Rodeo Queen (27 page)

She closed the stall door and dropped the bridle over the horn before carrying the saddle from the tack room. She quickly groomed the anxious stallion before slipping the saddle onto his back. She had every intention of getting rid of this pent-up energy they both had with a run to the lake. Valentino continued to prance in place as she swung her leg over his back and settled herself. She understood his anxiety; she, too, had the desire to break loose and run forever, feeling the wind whip her hair behind her, dragging at her shirt.

She leaned close to his neck and loosened the reins. She wound her fingers in his silvery mane before making a kissing sound. Valentino, sensing her exhilaration, broke into a fast gallop.

“Come on, boy. I know you can do better than this.” She tapped him with her heels.

Valentino flattened his ears and stretched out his majestic body as he raced across the emerald pasture. Sydney’s laughter was carried on the wind, circling her and reminding her of less challenging times. She sat up, slowing the horse as they approached the lake, allowing him to choose his own path to the waiting refreshment.

She slid from his back, loosened his cinch and, let him roam, knowing that he wouldn’t stray far. She sat on a rock on the bank, kicked off her boots, and rocked her foot back and forth, dipping her toes into the cold water. It had been too long since she’d come back here. The last time was the first time Scott had taken her to his home, after the confrontation with Derek. She’d been able to avoid Derek since he’d stormed into her room. Maybe Scott was right and he did have feelings for her, but she had never encouraged him. Not even when Scott had accused her of it.

A nudge to her shoulder shook her out of her reverie. Sydney turned to see Valentino waiting patiently for the attention he felt he deserved. She reached up and petted the velvet softness of his muzzle.

“I’ve missed riding you the last couple weeks.” Valentino’s deep nicker made her laugh. “I take it you missed me too, huh?”

The horse shook his shining mane and brushed her cheek with his nose. Sydney glanced at the sun, which was gradually creeping toward the horizon. She had to get back or Scott would be at the house before she returned. With a sigh of regret, she tightened the cinch.

“Guess it’s time to head back.” She climbed onto his back and headed the way she had come.

As the barn came into view, she saw Scott’s unmistakable profile against the corral. He met up with her before she even reached the barn.

“Where in the hell were you?”

Sydney shrugged. “I just went out for a ride.”

“I got here and you and that stallion were gone. Why didn’t you leave a note? Something?”

“Scott, I . . .”

“What was I supposed to think? I’ll tell you, I thought that Kurt . . .”

“Scott, stop!” She climbed from the saddle and slipped the bridle from Valentino’s head, replacing it with the halter. “We just went to the lake. I’m sorry I didn’t leave a note, but I expected to be back before you were. I’m sick of being cooped up like an animal. He needed the exercise and I needed some freedom.”

Scott pulled her away from the horse and into his arms, exhaling a breath she hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Next time, leave a note. Or call my cell.” He stroked her tangled curls.

“I’m sorry I worried you.” Her voice was muffled against his chest.

“I know.” He kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of the grass, the wind and honey. “I know.”

K
URT HAD KNOWN
his patience would pay off eventually. He’d watched Scott arrive at Mike’s ranch without Sydney several days in a row only to see him leave, heading toward town. He knew that Scott wasn’t staying in town. The wagging tongues there would have been in full swing. Then he remembered the old road Scott’s parents had used to take to town instead of cutting through Mike’s part of the ranch. The chain locking the old gate was brand new and the rusted gate had been oiled. It didn’t take much effort to cut the link enough to allow access for his truck. The road was overgrown with weeds that now lay pressed down in tracks from Scott’s truck. Kurt’s four-wheel drive climbed the hills easily, crossing ruts and rocks as if they were speed bumps.

He’d worried momentarily that the sound of the loud diesel engine would carry, alerting Scott and Sydney to his presence on the hills overlooking the monstrosity Scott called home. Luck had been on his side as the wind carried any sound away from them. He followed Scott’s tire tracks until he reached the crest and parked behind trees to keep his truck hidden as a precaution. Kurt limped to the top of the hill and lay in the weeds, watching them through the high-power binoculars. Scott didn’t look happy; his shoulders were practically tensed to his ears as Sydney rode up. There was obviously something causing tension between the lovers, and Kurt smiled, wondering if he wasn’t the reason for the stress.

He watched Sydney unsaddle the stallion and turn him loose into the corral. If they thought they had stress now, tomorrow was going to bring an entirely new definition of the word. A smile spread across his lips as he limped back to his truck, climbing into the driver’s seat and pulling his baseball cap down to shade his eyes. Once the sun went down, he was going to be busy.

Chapter Sixteen

S
YDNEY LAY WITH
Scott’s body curved around her back and listened to his even breathing, trying to sort out her feelings for him. He could rile her temper faster than any man she’d ever known, and more often than not she wanted to smack that smug, arrogant smile from his face. But sometimes, there was something so kind and gentle about him, a sensitiveness he tried to hide. It wasn’t as if he were difficult to look at either. She ran her fingertips over the arm at her waist, the solid muscles of his forearm protectively surrounding her with his warmth. He was the most virile man she’d ever met, and his rakish charm never let her catch a breath. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved him.

But even after the past few weeks, she still had no idea what permanent place, if any, he saw for her in his life. She’d told him how she felt, albeit accidentally, and he’d never let her in on his thoughts. She didn’t want to believe Derek that Scott was merely using her, but she couldn’t help the doubts from creeping in when he refused to open up. How long was she going to be willing to offer up her heart and soul to him only to be shut out, simply a body to keep him warm at night? How much longer would he make her pay the price for the unfaithfulness of another?

“I love you, Scott,” she whispered as she caressed his powerful arm and surrendered herself to sleep.

S
COTT OPENED HIS
eyes slowly. He had heard her confession. This was the second time the words had left her mouth, and he couldn’t deny that this time it had been deliberate. Sydney had offered him the greatest gift he could have ever asked for. If she was so afraid of his rejection that she couldn’t voice her feelings in the light of day, had he really earned it? And how would he respond if she did? Could he really profess a love he wasn’t sure he even believed existed?

The questions swirled unanswered as he held Sydney in his arms. He knew that the thought of her with anyone else drove him mad, but jealousy didn’t equate with love. He had learned that lesson from his experience with Liz, and he never wanted to make the same mistake again. Love was for suckers, he convinced himself. He cared about Sydney a lot, and he could admit that to her, but love? That term was better left for fantasies and fairy tales.

The unmistakable thud of a hoof hitting the rail of the corral and the resulting crack of the board cut off all thoughts of the soft woman in his arms. She bolted upright, awake immediately.

“Scott?”

He placed a finger to his lips and slid from the bed, pulling on the sweats he’d thrown at the foot of it. “Stay here. I’ll check it out.”

Sydney reached for his arm. “No.”

“It’s probably just the horses spooked by a coyote.”

She rose and reached for the robe that he had thrown on the floor. “I’m coming with you.”

He wanted to argue with her, but the determined set of her jaw advised him of the futility. It would only waste time and energy. “Fine, but stay behind me.”

He unlocked the back door and stepped onto the deck, scanning the horizon for anything that looked out of place: shadows that didn’t fit the landscape or anything that instinctively struck him as odd. When nothing stood out, he headed down the stairs to check on Valentino. Sydney brushed past him, slipping into the corral and cooing to the agitated stallion. One of the corral boards hung awkwardly from the break. The horse was anxious but seemed unharmed, even as he snorted loudly one last time.

Valentino pranced away from Sydney to circle the corral before returning to her, nudging her shoulder. “I don’t see anything,” she whispered.

Scott held a finger up, listening. He’d heard a rustling near the barn, but that could have been one of the mares inside. He circled the corral before waving Sydney to follow him to the barn. After checking each of the mares and the tack room, Scott peered into the dark feed room. Nothing seemed amiss, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. He reached for Sydney’s hand and led her from the barn. As she reached back to turn the light off, he stopped her.

“No, let’s leave it on tonight.” Scott hoped the presence of the light would deter anything unwelcome from entering the barn or coming anywhere near the corral illuminated by the fluorescent glow.

“I didn’t see anything, did you?” Sydney asked, her voice wavering.

Scott pulled her into his arms once they had entered the back door. She didn’t seem any more at ease than when they had first heard the noise. “Like I said, a coyote probably went past the corral and Valentino kicked at it. I’ll have to fix that board in the morning.” He brushed a stray hair from her forehead. “Let’s go back to bed.”

Scott followed Sydney back to the bedroom. He knew that his reasoning was only meant to reassure her. There had been no other sounds since the crack of the horse kicking the fence. Had it been due to wildlife, they would have heard its retreat into the pasture as it made its escape. He stopped just before reaching his room and unlocked the gun cabinet under the stairs.

“Scott, are you coming?” Sydney called from the bedroom.

“Just checking the doors again.” His first priority was to protect Sydney with any force necessary. If anyone tried to touch her again, they would pay with their life.

S
COTT WOKE AS
the sun turned the clouds along the horizon pink and orange. He’d only had small fits of sleep last night after checking on the horses, mostly lying awake to listen to any sound outside. He’d known that if he rose and stayed on the porch it would only rouse suspicions with Sydney, and he didn’t want to be far from her in case there was any trouble. Maybe he was just being overly cautious, especially considering they hadn’t had any trouble for several weeks, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that seemed to settle in his spine, as if he had overlooked something in his inspection.

He poured a cup of coffee and stepped out the front door, heading toward the feed barn. He couldn’t see if the barn light was still on from his angle, but he would know soon enough. He prepared the mixture of mash, grain, and alfalfa pellets for the mares, grabbing a large flake of alfalfa for Valentino and pushing the wheelbarrow of food toward the barn door. Approaching, he could see the light, faint in the morning sunrise, through the doorway as he heard the mares nicker a breakfast greeting. He poured the mixture into each bucket, relaxing a bit more as he fed each one. The animals seemed fine. Maybe they were all just letting the trouble with Kurt unnerve them.

Scott left the wheelbarrow in the barn and turned off the light. He carried the flake of hay to the corral but dropped it the moment Valentino came into view. The stallion lay flat on the ground, facing away from him. He rushed toward the fence, stopping when he saw the blood pooling beneath the animal. Scott’s hands shook as he reached for the cell phone in his pocket and immediately hit the speed dial for the veterinarian’s emergency number. The machine instructed him to leave a message. Scott made his way into the corral to see Valentino’s empty eyes staring skyward. Feeling for a pulse at his neck, he touched only cold fur.

Valentino was gone, and there was nothing the vet could do now. Scott dialed the sheriff instead, giving them directions to Mike’s house. After hanging up, he stood and dialed Clay’s cell phone. He reached him on the second try.

“I need you to show the police how to get here, Clay.” Scott was devastated. He’d failed Sydney again. This was going to destroy her. Valentino had been the culmination of her life’s work. “Valentino’s been killed.”

“What? How?” Clay stuttered. “Are you guys okay?”

“We’re fine.” Scott sighed as he stared down at the lifeless horse. “I’ve got to go tell her. The police should be there shortly. Just bring them here. I don’t want her alone right now.”

“Kurt?”

Scott rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I don’t know. I think so.” He scanned the horizon. There was no trace that anyone had been on the ranch recently other than the two of them. “He could still be here for all I know.”

“I’ll be there as soon as the police get here.”

“Thanks.”

“And Scott,” Clay began. “Hang in there, brother.”

Scott wondered how he could break the news to Sydney. Whatever monster had done this had been right under their noses.

S
COTT HUNG UP
the phone as he entered the house through the back door. He turned and dropped the blinds that hung over the doors.

“Scott?” Sydney called from the kitchen. “Do you want some more coffee before we head over to Mike’s?”

Sydney came around the corner, sipping her own coffee. “I can make you a cup if you’d . . .” Her words died in her throat and he could see the worry slip onto her brow. “What is it?”

She must have read it in his face. “I want you to stay inside.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” A slight tremor coursed through her voice as she tried to control her panic. “Scott, you’re scaring me. What happened?”