Saddled With Trouble

by A. K. Alexander

  “Oh Ethan. I don’t know. I have tickets for the rodeo, but I don’t think I can go. With Lou and everything . . . well, I don’t think so.”

  “I need you there. You’re my best friend. I can’t imagine you not being there. Please.”

  She finally nodded, still not believing that she could agree to hand Ethan over to a woman who likely could never really love him. Not in the way he deserved.

  THIRTY-TWO

  AFTER ETHAN LEFT, MICHAELA NEEDED TO GET out and work the horses. She felt bad that none of them had received the attention they should have been getting over the past few days. A workout here and there simply was not enough; it was time to get back in the saddle, so to speak. She needed to. The revelation about Ethan and Summer’s impending nuptials had her in a tailspin, not to mention last night’s near-miss on her life, which she still was freaked about. Her head ached a bit, but she didn’t know if it was from hitting it, or from everything else that filled her mind.

  After lacing up her paddock boots, she again called the attorney who’d left her the message the day before. His secretary said that he was in court and that she’d have him return her call. As she put Leo out on a hot walker to give him some exercise, she couldn’t help wondering what the lawyer wanted with her. It didn’t take long for her to get involved in her work and thoughts of Ethan, Summer, attorneys, and even Jude Davis went away for the time being.

  She worked Rocky and three more horses in the arena, finally winding up on a trail ride with Booger, giving him a chance to stretch his muscles. In between she gave the horses a quick rinse and let them stand in the sun to dry before putting them back in their stalls. She worked right through lunch, and damn, it felt good. Something about getting up on her animals and working them through their paces helped to heal her.

  By the time she finished it was almost five. Where had the day gone? It almost felt like normal again. As difficult as it was, life did go on. She wondered if Davis had gotten anywhere with the information she’d given him about Dwayne. She still couldn’t believe that Uncle Lou’s right-hand man would have anything to do with this mess, but according to Joey, Dwayne had everything to do with it.

  She got her answer when she made it back to the house and played her messages. Jude Davis had called. “Hi Michaela. It’s Davis here.” Oh no! She’d forgotten their coffee date. “Sorry I couldn’t make it to The Honey Bear Cottage for our coffee. I tried to reach you on your cell.” She sighed. Thank God. “But I was in the middle of an interrogation. I wanted to let you know that we arrested Dwayne Yamiguchi today on charges of fraud. I don’t know if they’ll stick, but I made calls to the owners of the mares you mentioned, and a couple of them gave me Dwayne’s name as their contact. We don’t know what he did with the money yet, and of course, he’s denying everything. I’ve also called The American Quarter Horse Association and they received your letter and DNA samples. The results should be back tomorrow. Dwayne will be arraigned in the morning and the judge will set bail. You do make a fine detective.”

  So, Dwayne was behind bars for fraud. But it still didn’t resolve who could have murdered her uncle. Dwayne might be a crook, but a killer? Plus, he wasn’t even in town the morning Uncle Lou had been killed. Her mind wandered back to Cynthia: the anger in her eyes at the funeral service. But Davis said that her story checked out. Still, couldn’t she have also had someone on the side that she was cheating with? Wasn’t that a possibility?

  She didn’t have time to ponder these thoughts because her doorbell rang several times, insistently. “I’m coming. I’m coming.” Patience. Whoever it was certainly had none. She flung the door open. “What in the world?”

  There stood Brad, suitcase in hand. “Hi honey. I’m home.”

  “Like hell you are!”

  He frowned and leaned against the doorjamb, preventing her from slamming it in his face. “Now, honey, let’s get past all the bull between us. I’m here because I know we belong together. In fact, I found out that Kirsten was causing you some trouble and I told her exactly what I thought of her and that you were the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “Get off my property.”

  He stuck his lower lip out. She thought about ripping it off his face. “Can’t we just talk?”

  She crossed her arms. “We have nothing to talk about. If you don’t get off my property, I’ll call the police.”

  He waved his hands in the air. “Women. Fine. Have it your way. I did a good thing for you, and you kick me like a dog.” He pulled out a chewing tobacco tin and unwrapped it.

  “You are a dog. No, actually you’re a cretin. I would never put you in the same category as a dog. They’re far better than you could even aspire to be. You are dog shit. That’s what you are.”

  “You’ll see what I did for you. I called the police about Kirsten. I think they’ll be having a long talk with her and she’s gonna be in some big trouble. And I did it for you.”

  “Okay, Brad, what the hell are you babbling about?”

  “Let me in the house. We’ll have a beer and talk about it.”

  “Bullshit! Tell me what you’re talking about and then go away. Far away. Wait a minute: When did you start chewing?”

  “Oh, that. I can stop that. Kirsten liked me to do it. Told me it was a man thing to do. Woman used to buy it for me.”

  “Really?” Now wasn’t that interesting, considering that Davis had found the tobacco wrapper on the ground the other night after finding the pitchfork? “What are you up to?”

  “You’ll see the light after I tell you what I did. See that we belong together. That I still love you, and I know you still love me.” She wanted to puke. “Kirsten knew it, and it’s been killing her. She got pissed because she says I talk about you too much. But she’s right. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  “You seemed to have no problem not thinking about me while you were screwing her.”

  “Dumb, I know. But I needed to sow my oats, stretch my wings a little.” He tapped his chest. “But it’s always been you, honey. Always.”

  “Right.” She had to ask herself again: How in the hell had she ever wound up with this idiot?

  “Anyway, I found a big-ass scratch on my new truck, and I asked Kirsten about it because she drove it to the store last night. First she tried to play all innocent. But she snapped and told me that she ran you off the road last night. That she was tired of you coming between us.” It was Kirsten last night. “But, baby, I am back and I see the error of my ways, and I will never treat you badly again.”

  What an ass. “I appreciate that, Brad. And, thanks for doing the right thing by turning your bimbo in to the police. She could have killed me last night. But as far as you and me—”

  “Yeah. You ready to make that baby we want so much?”

  She shook her head. “Leave!”

  “What did I say? I thought we were good.”

  “Leave.

  Camden drove up and got out of her car. “What’s the shithead doing here?” she asked as she approached the front door.

  “You still friends with this dumb chick? Man.” He shook his head.

  “Dumb? Did you call me dumb?” Camden walked over and punched him in the nose. Hard. Nice right hook, too. “Don’t ever call me dumb. I might be shallow. I might be a bitch. But I’m not dumb.”

  “Ouch. What the hell? You’re freaking crazy. You’re both crazy bitches!” He held his bloodied nose.

  “I’ll take crazy, but dumb? No,” Camden replied. “Get out of here. I think you’ve already been asked nicely, and my left jab is even better than the right hook.”

  They both cracked up watching Brad hightail it off the property. “That was amazing,” Michaela exclaimed. “Where did you learn to hit like that?”

  “Kickboxing. You should come with me some time.”

  “You are full of surprises. How come you punched him, though? I could’ve taken care of him. He would’ve left. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so angry before.�
��

  “What can I say? I ran into Kevin earlier, and he called me dumb, too. I guess it got under my skin.”

  “I guess!”

  Michaela told Camden about her day: Dwayne, Kirsten, and finally Ethan.

  “He’s really going to marry her? Why the rush? She couldn’t even be showing yet.”

  “I know. I asked him about that. But you know Ethan, always the good guy, always wanting to do the right thing.”

  “The stupid thing this time. How are you?”

  “What do you mean? I’m okay, I guess. Sure, I know he’s making a mistake, but I’m not living his life.”

  “Look, it’s no secret you love him. He loves you, too.”

  “He’s my friend.”

  “Talk to him and tell him how you feel.”

  “I know you mean well, and want the best for me, but I am not in love with Ethan. And even if I was, he’s having a baby with another woman. Who needs that kind of complication in their life? Ethan made his bed, he can lie in it.”

  “Yeah, well, I know you’d like to lie in it with him, and I only want that for you because I love you, too.”

  Michaela hugged her. “I know you do. But it wouldn’t work between us. It just wouldn’t.”

  Camden pulled away and looked at her, obviously deciding not to push the issue any further. “Well you can’t go to that wedding alone. I’m coming with you.”

  “That would be great.”

  “Yeah. We can stay at the Bellagio. I’ve got an old boyfriend who works there as one of the managers. He likes me, and can get us a real good deal. Oh, shoot. Wait a minute. I have a job interview in the morning.”

  “A job interview?”

  “Yes. Believe it or not, I think it’s time I get off my ass and do something for a change.”

  “You’re settlement isn’t going to come through, is it?”

  Camden shrugged. “That obvious?”

  “Well, first off, I would never buy that you actually want to get off your butt and work.”

  She laughed. “Ah, you know me so well.”

  “Where’s the interview?”

  “Get this, the Chanel makeup counter at Nordstrom. Free samples. Huh? Beautiful, right? And, I know I’ll get it. I can do it. I can sell makeup, girl.”

  “It’s perfect for you. It really is.” She gave Camden about a month . . . if she landed the job.

  “But it’s not a problem. I can book a flight and make it over there in time for the wedding. I’ll call my pal and have him hook us up. Meet me there when you get to Vegas, or if you beat me, I’ll make sure you have a key to the room. In fact, I’ll see if I can’t get a room for Ethan and the princess there, too.”

  “You’d do that?”

  “Of course. I would do anything for you, and so would Ethan. Think about it, before you let him go and marry Summer. Think about talking to him.”

  “There’s nothing more to say,” Michaela said.

  THIRTY-THREE

  THE NEXT DAY AFTER WORKING THE HORSES, Michaela finally received a call from the attorney who’d been trying to get a hold of her— Henry Stein. “What’s this all about?” she asked him.

  “Ms. Bancroft, I have some news for you. Your uncle, Lou Bancroft, has left you the bulk of his estate.” Michaela nearly dropped the phone. She couldn’t say anything at first. “Ms. Bancroft?”

  “Yes, I’m here. What do you mean, my uncle left me most of his estate?”

  “Exactly that. According to his will, you receive his ranch, his home, three million dollars from various investment accounts, and his horses.” Michaela was speechless. “I’ll connect you back to my receptionist and you can make an appointment with her for next week to come in and work out all of the details.”

  She believed that she thanked him before speaking to the receptionist. After hanging up she just sat there, trying to let what she’d been told sink in. Uncle Lou had left almost all of it to her. Why? Why not Cynthia? She had to clear her mind. A trail ride. Yes. She’d take Booger out for a ride.

  She went through the motions of taking her old gelding out, brushing him, throwing a pad and saddle up on him, sliding a bit into his mouth, and putting his ears through the headstall— trying only to focus on the task at hand. She got up on Booger and rode out to one of the back trails. Why would Uncle Lou leave all of his possessions to her? And then another thought— an ugly one. The lawsuits. Did this mean that the lawsuits were also hers to deal with? And if so, could Uncle Lou’s ranch be lost? No. She couldn’t allow that to happen.

  Cynthia. She had to speak to her. Doubts or not about her, she had to find out if she knew that Lou had planned to do this. She put Booger into a lope. He reluctantly did as she asked, especially when she gave him a slap on the rear with the ends of her reins. That woke him up a bit.

  She rode to Lou’s ranch. What the hell? There was Dwayne. She saw him blanketing one of the horses. Unbelievable. He had to have made bail. She may have made a deal with Davis about no more detective work, but she certainly didn’t agree not to confront people about their crimes

  Although Booger wasn’t off the track by any stretch of the imagination, being atop the horse strengthened her resolve while she rode on over to where Dwayne worked. She could get away quickly if he made a move.

  Dwayne looked up at her and something about his expression caught her off guard. She saw sadness there. Despair. “I see you know,” he said.

  “Yes, I know. I know exactly what you’ve been doing for God knows how long to my uncle, and I want to know why. Why in the hell would you scam owners out of money and breed them to Rocky instead of Loco? I realize that hasn’t been proven yet. But you and I both know that it will be.”

  He crossed the mare’s blanket straps under her belly, fastened them, and stood up slowly, staring at her for long seconds before saying anything. Why was he looking at her like that? Booger lifted his back leg onto the front tip of his hoof, going into resting mode. She gave him a squeeze with her calf— enough to wake him. She wanted Booger on alert and ready to run if needed.

  “I did not do what the police have accused me of.”

  “Really? How do you explain that your name came up when the owners of those mares were questioned?”

  “I . . . don’t know.”

  “That’s a great defense, now isn’t it? You don’t know?” She shook her head. “You better hope you have a good lawyer, because I think the police also believe that you may have killed my uncle and Bean. And I think so, too. I’m not sure how you did it, but the police will figure it out. I believe that.” As the words escaped her mouth, she again realized that she was possibly confronting a killer. Alone. What the devil was she thinking? She started to back Booger away.

  Tears sprang to Dwayne’s eyes. “Wait. I did not kill Lou. I did not kill Bean. I loved both of those men. I loved them like they were my own brothers! And I did not steal money from Lou or frame him, or steal money from anyone. I never posed as a breeder. If you look at all of this, I am the one who is being framed.”

  “Oh come on!”

  “How is this not obvious? You think if I put together a con that the police say I did, that when I talk to horse owners, I give out my name? How dumb do you think I be?”

  Michaela couldn’t respond. Dwayne had never struck her as stupid, and the point he was making was a decent one. If he was trying to steal money, why would he give out his name? No. She wasn’t going to buy into this. He was a liar. He had to be. It was the only thing that made sense.

  “You have to believe me. I did not do this.”

  Now the tears flowed freely down Dwayne’s face, and something inside of Michaela softened. Could he be telling the truth? Should she at least listen? “Then who? Who would have done this, and why?” She still made a point of keeping her distance. He didn’t approach her, but instead put the mare back in her stall and returned with another one for the nightly ritual.

  “I think a lot about this when the police ask questions, fingerprint
me, and put me in the cell until I make bail.”

  Ha! “Yeah, how did you make bail? It had to have been at least a few thousand dollars. I’ve never known you to be loaded. What did you do, use the stolen cash?”

  He shook his head. “I tell you, I did not do this. I have a little savings. A little from my auntie who passed away a couple of years ago.”

  “Sam’s mom? I didn’t know she died.”

  He nodded. “Yeah. He don’t talk about it much. Too hard for him. But it was that money I use.”

  She still didn’t know what to think, but if he was lying, he sure was smooth. She sighed. “So who, Dwayne? Who do you think could have done this?”

  He looked at her, his face taut. “Brad.”

  A flashback flooded her about Brad having dinner with Bean the other night, and how she’d wondered they were still so tight. Then, another thought came to her: Kirsten and the prints on the pitchfork. The fight with her at the funeral, and getting run off the road. And, Brad showing up at her place, trying to worm his way back into her life, pretending to be Mr. Nice Guy by tattling on his girlfriend. “Why do you say that?”

  “You know what I think?”

  “No, but I’m all ears.”

  “I think Brad find out that I be the one who Lou had follow him and his girl around to get pictures to prove to you he no good.”

  “You took the photos? You followed Brad?”

  He nodded. “I agree with Lou, the man no good. He no good with the horses and he no good to you, so I follow him and take the photos and give them to Lou. Sam help me, too. I think when Brad find out I did that, he got mad, and he been planning on getting even ever since.”

  “Why?”

  Dwayne laughed. “Why?’Cause Brad know that this place going to you.”

  “What? How did you know?”

  “Lou talk to me about it. Tell me that if something happen to him, he gonna leave it to you because you good with the animals and he didn’t want Cynthia to have to worry about it. He afraid it be too much for her. He ask me to stay on with you. Help you out, if he passed on.”

  “He did?”