Maria’s chin went up. “Cain is a good man.”
“Yes, he is. That’s the reason we’re still together.”
Some of the stiffness went out of Maria’s shoulders. “Perhaps I have been wrong about you. Perhaps you are good for Señor Cain.”
“I’d like to think so.”
Maria’s smile actually looked sincere. “Enjoy your lunch.”
Cain passed the broad-hipped woman as he walked into the sun-room. “What was that about?”
“I think she was surprised to see me here again. Apparently, a relationship that lasts any length of time is a novelty where you’re concerned.”
Amusement touched his lips. “I suppose that’s true. In your case, we’re only getting started.”
Jenny felt an expected pang. Half of her hoped it was true. The other half was terrified it might be. “We better eat before it gets cold.”
Thechili Coloradowas delicious, the tortillas freshly made. After lunch, they put on their boots, grabbed their jackets, and headed for the barn. Billy saddled Rosebud, the palomino mare she had ridden before, while Cain saddled his big red roan, Gladiator.
Once they were mounted and on their way, the wind died down, and the sun on their shoulders kept them warm. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon, though Jenny noticed Cain was carefully working to keep his distance. There was no making love on a blanket near the stream, as she had fantasized about on the way to the ranch. There were no fun sexual innuendos.
It bothered her until she realized that, after what had happened in the hotel last night, Cain was afraid of what he might do to her when they made love. What he’d experienced had affected him greatly. Brian Santana was dead. Leslie Owens and Mary Dennison had almost been killed.
But Jenny knew in her heart that Cain would never hurt her. He was stronger than whatever had tried to control him. Tonight, she was going to prove it.
They were back in the barn, Billy unsaddling the horses, when Denver walked toward them through the open barn door. His suntanned face looked pale, his features drawn tight.
“What is it?” Cain asked.
Denver pulled off his hat and held it in front of him. “King’s back. Sanchez found him in the east pasture. No idea when or how he got there, but . . .”
“Is he all right?” Cain frowned at the look on Denver’s face. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”
Denver ran his tongue over his lips. “He’s not the same horse, Cain. He went after Sanchez, chased him clear out of the pasture. He attacked Quinn, bit him, chased him, and tried to stomp him into the ground. He’s gone completely crazy.” Denver’s fingers tightened on the brim of his hat. “The thing is, whoever took him . . . they gelded him, Cain. King’s not a stallion anymore.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CAIN HEARDJENNY’S SOFT GASP. TEARS SPRANG INTO HER EYES. “Oh, my God, poor King. What a terrible thing to do.”
Cain’s jaw went tight. “I need to handle this. I’ve got to call the sheriff. I need to get the vet over here to look at King. Why don’t you go inside and get warmed up? I’ll be in when we’re finished. It may take a while.”
“I’m all right. I’d rather stay with you.”
Cain just shook his head. Jenny seemed to understand what he was feeling, the helpless rage, how this had gutted him, but Cain didn’t want her sympathy. He wanted to vent his fury on whoever had hurt his stallion. He wanted to pound them into the dirt, end their miserable time on earth.
“I need you to go,” he said, his voice harder than he intended. “Please.”
Jenny’s gaze searched his face; then she nodded. Rising on her toes, she brushed a kiss over his cheek. “I’ll see you when you finish up.”
The hours slipped past. He spent time with Dave Petersen, the local veterinarian. Denver, Sanchez, and Quinn had to physically restrain King so the vet could examine him. Cain hated to do it after the trauma the horse had suffered, but the doc wanted to look at the area where the crude surgery had been performed and give King antibiotics to prevent infection.
At eight years old, the stallion was too mature to be gelded. The healing process would take far longer and be much more painful, the risks far greater. In addition, gelding the stallion so late wouldn’t alter the horse’s biological urges. King would still want to breed the mares, though he could no longer reproduce.
Any plans for a foal out of Kitty Cat by Sun King had been sabotaged completely.
Cain’s hand fisted. He thought of his enemies list and mentally went over each name. What kind of man would make an animal suffer as revenge for some imagined misdeed? It was cruel and twisted.
He couldn’t think of anyone who would stoop that low, but someone was responsible. Cain vowed to find out who it was and make them pay.
