Instead of meandering around the barns and paddocks as she and Jana had done the day before, Will headed straight to the perimeter of the facility, walking the fence line between barns and pastures.
“Did you know that everything you see here, everything that happens here began because of one rescue horse that only Avery Wilson Hanna thought was worth saving?”
“Flying Jackanapes or Jack as they call him,” Liz answered. “Jana told me some. I looked up the rest. It’s amazing what happens here. I found article after article. Pediatricians recommend her. Trauma centers recommend her. Psychiatrists recommend her. Her program is certified by the military to work with wounded veterans.”
“All from one special horse.”
Liz gave him a sideways grin. “Is this your explanation for why you let a black cat boss you around?”
Will looked startled then laughed. “Not really. I make no explanations or excuses for that and I’ve made my peace with his ability. If I’d had my way, he wouldn’t have gone to Italy with us. And I might be dead but for you and him joining forces with a hypodermic needle. Did I tell you thanks, by the way?”
She pretended to consider. “Not in so many words, that I recall, but you gave me some interesting experiences in exchange.”
“Like almost getting you killed on the back of a motorcycle?” He sounded rueful.
“More like tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain,” she said softly,” and feeling the spray from the fountain against my arms as I sat on the wall in front of it.”
There was a heartbeat of silence before he nodded. “My cases have taken me some interesting places. I’m sure yours have, too.”
Liz sensed he’d been about to say something very different but she let it pass. “I’ve been to most of the fifty states and to Mexico once and Canada twice. I don’t get to see much of anything except the interstate and the ranch or stable where my client lives.”
“Your client being the horse.”
“I won’t deny the horse is more important to me than the owner but I have to deal with both and hope what I do and say is enough to change the owner.”
“Because the problem is rarely the horse?”
“Very rarely, but sometimes.”
“And if it is the animal?”
“It takes longer but I have a greater chance of success. Once an animal learns that everything doesn’t have to be a fight, that they don’t have to be afraid, that there won’t be pain at the end of the lesson, they don’t forget what brought success. Humans have a much shorter memory and are more likely to lapse into a bad habit because it’s the easier route to where they want to get.”
“Oddly enough, I understand what you just said.”
“I knew you were a smart guy.”
She expected him to chuckle. Instead he turned in front of her so that they were face to face. When he said, simply, “I’m going to kiss you,” she surprised both of them by closing her eyes and lifting her face to his.
The kiss was as much about exploration as it was passion though there was plenty of that as well. When his hands came up to cradle her face and his fingers slid gently into her hair, she sank deeper into the feelings that welled up within her. And felt bereft when he took a step back. Still his touch didn’t leave her as he lowered his hands to her shoulders before gliding them down her back to her waist. She yielded to the gentle pressure and stepped closer so that they touched the length of their bodies.
When he let her go, she was relieved that he looked as shaken as she felt.
“I’m not going to say I’m sorry.” His words were a murmur.
She smiled. “Neither will I.” And she knew she’d never forget him and that, too, she didn’t say.
After the intensity of the moment, she was relieved that they were able to slip back into a lighter mood without effort. She knew the kiss hadn’t been wise of either of them. He was—at least in a sense—her employer. The fact that he’d asked for her assistance rather than offering work she needed made that a little less burdensome but, even so, it was there.
They stopped once to watch several young horses at play, bucking and nipping and kicking at one another. “They’re rough with each other,” Will commented.
“They’re also tough. They rarely dish out what they can’t take.” Liz smiled at the darting and whirling youngsters.
They’d walked almost full circle back to the Hanna’s residence before Will spoke again. “My clients rarely try to cause me harm but it happens. What about yours?”
It didn’t seem an idle question and Liz gave him a questioning glance. “I don’t think that’s their intent, no.”
“But it’s happened.”
“A time or two. I healed.” Not for the world would she mention a once-wrenched knee that sometimes ached when her day was longer than it should have been. None of her injuries were as permanent as a bullet would be to Will.
* * *
I believe I hear my humans returning. I’ve learned a bit but I can’t tell what, if any, significance it has to the case. Still, the fact that all five horses are in the same registry classification can’t be coincidental.
“Are you through poking around?” Will asks. I’ll ignore the wink and believe he means that sincerely.
I pat the screen to draw his attention to my results. I’m gratified when he gives it due attention as does the intelligent Liz.
* * *
“Interesting.” Will studied the screen intently, even more intently aware of Liz peering over his shoulder.
“What’s the AIA?”
“Associazione Italiana Allevatori. It’s the Italian Breeders Association. And this appears to be a list of horses they’ve decreed are ‘indigenous breeds of limited distribution’.”
“I’m not sure what limited distribution means. If it’s that distribution is controlled or they’re naturally in a confined area or that not many people want them.”
“I haven’t a clue, either, but all five of our missing horses are on this list.”
“Would that make them more valuable?”
“That’s a question for Cervelli. Let’s give him a call first thing in the morning, shall we? We’re six hours behind them so it’s after hours there.” Liz nodded and Will glanced at Trouble. “Good with you?”
Trouble rumbled his consent.
* * *
Smart, smart humans. Always gratifying to work with intelligent creatures.
Chapter Fifteen
I’ve found Tucker to be a man of many layers with hidden depths. Kind and gentle, yes, but with a stalwart strength of body as well as mind and character. I’ve watched him work out in the small gym at the back of his clinic. Even I am amazed at the number of crunches and push-ups he can accomplish without any appearance of discomfort. And I acknowledge myself to be difficult to impress. To follow him on farm calls, as I have done on several occasions, is to witness expertise in action, an expertise blended with compassion for both animal and owner. He has been a good match for Avery’s rescue ranch.
We’re restful together in the quiet of morning as we sit at the bottom of the stairs leading up to his apartment. I’ve finished the bowl of cream he served me with such good manners but he lingers over a second cup of coffee. We watch the sun rise with the startling swiftness that seems to happen when the days grow cooler as if that orb is also invigorated after the languid heat of summer.
I hear the opening of a door followed by a creak on the landing above us and listen to Jana’s near silent descent. She’s light on her feet, quiet and graceful, but Tucker’s lips curve slightly and I know he, too, hears the love of his life coming down the outer stairs.
“Good morning, babe. You should have awakened me.” She sits beside him with her own mug filled with the liquid caffeine that most humans seem to enjoy, some early of morning, some late at night, and some seem to crave every waking moment. But these are nice people so I choose to overlook their poor dietary choices.
“No way. You slept bet
ter last night than you have in—in a while. No tossing and turning. I wasn’t about to mess that up.”
Jana leans her head against Tucker’s shoulder, clearly grateful for his thoughtfulness. He’s that kind of person.
“You know it scared me at first how fast I fell in love with you but every day I understand more and more how my heart knew so soon.”
“It spooked me a little, too, you know. Especially after Carlee and how wrong I was about her.”
“Yeah, that was part of my fear…that I was somehow a rebound for you even though it had been more than a year.”
Tucker slips an arm around her and pulls her close. “You taught me better than anything and anyone that what I felt for her wasn’t love. Just an instinctive infatuation for something that was dangerous and unhealthy.”
* * *
In the moment I decide I’ve had enough of a touching moment—too much of a good thing is not a good thing—a low-slung sports car pulls in and stops in front of us. Unfortunately, I recognize that vehicle. More unfortunately, Jana does as well.
“Tucker.” Her tone isn’t a wail but it’s close with an edge of real anger.
Our good vet sighs. “Yeah, I guess Mr. Vincente has a comprehension problem.”
Two men exit the vehicle and I accompany Tucker to the driver’s side of the car where Mr. Vincente awaits. He holds up both hands in a placating manner that does nothing to alleviate the grim look upon Tucker’s face.
“I do realize you asked me to wait for a better time.”
Tucker waits in silence and I’m once again impressed with his level of maturity. Always keep your adversary on the defensive. But then I’m forced to be impressed with Mr. Vincente as well when he deftly sidesteps that role.
“Dr. Hollis, my architect, James Mondoro.”
The architect circles the car where hands are shaken and good mornings are spoken. I see Tucker send a look in Jana’s direction as if he senses her frustration as I certainly do.
“As I mentioned when you called, Mr. Vincente, the ranch can’t accommodate you at this time.”
“Oh, I do understand. We don’t expect to be housed or fed. All we need are a few hours to look around today and, again, tomorrow. We have a room in town and reservations for dinner there. I’ll pay you whatever you require for the opportunity. Money is no object for me.”
“And it’s no enticement for me,” Tucker rejoins.
Mr. Vincente has the good sense to fall silent while Tucker ponders his options. It’s not in him to be rude to the point of throwing the man off the premises, even one who’s proven himself as hard of head as Mr. Vincente. He’s an inconvenience but not a catastrophe, except where Jana’s sensitivities are concerned. Will and Liz must remain inconspicuous while these two are out and about and that will be no hardship as his team departed last evening. Mr. Vincente would merely view them as guests of the ranch. No, it is Jana’s distress that will be the difficulty for Tucker.
I hear his near-silent sigh before he speaks. “I’ll allow you two hours on the premises. From now until nine which is our first morning class. You may have the same time frame tomorrow morning, seven until nine. Our clientele is sensitive in nature. I’ll assign someone to escort you through one of the barns and paddocks which are all built on the same design. You’ll obey your escort at all times.”
Mr. Vincente bares his teeth in a smile. My guess is that his affability is stretched thin by being told he must obey anyone. I doubt obedience is a part of his repertoire.
Even so, he has fared better than I suspect Tucker will if I’m to judge by Jana’s expression. It is fortunate that Mr. Vincente spared no more than a glance her way, perhaps ascertaining that she’s not the authorizing entity for the ranch and therefore unworthy of further attention. Now that I look back on the—ahem—daughter who accompanied him on his first visit, he may disregard any woman as worthy of his regard in any business capacity. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have him encounter my Tammy Lynn! Hehe. She would assuredly put him in his place, all while being polite but very, very firm.
In short order, Tucker calls someone to accompany our unwanted visitors and turns toward Jana who is watching him with a look of sad disappointment upon her face. Poor Tucker.
I deem it wise to leave them to their own devices for this discussion. I’m sure Liz and Will are missing my discretion which is always the better part of valor. Fearless though I am, I’m not fool enough to rush in where angels fear to tread. What a witty play on words! I astound myself at times.
* * *
Liz had her feet propped on the stool in front of her, enjoying the mid-morning sun from the front porch of her cabin, when Trouble strolled around the corner. “Good morning. Where have you been?”
The morning before he’d returned first thing. Liz suspected that was because she was an early riser and a sucker to fix him scrambled eggs. She might not have a large collection of fancy recipes she could whip out on a whim but scrambled eggs she could handle. For answer, he jumped to her lap, kneaded her legs for a moment, and settled into a rather weighty curl on her lap.
A heartbeat later, Will stepped out of his cabin and crossed over to hers. “I was getting ready to dial Cervelli. Thought you might want to listen in.”
“I do.”
The call, however, went straight to voice mail. Will shrugged and left a message asking for a return call, regardless of time in the States.
“So, we wait,” Will said. “Meanwhile, Tucker gave me a heads-up. The ‘more money than sense’ guy from Tennessee he told not to show up decided he would anyway.”
Liz rolled her eyes. “I guess the man is under the impression that the word no doesn’t apply to him. I’m also guessing Tucker let him stay.”
“Yeah, said it seemed the better option to him. Without Dirks and Avery here to offer input, he didn’t want to piss-off someone who could give bad press to the ranch in the future. There’s no telling how influential this guy is. Tucker said Avery’s not the least political but no sense generating ill will if it can be avoided. At least Tucker doesn’t want to be the one to do it.”
“I can understand his feelings.” And she could. A lot of her business depended upon the good-will of people she didn’t pander to and didn’t necessarily like but nor did she intentionally spark their wrath. Some people were best ignored or at least managed with as little turmoil as possible.
“As far as these guys, or anyone else is concerned, we’re visitors to the ranch. If they happen to see us,” Will shrugged, “no harm done either way.”
“And what do we do with our day?” Liz said, moving on to what was of greater importance than a guy who thought his wealth entitled him to his whim of the day. She was getting antsy without her work.
Before Will could answer, his phone rang.
With his gaze holding hers, Will said, “Buongiorno, Signor Cervelli. May I put you on speaker? I have Ms. O’Neal with me.”
Trouble sat upright in her lap.
Will waited for a response before switching his phone to speaker and saying, “We’re ready.”
“Good day to you, Ms. O’Neal.”
“And to you,” she said politely.
“I know you have a question for me but I must first tell you that we have had another theft. A Giara from the region of Sardinia. I will send you the particulars within the hour.” Cervelli’s voice was grim, Will’s expression even more so. “Please, your question.”
“My question now turns into two. Is this stallion one that the Associazione Italiana Allevatori has listed as one of the indigenous breeds of limited distribution?”
“Is that important?” Cervelli sounded confused.
“I believe it is as the first five stallions are on that list. That seems to be the only connection between them at this point so I have to believe it’s not coincidental.”
“Alors. I, too, would believe it to be a link.”
“Which brings me to my next question. Does being on this list make the anim
al more valuable?”
There was a moment’s silence which could have meant that Cervelli didn’t know the answer to that question or didn’t know how to present his answer so that it would be comprehensible.
Finally, the statesman sighed. “The animal is certainly more valuable to Italy as we value our heritage. But to the world, I would say, no. These are not athletes, not jumpers, nor racehorses, nor polo ponies or such. They’re not talented in the way the world considers horses to be talented. But of great worth to our country, yes.”
“And yet you still have received no contact from the thieves? No request for money to pay for their return.”
“None.” There was hopelessness in the word.
“Signor Cervelli, I hear your despair,” Will said. “The horses will be found and will be returned to Italy. We’re slowly tying pieces together, eventually there will be a complete picture. When that happens, I’ll deliver to you both the horses and the thieves.”
“You found the Catria within days of our contract. That was a thing none of our polizia were able to do in the weeks following the theft. I still trust you.”
Liz waited until the call was ended and the connection broken. “He sounded so…hopeless.”
“It’s possible the fact that his own people are coming up with nothing is getting to him. It’s not just a matter of the return of the horses for him, it’s a matter of national pride. He’s taking a beating in his own mind.”
“And maybe at the hands of his superiors,” Liz suggested
“Likely that, too.”
Will stood and held out his hand to her. “Let’s take a walk before we look at Cervelli’s email. Visit some horses or something while I clear my head.”
At his words, Trouble leapt from her lap and stood waiting. She wasn’t, she realized, the slightest bit surprised. “I thought we were supposed to be laying low and staying off the radar.”
A Whisper of Trouble Page 16