Secrets and Revelations (Bellingwood #4) by Diane Greenwood Muir Read Free Book Online Page A

smirk on his face. Without a word, he picked his plate up and took it over to the sink, then came back and got Polly's. He waltzed past his brother and into the storage room to his hideaway. Jason couldn't stand it and picked up as many items from the table as he could carry in one trip. He made one more trip and then Polly stood, gathering the rest of the things.
    "I have it now," she said. "You guys go on. Thanks for helping."
    Eliseo and Jason went back out the kitchen door and she watched them walk to the pasture. The poor kid couldn't catch a break. There were too many adults in his life who appreciated his good behavior and intended to ensure he remained that way.
    When Sylvie returned to the kitchen, she glanced around. "Thanks for cleaning up, Polly."
    "It wasn't me," Polly replied. "Eliseo wasn't going to let Jason ride until he'd helped. It nearly killed him, but he got it done."
    They stacked dishes into the dish washer and Sylvie began pulling things out of the cupboards and onto the prep area. Polly was standing at the dryer, folding clothes into a basket when she heard Sylvie gasp and say, "Oh!"
    Sylvie rushed past the storage room door and opened the back door of the kitchen and Polly followed her. Eliseo and Jason were riding the two horses up to the back of the building. Jason was sitting proudly on Nat while Eliseo held Nan back and watched.
    Polly saw Sylvie's mouth twitch into a small smile. She turned around and went back into the storage room and tapped Andrew's shoulder. "Come with me a minute. Your mom is watching Jason ride Nat."
    Andrew put his book down and followed Polly back into the kitchen and out the back door.
    "Isn't he pretty, mom?" Jason asked as she approached the horse. Nat nickered at them and lowered his head. Sylvie put her hand on the white blaze that came down his forehead to his nose.
    "He's beautiful, Jason," she said. "I'm proud of you."
    "I'm not scared of him, even though he's so big," Jason said.
    "I know you're not." She turned to Eliseo. "Thank you for this."
    He shook his head, "He's done all the work. He's been doing it all spring, getting to know the horses and letting them learn to trust him. They like him, Mrs. Donovan. He's a good boy."
    "Can I ride in the parade with Eliseo?" Jason asked.
    She looked up at the man on the horse. "Really?"
    "If you agree."
    "Please, mom?"
    "If Polly and Eliseo say you can ride, then I'm okay with it."
    "Thanks!" Jason exclaimed. He bent over and put his head on Nat's neck, rubbing as far as his arms would let him.
    Sylvie backed up and watched as the two rode past the garage and onto the lane.
    "Thank you, Polly," she said. "Did you see how happy he was?"
    "I did. But, Eliseo was right. Jason earned this. He works hard with these horses."
    They went back inside and Sylvie washed her hands. She didn't say anything else. Polly shrugged, knowing her friend well enough to recognize she needed some space to be emotional. She followed Andrew back into the storage room. He went to his desk to read while she emptied the dryer and took the last of her laundry upstairs.

     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR

     
    Eliseo was upstairs cleaning out the front guest room while Polly struggled to concentrate in her office. Lydia Merritt had artfully planned and purchased a beautiful set of furniture and announced that room would now be called the Cherry Room. The poet who had been staying there for the last six weeks had left earlier in the day after announcing, quite dramatically, that he was ready to return to civilization. In a quiet aside, Jeff told her that the man was from a small town near Louisville, Kentucky. She guessed people saw civilization where they wanted to see it.
    Jason and Andrew begged their mom for permission to spend the afternoon at the city pool across the street from Sycamore House. They were to be back at Polly's apartment by five thirty so Jason could help bring the horses in at the end of the day.
    Polly looked out her