“Apparently, his goal after that was to make them pay and pay big by stealing a young stud from each of fifteen controlled breeds with the intent of blackmailing the government for their return.”
“He planned beautifully.” Liz thought of his manipulation of his daughter, placing her in a facility above reproach, one where he could transition the horses from the coast to Tennessee. “His point of failure in all of this was Nadine’s murder, wasn’t it?”
“That and hiring an inept team for the ground work. Ms. Dane’s murder was the tipping point for Jana no doubt. She hid the Monterufolino which, I suspect, was why Vincente returned to the ranch several times. He was searching for the stallion.”
“From what Vincente said when he confronted us in Tennessee, he never realized Jana was the one who’s research into the test database helped get the Tolfetano home. He did manage to figure out that it had something to do with either the delay at the check station or the test itself and guessed correctly that having the Pentro tested once he was in Tennessee would lead the culprit to him.”
“The two of you—and especially Jana—were a surprise.”
“What a tangled mess,” Liz murmured.
“Successfully untangled with the help of you and a very wise black cat.”
“And so now your work is done. As is mine.” And she might never see him again.
“Speaking of which…”
Will fell silent and she looked up to find him watching her. “What?”
Never before had she seen him with that look of uncertainty. “How do you feel about the Carolinas?”
“I’ve been to both a time or two,” she said. Her heart thudded in her chest. She wasn’t ready for this to end but was she ready for a next step? Was he? “I thought they were beautiful.”
“I’ve been working non-stop for months. I’m going to take a couple of weeks and just get away. The cabin I mentioned—” he stopped midsentence. “I…” and stopped again. “Come with me, Liz. I’m not ready to let you go. I think I never will be. Say yes.”
She took a breath and her heart answered. “Yes.”
An unexpected, pained look crossed Will’s face. “In the interest of fairness, I have to tell you something.”
She lifted her brow and waited.
“Stack asked for your phone number.”
Her lips curved in a smile. “And?”
“I told him to go to hell.” And then he kissed her.
* * *
I daresay on this case, I did as well as my sainted sire, the inestimable Familiar, vaunted sleuth and my educator. I look back at my part in ensuring my humans reached the right conclusions and took the right actions at the right time and I have no complaints.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my traveling companions for beautiful memories of Italy—my daughter, Stephanie Chisholm, my brother, Hal Yawn, and wonderful friends, Steve & Amy Sayess and Jud & Sylvia Self. It was a marvelous, magical trip and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. The places we walked and touched gave me a sense of the country and its amazing cities that you simply can’t get from research.
I’m forever grateful to my veterinarian, Dr. Randy Craig, who tirelessly answered my questions regarding EIA and the ever-changing testing standards and forms (all while taking the best possible care of my mares, Jetta and eBay). The EIA standards and forms may change again tomorrow but at the time this book was written, I can be confident my details were accurate.
About the Author
Susan Y. Tanner continues to blend her passion for horses with her passion for writing. In Trouble in Summer Valley, she introduced readers to the rescue horses of Summer Valley Ranch where they prove their worth in therapeutic riding. In Turning for Trouble, her own rodeo experience brings that rough and tumble world to life. Her third romantic mystery, Trouble in Action, showcases the risky profession of stunt riding while giving a glimpse into historical reenactments. A Whisper of Trouble provides a glimpse into a talent practiced by few…the art of horse whispering. Published by KaliOka Press, these romantic mysteries feature a super-sleuth in the form of a black cat detective. They are part of the Trouble Cat Detective series written in concert with some very talented authors.
Ms. Tanner’s five historical romances—Highland Captive, Captive to a Dream, Exiled Heart, Fire Across Texas, Winds Across Texas, and A Warm Southern Christmas (a novella)—have been rereleased by Secret Staircase Books, an imprint of Columbine Publishing. All were previously published by Leisure Books.
susanytanner.com
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The Trouble with Horses
3-book Box Set from Susan Y. Tanner
GET THE FIRST THREE ADVENTURES where Trouble arrives at Summer Valley Ranch and learns that the horse world is full of intrigue and danger–as well as bipeds who just need a nudge toward romance. A black cat detective and horses – you can't go wrong. Read all the Trouble Cat Mysteries!
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Trouble Cat Mysteries
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Familiar Trouble | Carolyn Haines
Trouble in Dixie | Rebecca Barrett
Trouble in Tallahassee | Claire Matturro
Trouble in Summer Valley | Susan Y. Tanner
Small Town Trouble | Laura Benedict
Trouble in Paradise | Rebecca Barrett
Turning for Trouble | Susan Y. Tanner
Trouble’s Wedding Caper | Jen Talty
Bone-a-fied Trouble | Carolyn Haines
Trouble in Action | Susan Y. Tanner
Trouble Most Faire | Jaden Terrell
A Whisper of Trouble | Susan Y. Tanner
Ghost of Trouble Past | Ritter Ames
The Trouble with Cupid: 10 Short Mysteries Spiced with Romance | Multiple Authors
Trouble Under the Mistletoe | e-novella | Rebecca Barrett
A Trouble’d Christmas | e-novella | Susan Y. Tanner
Year-Round Trouble: 14 Original Cozy Holiday Mysteries | Multiple Authors
Trouble’s Double Contest Winner
Manny the Halloween Cat
Manny is an eight-year-old male black cat who lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In his early years, he was an outdoor cat and then lived in two shelters before his humans, Nikki and John, adopted him in 2017.
Manny’s humans were looking for a really special cat. They were hoping to adopt an adult kitty that might otherwise have a tough time getting adopted because of their age. At the time of his adoption, Manny was a large black cat who was over five years old—he was overlooked by many, but his humans knew he was the perfect one for them.
Manny went from being a cat without a family to being the heart of his family and the king of the house. He is a highly affectionate cat who loves lap cuddles and bed snuggles with his humans. He frequently asks for belly rubs, and he always gets them! He gets so much love from his humans and gives them tons of love in return.
Manny’s full name is Manchester Kitty, an homage to Nikki’s favorite sports team, Manchester City Football Club. He is a larger than average kitty, weighing in at slightly over 20 pounds. He loves eating all types of fishy foods, watching birds, and snuggling in soft, cozy blankets.
Manny has an Instagram page, @mannyhalloweencat, where Nikki posts daily about his adventures. Manny is also part of a few popular groups on Instagram, such as @black_cat_crew, which raises awareness of black cats and features black cat accounts each day. Manny also follows the hashtags #wickedcatwednesday and #teamwicked, which encourages kitties to be naughty and share their naughty deeds on Instagram. (Manny is a delightfully wicked kitty himself—he particu
larly enjoys giving Nikki love bites!)
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Show sweet Manny some love—follow him at instagram.com/mannyhalloweencat
Nikki Hess
A Whisper of Trouble Page 22
