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“We can help each other, okay? I’d rather have them here than have to fly down to Springfield to check on them.”

“Sure,” I said. “I can give it a shot, but I need a saddle to fit these giants.”

“I have one that should,” she said. “It’s in storage. Riley uses it sometimes when we have a western clinician in and they go out and ride. It’s a wide tree. I know they are a little different to fit.”

“Oh, okay, sure,” I agreed.

“Now, I’m going to let you buy me pizza. I can offer you beer. We’re stocked.”

Piper and I rode to Chloe’s house in her truck while Riley and Jerry followed. What we found at Chloe’s house went beyond my wildest imagination. Set practically on Lake Michigan, I suspected Chloe’s house cost millions more than ours had. We pulled up to a grand gate while Chloe tapped her code. Her house was a turn-of-the-century masterpiece with an elegant circle drive. An overhang sheltered her Mercedes on one side, but she parked her truck in the drive and hopped out.

“This place is cray-cray,” Piper whispered as we followed Chloe up to the original door off the overhang. Again, she typed in a code. It was all old, but state of the art. This was how the one percent lived.

We tossed our boots aside in an expansive, orderly mud room. I noted the dozen pairs of english boots neatly lined under a tall wooden bench. She set down her expensive purse and continued into the kitchen where she filed through the hidden fridge.

“I have pop—mainly coke and some root beer,” Chloe said. “And beer for the grown-ups. I’ve got some options. Please help yourselves. There are takeout menus for delivery in the drawer under the microwave.”

“Thanks,” I went to the menus.

I looked out at the pool and backyard behind us.

Chloe sensed my curiosity, “Beyond that gate is a city park that leads down to the beach. It’s great in the summer. You can see the lake from the second floor. I love it. My mom’s house is also on the lake. I missed it when I lived in the city, so it was on my must-haves when I bought this place a couple years ago.”

“Cool,” I said. “It’s really nice.”

“It’s my baby,” Chloe admitted. “I love this place.”

“It’s gorgeous,” Piper said. “Dad, don’t get deep dish. Seriously.”

“If I do, I will order you something else,” I said. “It’s up to what everyone else wants.”

Something buzzed. Chloe went to a control panel by the backdoor.

“Jerry and Riley made it.”

In a minute, I heard them in the mud room. Jerry sang a jingle. I sensed he always sang.

“What does everyone like in pizza?” I asked as they grabbed beers.

“I like Comentale’s,” Riley said. “It’s your standard fare tavern pizza, but it’s delicious. The garlic bread with cheese is legendary.”

“I second that,” Chloe sipped pop.

“Okay, sounds good. Any vegetarians?” I looked around. “Okay, just Piper.”

“We could do a supreme and a cheese if that works?” Chloe asked.

“Sounds good,” I agreed. “With cheese garlic bread.”

I left the kitchen, finding myself in a grand dining room, as I ordered thin crust. This place was airy, chic, and elegant. It reminded me of the houses I entered when signing contracts in my real estate days. I’d been up here before, but I’d never seen anything quite so cohesive. She must have hired a designer. It was like a brand.

Returning, Piper joked about something with Jerry. I didn’t understand her humor. At least he did. He seemed like a good kid, even if he was too musical for my tastes.

“Do you want a drink?” Chloe asked. “I just made a G and T. I’ve got some good tonic solution. It’s like… something you can add to make it good. And I’ve got a little lime.”

“Sure,” I said. “I don’t want to be trouble, but a beer sounds too heavy. If you don’t⁠—”

“I’d love to. Don’t worry about it. I like to play bartender. I cannot cook for shit, though.”