Just a foot or so away, the horse laid dead on the track. The vet was looking the horse over at this point. Other staff were placing screens around the area to block the public’s view of the injured jockey and deceased horse. Matt was speaking to the paramedics about the jockey. Nathaniel headed over to where the vet was messing with the horse’s body.
“Did the horse trip or something?”
“If the horse had tripped, then it would have a broken leg possibly. Alive, but hurting. Not dead.” She never turned to look at him as she continued to exam the horse’s body.
“So, do you have any idea what could have happened?”
“I have some, but I will need to perform a necropsy first to confirm.”
“Perform a what?”
“Necropsy. Basically, an autopsy on a dead animal. Did you or the trainer give the horse anything today?” Now she was looking up at him accusingly.
“I didn’t give the horse anything. I doubt the trainer did either, but I can’t speak for him.”
“Well, I will need to speak with Mr. Duclain as soon as he is done with the paramedics. I need the horse transported to a veterinarian hospital immediately.” Taking a syringe out of her bag, she began withdrawing blood from the horse.
He turned at the sight of the blood filling the syringe and watched the paramedics carry the jockey off the track. What a shame for the jockey and the horse. Both had worked hard for this moment, only to have it end this way. What possible suspicions could the vet have? Just yesterday the race officials and vet pronounced the horse healthy and fit enough to participate in the race. None of this made sense.
Matt tapped him on the shoulder and motioned toward the area where the women were sitting in the private viewing box. Nodding his head, he made his way toward them. He knew he was being sent to deliver the bad news. Analise wasn’t going to take this very well. He knew how fond she was of that particular horse. Tucking his hand into his pockets, he held his head down and made his way through the crowd of people who had gathered on the fringe of the race track.
Chapter 14
Matt had business to attend to before the dinner party, and he dragged Nathaniel along with him. Standing off by himself, he watched the guest arrive for the dinner party. He wasn’t sure what all exactly was going on, but he could tell there was more than just the horse dying yesterday bothering him. He was standing there thinking over the events of yesterday and today when he saw her walk in.
In that instant, he realized he had never seen a woman look lovelier than she did in that moment. Her blond hair was piled up on her head with a jeweled comb sparkling in the light. The sleeveless dress she wore hugged her body all the way down to the floor. He wasn’t sure what the material was, but he itched to touch it. Or maybe it was her he was itching to touch. Feeling guilty, he looked away.
He was sipping his martini when she came up next to him. Swallowing hard, he choked when her hand touched his arm.
“Are you ok?” Her smile was so sweet.
“Yeah. The martini is pretty dry.” He wasn’t about to tell her that it was her causing his issues.
The gold dress brought out the bluish silver of her eyes. He would if pressed describe them as an ice blue. Beautiful, sexy and so full of passion. He watched her closely for any sign that she noticed his reaction to her tonight. That was how he was able to see her tense up and go pale. Following her line of sight, he saw Matt talking to a Sheik across the room.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. I feel like I know him.” She gave a quick flick of her hand to indicate the man in question.”
“Do you remember anything?” He downed his martini and grabbed another off a tray as waiter passed by them.
“No, just a feeling that I know him and it ain’t a good feeling.” She wrapped her left arm around her middle and rested her right elbow on top of it as she massaged her temple.
“How did everything go earlier today?” Analise asked as she came up to them. Her black dress glided across the floor with each step giving the illusion that she was floating.
“I am not sure. You will have to ask Matt; I couldn’t keep up with everything. Just something about horse doping.”
“Horse doping? We do not dope our horses. Ever!” She hissed. Storm clouds raged inside her eyes. Her hands gripped the sides of her dress until her knuckles were white.
“Calm down.” Nathaniel soothed. For a moment he feared she would hit someone if given the chance. “I am sure Matt can explain everything. Like I said, I couldn’t keep up with what all was being said.” Nathaniel’s eyes drifted to Lucky briefly and she gave the slightest nod before he continued, “Plus, we have a bigger problem.”
Analise looked back and forth between Nathaniel and Lucky. “What bigger problem?”
Lucky twisted her fingers and kept her eyes downcast. “Um, I think I know that man. I mean, in a not so good way,” Lucky whispered.
Analise looked in the direction Lucky indicated. “Oh, the Sheik. I have known him most of my life. He bought horses off my father. I grew up friends with his daughter until she died.”
“It was just a feeling I had when I saw him. I could be wrong.”
“Well we will find out if he had anything to do with what you have been through. I am learning that no one is above deception. After all I found out my parents, husband and even Stella were not who I thought they were.” Grabbing Lucky’s hand, she gave it a squeeze, before walking off to join her husband and the Sheik across the room.
Nathaniel didn’t like Lucky’s ‘just a feeling’ comment. He wished she would actually remember something solid and concrete. How was anyone going to help her if she couldn’t remember a dang thing? He wished Lucky would have agreed to hypnosis. He tried raising the subject with Lucky not too long ago, but she balked at the idea of someone inside her head. So, until she remembered or allowed someone to help her, they were all on standby.
***
Warm night air greeted her as she as she escaped with Nathaniel into the garden. A slight breeze brought the scent of roses and lavender to her nose. A spicy scent was mixed in. She tried to place it but came up empty. Even if she couldn’t place the scent, she loved the way it mixed with the roses and lavender.
Pale rays from a full moon illuminated the garden. Creating an enchanting world of light and shadows. The shadows should spark fear in her. However, it was the pale light that drew her. The dinner had gone by in a flurry of activity and conversation. The Sheik kept staring over at her throughout the dinner. Each time their eyes met something in her cringed. Out here in the garden with Nathaniel all the bad feelings slip away.
Making her way to the small pond, she knelt and stared into its shallow depths. The Japanese Koi fish were huge. Brightly colored orange or orange and white mixed, they darted around beneath the surface of the water. Lily pads with white and magenta petals fluttered upon the surface. Smiling she rose from her position to face Nathaniel. She loved the Koi in the garden fountain at the ranch, Nathaniel always seemed disinterested in them. Tonight, was no different.
Humming, she began to tap her foot in time with the music drifting out the open French doors from the ballroom. Feeling a bit playful she reached out and grabbed Nathaniel’s hand. She watched a smile play across his lips as she pulled him in to dance with her. She wasn’t sure the proper steps for a waltz, but she made up the steps as they went along.
The static crackled in the air. It shot through her, bringing everything inside her to life. There was something about this man that made her want things she knew she shouldn’t want. Did he feel it too? Or was it simply her that wanted and longed for more? Stealing herself, she forced a smile. Get a grip before you make a fool of yourself.
He expertly put her into a spin. Her smile more relaxed now, she twirled around. Nathaniel instantly bent her into a dip. Hiking a leg up she wrapped it around his waist. He stiffened and jerked her roughly up right. As he let go of her, she lost her footing. All the air left her a
s she landed on the hard-stone path.
He reached to help her up. She swatted his hands away. Standing she began dusting her dress off. What was he thinking? One minute they were dancing and the next she was on the ground? He better have a good reason for his actions. Like a bee stung him on his rear end. Or he saw a werewolf. She really didn’t care what it was so long as it was good. Knowing him it would be.
“Mind explaining?” She pressed her lips together and glared at him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to fall. Are you alright?” He went to reach for her and stopped when she put her hand up.
“I am fine. I get you are sorry. Now explain why you did that.” She demanded.
“It was an accident.” He shrugged.
“One minute we are dancing. The next you act like I burned you. So, explain,” she demanded. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Getting an answer out of him was like brushing an alligator’s teeth. Again, she wished he would just give her an explanation. Bee sting, werewolf, vampire. Anything.
Casting his eyes to the ground, he began to toe the stone path. “There is nothing to explain. I didn’t mean for you to fall down.”
“Fine Nathaniel. Keep telling yourself that.” She turned away from him and hurried back to the house. At the edge of the garden she looked back. Nathaniel was still staring at the ground and toeing the walkway. He reminded her of a sullen child. Part of her wanted to go back to him and pretend he hadn't unceremoniously dumped her on her rump. The other part of her won out as she ran the rest of the way to the ballroom.
Chapter 15
He stepped under the spray of the water, his toes flinched as they touched the cold shower floor. Thousands of hot water drops beat down darkening his hair and trickled down his back. He couldn’t get the image out of his head. One second, they were dancing, the next he had practically dumped her on her rear end. He felt like an idiot. It was just a simple dance that meant nothing.
Yeah keep telling yourself that, he thought. A dance with Lucky meant something. It meant raging hormones. Hormones that reduced him to acting like a teenager. A fumbling, bumbling teenage idiot. He needed to be more careful where she was concerned. Nothing about her or the situation allowed for any kind of intimacy. He needed to remember his job was to protect, not seduce.
He had just finished showering when a loud banging sounded from the front door of the hotel suite. He ripped the towel from the rack and briefly dried before getting dressed in his sweats and t-shirt. He could hear loud voices coming from the sitting area. He could hear Matt’s voice and that of another man. He didn’t recognize the voice. From the sounds of the other man’s tone, he figured a fight would break out soon. He yanked the bathroom door open and headed toward the sitting area.
“I thought you were a more honorable man than this, Matthew.” The Sheik from earlier tonight stood right in Matt’s face. The veins in his neck bulging
“I am not sure what you think is going on, but you need to calm down.” Matt took a step back from the Sheik. Nathaniel couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Matt was backing up.
Closing the gap, the Sheik was right back in Matt’s face. “She does not deserve this. To be bought and sold like chattel. What kind of man uses such a young innocent girl.” Hateful disdain laced his voice and mirrored the hate in his eyes.
“Who are you talking about?” Matt put his hands up and gently moved the Sheik back from him.
Nathaniel could see Matt was just as confused as he was. Bought and sold? Innocent girl? Who was the Sheik talking about? It didn’t take long to figure out who the girl in question was. The Sheik had turned from Matt to Lucky. Instinctively, he made his way to her side. Putting his arm out, Nathaniel nudged her slightly behind him.
“You can stop right there.” Matt ordered.
“I don’t care how much you paid for her. She is not your property. Rebekah, I can get you away from here. Come with me and I can take you somewhere safe.” He held his hand out toward her.
She pushed Nathaniel’s arm out of her way and moved to stand in front of him. “Who are you? I lost my memory, and I feel like I know you, but I can’t remember.”
“Lost your memory? What are you talking about?”
Nathaniel could see that the Sheik looked really concerned. The look on the man’s face reminded him a lot of his father when he was worried about a loved one. Mostly he worried over Nathaniel through his teen years, and of course his missing wife. So, who exactly was this man to Lucky? And did he just call her Rebekah?
“How about we all go sit down and talk all of this out? Maybe you can help us put some missing pieces to the puzzle together?” Analise offered, ushering everyone toward the couch and chairs.
Nathaniel stayed close to Lucky on the couch and as far from the Sheik as he could get her. Something did not feel right about this whole situation. Until he knew what was going on he was not taking any chances with her safety. He would be damned if she left here with that man tonight. The Sheik was right, she was not his property, but he would not send her off with a stranger either.
“Please start at the beginning and explain how you know her. Like she said, she lost her memory and is suffering from amnesia. You called her Rebekah. Is that her name?” Analise coaxed the Sheik.
“From the beginning. Alright. When in the United States I sometimes attend functions that a date makes more pleasant. To obtain such a date, I have been known to hire an escort from an upscale agency. I never thought anything of it as it is not an uncommon practice for men in my position and with my resources,” pausing, he looked at each person present, “I called upon one service in Dallas during one of my visits. The young woman they sent was very pleasant. Naturally I called upon her again the next time I visited. This became an ongoing thing. Little by little, the woman began to open up to me. What I discovered turned my stomach.”
“What do you mean?” Matt asked.
“I discovered her real name was Rebekah. She had been kidnapped when she was sixteen years old and forced into prostitution and working in their gentlemen clubs. I could not believe what I was hearing. It was so horrific what they did to her. So, every time I came to town I would pay whatever price they asked for her services for the duration of my stay. She would stay in my hotel suite where we would talk and spend time together. It gave her a break from what they did to her.” A strange smile played across the Sheik’s face. “I taught her to play poker. The same as I did my daughter when she was alive. In a way, I replaced Azhara with Rebekah.”
“I am sorry you lost your daughter,” Lucky said. “How did she die?”
“Thank you. She met a man who got her into trouble. It brought much shame to the family. Going off alone with a man, then becoming pregnant was a lot on our family. She was my daughter and I gave her too much freedom.” Tears slid down his face. His voice choked up. “A cousin of her’s decided to restore the family honor. What one would call an honor killing.”
Nathaniel’s heart broke for the older man. To have lost a daughter in such a way due to outdated beliefs. “I am sorry. No one should suffer the loss of a child.”
Wiping the tears away, the Sheik straightened himself in the chair. “Enough of that unpleasantness. We have other unpleasantness to deal with tonight. Back to what I was saying. I went to purchase your services when I arrived in the States, but I was told you were gone. Knowing you had been kidnapped and forced into that lifestyle, I thought they had killed you. Then I saw you at the dinner party and realized you were alive. I came here tonight to rescue you from all of this. You are free to come back to my home with me. Far from those men.” A tear slid down the Sheik’s cheek.
“Did I ever tell you anything about where I came from? Other than my name and that I had been kidnapped?” Her words came out in a rush.
“Yes. Your name is Rebekah, and you were born and raised in a small Amish community outside of a place called Springfield, Missouri. You were on your what you called Rumspringa when these men kidnappe
d you and took you to Texas.”
“Amish?” Nathaniel asked. Standing, he began to pace the sitting area. This couldn’t be happening. No way an Amish girl was kidnapped and forced into the sex trade. They had addressed this possibility already but still to hear it out loud as a truth and not a theory changed everything. Amish girls were the most innocent and naïve girls in the world. To be introduced to male-female relations in such a brutal manner would destroy any Amish girl. He liked it better when it was just a theory.
“It would explain the things that your mother and I have noticed about her. Things that are so ingrained that surface naturally. Plus, those momentary flickers of memory. Some fit with someone who lived the lifestyle of an Amish girl,” Analise said.
“You said my name is Rebekah, and that I am from an Amish community near Springfield, Missouri. Do you know my last name? My parents’ names?” Lucky pleaded for more information.
“I am sorry. You never told me your last name or your parents’ names. Just your real name. You shared some information on your hopes and dreams. You did say that you had made your decision to remain Amish and was about to end your Rumspringa when you were kidnapped.”
“At least now we can try to locate your family now that we have your first name and a direction toward where you came from,” Matt said.
“I trust that you will not be handing her back over to the men who kidnapped her and sold her like cheap garbage?”
“No. Sheik, she will be going home to her family and those responsible for what happened to her will be in prison. Nobody deserves what happened to her.” Matt stood and indicated it was time the Sheik left.
The Making of a Centaur Page 5
