by James, Sandy
Seth winced at the idea. The poor colt deserved to keep his family jewels. “Give us a chance with him. Maybe we can help settle him down. Katie works wonders.”
“Nice to see she’s taught you a thing or two. Where do you hail from?” Kevin asked as he leaned against a stall and crossed his arms over his barrel chest.
“Chicago.”
Jacob seemed to perk up at the mention of the Windy City. He obviously assumed Seth knew the litany of names Jacob sent in a barrage. After a never-ending stream of negative responses, Jacob looked frustrated. “Do you even race in Chicago?”
“Not horses. A few cars maybe, but never horses,” Seth replied.
“So how the hell did you end up with my Katie?” Kevin asked with a booming voice, the irritation plain on his face. His intense gaze reminded Seth of the look Katie always had when she was pissed, and he suddenly realized Kevin Murphy didn’t like him, nor did he trust him. “What’s your real name, boy? What’s your game? Nobody comes to racing this late in life.”
“It’s a long story,” Seth replied before Katie returned to interrupt as she hung up the colt’s harness on the hook outside his stall.
“His real name is Seth, but his friends call him Crash. I just keep forgetting, that’s all. He’s only here for a season, Grandpa. One season. Then he’s moving on.” She glanced over at Seth, her eyes pleading with him to keep his silence. He accommodated her.
Jacob looked confused as his gaze darted from Katie back to Seth. “I think I missed somethin’ here. You’re not a horseman, son?”
“No, Jacob. He’s not. I’m trying to teach him a few things. Just drop it. Please.”
Seth knew there wasn’t a chance in the world that would happen with these two men who obviously loved Katie very much. Watching the three of them, he felt as out of place as a skunk showing up at a picnic.
“Sweetheart, can we go to your office for a minute?” Kevin walked that direction without waiting for a reply. With a nod, she bit her bottom lip and followed him before they disappeared, shutting the door behind them.
What he wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. Seth wondered how Katie was going to be able to talk herself out of the mess she’d made with her attempt to introduce him.
Jacob and Seth awkwardly stared at each other for a few moments before Jacob broke the silence. “Red is the best. She’ll teach you good.”
“Yep. I can’t believe all I’ve learned since I got here. She’s... she’s... special.” And she’s beautiful, and she’s wonderful, and she’s absolutely off limits.
What had the Old Man been thinking? That question crossed Seth’s mind at least a dozen times each and every day. Perhaps her angelic looks hadn’t impacted Sterling Remington the same way they assailed his son. She appeared in his dreams—ready and willing to become his lover, spread beneath him in welcome. And she appeared in his nightmares as he was forced to walk away from her no matter how much he wanted to stay by her side.
“She’s worth her weight in gold, that one is,” Jacob added.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a look at Spun Gold. I think he scraped up his knee getting out of the trailer.” Seth walked back to his new colt. He was a little chagrined when Jacob followed.
Seth went into the stall and gently reached for Gold’s halter. The horse that had been so hard to handle now seemed as docile as a kitten. Seth ran his hand down the animal’s leg until he found a small, swollen spot on the knee. The colt reacted to Seth’s touch with a shiver but made no move to pull away. “Hang on, Gold. I’ll fix you up.” Seth stroked the horse’s neck, exited the stall, and headed for one of the equipment trunks.
Jacob tagged along like an obedient pet, obviously deeply interested in the workings of the Murphy stable. Seth retrieved some antiseptic balm and a roll of gauze bandaging.
“You asked about Rachel. You seein’ her?” Jacob asked as Seth entered the stall again and stooped down to work on Gold’s injury.
“No, I’m not.” Not that he hadn’t had plenty of opportunities. But Rachel wasn’t the type of woman Seth wanted to spend time with. How could he tell her father that she’d been passed around to just about every man at the track?
“Good thing.”
The words took Seth by surprise. “Why’d you say that?”
“She and Red got history. I ‘spose you heard it all already.”
“Not much. Everyone says the exact same thing—they’ve ‘got history.’ But that’s all I’ve heard.” Seth rubbed some ointment on the wound and then wrapped a bandage around Gold’s leg as the horse kept rubbing his muzzle in Seth’s hair.
“You know who Mike Knight is?”
“You mean ‘The White Knight?’ Drives at the Meadowlands? He’s great,” Seth answered, rising from his crouch. He gave the horse a pat. “All better, Big Guy.”
Jacob leaned his shoulder against the wall and watched Seth. “He’s a horse’s ass is what he is. He and Red were engaged.”
“Really? Katie was engaged?” My Katie?
“Yep. But she broke it off. Couldn’t trust him anymore.”
Seth frowned as he walked out of the stall and latched it closed. He knew what was coming next, and he didn’t like it one damn bit. “Rachel broke them up, didn’t she?”
“Red found ‘em together in Mike’s truck. The windows were steamed up, if you get my drift.”
It’s worse than I thought. “I see.” No wonder Katie acted the way she did around Rachel. It came as a surprise that Katie was able to keep herself from scratching Rachel’s eyes out.
* * * *
In the office, Kevin took a seat in the lone chair and stared up at his granddaughter.
Katie paced in nervous circles. He had a flash to her similar childhood reactions when she’d been caught being naughty, and he wondered what kind of problem had made her so anxious.
“Seth is a... project from one of my owners,” she finally explained before he’d even asked a question. “His dad owns horses and wants his son to see what working for a living is like, so...” She shrugged. “I’ve got him for this season. They pay me a stipend, and I get a groom.”
Kevin shook his head. “Kathleen, try again. You’re not telling me everything here.”
“It’s all I can tell you. It’s all on the up and up, Grandpa. Honest. There’s this clause... a non-disclosure clause that I can’t violate.”
Kevin stared into Katie’s eyes for the truth. She could never lie to him and look him in the eye. When she let her gaze meet his and didn’t flinch, he had his answer. “All right, Katie. He seems to be doing okay. Handled that colt real well.” Kevin leaned back in the chair.
Katie finally seemed to settle down as she sat on the corner of her bed. “He’s a quick study. I’ve never seen anyone take to the horses the way he did. He’s so much help around here, and he’s so... He’s really...” She gave a wistful sigh and looked away.
“Uh oh.”
Katie’s face flushed with color. “No, Grandpa. No ‘uh oh.’ There’s nothing between Seth and me.” Then she stared intently at the floor as if it had suddenly morphed into an engrossing work of art.
Kevin knew his granddaughter wasn’t a child, and he had no right knowing all of her business. But the whole Mike Knight incident had hurt her. Kevin blamed himself for leaving Katie without someone to watch out for her. “Katie, be careful,” Kevin advised as he stood up, walked across the small room, and put his hand on her shoulder.
“God, that’s all everyone says. ‘Katie, be careful.’ You, Sam, Brian, Chris. Can’t I have my own life? Listen to me. There’s nothing going on. Nothing!” She pushed his hand away, stood up, and started to pace again.
Kevin wanted to point out her obvious overreaction, but her Irish temper had taken full flight. He’d have to save a deeper discussion for another time. “If you say so, Kathleen. Let’s go look at your new colt.”
* * * *
Seth saw them exit the office. Katie’s
shoulders were tense, her lips had thinned to a mere line, and her ears flamed red. About to call her over so he could figure out what was bothering her and find out what information she’d shared with her grandfather, he heard a car heading up the gravel drive.
Going to the barn door, Seth spied the familiar silver Lexus. As it ground to a stop, the wheels threw rocks hard enough to hit the barn’s wall, sounding like hailstones as they smacked the metal. His parole officer had finally arrived to check up on him. “Son of a bitch.”
Ross Kennedy opened his door and carefully spied the ground around him before stepping out of his expensive car. The man looked entirely out of place in his impeccable suit and tie. Seth uttered another curse and returned to his new horse.
Katie and Kevin were still talking near the office when she suddenly squealed in delight. “Ross!” Hurrying the length of the barn, she threw herself into his arms. The lawyer hugged her, lifting her tiny frame off the ground.
Ross Kennedy was touching what wasn’t his. Seth wanted to beat him senseless.
“It’s so good to see you,” Katie said when Ross put her back on her feet. “What brings you out to the boonies? You usually call. How’s your mom doing?”
Call? Ross had been calling Katie? And since when did she know anything about his family?
The lawyer smiled. “She’s feeling better. Thanks for asking. I came to see you, Katie. When I heard your horse was coming today, I knew I had to be here to see your reaction. Did he get here yet?”
“Yep. Come on, I’ll show him to you.” Katie linked her arm through Ross’s and ushered him toward the stall.
Seth watched them walking toward him and frowned before he slipped back into Gold’s stall to look at the colt’s bandage again. Why in the hell did that high-priced shyster have to come? And why was Katie hanging all over him?
Ross smiled down at Seth where he squatted next to the horse’s leg. “Crash. Good to see you. You don’t appear any worse for the wear.”
Condescending, conceited... Seth gave Ross a nod of his head. “Matlock. You appear to be entirely full of shit.”
Katie blinked a couple of times. “Seth, what on earth...”
Ross laughed and shook his head.
“Let it go, Boss,” Seth replied.
Kevin and Jacob exchanged confused glances. Katie must have noticed as well because she tried to smooth the tense atmosphere. “Ross Kennedy, this is my grandfather, Kevin Murphy. And this is Jacob Schaeffer.”
Seth stifled a flash of jealousy that Katie hadn’t messed up Ross’s introduction.
The three men exchanged greetings and an awkward silence settled on the barn again.
Ross reached out and ran his hand down Katie’s arm. Seth clenched his jaw hard enough to crack a tooth.
“Katie,” Ross said, “I wanted to see if I could buy you that dinner we missed in Chicago. Would you like to go out tonight?”
Both Seth and the colt snorted. Seth patted his new pet and smiled. Spun Gold was obviously a very intelligent animal.
“Maybe. Depends. Grandpa, you and Jacob staying?” Katie asked.
Both shook their heads in response. “Not this time,” Kevin replied. “We need to be heading back. I’m sorry, Sweetheart.”
“It’s okay, Grandpa. We’ll have dinner next time. You’ll have to come for some races. Did you leave Gold’s equipment card, Jacob?”
He nodded. “Dropped it in the trunk next to his stall.”
“Well, you ready to head up the road?” Kevin asked as he turned to his traveling companion and gave him a friendly clap on the shoulder.
“Yep. We can stop for coffee and a doughnut on the way.”
Both men hugged Katie, and Seth noticed the tears pooling in her eyes. She clearly missed them a great deal. She walked out of the barn with Kevin and Jacob.
Realizing they were alone, Seth turned on Ross, making no attempt to disguise his annoyance. “What are you really doing here, Kennedy? Checking up on me? Well, I’m being a good boy. So why don’t you just trot your ass back home.” Seth left the stall and latched the gate.
“I’m not here for you, Remington. I’m here for Katie.”
“Bullshit.” Seth dropped the remainder of the bandages in a trunk and slammed the lid.
Ross shrugged. “Think what you want. I wanted to make sure she got her payment for dealing with you.” He didn’t seem to even try to hide his disdain. “Not that it’s worth it for her.”
“I’ll have you know that I do a great job around here,” Seth said in his own defense. “I’m a damn good groom. Hell, I pick up pocket money paddocking for other trainers when we don’t have any of ours in some nights.” Seth didn’t bother to tell Ross that the money he earned paddocking always managed to find its way into Katie’s desk. The way she handled bookkeeping, she always assumed she’d made a mistake and forgotten the bills had been left there. Her exasperation on discovering the “misplaced” funds always made Seth happy, but he wondered how much longer he’d be able to keep supplementing her income before she’d catch on. Thank God, she was such a bad bookkeeper.
“It’s nice to know you’re good for something,” Ross added with condescension dripping from each word.
Katie returned before their exchange could escalate as Seth assumed it easily could have. She glanced at Seth and then at Ross, her brows knitting in confusion. “What’s wrong with you two?”
Neither replied.
She frowned and studied them for another moment before she shook her head. “Fine. Don’t tell me. Seth, why don’t we drive you back to the dorm? I’ll take care of feeding the horses tonight. It’s your day off anyway.
“Fine. I’ll go hang around my jail cell with nothing to do. Whoopee,” Seth replied as he spun his index finger in a mid-air circle and plopped down on the closed trunk. Then an idea perked him up. “Let me stay here. I can get to know the colt.”
“You sure? Maybe I should stay too.” Katie walked over to Gold’s stall and watched him over the gate.
Yeah, Katie. Stay with me.
Ross’s disappointment showed plainly on his face. Seth savored the response like fine wine. And then Ross went to stand next to Katie and reached out to wrap his arm around her shoulder. Touching what’s not his. Seth had to resist the overwhelming urge to break the man’s arm.
“I really wanted to take you out, Katie. The horse will be here from now on, but I have to drive back tonight,” Ross said.
“I’m sorry, Ross. I hadn’t even considered... Okay. We’ll go out.” She turned back to Seth. “Sure we can’t take you to back the track?”
The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to stay. After being cramped in that small trailer all day, Gold needed some attention. And while Katie was gone, perhaps Seth could take a look at the mess she called a desk. Maybe he could do something to help the situation. It obviously couldn’t get much worse. By sticking around, he’d know when she got home. Seth wasn’t about to let her hang all over Ross Kennedy if she had a beer or two. Not if he could help it. “I’d really rather stay.”
“Fine,” Katie finally agreed. “I’ll leave the office open if you get bored and want to listen to some music.”
Seth laughed as he shook his head. “I’ve seen what you call music. I’ll pass.”
“If you’ll both excuse me, I’m going to change out of my work clothes.” Katie headed back toward her room.
The two men just stared each other down for a moment. Seth didn’t want to have to appeal to Ross for anything, but he’d thought of a possible way to help Katie out of her financial woes. Since he would need Ross’s help, Seth swallowed his pride. For her sake. “Look, Ross, I don’t remember what you’re paying Katie to have me here, but it’s not enough.”
“I think three-hundred a week is great for someone who doesn’t even have to pay room and board.” Ross crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
“No, Bonehead. Did your mom drop you on your head when you were a baby? I’m not talkin
g about my pay. I want to know what the estate pays Katie for putting up with me.”
Ross shook his head. “That’s none of your business, Remington. She gets paid. That’s all you need to know.”
Seth scowled at the lawyer. You conceited prick. Can’t you see Katie’s struggling? “Isn’t there a way Arthur could arrange for her to... I don’t know, get a larger salary? After all, I’m going to have all that money. I’d like some of it to go to Katie. Can’t—”
“You’ll get the money, if you finish the season and if you keep your nose clean,” Ross interrupted.
It took every ounce of his strength for Seth to keep from smacking some sense into Ross. “We’re talking about Katie, not me.” He sighed, realizing he had no choice but to share the whole story if Ross was ever going to understand. He hoped Katie wouldn’t consider it a betrayal. “I don’t want you to tell her I said anything, but she’s hurting.”
Ross’s brows gathered in a concerned frown. “Hurting?”
“Yeah. She’s in a little over her head. Some of her owner’s drag their feet paying her, and she could really use a boost.” Seth couldn’t get past the notion she’d be angry at him for telling Ross about her problems, but he wasn’t about to let her continue to flounder. Not with the Remington money available. “What good is all that money doing just sitting there? Couldn’t you use some of the estate funds and buy a good horse for her? You know, make sure she gets paid training fees on time?”
Ross was already shaking his head. “No. Katie can’t get any more money. The will is very specific. Five years, remember? But I could...” Obviously deep in thought, he let the words hang between them.
Katie’s office door opened, and when she waltzed through, Ross immediately pushed away from the wall as Seth jumped off the trunk.
While she had always been pretty in Seth’s eyes, the transformation was incredible. Work clothes had been replaced with a pink sundress that hugged her curvaceous upper body and billowed around her hips and legs in soft folds of fabric. A lacey ribbon tied her red tresses into a ponytail, and a soft layer of make-up accentuated her green eyes. The high-heeled sandals were much more appealing than her work boots. She looked as utterly feminine as anything Seth had ever seen. He wanted to scream at her to stay with him, to not leave with Ross. Stay. Stay. Please stay.
