HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery) (20 page)

Jake stopped fidgeting. His ears pricked as though curious about the solitary horse standing in the open gate. Megan glanced from the hunched rider to Ramon, grabbing the opportunity to study him. Usually Ramon seemed contained, but today he was clearly frustrated, his lips thinned in a tight line.

He climbed into the slot beside the horse and rider, and rattled the bars. The horse didn’t move. However, the rider flinched. “You have to get used to this,” Ramon snapped. “That’s how they start races in this country.”

“I’m fine. I’m relaxed,” Skip mumbled.

Ramon leaped nimbly to the ground. “Really? You’re relaxed in the gate? Enough to ride out today?”

“Yes, sir,” Skip said.

Ramon abruptly pulled a whip from the loop of his back pocket and cracked the horse on the rump. The gray leaped forward, then settled in a ragged canter, more irritated than afraid. Skip bounced on his neck, then clumsily regained his balance. The horse slowed to a rough trot.

Ramon turned to the circle of watching riders. “You see? Never relax in the gate. The doors can open at any time. Now that horse,” he said, thumbing over his shoulder in disdain, “can barely trot. That’s not the case with horses off the track.” His eyes narrowed on Megan. “You’re looking good out there. You okay busting Jake from the gate or do you want less motor?”

“I’m okay,” Megan said quickly. Some of the track terminology was confusing, but she didn’t want to be on a deadhead like the gray and have Ramon swat him on the rump. She’d rather take her chances on Jake. Besides, she wanted to prove something to Miguel. It was as if she were riding for Joey.

“All right. You can come out with Eve.” Ramon gestured to his assistant. “Close the front doors.”

The assistant pressed a control and the front doors clanged shut. Jake flinched then sidled sideways, his big body quivering. She guided him in a tight circle, trying to keep him calm, then noticed Eve was lowering her goggles. Damn, she didn’t even have goggles. Had never been assigned any.

Ramon opened the back doors to gate two and four.

“Eve in two, the new girl in four.” He nodded at the assistant. “Stay in there with Jake.”

Ramon doesn’t even remember my name
. The assistant grabbed Jake’s bridle and led him into the slot, and she quit thinking. The door banged behind her and Jake jerked forward. It was like being in jail. Except that in a few seconds the door was going to slam open and her horse would charge out.

“Grab the yoke. And look up,” the assistant said, keeping Jake’s head pointed in the vee of the gate. Megan was tempted to look at Eve but kept her head straight. It didn’t sound like anyone else was beside her. Not yet. At least she hadn’t heard a second gate shut.

Jake was poised, every muscle tense, but the assistant was relaxed and talkative. “No goggles?” He laughed, but not unkindly. “You better hope you’re in front.”

Something slammed. The entire structure rattled, the noise loud in the still morning.

“Look up. Don’t jerk your horse in the mouth,” Ramon called. “He’ll do his job. You do yours.”

Megan stared straight ahead, peering through the grill at the expanse of dirt, her heart pounding a staccato.

Clang
.

The gate opened and Jake shot forward.

Holy shit. Good thing she’d grabbed the leather strap around his neck. She felt awkward, like a passenger, not a rider. But Ramon had said not to yank him in the mouth, and she was determined to let Jake run. After the first burst of speed, he moved fluidly, carrying her with him in a natural rhythm. It wasn’t so hard, not after Scott’s instruction.

And she was in front. No dirt smashed her in the face. Only the wind stung, blinding her eyes with tears. A tall pole whipped by in a blur of white. Someone hollered and she rose in the stirrups, grabbing mane just in case. Jake seemed to know where the finish line was and obligingly slowed as Eve and her bay edged alongside.

“You sandbagger!” Eve yelled as they slowed to a canter. “You ride like Joey!”

“What do you mean?” Megan asked, her breath escaping in gasps.

“Just that I was riding to win, and you still beat me.”

“It was all Jake,” Megan said. “I was just a passenger.”

“Yeah, well you stayed out of his way.” Eve yanked her dirt-smeared goggles off her face, dropping them around her neck. “I even had a stick. Miguel is definitely going to whine today.” She gave Megan a jubilant grin.

Both horses were cantering now and they pulled over to the far rail and slowed to a trot.

“What do we do now?” Megan asked, still breathing hard but unable to stop grinning. This was much more exciting than designing jewelry, and Jake definitely deserved several armfuls of alfalfa. He’d been an absolute pro.

“Go back to the gate. Get Ramon’s criticisms. Cool out our horses while we wait around for the other riders. We’ll be here at least another forty-five minutes.”

Two horses shot past as they walked along the outer rail. Miguel was bent over his horse’s neck, flailing with his stick while the second rider trailed, four lengths back. Both riders wore goggles.

Megan stared in awe. “Were we going that fast?” she asked.

“Probably faster. Miguel is a bully. Always over using his whip. I don’t understand why Ramon and Garrett let him come back.” She snickered. “Look, he dropped it. Can’t even handle a stick. He’ll have to walk back and find it.”

Or maybe he has so many whips, he doesn’t care, Megan thought. Judging from Tami’s pictures of the Baja Tinda, Miguel’s family was grossly rich.

They were only fifty feet from the gate now, and Eve’s voice lowered. “Lydia is usually in the cafeteria between five and six. Are we still going to…visit?”

“Yes, but you’re staying outside. This is your career, not mine. Joey wouldn’t want you kicked out.”

“I’m not afraid.” Eve stopped protesting when she saw Megan’s face. “Okay. But only if you do me a favor. You and Tami are the girls who sell the chocolate bars, right? Do you have a vehicle? I need to go into town tonight and pick up a few things.”

“Sure,” Megan said. “I can drive you. Maybe we can even buy a hamburger?”

“That would be great.” Eve’s smile lit her face. “I’ve been craving fast food all week.”

They were still grinning, discussing their favorite burger joints, when they reached the starting gate.

Ramon gave a rare smile. “You riders did very well. Eve, you need to hustle your horse out of the gate a little faster. Jake’s rider, don’t throw away your reins. It was a few jumps before you had any control. Fortunately your horse stayed straight.” He nodded. “But it was quite impressive. Don’t bother to wait around. Cool out your horses. Take the rest of the morning off.”

Eve reached over and gave Megan a delighted high five. Tami and Peter called out congratulations. However, Miguel slouched in the saddle, a scowl darkening his face.

“Hey,” Ramon called to Megan. “You need to start carrying a stick. I want to see it in your hand. You’re ready for goggles too.”

Megan gave Jake an exuberant pat. Peter and Tami didn’t have goggles or carry a whip yet. Despite her slow start at the school, she’d already passed them. Of course, it was mainly because of Scott, and she wanted to thank him. She also wanted to hire him. But obviously he wasn’t riding Braun this morning, at least not anywhere near the track. The ridge was deserted.

“Wish we were allowed to ride around the fields,” Eve said, following Megan’s gaze. “Joey was never impressed with how the hay crop was managed.”

“Yes, there’s still some loose alfalfa in the arena,” Megan said as they walked toward the barn. “Not even baled. That’s where I found his iPod.”

Eve’s mouth tightened and she fiddled with her horse’s mane, flipping it to one side, then the other. She looked over at Megan, her eyes stained with regret. “I’m sorry about that iPod business. If I had known who you were, I never would have said anything around Lydia.”

Megan gave a quick and forgiving smile. “But that’s what started us talking, so it’s all good. And I’ll get his iPod back. It’s being mailed to Mom. See you at five?”

“Five sharp.” Eve nodded and turned her horse on the path to the jock barn.

Jake lowered his head and blew out a sigh, not seeming to care that he was alone. Megan loosened her reins, sharing his relaxed mood. It was reassuring to be able to confide in Eve, to have her on lookout tonight. But it was going to be even better to have Scott.

She’d hire him today. Maybe he was good friends with Garrett but if he accepted the job, he’d be working for her, not the school. He’d certainly know how to find a missing person. And with both Scott and Eve on her side, the mystery surrounding Joey might soon be solved.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Scott checked his watch and edged down the hall. “Okay, Garrett. If Joey Collins is on the property, I’ll find him.”

“Ramon will take care of the cowshed,” Garrett said, following him to the door. “It’s the dorms that need watching, although the kid probably skedaddled. Can’t imagine why he hates me so much he’d hurt my dog. All we ever did was teach him to ride.”

“He’s an addict. He’s not thinking straight.” Scott’s mouth twisted in distaste. There was no accounting for a druggie’s thought process, and it was impossible to help someone who didn’t want help. “Like beating your head against a brick wall but twice the pain.”

“Twice the pain?” Garrett raised an eyebrow, and Scott realized he’d spoken aloud. “Is that the real reason you left the police and went private?” Garrett asked. “Because you didn’t want to deal with this drug stuff?”

Scott shrugged. Not exactly. But he preferred to think his work made a difference, not spent going through the motions, arresting addicts whose hopeless eyes only reminded him of Amanda.

“I gotta go,” he said. “It’s Megan’s first day with Ramon. I want to see how she’s doing. And I need to stop by the cowshed and bag some alfalfa. If she made out how I expect, she’ll want something special for her horse.”

Garrett straightened from the wall. “You’re taking alfalfa from the cowshed?”

“Just from the loose pile in the arena, stuff no one bothered to bale. It’s good hay going to waste.”

Garrett dragged a hand over his jaw. His eyes looked tired, not surprising since the two of them had spent much of the night drinking rum and arguing about the ten all-time best quarterbacks.

“If students want treats for their horses,” Garrett said, “I’ll have a truck dump off a load of carrots. We’re switching Braun over to the school barn too. It’ll be more convenient for you, not having to ride over the ridge. It’ll also free up a stall for the Baja Tinda horses.”

“Do you have four to send? I thought you wanted to wait until next month?”

“Well, they’ve been very insistent.” Garrett gave a strained smile. “I just need to find a fourth horse.”

Scott shrugged, his mind already on Megan. In class this morning, her beautiful face had looked almost tragic, and it had been tough to hide his concern. The tiny girl to her right had been twitchy too, balling her hands, biting her nails. Weird. The same two girls that had bolted from his class yesterday.

“I have to go, Garrett,” he said, pushing open the door. “And Braun is fine at the cowshed. In fact, it’s better—”

“No. We’ll move him. It’ll be easier for you to watch for Joey…and I’m sure Megan will be happy too.”

Scott closed the door on Garrett’s teasing grin and strode toward his car. Megan might not be happy. In fact, she was damn confusing. Half the time she was hot as hell, seemingly as eager as he was to pursue this attraction. Unfortunately the other half, she seemed ambivalent, like he was the driving force in the relationship. He didn’t know what she was thinking, and usually his woman radar was bang on.

He did know she’d be happy to have some alfalfa. At least he could give her that. He pulled into the cowshed parking lot, filled a feedbag with alfalfa and tossed it into his trunk. The interior was already lined with green stalks; the company car was beginning to look like a hay wagon. Belinda would be horrified.

He pressed Belinda’s number as he drove. She answered on the first ring.

“Hello, sweetheart,” he said. “How was your trip?”

“Wonderful. Thanks for the hotel upgrade. But I was glad to get back to the office. A lot has been going on.” Her voice rose with excitement. “Did Snake tell you about the Tupper case, that the insurance company finally agreed to pay?”

“Yeah. He mentioned something this morning. That’s good, great in fact.”

Scott eased his car to a stop in front of the barn and adjusted his sunglasses. Lydia’s hapless students ambled in the field, and it appeared Ramon’s group was still working behind the starting gate. The parking lot held a couple vehicles, including Megan’s Ford with the blown muffler, but the barn itself seemed deserted.

“Scott?” Belinda hesitated a moment. “Is your head… Are you okay? I made a list of doctors within an hour radius. I can make an appointment.”

Movement flashed behind the barn and he leaned forward, straining to see. He’d love to catch that Joey prick. Give the asshole a special hello from Rex. But a horse’s head appeared—Jake, recently bathed, looking relaxed and happy. Beside him walked Megan, and something kicked in his chest. Her ponytail was slightly lopsided. He could see the helmet imprint on her hair. Dirt smudged her right cheek. She was beautiful.

She spotted him, gave a brilliant smile, and his insides turned to mush. “I’m super, Belinda,” he said, gripping the door handle. “Never better. I have to go.”

“Wait,” she wailed. “This isn’t like you. When you’re away, you always want to know everything.”

“Belinda, I’ve never been away before.” She turned silent and he stepped from the car, still smiling at Megan.

“I suppose not.” Belinda’s voice thickened with concern. “But you’re not acting at all like Snake and I expected.”

“Everything’s great, Belinda. I haven’t had a headache in days and I’m enjoying the time off. It was a good idea. Thank you, sweetie.” He cut the connection and walked toward Megan.

“How was it?” He grinned. “Fall off much?”