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“Last night someone let Moon Shadow out of his stall.”
There was silence on the other end of the line. “What do you mean ‘someone let him out’?” Dustin asked, his voice cold.
Tiffany gave a brief account of the events of the evening and Dustin’s voice shook with rage. “Zane Sheridan was there again? What does he want this time? Don’t tell me he’s still pressuring you into selling to him.”
“No, Dustin, he’s not,” Tiffany replied.
“Then why the hell is he hanging around?”
“Maybe he enjoys my company—”
“I’ll bet. If you ask me, he’s the culprit who let Moon Shadow out. He’s probably trying to make it tough on you so you’ll sell him the farm.” Dustin swore descriptively.
“I don’t think so.”
“That’s the problem, isn’t it—sometimes you just don’t think. Period.”
With his final words, Dustin slammed down the phone, and Tiffany knew in her heart that everything Zane had said about her brother-in-law was true. A deep sadness stole over her, and she spent the rest of the day locked in the den, going over the books, hoping to block out the bitter truth about Dustin and what he had done.
Dustin would be back on the farm with Journey’s End by the end of the week. When he arrived, Tiffany planned to confront him with the truth.
* * *
Four days later, she still hadn’t heard from Zane. Things had settled into the usual routine on the farm, and she had spent her time working with Mac and the yearlings.
The fence had been repaired, and there had been no other disturbances on the farm. Moon Shadow was healing well, and Mac had prepared a neighboring stall in the stallion barn for Journey’s End. “A shame about that one,” the old trainer had remarked when he learned about the accident. “Sometimes fate seems to deal out all the bad cards at once.”
Later that night, Tiffany was seated in the den going over the books. The house was dark except for the single desk lamp and the shifting flames of the fire burning noisily against dry oak. Tiffany felt cold and alone. The portrait of Devil’s Gambit seemed to stare down from its position over the mantel and mock her. Where was Zane? Why hadn’t he called?
She tried to force her attention back to the books and the red ink that was beginning to flow in the pages of the general ledger. The farm was losing money. Without Moon Shadow’s stud fees or any income from Journey’s End’s racing career, Tiffany had little alternative but to sell several of the best yearlings.
The rap on the French doors surprised her, but she knew in an instant that it had to be Zane. She saw his haggard face through the glass, she opened the doors with trembling fingers and flung herself into his arms.
He stepped in with a rush of cold air that chilled the room and fanned the glowing embers of the fire and billowed the sheer draperies. “Thank God you’re here,” she whispered against his neck before lifting her head and studying the intensity of his gaze.
The look on his face was murderous. Dark shadows circled his gray eyes, and a weariness stole over his features making the angular planes seem more rugged and foreboding. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in weeks.
“Zane?” she whispered as his dark eyes devoured her.
“It’s just about over,” he said as he closed the door and walked over to the fire to warm himself.
“What is?”
“Everything you’ve been going through.” He reached for her and drew her close to him. “I wish I could make it easier for you—”
“Easier?”
“Shh.” He brushed his lips over hers, and his hands locked behind her back, gently urging her body forward until her supple curves pressed against him and he groaned, as if in despair. She felt her body respond to his and heard the uneven beat of her own heart when he kissed her hungrily and his tongue touched hers. Her fingers lingered at his neck, and she felt the coiled tension within him, saw the strain on his face.
“What happened?” she asked, when at last he drew his head back.
“It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got the rest of my life to listen,” she murmured.
Zane managed a wan smile. “Oh, lady, I’ve been waiting for four days to hear you say just those words,” he whispered, his arms tightening around her. “God, I’ve missed you.” He kissed the curve of her neck, his lips lingering near her earlobe, before he gently released her.
“So tell me.”
