Through the Red Gate [Honor Creek Farm] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Bobbi Perkins

  Georgie heard the anger and pain in Vicente’s voice. He spat out the words, as if trying to eject any thought of Angelica with them. She imagined his feelings of regret, of anger and betrayal and felt his pain. Georgie knew right then that they would be together forever. She didn’t know why that thought materialized in her head, but it did and it gave her comfort and strength. She suddenly felt something she could only describe as faith in the success of what they were about to undertake. They spoke for a few more minutes and agreed that Vicente would call later after he went to the barn.

  * * * *

  Vicente returned to the reception in the stately main salon of the old mansion. He made his way across the room to check on his mother and sister and found them surrounded by family and friends. He noticed that they had begun to relax and even smile a bit. He knew that they would eventually be fine, but he was immediately distracted by putting his plan into place. Making his way across the plush carpeted room, he got to the bar and asked for two glasses of wine. It was time. Turning back to the main salon, his eyes found Angelica, lounging back in red-and-gold brocaded chair, her blond hair spread out, gesturing in a decidedly queenly fashion, while an old man talked at her.

  Vicente could see that periodically Angelica, absently twirling her hair, would nod and cast her beautiful smile on the man, but Vicente also knew that she was not really paying any attention at all. She was watching him. Vicente knew that he could claim her undivided attention and keep it, plying her with wine and pretending that he cared. He strode purposefully and saw that she had turned to follow him across the room, her blue eyes glittering fiercely, lustfully. His dark eyes clouded with restrained anger as he looked directly into her clear blue hungry ones. As he approached the chair, he saw that she said something to the man, causing him to get up and move away, making the other seat available for Vicente. He handed her a glass of wine and lifted his hand in a toast.

  “Thank you for being here today. It is important to me that you have been here to support my family.”

  She beamed up at him, still twirling her hair with her empty hand. “Oh, how could I not, my dear? We are still soul mates, forever linked, are we not?”

  Vicente took a long drink from his glass, choosing not to respond directly to her statement, which he knew was as absurd as it was a lie. “I must apologize to you, Angelica. I was harsh to you for the past few days. I have been upset, needless to say.”

  He sat in the chair next to her, removed his tie, and opened his crystal-white shirt at his throat. He saw Angelica look at his neck and his chest. He won the bet with himself that this would be suggestive to her. He saw her eyes widen, and she licked her lips like a cat about to lap up a plate of cream. Anything it takes. I will deserve an award for this performance when it is all over. He continued in a softened voice. “So, I bring wine as an offering and hope that you forgive my emotions at this most difficult time.”

  Angelica sat up straight in the chair, leaned forward, and placed her hand on his right thigh. “Of course! I understand you better than you know. I knew that you would realize that we need each other. I accept your apology.” She took a drink of the wine. “I meant what I said, I do want to hear about your adventures in Maryland.” She looked directly into his eyes, as if taunting him. “I understand that you have made a nice arrangement with a big horse operation and with a veterinarian, I think?” She twirled her hair and took a drink, waiting for Vicente to answer.

  Vicente tried hard not to look startled. This he did not expect. “Yes, Osvaldo is the barn manager at a wonderful facility outside of the capital, Annapolis. They train mostly hunter jumper and in the hunt. The owner is a highly respected equine veterinarian, very smart, very accomplished.” He could not resist a jab. “You may have read some of her scholarly articles on training versus competition.” He knew full well that Angelica had no use for technical discussions or reading for that matter. “I am staying there while I reestablish my business in the States.”

  “Hmm, and what of this Georgiana Faris? What is she to you?”

  Vicente was truly shocked. He took a drink and controlled his breathing. He did not want to tell her the intimate details of his new love, but he also recognized that somehow, she knew significantly more than he thought. And he wondered, more important, just how she knew these things. His thoughts flashed to Teegan. Perhaps she had told “Maria Teresa” when discussing where she came from, Bonnie, and who owned her. Vicente’s brain was spinning. He needed to buy time to get his thoughts straight. “I see you have finished your wine. Let me get you another glass, and then I will tell you about Missus Faris.”

  As Vicente walked back from the bar, he decided that he was going to have to play this game very carefully. “Here, your favorite Tempranillo. I have switched to white. Red wine is not agreeing with me as of late.” He had the bartender fill Angelica’s glass very full. For his white wine, he had a bit of wine and mostly water. He needed to keep his head clear.

  Angelica leaned forward, put her hand back on his knee, and rubbed back and forth and up and back down his thigh as if she owned him. “So? Tell me about this brilliant veterinarian.”

  He sensed her snideness despite her smiling face. Vicente resisted the urge to slap her hand away. Instead, he leaned back in the chair and shifted to cross his legs, causing her hand to fall away. “What would you like to know? She is a very good rider, her facility is immaculate, her horses are very well cared for, and she is very, very smart. She has been a judge and sometimes gives clinics for other judges. And, she is passionate about her theories regarding how riders train versus how they compete and how injuries happen more in competition than in training. Valdo admires her very much, and I am beginning to admire her, too.”

  He hoped that would be enough to satisfy her. He quickly changed the subject. “So, tell me about your trip. Where did you go? You brought horses back, and they arrived today, yes?” It worked, since the conversation shifted to be about her, she lit up, smiling and fully engaged.

  “We were in Florida, Delaware, and Texas, looking for horses that would be good prospects for the markets in Asia and the Middle East. Andrew is quite expert in that market, as I am sure you are aware. We also have leased a facility near Wellington and have begun to build a program there. We have hired an Olympic jumper as our senior rider, and she is going to help us attract more international riders to our barn. We want to ultimately build to where we have stud service, sales, training, all the things you and I always dreamed of.” As she said this, she looked up to the heavens, spreading her arms wide in supplicant pose and then looked back at Vicente, drilling her eyes into his head.

  Vicente could barely contain his rage. He was more convinced than before that Angelica and Andrew were stealing horses, spiriting them out of the country and selling them for a handsome profit. Despite her consuming several glasses of wine, she clearly had the presence of mind to try to catch him with the comment about Andrew. She knew that Vicente was extremely well connected to the horse brokers in Asia and the Middle East. He had never come across Andrew. She was testing him, pumping him for information. Two can play at this game.

  “Yes, I have heard that Andrew is quite accomplished. I would like to talk with him later this week. And I am happy for you, that you are finally building a good business. I wish you great success.”

  “Oh, you are staying? For how long?”

  “Indefinitely, I would think. Mama and Claudia will need support for a while and there are legal matters to get settled. So, yes, I will be here for the foreseeable future.” He lied outright, looking her directly in the eye. “So, we should ride together, like we used to. I would also very much like to see your new string. Can we do that tomorrow?”

  “Of course. That would be wonderful. You will be proud of me, Vicente. I have found wonderful horses and they will provide the capital for me to do what I want with the business in the states. Oh, would you be a love and get me another glass of wine? My glass seems to be empty again.
”

  Vicente signaled to the bartender to bring a bottle for Angelica. His plan seemed to be working, she was drinking her wine quickly, and he knew that meant that she would have too much. He looked around for Andrew and saw him leaning against a wall, drink in hand, looking at his phone. Two more glasses of wine and Angelica would be well over her ability to be coherent. He had the sudden flash of a brilliant idea. He would offer Angelica and Andrew a guest room for the night. It would make it much easier to go to her farm undetected.

  Vicente signaled to Andrew to come over and join them. He stood as Andrew made his way over. Vicente extended his hand and smiled at the probable horse thief. “I did not properly welcome you to my home. Thank you for being here and for taking care of Angelica. May I offer you a single malt or port? Something else, perhaps?”

  Andrew shook his head. “No thank you. I will be driving us back to Angelica’s farm, so I can’t really. But I will say a good single malt sounds wonderful, given that this is a funeral, honor the dead, and all that…” He gestured into the air.

  “I have an idea. We do need to get acquainted, and it does not look as if these people are leaving anytime soon. Why don’t you and Angelica stay in one of the guest rooms tonight, and not worry about driving back. We have many beautiful rooms upstairs, and as Angelica can tell you, you will be very comfortable.”

  Angelica looked up from her drink, startled. “Vicente, what a lovely idea. You are most generous. Yes, we will do that. Andrew, now you can have your single malt. And I can have more wine! Wonderful!”

  Vicente made sure that both Angelica and Andrew had several drinks. As the night grew later, people began leaving, offering their condolences again to Vicente, his mother, and his sister. Vicente showed Angelica and Andrew to a guest room upstairs at the opposite end of the hall from his suite. He bade them good night and excused himself to finish with the caterer and the bartender, who were cleaning up, lock doors, and turn out the lights. What he did instead was go quickly to his room, change into jeans, and gather up a flashlight, his phone, and the keys to his car. He hoped that if anyone was awake when he started the car, they would assume that it was the caterer and the staff leaving.

  He texted Georgie. “Going to the barn now.”

  She texted back immediately. “Be careful.”

  Vicente eased the Range Rover out of the long driveway and drove the three miles to Angelica’s farm. His jaw was set in anger and anticipation. His intuition told him that he would find Bonnie and the other two horses. Pulling into the driveway and simultaneously cutting the engine, he coasted to a stop in a dark spot. Since locking barns is dangerous for the horses, in case of an emergency, he knew that he could easily get in. The sliding door opened with ease. He moved the flashlight around the barn. The soft breathing of the horses and slight shuffling in their straw beds were the only sounds he detected. He did not want to startle them out of their sleep, so he walked very quietly through the barn, peering into each stall to find Bonnie. There was enough light from the utility bulbs that he did not have to use his flashlight. Bonnie was not in any of the first ten stalls, though there were horses there. He wondered whom they belonged to and vowed to himself that all would be returned to their rightful owners.

  He continued walking down the second row of stalls, leaning close to the metal bars and peering in to see her white face and white foot. With a sudden intake of breath, he identified Bonnie in the last stall. She was injured and had a bandage on her front left leg, obscuring the white foot. But, he recognized her face and the markings on her nose. He was certain that it was Bonnie. Vicente saw the crusty black blood and open wound from a deep cut or bite on her haunch. It was angry and red, as if it was becoming infected. His ire was growing and he did not know how he was going to keep up the charade with Angelica and Andrew until Georgie arrived.

  He took pictures of Bonnie and of the two horses on either side of her, hoping they were the ones that were stolen when she was. He took pictures of a few other horses, again hoping that the police in Florida could use them as evidence. Vicente found some antiseptic in the tack room and carefully approached her so he could clean Bonnie’s wound. His worry escalated as he realized that these horses were not in quarantine as they should have been. Even worse than small cuts is the risk of disease between horses. And international shipping regulations demand strict quarantine. Angelica and Andrew were not only stealing horses. They were risking their lives and health as well. His anger was palpable. He finished cleaning Bonnie’s wound and patted her head. “You will be going home soon, sweet girl. I promise.”

  He got in the Rover and texted Georgie. “Bonnie is here. I will call when I get back to the house.”

  She texted back, “Thank God. Thank you. Thank you.”

  Vicente drove quickly back to his family home and went into the library. He poured himself a single malt scotch, added ice, and dialed Georgie’s number. She answered on the first ring.

  “Vicente, thank you. Thank you for finding Bonnie. Is she okay?”

  “I think she is fine. She is a bit scraped up and has a bite, but I treated it before I left. I am sending you photos of Bonnie and of some of the other horses. Get them to the Florida detective so she can begin her process. I will be going to meet tomorrow morning with some police friends here. When do you arrive?”

  “I am on the flight you suggested and will arrive tomorrow evening. Shall I rent a car?”

  “No, I will come and get you. I cannot wait one more minute than I have to. I miss you terribly and this charade is taking a toll on me. I need you, Georgiana.”

  “I wish that this trip was under different circumstances, but I can’t wait to see you. I miss you, too. I don’t know how to thank you for this. But, as the same time, I am sorry for you and the disappointment you must feel concerning Angelica. You know, she will be going to jail.”

  “I know. And Andrew, too. But, they cannot really have believed they would get away with this. I wonder what kind of punishment it will be for transporting stolen horses illegally to another country.” He let that hang in the air without discussing it further.

  They spoke a bit longer, professing their love and devotion. Georgie was profuse in her thanks. Finally Vicente said, “Georgiana, please stop thanking me. I love you, you are my heart. I do this not so you can thank me. I am doing this because your issues and problems are mine. We are one. Okay?”

  “Yes, I understand. Good night, my love. I will see you tomorrow.”

  Angelica and Andrew slept late into the day, finally emerging in the early afternoon. They excused themselves to go back to Angelica’s house without waiting for Vicente to return from his “errands” in town. Vicente was grateful it worked out that way. He would not have to pretend to be cordial to the horse thieves. He paced around the house until it was near the time to go to the airport. He chose that time to tell his mother and sister that Georgiana was arriving. He did not tell them why, only saying that he wanted them to meet her. Both women were visibly surprised and pleased.

  His mother asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Shall I have one of the guest rooms prepared?”

  Vicente smiled at his mother. “No, Mama. That won’t be necessary.”

  As Vicente drove to the airport, his anticipation at seeing Georgie grew. Vicente paced back and forth in front of the arrival tunnel. Finally, his patience was rewarded when Georgie came into view. They smiled at each other and Georgie broke into a trot, running directly into Vicente’s waiting, open arms. “My love, my love. How I have missed you.”

  He held her head in his hands and pressed his mouth to hers, breathing her in. They stood, kissing passionately, not talking until some passerby said, “Get a room, you two.”

  They pulled apart laughing. “Let’s get your bags and go to the house. I want to get all of this over with as soon as we can.”

  Georgie agreed, and they made their way to baggage claim, to the car and out on the road. As they drove, Vicente explained how the arrests wo
uld work. He made several phone calls to coordinate the arrival of the police and of his sister’s barn manager with a trailer for four horses so they could move Bonnie and the two others into quarantine on their farm. Vicente also called a local veterinarian, who would come with everything needed to fully evaluate Bonnie and the others.

  They drove in silence, their hands entwined. Georgie lifted Vicente’s hand to her lips, and kissed his fingers gently. “Promise me that when this whole ordeal is over that we can go somewhere and just be alone.”

  Vicente kissed Georgie’s hand. “Yes. Alone. For as long as you want.”

  Silence settled on them as they were lost in their own thoughts and fears.

  It was close to midnight when they rounded the corner to Angelica’s farm. Georgie was stunned to see the number of police cars waiting. She gasped.

  “This is very scary, Vicente. Why so many police?”

  He paused, debating how to frame his answer. “We don’t know what is going to happen here when we confront them. We don’t know what they are capable of, so it is better to be prepared than to be caught unprotected. No worries. This will soon be over.”

  Vicente pulled the Rover to a stop next to a police car. They got out to be briefed by the captain, who was very clear on how he wanted this to proceed. “We will go to the door and tell Missus Durante and Mister Saint Romaine that we have a search warrant for thirteen horses and that we are charging them with the theft of the thirteen horses. You both will stay back, behind us. I am betting that they will not put up any kind of resistance, but if they do, we are ready. We will handcuff them. Then you will follow my officers into the barn to identify your horse and, if possible, others.

  “We will need to photograph all the horses. I am aware that you are concerned for your horse, as she has not been appropriately quarantined. As soon as we document her, you may take her to Mister Asterias’s farm. Do either of you have any questions?”