Winning Ways (26 page)

Colleen's tone sounded wicked. "Mmmmm, That must be a treat!"

Liz ignored the invitation to expand, then changed the subject.

"By the way, Colleen, what's in Sacramento?"

"A guy! I met a really neat guy, and guess what? He's not in the horse business - he's a real person!"

Liz laughed at their private joke that anyone in the horse business had to be either crazy or retarded. Colleen's happiness was deep and genuine as she described her new friend. A few minutes later, she brought up the subject of the homeless horses.

"How much longer are we going to baby-sit for Marilyn?"

Liz frowned, remembering Frank Jones's visit.

"I don't know. I pretty much squelched any more sales to that Jones guy. There was something about him I really didn't like. And he only wanted to buy my horses."

She flinched a little at the white lie, but didn't know how to explain her reluctance to sell anything to the man.

"Yeah, he was kind of creepy, but his money's as good as anyone's."

"What if he's a buyer for the killers?"

Colleen was silent for a few seconds. "Well, if he is, then the horses he bought here are already dogfood."

Liz gulped at her gaff. "Oh, Colleen! I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a little paranoid."

Before hanging up, Colleen promised to come by and visit sometime in the next couple of days.

In the quiet of the study, Liz reflected on Colleen's tone. Though the opinion hadn't been voiced, it had been clear that her friend viewed Liz as being too personally involved with the horses to make good business decisions.

That evening, after a light supper of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, Kurt cleared the table and washed up the dishes, humming as he put everything away in the cupboards. Liz sat at the kitchen table, enjoying the spectacle. His shirtsleeves were rolled back, revealing muscular forearms dusted with fine black hair that sent erotic messages to her brain. He glanced over and winked, and she opened her mouth to tease him about being a good househusband, then recoiled. Good grief, don't you ever learn? She remembered the results of the last time she'd alluded to permanence, and her pulse jumped.

A second later, his features took on a strange expression. He grinned and tossed the dishtowel on the counter.

"And what, exactly, is going through that pretty head?"

She blushed and looked away. "Nothing. Just thinking about getting back to work tomorrow."

He slipped into a chair and took her hand. "Don't rush it, Hon."

She savored the warmth and gentleness in his soft touch, wanting the moment to last forever.

"The drug report from U.S. Equestrian came today. Ashiiqah was clean...like I had any doubt." She gazed down at their clasped hands. "But my big plans for Karma sure got screwed up."

Kurt's fingers tightened around hers, his voice firm.

"Liz, you'll get through this and be able to continue. This winter, you can work on your show techniques, polish your green horses, do any number of productive things that will make you a more formidable opponent in the ring." He grinned. "You put another year on Karma, and his wins will mean a lot more as young stallion than as a cute baby."

His efforts to make her feel better didn't work. She shook her head vigorously.

"No, I'm through with the whole thing. I no longer want any part of the show circus."

He sat back and looked at her thoughtfully.

"Quitting? I find that hard to believe. I distinctly remember a conversation about not wanting to be ‘just another breeder'."

"Right. That was before I was steamrolled in front of God and everybody."

"Liz, if you decide not to show your horses any more, it needs to be an informed decision, one that you make based on a great deal of thought, not an emotional knee-jerk. Breeders show their horses for a reason - to provide a record of excellence for the animals they hope will reproduce those qualities and traits that make them outstanding horses."

Liz started to protest, but he held up his hand.

"Hear me out. If the whole mess were erased tomorrow morning, would you still want to take Karma to Nationals?"

"Of course, but - "

"Case closed. Give yourself some time to work through the anger of the raw deal, then start making plans for the future."

She nodded and looked down at their entwined fingers. She felt chastened, knowing that he spoke the truth from his own painful experience.

"You're probably right. I'll give it some thought." She looked up, viewing him through narrowed eyes. "Do you know much about Bill Benton?"

"I know he's one of the best trainers in the business. Some folks think he's a little heavy-handed with the horses, but most people don't understand what's involved with keeping these animals under control. Why do you ask?"

"I just wondered if you knew he was sleeping with his boss."

Kurt shook his head. "Liz, it goes on all the time, but it's really no different than any other industry. Ambitious people do what they must to get where they want to be."

Again, he spoke from experience, sending an uncomfortable ripple through Liz's stomach.

He released her hands and sat back. "How'd you find that out?"

"The sheriff talked to every exhibitor in the colt class. He said Bill had an alibi, but was cagey about telling me what it was. I just put two and two together."

Kurt looked away toward the window. "Yeah, he grilled me pretty good, too."

A flash of guilt surged through Liz's chest, remembering the tense scene in the aisle.

"I'm awfully sorry about Patrick. I'm sure he just thought he was being helpful."

"Yeah, big help. Listen, you never told me what drug was used on Karma."

"It was Diazepam - which I thought was a strange choice. It's usually used on aggressive stallions to keep them from savaging the mares when they breed."

As she watched, a veil of anger descended over Kurt's dark eyes.

Later that evening, Liz reviewed the conversation, and Kurt's puzzling reaction. She'd tried to pursue the subject, but he'd been evasive. Even if he suspects Eve, I can't imagine how he could prove anything.

She sighed and turned her thoughts to the coming week. Doc Sams had insisted that she take a couple more days to recuperate before trying to resume her farm calls, but with each day, she felt better and itched to get back to work.

The phone rang and she grabbed it, hoping to hear Kurt's husky voice. To her disappointment, Marilyn's greeting rattled through the receiver.

"Hi, Liz. I wanted to tell ya, I've decided to move to Oakland to live with my sister. I'm leavin' next week."

Liz couldn't hide her surprise. "What about your farm? And the horses?"

"Farm's for sale...an' I thought I'd just sign all the registration papers over to you. You can do whatever you want with the horses. If you sell 'em, fine. Keep the money for their upkeep. I've caused you so much trouble, it seems only right."

Liz was stunned. The woman was going to walk away from the only life she'd ever known.

Kurt scowled at the invoice for supplies he'd ordered two months ago. Two vials of Diazepam had been logged into the farm inventory, enough to carry them through breeding season, which wouldn't begin for another two months.

He moved into the tack room and unlocked the medicine cabinet. A minute later, he nodded with nasty satisfaction. Only one vial remained on the shelf. Though he couldn't prove anything by it, the extra information strengthened his resolve about what he needed to do.

By the following afternoon, Liz's muscles had loosened up and she moved around comfortably. The shoulder still hurt quite a bit, but she was able to manage most ordinary tasks, like showering, dressing, and making tea. Five days away from the barn had taken its toll on her psyche, and she needed a "horse fix."

She strolled through the empty barn, delighted to see how well Kurt had cared for it. He'd picked the stalls and filled them with fresh bedding, water buckets brimmed, and the aisle floor had been swept spotlessly clean. She wandered into the feed room and stuffed some treats into her pocket, then went out into the sunshine, heading up the path to the pasture. Fair Lady lifted her nose from the sparse grass and whinnied loudly. The herd followed the beautiful mare as she trotted down to the fence, and Liz's heart ached with love. Warm, velvety muzzles carefully gobbled alfalfa cubes from her palm, then eagerly checked her pockets for more.

Miss Marcy pushed her way to the front of the group, making soft noises in her throat. She stretched her head over the fence and nuzzled Liz's cheek.

Stroking the old lady's neck, Liz murmured, "I'll never sell you. You're mine now."

Marilyn's generosity with the horses had been a big surprise, but Liz knew it would be foolish to try to keep all of them. They didn't fit in with her carefully laid plans for Legacy. She looked at the animals she'd acquired as a result of the fire. The gelding with the shoulder wound was a polite and gentle young man, and would make someone a nice saddle horse. He'd be easy to sell. The other three horses were mares of varying ages and quality, also saleable. She sighed. Guess I better call Jones back. I can't be so picky about this.

 Fatigue caught up to her and she left the fence to settle in her favorite place on the farm - a huge boulder surrounded by lush green grass and spongy moss. She gingerly lowered herself to the ground, and watched the horses return to the serious business of grazing.

Once she started back to work, there wouldn't be much time for such leisurely luxury. The thought saddened her. She'd loved being home, caring for her horses and making plans for the future of Legacy, even though it had been as a result of her failing practice. She reviewed the two weeks just prior to the regional show, carefully analyzing each farm call she'd made, and the atmosphere attendant on each one. The ranchers' rigid resistance to her had lessened, and she'd begun to feel optimistic that her career could flourish in the beautiful foothills. Diligence and patience, that's all it would take. Though she couldn't think about it right then, she'd have to decide if her pride would let her take a shot at showing horses again. Only time would tell.

A familiar voice from down by the barn interrupted her thoughts, and she looked at her watch. Five o'clock. Right on time.

"I'm up here by the pasture!"

Kurt emerged from behind the trees and, a moment later, dropped into the grass beside her.

"Just couldn't stay away, could you? How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good. I think I can start doing my chores again, with the help of pain-killers."

She glanced at his profile as he watched the horses graze. She loved having him there on a regular basis. Her return to work would bring an end to the delightful arrangement. Maybe I could pretend for a little while longer. He turned and looked at her intently, as though he could read her thoughts.

She grinned. "What? Did I drift? It's the drugs."

He patted her hand. "I don't want you to push yourself to get back to work. I can help out as long as you need me."

Need you? I need you non-stop. His dark eyes showed a tiny flicker of emotion, but an instant later, it disappeared and he looked away.

She laid her hand on his arm. "You've been so good to help me the way you have...especially since we've had so much trouble between us."

He turned, his eyes filled with compassion, his face softened by the shadow of his thoughts.

"Liz, I haven't been very good at explaining myself, and I know I have a defensive streak, but I am so sorry for all the pain I've caused you, both directly and indirectly."

She leaned over and brushed her lips against his warm cheek.

"Let's put it all behind us."

He gently pulled her into his arms and kissed her, long and tenderly. She kissed him back, her heart overflowing with the magic of being with him. When their lips parted, she gazed invitingly into his eyes, her face warm with the excitement of the kiss. I don't ever want to be without you again. Do I dare tell you that?

Gently, he released her, his voice husky with emotion. "Let's get you back down to the house, and I'll bring the horses in."

Her heart fell with disappointment at the abrupt ending to the romantic moment. She tried to catch his eye, but he avoided looking at her as he helped her up. Minutes later, they walked silently hand-in-hand down the hill.

When he returned to the house, he sat down and searched her face from across the kitchen table. His manner seemed subdued, almost sad.

"Liz, I want you to think about something."

Her heart faltered. "I'm listening."

"I want you to seriously consider suing Eve for Karma's attack."

The idea surprised her so much she couldn't reply. He reached across the table and took her hand.

"I mean it. You are the only one who can flush her out."

"But I have no proof!"