Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash (34 page)

He couldn’t stand to look at her. A thief, a liar and ugly. She’d checked the mirror, had seen her battered cheek, her blackened eye. She’d always found her mother’s bruises repellent so understood his reaction. However, his open aversion rubbed another raw spot deep in her chest.

“Was Lorna involved too?” she asked, struggling to fill the silence.

“No, she was devastated. Especially since police are re-opening the investigation into her father’s death.” He plucked a leaf off a plant, studying it beneath his fingers.

“What will happen to Nifty?” Jenna asked.

“Guess they’ll give him some time off. Ridgeman had him insured for millions but that value would have plummeted after they tested his semen. To David, he was worth more dead than alive.”

“David enjoyed causing pain.” Her voice buckled.

“God, I’m sorry, Jenna.” Burke jerked around, his mouth flat. “You never liked David. And that night at the Club, your hand…did he hurt you?” His voice roughened. “That’s why you hit him. You should have told me. I would have dealt with him.”

“But you already did. I remember you hitting him.” Her fingers automatically lifted to her bruised cheek, but his face filled with such revulsion she averted her face. Tried to hide it in the pillow but the pressure hurt too much, and she gave up. There was simply no way to hide, not in this tiny hospital room, not from his sharp eyes. “When are you leaving?” she asked.

“Not sure.”

Her throat tightened. She didn’t know what was wrong but felt exposed in the stark bed. She wanted to be alone, alone to sleep and heal and sleep some more. The door opened and Wally sauntered in.

“Hey, good! You’re awake.” He bounced toward the bed, utterly normal. Didn’t seem to have any problem looking at her messed-up face, and his easy presence filled her with relief. Thank, God, he was safe.

“Oh, Wally.” Her breath escaped in a flood of emotion. “They were…going to b-burn us up. I wanted to run away.”

“But you didn’t. You saved my life.” He squeezed her shoulder, and his voice caught. “Always so loyal. So brave.”

She clutched his fingers with her left hand, trying to stop the shaking. “I didn’t feel brave. I felt like a coward. When he was squeezing…I almost told him where the button was.”

Wally’s eyes looked moist. “He’s a sadist and a pyromaniac. He won’t be able to hurt anyone again.”

“I never liked him. Should have listened to Colin. He knew there was something strange about Nifty—”

The door clicked shut. She twisted, saw Burke had walked out and was hit with a fresh spasm of pain. “He won’t even l-look at me.”

“He feels responsible. But you’ll be better soon. And he’s arranged for a car to pick up Emily and bring her home. She’ll take care of you until that hand is healed.”

“Am I f-fired?”

Wally chuckled and refilled her water glass. “Honey, you’re a hero. You could ask Burke for anything and he’d give it to you.”

“I just want him to leave.” Her voice shook. “I don’t want him around…not looking at me.”

“Are you sure?” Wally asked. “Because it sounds like he’s planning to stay for a while.”

“I’m sure.”

“And you want me to tell him that?”

“I do,” she said.

***

“Sit down.” Burke leaned back in his chair, staring at Wally over his steepled fingers. “I’d like you to remain as manager of Three Brooks.”

Wally’s eyes flickered with surprise. He hesitated a moment then leaned forward, shaking his head. “Is this some misguided sense of guilt because I stumbled upon a couple of criminals trying to blow up your Center? Because severance would be enough. Jenna was the brave one—”

“Shut up.” Burke grabbed a pen and jotted down another notation. “Because of your past waste of company funds, an independent accountant will keep all financial records. There will be frequent audits. And if I have to come back for any reason—any reason whatsoever—heads will roll. Understand?”

He waited for Wally’s nod then added, “You’ll be receiving good horses now, stakes horses. Just keep the company in the black. Keep the place orderly and…look after her.”

Comprehension swept Wally’s face and Burke shoved his list across the desk. Didn’t want to see the empathy in the older man’s eyes.

“The new storage building will be the local receiving barn,” Burke said. “Staff can work with those animals on a gratuitous basis, one day a week. But keep them stalled separately from our paying clients. Make sure their Coggins and vaccines are current.” He cleared his throat. “Twenty-five percent of Center profits will be earmarked for your humanitarian urges.”

Wally jerked forward, his face creasing with delight.

“Not a penny more, Wally,” Burke said quickly but felt his lip twitch. The town would be in fine shape with twenty-five percent, and everyone would work like hell to raise profits. It would be a win-win situation.

“Three Brooks will also sponsor one employee for annual educational leave,” he added, “with full salary and all costs covered. The first recipient will be Jenna.” He grabbed his coffee mug, irritated at how his throat tightened whenever he said her name. “Run it however you want, but I suggest a committee for future scholarship selection—you, Jenna and maybe that vet in town.”

“Colin MacDonald?”

“Yeah. That’s the guy.” Burke’s mouth clamped.

“I imagine you want progress reports on the…first recipient?”

Burke slammed his pen on the desk. “I don’t want anything. Just look after her. I’m finished.”

“She can’t help the way she is. For Christ’s sake, she saw her father beat someone to death. He abused them all—”

“I’d never hit her.” Burke jerked forward, then slumped back in the chair.
He had hit her
. “I didn’t know it was her.” He squeezed his eyes shut, chest aching. “Thought it was that other bastard. Now she cringes when I walk into the room.” He forced a negligent shrug, hating for anyone to see his pain, especially this lucky prick, Wally, who clearly held a special spot in her heart.

He scowled, unable to resist one last warning. “Don’t screw this up, Wally. I don’t want to have to come back. Now get out.”

Wally picked up the list and rose, then slowly extended his hand. “I’ll always take care of her.”

“I know you will,” Burke said. And he shook Wally’s hand.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“I made some awesome chicken soup.” The screen door slammed as Emily sauntered onto the porch, balancing a dripping spoon over a napkin. “Taste it.”

“I’m not hungry right now.” Jenna forced a smile. “But thanks. It smells great,” she added, seeing her sister’s pout.

Emily stuck the spoon in her own mouth, then gave it an impatient wave. “What’s wrong with you? I’m not used to being the responsible one and I don’t like it. Honestly, sis, you look horrible.”

Jenna stared across the field at Peanut. She couldn’t bear to see the gleaming new tiles on top of both the kennel and chicken coop. Burke’s guilt must have run deep. He’d finished the roofing when she was in the hospital, his good-bye present. A much better gift than jewelry—and something he knew she’d appreciate.

A warm tear trickled down her cheek. She reached up and swiped it away.

“Good God.” Emily sighed and dropped onto the swing. “Don’t be such a baby. You have everything you ever wanted.” She held up her fingers, ticking them off. “In the fall, you start your science degree. You massage at Three Brooks only when you feel like it. Hell, Wally dotes on you. Our trailer has a new roof and you’ll never, ever have to rely on a man. Just like you said you wouldn’t.

“Which actually is a very good thing, because you look like shit.” Emily wrinkled her nose. “Maybe I should take that scholarship instead of you. Maybe I could stick out college if I lived here and commuted.”

Jenna closed her eyes, ignoring her sister’s prattle. It was nice having her home, but sometimes solitude was preferable. And sleep. Lately she craved sleep.

“Oh, here comes the big boss now. Talk to him for me, Jenna. He never liked me much.”

Jenna forced her eyes open, watching as Wally stepped from his truck. He was such a kind man, often just sitting beside her in undemanding silence. Neither of them spoke much about that horrifying night, but Wally was clearly grateful. On the other hand, if she hadn’t called him, he would have remained safe in his apartment.

The chamber would have exploded, killing Nifty and Peanut, but that would have been the extent. It seemed bizarre now, unreal; Burke, almost like a dream.

“Good afternoon, ladies. Oh, Jenna.” Wally’s voice sharpened as he twisted accusingly toward Emily. “Can’t you feed her better than this?”

Emily shrugged. “I can’t make her eat. And I already told her she looks like shit.”

Wally lowered himself onto the swing “You’re getting too thin, Jenna. I can’t let you go back to work like this. Does your face still hurt?”

“No.” Her hand swept to her cheek. She blew out a tremulous sigh. “
He
didn’t mean to hit me. I know he didn’t mean to hit me and well… I miss him.” Her words were soft but so stark, even Emily silenced. Jenna’s eyes clung to Wally’s face. “It’s been a month. Do you think he’ll come back?”

“No,” Wally said.

“But wouldn’t he come back if you called him?” she asked. “Maybe if the Center had a problem?”

“He’s not coming back, Jenna.” Wally shuddered. “And I’m not calling him. You told him to go. Live with it.”

A vice tightened around her chest. “Sometimes you think you want something and you get it, and then you realize it’s not what you wanted at all.”

“I’d do a lot for you,” Wally said, “but I’m not calling Burke. He’s scary.”

Sometimes, but not always, she thought. Sure, maybe when he was pulverizing someone who deserved it but usually he was…quite nice. And sometimes he said thoughtless things but he always
did
the right thing. Her gaze drifted to the newly tiled roof.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake. How scary is one man?” Emily pulled out her cell phone. “What’s his number?”

Jenna stiffened. A wide-eyed Wally scrambled to his feet.

“Never mind.” Emily laid down her phone and picked up Jenna’s. “You have the free calling package. What’s his name? Derek Burke? It’s right here on your speed dial.” She pressed some numbers and jammed the phone in Jenna’s horrified hand. “It’s ringing, sis.”

Jenna numbly held the phone against her ear. Two rings.

“Burke,” he said.

“Hi, it’s Jenna.” She twisted away from her two craning spectators.

“Hi, Jenna. How are you feeling?” His voice was crisp and confident and such an intense longing swept her, she could scarcely breathe.

“Fine…um, I have the splint off my hand. And I wanted to thank you for fixing the roof. And for the scholarship.”

“No need. So you’re okay? Hand’s good?”

“Fine,” she said. “Are you in California now?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Okay, well, I just wanted to thank you. And um—”

“What?”

He sounded bored and she gripped the phone, picturing the impatient look in his eyes, the hard thrust of his jaw.

“Good luck out there and um….well, goodbye,” she said feebly.

“Goodbye to you too.” He spoke with such finality, she wasn’t surprised when a dial tone replaced his voice.

“God, sis, you suck.” Emily rolled her eyes and pulled the phone from Jenna’s limp hand.

“But I wasn’t ready to call,” Jenna said. “I was nervous. It was impossible to think.”

“He didn’t say anything about me, did he?” Wally shoved his hands in his pockets and paced across the porch. “He doesn’t think the Center is having any problems?”

“You two are such chicken shits.” Emily stalked inside the trailer and the screen door slammed.

“He didn’t sound like he really wanted to talk,” Jenna said miserably.

“He’s not a big talker,” Wally said.

“He used to talk a lot to me.”

“Used to, Jenna. Think he’s moved on. Best you do too.”

“I guess.” She swallowed, trying to work her words around the big lump in her throat. “It’s best not to depend on someone, isn’t it? But do you think Mom was happy? With my father?”

“He was the only man she ever loved.”

Wally’s voice sounded strained and she twisted, scanning his face. She’d always wondered why he never married. Couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t been around. “You were more than friends?” Her eyes widened. “You loved her too?”

He shrugged and rumpled her hair. “We can’t always choose who we love, kiddo. But I don’t think your mom regretted anything.”

“I used to despise her. How he hit her. Us. How she’d never leave. Couldn’t understand it.”

“Me neither,” Wally said.

***

“Hi, Jenna. Glad you’re back. Gosh, what kind of diet are you on?” Frances shoved aside her crossword puzzle. “Does Wally know you’re here?”

“My first day back isn’t for a few more weeks, but Wally wanted me to drop by and see something.”

“Oh, right.” Frances grinned. “Go around to the new building. Wally’s out there.”

“The new building? You mean the storage shed?” Jenna shrugged and walked outside. It was strange to be back, especially with Burke gone. The Center seemed dull, lifeless, as if a spark had been extinguished.

She walked along the cobblestones toward the storage shed. He’d built much of the new building with his own hands, had helped the construction crew every morning and toward the end had turned it into his own, personal project. ‘Working on some special touches,’ he’d said with a crooked grin, always smelling of that lovely, fresh pine. God, she missed his smile, missed his company. Missed him.

So what if he thought her a liar, a thief. She should have faced his disappointment, apologized, begged him to stay. Emily was right; she was a chicken shit.

She pushed open the door and jerked to a stop. This was no storage shed. Nine spacious stalls lined the right-hand side and the middle one even had a special door, low enough so a tiny pony could stretch out his neck. Peanut: the sign read.

Wally stepped forward, grinning. “Burke thought you could do your massage on the left side. Horses can use the Center’s side door if they need other therapy. But these stalls are reserved for locals. And of course, Peanut is the guest of honor.”