Page 58 of Lie for a Million

“I can fix that. There might not be any seats, but I can get you a pass for the stables behind the arena. If you’re interested, you’ll even get to see the horses and meet some of the riders.”

“If I’m interested?” Cheyenne grinned. “Mister, you’ve got yourself a deal. I’ll give you my phone number. But remember, I don’t take kindly to cowboys who make promises and let me down.” Her gaze darted toward Roper. “Got a pen, big brother?”

Roper had a Sharpie, which he used for marking the charts posted outside each horse stall. He took it out of his pocket and passed it to his sister.

“Roll up your sleeve,” Cheyenne ordered Hayden.

Hayden obliged, a look of amusement on his clean-cut features as she wrote her number in two-inch letters on the tanned flesh of his arm. “I promise not to wash until I’ve copied it somewhere else,” he said.

Cheyenne gave him an impish look. “No need. I believe the ink is permanent. Just so you won’t forget how much I want that pass.”

“Got it. Don’t worry, I’ll remember.”

“You’d better not let your girlfriend see it,” she teased.

“No girlfriend. Not for now, at least.”

Hayden was grinning when he walked out to his truck and drove away. Cheyenne had clearly made a conquest. “There, that’s taken care of,” she said, returning the pen. “But you’ve got me worried, Roper. I can tell something is bothering you.”

“Nothing I can’t handle, Little Sis,” Roper said. “Let’s get the next few weeks over with. Once things are back to normal, after you’ve done the photo shoot and picked out a horse, we’ll figure out your training. Okay?”

“Okay.” She turned to leave. “But if you need to talk—”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Was that a lie? Roper asked himself as his sister walked out to her SUV. Maybe not. Maybe he really would be fine. Or maybe what he’d told her was a lie and he would never be fine again.

* * *

Crystal had promised herself that she’d be careful spending the $10,000 Lila had given her. But that was before she saw the ring.

She’d seen it in the window of a jewelry store in the Abilene mall, where she’d gone to buy a few practical things, like sheets and towels for her apartment. She’d also needed a new purse, and the red sandals she’d loved on sight were on sale. Small purchases—she hadn’t spent much. She had plenty of money left for things like food and rent.

The ring was marked down—a three-quarter-carat solitaire mounted in white gold. Still, $5,500 was an unimaginable amount to pay. She’d only meant to try it on and leave. But when she slipped it on her finger, it fit perfectly. It made the other rings on her hand look like the cheap trinkets they were. She had slipped them off and dropped them into her pocket so they wouldn’t detract from the spectacular diamond.

The effect of the ring was magical. Wearing it, she no longer felt like a girl who’d come from trash—or a woman whose only hope of getting a leg up in life lay in convincing some rich bitch she was still pregnant with her husband’s baby. The diamond on her finger made her feel equal to the people who lived in nice homes, wore expensive clothes, and drove flashy cars. It made her feel likesomebody.

Before she knew it, she’d presented her debit card, waited while the clerk checked her bank account, then walked out of the store with the ring on her finger and the receipt in her purse. But now her account was getting low, and she still needed to put some emergency cash aside. She was going to need more money.

By the time she’d driven back to Willow Bend, she’d made up a story to tell Lila.

In her shabby basement apartment, she took time to guzzle a cold beer, try on her new red sandals, and admire her ring. Then, summoning her courage, she made the call.

“Why are you calling, Crystal? Is something wrong?” As usual, Lila sounded annoyed.

“Well, sort of. For one thing, I’ve lost my job. When my boss found out I was pregnant, he fired me. I’m starting to show a little, and he said it wasn’t good for business.” Actually, Crystal still had her job, but she planned to quit when she had enough money. As for showing, she’d practiced walking around her apartment with a folded dish towel tucked into the front of her underwear. When she found something more realistic, she would try wearing it in public.

“That’s too bad,” Lila said. “But at least you’ve got enough money to last awhile.”

“I’m afraid not,” Crystal said. “There’s this black stuff growing inside the walls of my apartment. I found out it was mold, and that it’s really bad for the baby. I’ve signed up for a better place, but the rent’s more, and they want a big deposit, with first and last month’s rent in advance. Oh—and it isn’t furnished. I’ll need to buy a good bed and some other things.

Lila’s sigh could be heard over the phone. “We’ll talk about that. Right now, I’m more concerned about your health and the baby’s. Are you taking prenatal vitamins?”

“Every day,” Crystal lied.

“And are you seeing a doctor? If we decide to do this adoption—and I’m still making up my mind about it—I’m going to want a report after every checkup.”

That, Crystal realized, could become a problem. She thought fast. “Actually, I’ve found this woman—she’s a birth doula, like a midwife, only she guides you through the entire pregnancy. Food, vitamins, everything wholesome and natural. She’s even got me doing exercises to make the baby come easier.”

“Oh? And does this woman have a name?” Lila’s sharp tone told Crystal she was skating the edge of trouble.

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