiffany stood her ground and waved the broom without ever actually touching the horse and succeeded in moving him away enough that the worker was able to escape. The horse had his ears pinned back, and was baring his teeth, snapping at Tiffany and at the worker. Even though he didn’t actually bite or kick anyone, it was clear that he was dangerous and couldn’t be trusted.
Liz could tell that Tiffany was furious with the worker. “I told you never to approach this horse’s stall without a second worker to assist.” Her voice was shaking, possibly with anger, possibly a late reaction to the adrenaline rush that came with facing a life-threatening situation. “This horse was abused sometime in his past, and is very defensive when anyone enters his stall. He must always be approached by two people so that one can distract him with a treat so that the other can halter him and remove him from the stall so it can be cleaned.”
The worker was clearly shaken, and appeared contrite, and Tiffany slowly cooled off as she realized the horse had also calmed once the worker had left his stall. “If this ever happens again, you will have to find another job. This is serious. You could have been killed.” The worker nodded solemnly and quietly thanked Tiffany for coming to his rescue.
Liz approached Tiffany. “That was close. Are you all right?” Tiffany nodded and smiled, but Liz could tell she was still tense from the experience. “Tell me about the horse.”
Tiffany led Liz back away from the stall, and looked back at the gelding, now calmly munching on his hay, clearly having recovered from his traumatic experience. “This is Rocky, which is short for Rock of Ages, his registered name. He is a thoroughbred off the track, purchased by one of Michael’s long-time students, who knew he was abused when she bought him. He actually is a great horse to ride most of the time, but when he sees something that scares him, even under saddle, he bolts and runs uncontrollably in a panic. He’s also tremendously afraid and becomes aggressively defensive when anyone tries to enter his stall. Michael agreed to take him and see if he could help him get over his fear, but it takes a great deal of time and patience to break a long-standing issue like this. Now that Michael will be riding Tempest, he may not have the time. I’m not sure what he plans to do with Rocky now.”
“I’m afraid I can’t be much help in this case,” Liz said. “I don’t have a lot of experience with abused horses.”
“I understand that Michael’s friend Lionel works with abused horses occasionally in his work rehabilitating off-the-track race horses. Maybe he can ask Lionel to take Rocky on.” Tiffany sounded hopeful. Apparently, she had grown fond of Rocky.
Liz suddenly remembered why she had been looking for Tiffany. “I came to find you to tell you I have to go back to the manor house to Skype with my daughter, Amy. Will we see you at dinner?”
“No, I don’t live here on the premises. I live in town, and take my meals at home. I will see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, I’ll see you then,” Liz replied as she re-checked her watch.
Liz headed up to her room in the manor and located her laptop computer. Noting the time and considering the time difference, Liz knew it would be noon at home in Ohio, which was the time she and her sister Cynthia had arranged in advance for their daily communications. She knew that Amy would be waiting for her call. As she waited for the line to connect, Liz took a deep breath, and tried as best she could to school her features to be relaxed and cheerful for her conversation with her daughter.
“Hi, Mom!” Amy exclaimed excitedly as her face appeared on the screen. “How are things going today?”
“Hi, sweetie. It’s good to see your smiling face.” Liz couldn’t help but grin indulgently back to her. Twelve-year-old Amy was the picture of youthful exuberance, her long, blond hair pulled back in to a ponytail, and her cherubic features bright with the joy of life. Even with her disability, Amy had an innate joy that transcended any negativity she might experience. Liz loved her with all her heart, and wished there was some way to make what she had to tell her easier somehow.
Her thoughts must have somehow transmitted themselves to her expression, because Amy immediately sobered. “What’s wrong, Mom? You look sad.”
“Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart, I’m just sad that I have to be so far away from you right now.” Liz tried as best she could to restore a cheerful expression, but Amy was having nothing of it.
“Dad says you’re so busy, you won’t have time for me, but he’s wrong. I told him we talk by Skype every day, and that I tell you everything I’m doing. Aunt Cindy says I’m doing very well, and gets angry with Dad for saying bad things about you. I do too. What’s wrong with him, Mom? Why is he so angry all the time?”
“I don’t know why he’s angry, Amy. I wish I did.” Liz tried as best she could to comfort her daughter. “Where is Aunt Cindy? I need to talk to both of you right now.”
“I’ll get her.” Amy moved away from her computer, but Liz could still hear her voice in the background. “Aunt Cindy? Can you please come here? Mom wants to talk to you.”
Soon, Liz’s sister Cindy appeared on the screen. “Hi, Sis, Amy told me you want to talk. I also heard Amy tell you what Rick’s been saying about you while you’re gone. I don’t like it Liz, not one bit. Nor does Amy.”
Liz sighed. “I honestly don’t know why Rick has decided to cause such a problem now, but my attorney has called me to tell me he’s filed a motion for full custody of Amy. He’s saying I’m not a fit custodial parent because I will be out of the country for two months helping Jessica compete for Tempest.
“He hasn’t said a word to me or to Amy.” Cindy looked over at Amy to confirm what she was saying was accurate, and Amy shook her head no, that Rick hadn’t confided his plans to her either. “But it makes sense given what he has been saying. What are you going to do, Liz?”
“I’m coming home right away,” Liz responded. “Jessica’s would-be sponsor is very wealthy, and owns a private jet. His sister is with us on this trip, and has committed to helping me commute back and forth from home to the UK as needed to make sure Rick can’t take Amy away from me.”
“How will you still be able to train Jessica if you’re over here half of the time?” Cindy asked.
“With today’s technology and the right equipment, I can teach Jessica by video and live feed as long as Mr. Stafford has wireless Internet capability on his farm. The only drawback is that we need Stafford’s cooperation to get this done, and he’s got no reason to make this easier for us. If we can’t train, he wins the competition by default.” Liz sighed “It looks like Rick has not only ruined my opportunity to train Jessica and help her achieve her dream, he’s also made it necessary for Jessica to lose her chance as well. I’ll not lose you, Amy, no matter what.”
“Maybe if I talk to Dad, I can convince him not to go through with this,” Amy offered.
“No, baby, I don’t want you getting in the middle of this, or making your father angry. He’ll probably accuse me of putting you up to it, and get ever angrier. It’s better that I resolve this with him on my own.”
“OK, Mom, if you say so,” Amy replied, her disagreement showing in her voice. “When will you be home?”
“I expect to be home in the next day or two. Cindy, I’ll send you the details when I get them. Is that all right?”
“That’s fine, Liz,” Cindy replied. “We’ll see you soon.”
“Bye, Mom. I love you. Everything will be okay.” She smiled again at the screen.
Liz felt the tears building in her eyes, and struggled to return her daughter’s cheerful smile. “I love you too, sweetie, I’ll see you soon. Good-bye.” She signed off and carefully put her computer away. She took a deep breath as she wiped a tear from her cheek. Rick was not going to take custody of her little girl from her. Not while she still had breath in her body. She slowly reached under her bed for her suitcase and started packing.