Racetrack Romance BOX SET (Books 1-3) (133 page)

He whooped and scrambled to his feet, pulling out his phone.

Call the lawyer first. Clinch the deal before Laura sold elsewhere—then ask Becky how she’d feel about moving. File an appeal before the end of the day and celebrate. Life was good again.

But not so good for Jill
.

Aw, goddammit. Comprehension struck, and he sank slowly back in his chair. Slim’s insurance policy mirrored his, and one of the clauses exempted benefits for suicide. If the letter were made public, Jill would get nothing. Either Slim hadn’t read the fine print or had trusted him to keep it secret.

Hell, Slim. You’re asking way too much
. He reached again for the phone, squeezing his eyes shut, blocking the image of Jill’s trusting smile when she’d gifted him with the sketch of a lovingly drawn horse.

Chapter Thirty-Six

“I’m not hungry.” Martha knocked Becky’s hand away. “I wonder if the food is any better at the old people’s home.”

“It’s not an old people’s home,” Ted said. “It’s a very posh residence for seniors. Becky has checked out the property and agrees that it’s very nice.”

Becky silently removed the spoon and plate. The apartment was beautiful, the facility was beautiful, but it didn’t have the things that gave Martha pleasure—the estate, horses, her nurse.

“There’s a whirlpool and solarium as well as planned activities,” Ted went on, “and without the stress of racing, you could live to be a hundred.”

“God, I hope not,” Martha said.

Becky wished Ted would just shut up. Reminding Martha she had to find new interests only made her grumpier and already her expression shuttered. She clearly wasn’t listening to a word Ted was saying; in fact, she appeared deep in thought.

“You’ll probably be able to move in by the end of the week.”

“Oh, do stop prattling, Ted,” Martha said. “I need to talk to Dino again. And I still haven’t seen my lawyer.”

“That’s not necessary,” Ted said. “I’ll take care of everything for you.”

“Did you talk to Dino this morning?” Becky asked. She knew Martha and Dino had talked several times on the phone—was surprised, in fact, that Martha wasn’t more angry.

“Yes,” Martha said. “He was here while you and Ted were visiting my new home. He left you flowers.”

“You mean he left
you
flowers,” Becky said.

“I mean he left us both flowers, carnations and roses.” Martha gestured with a touch of impatience. “Are you deaf?”

Becky’s traitorous heart leaped. She couldn’t quite forgive Dino, wasn’t yet ready to talk—but she couldn’t stop loving him either. She bolted across the room and scanned the beautiful bouquets. He’d been selfish, disloyal, committed a crime
and
was moving out of her life, but she’d never received flowers before and if this was a goodbye gesture, it was only natural to take a closer look. Only natural to check the card.

“Yours are the red roses beside my carnations,” Martha said, her voice surprisingly strong.

Ted still droned on about lawyers but Becky could only stare at the card. ‘Love, Dino.’

Love?
Heat warmed her chest at the sight of his bold writing. Of course, she knew it was just an expression, a common phrase. Didn’t mean a thing. He probably wrote that whenever he sent flowers to women, but still, it was a nice gesture.

She checked Martha’s colorful carnations—curious about the wording—but couldn’t see a card.

“Dino said your phone’s been turned off,” Martha said, totally ignoring Ted. “He wants to talk to you.”

Becky nodded. She wanted to talk to him too, eventually. Part of her even understood how passion for his ranch could push him to such desperate measures, but the toll it had taken on Martha was still too fresh. “When does he move to his ranch?” she asked, running a finger over a velvet rose petal.

“He won’t.” Martha sniffed with impatience. “Don’t you understand what happens when a horse tests? Echo was disqualified. There’s no winnings, no bonus, nothing.”

“What?” She jerked around, forgetting the flowers and their confusing card.

“That’s the way it is,” Martha said. “Some trainers never rebound from the stigma. He’ll be suspended too. Won’t be able to train for at least six months.”

“But that’s horrible. Training is his life, all he cares about.”

“He should have considered that before he drugged the horse,” Ted said. “Before he dragged the Conrad name through the mud.”

“Yes, he certainly didn’t help Malcolm in that regard,” Martha said but her voice was surprisingly level.

Becky stared, confused by her calm acceptance. Dino had lost his job, his ranch, his career, and thrust Conrad Stables into a steroid scandal. One mistake, one bad decision, but the consequences had been disastrous. Yet Martha didn’t seem upset; in fact she looked almost smug, so different than yesterday when she’d been crushed.

Becky rounded the foot of the bed and checked the patient chart. Medications were unchanged. Nothing new prescribed. “You had a nice visit with Dino today?” she asked, studying Martha’s face.

“Very nice.” Martha’s smile resembled that of a cat that had just licked a bowl of cream.

“I hope he left a list of horses,” Ted said, seemingly oblivious to his aunt’s bizarre mood. “We want to get top prices. Heard there was already an offer on two of them.”

“That would be Lyric and Hunter,” Martha said. “But I’ve decided to give all the horses to Becky.”

“What!” Becky’s and Ted’s voices rose in unison. The chart dropped from her stunned fingers, clanking against the steel bed frame.

Not just Lyric but all the horses?
Impossible. She’d love to keep Lyric but board was so high, and in a short month she wouldn’t even have a job. Of course Hunter and others could win races and maybe make money, but then she’d need a trainer. And Dino was the only trainer she ever wanted.

Martha seemed to read her thoughts. “Dino won’t be able to train for you, dear, but Shane will do a good job. He knows the animals and is already making plans to race at San Antonio. Lyric can stay where she is. She won’t have to leave her stall.”

“N-now wait a moment!” Ted was so shocked he could barely speak. “This is ridiculous. The property is being sold, and livestock is part of the property. Those animals aren’t pets. Besides,” he glanced pointedly at Becky, “your
nurse
is far too ethical to accept such a gift.”

“Oh, it’s not a gift.” Martha’s chest puffed, the way it always did before a big announcement. “Becky will be working with the Malcolm Conrad Rehab Center. If she wants to, of course.”

“What the hell?”

Becky heard Ted swearing but couldn’t look at him. Her legs wobbled, and she shuffled sideways and sunk into the nearest chair.

“Don’t worry, Ted,” Martha said dryly. “There’s oodles of money left, and I’ve made provisions for you as well. You’ll make an excellent administrator and can leave that hospital job you so despise. Of course, we’ll need to find different horses, steady animals, to help with rehab. Horses like Chippy. Dino told me all about what it’s done for Jimmy Jones.

“Yes, there’ll be a place for everybody.” Her face glowed as she propped herself higher in the bed, eyes sparkling with largesse, the true lady of the manor once more. “Bungalows will be built, and part of the house converted for high-need residents.” She turned toward Becky, eyes sparkling. “Jill Barrett will be able to return to the horses she loves. Slim would like that, don’t you think?”

Becky gripped the side of the chair, still trying to absorb Martha’s vision. “But what about you?” she finally managed. “Will you like so many people around?”

“My dear, I’ll never be lonely again. I can watch everyone progress and have permanent access to an onsite health team. Imagine. Injured riders will have a place to heal, a place in the country with fresh air and medical support, a place that will help them climb back into the saddle. We’ll even install some of those sauna and infrared things.” Her voice turned smug. “The race world will definitely remember Malcolm now.”

“But…” Ted’s face strobed with red.

“I know. It leaves me speechless too.” Martha’s eyes actually twinkled. “But it’s not entirely my idea. Dino was instrumental. He spoke about Jill and Stephanie and Jimmy. How injured riders are stripped of a way of life when they most need the boost that horses can provide.” She gestured at the table. “He left a picture Jill drew. It’s clear she would thrive in a horse setting and since some other details came to light, I decided to help the people in this industry. Because I should. And because I can.

“My lawyer will help with legalities,” she went on. “I don’t know why Malcolm and I didn’t think of this before. God knows we have way too much money.”

Ted jerked out of the room.

Becky turned back to Martha, her heart drumming a staccato of hope. “So you’re really not moving?”

“That’s right, dear. I’m not moving. I’m going do something unselfish for a change. You can concentrate on which of your horses will stay at Conrad’s and which ones will race. Do as little or as much nursing as you want.”

Becky’s mouth trembled. “I can’t accept this.”

“Nonsense.” Martha waved a hand. “You’re like my daughter. I’m only taking measures to ensure you stay. In fact, I’m going to build a house at the west end of the track so you’ll never leave.”

Becky could feel her shivers, heard her breath escaping in gasps. She was going to be able to stay with Martha. Have a real home and never move again. A place that would always need a nurse. A place with horses of all types, even grumpy gray ones. “So Shane will be the new trainer?” she managed.

“Only until Dino’s suspension is over.”

“You’d hire him again? After…after what he did?”

“After a positive test? Yes, of course. Always go for the best. And some other information has come up.” She scowled. “But I don’t want him stealing you away. Probably just as well he didn’t get his ranch. He can’t ask you to move away with him now.”

Becky forced a weak smile. No need for Martha to worry about that. Dino preferred the single life, preferred to look after himself. He’d risked everything to buy his ranch, even Martha’s reputation. “I’m surprised you’d take him back,” she said slowly. “I’m still angry with him even though I—”

“Love him?” Martha interrupted.

She rose and walked to the window, pretending not to hear Martha’s question. “Wow,” she said, “we have a lot to do. Not even sure where to start.”

“Dino will help. He can’t set foot on a public track, not for six months.”

Becky battled with mixed emotions. At least there’d be more time to enjoy his company, more time to enjoy his attention. She only prayed he wasn’t completely crushed. Her mouth wobbled at the thought of him banned from the career he loved. He’d be miserable. And he’d wanted his ranch so badly. “Six months seems harsh. On top of the disqualification. Isn’t there something we can do? I know he deserves it, still…” Her voice cracked.

“He doesn’t deserve it at all,” Martha said. “In fact, he’s showing incredible selflessness. It was Slim who gave the steroids to Echo. Slim who planted them in the fridge.”

Becky whirled from the window. “Slim
had
been acting odd. Dino wanted him gone but I didn’t want you upset… Oh, no.” She squeezed her eyes shut, swept with regret.

“It seems Slim had some twisted idea of revenge,” Martha said. “He may have blamed Malcolm for Jill’s accident. And he had access to all the horses.”

“Then the steroids were my fault.” Becky’s voice dropped to a horrified whisper. “Dino wanted Slim off the property. Now he has nothing. And I blamed him. God, he must hate me.”

“He doesn’t hate you. Quite the opposite. In fact, he made his priorities clear. I remember when I first met Malcolm and the things he did for me—”

“What do you mean, made his priorities clear?”

Martha gestured for Becky to close the door. Her voice lowered. “Slim left a note admitting responsibility. If Dino showed it to the stewards, the charges against him would most certainly be dropped.”

Becky thrust her fist in the air. “Then that’s perfect!”

“But Slim’s life insurance would be revoked.”

“Oh, no.” Becky’s voice hushed, matching Martha’s. “It was suicide? Everything Slim did was for Jill?”

“I didn’t know he was so desperate. He didn’t ask for help, and I never took the time to offer.” Martha picked up a tissue and dabbed at her eyes. “I don’t want Slim to carry the stain of suicide. And no one will ever know about the…other things. So Dino and I agreed to remain silent. And the note was destroyed.”

“But that’s not fair.” Becky sagged against the bed. She could understand Martha feeling guilty but not Dino. “You can’t ask him to give it all up—his ranch, training, reputation.”

“It was his suggestion. Besides, everyone loves him. No one thinks he was responsible. They’ll welcome him back with open arms. But right now other things are more important. He’s very determined, much like Malcolm. Persuasive too.” Martha sniffed. “Guess he’s fine as your keeper man so long as you promise to stay close.”

Becky’s head pounded so hard she could barely hear, let alone think. She flattened both hands on the bed, trying to steady herself and her chaotic emotions. “I’m not sure he wants to be my keeper man,” she finally managed. “He disappeared when I said I loved him. I called him selfish and wouldn’t answer his calls. I let Slim stay. He probably hates me.”

“Oh, I don’t think he hates you. In fact, I seem to have a rival for your affections. He even asked your brand of shampoo. Luckily I remember things like that. The hair stylist with the tattoo sold—”

But Becky couldn’t wait. She grabbed her purse and bolted toward the door. “I need to see him,” she called over her shoulder. “Excuse me, Martha, but I really need to see him now.”

“All right, dear.” Martha’s amused voice followed her down the hall. “But don’t speed.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Gravel rattled beneath the Mercedes as Becky jerked the car to a disappointed halt. Dino’s truck wasn’t in the driveway, and his house squatted in the night, dark, silent and deserted.