Page 2 of The Cowboy's Wild Side

“I have to destroy it somehow,” she muttered to herself. “Maybe I could drown it, but I’m not sure if that would be enough. I’ll have to try and smash it.”

Taking out her cooking mallet, she wrapped the phone in a thin kitchen towel, placed it on her granite counter top, and smashed it with the mallet. Carefully peeling back the cloth, she let out a relieved sigh. It was completely decimated. Satisfied, she gathered it up and stuffed it into her hobo bag ready to throw down the trash chute on the way out.

Running into the bedroom and frantically closing her suitcase, she placed it on the floor, and looping the hobo bag over her shoulder she headed towards the front door. Afraid to leave the complex in her Lexus SUV, she’d contacted a car company and had a car delivered, There were a ton of rental agencies in Dallas, and she figured it would take ages to track her down. By that time she’d be long gone.

Walking to the end of the hall, she opened the heavy metal door and placed her suitcase at the top of thestairwell, then returned to the hallway and pulled back trash chute. She was dropping in the shreds of her phone wrapped in the towel when she heard the telltale sound of the elevator chime.

Frantically ducking through the heavy metal door back into the stairwell, she held it cracked open barely an inch. The couple that came out were her neighbors. She was telling herself not to be so paranoid when two men stepped out behind them. She recognized them both! They worked for Gino and they went straight to her door.

Almost afraid to breathe, she ducked back, lifted up the suitcase began walking down the stairs. Grateful she’d thought to wear sneakers, and even more relieved she was only three flights up, she entered the garage and hurried across to the rental car. As she climbed in, she reached into her bag and pulled out a baseball cap. Urgently stuffing her long blond hair beneath it, she started up the car and past the rows of vehicles to the exit. But it was almost half an hour later, cruising down the interstate, before she released her white knuckle grip on the steering wheel.

CHAPTER TWO

Cade McLean was saddling a horse for a trail ride when his phone rang. Looking at the screen and seeing Andy Baker’s name he broke into a smile and quickly accepted the call.

“Hey, Andy, it’s been a while. How are you? And how’s that famous sister of yours?”

“As sassy as she ever was,” Andy replied with a chuckle. “But that’s one of the reasons I adore her. She’s just about to head out on a short tour. Brody’s goin’ with her so guess who’s takin’ care of their horses?”

“How many?”

“Four. We expanded the barn so there’s room and I’m happy to do it. How are you?”

“Great. I just picked up the same number of rescues myself,” he replied, looking out the window at his new charges grazing in the paddock closest to the house. “They just need kind hands and some good grub for a while, then I’ll find out what they know.”

“What you do is fantastic,” Andy remarked with a sigh. “If I had the time I’d pick up a couple myself.”

“It’s a win/win. I rescue horses from the shelters and feed lots, fix their brains and their bodies, then sell them on to good people. I make a decent livin’ and the horses get forever homes.”

“Are you still teachin?”

“Sure. Still plenty of kids, but recently a few of their mothers wanted to give it a try. Everyone will be excited tosee this new bunch.”

“How would you feel about another one?”

“Horse or human? Though it doesn’t matter, there’s always room for one more.”

“Human. She’s a friend of Helen’s. Apparently her father owns race horses, or invests in them. Maybe both, but regardless, she’s been around them most of her life. She’s just never actually climbed into a saddle and she wants to learn. She’s comin’ in today, though I should warn you, she might not be easy. From what Helen told me her family has crazy money.”

“Ah, got it. But why would she want to come out here? There are plenty of high-end trainin’ facilities in Dallas. I assume that’s where she’s from.”

“Yep, she lives in Highland Park, but why she’s plannin’ on stayin’ in this neck of the woods for a while I have no idea. She’ll be arrivin’ today and livin’ in Helen’s cottage on her parent’s estate.”

“Old man Thompson’s former home,” Cade murmured. “I sure miss him. He was a real character.”

“He sure was. If he’s gazin’ down at his farm he must be shakin’ his head. The place doesn’t look anything like it once did. And speakin’ of old man Thompson, I found Ranger in a shelter.”

“You’re kiddin’!”

“He’s with me now.”

“Thank the Lord!”

“He’s a blessin’. And Helen has a little mutt called Molly. But I’d better get back to work. I’ll be hittin’ the road for a three-day clinic in Oklahoma tomorrow and I still have a bunch of stuff left to do. When Helen’s friend arrives can I send her over?”

“Sure, any time. What’s her name?”

“Good question. Karen Harper.”

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