The sheriff entered the barn. “Tell me one of you didn’t do this to him.”
Wyatt straightened. “He tried to take David’s mare, and this is the result of her telling him what she thought of the idea.”
The sheriff’s eyebrows rose, then fell. “I heard about that horse. I hope you’re planning on putting her down after this.”
Wyatt countered, “I believe we should focus on the reason Ron is here in the first place.”
Ron looked to the sheriff for support. “York says town needs a cleanin’ out for things to be right again. Ain’t that right?”
The sheriff reached for his handcuffs. “We’ll talk about this on the way in, but I’m guessing you’ll need a lawyer.”
David raised a hand. “I’m not pressing charges.”
Wyatt said, “He came here to—”
“People do stupid things when they’re drunk. I’m not saying what he did was right, but it looks like he’s already received his punishment for it. Let’s sober him up and see if we can help out.” He nodded at one of the men. “Get the vet out here.”
The sheriff looked at David in surprise. “Don’t you mean the doctor?”
David shook his head. “No, we’ll get Ron medical attention and call his wife, but first I want to follow up on a hunch I have. I think I know what’s wrong with the horse.”
Chapter Nineteen
On the way back to her ranch, Lucy had decided to talk to David about why he’d looked into the land maps, but when she pulled into the driveway, he and Wyatt walked out of the barn to meet her.
David gave her a quick kiss, but he seemed distracted. Wyatt had the same look about him. “Is everything all right?” Lucy asked.
“Everything’s fine,” David assured her quickly. “Why don’t you go inside and get some work done. This should be over before dinner.”
“Over?” Lucy folded up the list she’d carried from the car to show him and stuffed it in her back pocket. Wyatt and David exchanged a look that only served to make Lucy more convinced they were hiding something.
A truck pulled up behind Lucy’s. The local vet, Ben Farms, stepped out and headed toward them. He was a good-looking man with sandy-blond hair and dark-brown eyes. Locals joked that half his business came from women who said their animals were sick, but just wanted to see him.
Suddenly, David’s reluctance to let her into the barn made sense to Lucy. David didn’t want her to witness what was most likely the vet putting down one of the horses. Lucy tucked her hand into David’s. She hoped it wasn’t the mare he’d spent so much time with. She knew he was emotionally invested in that horse. Even while facing something like that, David was trying to shelter her from seeing it. What David had obviously forgotten was that Lucy had grown up as a rancher’s daughter. Her father hadn’t hidden the harsher side of raising animals from her. “Which horse is it?” she asked softly.
David looked down at her as if trying to read her expression. “I called him out to look at Tia. That’s the mare’s original name. It fits her.”
Lucy leaned against David’s arm in sympathy. There had been chatter among the men at the ranch about how best to deal with the mare. Had David finally agreed with them? Her father would have come to the same conclusion a whole lot sooner. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not putting her down,” David said. “In fact, I have an idea what’s wrong with her.”
Lucy would have asked more, but the veterinarian joined them, shaking hands with the three of them in turn.
Ben said, “I brought my portable X-ray machine, but I have to tell you, I’m not going near that horse unless we sedate her first. From what I hear, you’re lucky she didn’t kill Ron.”
David looked at Wyatt as if to say he was disappointed he’d told him.
Wyatt shrugged. “Even if Ron deserved what he got, that horse is too dangerous not to warn Dr. Ben about her.”
To Ben, David said, “Get the sedative; I’ll give it to her. Then we’ll take that X-ray.”
Ben nodded and went to the back of his covered truck to retrieve his supplies.
Lucy tugged on David’s hand until she had his attention. “Are you talking about Michelle’s Ron? When was he here?”
David didn’t look like he wanted to answer at first, then he said, “He’s still here. He’s in the bunkhouse sobering up. He tried to move Tia from one paddock to another this morning, and it didn’t work out well for him. Though Doc Erfe says he looks more banged up than he is.”
“Did you hire Ron to work here?”
“No.”
“Then why would he be here at all?” Lucy didn’t like how no one answered her question. “Does Michelle know?”
“We called her,” Wyatt said sadly. “She said she couldn’t bear to see him like that, so we kept him here instead.”
Lucy went over in her head the conversation she’d had with Michelle that morning. “He’s staying at Ted’s place right now, anyway. Michelle was telling me about it this morning. She was worried for him.”
David watched Ben going to his truck while he answered, “She was right to be.”
“She said Ted’s place is like some kind of dangerous cult.”
Wyatt said, “I doubt there’s much religion over there, but he definitely knows how to get inside a man’s head.”
Ben returned with a syringe and metal box he had suspended from a handle, and Lucy temporarily dropped the subject. The four of them turned and walked into the barn. They stopped in front of the stall where Tia was being kept. David said, “I hope I’m right about what’s bothering her.”
Ben set up his equipment outside the stall, then handed the syringe to David. “You said she was looked at by a vet over in Fort Mavis?”
“Yes, but nothing like this was done.” David opened the stall door. Tia’s ears flattened. He spoke to her softly and approached her.
Ben said, “We could try an oral sedative if you want. They’re not as effective, but a whole lot safer to give.”
“I’ll be fine,” David said.
Lucy wanted to tell David to be careful. Actually, she wanted to tell him that no horse was worth risking his life over, but she knew how important this was to him. She clasped her hands in front of her and held her breath.
David spoke to Tia gently. He ran a hand along her shoulder. His touch seemed to soothe her, and her ears raised as she listened to him. “Tia, I know all about you now. You’re a good horse. You need to let us do this. One little pinch, and we can take your pain away.”
David took his time until it almost seemed he had hypnotized the horse. Then slowly, gently, he gave the horse the sedative shot. She looked mildly irritated, but she didn’t pull away from him.
From the door of the stall, Ben said, “I never put much faith in what I see on TV, but you can work with me any day.”
David continued to run his hands gently over Tia’s shoulder and back while the sedative slowly began to work. “She knows I don’t want to hurt her, and I don’t believe she wants to hurt us. Or she won’t want to after you remove what I hope you find.”
When Tia’s head lowered, a sure sign she was getting drowsy, Ben stepped into the stall. “I’ve seen stranger things, so you could be right.” He held part of the machine up and took a digital picture just behind Tia’s ears. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He took several more shots of the horse’s neck beneath the mane. He stepped back and showed them what he’d found. “Right there, do you see it? It looks like a bent needle. I bet that’s a piece of the barbed wire you said she’d been caught in. I’m surprised it didn’t get infected. Or maybe it did and healed over. It’s deep, so I can see how someone wouldn’t notice it, but being where it is, it must be painful for her whenever someone puts a halter over it.”
David continued to speak gently. “Or applies any pressure while trying to lead her. No wonder she doesn’t want anyone putting a lead line on her. And that angry shake of her head is probably her way of saying it hurts.” He looked across
to Ben. “Can it be taken out today?”
Ben nodded. “I don’t see why not. I know exactly where it is. I should be able to get it out with a small incision. After that, it’s just a matter of keeping it clean.”
When David stepped out of the stall, Wyatt gave his shoulder a pat. “You did good, son.”
Lucy stepped into David’s arms and hugged him tightly. “You really are amazing.”
David kissed Lucy on the forehead and chuckled. “That’s what I keep trying to tell you.”
From beside them, Wyatt said, “I’ll stay with Dr. Ben while he works on her.”
David shook Ben’s hand again, then slid an arm around Lucy’s waist. “I’ll walk Lucy in.”
As they walked out of the barn, Lucy asked, “Why did Ron try to move Tia?”
David didn’t answer at first. He walked with Lucy back to her house. Deciding how much to tell her wasn’t easy. “He was drunk, and people make poor choices when they hit the bottom of a bottle.”
Lucy tensed beneath his touch. “This is my ranch, David. I have a right to know what’s going on.” She turned and pinned him down with a steady stare. “And everything you’re lying to me about.”
“Lying?” David felt like a child who’d been caught doing something he’d been told not to. His stalling question sounded as lame to him as it probably did to her.
She put a hand on one of her hips. Her cheeks were flushed with anger, and her eyes flashed with temper. If she didn’t look so close to belting him, he would have told her how beautiful she was just then. “I know you went to town hall about property lines. The clerk said you told her you were asking on my behalf. I’d like to know why. I’d also like to know if you’re doing anything else on my behalf.”
David went to pull her to him, but she stepped back. He sighed. “I know I promised I wouldn’t get involved, but . . .”
Lucy shook her head as if wanting to deny what she was hearing. “But you did? What did you do?” She searched his face, and before he had a chance to answer, she said, “No, don’t bother. I won’t know if you’re telling me the truth or not.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I am the worst judge of character; I thought I could trust you. Really trust you.”
He stepped closer to her, but she retreated again. “Lucy, I didn’t want to lie to you, but—”
“But you did. How many times? Once? A hundred times? How many lies would I have to tell you before you’d start doubting everything I said?”
It was a harsh stance, but one that David could understand. He’d had many opportunities to talk to her about how dangerous he thought York was and how he needed to look into what he was doing even if Lucy didn’t want him to. “All I wanted to do was protect you.”
With large, hurt eyes, Lucy said, “Even if I believe that, it changes us. Do you see that?” She put her hand on the door handle of the house. “You can sleep in the bunkhouse, David. I don’t want you in the house tonight.” She gave him another long, sad look. “Why was Ron here?”
This time David didn’t evade the question. “He intended to burn the barn down.”
Lucy’s eyes rounded. “Because?”
“He thinks you broke up his marriage.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know.”
Lucy looked down at a spot on the porch between them. “At least, I didn’t mean to. I wanted to help Michelle. I should have known it would blow up in my face. I swear I must be cursed or something. You should run back to Fort Mavis, David, before I take you down, too.”
David opened his mouth to argue that point, but Lucy slid into her house and closed the door. He realized then he hadn’t said he was sorry about not telling her everything. It felt like a lie. He should have felt sorry, but he wasn’t, not really.
She’d forgive him for breaking a promise to her, but he’d never forgive himself if anything happened to her—especially if it was something he could have prevented. David turned and strode back to the barn. Half an hour after Lucy had kicked him out of the house, he learned with relief that Tia’s surgery had gone easily. He hoped she would now be out of pain and that it would be a fresh start for her.
Later that evening, he stood beside the cot where Ron was sleeping off his hangover. With the heel of his foot, he rolled the man over, sending him to the floor with a thud.
Ron groaned, then raised himself up by his arms and looked around. “What the hell did you do that for?”
David left his booted foot resting on the side of the cot and leaned forward to look Ron in his bloodshot eyes. “It’s by the grace of God your ass isn’t rotting in jail for arson.”
Ron struggled to his feet. He went to push past David. “Leave me the fuck alone.”
David was on him in a flash, shoving him back against the wall and holding a hand to his neck. “Don’t mistake my even temper for a guarantee that I won’t kill you.”
Fear flashed in Ron’s eyes.
David maintained his hold on the man’s neck. “Did York send you?”
Ron looked away. “Not in so many words.”
David gave Ron a shake and repeated the question in a snarl, “Did he send you?”
Ron met his eyes. “He wants you gone. He wants Lucy gone, too. He doesn’t care how it happens.”
“Did he tell you why?”
“He says you don’t belong here.”
David let Ron go, and the man slumped against the wall. “He’s using you, and you’re letting him. What kind of man are you, Ron? What kind of daddy will you be for those children of yours?”
Ron sank to the floor and covered his face with his hands. “I don’t know anymore. Does it matter? After today, Michelle will never take me back.”
David sighed. He’d seen something in Ron’s eyes, a spark of a better man. “Do you want your wife back?”
Ron laid his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. “Of course I do.”
“What would you do to keep her?”
Ron opened his eyes. “Anything.”
David continued, “As I see it, you’ve got one chance to get your wife back, but I don’t know if you’ve got the balls to make the kind of changes you need to.”
“She said she won’t take me back. It’s too late.”
“Not if you stand the fuck back up.”
Ron pushed himself back to his feet and shook his head. “Why do you care? And why didn’t you press charges for what I did?”
“Because I believe in second chances, and this is yours. You haven’t lost everything yet, Ron, but you need to cut certain elements out of your life. Starting with York.”
Still looking somewhat beaten, Ron said, “Michelle hates that I work for him, but there’s no real choice around here. Not if a man wants a decent wage.”
“I’m always looking for good men to help me with the horses.”
Ron was quiet for a long moment. “You’d hire me after what I done?”
“If you stay off the booze and work hard.”
Ron’s face twisted with shame. “I will. Michelle always said the bottle brings out an ugly side of me. I proved her right today. You may not believe it, but I don’t hate Lucy. I don’t want harm to come to her or her place. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I had hurt anyone this morning.”
David walked to the door. If Ron knew anything else, it would come out soon enough. David didn’t want to hear lies or a cover story. Once Ron found his place with the men at the ranch and realized they weren’t the enemy, he’d talk. For now, it was enough to throw Ron a lifeline. “But you didn’t. It’s kind of ironic. You owe your second chance to a horse who is about to get her second chance. Might be I’ve just thought of how you can help around here.”
Ron’s eyes widened. “You want me to break your mare? The one that tried to kill me?”
“No, I want you to gentle her.” He briefly explained to him about the shard of metal the vet had taken out of Tia’s neck. He also outlined his philosophy of reaching a horse rath
er than utilizing more forceful methods of taming it. “Her name is Tia, and she associates being handled with being hurt. It’s going to take patience and a whole lot of understanding of what she’s been through to win back her trust.”
Like Michelle will, David thought but didn’t say. He measured men by what they did, not by what they said. Ron said he wanted his wife back. He said he’d do anything. Tia would be the first test of that. If Ron had no sympathy for an animal that had struck out at him through no fault of her own, then Michelle, his daughter, and his unborn child might be better off without him.
It wasn’t really a matter of Ron changing; it was a matter of him choosing.
David walked out of the room and went to sit on the steps of the bunkhouse.
Wyatt joined him. “I once had a dog my wife didn’t like in the house. He had that same sad expression on his face every evening when he knew he’d be sleeping outside.”
David shot Wyatt a glare, but it didn’t bother the older man at all. He could have told Wyatt to mind his own damn business, but Wyatt cared about Lucy, and David liked to think he cared about him, too. “She’s right to be mad at me. I lied to her. A couple weeks back, she received a nasty anonymous text. She asked me to stay out of it, and I promised her I would.”
Wyatt sat down beside David. “And you didn’t?”
“No, I didn’t. I went around asking questions, hoping I’d find out who’d sent that text. So far I have a whole lot of rumors and possibilities, but nothing worth lying to her about.”
Wyatt tipped his Stetson back and stared out into the distance. “I can’t say I support lying to anyone, but I know where your heart is. Lucy does, too. Or she will if you give her time. More important, what did you find out?”
David picked up a pebble from the step beside him and tossed it out onto the grass beside the porch. “This area is being assessed for potential oil pockets. That explains why York is trying to buy up property. I don’t fully understand how he expects to benefit from trying to drive Lucy away. Until she pays me back, I own the note on this property. Even if he drove me back to Fort Mavis and scared Lucy into leaving, he has to know that neither of us would ever sell to him.”