Save Me - Lisa Scottoline [136]
“Sweetie!” Rose hugged her close, breathing her in. “I missed you so much!”
“Ready for your surprise?”
“Sure.” Rose kissed her and set her down. They’d called on the way, and Melly had told her she’d had a surprise for them. “Let’s see.”
“It’s not here. We have to go somewhere else.”
“Okay, you’re the boss.” Rose smiled, petting Princess Google, who had climbed up on her leg, resting feathery paws on her knee. “Hi, Googie girl!”
“Leo!” Melly ran to Leo, who lifted her up and gave her a bear hug and a little grunt.
“Melly Belly! Where you been all my life?” Leo kissed her on the cheek, and Rose turned to see Mo coming out of the house, in his navy polo and jeans, followed by Gabriella, dressed the same, holding John.
“How’s my baby boy?” she said, hurrying toward him, and John burst into a smile, looking so natty in his white T-shirt, Mom jeans, and two whole teeth. “I missed you, buddy boy! I missed my baby!” She scooped him up, hugged him close, and kissed his head, then grinned at Gabriella. “Girl, do we owe you! How can I thank you? Dinner? A night on the town? A car?”
“Nonsense, we loved it.” Gabriella beamed. “You’re a celebrity. You’re all over the news.”
“Yes!” Mo came up from behind, grinning. “Why didn’t you tell us you were a crimefighter?”
“Ha!” Leo smiled. “She didn’t tell me, why would she tell you?”
“Let’s go, Mo!” Melly started jumping up and down, and Rose noticed she had on new brown shoes with her jeans and Harry Potter T-shirt.
“Where’d you get those shoes?”
“They’re boots! Come on, Mr. V.!” Melly ran to Mo, who checked his watch.
“You’re right. Can’t be late. Gotta go.”
“Where?” Rose smiled, mystified.
“Not far,” Gabriella answered. “You all go ahead. I’ll stay here with the dog and get lunch ready. Come here, Googie!”
Mo nodded. “Let’s hit the road. Rose, why don’t you and Leo follow us in your car?”
Melly bounded after Mo. “I’ll go with Mr. V.”
Rose blinked. She couldn’t remember Melly ever choosing not to ride with her. Mischief was afoot. She looked at Leo.
“Don’t ask me,” he said, with a happy shrug.
Chapter Eighty-three
Rose and Leo stood together in the back pasture of a small horse farm, down the road from the cabin. The trees blazed with orange, red, and gold, and dry, grassy hills rolled on and on. Post-and-rail fences separated the pastures, and in the middle sat a white barn with a tin roof, faded red. Mo and Melly had gone inside, asking Rose and Leo to stay here and wait for the surprise.
“I’m trying not to worry.” Rose cuddled John, who hooked his little arm around her neck. “Mo’s not putting her on a horse, is he?”
“Relax.” Leo smiled easily, slipping an arm around her shoulder. “He wouldn’t do anything unsafe with her.”
Rose turned, and Melly was sitting atop a furry black horse, grinning as if she’d ridden all her life. She had on a black helmet and buckskin jodhpurs, and even though Mo stood beside her, Rose felt her heart jump into her throat. “Leo, you see this?”
“She’ll be fine.”
“Bsbsb!” John squealed, pumping his arm when he spotted Melly.
“How do you know she’ll be fine?”
“Shh. He’s coming over.”
“Mo!” Rose managed not to freak as he strode over. “Is this safe? She’s not that great in sports. She’s double-jointed. She trips a lot.”
“Don’t worry.” Mo put a hand on Rose’s shoulder, smiling. “She’s in total control.”
“Mo, she’s eight.”
“Just the same, and double-jointed is good, for riding. Look at the flex in those ankles. Her heels drop very low. It increases her stability.” Mo waved at Melly. “Walk on, Mel!”
Rose held her breath as Melly gave the horse a kick, and it walked quickly around in a circle. “Can’t it go slower?”
“Any slower, she’ll be in reverse.”
Leo smiled, looking away.
Rose asked, “So, Mo, how did this come about?”
“Well, she got tired of mucking, so we went for a hack. She’s become quite the barn rat. She has a perfect seat.” Mo cupped his hand to his mouth. “Melly, eyes up, heels down! Good girl!”
Melly steered around the circle, and when she came around their side,