"Funny. You're acting slightly nervous, Judith. Is meeting my mother that intimidating?" Brian asked. "You could at least sit by me. I feel very alone back here." Again, he gave his little-boy pout.
"If that's supposed to make me feel motherly toward you, Brian, forget it. And I'm staying up front. On duty." She cleared her throat. "As for nervous, of course not. I'm just excited about seeing the two newborn foals. A filly and a colt, did you say? Really looking forward to it."
"But I like company, and it's a long trip. My mother lives close to Wasaga Beach. I need company."
"Sorry, Malcolm's orders," Judith said as she buckled up her seat belt and turned away from Brian. "I need to be in position to spot potential trouble from all angles. And I do not need distractions." She grinned, her gaze on the road ahead.
"But you should guard my body, close up, like beside me. I'm lonely." He whined a bit, then gave up and slumped on the seat. "You'll pay. Just wait until we get back home…"
Judith laughed.
Jessica Norton, Brian's mother, waited with open arms and open heart for their arrival. A widow at fifty, she had remarried Samuel Norton and helped him raise his own children, as well as devoting her time to breeding thoroughbred horses. Born with the proverbial silver spoon, Jessica had married within her social class and increased her wealth. She had never been bothered with financial worries. The sun and time had touched her face with life, giving her a deep tan and a few wrinkles, but she looked far younger than her sixty-five years. Judith appraised the tall, slim, blond woman and saw warmth as well as beauty. Jovial and easy to please, she seemed much like Brian.
"Mother, I kept my promise. Now you keep yours-no riding!"
Jessica laughed and hugged him. "How any son of mine could hate horseback riding as much as you do is beyond me, Brian."
He scowled, then hugged her back.
"You're lucky, in any case. Bad storm coming. You're always lucky." She turned to Judith and offered her hand. "And look at your bodyguard! Brian, how did you manage to get such a cute bodyguard?" She clasped Judith's hands in hers and winked. "As I said, Brian's always lucky."
Jessica regarded Judith's outfit, which consisted of a dark blue uniform with gold buttons trimming the jacket. "Would you like to take off your jacket? It really is too hot today for much of anything." She fanned her face. Jessica wore a wrap skirt and short sleeved blouse embroidered with gold and red trim.