Page 28 of The Rancher

“I’ll stay here. I need to calm Majesty and Junebug.”

“Do that.”

She disconnected the call and went to Junebug’s stall. “Easy, girl, easy.” Lyris talked in her calmest voice. “That’s right. Easy, girl, easy.”

The mare came over to the gate.

Lyris petted her and cooed until she stopped shaking. “That’s a good girl. You’re fine.” She left Junebug and walked to Majesty’s stall next door. “Are you okay, girl? Come here. Come on, Majesty. Come here.”

The horse looked over, fear filling her eyes.

“It’s okay. You’re okay and so is Snow.” Lyris gazed over at the three-week old filly. Her coat was fluffy and stood out as if full of electricity. The effect wasn’t the result of the current storm, but of the wind that whipped up and down the prairie when she was out in the small pasture with her mother.

The horses weren’t left out there overnight because it was too dangerous. Any one of several predators could take down a foal and harm the mother, too.

Snow was used to Lyris and came over to her when she called. “How’s my sweet baby? Are you a little nervous because your mama is nervous? That’s okay. You’re allowed.”

The filly nudged Lyris’s hand, begging for a scratch around her ears.

Lyris was more than happy to oblige. Spending time with Snow showed Majesty that nothing was wrong.

If only that was the truth.

Ray arrivedin his truck about ten minutes after Lyris called.

“What do you have for me?”

Lyris shrugged. “I don’t know anything more. No one has called to say they found him.”

He pointed at the truck. “Okay, get in. We’ll head out to the western pasture. He’s most familiar with it and he might head for the familiar.”

She nodded and flipped up the collar of her jean jacket and grabbed her new Stetson. “Let’s go. I won’t feel right until he’s back in his stall…safe.”

Once they were both belted into their seats, Ray took off back out to the main highway and then headed west.

“The gate for the western pasture is down the road a bit.”

Lyris nodded. “I figured.” She turned to Ray. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea he could break out of the stall. It was locked, I swear it.”

Ray reached over and squeezed her knee. “I don’t blame you. I’ve always known he was high strung. He’s tried this before during a storm…he just didn’t make an escape then. I’ve told Ted more than once to reinforce his gate. I don’t guess he’s done it. If he had, Stormchaser wouldn’t have kicked it open.”

She looked at his hand on her knee and then covered it with her own. “I know it’s not my place, but?—”

He chuckled. “But you’re going to say something anyway.”

“Yes. I don’t like Ted. He’s always watching me like he’s trying to catch me doing something wrong. I’ve dealt with his ilk before. I’m afraid for the animals. The doping that happened to Stormchaser would have killed him if Ted had his way. That I saw the horse when I did was a fluke. The antidote might not have saved him if I hadn’t got to him when I did.”

Ray narrowed his gaze. “Do you think Ted is the one who doped the horse?”

She took a deep breath. “I do. I don’t see how it could have been anyone else, given the protocols you have in place at the racetrack. Either you, Ted, or Johnny Cantoni, is always with the horse until the animal is led out to start the race. I can’t see Johnny taking the risk of sabotaging the race. He’s been with you too long.”

He pursed his lips but kept his gaze on scanning the fields while still watching the road. “He had been riding for us going on seven years now. I pay him well and he gets part of the purse.” He shook his head. “You’re right. I can’t see him giving that up unless the amount of money was enough to retire on. The only person who could be behind it is Marissa or Geoffrey Chandler. I trust you, Lyris. We both need to keep an eye on Ted.”

“I agree. My first and only concern is the welfare of your animals. I’ll never let one get hurt, if I can prevent it.”

He squeezed her leg again and then pulled his hand back. “Now, if I could just get you to give us a chance.”

She gazed at her lap before turning toward him. “I can’t Ray. I can’t risk it. You say you want to have a relationship, but what happens when your friends won’t accept me? And they won’t. I’m not rich or powerful. I’m just a vet who loves animals.”