HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery)

by Bev Pettersen

  “Why didn’t you say you were with me?”

  “And get you in trouble too. No way.” She twisted to face him. “Besides, it was worth it. I learned more today than in the past week. Hopefully she’ll move me up to Ramon’s class soon. That’s the reason I came.”

  His eyes narrowed. “That’s why you came? To ride with Ramon?”

  “Yes, well, you know…to learn from Ramon on the track. So I can get a job as an exercise rider.” She paused, remembering that earlier she’d said she just wanted to improve her riding and was only taking a break from jewelry. She fingered her glass, uneasy with the deception. Safer to change the subject.

  “I’m not sure what I want to do,” she added with a tight smile. “What about you? You’re a good rider. That’s a really nice horse you rode today.”

  “Garrett’s finest. Quarter Horse named Braun’s Little Lena.” He studied her for a moment as though making a decision, rose and grabbed the dessert plate. “Come on. We’ll wrap the leftovers up for you and your roommate. Then I’ll show you Braun and the other side of the property.”

  ***

  “They call this the cowshed?” Megan stared around the huge arena in awe.

  Scott chuckled. “Garrett has a sense of humor. I doubt there was ever a cow here. It doesn’t seem to be used for anything except dumping hay.”

  Such a waste of a beautiful building. Indeed, the only tracks in the thick footing were vehicle, not animal, and a mound of loose hay sat next to a green hay baler. A dusty roping dummy relegated to the far corner sparked her nostalgia. Their neighbor had owned a similar model, and she’d always wanted one of her own. Her father had taught her to rope on a tree stump and when he hadn’t been looking, she’d roped their dog, Daisy. And then Joey—much to her brother’s dismay. Those had been good times.

  “You ever use one of those?” Scott asked, following her gaze.

  She nodded. “My dad and I tossed ropes every Sunday at our neighbor’s ranch, back when I was about ten. I didn’t realize I missed it until now.” She shrugged, shaking off her melancholy. “Don’t miss the baler though. We used to cut a lot of alfalfa. Now my mom leases out the land so nowhere to rope.”

  “I haven’t roped in a while either,” Scott said. “Got too caught up in work. Come see the horses.”

  She followed him through a darkened doorway and into the attached barn. The stocky horse he’d ridden earlier was familiar, but not the other three.

  “Braun is a Quarter Horse, a longtime resident,” he said. “The other three are Thoroughbreds. They’re heading to Mexico next month. Some friend of Garrett’s is trying to restart racing in the Baja.”

  Ah-ha. So this was the holding barn for Mexico. She stepped closer, her breath quickening. Joey had probably been here, helping Ramon load. Or perhaps jock students worked here?

  “Who looks after these horses?” she asked, shooting Scott a grateful smile. If not for him, she wouldn’t have found this place. “The jock students?”

  “No, I don’t think so.” His gaze seemed to linger on her mouth before he turned away to scratch the top of Braun’s muscular neck. “Ramon is the only person I’ve seen around.”

  Ramon? She couldn’t imagine him stooping to clean a stall, but someone was obviously taking good care of the animals. The barn was spotless, although the stack of hay in the middle of the arena was sloppy, if not downright wasteful. It appeared to be expensive alfalfa that someone had neglected to bale. Jake and Rambo would surely love an armful.

  She raised on her toes and checked Braun’s stall. He had plenty of night hay but it wasn’t alfalfa. It looked more like a timothy blend, similar to the hay in her barn.

  Scott raised a questioning eyebrow.

  “Just checking his hay.” She gave a sheepish grin. “Wonder why they don’t use that wonderful alfalfa. My horses would love it.”

  “Throw some in a feedbag and take it to them.”

  “Really? No one will mind?”

  “Can’t see why they would.” He reached up and snagged an empty feedbag from a wooden shelf. “Come on. We can put it in the trunk.”

  He was a man of action and rules didn’t seem to bother him. It probably didn’t hurt that he was good friends with Garrett, but his easy assurance was contagious.

  He slid a hand over her hip, directing her back to the hay pile, and she happily accompanied him. Alfalfa was richer than other hay and an abrupt change in diet was never good, but a little treat wouldn’t hurt. Grumpy old Rambo would be delighted.

  She held the bag while Scott stuffed in armfuls of the sweet hay.

  “Looks like nice stuff,” he said. “Your horses will be happy...” His voice trailed off as an iPod dropped into the dirt, its headphones still entwined with stalks of hay. “And someone else will be happy to get that back,” he added, stooping to pick it up.

  Her hands tightened around the feedbag and she stared at the achingly familiar scratches. She’d given Joey a silver iPod for Christmas. Could picture his lopsided smile as he carved his initials with a pocketknife.

  “May I see it?” she managed, her voice wobbling.

  He passed it over, his eyes narrowing on her face. “Something wrong?”

  “No,” she said quickly. “But this belongs to my roommate, Tami. I’m not sure how it ended up here but those are her initials.” She held her thumb over the bottom curl of the J.

  “Well, I’m glad it resurfaced,” he said. “At least it was safe inside.”

  “Yes, it seems fine.” She pressed the ‘play’ button and the cover of Joey’s favorite album sucker punched her. Two thousand, one hundred and ninety-six songs. He’d loved his music. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been working beneath her truck, unaware of her presence until she’d teasingly pulled out his earphones.

  She slipped the iPod into her pocket, forcing a shaky smile, conscious of Scott’s astute gaze. Tonight she’d listen to Joey’s music, read his magazine and indulge in private memories of her missing brother.

  “Guess that’s enough hay for tonight,” Scott said. He picked up the bag, still studying her face. “Don’t want them to colic. But you can take a little every day.”

  “Thank you for this…for everything.” She flattened a hand over the precious iPod in her pocket. If he hadn’t been such a good sport about the hay, she never would have found it. Never would have had this link to Joey. She impulsively rose on her toes and pressed his mouth with a grateful kiss.

  His hands remained on the bag of hay, but his entire body seemed to stiffen, his hungry gaze following her mouth. “Do you have more time,” he asked, his voice gruff, “or is there some kind of curfew you have to follow?”

  “Definitely there’s a curfew,” she said. “Ten o’clock. And it’s enforced.” Despite her shaky emotions, she couldn’t contain a bubble of laughter. “You’re the most easy-going instructor around. Better learn the rules or you could be demoted to the Equicizer too.”

  “I’m thinking that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.” He gave a slow, curling smile. “Let’s get you back on time. And you can tell me when you plan to ride that machine tomorrow.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Megan waved good-bye to Scott and strode down the barn aisle, swinging the alfalfa bag, happier than at any time since Joey’s disappearance. She’d offered to walk back but Scott insisted he’d drive. He hadn’t flinched at tossing the hay into the pristine trunk of his car.

  And he was meeting her tomorrow. Suddenly the Equicizer no longer felt like punishment.

  She tossed an armful of alfalfa to Jake and Rambo. Barney had treat radar and gave a hopeful nicker. She pulled out hay for him and couldn’t resist Edzo’s wistful eyes, then ended up giving every horse in the barn a bite. They enjoyed it as much as apples or peppermints. It seemed a shame that the huge haystack was wasted in the cowshed.

  “I’ll bring you some more tomorrow, Grumpy,” she said, when Rambo stuck his head in the hay bag and lipped off the last stalks. There was probably
no longer a reason to call him grumpy. He seemed to like her when she was feeding treats. Didn’t even pin his ears.

  Someone giggled beyond the end door, a flirtatious fun sound, and she glanced over her shoulder. Seconds later, Tami and Miguel appeared in the aisle.

  “Oh, you’re here. Thanks for lending your truck.” Tami tossed Megan the keys and shot a conspiratorial smile at Miguel. “We almost missed curfew and had to speed a bit since your muffler is way too loud to sneak in. Miguel, this is Megan, my roommate.”

  “We met this morning,” Miguel said, his dark gaze sweeping over Megan with blatant approval. “How lucky. The prettiest girls at the school and they’re both in one room.”

  “We have a chocolate stash too,” Tami said, gazing at Miguel with adoration in her baby-blue eyes. Megan hoped she hadn’t looked at Scott like that, but feared she probably had. Love was definitely in the air tonight.

  “Then let’s go, girls.” Miguel looped his sinewy arms around both their waists. He smelled of strong cigarettes and even stronger cologne, but she sucked in her breath and accompanied them, relieved curfew would prevent him from staying long.

  It was almost ten o’clock and she craved privacy, wanted to listen to Joey’s music undisturbed. They climbed the steps while she tried to ignore Miguel’s familiar hand on her hip.

  Tami pushed open the door to their room and tugged Miguel toward her cluttered desk. “Look at this.” She yanked open the bottom drawer. “We have three kinds of chocolate bars. Pick any one you want.”

  Miguel grabbed a Snickers and ripped it open. A piece of wrapper drifted to the floor. He didn’t bother to pick it up. Instead, he stretched out on Tami’s bed, leaving dirt smudges beneath the heels of his snakeskin boots.

  “These are my favorite,” he said, his mouth full of chocolate. “I eat a lot of these back home.”

  Megan dragged her gaze off the wrapper on the floor. “Where do you live?” she asked, struggling to be polite. “Near the Baja Tinda?”

  “Of course,” Miguel said, his words muffled. “My father owns it.”

  “Oh.” She paused, momentarily at a loss for words. She’d thought he was a simple student, saving money to come up and finish his jockey course. No wonder he was so arrogant. No wonder he stayed with Ramon. Still, this opportunity to ask questions was perfect.

  “Is there a racetrack there?” she asked, watching him now with genuine interest.

  “A training track.” He stuffed another piece of chocolate into his mouth and smacked his lips. “Mainly we race Quarter Horses.”

  “But I thought your father was trying to start Thoroughbred racing?”

  “Yes, that too.” Miguel shrugged and hauled a giggling Tami onto his chest. “But he needs more staff as well as horses. We have some riders but they’re only experienced at short dashes.”

  Tami slipped her arm around his neck and fluttered her eyelashes. “Maybe your dad will hire me,” she whispered coyly.

  “Maybe.” His gaze lowered. He lifted the silver necklace Tami had borrowed from Megan and dragged his thumb along the swell of Tami’s breast. Megan turned away. She didn’t like the way he touched her jewelry, but the casual way he fingered Tami bothered her even more.

  His voice lowered. “It’s frustrating Ramon doesn’t allow me to have guests, querida. You and I, we could have a good time.”

  Despite her aversion, Megan couldn’t resist another peek. When Miguel wasn’t smiling, he looked older, almost jaded. He also looked tall for a jockey and the way he shifted his eyes when he spoke of racing was interesting. Perhaps Joey had been lured to the Baja Tinda for a job. But then what?

  “Does your father ever hire students from here?” At her abrupt question, both Tami and Miguel turned, as though they’d forgotten Megan’s presence.

  “No,” Miguel said. “There are too many of my countrymen who need jobs. But he sometimes follows my recommendations.”

  He dismissed Megan and turned back to Tami, splaying a bold hand over her breast. His voice lowered to a sultry whisper. “It’s ten o’clock, querida, and I must leave. Ramon doesn’t like me spending time with beautiful American women. But with you, I can’t help myself.” His left hand slid beneath Tami’s shirt, his head blotting out her face in a noisy kiss.

  Megan yanked her gaze away and walked into the bathroom.

  Five minutes later, footsteps sounded. A door opened and closed amidst the murmur of soft good-byes. She cautiously opened the bathroom door and glanced around. Tami was alone on the bed, smiling dreamily and clasping a pillow to her chest. “Isn’t he wonderful?”

  “I guess,” Megan said, hiding her concern. It wasn’t any of her business but if Tami were her little sister, she definitely wouldn’t want her hanging around with a player like Miguel. “Did he give you the barn tour before you went to town?” she asked.

  “Yeah.” Tami sighed. “It’s real nice there. The jockeys have their own washer and dryer. They also have a big kitchen with a fridge. Miguel gave me a cup of coffee and even had some Tia Maria. It was wicked.”

  Megan nodded, realizing she hadn’t seen her roommate all day. She wanted to ask what Scott’s class had been like, but Tami clearly preferred to talk about Miguel.

  “Wouldn’t it be great if he found me a job?” Tami’s arms tightened around the pillow. “Moving to Mexico. That would be so romantic. And the Baja Tinda is beautiful.”

  “How do you know? It might be a dump.” Megan hated her cynicism but Tami was a sweet girl and while it was nice to see her happy, there was an unsavory element about Miguel.

  “It’s not a dump. Look.” Tami tossed the pillow aside and grabbed her phone. She jabbed at the screen. “I bookmarked it. The barns and track are new. And they have one of those straight race strips with a fence down the middle.” She pushed the screen in front of Megan’s face.

  Megan had pored over the school website, checked every link when Joey had disappeared. However, this was an entirely different site, and the Baja Tinda looked massive. There was even a narrow track, separated by a rail, where two horses broke from a starting gate to race in a straight line. She’d heard of that type of racing but had never seen it before.

  “And look at all the little houses.” Tami scrolled along her screen with proprietary pride. “There’s no picture of Miguel’s house but he said it’s very big. It’s behind that high wall. Wouldn’t it be cool if he could get me a job?” She clutched the phone to her chest and bounced on her bed, making the mattress squeak. “I wouldn’t mind moving to Mexico. Miguel is twenty-six. He probably wants to settle down.”

  “You hardly know him,” Megan said. “And men are always eager at the beginning. It never lasts.”

  “Who cares. It’s fun when you first meet someone. Even though it’s totally unexpected. When it’s hard to think of anything but him. You must remember the feeling.”

  An image of Scott’s face flashed, so distractingly handsome Megan flushed, realizing she’d been hit just as hard at Tami.

  “Yes,” she said softly. “I do remember.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Scott sipped his coffee while Garrett filled their plates with scrambled eggs and bacon. “A few more breakfasts like this,” Scott said, “and I’ll have to ride much harder than I did yesterday.”

  “We have a nice fitness room and sauna.” Garrett passed Scott a heaping plate. “Not the range of equipment you’re used to, but by midmorning it’s usually empty.”

  Rex edged closer, hopeful eyes on the bacon. Garrett gestured and the dog immediately turned and dropped on the colorful mat by the back door. Sighing, Rex lowered his head on his paws.

  “You trained him well,” Scott said.

  “I bought him like that, from one of those security places.”

  “You bought a guard dog? Why?”

  “A lot of students around. We had that drug dealer here last month who obviously had criminal connections. I have to be careful.” Garrett forked a mouthful of egg into his mouth. “So, how
did you like your first full day? Did Lydia ever stop chasing you?”

  “She was just trying to be helpful.” Scott picked up his fork. “Does she start all the riders?”

  “No, just the exercise riders and grooms. She’s a stickler for detail.” Garrett’s mouth curved in a wry smile. “Actually she’s a first-class bitch, but she gets results. Two of her grads won Groom of the Month at Del Mar. She also looks after most of the lectures.”

  “So she’s busy,” Scott said. “Then is it okay if I work with a student or two from her riding class?”

  “Of course. Take as many as you want.” Garrett chuckled. “The girls will thank you for it. Lydia can be rather tough on the distaff members.”

  “Can’t you make sure she’s fair?”

  Garrett shrugged. “She’s not that bad. And students need to deal with that kind of shit. They’ll run into bosses far worse than her. She toughens them up for the real world. But if you feel the need to rescue someone, knock yourself out.” He paused for a moment then added, “Just don’t make waves.”

  Scott shot him a quick glance but Garrett was now concentrating on his eggs, and Scott didn’t care anyway. They’d always held different opinions—on everything from how to treat a woman, to football and politics—but had still remained good friends. At least, he’d be able to help Megan. He’d seen her ride yesterday. She deserved to be on the track, not stuck in ground training or trotting on the back forty.

  However, he didn’t want to sour Lydia against Megan, especially if Lydia was already tough on the girls. He took a thoughtful bite, considering the most diplomatic approach.

  Rap, rap.

  Rex scrambled to his feet and bolted from the kitchen, his claws rattling on the marble tiles.

  Garrett frowned in the direction of the front door. “Students aren’t supposed to come here unless they have an appointment. Excuse me a second. I’ll get rid of them.” He wiped his mouth with a linen napkin, rose from the table and disappeared down the hall.