Kurt chuckled. “And you think that just because you’re a good rider you deserve to keep my horse?”
“No. I want to prove that I deserve to own him.”
“That’s going to be rather difficult, since I can’t think of anything you could do to change my mind.”
“What if I fought a bull?”
Kurt shook his head, certain he’d heard her wrong. “What did you say?”
“I said, what if I fought a bull? Surely you will agree that if a woman has the skills of a matador, she deserves to own a horse also known for prowess in the ring. Oh, I’d never use Pegasus for that,” she hastened to add. “I’ll fight the bull like any matador, on my feet.”
He stared at her, incredulous. “You’re crazy! You don’t know anything about bullfighting.”
“Then you don’t have anything to worry about, do you? I’ll go in the ring, make a complete fool of myself—”
“And get yourself killed!” he exploded. “No. I won’t accept this deal.”
“I’m merely asking for a chance to prove my courage by making a few passes—not an official bullfight.”
Kurt shook his head, repeating, “You are crazy!”
“Maybe.” She grinned up at him. “But if you don’t agree to my challenge, I can assure you I’ll spread the word that you were afraid to wager with a woman…because you were afraid you’d lose.”
“I don’t care about that,” Kurt declared. “There’s no way you can win, señorita. It’s a waste of time.” He reached out to cup her chin with his hand. “Maybe a waste of you, and that would be a shame.”
She knocked his arm away angrily. “Don’t touch me! You seem to think you can do anything you want to a woman, Kurt Tanner.”
He grinned. “I’ve never done anything to a woman she didn’t want me to…or that she didn’t enjoy.”
“Then I’m the first, you bastard,” Kit exploded, “because I didn’t enjoy what you did to me at the ball.”
“Yes, you did. You just won’t admit it—to me…or to yourself.”
Kit was struggling to control her temper. “Stop changing the subject, damn you. I made a challenge. Are you going to accept it?”
Kurt was sure she was bluffing. She would ultimately back out, and so he decided there was no harm in going along for the moment. “All right. When?”
“You agree that if I can defeat the bull, you’ll make no further claims on Pegasus?”
Kurt nodded.
“There’s an old bullpen behind Doc Frazier’s ranch that’s hardly ever used. His vaqueros will set it up for me and won’t say anything—I don’t want my parents to hear about this.”
“I don’t blame you,” he agreed sarcastically. “What you’re doing is not exactly a complement to your femininity.”
“You’d best be worried about your masculinity,” she retorted.
He stiffened. The little vixen had a tongue as sharp as cactus juice. “I asked when,” he growled. “I’m tired of wasting time. I want my horse.”
“I’ll have someone send word to you when it’s all set.” Kit turned to go, then paused to add curtly, “By the way, it won’t be necessary for you to follow me anymore. I’m certainly not going to run away with the horse. Why should I? After all, he’s going to be mine.”
“I can think of a lot of reasons to follow you,” Kurt murmured, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close against his chest, “but believe me, I wasn’t. This is my land…or soon will be.”
He kissed her, but she jerked from his grasp, looking at him with wide eyes. “What…what did you say?” she managed to ask.
Puzzled by her reaction, Kurt repeated, “I said this will soon be my land. I might build a new house in this spot, and I rode over to see the view in the moonlight.”
“You…you live near here?” she asked.
“My land joins at the ridge, up there,” he said, pointing, then asked curiously, “Why?”
Kit shook her head, trying to compose herself. “Señor Gaspencia…I knew him. He was a dear friend. I…it hurts to think the land isn’t his anymore.”
“It’s being sold for taxes. As soon as they post it.”
Kit thought of the sign she’d pulled from the ground that morning and hidden in a clump of weeds by the river. Now she was doubly glad she’d been so sneaky, because Kurt Tanner had no idea that probate time was up and the land was ready to be sold.
Once again she turned to go, for there was no need for further conversation. It bothered her to think that her property would adjoin his, but it really made no difference. Kurt Tanner had two thousand acres or more. He’d hardly be close.
“I’ll be waiting…” he called after her softly, “to see what you can do.”
Kit whirled about, ready to hurl an angry response, but he was gone. There was no sound but the wind in the branches and the tumultuous beating of her heart.
Chapter Eight
The next morning Kit woke early and immediately sent Muego to post the letter to Kitty. Then she dressed and was going out the back door when her mother called from the breakfast porch. With a silent groan, Kit turned around and went to her.
The room was filled with dozens of miniature orange and lemon trees, planted in bright pottery. The furniture was white wicker, and a peach-and-blue hand-loomed rug covered the mosaic tile floor. It was Kit’s favorite room, offering a splendid view of the rolling sea from its point on the bluff.
Jade looked fresh and cheerful in a pink silk dressing robe, but when Kit walked in, her smile changed to a gasp of dismay. “Oh, good heavens, Kit, look at you! You look like…like one of those gypsies, all rags and tags! Whatever can you be thinking, going out in public like that?”
Kit sighed, struggling for patience. “Mother, I’m going riding. I have on riding clothes.”
“Those aren’t riding clothes!” Jade’s gaze swept her with contempt. “Ladies were riding habits—not shabby men’s clothes. You just go back to your room and change. No, on second thought, I don’t want you riding at all today. You need to start getting ready for the party tonight.”
Now Kit groaned out loud. “Are you having another party, Mother? Really, it seems that every night—”
“I’m not having the party,” Jade was quick to inform her. “If you paid any attention to your social obligations, you’d know that tonight’s Anaya Esteban’s birthday party. Not just anybody has been invited, but you have, and you’re going. Do you understand me?”
Kit could not stand Anaya Esteban. She was a horrid girl, snobbish and conceited. But she was pretty and rich, and young men vied to court her. Society-minded girls strove to be invited to her many parties and socials.
Stubbornly Kit declared, “I don’t want to go. Every time I’m around her I have to bite my tongue to keep from telling her just how hateful and mean she is.”
Jade sighed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. It just isn’t normal for you not to enjoy dressing up and going to balls and parties.”
Kit knew it was a waste of time to tell her mother she was wrong. She actually did enjoy fine gowns and lavish parties, but not when they were forced upon her, and not in the company of people she didn’t enjoy. “I don’t see why I have to go places where I know I won’t have a good time.”
“If you had your way, you’d do nothing but ride with vaqueros and tag along after Doc Frazier. It’s just a shame I didn’t give birth to identical twins, so you could’ve been a boy like your brother.”
“Maybe then I’d have some freedom,” Kit tossed back saucily.
“And what would you do if you had it?”
“Be a veterinarian like Doc Frazier.”
“That’s ridiculous! Who ever heard of a woman being an…an animal doctor!”
“Then I’d like to be a rancher.”
Jade exclaimed, “Marry a rancher, my dear! Marry someone of your background and blood…royal blood,” she reminded Kit soberly.
“You know,” Jade went on, “
I made some inquiries about the handsome man you danced with at the embassy ball. His background is a bit shadowy, but apparently he’s received by the best families in Europe, even royalty. He’s quite wealthy, one of the biggest landowners in Spain, and—”
“And he’s insufferable!” Kit interjected.
Jade ignored her. “I thought he might be perfect for you, so I invited him to several parties here—”
“You didn’t!” Kit gasped.
“I did,” Jade told her coolly, “but he refused. Obviously he wasn’t as smitten with you as I thought, or,” she added tartly, “perhaps when he realized that you’re the little gypsy who rides like a man, he was disgusted—as any gentleman would be.”
“He’s no gentleman,” Kit advised hotly, “no matter how much money he’s got. Believe me, if he ever does show up here, I will not receive him! I won’t suffer the company of that…that reprobate!”
Kit’s expression turned conciliatory. “I really have something I need to do this morning, Mother. I won’t be gone long, and when I get back, I’ll spend the rest of the day getting ready for Anaya’s party, if it’ll make you happy. I promise.”
Jade was adamant. “No. I won’t allow you to leave this house dressed like that. If you want to go riding, then you’ll have to change, and—”
“I have a headache,” Kit suddenly announced, sinking into a nearby chair. “I think I’m going to be sick, so I’ll just go to bed. I don’t think I’ll be able to go to the party tonight after all.”
Jade’s eyes narrowed. Kit’s dramatic act was a ploy Jade herself would have used in her younger days, so she recognized it for what it was, and, weary of confrontation, conceded. “Oh, really? Well, I’ll just bet a nice ride in the fresh air and sunshine would make you feel a lot better, wouldn’t it?”
Kit couldn’t suppress an impish grin. “It probably would.”
“Then go,” Jade said frostily, “but I’m warning you, young lady, I’m doing, all I can to persuade your father that we need to leave this place, and get you in a more civilized atmosphere, and I will succeed.”
But it won’t matter, Kit thought as she hurried from the room, because I’ll be the owner of my own ranch, and no one will ever tell me what to do again!
The ride to Doc Frazier’s was a blur as Kit wrestled with her anger. Doc was preparing to leave, but he waited as she approached. “So that’s the Hispano I’ve heard so much about!” he cried as she reined up beside him. “My men told me about him. You done yourself proud, girl. I’ve heard of Hispanos…never seen one till now. A fine, fine animal, indeed.”
“What, exactly, did they tell you?” Kit asked.
“Everything.” Doc snorted. “Believe you me, girl, I put the fear of God in ’em, and there won’t be any more race betting on my land. They wish now they’d kept their mouths shut, but they were so proud of you they just had to share it with me. What have you told your folks about how you came by that horse?”
“I suppose Mother thinks he’s just another horse of yours I borrowed, because she hasn’t asked. Daddy hasn’t seen him yet. I’ve never lied to him, so I hope he’ll assume the same thing as Mother.”
“He won’t. He knows I don’t own a horse that fine, and if I did, I wouldn’t loan him out.”
Kit shrugged, pretending she wasn’t worried, even though she knew there would be hell to pay when her father heard the story.
Doc had to laugh because he knew her so well. “He’s more understanding than you think. You just tell him the truth, and he’ll understand. It’s your ma I’d worry about, nagging that you’re wild and need to be locked in your room till you come to your senses.”
“Not locked in my room,” Kit wryly corrected, “just moved to New York where I’ll be exposed to all the culture and refinement a young lady of my class needs.” She made no effort to hide her derision.
Doc nodded toward Pegasus, envy in his voice as he said, “Well, you got yourself one fine horse there.”
Kit’s eyes were shining with pride. “I still can’t believe he’s mine.” And he’s going to stay mine, she vowed silently. She dared not tell Doc of her plan. He would be against such a contest, especially on his land.
“So…” Doc changed the subject, “what brings you here today? You going to make a few calls with me?”
“Can’t,” she answered regretfully. “I came to see Riguero.”
“You’ll find him in the bullpen out back, I suppose. We’re trying to breed old Sancho with Diablo Padreio’s cow and having a tough time because old Sancho is just that—old!” He winked. “Gotta go now. You take care…and take care of that horse. He’s a prize!”
Kit headed for the pen, disappointed that it was being used. She spotted Riguero perched on a railing.
He grinned as she approached, tipping his sombrero. “Buenos dias, Señorita Kit. It is a fine sight to see such a beautiful lady on such a beautiful horse.”
Kit was riding bareback. She slid easily to the ground, looping the reins over the railing and climbing up beside him. “Gracias, Riguero, but he might not be mine much longer. It seems that Galen Esmond was more of a bandido than we thought—he was a horse thief. Pegasus was stolen.”
He stared at her in disbelief, then threw his sombrero to the ground and cried furiously, “Condenar! Bastardo! I should have known! How did you find out?”
“His owner recognized him.”
“But he has no brand!” Riguero argued.
“The owner had a bill of sale.”
He fell silent for a moment, looking from her to the horse. Then he grinned. “But you straightened everything out, no? You still have the horse. So why did you say—”
“That I might not have him much longer? Because, amigo, his legal owner wouldn’t give him up, even though I won him fairly. I had to make a wager for him.”
“A race? There is nothing to worry about—”
“Not a race,” Kit corrected him. “A bullfight. If I can best a bull, Pegasus is mine. If I lose, then I must give him up.”
Riguero was fuming. “What kind of man would make such a challenge to a woman? Why did he not just let you buy the horse?”
“He didn’t challenge me, Riguero. I made the wager. I’m not worried about it. You’ve seen me defeat bulls many times. I learned the skill well, but only you and a few of your men know that. Pegasus’s owner doesn’t, and I plan to keep it that way. But I need your help.”
“Just tell me what you want me to do,” Riguero said.
“I want a good, spirited bull,” she told him. “And I want to get it over with quickly so there’s no more disagreement about Pegasus being mine. How soon can we do it?”
“I would say we can be ready day after tomorrow.”
“Good.” Kit was relieved. “But don’t pit me against old Sancho. I want a good bull. Spirited and mean. Can you find one?”
He beamed. “We have one. The men call him Malo, because he is that—evil. His owner brought him here last week to be bred to one of the doctor’s cows, and he has not yet sent for him. We can use him, and no one will know…unless you are in danger, and then Malo must be…stopped,” he grimly finished.
“That won’t happen,” Kit assured him. She had heard of the fierce bull. He was a formidable foe and would provide a good show for her to demonstrate her skill. She would certainly not be accused of tricking anyone by fighting an old or cowardly bull!
She turned to leave, but Riguero suddenly asked, “Senorita, the man the horse was stolen from, what is his name? Do I know him?”
Kit drew in her breath, and let it out in a sigh of disgust. “Probably. It’s Kurt Tanner.”
“Mi Dios!” He crossed himself.
Kit thought that walking into the Salon de Cortes of the Palacio de la Generalidad was like entering a Fabergé box. The gleaming enameled walls and guttering silver-and-crystal chandeliers created a dazzling effect. In the center of the room was the largest birthday cake she’d ever seen—at least ten layers tall, with e
ighteen candles in delicate gold filigree holders.
Anaya and her parents received their guests as they passed through the entryway. Kit had to admit that, despite her unpleasant personality, Anaya looked lovely. She was wearing a blue satin gown that matched her eyes and complemented her honey-colored hair. She also wore sapphire-and-diamond jewelry, but, Kit reflected, her fine attire could not mask her cold, vain attitude.
“Kit, how nice…” Anaya drawled, a sarcastic twist to her smile. She took the gift Kit handed her with casual disinterest and passed it to a waiting servant. “It’s so good of you to come. I would’ve thought you’d be out riding with your cowboy friends.”
Kit lifted her chin and met Anaya’s impudent gaze. “Well, Anaya, I feel it’s important to mingle with patricians now and then. It gives me a lesson in humility.”
Kit moved on quickly, afraid she would start laughing. It served the snob right!
Anaya paled at her response.
Kit saw Rosamonda Huenciad, one of her favorite friends in Valencia, at the lavish buffet table and joined her. They found a little table in a corner, and sat. “Everyone is waiting for the Princess Anaya to fall,” Rosamonda confided. “They say this time she has met her match. Her new love is the real reason for this party. Her parents had planned to send her to the Greek islands for a holiday, but she said no because she wanted to show off her new beau to everyone.”
“I‘ll just be glad when the formalities are over because I don’t intend to stay long. It’s a boring party,” Kit commented.
“They can’t have the toast till he gets here.” Kit frowned. “Who is this wonderful man who, I hope, will break our cobra’s heart?”
Rosamonda nodded toward the door. “There…he just arrived.”
Kit turned…and froze at the sight of Kurt Tanner.
Chapter Nine
Kit watched as Anaya hurried to greet Kurt, glancing about to assure herself that everyone saw him kiss her outstretched hand. Kit had to admit that he was strikingly good-looking in his suit of bold black leather, red silk shirt, and black string tie.
Love and Honor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 7 Page 8
