The Millionaire Cowboy's Secret (6 page)

José grimaced. “Got it.”

They branched out, Matt calling Saint’s name in a low voice, the way he might have called for a dog. The horse knew his voice and had even come to it once or twice, though no time had been spent actually training for this. In the predawn light, he doubted it would work this time, either.

Add to that the fact that the stallion was no doubt terrified and possibly wounded... No, they’d have to find him and corner him before he got a chance to run again.

Matt could only hope he wasn’t hurt too badly.

Twenty minutes passed, then thirty. José had begun to slow down, his defeat evident in the rounding of his broad shoulders.

“You can go in if you want,” Matt offered. “I’m going to keep looking.”

“I still think it’d be better to wait until full light. Go back to the house, grab a cup of coffee and something to eat, and head back out.”

“Eat?” Matt asked. “I doubt anyone’s getting much breakfast this morning. Not with the barn still burning and the fire department there trying to put out the fire. Also, Doc Bertram is working overtime checking out my horses, so I’d say if anyone deserves breakfast, it’s him.”

José acknowledged the truth of that statement with a weary grimace. “Still, right now with these flashlights, it’s like looking for a needle in a damn haystack.”

The old cliché made Matt shake his head. He felt a deep exhaustion as well, but refused to give up until he found his horse. “Saint’s worth it,” he said. “Besides, you know as well as I do how many coyotes roam these parts. I can’t risk it. If he’s wounded and they catch wind of the scent of his blood...”

They’d surround the horse and take him down. Maybe. Still, he couldn’t take the chance. Not only was Saint a valuable purebred stud horse, but he was Matt’s personal mount.

When they reached the end of that pasture, they stopped. “No sign of him.” Matt tried not to sound defeated.

“The gate’s closed to the next one,” José pointed out. “He didn’t come through here.”

“He can jump.” Pushing away the exhaustion, Matt rubbed the back of his neck. “Normally, he doesn’t, but if he’s out of his mind with terror, who knows?”

“So you want to check out the next pasture, then?”

It was dangerously close to the caves. Matt wasn’t about to take the chance of Skylar following them. Though there was nothing illegal about the amount of ammo he had stockpiled, he needed to keep the location secret if his plan was ever going to work. Everyone—including the ATF—had moles. Once the cartel learned of the location, they’d simply take what they wanted.

It was how they operated.

He walked a dangerous tightrope and he knew it. While he had no plans of doing anything illegal—other than taking down the man who’d slaughtered his family, that is—he’d do what he had to do in order to ensure success.

Ironically enough, though, the one thing the ATF suspected him of was the lone act he wouldn’t commit. No way in hell would he be selling ammunition to the Mexican cartel to fuel their war.

“Hey.” A feminine voice behind them had them turning. Matt shot José a wry look that meant
I told you so.

“Having any luck?” Skylar asked, walking up to them without using her flashlight. Though he supposed since they’d just been using theirs they were easy to spot, he didn’t like it. Still, the darkness did appear to be lifting, even though the sun hadn’t risen.

“I thought you were searching the other way,” Matt said.

She shrugged, apparently unconcerned. “I took a quick look, didn’t see anything and headed this way.”

Lying. He didn’t know how he could tell, but he knew. He shouldn’t have been so surprised.

“Maybe you should have gone back to your trailer after all,” José drawled.

Ignoring him, she focused on Matt. “I take it you two haven’t had any success?”

“Do you see a horse?” José sniped.

Slowly, Matt shook his head in warning. “No, we haven’t been able to find him.”

“That’s odd.” Shining her flashlight out ahead of them, she sighed. “I’ve searched two pastures, even though I had to climb over one fence. I know most horses won’t jump a fence unless provoked, so I have to ask. Do you think there’s a possibility the stallion was stolen?”

For a heartbeat Matt could only stare. “Why would you think that?”

“The barn fire could have been a diversion.”

“But they would have gotten Saint out first,” José said, his tone indicating he gave no credence to her idea.

To be fair, Matt took a few seconds and considered it. “Anything is possible,” he finally said. “But I don’t think that’s why the fire was set.”

“Then why?” she asked, the slight edge to her voice letting him know he’d fallen neatly into her trap.

As if he’d tell her the fire had most likely been a warning from one of the large Mexican drug cartels. Since they all were at war with each other, they didn’t like their suppliers dealing with other factions.

Despite the fact that Matt was not yet officially supplying them with anything, José had made sure the word got out that he had ammo to sell.

This fire was meant to be a warning. La Familia, the largest of the cartels, didn’t take kindly to any opposition. The fact that several groups, including Diego Rodriguez’s, had shown an interest in the ammunition had no doubt angered them. The fire was their way of showing him exactly what he needed to do. Matt felt quite certain he’d be getting another message soon to reinforce that point, whether verbal or written.

Meanwhile, Diego Rodriguez was lying low. He knew full well the dangers of forming his own cartel and going against his former. This much ammo would certainly help him in the inevitable war that would follow.

Diego needed this ammunition. That much Matt knew.

Which meant he was much closer to hooking his fish than he’d realized.

Meanwhile, Skylar was waiting for an answer. Resisting the effort to shut her down, instead he looked at José. “I have no idea,” he said. “What about you?”

To his credit, José didn’t react in any way, other than with a quick cough. “No idea neither, amigo.”

Skylar made a sound under her breath, just enough to let them know she wasn’t happy with their answers. “Well, then, gentlemen. Let’s get busy and see if we can find your missing horse.”

Despite her bossy attitude, which amused Matt and pissed off José, they let her lead the way and followed her. She shone her flashlight straight ahead. Matt took the left and José the right.

Despite this, there was still no sign of the horse. Even with dawn beginning to color the horizon and turning the black night to a milky sort of gray.

Working as a team, they began to move forward, each of them searching in their own direction, sort of like a fan.

When they reached the end of that pasture without seeing Saint, Matt’s heart sank. “Where the hell could he be?” he muttered.

“Did you hear that?” Skylar touched his arm, warning him to be silent. “Listen.”

He froze, straining to hear. Just as he was about to tell her he hadn’t heard a thing, there was a rustle that might have been a rabbit, a coyote, anything.

“I don’t think that’s a horse,” José muttered. “Coyotes, most likely.”

“Shh.” Skylar held up her hand. “They’re tracking something. Wait.”

Then they all heard it. The sound of hooves pounding the earth, the sound of a panicked horse running for his life.

Both he and José drew their guns.

“There.” Skylar pointed, swinging her flashlight in the direction of the noise.

Saint, backed into a corner. And flanking him in a semicircle were several coyotes.

Chapter 5

M
att swore under his breath. Next to him, José swore in Spanish. “How can we help him?”

About to suggest they rush forward, shouting and waving their arms to scare the coyotes away, Matt swallowed his words as Skylar stepped forward, brandishing her Glock.

“I can take care of this,” she said, her voice calm and measured as she sighted. Briefly he wondered if she knew how much she sounded like a cop.

“Madre de Dios.”
Staring at her, José crossed himself. “How good a shot is she?”

“It’s okay,” Matt heard himself say. “She’s a crack shot. Skylar, just don’t shoot if there’s even a remote possibility of you hitting my horse.”

“Of course not,” she promised, glancing at him, disdain flashing in her green eyes. Crouching, already getting into her stance, again she inadvertently revealed that she’d had years of training and experience. Of course, the fact that he knew what she was might have made him watch her more critically.

She squeezed off a shot. Obviously, this was meant as a warning, since the bullet went harmlessly into the ground.

The coyotes got the message. Moving in unison, they turned and fled, appearing to bleed into the predawn grayness.

Now Saint reared up, screaming in challenge and fear.

“Your turn,” Skylar said, holstering her pistol. “Good luck with that.”

Giving her a nod of thanks, Matt moved forward, speaking softly to the terrified horse.

At his approach, Saint quieted, or at least stopped squealing. He still snorted, tossing his head, his large nostrils flaring, but he didn’t rear again.

Crooning softly as he approached his frightened horse, Matt reached out, moving in slow motion, and slipped the halter over the stallion’s head.

This accomplished—which felt like nothing short of a miracle, considering the level of Saint’s agitation—Matt led the huge animal over toward them.

“Let’s head back in,” Matt said, finally letting his exhaustion show.

Skylar fell into step with José, both of them giving Matt and Saint a bit of space. In silence they walked through the pasture, opening the gate and repeating the process in the next pasture.

Ahead he could see the barn still burning, though this time the flash of fire-truck lights also illuminated the gray sky. Once again, what had been a lingering odor of smoke became a thick cloud.

Saint began to balk. Only by speaking softly but with authority was Matt able to urge him on.

Finally, they reached the final pasture, which was lit by tall lights that flanked the gate.

“Now what?” José asked. “You can’t put him in the corral with the mares.”

“What about the old barn?” Matt pointed to the smaller, stone-and-wood structure on the other side of the drive. Though they hadn’t used it in a long time, the old barn was still structurally safe. There was even a reinforced stall that would be perfect for Saint.

“Good idea.” José turned sharply, nearly bumping into Skylar, who managed to sidestep neatly out of his way.

“Nice reflexes,” José commented, giving her a look Matt doubted she’d have any difficulty interpreting. José had made it clear he didn’t like her, but she’d earned his grudging respect. Still, José wanted her gone.

About to tell his friend to back down, Matt caught a glimpse of Skylar’s face and held his tongue instead.

She didn’t care. Her stubborn expression plainly said she’d leave when she felt like it.

José continued to glower at her. Instead of being cowed by his menacing glare, she shot one right back at him. To Matt’s surprise, one corner of José’s mouth finally curled up as if he were about to smile.

Truce? Whatever it was, he’d take it.

“I’ll finish up here,” Matt said. “After I get Saint up, I’ve got to get Doc Bertram to take a look at his wounds. After that, I need to have a word with the fire department. You two go on and get some rest.”

Dragging a hand across his forehead and rearranging the soot, José clearly wavered. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.” Including Skylar in his look, Matt waved them away. “Thanks, both of you, for your assistance. Now the two of you should go on. Get some breakfast.”

“I can help with all that,” José said, looking from Matt to Skylar and back. Crossing his arms, he made it plain he had no intention of going anywhere until she left.

Ah, so the truce was already over.

“José.” Matt shook his head. “Enough, amigo. I’m going to need you alert tomorrow to handle everything while I’m passed out. So go. Please.”

“What about her?” José indicated Skylar.

Ignoring him, Skylar tilted her head and eyed Matt, plainly considering her options.

“Do you mind if I go with you?” she asked softly.

Behind her, José made a sound of discouragement.

Completely sick of the bickering, Matt shook his head. “I do mind. You go on back to your trailer. Both of you. Tomorrow, José can help me get the rest of this straightened out.”

She stiffened as if he’d slapped her. Fascinated, he watched as she visibly composed herself, finally managing a weary smile.

“Of course,” she said, interjecting a note of sympathy into her voice. “You’re right. I’m tired, too, so I’ll leave you and Saint alone. See you tomorrow.”

As she turned to leave, José stood his ground, continuing to glare at her as she walked away.

Only when she was gone did both men let out their breath in identical sighs of relief.

“I’m not going anywhere,” José said. “At least until I’ve done everything I can to help you this morning.”

Giving up, Matt led Saint over to the old barn. Once they reached it, Matt sent José out for one of the veterinarians. While he waited, he led the horse into the stallion stall and checked Saint out thoroughly. No cuts or scratches. Just a few burns.

As far as he could tell, the animal wasn’t too badly wounded, though the vet would have to check out the burns.

Now that he could no longer see the fire, Saint began to grow calmer. As he petted his long neck, Matt’s thoughts returned to Skylar.

He shook his head. Despite who and what she was, which gave her the potential to ruin his plans, he actually liked her. She’d helped a lot and proved she had a backbone. She also appeared to actually care about his horses. It was hard to dislike a woman like that, especially when she came in such a beautiful package.

Doctor Bertram hurried over, accompanied by José. “I brought Dr. Metcalf, too. He’s finishing up with your mares.”

Luckily, the vet confirmed Matt had been right about Saint. Dr. Bertram cleaned the wounds gently and applied an antibiotic salve, then bandages. “You’ll need to change these out twice a day,” he said.

José lingered in the doorway, trying to hide a yawn with his hand.

“Go home,” Matt told him. “Seriously.”

“If you’re sure...”

At Matt’s nod, José turned and left.

Once Doctor Bertram finished with the instructions, the two men headed back outside. The fire department continued to use their pumper truck to spray the flames and actually appeared to be making some headway. Of course, nothing would save the barn. All that would be left would be ashes.

“Any idea what caused this?” Dr. Bertram asked.

“No,” Matt answered shortly. “I wish I did.”

Trudging wearily up to the main corral, they joined the other vet, Dr. Metcalf. He just finished examining one of the mares.

“They all appear to be okay,” the doctor said, pushing back his baseball cap and scratching his head. “A few minor burns here and there. Oh, and that small filly had some wheezing from breathing in smoke.”

“But all in all, I think they’re going to be okay,” Dr. Bertam put in.

Matt nodded. “How much do I owe you?”

“You can settle up with us later.” The two vets looked at each other. “Call us if you need anything else, okay?”

Ignoring the weariness that threatened to overwhelm him, Matt thanked both men. “I really appreciate you two coming out here so early in the morning.”

After the vets climbed into their pickup truck and drove off, Matt went to speak with the fire chief. On the way there, he spotted the sheriff’s cruiser, which meant most likely the fire had been arson.

Hell, he thought, scratching his head, what else could it have been? There was nothing, absolutely nothing, that could have caused such a blaze.

After talking with the fire department—who strongly agreed with Skylar’s assessment of arson—and answering the sheriff’s questions, he and the remaining stable hands finally got all the mares put into either stalls or small runs with three-sided enclosures. That’d have to do until he could rebuild.

Spraying more water on what had now become smoldering embers, the fire department continued to work. They weren’t going anywhere until they were sure no hot spots remained.

Stumbling up to the house, banking a simmering fury that threatened to blaze up inside him, Matt focused on ordinary details. He made a mental note to call the insurance company later. Next up, he wanted a shower. He couldn’t wait to wash away the soot and grim and acrid odor of smoke. And then he figured he’d better eat something before he began what promised to be a very long day.

He made it up three of his patio steps when a figure detached itself from the shadows and stepped in front of him.

Instinctively he dropped into a battle stance.

“It’s only me.” Skylar’s husky voice didn’t sound the least bit apologetic.

Relaxing slightly, he exhaled and dipped his chin in acknowledgment. Eyeing her, he couldn’t help wondering how on earth she still managed to look so gorgeous and sexy after a few hours straight from hell. “What are you doing here? I’d have thought you’d be on your second or third cup of coffee by now.”

“I had enough.” Dropping one slender shoulder in a graceful shrug, she studied him. “I took another shower and saw you staggering across the yard. I came to see if I could help you with anything else. You look awful.”

“Thanks. I feel pretty crappy.” Dragging a hand through his hair, he wasn’t surprised to find soot on his fingers. “Though I appreciate your offer, I’ve done all I can for now. I’m running on fumes. I need to go take a shower and get some breakfast. I suggest you do the same.”

Opening her mouth as though she were about to speak, she apparently thought better of it. “All righty, then. See you later,” she said, giving him a small, jaunty wave as she strolled away.

Despite his exhaustion, part of him stood at attention as he watched her go. Where she got her energy, he didn’t know. As for him, he was done in.

Turning, he went inside, heading straight to a hot shower, dropping his filthy clothes in a heap on the floor. After a hot shower, he made a quick trip to the kitchen, where he grabbed a steaming mug of coffee and a bowl of oatmeal.

He’d barely finished eating before sound from outside had him pushing away his plate. Standing, he took a deep breath. As he did, the enormity of what had happened hit him.

Moving toward the window, his entire body sore and aching, he grimaced. Another kink in his plan, he thought, realizing there would have to be an investigation. His ranch would be crawling with law-enforcement and fire department personnel, as well as insurance adjusters and investigators. There’d be no deals with Diego Rodriguez or anyone else for a few weeks at least.

“Damn,” he cursed. All his carefully laid plans were now in freakin’ ashes, just like his barn.

Whoever had done this had to have known what would happen. This would not only put a damper on his ability to con Diego Rodriguez into believing he wanted to sell him ammo, but the delay would play exactly into ATF’s hands, giving them a better chance to catch him red-handed, selling ammunition to the Mexicans.

* * *

After she left Matt, Skylar wandered back to her trailer. She greeted an agitated and confused Talia, put her on a leash and then went outside. She sat on the steps, watching the sunrise and waiting to see the full extent of the damage. The air, which should have smelled of grass and horses, was still tainted by smoke.

She felt restless, lonely and aching. Normally, thinking of the happy life she’d once had brought on this kind of melancholy. But this time, she hadn’t been thinking of her husband and son. She’d been thinking about Matt and the beautiful, terrified horses.

She’d experienced all kinds of evil in her career, first as a police officer and then as a federal agent. She thought she’d grown a thick shell, able to unflinchingly experience the various malevolent wickedness of humanity.

Except for children and animals. Innocents who couldn’t protect themselves had no place in the immoral battles of evil men.

She’d reviewed the case files and gone over every possible scenario, from the cartel guys swarming the ranch with guns blazing to Matt trying to run a truck full of ammo secretly into Mexico.

What she hadn’t foreseen was the possibility that they’d attack the horses. Again the scene replayed in her mind—the terrified animals, the panicked screams of the stallion, and the fire, brutal and uncaring and swift.

Skylar took her oath to protect and uphold the law seriously. She would have died trying to get the horses out. In fact, she could have died. Only by the capricious grace of fate had she been able to escape unscathed.

Matt had been the only person there who’d shared her exact same determination. And while she intellectually knew that most men were complex and had many sides, for the first time she couldn’t reconcile the two. How could a man who cared so much for his horses be involved with the brutal Mexican drug cartels?

While she was an old hand at working undercover, never before had the lines been so blurred. Usually, it was pretty easy to tell the bad guy from the good. And while even villains had their reasons and never seemed to view themselves as evil, she’d always been able to spot them a mile away.

Not this time. José, maybe. But Matt? The more she was around him, the more difficult it was to imagine him doing something like selling munitions to the Mexican cartel with full knowledge of what they’d do with the bullets.

As an ATF agent and, more specifically, as a grieving wife and mother, she knew exactly what kind of harm bullets could do. This was one of the reasons she’d left the police force to work for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.