Winning Ways (11 page)

"Well, if he misbehaves tomorrow, you can kiss your championship good-bye."

She handed him the lunge-line and stepped back. Karma had stopped prancing and stood quietly, his attention locked on his new handler. Kurt clucked softly and stepped toward the colt, who immediately trotted perfectly around the circle, head held high.

Liz watched, admiring the way Kurt handled her "bad boy" with a skill acquired through years of experience, and some other mysterious craft.

Kurt commanded the horse to halt, and Karma stopped in his tracks. Transferring the whip to the other hand, Kurt gave it one small snap at ground level, and Karma pivoted on his hind legs, and trotted in the opposite direction. Liz shook her head. He makes it look so easy. I spend hours fighting this colt, and along comes a cowboy who can make the horse stand on its head if he asks it to.

Kurt nodded toward Amy's stall. "You showing that bay mare tomorrow?"

Liz stopped picking Karma's hooves and looked up. "Yes, but I can work her in the morning."

She unhooked the colt and put him into his stall, then tossed in a flake of hay. When she returned to the aisle, a mischievous grin rippled across Kurt's face.

"I want to show you something."

She laughed. "You've already impressed me. What else can you do?"

A seductive look slipped into his eyes, and she immediately regretted her choice of words.

His voice deepened suggestively. "Come over here and I'll show you."

She giggled nervously, her cheeks burning. "Ahhh, I mean with horses."

Beckoning her to follow, he walked over to Amy's stall. The elegant mare stood motionless, watching him with interest. He stepped inside the door, talking softly, then moved to her head and turned to face the same direction as the horse. Bringing his right hand up beneath her chin, he snapped his fingers loudly and stepped toward the open stall door. Amy moved forward with him, staying exactly at his shoulder. Kurt "led" the horse out of the stall and into the aisle. When he stopped, she stopped. He started forward again, and the mare followed.

Astonished, Liz watched Amy walk freely down the aisle beside the handsome cowboy. He brought the horse back to where she stood, and reached for the halter hanging on the wall.

He grinned. "She hears the snap and thinks she's attached to the lead line."

"Doesn't say much for being very bright, does it?"

"Doesn't have anything to do with being smart. Horses are creatures of habit and response. She's well trained, so it works." He grabbed a brush and started smoothing it over the mare's sleek coat. "Just don't try it with a green horse."

At that moment, Liz knew she'd fallen under the same spell as her animals.

A quick glance at her watch jarred her. "Oh, man, it's midnight. I have to go. I didn't realize it had gotten so late."

A self-conscious smile played at the corners of his mustache. "Sorry. I lose track of time when I'm working with horses. Come on, I'll walk you out to the truck."

The night was quiet as they moved across the parking lot. At Liz's truck, he stepped up close and gently grasped her shoulders.

"You get some rest. You're gonna clean house tomorrow."

He kissed her softly on the forehead, then waited while she climbed into the truck.

"Lock your doors."

Liz watched him disappear into the darkness, her heart thumping, her shoulders tingling where his hands had rested, her guard completely down.

The scent of Liz's perfume still lingered inside Kurt's truck. How many lady trainers wore perfume? As he'd watched her work with the colt, his thoughts had raced, knowing he shouldn't be helping her, that he was just digging himself in deeper. He knew he shouldn't have given her such a hard time about the pitfalls of showing horses. Well, dammit, it's true! She'll find out for herself soon enough, and there's nothing I can do to save her.

The charitable thought surprised him. He'd never considered another trainer's feelings or goals. Extremely competitive, he'd lived his life to win with his horses and make a name for himself. He shook off thoughts of the past, focusing instead on Eve's "incentive plan" and his own future. His life held no room for sentimentality, romance, or sympathy. On this trip, he'd learned what he needed to know. Now, he had to figure out what to do with it.

The next morning, Liz glanced up and down the aisle frequently as she prepared Amy for her class. By gate call, Kurt still hadn't shown, and Liz's distraction puddled into disappointment.

Only four exhibitors waited by the in-gate. Few owners bothered to show older mares in halter classes, concentrating instead on their younger broodmare prospects. A quick assessment of the competition convinced Liz that her chances of a blue ribbon were excellent.

The class went flawlessly, and Liz observed how quickly the judge assessed the other entrants. He made his decision as soon as he saw Amy. Feeling almost smug, Liz ran beside her mare on yet another victory lap and grinned, recalling Kurt's comment about "cleaning house." Another quick look at the grandstand, and disappointment edged into her happy thoughts. His absence dampened her elation, and that irritated her. Why should I let anything detract from the excitement of this win?

As she left the ring, a short man approached her, his even white teeth sparkling through a crooked smile.

"Congratulations. Nice mare. Is she for sale?"

Liz gazed at the familiar tanned face.

He offered his hand. "Bill Benton. Fire Stone Farms."

"Liz Barnett. Legacy Arabians."

He grinned. "I know who you are. So, is the mare for sale?"

At close range, Benton was nice-looking, but his arrogant, almost condescending attitude detracted from his physical appearance.

"No, this is one of my best broodmares. She produced the colt I showed yesterday in the yearling class."

Liz felt a tiny thrill as she zapped the "big-name" trainer.

"Huh. If she's already one of your best broodmares, why are you showing her? Is she in foal?"

Liz's hackles rose. Another guy trying to tell me what to do.

"I'm showing her to promote my farm name. She's open this year. I'm giving her a rest."

Benton rolled his eyes and sighed. "Oh, I see. Being a good mommy, are we?"

A snarling response snapped into Liz's thoughts, but Benton stepped back and tossed out a limp wave.

"If you change your mind, give us a call. We're in the book."

He swaggered off, leaving Liz feeling ridiculous and very much like an amateur.

Kurt stood in the shadows by the arena entrance, his jaw tightening with concern as he watched Liz talking to Bill Benton at the rail. If I know Benton, he's trying to buy something. Kurt's stomach pitched at the possibility that the sale on Ebony might fall through if the trainer took a notion that Karma was a better stallion. Benton walked off and, even from a distance, Kurt saw that the conversation had upset Liz.

He pasted a smile on his face as she approached.

"Hey, congratulations, again. I see you had a little visit from Billy-Boy."

"What a nasty man! He wanted to buy Amy."

Kurt felt a rush of relief, then laughed. "He's nasty for wanting to buy your horse? I'd say that's a real compliment. Fire Stone touches nothing that isn't first-class."

Liz frowned. "No, I mean he's just obnoxious. He started giving me a hard time for showing a broodmare, then made snide comments about the fact I didn't breed her this season."

Kurt softened his tone. "That nasty man is a steam-roller in the ring, and the more important the show, the nastier he gets. Better to have him for a friend than an enemy." He hesitated. "Are you going to sell her?"

Liz's scowl deepened across her features.

"Why would I do that? She's part of my breeding plan."

Kurt waded in, knowing the water was deep and treacherous.

"Isn't money part of your plan, too? I'd say a chance to sell a horse for a good price is pretty critical to expanding a breeding farm. Having your breeder prefix integrated into the Fire Stone herd wouldn't hurt you much, either."

Liz's voice rose with irritation. "I've had just about enough of know-it-all men telling me what they think I'm doing wrong. This horse is one of my father's last foals. She's special to me. She produces excellent babies. And I'm keeping her!"

Snapping Amy's lead rope a little too hard, Liz strode forward, followed by the surprised mare, who tossed her head and danced sideways. Kurt caught up with her.

"Easy, Liz. I'm only pointing out the obvious. If you have personal reasons for keeping the mare, that's fine - we all have our favorites. Just don't jeopardize your breeding program with sentimental decisions. Remember, you recently added a truly outstanding mare to your barn, one that cost you a lot of money. No offense to your father, but Fair Lady is three times the horse Amy is. The name of the game in breeding is to keep the best, and cull the rest."

His inner voice goaded him. Like Eve did with Muscala.

Liz heard everything he said, and knew in her heart that he spoke the truth, but her anger overruled her common sense. In the past twenty-four hours, Kurt had brought up obstacle after obstacle to her plans for Legacy. She was sick of it and wanted to be left alone.

Kurt took her silent cue. "Well, I'm gonna scoot. Good luck this afternoon."

She started to reply, but he was striding away. Fine. Go sulk. You can't always be right. Her thoughts turned to the championship class scheduled for that afternoon, and her stomach flip-flopped in anticipation of what she hoped would be the win of the weekend.

Kurt walked toward his truck. He should really head back to El Dorado. He had a lot of work to do, and he was sure Eve wouldn't appreciate his extended absence. Irritation crawled across his shoulders. To hell with her. He wanted to see the outcome of the championship colt class. Karma might win, and that could prove to be a monkey wrench in Kurt's plans. The last thing he wanted was to show against Liz at the regional show, especially if Bill Benton started shopping around.

Liz's soft voice startled him.

"I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have been so snippy."

"It's okay. I'm used to being chewed out by beautiful women."

Like hell, I am - just this one.

"No, seriously. I know you just want to help, but I have to try to do this, or I'll always feel like a quitter."

Her eyes held an emotion he couldn't quite read. Anticipation? Fear of rejection? He wanted to step down and pull her close to him, touch her hair, smell her perfume. He felt himself losing the battle to stay neutral.

"I understand. Don't worry about it. I always have too much to say when it comes to horses."

Liz stepped closer to the truck. "Are you going to stay for Karma's class?"

Kurt's horse sense kicked in. I should get out of this while I'm ahead. His emotions took over.

"I guess I could, if you want me there."

She laid her hand lightly on his leg, sending a jolt of excitement through his body.

"I do."

Patting her hand, he tried to ignore the feelings stirring through him. He shifted in his seat, then reached for the key in the ignition.

"Okey-doaky. I'll be there. Right now, I'm going to run out for a bite to eat. Want me to bring you something?"

"Something light. I'm awfully nervous."

Liz watched the truck drive away. Something's different. It's like there's an invisible barrier between us. He's there on the other side, so close, but I can't reach him.

As she walked back to the barn, she thought about how the hard muscles of his leg had felt beneath the coarse fabric of his jeans. Her stomach quivered. I can't believe I did that. She smiled to herself. The evidence of his feelings had been inescapable. It wouldn't take much to make my fantasies about him come true. The smile faded. She'd need to know more about him - and his past - before succumbing to any flights of fancy. Squaring her shoulders, she tucked away all thoughts of Kurt, and started psyching herself for the next class.

Karma moved restlessly around his stall, as though he sensed his big moment, only hours away.

Liz also felt unsettled. "C'mon, you. A little exercise will be good for both of us."

Thirty minutes later, she returned from the warm-up paddock and found a brown paper bag sitting on the tack trunk. Inside were a turkey sandwich and an Aliqua business card with "Good luck!" scrawled on the back.

The stallion championship class contained four entries: Karma and the first place winners for each of the other stallion divisions. Karma would compete against two-, three-, and four-year-old horses. Liz knew he had very little chance of beating out the older colts because, as a youngster, his body still had an "unfinished" lankiness to it that would eventually smooth out with maturity. The fact that he was even a contender in the class was amazing, considering the large field of horses he'd beaten to get there. Remembering Kurt's comments, Liz scrutinized the handlers. All men.