Part 32 (1/2)
He punched up a number on his cell phone. ”He just left. No way he'll be back. He was p.i.s.sed off. I'm surprised, too. I a.s.sumed - ” He broke off, peering intently out his front winds.h.i.+eld. ”Wait. Talk about split-second timing. Montgomery's back. No, not a chance it's a coincidence. He must've been watching the place this whole time. It could mean a lot of things. Don't worry. I'll find out.”
CHAPTER 24.
It was three thirty the next afternoon when Devon and Blake hiked across the grounds of the Pierson farm, heading from the house to the stables.
They'd driven up to Dutchess County at lunchtime and gone straight to Sally's place. There, they'd checked on the animals and dropped off their overnight bags. They'd decided in advance to stay there rather than at the Pierson farm. Not only for privacy, but because it would eliminate the tension that would result from staying next door with both James and the elder Piersons around.
”Your grandparents looked less than thrilled to see me,” Devon commented as they crunched through the snow. ”I guess they must a.s.sociate me with Frederick's death.”
”They'll get over it.” Blake waved away her concern, then reached for her gloved hand, gripping it in his.
”And James looked like he wanted to choke me,” she added.
”That's part jealousy, part hangover. I suspect he downed an entire bottle of booze last night before cras.h.i.+ng. Needless to say, he doesn't take rejection well.” Blake gave an offhand shrug. ”Besides, the way he looked at you paled next to the way he looked at me. He would have beaten the c.r.a.p out of me if he wasn't seeing double.”
Devon blew out her breath, watching it emerge as a frosty mist. ”I'm glad you made up that excuse about us going riding. The tension in there was so thick I could hardly breathe. Especially after Louise showed up with those legal doc.u.ments. It's like the G.o.ds conspired to make this day as tough as possible.”
Blake digested that thoughtfully. ”You've been subdued since we left your mother's place. Visiting there's tough on you, isn't it?”
”Yes.” Another sigh. ”I lived there as a teenager, and during my breaks from college and vet school. The place was always vibrating with activity. Now it seems so quiet, so eerily deserted. I just want things to go back to normal. I want my mother back.” Devon shot Blake a self-deprecating glance. ”That sounds juvenile, doesn't it?”
”Uh-uh. You had a happy home life. You want to keep it that way.”
”Well, not exactly the same way. I'd like one major change.” Devon's smile was wistful. ”As long as I'm making embarra.s.sing, juvenile admissions, what I really want is for my parents to get back together.”
Blake's brows arched. ”Is that in the cards?”
”I don't know. What I do know is that they're crazy about each other. No matter how much they pretend otherwise.” Devon stopped talking and stiffened, peering ahead toward the stables. ”Vista's truck is there. Your phone call worked.”
”No surprise. When my grandfather says jump, Vista says how high. All I had to mention to Vista is that he was needed. I didn't specify by whom. Oh, I did let it slip that James is up for a few days from Wellington. I'm sure that was the cake topper. Anyway, let's get down there before someone clues him in to the fact that I'm the only Pierson coming to meet him and that you're here with me. I don't want to give him any prep time.”
”Good idea.” Devon nodded. ”He's either in the stables or in his trailer. Let's start in the stables so I can poke around a little. If we run into him there, we'll deal with him sooner rather than later. If not, I can check out the horses and see if Vista's done anything unorthodox. Then we'll check out his trailer and go for broke.”
”We should have the stables to ourselves. I called ahead and told the grooms to leave early.”
”That was smart. It'll give us the freedom to thoroughly examine the horses without providing any explanations.”
They reached the stables, easing by Vista's Suburban and trailer and making their way to the barn door.
”Look how low this thing is,” Devon hissed, pointing at the trailer. ”It's got to mean something. James nearly hit the ceiling when I mentioned it.”
”We'll find out.” Blake pulled open the wooden doors, and the two of them hurried inside. ”Watch what you say,” Blake muttered. ”In case Vista's in here.”
A silent nod.
”Introduce me around,” Devon said aloud. ”Last time I was in here it was to find Chomper. I haven't met any of your horses.”
”I'll rectify that now. Unfortunately, you won't be able to meet five of our best. They're down in Wellington, competing. But we've got two dozen more, ranging from colt and filly to stallion and mare. I'll introduce you to them, and we'll do a second round of introductions this spring.” Blake pointed to a portrait hanging just inside the barn. Its subject was an imposing stallion the color of dark chocolate. He was cla.s.sically beautiful, with a thick, glossy tail, long legs, and tiny white markings on each of his hind legs. He stood tall and correct, his carriage as regal as any monarch. ”That's Stolen Thunder. I'm sure James mentioned him.”
”Yes, he did. With glowing praise.” Devon studied the painting. ”He's breathtaking.”
”Stolen Thunder is one subject James and I agree on. He's extraordinary - truly one of a kind. He's a German warmblood from a champion lineage. He's the last in his bloodline. My grandfather paid an obscene amount of money for him. But he was worth it. By the time Grandfather bought him at age five, he'd won a long list of four- and five-year-old champions.h.i.+ps on national and international levels. Now he's eight and priming for the World Games and the Olympics.”
”Wow.” Devon was genuinely impressed.
”We've got two more stallions down in Wellington. Gentleman, who's also at the advanced level, and Future, who's at the intermediate level. He's Gentleman's son, and he's shaping up to be another winner.”
”He's the stallion your groom was riding in Wednesday's compet.i.tion, wasn't he?”
”Yup. Luckily, he's got a great temperament. Spooked or not, he was back to himself in no time.”
Devon's brows knit. ”You said he's Gentleman's son. What about Stolen Thunder's legacy? Since he's last in his bloodline, wouldn't it make sense to inseminate one of your mares with his sperm?”
”It would, and we've tried. So far none of his sperm has resulted in conception.”
While Blake spoke, he and Devon scrutinized the stables, trying to a.s.sess whether Vista was inside. There was no sign of him. They strained their ears, but all they heard was the whinnying and stomping a.s.sociated with horses.
Expanding their search, Blake led Devon from one stall to the next, introducing her to the Pierson warmbloods. They were exquisite animals, and Devon enjoyed the diversion of seeing them, stroking their necks and muzzles, and speaking softly to them - all the while checking to see if there was any telltale evidence of foul play.
”Do you know what you're looking for?” Blake murmured.
”Not yet,” Devon replied softly. ”But I will when I find it.”
The last stall on the left was the one where Devon had found Chomper two Sundays ago. At the time, it had been empty. Today, there was a beautiful chestnut mare inside, standing in the corner.
”Who's this?” Devon asked, leaning forward to caress the mare's neck.
”That's Sunrise,” Blake said. ”She was scheduled to compete at Wellington. My grandfather changed his mind and withdrew her. I'm not sure why.”
”Because she's ill,” Devon supplied.
”Not to my knowledge.”
”Then no one's filled you in.” Devon pushed open the stall gate and stepped inside. ”Poor baby,” she said soothingly, continuing to stroke the mare's neck. ”It's all right. Everything's going to be all right.” She turned toward Blake. ”She's definitely ill. She's standing in the corner. Her head is hanging, and she's lethargic. And look - her water's low. She's been drinking a lot. I'll bet if I took her temperature, she'd have a fever.” Devon stooped down, studying Sunrise's limbs. ”She's favoring her right front leg.”
”Why?” Blake demanded.
”Her hock is badly swollen. She's had some injections.” A frown. ”More than some. A lot. It had to have been in order to produce this much swelling. The entire region from stifle to hock is inflamed. The tendon area's been injected repeatedly.” Devon rose. ”I don't like this. Why would she be undergoing this kind of veterinary treatment?”
Blake's eyes narrowed. ”Not a clue.”
”Well, Dr. Vista better have one.” Anger glinted in Devon's eyes. ”I'm going to speak with him.”
She blew by Blake and out the stable door. This time she didn't try to m.u.f.fle her approach. This time she wanted to be heard.
She tromped up to the trailer door and knocked.