The Gift Horse

by Jami Davenport

  She’d come to know Hans well enough to realize he was purposely throwing a temper tantrum to test her ability to react under pressure. Gabbie took the man’s ranting in stride instead of over-reacting, as she would have a few months ago.

  As Sam was cooling the mare out and cooling off her burned butt, Hans sauntered over to talk to Carson. She rode closer to listen, not the least bit ashamed of eavesdropping. After all, she was most likely their topic of conversation.

  “It is a shame that you are selling this horse. Sam has gotten through to her. They have built a rapport.”

  “The way you were just yelling at her, I thought you were displeased.”

  Hans glanced over his shoulder and lowered his voice. Sam rode closer. “That is just for incentive. You cannot let a woman like this get lackadaisical and sloppy.”

  Carson nodded. “Boy, do I ever know that.”

  * * * *

  “Burke, we need to talk.”

  “Sam, I know my board is late again. I’m transferring some assets and waiting on a large interest payment from my investments.”

  Sam frowned. Burke’s inconsistent bill paying hadn’t been the first thing on her mind, but it was a concern. Especially since he’d walked into the barn this morning sporting a brand-new, custom-made saddle for a horse he would eventually sell. It didn’t make sense.

  “It’s not that. I need to talk to you about that night.”

  Was it her imagination or did Burke’s face turn a little white? Did Burke know something? Did that explain why he stuck with her all these years—out of guilt?

  “What about it? Did you remember any more?”

  “Carson and Brad have been investigating. They think Hans had a part in this.”

  “I see.” Burke’s voice was devoid of emotion, flat and dull. “What did he stand to gain? He was out of a job when the barn went under.”

  “He had several horses in that barn at the time that he personally owned. Every one was insured.”

  “Oh.”

  “He also managed to get a lucrative job in Florida when one of the boarders moved to Florida permanently.”

  “Hans is an opportunist.”

  “The one thing that doesn’t make sense is that the horses come first with him. I can’t picture him harming a horse for monetary reasons.”

  “Desperate men do desperate things.”

  So they did. A warning twinge vibrated up and down her spine.

  * * * *

  Carson hooked the hands-free device over his hear, as he piloted the big truck down I-5 and answered his cell.

  “Carson?”

  “What’s up, Brad?”

  “I’ve been doing a little nosing around. I found out a few things.”

  “Don’t you ever work?”

  “No more than I have to. This is much more entertaining.”

  Brad and Bridget certainly shared more in common than a womb. “What kinds of things?”

  “I think I’ve found my niche. I should be a PI.”

  “Great, you and Juan can open a business together.”

  “Well, listen to this.”

  “I’m waiting with baited breath.”

  “Hans Ziegler was having an affair with the dead woman, Emily Brandland. I’ve spoken with Brandland’s wife’s friends. She wanted to leave her husband and marry Hans. She’d made plans to divorce. In fact, she’d seen an attorney a few days before her death.”

  “But Hans couldn’t have legally married Julie Brandland. He was already married.”

  “She didn’t know that.”

  “So did Hans deliberately kill her to get her out of the way? But why bother? It doesn’t make sense.”

  “Because he’d backed himself in a corner. Her friends said she seemed increasingly worried about something. She’d never give any details but hinted at a horse scam. It was something that she wanted out of. They said she was going to turn herself in.”

  “So someone killed her to shut her up and made it look like an accident. Hans? Or someone else? Brandland?”

  “The police checked Brandland out. He had an alibi for that night. They ruled it a negligent accident.”

  “Which Sam paid for because of her reputation for being sloppy.”

  “Every one of them suggested I talk to Burke. He was the wife’s best friend. They were very tight, did everything together. If anyone would know, he would.”

  “I’ll find him today. See what he knows. I suspect he’s known all along, which is why he’s supported Sam through thick and thin.”

  “Guilt. He’s feeling bad about not going to the police.”

  “My guess exactly.”

  “Well, it’s time for him to come clean.”

  “I’ll head over that way right now. If he’s not there, I’ll get his phone number and address out of the board records.”

  “Car, one more thing. I hate to bring this up but it needs to be said. It’s right there between us.”

  “What?”

  “If Bridget wasn’t our sister, and we were neutral, she’d be at the top of the suspect list.”

  “I can’t even go there right now. It’s too much for me to wrap my mind around.”

  Carson ended the call and took the next exit. He still had business to do in Seattle, but it could wait for another day.

  He needed some answers. He doubted he’d get them from Hans, but he suspected he could from Burke without much effort, particularly if there was something in it for Burke.

  Chapter 38—Trusting a Friend

  Sam stood as far away from the man behind the desk as she could in the small cramped office. Carson kept his distance, too. He backed up his chair until it hit the wall behind him. Then he propped his booted feet on the old scarred desk, which sat between them like a Kevlar shield, and crossed his arms over his chest. Her throat constricted as she glimpsed misery and anguish behind that emotionless tight-ass mask. Regardless, she’d be smart to remember that Carson’s emotional state or lack of wasn’t her business anymore.

  “You think Burke knows something?”

  “It’s a possibility.”

  Sam considered that for a moment. Her insides sloshed about like a small boat tossed on a stormy sea “It would make sense.”

  “In what way?”

  “It’d explain why he’s stuck with me through it all and been a loyal friend.”

  “Exactly my thoughts; he’s been operating out of guilt.”

  “I want to be the one to talk to him, Carson. I think he’ll open up to me more than you. It’s time he comes clean.”

  “What if we’re wrong, and he’s somehow involved? You could be in danger.”

  “Burke? Never. He might be as flaky as your sister when it comes to spending money, but he doesn’t maim horses or murder people.” Sam clamped her mouth shut, intent on not revealing that she’d told Burke what she remembered. Now wasn’t a good time.

  “Sam, I know that look. Stay out of this. Don’t talk to him on your own.” Carson’s face hardened all the more. She wouldn’t have thought that possible. If he kept that up, it’d splinter in a million pieces and litter the floor.

  “What kind of a fool do you take me for?”

  “One who trusts those she considers her friends.”

  * * * *

  Sam stood with hands on her hips as Dr. Rosa Carlos presented the results of her findings and tests. “The horse has a minor injury. It’ll be fine in a few weeks.”

  “Are you certain?” Lola asked. “I was told he’d need surgery.”

  Dr. Carlos raised on eyebrow. “Did Dr. Brandland tell you that?”

  Lola nodded.

  “Expensive surgery, I imagine. And in his clinic?”

  Lola nodded.

  The vet’s mouth tightened in disapproval. “I’d stake my career on my prognosis of this horse. I’m that certain. Besides, the x-rays and ultrasounds don’t lie.”

  “I guess that’s good news for me.” Lola cast a glance at Sam. Sam shrugged.

&nb
sp; “If you don’t have any more questions, I’ll go. I’m running late as it is.”

  “No, Doctor, none. Thanks so much.”

  Lola led her horse back to the stall. Still struggling with the awful truth, Sam watched as Dr. Carlos drove down the driveway. She’d known and trusted Dr. Matt for years. He’d stood by her through thick and thin, and he had always been a supporting older brother figure. Most of all, he’d had an innate love for his patients, the horses. Or she’d thought he’d had.

  Lola returned to her side. “You’re thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “Neither can I.”

  “How many others?”

  “We’ll probably never know.”

  “I’m reporting him.” Lola’s expression set in a stubborn line.

  “I don’t blame you.”

  “I came this close to spending $100,000 on a horse that Burke is selling.”

  “I know.”

  “You don’t think they’re running a scam, do you?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” Sam turned on her heel to find Burke.

  “Sam, be careful.”

  * * * *

  “Burke, I’ve been looking for you. Do you have a few minutes?” Sam approached him after one of his sales clients left.

  Burke glanced at his watch. “I’m pressed for time, but I need to take this young horse for a hack. He’s getting sour in the arena. Why don’t you ride along with me? Besides, I want to talk about a couple business opportunities. It seems like we never get time alone.” Burke glanced at the office. “Mr. Tight Buns has you all tied up.” Burke fanned himself at the thought.

  “Drag your mind out of the cellar, we’re not into that. Besides, it’s Tight Ass, not Tight Buns.”

  “You see it your way, I see it mine. He can tie me up any day.”

  “You’re disgusting.” Sam rolled her eyes but laughed in spite of her misgivings. “For your information, our relationship is strictly business.”

  “Again? You two break up and make up as often as I change clothes.”

  “We aren’t that bad.”

  “Whatever, girlfriend. So how about a nice leisurely trail ride?”

  “You’re on. Works for me. Gabbie needs to get out before Regionals and relax, but I thought you were pressed for time.”

  “Only because I need to work the horse. We can talk and ride at the same time.” He glanced around. “Where’s Carson?”

  “He went to Seattle on business to see a possible investor for the farm. He won’t be back until later.” She wouldn’t be confronting Burke if Carson were around. He’d dogged her like a hawk lately to keep her from danger.

  “Does that guy ever rest?”

  “No, not really.”

  “No excuse for you not to. Let’s ride.”

  “Gabbie will appreciate it. She needs some down time. Hans has been working us into the ground.”

  A twinge of guilt hit her. Burke was a dear friend and ally. No way could he be involved in this mess. She loved him like a brother.

  * * * *

  Carson parked his big-ass truck in a spot near the barn door and got out. He paused to frown at the layer of dust covering his truck. He’d need to run it through a car wash before Regionals.

  Bridget was walking one of her horses in large circles in the driveway to cool him out. She stopped the horse a few steps away and regarded him with a mixture of disgust and amusement. “Did I hear country music booming from your truck?”

  Carson cringed. Shit, caught in the act. “Oh, uh, Sam must have turned it to that station. I wasn’t paying any attention.”

  “Bullshit. As loud as that was, you couldn’t miss it.”

  Carson dismissed her comment. “Have you seen Burke?”

  “About an hour ago. He and Sam took off on a trail ride.”

  Carson heaved a sigh of exasperation. “Damn her. What about Hans?”

  “I haven’t seen him at all today. If I remember right, he’s doing a two-day clinic in Oregon before Regionals.”

  “Good, I’m glad he’s out of the picture. I don’t trust that guy.”

  “Why?”

  “Bridget, I’m sure this might be impossible for you, but what I’m about to tell you is in confidence.”

  “I can keep my mouth shut.” She pursed her lips and pouted.

  “Since when?”

  “If you’re going to be rude—” She turned to walk off.

  Carson grabbed her arm. “Wait. We need to talk about this.”

  Bridget shrugged his hand from her arm. “Does this have something to do with whatever Brad and you have been whispering about?”

  “Yes.” Casting one final look around, he lowered his voice. “I think Hans has been sabotaging Sam. He wants her gone.”

  Bridget threw back her head and laughed. “You two are worse than Juan. He doesn’t need to sabotage her; she does a good enough job on her own.”

  “Bridget. I’m serious. Brad and I have been investigating him. We believe he’s behind the horse injuries and missing items, perhaps even the fire six years ago.”

  Bridget smiled her smug, superior smile that had always irritated the hell out of him. “Hate to tell you big brother, but you’re sniffing around the wrong fire hydrant. You see, Hans and Sam have a deal, so he has no motive.”

  “What? What kind of deal?” He hated it when Bridget knew something he didn’t.

  His sister paused a moment for effect. “He agreed to train her if she agreed to turn down the Cedrona job and leave the area if she won.”

  “She never said anything to me. I can’t believe she’d do that.” Carson shook his head and studied his sister. She seemed sincere for once.

  “Believe it. She needed his help with that horse, so you’d get your money out of her.”

  “She shouldn’t have done it.” His stomach sank. It made sense. She sacrificed her future, so he could earn a return on his investment with a horse she’d turned into a winner.

  “Carson, he’s the better man for the job. You know it; I know it. He’s the organizer, the exacting taskmaster. Imagine what this place would look like if she managed it?”

  “She’s improving.” He felt the need to defend Sam.

  “Maybe, but not enough to please me.”

  “No one can please you.”

  “Hans can.”

  “I still think he’s responsible. That $50,000 would get him out of debt. There’s more, a lot more, but I can’t talk about it now.”

  “Hans might want her gone, but Burke is no friend of hers either.” Bridget revealed this tidbit in an annoyingly condescending tone.

  “Burke? What do you know about him?” This didn’t sound good, not at all.

  “I overheard something.” With great glee, she reiterated the conversation she’d overheard between Burke and Hans.

  “Why the hell didn’t you mention this before?” His blood boiled in anger and frustration.

  “I wasn’t sure what it meant. It wasn’t Hans doing the talking. It was Burke.” Bridget yawned and removed a glove to inspect her fingernails. “Damn, I broke a nail.”

  “Burke?” Shit. Shit. Shit. If he pushed cold, practical tight-ass Carson out of the way and listened to his intuition, it screamed danger. Big time. And Sam had no clue. His cell phone rang. He glanced at caller ID. It was Brad.

  “Yeah?” He spoke with impatience.

  “Wait’ll you hear this. I tracked down Emily Brandland’s sister.”

  “And?”

  “It appears that Dr. Brandland and Burke were having an affair.”

  “What? The vet is gay?”

  At that Bridget’s ears perked up. She moved closer and listened. It was easy enough to do since Brad’s booming voice could be heard clearly even over a cell phone. Carson waved her away. She shook her head. Juan appeared out of the woodwork and crowded next to the cell. Carson shot him a glare, but Juan didn’t flinch or move.

  “Yup.
They were both having affairs, her with Hans, as we’d already known. The Brandlands were in huge financial straits because of this big clinic he’d just built. In fact, the barn was in foreclosure. They couldn’t sell it because it was mortgaged to the hilt for the clinic and not worth what they owed.”

  “They were about to lose everything?”

  “That’s right. Emily told her sister that they were running some kind of horse scam involving misrepresented horses, and she wanted out.”

  “So we were right? Wow.” Carson absorbed the implications of what Brad was telling him.

  “She didn’t know the details. Her sister was afraid to share them because she didn’t want anyone else to be in danger, too. She said Brandland and Burke would do anything to make money.”

  “Even kill Brandland’s wife when she confronted him with the truth.” Carson swallowed down the fear that threatened to choke him. “Why didn’t she go to the police?”

  “She planned to the next day.”

  “Did her sister tell all this to the investigators?”

  “She did, but they blew her off. They thought her sister was nuts. She had a history of depression.”

  “Depression doesn’t make a person crazy.” Carson gripped the phone tighter. “Dammit. Sam’s on a trail ride with Burke right now.” Panic seeped into his voice.

  “He wouldn’t do anything in broad daylight, but I’m on my way.”

  “I’ve got to find Sam.” Carson snapped the phone shut. Fear sliced at his gut, the agony as real as a physical injury. Turning on his heel, he ran to the truck as his sister called after him. “Should I call 911?” Her voice wavered.

  “And tell them what?” For once, she didn’t have a smart-ass comeback. Carson glared at Juan as he climbed in the passenger side. “This is not a game.”

  “Exactly. I go with you. Something not right. You need ‘forcements. I know trails.”

  Carson didn’t bother to argue. “Fine.” At Juan’s direction, he drove the truck at breakneck speed up the old logging roads. He hoped like hell Juan wasn’t leading him on a merry chase. Relieved, he saw a couple piles of fresh horse manure on the road. He pushed the accelerator even more. They bounced over the rutted road and were on the verge of being out of control. It was a good thing they were belted in, or their heads would be hitting the ceiling.