Silence.
She pressed the bell again, once, twice, and at the same time scanned the barn and the training ring for any sign of him. The stable doors were shut. Could he have overslept? She checked her watch then pounded the door, growing more worried with each moment that passed without his answering the door. She had planned for them to get to the airport early, and even if he was asleep they could still certainly make their flight as long as they hurried.
She turned and raised her hand at the driver, signaling for him to wait. She hurried off the small porch and ran around to the back of the house. She looked into his bedroom window. The bed was made, and rising on her toes, she could see through the bedroom door into the living room. He wasn't inside.
She climbed the small rear steps and frantically pounded her fist against the door, oblivious to the pain she was causing herself.
"Jean-Pierre!" she called. "Open up! Jean-Pierre!"
She held her breath and listened.
More of nothing.
She felt a chilling wave of nausea and told herself not to panic, that he was around here somewhere and tending to some last-minute things.
Rounding the house, she wagged her finger at the driver again and bolted for the barn, her raincoat whipping in the wind.
Maybe he was at Jennifer's house, she considered, saying good-bye to his former employer. She would check that after she searched the stable. Or was he with Mighty Boy? Yes, that was probably it. He was probably saying good-bye to Mighty Boy for her, so kind of him, because he knew that she could not face saying good-bye herself because they were unable to transfer the animal to their ranch.