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"I invested a little in horses. His father was a successful trotter, Fallsburg. He raced in Yonkers, New York, for years and did the circuit. It's a gamble, but the worst thing that'll happen is I'll have a beautiful animal, huh?"

"He is beautiful, Jake."

"Whenever I get a little sad or depressed now, I just take a ride out here and watch them for a while," he said. I nodded, smiling.

"Thanks, Jake. Thanks for sharing."

He shrugged.

"Better get you home before we both are put in the dungeon," he said.

I laughed and looked out the window as we drove away. The colt was still gazing in our direction.

There was an ominous quiet in the house when I entered. I listened for sounds of Merilyn preparing dinner and then I started up the stairs. Mrs. Griffin came out of the bedroom as I approached the landing. She was carrying her small satchel.

"That woman is impossible," she said.

"What's going on?"

"She fired her maid late this morning and has been arguing with me about everything ever since. I wasn't hired to be a cook and a maid. I've so informed her daughter. I've phoned for a taxi."

She walked past me and down the stairs.

"But..."

She never turned back. I threw my books down in my room and hurried to Grandmother Hudson's bedroom. "Where have you been?" she demanded.

"I just...Jake stopped to show me his horse," I said.

"That horse? What a ridiculous investment. Men can be so foolish with their money, investing in dreams."

"What happened to Merilyn?"

"What happened was she left a ring around the tub, burned my toast and brought me a cup of coffee that you could use to grease a tractor. When I told her of all these transgressions, she resigned her position. I told her she had never truly filled it so she couldn't resign. She could just go and go she did.

"And as for that nurse--"

"But Grandmother, you can't stay here alone now."

"Of course I can. I've done it before." She paused. "From what you tell me, you'll probably do just as well if not far better making dinner."

I shook my head. "What does Victoria say about it all?"

"She's delighted. Look at all the money I'm saving. Of course, now she anticipates more will be going to her when I'm gone." She propped herself up. "I'd be satisfied with a bowl of soup and a toasted cheese sandwich. Don't burn the bread," she added.

"All right, Grandmother," I said and went down to the kitchen. I didn't mind preparing her dinner at all. I put a little butter and sweet pickle in her sandwich with a slice of tomato and onion even though she didn't ask for it. It was how Mama used to dress a cheese sandwich for me.

When Grandmother Hudson took a bite, she looked up surprised. I held my breath. She took another bite and then looked at the sandwich.

"This is excellent," she said. "Something coming out of my kitchen with taste. What a surprise. Now go eat your own dinner and do your homework. No one is going to blame me for any of her own failings," she declared.

I laughed and returned to the kitchen. Before I started to do anything, the phone rang. It was Corbette.

"Hi," he said. "I'm sorry I was so nasty."

"It's all right. I understand."

"Good. I was seriously thinking that you and I should get together again."