by Ciana Stone
Wes smiled at her. “I’m going to be straight with you. I like what I saw and I’m willing to offer you a position.”
“That’s—”
“But—” he interrupted. “I have two experience riders coming in later this week and I owe it to them to give them a shot.”
“Oh.”
“That’s not saying you won’t end up with the job. Right now, I’ll offer you a place as an exercise rider. Once I’ve finished all the interviews and made my decision – we’ll know how we’re going to move forward.”
She looked at him for a long time. “I’m willing to take the offer. On one condition.”
“You’re giving me a condition?” Wes seemed genuinely surprised and Kyle admired her spunk.
“Yep.”
“And what might that be?”
“First, does the job come with room and board?”
“Normally. But we have three bunkhouses and not one female.”
“So that’s a no?”
“Well, I guess that depends on you. Each house has six bedrooms, two bathrooms and a common living area and kitchen. I have two empty beds. You think you can bunk in with five men?”
“Long as I have a bed to myself I’m good.”
“Well, it’s either that, or I can give you housing expenses. There are places in town who rent rooms.”
“I’m not keen on that idea. I need a place to board my horse. If you’ll board him, you can take the fee out of my pay.”
“I could do that.”
“Sounds fair. Well, depending. What’s the salary?”
“You want to talk money in front of Kyle?”
“Sure why not?”
“All right then. Seven-fifty a week.”
Liz threw her right leg over the saddle and hopped to the ground. She stuck out her hand to Wes. “When do I start?”
He smiled as he shook her hand. “You tell me?”
“You’re the boss.” She glanced at Kyle. “Or you. So one of you make the call.”
Kyle looked at Wes. “You want me to stick around any longer today?”
“Long enough to give Landing a workout and go over his feed schedule with the grooms. I’m leaving this afternoon and won’t be back until Thursday so I’ll need you to be here in the morning for his workouts and the vet is coming on Wednesday.”
“No problem.”
“Great, then I’ll leave you to it. Oh and Ms. Redgate?”
“Liz.”
“Liz, I guess you can start today. Might as well get used to working with Kyle on Landing’s exercise regimen.”
“Sounds good.”
“Excellent. Then I will see you both on Thursday. Kyle, you’ll handle Liz’s schedule?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh and I’ll make sure the men know she’s bunking in house three. Can you show her where it is?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks. Then I’ll see you Thursday.”
Kyle watched him leave and turned to see Liz watching him. He got the impression she was sizing him up. “You ready to get started?”
“Do you think I could get a drink of water first?”
“Sure, there’s bottled water in the refrigerator in the office. Walk with me.”
She turned to take Landing’s reins and stumbled. Kyle caught her, and she turned in his arms. Her gaze connected with his and he was amazed at the feeling that seized him. Lust, yes, and a gracious plenty, but something more.
Liz blinked, blushed and pushed away. “Thanks.” She took hold of Landing’s reins and together they left the track and walked to a large barn nearby.
Kyle led her to a door over which a sign with the words Racing Office was mounted. “Wait here and I’ll grab you something to drink.”
“Thanks.”
He went inside and got a couple of bottles of water from the refrigerator. When he walked back outside, Liz had her arms around Landing’s neck, leaning in on him.
“Your water.”
“Oh thanks.” She accepted the bottle, chugged down half of it and then looked at him. He got the impression she had something to say.
“Questions?”
She nodded. “A couple.”
“Shoot.”
“First, what do I call you?”
“Kyle.”
“That’s seems a bit disrespectful if you’re going to be my boss.”
“Then you choose.”
“Okay, Mr. Stadler, how many race horses have you trained?”
“Including Landing?”
“Yes.”
“One.”
“I see. And you’re a breeder?”
“Yes.”
“Thoroughbreds?”
“Rodeo and ranch mostly.”
“Okay, cool.” She finished off the rest of her water and looked around. “Trash?”
“By the office door.”
Liz handed him the reins and started for the door. Again she stumbled but this time it was slighter. Kyle was starting to think something was wrong. She tossed her bottle in the trash and returned to him. Her face seemed pale.
“Everything okay, Ms. Redgate?”
“Yes and Liz please.”
“So you’re ready to get back to work?”
“Sure, I mean unless you have questions for me.”
He smiled at her. “As a matter of fact I do.”
“Well fire away.”
“How do you know Landing?”
He saw the fear that registered on her face right before her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell. He caught her with one arm and swung her up in his arms. He felt a bit of a twinge in his healing leg but ignored it as he carried her into the office and placed her on the couch.
Kyle checked her pulse. It was steady and strong. He wondered if he should call an ambulance, but after watching her for a few moments decided against it. She didn’t appear to be in any distress. Her breathing was steady and her pulse as well.
She looked for all the world, like she was simply asleep. Just to be certain, he would call the nurse at the main ranch office. An operation as big as the Pursell’s could afford to have a nurse on staff. It would be smart to have Liz checked out.
As soon as he placed the call, he stepped out and yelled for one of the exercise riders to walk Landing and then hurried back inside to stand watch until the nurse arrived.
Liz mumbled, and he moved closer. “Told you I’d find you, Landing.”
Kyle felt his eyebrows raise. Sure enough, he’d been right. There was more to Liz Redgate than she was letting on.
Chapter Three
Cooper looked up as his office door opened. His father, Lucas Cooper Quinlan stood in the doorway. Even at nearly seventy, he cut a dashing and imposing figure. His six-foot frame carried a good twenty pounds more weight than he had in his youth, but it was solid weight. His steel gray hair accented the cold blue of his eyes.
Lucas Quinlan was a brilliant and ruthless businessman who’d started with nothing. His marriage to Bonita, or Bonny, Evans had been one based upon avarice rather than love. Bonny’s father, Stuart Evans had made a fortune in banking in the Midwest and Atlantic states. Bonny was Lucas’s ticket to wealth, and he’d exploited it as much as he possibly could.
While Bonny’s family might not count among his biggest fans, Lucas had increased their and his net worth several hundred times over. He might have an emotional deficit, but certainly not one in business intellect.
Cooper, unlike his sister, Heather Elizabeth, or Liz as she demanded to be called, admired his father’s business acumen and forgave his shortcomings and his inability to show affection. He’d not blamed his mother when she divorced Lucas, but neither had he turned against his father.
Liz, on the other hand, had. The way she saw it was that Bonny had sincerely loved Lucas and had tried for years to be happy, despite his emotional unavailability. She’d fallen in love with a handsome and driven man who was possessed of great charisma, never realizing that her appeal for h
im had been her family’s net worth.
By the time she realized that fact, she had twins. She stuck it out until Cooper and Liz graduated high school. The day after their graduation she packed her belongings and left. She moved back east and now lived in Washington, DC where she was married to a Senator who might have found a certain appeal in her net worth, but also seemed to worship her.
“Hear anything from your sister?” Lucas asked as he entered the office.
Cooper closed the lid of his laptop. “I spoke with her earlier.”
“And?”
“No change. She won’t bring the horse back, and I think it’d be best if we let this go.”
“I disagree.” Lucas took a seat in one of the matching leather chairs facing Cooper’s desk. “You get her to see reason or I’ll file charges.”
“Dad, you can’t be serious?”
“I most certainly can. She stole from me.”
“Technically she didn’t. She’s the registered owner.”
“She bought him with money she took from me.”
“Money you gave her back to keep Landing. And you know that’s why she did it. You lied to her about Landing. She thought he belonged to her and you know she intended to ride him this season. She had her heart set on it.”
“She’s not a damn jockey, son. And as I recall it was your suggestion that I dismiss her as my jockey. Besides this riding thing – it’s just a whim. Just like that damn trick riding period she went through, or that stunt crap.”
Cooper didn’t want to get into an argument with his father, but he couldn’t stop himself from defending his sister. “First of all, I didn’t say dismiss her. I said use it as leverage. And it wasn’t a whim. She was good, and she parlayed it into a pretty good career in stunt riding.”
“Hollywood nonsense.”
“She made enough to buy Landing.”
“I bought Landing.”
“And she paid you every dime.”
“Which I gave back. That horse was mine, and he wasn’t going to win.”
“Everyone seemed to think he would.”
“Well, they were wrong. Now, Traveler – that’s a different story. That one has what it takes. I know it in my gut. And I want him.”
“Dad, please. Just let her have him. You don’t need the win. She does.”
“I won’t have her defying me so get this through your head, Cooper.”
“Dad, you can’t make a theft charge stick. She holds the paper.”
“Not for long. The account she used for payment has my name on it.”
“Only because it’s one you set up for her when she was a teenager. You deliberately put the money for Landing there because you thought she wouldn’t notice. But she did, and she bought Traveler.”
“On an account where I am the primary.”
“But—”
“Enough of this son. Here’s the bottom line. Either you get her to bring the horse back or I have her arrested for theft. It’s that simple.”
Cooper nodded. “I’ll try, it’s all I can promise.”
“If you want to keep your sister out of jail, you’ll do more than try.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, now let’s talk about that geological report.”
“I don’t want any part of that.”
“Pardon?”
“Dad, we can’t use that. If anyone finds out we have a government log we’ll end up in prison.”
“No one will find out. It wouldn’t be in Grover’s best interest to reveal he’d released the report to us. He’d go to jail and you know he won’t risk that. He’s enjoying what we pay him far too much.”
“Still, I say it’s too big a risk. We can’t afford an investigation.”
“There won’t be one.”
“I hope you’re right, but I’d appreciate it if you put someone else on that.”
“No. You’re my son and the only person I can trust. This stays in the family. I need you on this Cooper. This could be the biggest strike in history, you understand that right?”
“I do, but…”
“No buts. Get on it. Now. I want to have the deal sealed with the property owners inside of sixty days.”
Cooper nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“That’s my boy.” Lucas smiled and stood. “Dinner at the club tonight? Marissa will be joining.”
Pushing aside a rush of annoyance, Cooper smiled. “Absolutely. What time?”
“Nine.”
“See you then.”
“Excellent.” Lucas turned to leave the room, looking back as he opened the door. “Be on time.”
“Yes, sir.”
Cooper stared at the door as it closed. Marissa St. John was Lucas’s latest wife, his third since Cooper’s mother had left him. A trophy wife, Marissa was nearly forty years Lucas’s junior. She came from a mildly affluent family who owned a machine company, producing equipment used in the oil drilling business. Her family had benefited greatly from her marriage to Lucas. She might be as phony as a three-dollar bill, but she was loyal to Lucas.
There was no doubt in Cooper’s mind that Marissa’s affection for Lucas was based on her love of his money, but in a way that was just. After all, her appeal for Lucas was her age and her looks.
Cooper pushed aside thoughts of his father and Marissa and focused on his sister. He didn’t believe there was a chance in hell he could convince her to return the horse. Unless he told her the truth. Maybe the chance of jail would scare her enough to get her to comply.
He hoped so since it was the only play he had.
Chapter Four
Liz jerked awake at the touch on her shoulder. A middle-aged woman sat beside her, with a stethoscope around her neck and a blood-pressure cuff in her hand. Liz looked around, confused as to where she was.
“You’re in the racing office.” A male voice had her head whipping around.
Relief flooded her when she saw Kyle Stadler. The accompanying feeling of attraction threatened that relief. She wasn’t at all prepared for the attraction, but at least she knew where she was. “Who are you?” She chose to focus her attention on the woman.
“Meg Smith, ranch nurse. Mr. Stadler said you fainted. May I take your blood pressure?”
“Sure, but I know what happened, and it’s nothing to be concerned about.”
“Oh?”
Liz pushed herself into a sitting position on the couch. “Thirty-six hours with no sleep, driving for over 24 hours straight and existing on Red Bull. I just hit my limit.”
Meg chuckled. “Yes, I imagine that would do it. Still, just to be safe?”
“Have at it.”
She tolerated the quick exam. Meg finished, smiled and stood. “Vitals are normal. A diet of Red Bull might not be the smartest though.”
“It is if you have a long way to go and a short time to get there.”
“Well, you have a point. Mr. Stadler? She’s fine, but I’d advise against her driving until she gets some sleep.”
“Thank you, Ms. Smith.”
Liz noted the flush that came on Meg Smith’s face when Kyle smiled at her. She thought it amusing until Meg left and Kyle walked over and took a seat in a straight wooden chair beside the couch. When his gaze locked on her, she understood Meg. Man, there was definitely something there. Was he going to affect her this way every time he looked at her? She quickly looked away.
“I’ll get one of the exercise riders to give Landing a workout,” he said. “I think it’d be best if we get you to the bunkhouse.”
Liz cut her eyes at him. “I can work.” There was no way she was short-shifting on the first day.
“You passed out. I don’t want you falling off a horse.”
“I won’t.”
“You might.”
“But I won’t.”
“I can’t take that chance.”
“Fine, then postpone the workout for two hours. I’ll get in my truck and crash for a couple of hours and be good to go.”
&nbs
p; “Sure you will.”
“I will.”
“Fine, but use the couch. I have things to do.”
“Two hours. That’s all I need.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in two hours.”
Liz nodded, watched him leave then lay back on the couch. Wonder what Kyle Stadler’s story was? Was he married? Engaged? Divorced? Gay? She mentally slapped herself. She wasn’t there to get a case of the hots for the trainer. She was there to prove a point.
And to do that she needed to be functional. Determined to be ready in two hours, she closed her eyes.
*****
Kyle was speaking with the grooms about Landing’s diet when Herbert Pursell walked in. Kyle wouldn’t have realized Herbert was there were it not for the grooms. To a man, their posture tensed and a look of apprehension came on their faces.
Only one man inspired that kind of nervousness. He turned. “Mr. Pursell. Can I help you, sir?”
“Why isn’t someone working with Landing?”
“We are, sir. In two hours. Right now we’re going over his diet and vet check-ups.”
“And?”
“He’s doing well, sir. No apparent side effects from the move and transition to a new environment. He’s a spirited animal, but adaptable.”
“He bit three exercise riders last week and threw two jockeys.”
“Yes sir, however we have a new candidate that shows promise.”
“He been on the beast yet?”
“She, sir, and yes.”
“She? My son’s hiring a woman?”
“Yes, sir. At least as an exercise rider. Whether she gets the jockey position depends on the other candidates yet to try-out and how well Landing responds to her.”
“I don’t know that I’m comfortable having a woman rider.”
Kyle didn’t know why, but he defended Liz. “Sir, she rode him once and had a time nearly two seconds under last year’s winner for one lap.”
“Not possible.”
Kyle pulled out his stopwatch and offered it to Herbert who looked at it and handed it back. “Seeing in believing. Where’s Landing now?”
“An exercise rider and the vet are with him at the track.”
“And this woman?”
“Liz Redgate. She’s in the office.”
