The Gift Horse

by Jami Davenport

  “But there’s other stuff missing.”

  “Mostly little things. A brush, pair of spurs, a bucket.”

  “And Gabbie’s bridle.”

  “So we have coyotes who collect horse equipment to take home to their dens? Maybe they’ll trade it to the squirrels for some nuts. I don’t buy it. Maybe they have a leather fetish.” He shrugged. “Maybe you misplaced it somewhere in that mess in your tack room.”

  “I did not. I missed my first class because I couldn’t find that bridle.”

  “You’re always late because you can never find anything. You need to use my list, organize things, label them, put them back in the same place each time.”

  “Enough already. What if someone is deliberately trying to make things hard for me, and it’s not a pack of coyotes?”

  “Why would someone be purposely doing this?”

  “To get me to give up and go away.”

  “They’d have to stand to gain from it. Who wants you gone? Do you have any enemies?” Carson didn’t appear to believe her, but he seemed willing to humor her.

  “Me?” Unfortunately, she might well have lots. For starters all those people who believed that she was responsible for the death of their horses in that barn fire years ago.

  “Yes, you.”

  “I might have a few for something that they think I did years ago.”

  “Does this have anything to do with why you went to Germany?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Would you care to enlighten me?”

  “Hasn’t your sister already given you all the dirt?”

  “She’s told me something about it, but I’d like to hear your side.”

  “You’ve known about the fire all this time and never asked me about it? Why? I’m surprised you didn’t send me packing.”

  “Should I have?”

  Sam shrugged.

  “You can’t believe I’m actually a fair person, can you?”

  “Actually, I truly do believe you are. I just thought you didn’t know.”

  “Sam, do you think my sister would carry around some juicy piece of gossip like that and not tell me? Especially when it concerns you?”

  “That would be hard to believe. So why didn’t you confront me?”

  “Because I wanted you to tell me in your own time, and because I have a hard time believing that you would do anything that would endanger the horses. No matter how careless you are about other things, your horses come first.”

  Sam found herself blinking back tears. “Carson, I...I live with this never-ending nightmare of that night. Sometimes I wonder why I came back. That empty spot where that barn used to be is a constant reminder. Did you realize that Dr. Matt’s wife died in that fire?”

  “Matt Brandland?”

  “They owned the barn at the time.”

  “Could he be extracting revenge?”

  “I doubt it. He’s always supported me. Never blamed me. He’s such a kind, gentle man. He’s very devout and active in his church.”

  “Tell me about it. What happened that night?”

  Sam told him every sordid detail. Once she started, she couldn’t stop. It was cathartic. He listened quietly and never passed judgment. The compassion in his eyes was almost her undoing. “For a long time even I wondered if I’d done it accidentally, but I know I didn’t. It was made to look like I did, but I didn’t.”

  Carson rubbed his chin. “Sam, what if Juan is right? Maybe someone thinks you know something.”

  “Carson, I can’t imagine what I would know.”

  “Who really did it and possibly committed murder.”

  Sam turned pale at the word ‘murder.’ “Did your sister tell you that I was a suspect? They actually charged me but eventually dropped the charges. My father mortgaged his house to hire a good attorney and keep me out of jail. I owe him a lot.”

  “Sam.” He held her gaze, and she took strength from his quiet support. He didn’t have to believe her, yet he did.

  “Thank you, Car.”

  He nodded. “Who is in your life now that was in your life then?”

  “Hans for one. Some of Hans’ students. My vet. Burke. Your sister.”

  “Who lost horses?”

  “Lots of people. Hans, Bridget, Burke. I’d have to sit down and think about the rest.”

  “Make a list. Do you know if any of them received insurance settlements?”

  “I’m sure they all did. Those were expensive show horses.”

  “What about those that didn’t have insurance and lost an expensive horse because of it? We need to figure out who on that list might have been in a position to do some of these things.”

  “I’m guessing most of the people would be.”

  “Let’s not guess, Sam. Let’s do this in a logical manner.”

  Sam rolled her eyes. “Carson.”

  “What about all the lame horses recently?”

  “Show horses go lame all the time. Dressage can be hard on their bodies. One of the other barns I was in had more lame horses than it had sound ones during one show season.”

  “I mean what would someone have to gain by lame horses? Dead ones, now that’s obvious.”

  “If they’re permanently lame, they could collect insurance if they’re insured for loss of use.”

  “Do you know if any of them were?”

  “Not that I know of. It’s expensive. Most people only insure for mortality.”

  “There has to be something we’re missing.”

  “Your sister thinks I’m sabotaging myself, except for the injured horses.”

  “My sister believes a lot of things, Sam. The majority of her facts are inaccurate.” Carson reached across the table and squeezed her hand. He continued to hold onto it, and Sam didn’t pull her hand away. His big hand felt good in hers.

  Carson looked over Sam’s head then back at her. He had an odd look on his face. Her heart raced. “Nice song,” he murmured, as the band played their rendition of ‘Lost in This Moment with You.’ “I had no idea that country music went beyond that tawdry honky-tonk stuff.”

  Sam smiled. “It is a nice song.” She couldn’t really think of anything else to say.

  “Would you like to dance?”

  “You dance?”

  “Of course, I do. It’s been years, but I think I can remember how.”

  Sam couldn’t refuse him. The way he looked at her made him seem so vulnerable. Besides, a couple beers had given her some liquid courage. “I’d love to.”

  Carson stood, still holding her hand, and led her to the dance floor. Sam had never done much dating; horses had been her life. Sure, she’d had boyfriends here and there, but none of them ever made her feel like this man did. Something told her that no one ever would.

  She moved into his arms, surprised at how easy and natural it seemed for two such opposite people.

  They shuffled around the floor. Both of them were too intent on holding each other and swaying to the music to care about doing any fancy dance steps. His warm breath tickled her neck. If she never had another moment like this, this one moment would be enough to last her the rest of her life.

  She was in love with the man. She had been almost since the first time they’d traded barbs those few months ago. Nothing had changed except for her falling even deeper for him. He liked her, which she wasn’t sure had been true when she’d first insulted him. But love her? That was such a ridiculous thought that she couldn’t allow herself to even entertain it. Carson didn’t allow himself to show that kind of emotion. Oh, it was there. He didn’t fool her. It was just that he kept it buried.

  She was on the verge of doing something crazy and eventually regrettable. But tonight, she wanted to share Carson’s bed. She wanted to feel his skin against hers, his lips on her body, his hands stroking her back.

  Sam moved closer to him, giving him a hint of her intentions. He felt so, uh, interested. Oh, yeah, he was interested. She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
He guided her around the floor, but she might as well have been stepping through clouds because her feet didn’t appear to touch solid ground. She needed this man tonight.

  There was no future at Cedrona for her, so she might as well enjoy what she could have while she had it.

  By next year, Gabbie would be sold. Carson would move on to another project. Hans would be head trainer. Bridget would be attempting to manage the place while some other poor soul did the real work—cleaning up Bridget’s messes. Sam had no intention of being Bridget’s whipping girl.

  But for now, what difference did it make? She could have Carson on a temporary basis. When it was over and Gabbie was sold, that would be her cue to leave.

  Chapter 26—A Hot Night in the Bordello on Wheels

  Carson had never been one to act rashly or spur of the moment. Every decision he made was carefully thought out. He examined every option for flaws and strengths. He didn’t leave much to chance. At least, not much of what was in his control, and he tried to make everything in his control.

  This situation was not in his control.

  When the slow dance ended and a faster one began, Carson welcomed the temporary reprieve from the spell this woman had over him. Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be the case.

  With a wicked twinkle in her eyes, Sam challenged him to stay out on the floor. “Can you two-step?”

  “Afraid not.” Carson tugged on her hand, but she stood rooted to the spot.

  “So do you have two left feet?”

  “Actually, you’d be surprised at how coordinated I am.”

  “Prove it. Watch me.”

  The dance floor wasn’t crowded, and Carson watched Sam’s feet as she counted out the steps. It was a cinch. He almost laughed. Maybe he should pretend that it was more difficult than it was, but why give her the satisfaction?

  Carson imitated her steps easily. She stared at him in amazement. “So do you want to dance or not?”

  Much as he hated to admit it, he loved dancing with Sam. She was supple and graceful. They moved around the floor with ease as if they’d been dancing together for a long time. Even better—or worse—she felt good in his arms, like she’d always belonged there and always would.

  They finished that dance, and several more, then walked back to the table. Carson dropped into his chair and took a swallow of his beer. It was warm, and he didn’t give a shit. He’d just spent one of the most enjoyable nights of his life holding a woman who was so wrong for him in every way, especially that falling-in-love-get-your-heart-crushed-again way.

  “This almost makes me forget all the stuff going on.” Sam looked away, suddenly seeming shy. Which Carson found hard to believe, but he was seeing it with his own eyes.

  Being with her almost made him forget everything too, including his moratorium against emotional relationships. His heart had a mind of its own, along with other parts of his anatomy.

  Unfortunately, once he leveled with her about his father’s contest for Cedrona, she’d probably never speak to him again anyway. She needed to know the deal. Hans most likely knew. He’d probably been plotting with sister-dearest how to win that cash and more importantly, the job. Meanwhile, Sam blissfully blundered along, oblivious to her future being on the line.

  After all that had happened at this show so far—good and bad—he couldn’t make it any tougher on her. He’d wait until Monday when they were back. It was the chickenshit way out, but it worked for him.

  Carson sighed and wondered who’d really ransacked Sam’s stabling area. Someone executed a targeted attack. Coyotes weren’t that discerning. Not one other competitor’s stuff had been touched.

  There were people who would benefit from Sam leaving Cedrona, Hans, for one, and Bridget, for another. Was either of them dishonest enough to sabotage Sam? The incidents had started long before his father’s proposal. Of course, the earlier incidents might be nothing more than Sam’s talent for self-sabotage and disorganization. The recent ones could just be unfortunate coincidences.

  “Carson, it’s late. I need to get some sleep. I have to feed at 7 a.m..”

  Carson nodded. He paid the bill and together they walked the short distance back to the show grounds. It was quiet as they approached the bordello. Frogs croaked in a nearby pond, while an owl hooted somewhere in the woods bordering the show grounds. Sam unlocked the trailer door and turned to him. She hesitated. He waited. He wasn’t sure what for, but he was pretty sure it was going to be a bad idea. His resistance was down, and he suspected hers was, too.

  “Are you going to be okay by yourself tonight? The trailer parking is somewhat isolated from the rest of the show grounds.”

  “I’ll be okay.”

  “Okay.” Disappointment raced through him. He was pretty sure it showed on his face. He turned to leave.

  “Carson?”

  Carson stopped in his tracks and pivoted around. “Yes?”

  Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

  “I don’t want to go.”

  That one sentence sealed their fate.

  * * * *

  The minute the words were out of her mouth, Sam regretted them. Sorta.

  She flipped a light switch in the trailer. It lit up the dim mood lighting that ran the perimeter of the ceiling and around the ceiling mirror in the gooseneck section, where the bed was. Even worse, the lights were red. “Oh, shit. Where are the real lights?”

  Sam groped for them on the wall, but Carson grabbed her hand. “Leave it. Those are fine. They lend a tacky trailer ambiance that somehow fits.”

  “Would you like some wine?” She didn’t wait for an answer, but jerked on the refrigerator door. It slammed against the cabinet behind it. She grabbed the box of wine; it slipped from her hand, landing on the floor with a thud. Carson picked it up and handed it to her.

  “Do you want me to pour?” An amused smile crossed his handsome face.

  “No, I’ll do it. Have a seat.” She managed to pour two glasses without incident. She needed some more liquid courage—now. Carson lounged on one of the dinette bench seats. She sat across from him as they sipped their wine in silence.

  “Are you okay?” He reached across the table and held her hand. His index finger drew lazy circles on her palm.

  “I’m fine.” She choked and almost spat out a mouthful of wine.

  “Do you want me to go?”

  She looked up at him. The man didn’t look like he wanted to leave. Instead, he looked like a cougar ready to make a meal out of this poor little heifer. She trembled inside at the intensity in his eyes. Something warm and wild spread through her veins. No, she didn’t want him to go. She wanted him to stay with her in this ostentatiously overdone trailer with its red velvet curtains and mirrored ceilings.

  When she didn’t answer, he stood. “I should go.”

  She stood, too, and bumped into him in the small space. She should have moved away, but there was nowhere to go. They both froze. When she lifted her face to his, she read the hunger in his eyes. His hand snaked around her neck. He pulled her to him with a gentle pressure. Dumb girl that she was, she didn’t offer any resistance. She had none left.

  Pinning her against the kitchen counter, he claimed her with a wild, hot fever that was unCarsonlike. For some reason, it didn’t surprise her. She’d seen those looks he’d given her, seen him loosen up and smile or laugh. Underneath that tight ass exterior lurked a hot, sensual man.

  And oh, lord, how she wanted that man.

  Warmth spread through her bones and they melted, no longer able to hold her up, but Carson took care of that. He lifted her onto the tiny one-butt counter, pushed her legs apart, and positioned his hips between them. Sam buried her fingers in his dark hair, loving the silky texture of it, and wrapped her long legs around his waist. She licked her lips, and he took it for the invitation it was. The mouth that came down on hers was anything but controlled. She didn’t want control. She wanted him hot and
bothered and not thinking any more logically than she was. They could regret it in the morning. The night was theirs.

  She opened her mouth, inviting him to taste a sample. Her tongue mated with his, following his lead in their erotic dance. Carson turned his head and moved his mouth down her jawline to the curve of her neck and lower as he feathered little kisses on her overheated skin.

  She shuddered, growing wet where his erection pressed against her, demanding and insistent. “Oh, Carson,” she breathed into his ear and was rewarded with a shudder from his body. He pulled her t-shirt over her head. Losing patience herself with the clothes separating their bodies, Sam did the same to him. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders and down his arms, smiling in the dim light at the feel of his strong, muscular chest. Not one tattoo marred that perfect body, which didn’t surprise her. She’d have been more shocked if he’d had any.

  He pushed the straps of her sports bra off her shoulders and down her arms. She held her breath. Her hands stilled and gripped his biceps lightly. His pupils dilated as he savored the moment, lowering her bra until it revealed her small breasts and hard nipples. She ducked her head in embarrassment.

  “I know they’re small.”

  “They’re perfect.” He silenced her doubts by bending down and taking one in his mouth with the hunger of a stallion in a field full of mares in heat. He swirled his tongue around the tight nipple, making it wet and her even wetter. He drew back and blew on it. She moaned and gasped for air. The combination of hot then cold sent her senses jumping over fences of Olympic proportions.

  “I’m glad you like them.”

  His mouth came back down again. He sucked, carefully, gently, until goose bumps stood out on her bare skin. She trembled and gripped his arms tighter. She heard a throaty chuckle as he switched to the other nipple and gave it the same attention as the first.

  Sam must have died. Right there on the spot because nothing on earth could possibly feel this incredible and this decadent.

  “Carson, stop. It’s too much.” Senses flooded her body and overwhelmed her with a contradictory mixture of ecstasy and fear. They approached dangerous territory and the crossroads of no return. She didn’t give a shit. He was hers for tonight, and she was going to have him.