Page 18 of The Rancher

“Yes,” said Lyris. “They could also kill your horse, if given in a strong enough dose. I administered an antidote that I hope will help.”

Ray turned to Ted. He straightened his spine and threw his shoulders back. “Why would you doubt, Lyris? She’s the veterinarian, not you. She knows best and has my full confidence. Don’t question her actions again.”

“Yes,sir.” Ted crossed to where the rakes and shovels hung on the wall. “I guess I know what I’m good for…mucking the stalls.”

Ray raised his hand and stopped him. “You aren’t being paid to muck stalls. Where are the stable hands?”

“This is Rob’s day to muck, and he called in sick. That leaves it to me.”

“Does he do this a lot?” Ray crossed his arms over his massive chest, which only emphasized his muscular arms.

“Yeah, at least twice a month.”

“Why haven’t you replaced him? I don’t need lazy workers or stable masters who don’t do their jobs. Delegate this to the cowboy whose job it is tomorrow. Rob can take that man’s day. He won’t be expecting it, so he won’t call in sick. I expect you to fire him…after he mucks the stalls.”

“Yes, sir. I will.” Ted held himself straight, shoulders back, and chin up.

He wouldn’t show fear in front of Ray. Lyris admired that, as much as she didn’t like the man. “Ted, I shouldn’t have to tell you how to do your job. Being the manager is what I pay you for, and I pay you well. Do your job, or I’ll find someone who will.” Ray turned to Lyris. “Thank you for taking care of my horse. Stormchaser is a favorite of mine and Maddy’s. Her mother’s horse was his dam. My stallion, Great Ball ‘O Fire, was his sire.”

She gazed at Stormchaser. “He has very good lines and his lineage is impeccable. I would say that second place is not as good as he can do.”

“It’s not. This is his first year racing, and he’ll get better with more training. Your knowledge of horses is one of the reasons I hired you. Now, there are more.” He winked.

Lyris felt her cheeks heat not just from his wink, but from the memories of their night before. She knew she couldn’t let this go on. He was technically her employer, even if she was a contract employee. She knew better than most not to mix business with pleasure. Wasn’t that what happened three years ago? She’d let her heart rule her head and had been duped and nearly destroyed. Kevin Chandler was the love of her life, or so she thought. He was the son of the owner…the son of her employer.She thought they had a love that could last through the ages and it turned out that when daddy threatened to cut him off without a cent, he suddenly discovered the love of his life was Sarah Jacobs. The woman his daddy picked out for Kevin and when he met her, he’d done what his father expected and asked her to marry him. Kevin assured Lyris it was a temporary thing and Sarah would go away.

But Lyris was the one who went away after Kevin had the audacity to suggest they could keep seeing each other even after he was married. “You know, on the sly,” he’d said.

She’d been devastated. So much so, she’d marched up to the house and quit almost as soon as the words were out of Kevin’s mouth.

The situation with Ray was totally different, but she couldn’t take the chance if she wanted to keep her job. She needed to keep her heart separate from her work.

She released a deep breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding. At the first opportunity, she’d have to tell Ray. The job came first, and her heart would have to take a back seat. Now, if she could just keep her resolve.

CHAPTER 6

Lyris didn’t see Ray except at breakfast. Racing season was in full swing, and he traveled with the horses all over the country for various races. He had a private jet, which she had yet to see. She decided not seeing Ray was a good thing because she wasn’t looking forward to telling him they couldn’t see each other. Not when they had so obviously had a spark. Oh, who was she kidding? The spark was like lightning between them. She’d never been with a man who understood her so well and who she had laughed with so much as she did with Ray.

She couldn’t help her depression. Her heart hurt, but if she was to protect it from completely breaking, she needed to keep Ray at arm’s length. If she was smart, she would leave. She would cancel her contract and just go. The cost of breaking her contract wasn’t something she could bear right now. She had to work at least six months, through the racing season, before she could quit. And with the doping she found in Stormchaser, she was afraid for the horses if she left. Clearly, Ted didn’t have the animals’ best interests at heart.

She was heading out of the barn after a long day, when an unfamiliar silver Jag pulled into the yard. The woman who got out was not unfamiliar. Marissa Holloway headed acrossthe yard. She was tall and held herself almost rigidly. Her black hair was in a chignon with long curled tendrils framing her face, emphasizing her angular cheekbones. Lyris was tall but not willowy like Marissa, and the differences between them was never more apparent than right now after Lyris had just delivered a colt before she left the barn and was covered in birthing matter. She’d managed to wash her hands, but her clothes were another thing.

Ray wasn’t home from the races and this woman had to know that, so what was she after?

“Lyris, right?” she asked when she was close.

“That’s right. Marissa, correct? We met at Ray’s gala.”

She chuckled. “Yes, it was a tense meeting. You and Ray disappeared after that. I had things I wanted to discuss with him.”

Lyris placed her hands on her hips. “Well, he’s not here as I’m sure you’re aware. So, what do you want?”

“A woman who gets straight to the point. I am here to see Ray. I want to fix things between us. We were close once. He even wanted to marry me.”

“You know he’s not at home. You have horses at the races, too. What are you really doing here?” She didn’t believe for a minute that Marissa wanted to get Ray back.Ray was adamant that wouldn’t happen.No, she wants to talk to me. That’s why she’s here.

Marissa chewed her bottom lip for a moment.

The action proved to Lyris that she was nervous about something.