The Riding Master by Alexandrea Weis

Author:Alexandrea Weis [Weis, Alexandrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: World Castle Publishing, LLC
Published: 2014-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Estelle’s home was nestled in the opulent neighborhood of Highland Park, close to the campus of Southern Methodist University. With green, manicured lawns, bright gardens bursting with colorful flowers, and palatial mansions, the premium real estate in this section of Dallas was considered by many to be a necessity when entering the ranks of the city’s social scene.

Trent eased his car up to a stunning French Provincial home tucked behind an overgrown lawn cluttered with unkempt gardens of tall juniper trees, red azalea bushes, and gardenias.

“There’s a side entrance.” Rayne pointed to a small cement road that meandered through the overgrowth in front of the property.

“Estelle, you have quite a place,” Trent commented as the car drew closer to the impressive structure.

Four huge, white colonial windows with stylized cornices on top, and ten-foot high double front doors that were carved with long swirls and stained in a very dark birch, accentuated the façade of the home.

“My father bought it when I was in high school,” Estelle recounted from the back seat. “When my parents died, they left everything to me. I used to have lovely gardens in front, but they got to be too much. It costs a small fortune to keep this place going.”

“A small fortune you don’t have,” Rayne piped in as the front of the house passed before her passenger window. “I’ve told you a million times to sell it.”

Estelle clucked disapprovingly. “And live where, Raynie, with you?”

“You could get something smaller that you could afford with the money you would make unloading this place,” Rayne suggested with an equally contentious tone.

“Move to Carrolton or Richardson? You must be joking? I’ll never leave Highland Park. Only the best people live here. I need to be among my kind.”

“They’re not your kind anymore, Mother.”

“Bite your tongue, Raynie. They’ll always be my kind, and yours, too.”

Trent gave Rayne a lighthearted grin as he steered the car around the side of the wide home.

“Just drop me at the door,” Estelle directed.

“Mother, I should stay with you.”

Estelle waved a thin hand at her daughter. “Nonsense. I’m fine, and you two need time alone.”

Rayne sighed with frustration, only making Trent’s humorous grin even bigger.

Pulling under a high portico with a stucco and stone archway, Trent glimpsed the smaller replica of the wide front doors at the side entrance.

“How big is this house, Estelle?”

“The lot is two and a half acres, and the house is almost seven thousand square feet,” Rayne volunteered.

“That’s a lot of house for one person,” he remarked.

“Well, you never know when you might have guests,” Estelle added.

“Your days of having guests are long gone, Mother.” Rayne opened the rear car door for Estelle.

“One always needs extra rooms,” Estelle argued.

Trent came around from the driver’s side of the car. “I’ve got only about four thousand square feet and I’ve got a maid that comes twice a week. How do you manage?”

Estelle retrieved her keys from her leather purse. “Oh, I manage.” She marched up a small flight of cement steps to the darkly stained doors.

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