read_attribute is public, so we should just call it

activerecord/lib/active_record/associations/has_many_association.rb

@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def insert_record(record, validate = true, raise = false)
         # the loaded flag is set to true as well.
         def count_records
           count = if has_cached_counter?
-            owner.send(:read_attribute, cached_counter_attribute_name)
+            owner.read_attribute cached_counter_attribute_name
           else
             scope.count
           end