He gave a jerk, almost dropping the keys, and then, when he turned to face her he wore an expression she’d never seen before—a you-caught-me look.
“Liv. I was on my way home from the parts store and thought I’d stop and see you ride,” he said. But from the way he was looking past her, Liv had a feeling it was more than that.
“Are you...feeling okay?” she asked.
“Fine. Fine. Like I said, I thought I’d stop and make sure you don’t have any trouble getting home.”
“I thought you were here to watch me ride.”
“That, too.”
“I have to talk to Linda for a few minutes about the logistics of tomorrow’s performance.” She held up the reins. “You want to take Beckett back to the trailer and load him? I’m sure he’d like to get out of the weather.”
“Uh, yeah. Sure.”
Liv watched him lead the horse away, wondering if it was a good or bad sign that he was down here. Was he terminal? Or trying to be more of a traditional father? A little late for the latter and she refused to think about the former.
Linda waited near her trailer until everyone was gathered around her, some still mounted, others on foot. “We did great!” she said. “And I think we’ll do just as well tomorrow. The rain is supposed to let up, so make an effort to get the mud stains off your gear before tomorrow’s performance.”
Liv looked down at her spattered pants. Oh, yeah. She had some work ahead of her.
“Be sure to get here early. If you have a flat tire, call...”
Liv tuned out as Linda went through her list. Why was her father there and acting so oddly? Once Linda had finished, Liv walked with Andie as far as her trailer.
“Your dad is here,” Andie said. “I saw him leaving the stands.”
“Yeah. He said he wanted to make sure I got home okay what with the mud and all.” Andie gave Liv a quizzical look. “Yeah. I know,” Liv said. “Worries me. But,” she continued in a lighter tone, “no matter why he’s here, I’d better see that he gets home.”
“Maybe I could...I don’t know...talk to him before you guys leave? Try to see if he’d come in for a physical?”
“I’m afraid it’ll just make him more stubborn if he thinks I orchestrated something like that.”
“You’re probably right.” Andie shrugged. “Keep at him.”
“Will do.” Liv started for her trailer, her boots nearly coming off her feet in the mud as she walked. She could see Tim standing at the rear, looking off at something she couldn’t see. She walked down the opposite side of the trailer to tell him she was ready to go, when she heard Margo say, “Long time, Tim.”
Liv stopped dead. There was something in Margo’s steely tone that made Liv quite certain she did not want the older woman to know she was there. Tim didn’t answer, which was no big surprise, but Margo had more to say.
“I’ve seen you here a couple of times.”
Really? Her dad had been at practice and Liv hadn’t known it? This was getting strange. And it got even stranger when Margo said, “You look like hell, Tim.”
“You don’t.” Tim’s voice was flat. Matter-of-fact.
Margo snorted. “Thanks.” There was a long moment of silence during which Liv held totally still, embarrassed to be where she was and knowing if she didn’t say something soon, it would be too late. Then Margo ensured her continued silence by saying, “I’ve never forgiven you, you know.”
“I figured as much.” Liv held her breath. It was wrong to eavesdrop, but she didn’t know how to extricate herself from her hiding spot gracefully. “How long have you been back?” he finally asked.
“Does it matter?” Margo replied. Tim did not answer and a few seconds later she said softly, “As I thought. You’re such a coward, Tim. You tore me to pieces in the name of doing what’s right, and I think you should rot because of it.”
“Margo—”
“What, Tim? I’ve been waiting a long time to tell you that to your face.”
“I never meant to hurt you.”
“Bullshit. You meant to save yourself being beholden and if I got hurt in the process, that was secondary to your freedom.”
“That’s not true.”
“It’s true from where I stand.” Margo slapped her hand on the side of the trailer, startling Liv. “If you could have bent a little, just a little, Tim, I think we could have been happy.”
Margo’s voice broke slightly, but she cleared her throat and continued,