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Dustin became uneasy. “What’s going on?”
Zane propped a booted foot on a chair near the table. “That’s what we’d like to know.” Zane’s gray eyes glittered ominously, and Dustin was reminded of a great cat about to spring on unsuspecting quarry. His throat went dry.
“Tiffany?” Dustin asked.
She turned to face her brother-in-law and he saw the disappointment in her eyes.She knows. She knows everything!Dustin’s palms began to sweat, and he tugged at the collar of his shirt.
“I think you need to answer a few questions, Dustin. Did you let Moon Shadow out the other night?” she charged.
Dustin’s gold eyes narrowed treacherously, but he refused to fall into any of Sheridan’s traps. “Of course not. I . . . I was in Florida.”
“It’s over, Rhodes,” Zane cut in. “I checked the flights. You were booked on a red-eye.”
“No—I mean, I had business in town. . . .”
Tiffany’s shoulders slumped, but she forced her gaze to bore into Dustin’s. “Zane says that Devil’s Gambit is alive in Ireland, that he’s siring foals while King’s Ransom is taking all the credit.” Dustin whitened. “Is it true?” Tiffany demanded, her entire body shaking with rage and disappointment.
“I don’t know anything about—”
“Knock it off,” Zane warned, straightening to his full height. “You’re the primary owner of Emerald Enterprises, which happens to own a farm where King’s Ransom stands. I saw Devil’s Gambit and I’ve got the pictures to prove it.” His face grew deadly. “And if that isn’t enough proof to lock you up for the rest of your life, Stasia is willing to talk, for the right price.”
“None of this is happening.” Dustin turned his gold eyes on her. “Tiff, you can’t believe all this. Sheridan’s just out for revenge, like I told you. . . . Oh, my God,” he said as he recognized the truth. “You’re in love with the bastard, aren’t you? What’s he promised to do, marry you?” He saw the silent confirmation in her eyes. “Damn it, Tiffany, don’t be a fool. Of course he proposed to you. He’d do anything to steal this farm from you.”
“The only time I was a fool, Dustin,” Tiffany stated, her voice trembling with rage, “was when I trusted you.”
“I helped you—when your world was falling to pieces, I helped you, damn it.”
“And you lied. About Devil’s Gambit and about Moon Shadow.” Her eyes blazed a furious shade of blue. “You let me think that Moon Shadow was the cause of the dead foals and you leaked the story to Rod Crawford.”
“What are you saying?” Dustin demanded.
“That the jig is up. Vance Geddes has discovered that the only unhealthy foals sired by Moon Shadow were all conceived during one week—a week you were on the farm,” Zane said, barely able to control his temper. “He hasn’t discovered what you injected the mares with yet, but it’s only a matter of time before he knows just what happened.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“Give it up, Rhodes!”
Dustin turned furious eyes on Tiffany. “You’ve got it all figured out, haven’t you? You and your lover! Well, I’m not going to bother to explain myself. It looks as if I’m going to need an attorney—”
“I’d say so,” Zane stated. “The police are on their way. They’ve already rounded up Bob Prescott, and I’m willing to bet that he sold you out.”
Dustin visibly paled. He lunged for Tiffany; his only chance of escape was to take Tiffany hostage.
Zane anticipated the move and as Dustin grabbed for Tiffany, Zane landed a right cross to Dustin’s cheek that set him on his heels.
“Don’t even think about it,” Zane warned as Dustin attempted to get up. In the distance, the sounds of a police siren became audible. “I’d be thinking very seriously about an attorney myself, if I were you,” he said.
When the police arrived, they read Dustin his rights and took him in for questioning. As he left he was still rubbing his jaw and glaring angrily at Zane.
“I’ve waited a long time for that,” Zane admitted. He stepped onto the back porch and watched while the police cars raced out the drive with Dustin in custody.
“I just can’t believe it’s over,” Tiffany murmured, her eyes looking over the rolling hills that she’d grown to love. “And to think that Dustin was behind it all. . . .”
Zane tilted her chin upward and looked into her worried eyes. “Like you said, it’s over.” He kissed her tenderly on the eyelids and tasted the salt of her tears, before leading her back to the den. “I came here intending to ruin you,” he admitted roughly. “I wanted to buy this farm no matter what the cost.” He took out the legal documents that John Morris had prepared. After showing her the contract of sale, he tossed it into the fireplace, and the coals from the previous night burst into flame against the crisp, white paper. “It was all so damned pointless,” he said. “All I want is for you to be my wife.”
“And I will be,” she vowed.
“Even if it means living part of your life in Ireland? We have to bring Devil’s Gambit home, you know.”
