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She coasted to a stop at the yard, then pulled hard on the emergency brake.
Her heart squeezed at the sight of Brigadier, prancing proudly in one small paddock, his ears pricked forward, his tail raised like a banner as he stared over the top rail of a whitewashed fence to a pasture of mares grazing nearby. He nickered softly, intent on the small herd, and ignored Tessa’s repeated attempts to get his attention.
“Traitor,” she murmured, dusting her hands as she approached the huge white house.
Nate answered the door in his stocking feet. “Tessa! Good to see you,” he exclaimed. “You just missed Paula and Sherrie—they’re in town doing the grocery shopping.”
“That’s okay,” she said, though she would have liked to have a heart-to-heart with Paula and had hoped to give Sherrie the riding lesson she’d promised. “Actually, I came to see you.”
“Me?” he asked, smiling. “I’m flattered. Come on in.” He led her into the kitchen where the smell of coffee lingered in the air. “What can I do for you?” he asked as he motioned her onto a bar stool and held up the coffeepot. “How about a cup?”
“I’d love one.”
She accepted a brimming mug. The coffee was strong and black and hot. It warmed her throat but couldn’t take away the frigid cold that had settled so deep in her soul.
“What’s on your mind?” Nate climbed onto the stool next to hers.
“Business, I’m afraid. I came over to offer to buy back my horses. I was hoping you’d sell Brigadier and Ebony back to me. I’d like Red Wing, too, but since she’s Sherrie’s horse . . .”
“You want the horses back?” Nate scowled as he took a long swallow of coffee.
“Yes. But I’m willing to pay you more than you paid me—for all your trouble.”
“I just can’t help you, Tessa,” he said, confused.
She had expected to haggle. Nate was a businessman. Leaning closer to him, she said, “This is very important to me.”
“I know.”
“Name your price.”
“I can’t.”
“You can’t?”
His eyebrows drew together over his eyes and his mouth turned down at the corners. “I already sold the horses, Tessa. I thought you knew about it.”
Tessa’s heart fell so far she was sure it would hit the floor. “You didn’t,” she whispered, feeling betrayed. She had no reason to feel Nate had deceived her. She’d sold him Brigadier and Ebony with no strings attached. And yet ... “I—I just saw Brigadier out in the paddock.”
“I’m keeping him and the mares until the trailer comes. Sometime today.”
Sick inside, her world spinning, Tessa had to set her cup on the counter. It took all of her concentration to stay upright on the stool. “Wait a minute,” she whispered. “You thought I’d know about the sale? How?”
“I sold the horses through Ross Anderson.”
“Denver’s attorney?”
Nate met her eyes. “Right. Denver bought the horses from me, Tessa. Even Red Wing. He paid top dollar, too. I made fifteen thousand on the deal, and he promised to sell me another horse for Sherrie.”
Tessa grabbed the edge of the counter. She could barely breathe. “You spoke to Denver?” she whispered, her thoughts jumbled and confused.
“No—just Anderson. But believe me, Denver wanted your horses. I had no intention of letting them go, but I’m not fool enough to turn down a quick fifteen grand.”
“Of course not,” Tessa replied, blinking.
“Look, Tessa, I’m sorry—”
She waved off his apology. “I guess I’ll just have to talk to Denver,” she said, forcing a calm edge to her voice, though her mind was burning with accusations, her insides tied in knots of betrayal.
