Page 34 of The Rancher

He stood and started toward her. “You’ll change your mind, or I’ll make sure Maddy has an accident like her mother.”

Lyris’s jaw dropped. “Stop where you are. Did you cause Francie’s accident? You killed her? Why would you do something so vile?”

He lifted his hand and rubbed his right index finger against his thumb. “Money. I needed money and Marissa had it. She wanted Ray, and Francie was in the way. He wasn’t even a billionaire then. He’d just bought this place.”

“I’ll tell Ray. I’ll tell him everything you’ve said.”

“It will be your word against mine. Who is he going to believe? The new vet? Or the man who’s been with him from the beginning?” He headed for the door. “Think about it.” Then he let himself out.

Lyris hurried and locked the door, throwing the deadbolt and the chain. She would have to start locking the deadbolt whenever she left the house. Suddenly, the place she called home was not safe, and she didn’t like it at all.

CHAPTER 10

Lyris quickly showered, dressed in a warm, turtleneck sweater, tennis shoes and her leather jacket. She walked over to the main house for dinner. She arrived just a few minutes before six.

Ray smiled and greeted her holding a cocktail. “Would you like one?”

She nodded. “Please. It’s been that kind of day.” Glancing around the room, she was glad not to see Ted. “No Ted tonight?”

He frowned. “He said he had a date. That probably means he’s with Marissa. I can’t help but feel they are planning something big.” He walked into the family room to the rolling bar set up there.

Lyris’s gaze locked on Maddy.I can’t tell Ray about Ted while she might hear.

Maddy was on her phone, texting someone.

She walked over to the bar and lowered her voice. “Ted was waiting in my home when we came back here.”

Ray’s eyebrows immediately furrowed, and he spoke through clenched teeth. “What do you mean he was waiting for you? How did he get in? I’m sorry. That should never have happened. He’sfired. I doubt we’ll be seeing Ted any longer anyway. He’s got to know we’re on to him now.”

“You would think, but he might stay here just so he can be close to Stormchaser…and your other horses. Just because Stormchaser has been the only animal injured so far, doesn’t mean he’s the only one who will be hurt.”

He gazed over at his daughter.

Maddy hadn’t looked up from her phone seemingly entranced by what she saw there or whoever she was talking to.

That was fine with Lyris. She didn’t want her to overhear about the trouble the ranch was having. She would panic and worry about White Lightning. Something occurred to Lyris. “We need to keep close track of White Lightning. Ted knows how much that horse means to Maddy. He might hurt him just to hurt Maddy, and you, by extension.”

Ray handed Lyris a glass of Berringer’s white zinfandel, her favorite. “You’re right. I was at the point when I was about to fire him, keeping your enemies close be darned. Too many things were going wrong on his watch. I shouldn’t have to worry about my stable master hurting the animals under his care.”

“You’re right you shouldn’t.” She sipped her wine. “There is something else you should know. He admitted?—”

Maddy put her phone in her jeans right front pocket. “Dad. that was Jenny. She’s going to have a sleepover on Friday night. Can I go? Please?”

He turned toward his daughter. “Who are Jenny’s parents again? I don’t remember.”

“Chuck and Monica Jasper.”

He furrowed his brows for a moment and then nodded. “Ah, yes, I remember now. Nice people. I met them at the club the last time I was there. But I don’t know. Now is not the best time to be away from home.”

“Daddy, please. How can I have any friends when we live out in the boonies?”

“The boonies? You’ve never complained before.”

“I’ve never been asked to a sleepover before. Please. Please don’t ruin this for me.”

Ray took a deep breath and let it out before responding. “All right, you can go. But I want to be in contact with you. You promise not to leave for any reason, you text before you go to bed and when you’re ready to be picked up. No one except me or Lyris will pick you up. No one else, whether you’ve seen them on the ranch or not.. Understand? Those are my rules.”

“Yay!” Maddy hugged Ray with her arms circling his waist. “Thanks, Daddy. I’m so excited. I haven’t been to a sleepover since I was a little kid.”