Page 2 of Lie for a Million

Roper walked the stallion to cool him down before turning him over to the grooms. The horse snorted softly, his hooves sinking into the thick layer of sand, loam, and sawdust that cushioned the arena floor. After his retirement at the age of ten, Frank had ordered that One in a Million be exercised and kept in good condition. With luck, the big bay roan could give the ranch another decade of stud fee earnings. But was he up for the stress of competing in the Run for a Million? Would he have even a prayer of winning?

The right horse could make all the difference, but reining events were a competition between riders. A rider could compete on any horse he or she chose. If the rider was using a borrowed horse, the winnings would be divided between the rider and the horse’s owner—typically a breeder, a rancher, or even a corporation.

If Roper were to compete on One in a Million, any prize money won would be split with Lila. But if Roper were to win on someone else’s horse, Lila would be out of luck.

And that was Roper’s dilemma.

Since his qualifying win, Roper had received numerous offers from owners who wanted him to ride their horses. Good offers. Great horses, strong and well trained, with sterling bloodlines. Some were already big money winners.

Time was running out. If his choice wasn’t to be One in a Million, he needed time to try other horses and more time to work with the one he chose.

If he didn’t choose the great roan stallion, he would be battling Lila all the way. He wanted to keep her happy—and keep his job. But more than anything, he wanted to win.

He could see Lila now, standing at the entrance to the arena. Tall, blond, and stunning in a white silk blouse and tailored slacks, she was built like the Vegas showgirl she’d been before her marriage. Roper’s pulse skipped at the sight of her. He brought himself under control before he acknowledged her with a tip of his Stetson. She remained where she was, a ray of sunlight falling on her hair.

Lila was his employer, as Frank had been before her. To cross the line between them would be a mistake—especially now, while they were at odds over his choice of a horse. Still, sometimes, the urge to reach out and pull her into his arms was almost too compelling to resist. She was so fiercely proud of her own strength, yet so alone . . .

Roper ended the thought with a curse as he crossed the arena to the stable entrance, where a groom was waiting to take the stallion. After dismounting, he turned and walked back to where Lila waited for him. In her rigid posture and the stubborn jut of her chin, he read the signs of a coming showdown.

“Boss?” It was what Roper called her—Lila being too familiar and Mrs. Culhane too formal. Despite his misgivings, the word left his lips as a caress.

“It’s time,” she said. “I need to know what you’re thinking.”

Roper sighed and shook his head. “If you put One in a Million back in the arena, you know he’ll give you everything he’s got. But he’s too old for this level of competition, Boss. He knows the routines and could probably do well in senior events. But he can’t win against those younger horses.”

“He did it once.”

“I know he did. But his legs, his heart and lungs—they won’t hold out forever. He could die out there or have to be put down. Even if he had a chance of winning, would it be worth the risk?”

Lila lowered her gaze.

“With luck and care, One in a Million could live another ten years,” Roper said. “His stud fees and his colts could earn a lot more over time than he could ever win competing.”

“We have other horses,” Lila said.

“We do. They’ve got talent and good pedigrees, but they’re still in training. They don’t have the experience to win the Run for a Million. We were counting on Baby for that. She had it all.”

“I could buy another horse.”

“You could. I thought of that. But a trained horse with champion bloodlines would bankrupt the ranch. You’d have to find an investment group and buy in. There’s no time for that now. As I see it, there’s only one way to win.”

“You mean foryouto win.” Her gaze hardened. “I know you’ve had some great offers, Roper. Are you going to take one?”

His jaw tightened. “I want to win. At least I want a fair chance.”

“So you’d bring the horse here, board it in my stable, train it in my arena, and then, if you win—”

“I could arrange to go somewhere else.”

“You’ll have to if you’re not working for me anymore.” Lila let the threat hang, but Roper felt the sting of her words. The lady meant business.

“Let’s not fight, Boss,” he said. “I know where you stand, and I want to be fair. But I’ve got a lot of thinking to do. Can we talk again tomorrow?”

She exhaled, clearly impatient with him. “Fine. I’ve got a busy day planned tomorrow. I’ll come and find you when I have a few minutes. But you’d better have something to tell me. I’m tired of being strung along.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, she swung away from him and stalked out of the arena.

Roper cursed his indecision as he watched her go. Lila had relied on his support since Frank’s death. He despised himself for letting her down, especially when she was dealing with other problems, including the fight to keep her property. He cared deeply for her. But a chance to win the Run for a Million was the dream of a lifetime. How could he throw it away by choosing an aging stud or an unprepared youngster from the ranch?

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