by Sandra Cox
“Adopt him out.”
“Adopt him out?”
She shrugged. “I’ll be selling him but only to someone who doesn’t mind a background check so I can make sure he’ll get a good home.”
“How much?”
She blinked. “I haven’t really thought about it. Enough to cover his expenses and a little extra to recycle into another rescue.”
“Name your price.”
“You want him?”
“Her,” he corrected. “You’ve been working on the front end.”
“Her. You want her?” Could the night hold any more surprises?
The laugh lines around his mouth disappeared and his eyes grew dark, his expression sad. “My daughter had a friend that still hasn’t quite recovered from her loss. She didn’t have a horse of her own, always came over to visit Pegasus.”
“What happened to your daughter?” She badly wanted to reach out and brush the hair from his forehead then wrap her arms around him, hold him and draw out all his pain.
He brushed at the colt. “Cancer.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I. She would have been thirteen next month.”
“Oh Jack.” She reached her hand out found his, squeezed then let it go.
“Thank you.”
“I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like to lose a child.”
His voice came out harsh, his breathing heavy, his eyes filled with so much pain she could barely look at him. “Why didn’t I know you before? Why? You could have saved her.”
She got up and walked over to him and dropped her arms to his shoulders. He put his arms around her and pressed his face to her waist. One harsh, gut-wrenching sob escaped him before he got control.
“Sh, it’s okay,” she soothed much as she would a child or one of the horses.
He dropped his arms and got to his feet. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? For loving your daughter?” Her eyebrows rose and she tucked in her chin. “Don’t think it. Don’t say it.” How could he imagine she would think less of him for loving his child? If anything, it made her care more.
“Thank you for that.”
The sound of rustling straw distracted them. They turned to see the filly struggle to her feet.
Jack smiled. “New life.”
“New life,” she echoed.
The mare seemed to sigh then hauled herself up on her beautiful long legs.
Jack pushed to his feet and held out his hand. “Shall we give them some privacy?”
She clasped it and felt a comforting warmth seep through her. She looked at his long slender fingers wrapped around hers and marveled at the perfect fit and how natural it felt. Then she looked up. Jack smiled down at her, his expression gentle his eyes warm.
The stall door gave a low creak as he pushed it open. Captain sauntered down the aisle and rubbed up against Maureen’s legs as she stepped out. Purring, he wove back and forth, his gray striped tail curling around her leg.
She bent to pet him as Jack shut the stall door.
As they walked out, Jack took her hand. To Maureen it seemed the most natural thing in the world. The full moon hung low lighting the night and illuminating Jack’s features.
They walked in silence ‘til they reached the porch. He turned her around and took her in his arms. Her heart thudded against her breast as he stared at her. With his index finger, he pushed a wisp of hair back from her forehead then lowered his head ’til his lips met hers.
Maureen melted against him the kiss unbelievably sweet. His lips coaxed and teased moving from her mouth to her neck then back again. Maureen felt like she was floating in the clouds as their breath mingled.
The kiss drew her deeper and deeper into an ocean of feeling. Her heart crashed against his chest like breaker waves. A tide of feeling carried her higher and higher. She plastered herself against him as his long thin fingers moved in a restless pattern over her body.
Lights lit the heavens then went dark and a boom of thunder sounded.
“What the hell’s going on here,” Hank demanded.
Reluctantly, Jack removed his lips.
Maureen shook her head dazed. No lights flashing from the sky, no thunder, just truck lights and the slam of a truck door. At the look on Hank’s face she snapped back to reality. “Just what it looks like.”
“It looks like you need to get a room. Marnie, you barely know this guy.”
She threw up her hands. “Hank, I’m not sixteen any longer, sneaking kisses with Billy Rae.”
“No you’re twenty-seven, old enough to know better.”
Before Maureen could respond, Jack rubbed her arms then dropped his hands. Still looking at her, he said to Hank, “Nothing happened here except a kiss that had me seeing skyrockets.”
She felt her lips tip up in a broad smile. “Me too.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh please.” Hank rolled his eyes. “Mister, what are your intentions?”
“Hank!” I’m going to pool up in a puddle of mortification right here on the spot.
His jaw thrust out, Hank stood his ground, stubborn as the proverbial mule. “Somebody’s got to look out for you, Marnie.”
Going on the offensive Maureen demanded, “Where have you been?” Her legs splayed, she fisted her hands on her hips.
He cleared his throat and looked embarrassed. “I went to Madison.”
Understanding dawned and Maureen’s righteous indignation turned to amusement. “And how is Bella?”
“She was out with that damn detective,” he burst out.
“Wasn’t that the plan?”
His shoulders shaking, Jack bit down on his lips. “I think I’m going to bed. It’s been a long night.”
She turned to him her expression rueful. “I’m sorry about this.”
He looked down at her and smiled. “He cares about you. If I was in his shoes I’d do the same thing.” He gave her a chaste kiss on the forehead, gave a clipped nod to Hank and walked into the house.
Hank waited ’til Jack was gone, then looked at Marnie. “I don’t mean to embarrass you, girl but old habits die hard.”
“I know.” She heaved a sigh. How could she stay mad at her best friend in the whole world?
“Sweets deliver all right?” Hank asked.
“Oh Hank, she’s a little beauty.” Maureen felt a warm glow all over again just thinking about the filly.
“I think I’ll go out to the barn and take a look at her.”
A soft breeze lifted her hair. She drew it back from her face and looked up at the tall rough-edged man standing before her. “I love you, Hank.”
“I love you too, kid. Just be careful, will you.”
“Count on it. But don’t worry, Hank. If he was in on the theft he’d be long gone by now.”
Hank grunted.
She patted his arm, ran up the porch steps and into the house. Climbing the creaky oak stairs she went straight to bed but was too keyed up to sleep. She and Jack had brought new life into the world.
At the thought of Jack, she smiled in the dark. Then her mouth tipped down and she rolled over and punched her pillow. No matter how good life was at the moment, she had to get back the amulet. She ached for it like a lover. Or like an amputee missing his arm. Where could the madman that stole it be? Maybe she should go out with Tony Cardoza and pump him for information—subtly of course, very subtly.
What would Jack think about that? She wriggled around under the bed sheet. What difference did it make for God’s sake? They had exchanged a couple of kisses. That hardly meant they were joined at the hip. She grinned wickedly in the dark. Joining with the handsome professor was an appealing thought.
Flopping over on her back she crossed her hands over her chest. She would call Bella tomorrow and see if she’d found out anything. Her eyes popped open. Dammit, she didn’t even have the woman’s cell phone then smiled in the dark. She would be willing to lay even money that her foreman
did.
Restlessly she got up and opened the window letting the cool night air blow across her face. She lay back down only to pop up like a jumping jack. Of course, Jack’s nerdy friend who worked for the government. If anybody could find Victor Price it would be good ole Uncle Sam.
With a relieved sigh, she dropped back on the mattress. Moments later she was asleep.
* * * * *
Humming under her breath, Maureen walked into the kitchen. Once she finally got to sleep, she’d slept like a log. Inhaling, she smelled fresh coffee and blueberry muffins.
Hank sat at the kitchen table, bringing the coffee cup to his lips as he read the newspaper. She leaned down and bussed his leathery cheek. “Good morning, handsome.”
He grunted in response.
She headed for the cabinets where the coffee and muffins sang their siren’s song, enticing her. “I may have to tack on chef’s wages to someone’s salary. Who made those heavenly smelling muffins? You or Jack?”
He pulled the paper closer to his face, as if hiding behind it. “Jack.”
Reaching for a coffee cup, she paused. There was just something about his voice that gave her an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Then she saw the folded sheet of white paper with her name on it. The uneasy feeling turned into a fist ramming her. She knew before she even opened it.
She stood looking at it, feeling heat wash over her then roll away. She turned to Hank. He’d put down his paper to watch her, then lifted it hastily as she turned around.
She straightened her spine, stuck her chin in the air and opened the paper.
Dear Marnie,
I have a lead. It may turn into something, it may be a flash in the pan.
I’ll call you.
Think of me as I’ll be thinking of you. Hope to be back in a few days.
Jack.
With a sharp abrupt movement, she crushed the note and tossed it at the waste can and missed. “Dammit to hell, I knew it, I knew it.” She stormed around the kitchen pacing back and forth. “I knew all along he must be in on it. There were just too many damn coincidences.” And he was too good to be true but no way was she going to say that. She laughed a bitter sound even to her ears. “I’ll call you. Isn’t that the standard brush-off line? I’ve been such an idiot. I’d actually started to trust him. Oh please heal my horse, I lost my daughter,” she parroted. “He probably bought Pegasus from a vet slotted to put him down. “
With a jerky motion, she pushed her hair back. “You told me all along but I wasn’t smart enough to believe you. Well feel free to say I told you so. I deserve it.” She rammed her fist in her jean shorts pockets as she paced.
“I believe him.”
She whirled and stared. “What?”
“I believe him.”
“Why?”
“He left Pegasus.“
She snorted. “He just didn’t need him anymore.”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
She pulled her fists out of her pocket and placed them on her hips. “Excuse me but is an alien in Hank McHenry’s body, sitting at the table? Weren’t you the one that has yammered at me since he got here not to trust him?”
He folded his paper and laid it on the table. “I told you before, I feel in my gut, he’s all right. But you are much too precious to me to go on gut instinct alone.”
She opened her mouth to retort then dragging a hand through her hair let it go. She walked over to the table pulled out a chair and flopped down. “Did you talk to him before he left?”
“Yup.”
She waited and heaved a sigh. Getting information out of Hank was like pulling teeth. “And?”
“He had a lead and was going to check it out.”
She planted her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Where did the lead come from?”
“Some online geek he knows.”
“Ah ha!” Triumph surged through her system. “I knew it!”
Hank gave her a wary look. “And just what did you know?”
“That his friend should be able to track down Victor Price. Did he leave you a phone number?”
Hank shook his head.
“Jerk,” she muttered under his breath. “If it’s not a brush-off why didn’t he leave his number?”
He stood up and responded with commendable patience. “I don’t know. Maybe he forgot.”
She snorted.
He continued as though she hadn’t interrupted. “Maybe he feels it would be dangerous for you to know where he’s going. Maybe he’s afraid you’d try to follow him and is trying to protect you.”
She bristled. “He better not be trying to protect me, I can take care of myself.”
Hank threw up his hands. “No one can possibly want you to have that amulet back more than I do. I’m going to the barn.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Her question was directed to his back as he was already walking out the door.
“It means you’re not exactly even-tempered when you’re not wearing it.”
She tipped her head to the right and angled it back up, her hands resting on her hips. “Says you.”
The only response was the slamming of the screen door.
She stared at the door, her hands jammed in her pocket. “I’ll wait three days but if he’s not back by then I’m going after him and my amulet.”
* * * * *
The mirror threw back his reflection, his eyes filled with triumph. There were no tremors. He was cured. The long sleeve shirt he wore covered the two amulets on his left arm. A face both sensual and mysterious stared back at him. And he could write or paint with the genius of a god. He gave a high-pitched insane laugh. The creativity wasn’t limited to painting and writing. It was amazing the nasty little poisons he could concoct with no effort at all. Too bad about Dr. Wolfe but it was his own fault. He should have left well enough alone.
Chapter Ten
Maureen picked up the business card that she’d thrown on the dresser, ran down the stairs and into the den. She sank down into the old overstuffed leather chair behind the desk, letting it mold around her body. Staring at the card, she flipped it over and over between her fingers then came to a decision. It had been four days since Jack left and she hadn’t heard a word from him.
Picking up the phone she dialed. “Detective Cardoza, please.” She tapped her fingers against the desk, the rapid tattoo beating a rhythm with her thundering heart. I should have called his cell.
The door opened and Hank strode in.
She started to set the phone down when a voice on the other end said, “Cardoza here.”
“Detective Cardoza.”
Though she refused to look at him, Maureen had no doubt that Hank’s eyebrows were soaring to his hairline.
“Miss Sinclair?”
The surprise traveled over the phone line.
Surprised her too. “How do you know it’s me?”
“I’d recognize that whisky-smooth, husky voice anywhere. And I shouldn’t have said that. I now have my partner’s full attention. He’s sitting across the desk from me wondering if I had a hot date last night.”
“How is Detective Russo?”
“He’s munching on strawberry-filled sugar donut, downing his second cup of coffee and he solved a murder that was giving him fits. All is right with his world.”
She cleared her throat. “About that hot date.”
“I didn’t have one.”
“Would you like to?”
“Excuse me.”
“Marnie.” Hank’s voice held a world of warning.
She twisted the cord around her finger and closed her eyes. God this was hard. “Okay minus the hot, would you like to have dinner tonight?”
“Marnie, what the hell are you doing?” Hank hissed in the background, his voice a low bellow.
She waved him to silence. “Well?”
“Are you asking me out?”
Maybe. Sort of. She took a deep breath. “Yes. Do you know where Riverville’s
at?”
“Sure do. Tiny little spot about halfway between Madison and your ranch.”
“That’s it. There’s a lovely Italian restaurant on Main Street. Would you care to meet me there at seven?”
“I could pick you up.”
“That won’t be necessary.” She ignored or tried to ignore the frantic hand signals Hank made.
“Hm, why do I get the feeling this is more a fishing expedition than a date?”
Maureen white-knuckled the phone as her vertebra tightened but kept her voice even. “I don’t know. Why do you? Want to back out?”
“No, no,” Tony answered hastily. “Let’s see who can pump whom or we could forget about the interrogation and just enjoy each other.” His voice dropped to an intimate level.
She cleared her throat. “The name of the restaurant is The Olive Grove. There’s a wooden sign out front with grapes painted around the edge. You won’t be able to miss it.”
“I’ll be there.”
“See you then.” Maureen clicked off before she could change her mind.
She straightened, lifted her chin and turned to Hank, prepared to do battle.
“Are you insane?”
“Why, because I made a date?”
He breathed through his nose, much like a bull about to charge. “Don’t play games with me, Marnie. Because you made a date with a cop. You’re playing a dangerous game. Do you want people to find out about the amulet, especially the police?”
She threw her hands up in the air. “Half the world knows already.” She turned and stared out the window. “Little Jimmy Hogan brought a kitten he’d found alongside the road to me that had been hit by a car.” She turned back to Hank and took a deep breath, knowing anguish shone out of her eyes. “It was dying and I couldn’t do a thing about it, except give it something to ease the pain. He believed in me, Hank. He thought I could save his kitten.” Her shoulders shook and all of a sudden the damn broke. Tears streamed down her cheeks and great sobs tore her lungs.
He pulled her out of the chair and held her much as he had when she was a child, patting her awkwardly on the back. “There, there, love. You can’t save the world. I know it hurts, little one. All that pent-up emotion the amulet held in check. Go ahead and let it out, Marnie. It’s okay.”