“The baler in the cowshed?”
Eve gave a rueful nod. “Ramon was desperate. He couldn’t get it to work, and they needed to send alfalfa down with the Baja Tinda horses. I guess the trip was Joey’s reward for helping.”
“So the trip wasn’t for riding?”
“No. Joey was top in the class but the trip happened because of the baler. Joey only texted me once that afternoon, said he was going to help Ramon deliver some horses…I never saw him again.”
The anguish in her voice was so raw, Megan gave her an impulsive hug. “Let’s go for a drive. I’d love to talk more. But I think we better go someplace private, where nobody can hear.”
Eve shot a wary look down the hall. “Probably wise,” she whispered.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Scott led Braun back into the cowshed and yanked off the saddle. It had been an easy day for the patient horse. Megan hadn’t shown up for her riding lesson, wasn’t answering her phone, and in fact, had been AWOL since she’d waltzed from his class.
“Goddammit.”
Braun flicked his ears at the abrupt curse, and Scott gave him a reassuring pat. The horse was great but the little lady was turning difficult. Two unexplained absences. And I thought we were getting along so well.
Someone had put hay and water in Braun’s stall and the gelding happily stuck his nose in the pile of hay, ignoring the frustration of his rider.
Buzz. Scott grabbed his phone, disappointed when he saw Snake’s name on the display.
“Hey, boss,” Snake said. “Think I’ll put two guys on the husband for another week and then make a final report. That job is getting boring.”
“Yeah.” Scott pushed open the tack room door and tossed the saddle onto the rack, his mind leaping back to Megan. Her phone was ancient. Maybe it wasn’t charged. Maybe she wasn’t getting his messages. Maybe he should check her room.
He gave his head a shake. He certainly wasn’t going to go knocking on her door, hunting her down. Students were supposed to attend class without a special invitation. And she’d just walked out of his lecture.
“Boss?”
“That sounds good,” he said quickly. “Check the credit card slips at the restaurant too. See who owns the company. Belinda can do that. It’s not a big deal.”
Snake didn’t answer. Silence stretched as Scott hung up Braun’s bridle, replacing it among the line of neat tack.
“How’re you really feeling?” Snake finally asked.
Scott slammed the tack room door shut. “Fine. I’m fine.” The only headache he’d had today was when Megan hadn’t shown.
But Snake sounded skeptical and it was another ten minutes before Scott was able to finish the call and head back to his villa. He had important things to do. He had a girl to track down and Lydia was coming for lunch. He fervently hoped she didn’t ask any questions about Megan’s missed ride.
***
Garrett stepped through the back door with a mocking smile. “I considered staying away and leaving you alone with Lydia, but didn’t want to rouse your wrath.”
Scott tossed him a can of beer. “How’s Rex?”
“Stable. There’s a cast on his leg and he’ll be there awhile. He might walk with a limp but at least he’ll walk… Thanks.”
“I know you saw who did it.” Scott kept his eyes pinned on Garrett’s face.
“Yeah, I saw.” Garrett took a swig of beer. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and blew out a sigh. “It was Joey Collins. That student who ran off last month. We thought he stayed in Mexico but obviously he’s back.”
“Why did you pretend you didn’t see him? That you were inside?”
Garrett shook his head. “I couldn’t talk in front of Megan. The school’s reputation has already suffered. If people hear we have someone like that hanging around...” His voice turned slightly accusing. “That’s the downside of staff dating students.”
Scott cracked open his can and took a pensive drink. Garrett had a point. He wasn’t quite sure how to handle Megan’s insubordination today. Walking out of class, not showing up for a private riding lesson. Christ, was he that bad of an instructor?
A knock sounded at the front door and Garrett’s grin returned. “That will be the lovestruck Lydia. Girls never were your problem, were they, buddy.”
Garrett had always cut a wider swathe with the women, but this didn’t seem the time to debate quality over quantity. Scott shot Garrett a warning look then walked down the hall and swung open the door.
Today Lydia wore a red silk blouse and black pants that looked out of place for a casual lunch at a riding school. Nothing wrong with her figure though, if you liked skinny. He didn’t.
“Come in, Lydia,” he said. “Garrett’s already in the kitchen.”
“Really?” Her forehead creased with puzzlement. “He told me he never ate lunch.”
“He missed breakfast this morning,” Scott said, as Lydia followed him down the hall.
He scanned the wine rack, searching for her gift bottle from last night, and realized it was half gone. He’d grabbed it last night by mistake, when he’d been so distracted by Megan in her sexy bikini. Couldn’t even remember drinking it, except that the lingering flavor had tasted damn good on Megan’s lips. She obviously hadn’t been as affected.
“Oh, I see you opened the wine without me.” Lydia followed his gaze and gave an exaggerated moue.
“That’s right, I did,” Scott said, his frustration with Megan leaving him in no mood to stroke hurt feelings. He poured Lydia a glass of wine and dropped three plates on the table, ignoring Garrett’s amused grin.
“Direct from the cafeteria. Enjoy,” Scott said.
Lydia flashed a shiny lip-gloss smile and dragged her chair so close he could smell her perfume. It was apparent she’d selected him as her new buddy. “Afterwards,” he added, “I’ll come back to your place, Garrett, and we can review those numbers.”
“What numbers?” Garrett asked, his lips twitching with mock innocence.
“The proposed salary raise for your fulltime instructors,” Scott snapped.
“Oh, yeah,” Garrett said, “those numbers.”
“A raise? How lovely. I had no idea.” Lydia beamed and was quiet for a blessed moment then leaned forward again. “Working lunches are very time efficient, don’t you think? Perhaps we should make this part of our routine? I have a few things I’d like to discuss. Did you know Megan Spence had Joey Collins’ iPod?”
Scott stilled. Garrett set down his beer can.
Lydia paused, delighted she’d captured their attention. “She stole it. I caught her with it yesterday.”
“Was there anything else found?” Garrett asked. “Any more of his things?”
“No, but in addition to possessing someone else’s property,” Lydia’s voice rose in triumph, “she neglected to feed the horses last night.”
“Neglected to feed the horses?” Garrett frowned. “But Megan was helping us—” He caught Scott’s warning look, closed his mouth, then nodded gravely. “I’m going to put Scott in charge of Megan Spence. He’s experienced at undercover work. Probably the best man to head up any…probing.”
Lydia’s head bobbed. “It’s always wise to take a firm hand with these students.”
“A firm hand indeed,” Garrett said, his mouth twitching.
***
Megan rushed down the walkway to Scott’s villa, horrified she and Eve hadn’t returned in time for their riding lessons. But time had rushed past and it had been cathartic to drive around in her truck, swapping stories about Joey, talking with someone else who loved him.
She’d learned so much. He had been happy here, had loved riding and Eve confirmed he’d been offered a job galloping at Santa Anita. Megan didn’t understand why Ramon was lying, but now her resolve had strengthened. First though, she had to apologize to Scott.
She reached up but the door swung open before she could knock. Lydia stared, two slight lines angling between her per
fect eyebrows.
“Oh, hi,” Megan said, scrambling for an excuse. Scott had probably told Lydia she’d missed her lesson. They obviously had just spent lunch together. But if by some stroke of luck, he hadn’t reported it, she’d certainly prefer to keep it secret. “I just wondered how Garrett’s dog is,” she said lamely.
“He’s doing okay,” Scott said, appearing behind Lydia.
“Great, that’s good.” Megan backed up a step, studying his mouth. She could have sworn there was a speck of lipstick on the left corner. She stared at him, uncertain, but he remained silent, arms crossed.
“Okay, well that’s good,” she repeated in the prickly silence. But he wasn’t helping her out, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“I have to go to class now. Sorry to bother you.” She turned away and for the second time that day, felt hostile stares raking her back.
By the time she rushed into the classroom, she was alternating between curses and gratitude. Asshole, prick. Thank God she hadn’t slept with the guy.
“Are you ready for Lydia’s class?” Tami asked. “Catastrophic accidents. It’s going to be gruesome.” She wrinkled her nose. “What were you thinking this morning? You and Eve? You two were so rude.”
Megan bit her lip. “We didn’t mean anything. Eve felt sick and I was trying to help.”
“Well, you better explain to Scott. He was in a bad mood the rest of the class.”
“I saw him since,” Megan murmured. “Lydia’s cheering him up now.” Her lips tightened, and she pulled out her paper and pen.
Minutes later, Lydia swept into the room. Peter rolled his eyes behind Lydia’s back, pantomiming at her inappropriate outfit. But when Lydia turned, he flashed a quick and deferential smile. That boy was going to go far, Megan decided bleakly. He sure knew how to suck up.
The next two hours were interminable as they watched a series of gut wrenching accidents. Some horses and riders walked away; others weren’t so fortunate. Megan repeatedly wiped her eyes but almost everyone else in the class was crying too—even the guys.
“And that,” Lydia said, blowing her nose and switching off the video, “is why an ambulance follows the race riders. It’s a very demanding and dangerous profession. Consider it carefully.”
“Megan Spence,” she added. “Please remain after class.”
She was using Megan’s last name now. Not good. Tami shot her a sympathetic look and trailed the other students from the room. Megan squared her shoulders and stopped in front of Lydia’s desk, trying to recall school policy on skipping class.
Missing a riding lesson was the biggest penalty, much worse than skipping a lecture. Eve feared Ramon’s reaction too but thought they were allowed to miss one class, with a valid excuse. Megan hadn’t even thought about rules, had been too consumed with news of Joey, and she didn’t have an excuse, not one she could use. She clasped her sweaty hands, aware she risked expulsion, now when she was finally making headway.
“Your behavior is unacceptable,” Lydia snapped.
Megan gulped. She couldn’t get kicked out before she talked to Ramon. Damn, she wished she were able to suck up like Peter. She lowered her head and forced an apologetic nod.
“Chasing after instructors is embarrassing for everyone,” Lydia continued. “It’s also strictly against the rules. You will not visit Mr. Taylor’s house again.”
Megan’s head shot up, her chest thumping with relief. It was okay. Scott hadn’t turned her in, hadn’t breathed a word. And Lydia was such a nut. She was probably the one chasing Scott. “Of course not, Lydia,” she said meekly. “I’m sorry for any embarrassment. It was very rash of me to…knock on his door.”
Lydia nodded, oblivious to the sarcasm. “Yes, it was rash. Go now. And remember what I said.” She gestured toward the door, her mouth still pinched.
Megan rushed from the building, pulled out her phone and pressed Scott’s number. He answered on the third ring.
“I’m sorry I had to leave your class this morning,” she said quickly. “And miss the riding. I was really busy with something.”
“You need a better excuse than that,” he said. “Are you coming over?”
“No.” She lowered her voice. “I just left Lydia’s class. She warned me about seeing instructors.”
“Meet me at the cowshed,” he said. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Lydia stepped outside, only ten feet away, so Megan clamped the phone against her ear and raised her voice. “Okay, Tami,” she said. “See you soon.”
Scott sighed and hung up.
A narrow footpath circled the back of the cafeteria. She followed the neglected trail around the building, through the parking lot of motley cars and past a dumpster that reeked of rotting food. An old golf cart, a gooseneck horse trailer with living quarters and a smaller stock trailer with a ‘For Sale’ sign squeezed into a gravel parking lot. And then the trail joined a beautiful private drive lined with white stucco fences so blindingly bright, they seemed to mark entry to a different world.
She rushed toward the cowshed. Braun and the other three horses stood in neatly railed paddocks. They pricked their ears as she approached, clearly hopeful of an early supper. Scott’s car wasn’t in the parking lot so she lingered outside. Braun stared over her head at the barn, tossing his head, too impatient to accept her pat.
She shrugged and entered the cowshed through the side door, straining to see through the gloom. Maybe Scott had walked from the villa.
But he wasn’t in the main barn or the tack room. She slipped into the arena. The haystack was still there, still untouched. Hopefully he’d let her bag some more alfalfa. Jake and Rambo had certainly appreciated the treat, and it was a shame to let such nice hay go to waste.
Someone moved—a man, bent over the hay baler. She jerked to a stop, her mouth drying. Students weren’t allowed in the cowshed, and she was here without Scott. Probably best to slip out the back door and hope he arrived soon.
The man raised his head, his eyes narrowing in recognition.
“Good afternoon,” Ramon said, his expression inscrutable. “Do you have another riding lesson?”
“No…I don’t think so.”
“Then you shouldn’t be here.” He selected a wrench from a shiny red toolbox and tightened a nut.
She jammed her hands in her pocket, studying his face. He didn’t look mad or irritated but wore that closed expression that was always hard to read. Probably one of the reasons he’d been such a successful jockey.
“I’m meeting Scott,” she said. “Not sure if there’s time for a lesson before supper but I’m hoping to be ready to join your class soon.”
“I saw you galloping yesterday. You’re ready now.”
She stiffened, surprised he’d noticed her galloping with Scott. They’d been at opposite ends of the track, and Ramon would have been busy with his large group of students.
“Really?” She hurried across the arena to the baler. “I can join your class?”
“Yes. You’re ready.”
“Well…that’s great.” She’d expected to feel more satisfaction but after talking to Eve, the only emotion she felt now was resentment. This man may have been a great jockey and a good teacher, but for some reason he’d lied about Joey. She wanted to pry the truth from those tight lips.
“I’ve wanted to join your class since I came,” she said, knowing that statement, at least, was true. “I’ve been over a week trotting in the field with the grooms.”
He lifted his head over the side of the baler. His mouth cracked in a smile and for a moment, he looked much more approachable. “Some people take a little longer to balance in the stirrups,” he said, “but once they get it, they’re often my best riders. I think you’re like that.”
She blinked, and despite her distrust of Ramon, enjoyed a little kick of pleasure. It had been demoralizing to be the last student promoted, especially since she’d always been considered a capable rider.
She pulled her ha
nds from her pockets and leaned over the baler. “Can I help while I’m waiting? Are you baling hay?” She followed his glance to the loose pile of alfalfa. She hoped he wasn’t going to bale it all, at least not until she had a few more bags for Jake and Rambo.
“I’m just making some adjustments. This machine is new but cranky. If you want to help, you can bring the horses in for the night. I didn’t know Scott would be riding so often. Now the grain schedule is screwed up.” He turned his back in dismissal.
She rushed out the big end doors, eager to keep Ramon happy. Leather halters hung by each paddock gate. She slipped Braun’s halter on his head and clipped on the lead.
“Stealing horses now, in addition to skipping class?” Scott’s low voice sounded behind her.
She wheeled, surprised she hadn’t heard his approach. He’d swapped his earlier sports jacket for a black T-shirt and jeans but looked just as reserved, and there was a definite edge to his voice. He folded his arms along the top rail, the edge of his shirt banding formidable biceps. He didn’t look like anyone in need of recuperating, just a gorgeous hunk of man who was rightly annoyed. And unfortunately she couldn’t offer an explanation.
“Ramon asked me to lead in the horses,” she said, eyeing him cautiously.
He walked toward the second paddock and picked up a halter.
Braun shoved his nose against her arm, impatient with the delay. She pushed the gate open and led him from the paddock into the barn.
By the time she closed his stall door, Scott walked down the aisle with the three remaining horses clip clopping behind him. She wouldn’t have tried leading three strange Thoroughbreds at the same time, but they seemed perfectly behaved. Maybe they’d noticed his muscles too.
He shut their stall doors. “Does Ramon want them fed?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. He’s working on the baler.”
Scott strode down the aisle and scanned the arena. He called Ramon’s name but the arena was empty. He turned back to her, crossed those big arms, and part of her wished Ramon had stuck around.
HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery) Page 13
