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“You do that while I check out the roster of riders tomorrow,” Rick said as Bailey led her to the wash rack.
“Haven’t you already seen it?”
“Yeah, but sometimes there are last minute changes. I won’t be long.”
“Take your time. I’ll be at least half-an-hour.”
“Okay, but remember, when you’re done we’re goin’ back to your motel room.”
“Good grief, you’re insatiable,” she exclaimed, staring at him.
“Hey, I don’t know what’s on your mind, but I’m lookin’ to have a long soak in a hot tub and a decent nap. Then I figured we could go to The Tavern for dinner, but after that…” he said, letting his voice trail off and shooting her a wink.
Without waiting for a response he turned and marched away. Bailey was fun, sexy, smart and talented. But she was also reckless, and as he walked, he flashed back to the moment he’d been at Ben’s and looked up to see her at the top of the slope.
He couldn’t believe his eyes.
Though she’d promised to wait out of sight in the trees near Big John’s field, she’d been sitting bareback on the dark bay mare with just a halter and reins, and the other two horses loose beside them.
Then she’d decided to do the dangerous stunts on her mare, even though it had been several weeks since they’d performed together.
“That girl will push the envelope too far one of these days,” he muttered under his breath. But he’d reached the bulletin board, and pushing the thought from his mind he studied the list of names.
Only one was missing, but Rick knew him and he wouldn’t have been a threat. The rest of the group was strong, with at least four riders who had the potential to score high. All he could do was wait, and waiting was never easy. Thirsty and craving a beer, he set off for his motorhome, and was stepping inside when his phone rang. Lifting it out, he saw it was Duke.
“Hey, Duke, is everything okay?” he asked as he accepted the call.
“Yep, I’m on my way back. Sure is a nice barn the girls are at. The owners were thrilled to see those horses come home.”
“I bet they were. I’m glad you made it there with no problems—though I’m hearin’ an edge to your voice—or am I wrong?”
“I don’t wanna hold you up. It can wait if you’re busy.”
“Bailey’s hosin’ off her mare and I’m in my motorhome grabbin’ a beer, so your timin’s great. What’s up?”
“I need to clarify what was goin’ on that first day we bumped into each other at The Tavern.”
“You mean with Bailey?”
“Yep. Now it’s water under the bridge, but I had good reason to be ticked off, and I think you need to know why.”
“I’m listenin’.”
“First off, even though she claimed to be looking at horses for sale, I knew she wasn’t going to buy one. Don’t ask me how I knew, I just did, but if I broached the subject she’d get defensive and bite my head off. The day before I saw you at The Tavern she was supposed to meet me there. We were going to visit a barn about half-an-hour away. When she didn’t show up, and didn’t answer my calls and texts, I figured she must have decided to go by herself. I was at the bar, and I happened to mention the name of the ranch to a guy sitting next to me. He said it was owned by a bunch of lowlifes and I should stay away.”
“No shit.”
“So…you can imagine…”
“Hell, yeah,” Rick exclaimed.
“When I told him I thought a friend of mine might have gone there, he was plenty worried and said I should go after her. He even wrote out the directions on a napkin. I took off—and I was anxious, like, really anxious.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“I kept calling and kept getting her voice mail. This place was in the middle of nowhere and I spent forever looking, but I never did find it. I even called the sheriff. He said he couldn’t do anything until a person was missing for twenty-four hours.”
“This is unbelievable,” Rick muttered. “She didn’t returnanyof your texts or calls?”
