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“The only account I didn’t have control of was that mysterious one that Mom wouldn’t let us dig into,” Lorry continued the story from Steph. “So I shut down all the old accounts once we were able to pay off the loans eight months ago and opened new ones for the businesses.”
“Businesses?” Nicky’s eyes narrowed.
“Yes, Dad owns half of Bailey’s Horse Ranch and stables,” Steph surprised her by saying. “We found out that the Bailey’s were in financial trouble, and Dad bailed them out by investing in the ranch.”
“That’s why they’re not charging me a stabling fee,” Nicky said and then looked at Lorry. “Then why are you selling some of our horses?”
“I was only selling Midnight, Arrow, and Ghost,” Lorry told her. “I feel bad that they are not getting ridden as often as they should be.”
“I’m here now,” Nicky said. “And I love those horses.” She looked pleadingly at Lorry. “Please don’t sell them. I’ll pay all their costs.”
“Yes, and I love Midnight,” Stephanie protested. “Dad said he was all of ours to share.”
“You don’t ride him enough, Steph.” Lorry turned her attention to Steph before looking at Nicky. “Yes, the costs are a major concern,” she admitted. “But we don’t get to ride as often as we used to.”
“Yes, but I’m here now, and you know I rideat leastthree times a week,” Nicky reminded them. “Even more some weeks when I can slip away.”
“Okay, I’ll think about it,” Lorry promised, giving Nicky a patient smile. “How are you going to exercise all our horses?” She shook her head. “With Storm Chaser back at the stables we currently have nine horses there.”
“Are you still letting some of them be used for trail rides?” Nicky asked.
“Only three of them,” Steph told her. “Arrow, Mischa, and Tomboy.”
“Ghost, Trident, Ripple, Pegasus, and Whisper don’t like just anyone riding them,” Lorry pointed out.
“You mean none of you like your horses being ridden by strangers.” Nicky laughed. “I don’t blame you. So, no judgment. I’d hate for anyone to ride Storm Chaser.” Her brow furrowed as she realized they hadn’t mentioned Dancer. “I meant to ask you a few days ago where Dancer was.”
Nicky didn’t miss the look her sisters exchanged.
“What happened to Dancer?” Nicky looked accusingly at her sisters before her eyes widened. “Did you sell her?”
Dancer had been Lorry’s horse. Ghost had been Nicky’s. When their father died, he’d left Storm Chaser to Nicky. Lorry had always loved Ghost, so Nicky had given Ghost to her, and Lorry had given Dancer to her daughter, Tammy, a year ago.
“No!” Stephanie was quick to answer.
“I thought you gave her to Tammy,” Nicky looked at Lorry. “You said she was interested in riding again about a year ago.”
“As you know, my daughter still blames me for the divorce,” Lorry explained, her eyes dropping to her wine to hide the hurt that always flashed in them when she spoke about Tammy. She blew out a breath, and her hand shook slightly when she lifted the glass to her lips.
“I thought Tammy really wanted Dancer?” Nicky’s frown deepened.
“I love Tammy.” Steph’s eyes widened as she spoke, and she gestured with her hand. “You’d think after seven years she’d finally see through her father and that the divorce was entirely his fault.”
“Steph!” Lorry looked at her warningly.
“No, Lorry, I’m sorry, but Tammy is getting worse,” Steph stated, looking at Nicky. “Tammyrentedout Dancer to a movie company filming a western in Naples.”
“She did what?” Nicky looked at her sisters in disbelief.
Lorry sighed, closed her eyes, and gave her head a slight shake before looking at Nicky. “A month ago, she brought me some legal documents to sign stating that Dancer was her horse,” Lorry explained to Nicky. “I thought it was Tammy’s way of proving to me she was becoming more responsible, so I’d finally let her take the shuttle on her own to visit her father when she wanted to.”
“Butno,” Steph emphasized the no, her eyes blazing, which was uncharacteristic of her usually cool, calm, and soft sister. “Little Miss Tammy was plotting ways to make money so she wouldn’t have to ask Lorry for any so she could leave before dawn to go to Naples and visit her father.”
“Tammy did that?” Nicky gasped. “You said about a month ago?” She looked at Lorry, confused. “Why am I only hearing about this now?”
“Shh,” Lorry said, putting her index finger to her lips. “Mom and Gran don’t know what Tammy did, and I don’t want them to.”
“Lorry!” Nicky admonished. “I’ve seen and known Tammy to pull some stunts, but that’s not only hurtful to you, it’s also dangerous for a young girl to sneak off like that.”
