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“I’ll look after him, no worries,” he assured her.
“Okay.”
“Thank you,” Katy added. She herded Teddie out of the stable and back to the SUV, putting her in before she got behind the wheel.
“You meant it?” Teddie asked at once. “About that lawyer?”
Katy nodded. “I meant it.” She drew in a breath. “I’m sorry. You were right. Daddy would have been ashamed of me.”
“I’m sorry I said that,” Teddie told her. “I’m sorry about it all. It’s just, I love Bart and I thought you were going to let that man talk you into having him put down. I was scared.”
“Nobody’s putting Bart down,” Katy said firmly as she started the car. “And Ron is going back home tomorrow, whether he wants to or not.”
Teddie didn’t say anything as she put on her seat belt. But she smiled.
Chapter 8
It was after lunch before Ron drove up to the front porch. Katy let him in, but not with any sort of welcome. He glanced beyond her at Teddie sitting on the sofa, glaring, and he made a face.
“I thought you and I might go for a ride,” he said. “To talk about the horse.”
“How much did Mr. Dealy offer you, Ron?” she asked abruptly.
His lower jaw dropped. He stared at her while he searched for a reply that wouldn’t get him kicked out the front door. The man was extremely wealthy and he’d offered the lawyer a whopping fee if he could convince the woman to have the horse put down. If there was no evidence, he could get out of the abuse charge, just as he’d gotten out of similar charges in the past—with money.
But it looked as if Katy was wise to the deal. He wondered who’d been talking to her. He suspected the Indian, but how would that man . . . what was his name again, Parker? How would Parker know?
“So it’s true,” Katy continued, nodding. “I thought so.”
“It’s just a horse, honey,” he said softly. “An old horse. He could drop dead tomorrow.”
Teddie stared at him coldly.
Odd, how guilty that stare made him feel. He didn’t like kids, especially this one. He’d never wanted any, and he still didn’t.
“You could get a colt and raise it,” he told the child.
“That isn’t your decision,” Katy said quietly. “You have no place in this family except as my late husband’s attorney. I was wrong to trust you. I should never have asked you for help.”
“Now listen, let’s not be hasty,” Ron began.
“I’m signing over custody of Bartholomew to Mr. Denton tomorrow. His firm of attorneys is coming here from L.A. and they’ll handle the litigation. Mr. Dealy is going to find himself in more hot water than he ever dreamed, and this time he won’t walk away from the charges.” She smiled coolly. “You see, we have photographic proof of Bart’s injuries and at least two witnesses who can attest to them in court.”
“Dealy said there were none,” Ron blurted out.
“Amazing how you’re willing to believe the word of a man who’ll half kill a horse and lie about it. It must have been a big sum he offered you,” Katy added cynically.
Ron took a long breath. He glared at Teddie. “If it wasn’t for that kid, you’d have done what I asked.”
“That kid is the reason I asked you to come here, to help us save her horse. And you sold us out for a promise of money,” Katy added. “I’d like you to leave now, please. Don’t ever come back,” she added. “Don’t call, don’t write, don’t even try to text me. If you like, I’ll be happy to write you a check for all your expenses, including airfare and the rental car. Even your usual fee for representing a client,” she added with icy disdain.
He shifted uncomfortably. “That won’t be necessary,” he said stiffly. “I’m not a poor man.” He moved just a step closer, stopping when she moved a step away. “We could have good times together,” he tried one last time, forcing a smile. “You’d shine in Washington society.”
“I prefer living with the barbarians,” Katy said easily. “Sorry.”
He let out an angry breath. “It’s the Indian, of course,” he said icily. “What, you going to marry him and live on the reservation? The man is ignorant!”
“Really? What do you know about Schrodinger’s cat?” Teddie asked with faint contempt.
