“I’m going to hire Scott,” Megan whispered, dipping her head closer to Eve. “Maybe he can find out what really happened.”
Eve frowned. “Is that wise? You realize he’s a good friend of Garrett’s?”
“Yes. But he’s not a good friend of Lydia’s. Or Ramon.”
“But they all work for the school,” Eve said. “And Garrett owns the school. Scott’s allegiance will be to Garrett.”
“I know.” Megan tugged at her lip. “I keep playing that out in my head. But I’m kind of seeing Scott and it would be nice to be honest. He doesn’t understand—”
“Understand? You mean it would be easier for your relationship if you told him?”
Megan nodded, remembering his shuttered expression in the cowshed. “A lot easier,” she said.
“Sounds like you’re worrying about yourself, not Joey.” Eve stepped back and yanked open the cafeteria door. “I saw you riding with him yesterday. You looked happy. Not exactly the picture of a grieving sister. And what’s your mother doing to help? Both of you seem to believe this drug bullshit.”
Megan charged forward. “Listen.” She flattened her palm against the door, preventing it from opening. “I left my business to come here so lay off. I’m sorry you lost a boyfriend you dated for seven whole weeks, but my mother lost her son. So don’t you say another word about her. And Joey did have a drug history.”
“I apologize,” Eve said, but her voice was flat and she didn’t sound very apologetic. “But the drug accusations are crazy. Surely you don’t believe that stuff?”
“The police and school were very convincing.” Megan lowered her hand from the door. Of course, she didn’t swallow the official line, but Eve’s statement about her feelings for Scott hurt. And there was a bite of truth to it. She was getting too close, falling too fast. She hadn’t come here to indulge in a superficial affair.
“I’m sorry for what I said.” Eve gave a tight smile. “I’ve felt alone in all this. Maybe it’s Lydia who has the drug problem. Her moods change every hour.”
“Maybe we should sneak over there,” Megan said. “Check out her villa.”
“Maybe we should,” Eve said, and this time her smile was genuine. “And if we’re brave enough, we could check Ramon’s place too. Or you could do it, while he teaches my riding class.”
“I’m in his class too. Starting today.” Megan stepped back and pulled open the cafeteria door.
“Glad you finally graduated from the field,” Eve said, heading to the coffee dispenser. “But it’s bad timing. I’m not sure of his schedule other than he teaches in the morning. Oh, good,” she added, glancing around the room. “It’s quiet here. We can talk.”
Except for a few students straggling in from Scott’s class, the cafeteria was deserted. They poured their coffee and grabbed a table in a secluded corner.
“I know Ramon goes to the cowshed at suppertime.” Megan inched her chair closer to Eve, keeping her voice low. “Looks like he’s going to start baling too, so he could be busy with that.”
“Joey helped modify the baler the last week he was here,” Eve said. “Are they adjusting it again? That could take hours, give us more time.”
Megan nodded and fiddled with her cup, but the idea of sneaking into Ramon’s villa without knowing his routine made her stomach lurch. And Miguel also stayed there so that meant two schedules needed to be checked.
“Maybe we should do Lydia’s villa first,” Megan said. “She always eats in the cafeteria, so we’d have at least an hour. She’s not as scary as Ramon.”
“You really want to do this? Sneak in?” Eve leaned forward, her eyes big. “I was kind of joking. And what if she locks her door?”
Megan took a thoughtful sip of coffee. No one locked their doors in residence. However, Scott always locked his villa. Maybe because he had work papers inside or perhaps it was just PI habit.
“If Lydia locks her villa, then we don’t get in,” Megan said. “Do you want any milk?” Eve had barely touched her coffee. In fact, her face looked oddly white against her dark hair. It was scary thinking of sneaking into someone’s house. If caught, they’d both be kicked out. Worse, Eve’s career as a jockey would be finished.
“Look, don’t worry,” Megan added. “You don’t have to go in. You could stand guard—”
Eve’s nostrils flared. She pressed a hand over her mouth and bolted to the bathroom, almost toppling the chair in her haste.
Aw, damn. She was really scared. Little wonder. Eve had so much more to lose if she were caught. Megan straightened the chair, then walked to the bathroom door and gingerly pushed it open. Eve’s worn boots peeked out from below the stall door.
“I have a better idea,” Megan said. “You can just wait down the road. Call me if anyone comes. That’s safer anyway.”
The toilet flushed and Eve stepped out. “Whatever works,” she said, running the tap and rinsing her mouth. “I’m good with anything. And sorry for that crack about you and your mom. I’m just glad you’re here.”
Megan’s eyes narrowed. Clearly she’d jumped to the wrong conclusion. Eve wasn’t scared at all. In fact, the color in her cheeks had completely returned—it hadn’t been fear that sent her racing to the bathroom.
“You’re bulimic, aren’t you?” Megan asked. Her voice gentled and she blew out an empathetic sigh. “Maybe you should rethink your profession if it means flipping.”
Eve turned away, ripped off a piece of paper towel and dried her hands. She wadded the paper in a tight ball, turned and fired it into the garbage can. “Unfortunately it’s too late to rethink anything,” she said.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Megan stared at the whiteboard, her chest pounding with a mixture of delight and anxiety. Megan - Jake. Finally, her name was posted with the other exercise riders. And Ramon had assigned her a wonderful horse. There couldn’t be a better horse than Jake.
“Glad you’re here, slowpoke.” A grinning Peter nudged her in the ribs. “They can laugh at you today, instead of me. All the exercise riders are flunking gate training. The jocks think we’re hilarious.”
“What’s Ramon like?” She adjusted her safety vest, tightening it another notch.
“I haven’t decided yet.” The smile faded from Peter’s face. “Sometimes when I’m spitting dirt, I’d prefer to be back with Lydia. Come on. Get your horse. Ramon gets mean if we’re late.”
Megan saddled and bridled Jake and led him into the aisle where Ramon was boosting up riders. “At the track, you’ll always mount inside,” he said, glancing at Megan. “And no cowboying up. You can hurt a horse’s back that way.”
She kept her face impassive but enjoyed a burst of confidence. Thank you, Scott. He’d already taught her so much.
“We’re doing gate work today,” Ramon added, his gaze narrowing on Jake, “and that horse breaks like a rocket. You’ll have to hang on.”
She nodded, but her bubble of confidence deflated. Scott had warned Jake would break hard too, and she’d never ridden from the gate before. There wouldn’t be a practice walk-through either. Maybe she should have stayed with Scott for another day.
But there was no time to worry. Ramon legged her into the saddle and Jake rushed from the barn, head bent and keen to get to work. The horse’s confidence was infectious. Besides, this was different, almost liberating. No Lydia scowled, sniping at her every step.
The eager horses pranced toward the track, the experienced jock students in front, led by Miguel. Megan fell into line, relishing the positive energy.
Tami edged up beside her on a narrow-chested bay with a leather breastcollar. “You’ll finally be able to see Miguel ride. He’s awesome,” she whispered, gesturing toward the front of the line. “Sometimes Ramon lets the jocks work from the gate and they blister around the track. It’s like a real race.”
Tami’s nose wrinkled with concern as she eyed Megan’s horse. “I’m surprised you’re on such an experienced racehorse. Ramon should switch you for gate work. Eve rode Jake last w
eek and he sizzles.”
“Yes. Scott already warned me that Jake would come out fast.” Megan checked the trail from the cowshed, but no horse and rider appeared on the ridge. She straightened in the saddle, fighting a stab of disappointment. “I guess Ramon knows how to assign horses,” she added, trying to reassure Tami. And herself.
“I don’t know.” Tami shrugged, her brow still furrowed. “Miguel said the school is short since two horses pulled up lame last week. And Ramon needs four racehorses to send to the Baja Tinda, but they only have three.”
“Didn’t they just send some last month?” Megan asked. “How many do they give them?”
“Don’t know. I only know the school is short of horses.” Tami straightened in the saddle, her attention shifting. “Look at that girl flirting with Miguel. She’s such a skank.”
Megan glanced at the line of riders in front of them. The exercise riders were familiar but other than Eve and Miguel, she only knew the jock students by sight. Everyone looked different beneath helmets too, especially from the rear. However, if anyone was flirting, it was probably Miguel.
“They’re just talking,” Megan said. “I doubt he gave her a new phone.”
“Guess you’re right,” Tami said. “Besides, Miguel owes me.”
“Why’s that?”
Tami raised her hand, fiddling with the buckle on her helmet. “What I meant is that he wants to get in my pants, so he has to be nice.” Her voice carried a touch of regret, and she yanked on her chinstrap. “I want a new boyfriend,” she added, “but I’ll be the first to admit you can’t always trust them.”
“You can’t trust anyone,” Megan said. “Only yourself.” Friends vanished at the first hint of trouble. And dates and sex were fine, but why would anyone want to invite heartache with a boyfriend?
Tami still stared at Miguel, silent and pensive. Megan shifted uncomfortably in the saddle, hating to see her roommate so sad. It was a relief when they reached the gap and Ramon began calling instructions. Even Tami had to forget her love interest and pay attention.
“Okay, everyone,” Ramon said, his critical gaze sweeping over each horse and rider. “I want you to warm up by trotting in pairs on the outside rail. Jocks pair up with the green riders. Watch for any runaways. Miguel, you go first.”
Tami urged her horse to the front of the line, grabbing the chance to pair up with Miguel. Jake pawed, eager to move onto the track. Megan turned him in a circle as eager riders called out names. Pairs quickly formed and stepped onto the track. No one looked her way.
She sat taller, trying to pretend it didn’t matter. No big deal. She was used to being alone. She could understand why no one wanted to be stuck with the new rider. Even Peter had chosen the red-haired girl who never wore deodorant. At least, he had made eye contact, shooting her a sheepish grin before turning away.
“Hey, let’s go, partner.”
Megan blinked, then smiled. Eve called to her from the back of a dark bay. Jake shot forward, seeming as relieved as Megan to finally have a partner, and the two horses trotted in tandem onto the track.
“Loosen the reins, Peter.” Ramon’s voice sounded behind them. “You’re cranked up way too tight. Eyes up, Justin.”
He shot out a rapid fire of comments but didn’t mention Megan’s name, and her tension eased as they escaped the congestion of horses. They followed the three pairs of riders already cleared to trot along the rail. Eve’s bay was a big striding gelding who matched Jake perfectly, and Megan gave a grateful smile.
“Thanks for buddying up with me,” she said. “I felt like I was back in school.”
Eve tilted her head. “Did you go to juvie too?”
“No, but word got out I might be a bad influence. I lost a lot of friends.” Megan shrugged. It hadn’t mattered. Small towns were tough but she’d learned to like her own company. “You look ready for the real track,” she added, admiring Eve’s relaxed seat and natural balance.
“I’m talking to a couple trainers at Santa Anita,” Eve said. “One guy is really supportive with apprentices. But I need a reference from Ramon and Garrett, and so far I haven’t been able to get it.”
It was hard to imagine Eve having trouble obtaining a reference. She looked like an extension of her horse, her ability far beyond that of the other students. Megan adjusted her legs, trying to mirror Eve. Scott had given good tips, but it was easier to follow his instructions with a jockey to copy. She felt comfortable too, at least at a trot, and Jake strode out beautifully, not fighting her hold.
“Your horse will be a lot tougher when we go the other way,” Eve warned, as they slowed to a walk and turned around. “All the track horses wake up when they run to the left, especially if they get close to the rail.”
Megan nodded, remembering how Scott had carefully kept Jake to his outside. He really had been looking out for her—and he was the sole reason she’d escaped Lydia’s clutches. She checked the ridge again. Nothing moved except a rolling tumbleweed.
“Jake only left the track six months ago,” Eve added, pulling back Megan’s attention. “Everyone loves him because he’s so honest. But be careful in the gate. He tends to think it’s a real race.”
“Everyone warns to be careful in the gate,” Megan said. “But how exactly do you do that?”
“Grab mane and pray.” Eve’s teeth flashed whitely in the sun. “It’s like jumping—when your horse stops, then gives that crazy leap and your heart jams in your throat. A real adrenaline rush.”
Megan nodded, although she’d never jumped anything but logs and streams. However, she knew the heart-in-her-throat feeling very well, and it usually came with pain, just before she hit the dirt.
“If we gallop well, Ramon might let us run from the gate to the finish line. But I can find another partner to race,” Eve added.
Race? Megan gulped. Of course, she couldn’t expect Jake to break from the gate and then immediately slow to a sedate canter. After all, he’d been a racehorse. But now that she’d made it into Ramon’s class, she questioned if she really belonged. Her stomach flipped in crazy circles. It had been years since she’d chased after cattle, and this would be an entirely different dimension of fast.
She sucked in big gulps of air, trying to steady her breathing. She could do this. She’d always loved speed, and thanks to Scott, she could now balance in an exercise saddle. Besides, Jake was a sweetie.
She reached forward and scratched his neck, silently promising more alfalfa if he managed to keep her safe in the saddle. Not that she believed in sucking up, but it never hurt if a horse liked its rider. She caught another of Eve’s odd smiles.
“You ride like Joey,” Eve said. “In fact, when you’re in the saddle, you remind me of him. He was always communicating with his horse. Why is your last name different?”
“After my father split, I took Mom’s maiden name,” Megan said. “Joey was six years younger, and more forgiving.”
“He never said much about his dad.”
“Not much to say.” Megan shrugged. Her father wasn’t much of a man. He’d given her a hug and said he’d met another woman. But she knew the truth—he hadn’t wanted the hassle of teenagers and police and problems. The last she heard he was living in New Zealand. She’d made many tearful phone calls in the middle of the night promising to behave, sent countless emails pleading for him to come home. Now she no longer cared.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” she added. “Mom missed him and money was tight. But Joey and I hardly noticed he was gone.”
“But didn’t his leaving cause all your problems? Oh, never mind.” Eve paused and looked uncomfortable.
“Scott said I should make the knot higher,” Megan said quickly, pointing at her reins. “What do you think?”
“Yes, that’ll help. But shorten them now. It’s our turn to gallop next. Ramon will signal and then we pick it up at the quarter pole. If we look good, we go to the gate.”
The pair in front of them broke away and Megan quickly kno
tted her reins several inches higher, trying not to stress about the next few minutes. Already Jake pranced and pushed at the bit, aware of what was coming next. She wished she could share his excitement, but her hands felt sticky against the rubber-backed reins.
“Great. Our turn now,” Eve said, clearly not sharing Megan’s apprehension. They moved off together. Jake gave a happy buck and then he was galloping. Megan clamped her mouth shut and automatically balanced on his back. Eve stayed on the inner rail, Jake to the outside.
Wind stung her eyes, and she had no idea where the quarter pole was. There were a bunch of black and white poles, but the other riders had seemed to start at the red and white post in the backstretch. Jake rammed at the bit, trying to stretch out but she kept a tight hold and simply maintained Eve’s speed. It was actually kind of fun.
They rounded the turn and shot down the backstretch, and Megan couldn’t stop her whoop of delight. This was definitely exhilarating, far better than any thrill ride.
Jake loved it too and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop him, but Eve veered out slightly, floating her to the middle of the track. Jake shook his head in protest but immediately tucked his head and slowed.
“You did really well,” Eve called, her voice splintering as they slowed to a bouncy trot. “Jake ran off with Miguel just last week.”
“But you helped slow us down.” Megan’s words came out ragged but happy. “If he’d been on the rail, I would have been cooked.”
“Nah, you’re a natural, just like your brother. Look at Miguel’s face.” Eve’s laugh was slightly malicious. “He never likes to be upstaged.”
Miguel twisted in the saddle, sneering at Eve as they trotted past. “You gallop like an old lady,” he yelled. “Can’t even beat an exercise rider. My dad has a donkey that can run faster.”
“That explains why you can’t ride horses,” Eve called back. “Better go home and ride Daddy’s donkeys.”
Miguel’s face darkened. “Puta.”
Eve flipped him the bird, then turned to Megan, still grinning. “He hates to have his riding ability questioned. I don’t know what everyone sees in that jerk. Even Ramon thinks he walks on water.”
HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery) Page 15
