Page 21 of Lie for a Million

His thoughts shifted as he drove in through the ranch gate. Roper’s truck was back in the lot, along with a luxury-class truck and horse trailer, parked outside the stable. Sam could see the Barr Stables logo on the trailer’s side. Roper’s horse for the million-dollar reining event had arrived.

* * *

Fire Dance snorted, yanked at his halter, and tried to bolt as Roper led him down the trailer ramp and into the stable. Chet Barr had warned him that the stallion could be skittish at first, especially in a new place, so Roper was prepared for some hijinks. Still, it was a relief to get the nervous horse safely in the stall.

Speaking softly and avoiding any sudden moves, Roper backed out of the stall and closed the gate behind him. He’d hoped to be in the arena before day’s end. But the stallion needed time to calm down.

Looking over the gate, Roper studied the horse he’d chosen to carry him in the Run for a Million. The stallion was magnificent, from the flare of his nostrils to the muscles of his powerful haunches. His coat was the color of a newly minted penny, his large eyes alert and intelligent. But the most striking thing about Fire Dance was the energy that quivered in every muscle, every movement. If that energy could be focused on his performance in the arena, he would be unstoppable. If not, the jumpy, suspicious horse could be a disaster.

“Hello, boy,” Roper murmured. “You and I have got a lot of work to do and not much time to get it done. For starters, we’ll be learning to trust each other.”

Hayden Barr, Chet’s son who’d delivered the stallion, had come up behind Roper. “Fire Dance is a great horse,” he said. “But he’s got a mind of his own. I competed on him in the last Cactus Classic. We didn’t make the cut—let’s just say we had a disagreement that cost us points. He’s got the potential to win it all, but you have to show him who’s boss.”

“I can see that already,” Roper said. “I hope I can handle him.”

“Dad wouldn’t have offered you the horse if he didn’t believe you could.” Hayden was in his early twenties, tall and lean, and he moved with the easy grace of a natural rider. With dark hair curling low over his collar, arresting hazel eyes, and a lopsided smile, Hayden bore no resemblance to his stocky, blond father.

“So, are you registered for the Shootout?” Roper asked him.

“Not this year,” Hayden said. “I’ve got a prime cutting horse, and I’ll be going for the Cutting Horse Challenge. The competition is killer, but I’ll never make it if I don’t take a chance. I’m in this to win.”

“Aren’t we all? But good luck with that. I’ll be cheering for you.” Roper signed the paperwork that Hayden had brought—two copies, specifying the terms and limits of the stallion’s use, liability for damages, and any financial arrangements involved.

“We’ll be picking up the stallion in Vegas after the event. Let us know if there’s a problem.”

“Will do. Tell your dad I’ll be doing my best to win that million for both of us.”

After Hayden left, Roper turned his full attention back to Fire Dance. Staying outside the stall for now, he studied the horse over the gate. The stallion eyed him, clearly sizing him up. He snorted, his ears twitching and shifting.

Roper’s success as a rider and trainer depended on his bonding with the horse, allowing him to use and receive silent body signals. The key to that bond was trust—and winning Fire Dance’s trust could be a challenge.

The stallion knew the routines and could do them perfectly, at dazzling speed. Roper had seen him compete. But without that vital connection between horse and rider, there’d be no chance of winning.

“What a beautiful horse.” Lila had come up behind him. She spoke softly to avoid startling the stallion. “He looks spectacular. When are you going to ride him?”

“I was hoping to start today. But he needs time to settle in. I’ll try him in the morning—first thing, before the workday starts. I’m aware that I agreed to keep up with my regular schedule. That means I’ll be training with him early mornings and late evenings.”

“I take it you won’t be getting much sleep.” A smile played around her lips, stirring the memory of her kisses. For a fleeting moment, Roper dared hope she might give him more time. But this was Lila. She would hold him to his promise.

“Sleep is the least of my concerns,” he said. “In fact, I plan to spend the night here, with Fire Dance. I want him to know that, even in a strange place, I’ll be here to keep him safe.”

“In that case, I’ll have some supper sent out,” Lila said. “I want you and the stallion to do well, even though you won’t be riding for the Culhane Stables.”

“You should, since you’ll be getting a hundred twenty-five thousand dollars in prize money if we win.”

“Yes, there is that,” she said, and turned to go.

Too late, as she walked away, Roper realized he’d rebuffed a sincere effort to make peace. But it was too late to apologize. And now, from far down the row of box stalls came a shrill and angry call.

One in a Million had caught the scent of a rival stallion. He was screaming his challenge.

CHAPTERSIX

Crystal had stayed past the end of her shift to wait for Monique. The wait paid off. Monique, who’d married the father of her baby, was willing to share the phone number of the friend who’d done her in vitro paternity test.

“Tony works in a real lab,” Monique explained. “He’s just an assistant and not cleared to do the test, but he knows how. For five hundred dollars cash, he’ll meet you and take your samples. Then he’ll go into the lab after closing time and run the test. You should get a call from him in a day or two. The results won’t hold up in court, but if you’re just curious—”

“That’ll be fine, thanks.” Crystal was relieved that Monique hadn’t asked for details about her situation.

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