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Authors: Fern Michaels

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BOOK: Kentucky Sunrise
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Hatch sat down and rubbed at his aching temples. “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I never had a client like Willow. She's a wild card. Some small part of me admires her guts. The girl is a survivor. By now she's probably halfway around the world. She had help along the way, that's for sure.”
“Why don't we just lay it to rest? She's gone, and there's nothing you can do. Let's get back to our lives and move forward.”
“By moving forward, do you mean the running of the farm and training the horses for the Derby?” Hatch asked carefully.
Nealy answered just as carefully. “I guess that's what I mean. Lee Liu arrived today. He's with Jake. I made the decision to let Jake ride in the Derby. I really think he's good enough. All his fear is gone.”
“He's never run a race, not even a stakes race, Nealy. He's so damn young. Are you sure he's ready?”
“He's as ready as I was at that age. He's really come into himself these last six months. He's got perfect balance, and that's what I was looking for. Cordell says his stance is a mixture of dynamic imbalance and ballistic opportunity. Jake has that. He's also got that exquisite sense of pace over each furlong. To you that means an eighth of a mile. It's such a pleasure to work with him. I'm seeing myself all over again from way back when. This is not a decision I made lightly, Hatch. The boy is ready. Hifly is ready. It remains to be seen about Lee Liu. I'm hopeful though.” Excitement ringing in her voice, she said, “In my wildest dreams I never, ever, thought I would have two horses running in the Derby. I get giddy just thinking about it.”
Hatch eyed his wife over the rim of his coffee cup. He remained silent, wondering how much time they would have together now that she had committed to the Derby. “I think I'll go back to Santa Fe tomorrow and check on things. I might have to mend a few fences where Nick is concerned. I want to talk to the investigator myself. I don't want anything coming back to bite me later on. Do you mind?”
“Nope. I'm going to have my hands full with Lee. Stay as long as you like.”
“Now that's a romantic statement if I ever heard one,” Hatch grumbled.
“Oh, honey, I didn't mean it that way. I meant take as long as you need to make sure you're okay with everything. I'd rather you stayed here, but we did make a deal. We each get to do what we want to do as long as it doesn't interfere with our marriage. As in you and me. Seeing as how you're going to be leaving tomorrow, what do you say to us storing up some memories to draw on while you're gone?” Nealy stood and linked her arm with her husband's.
“I'd say that's the best offer I've had all day,” Hatch said, leading her to the stairs.
 
 
“Nice to see you again, Cal.” Hatch's hand shot forward. The private investigator pumped vigorously before he handed over a manila folder.
“It's not extensive. I didn't go out to the desert, but I did get the license plate number of the truck Willow Bishop drove here. As I told you, she parked it around the corner and walked to Nick's house. I don't know if she heisted the truck or if the guy gave it to her. He's one of the old-timers around here who live out in the desert. I ran his plate, and his license is suspended. Not because of anything he did but because he's legally blind and is still driving. He tries to elude the cops by using back streets. I didn't go out to his house or make any inquiries. I waited to see what you wanted me to do.”
“I'll take it from here, Cal. Send your bill to the firm. Thanks.”
Thirty minutes later, Hatch rang Nick's doorbell. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by. I owe you a couple of apologies and thought I'd deliver them in person. You got a beer? If you do, I'm in a drinking mood.”
“Yeah, sure. Come on in.”
Hatch looked around. “You need to pretty up this place a little. Green plants go a long way. Put some junk on the tables and some pictures on the wall. Ask Medusa to help you.”
“It's on my list of things to do.” Nick uncapped a bottle of Hatch's favorite beer and handed it to him. “I got apples and cheese. That's it in the way of food.”
“I'm not hungry, kid.” He slapped down the report on the kitchen table. “I can pretty much tell you what it says. Willow somehow managed to borrow, and I use the term loosely, a pickup belonging to some old guy who lives out in the desert. I'm thinking, and this is just my personal opinion, that she had a little help. Some old codger that doesn't give a hoot about anything might have seen fit to help a little lady in distress. Seems he's legally blind, and his license was suspended, but he still drives. She could have seen him and helped herself to the truck. I'm thinking about taking a drive out there. It's about a mile after the Chicken Ranch. You want to go along for the ride?”
“Not really, but if you want some company, I'll go. Look, it's just like I said. She broke into the house and came in through the kitchen. I woke up, and she was sitting there staring at me. We talked for a little bit. And, no, I did not go to bed with her. I wanted to. She was agreeable. However, it didn't happen. She said I would never hear from her again. She's gone, and I don't know where she went.”
Hatch looked down at his feet, where a yellow tabby was purring loudly. “I didn't know you had a cat.”
“Yeah. Her name is . . . Mazie. I did what I was supposed to do. I told the police she was here. That ends my involvement.”
Hatch reached down and picked up the tabby who settled herself in the crook of his arm. She continued to purr loudly. “How do you feel about it, kid?”
“I just want it to be over and done with. Every time I think I've put it behind me, she rears up, and it starts all over again. She's gone now, and she won't be back. I think I can guarantee it. Well, I'm ready if you are.”
“Then let's hit the road. Cal gave me a map, so we won't have any trouble finding the place once we hit Vegas. The flight isn't that long. I'll have you back in time for your morning shower. I want to be sure in my own mind that she's gone. We all need closure where Willow is concerned. There is every chance the old guy knows nothing.”
“Why don't we just call him, Hatch? Wouldn't it be a lot simpler to call and talk rather than make the trip?”
“We could do that, but, as you know, seeing someone face-to-face and talking with them gives you a whole other perspective. If he doesn't know Willow, we pack up and come home. I have this gut feeling she had help. The other thing is this, Nick: Junior Belez's house is just a few miles down the road past where the old man lives. That almost tells me more than I want to know.”
Nick sighed. “Okay, let's go.”
“Do you have to let the cat out or anything?”
“I don't think so. I just got her. She uses a litter box. She'll be okay till I get back.”
“I would have taken you for a dog man myself. It surprises me that you'd get a cat.”
“Yeah, it surprised me, too. She needed a home, and I needed a roommate. It works.”
 
 
It was almost midnight when Hatch drove the rental car up the gravel drive to the little house where Zack Leroy lived. “He must still be up; there are lights on in the house.”
Both men climbed out of the car at the same time a huge black Lab blasted through the front door. Hatch backed up a step and then another when the huge dog's lips peeled back to reveal a vicious set of canines. “Whoa, boy, down. Mr. Leroy!”
“Stay, Stella,” a creaky voice said from the doorway. “Whatcha want out here at this time of night?”
“I just want to ask you a few questions. My name is Hatch Littletree, and this is Nick Clay. We're attorneys in Santa Fe. We just want to talk to you. I know it's late, so we'll make it short.”
“Come on in. I'm sorry about the lighting. I have to keep it dim for a few days. I just had my cataracts operated on yesterday. Bright light bothers me. Now, what's so all-fired important that it can't wait till morning?”
“We want to talk to you about your truck. Do you know where it is?”
“Nope. Someone stole it right off the street. Well, it wasn't a street but an alley. I went to get a haircut the other day and someone stole it. Wasn't worth nothing. Didn't report it because I'm not supposed to be driving. My license was suspended. Did you find it?”
“As a matter of fact, no. We spotted it, then it disappeared. In Santa Fe.”
The old man laughed. “You must be thinking about someone else's truck. My old bucket would never make Santa Fe. I just use it for local driving. I mostly drive my wife Melba's car because the truck isn't dependable. I think you fellas are joshing with me here. That old clunker couldn't have gone all the way to Santa Fe.”
“It had your license plate, and it was registered to you, Mr. Leroy. I have no idea where it is now.”
“Even if by some miracle it was my old bucket, what does that have to do with anything? I'd like to have it back for sentimental reasons but if that isn't possible, I can live with the loss now that I can see again. Are you fellas trying to tell me something and I'm missing it or what?”
“Do you know a young woman named Willow Bishop?” Nick asked.
“Can't say that I do. I think you better ask yourself what would I be doing with a young woman?”
“Helping her,” Hatch said. “She's wanted for murder. I
was
her attorney. Nick here was married to her at one time. If you did help her, you could go to jail for a very long time. Prison is not a nice place for an elderly man like yourself.”
“No, I guess it isn't. I'm sorry but I can't help you. I never met a woman named Willow Bishop. Can't say when I met a young woman last. If you find my truck, will you give me a call? I'd like to claim it. I can write down my phone number for you.”
“That won't be necessary. We already have it. I guess you can't help us after all,” Hatch said.
“No, I can't.”
Nick moved closer to the old man and stood eyeball-to-eyeball with him. “So, if we keep on driving and go out to Junior Belez's house, the guy who was murdered, we won't find your fingerprints anywhere around there, right?”
“Nope. Know the case, though. Saw it on television every night for a long time. It's my bedtime now. Good luck with your case and remember, now, if you find my truck, let me know.”
“Thanks for your time, Mr. Leroy.”
Outside in the dark on the way to the car, Nick said, “We made the trip for nothing. He doesn't know Willow. At this stage I don't give a good rat's ass if she's ever found or not. I'm sick of the whole mess. We gotta get back, Hatch. I have to be in court early.”
“He was lying. Cal said he lifted the hood of the truck and the engine was sound as a dollar. The old man took care of the truck, and it had fairly new tires according to his report. The truck could have made it to Santa Fe. Five bucks says we'll find it at the bus station, train station, or airport. I'll get Cal back on it.”
“Are we going to Junior Belez's house?”
“I think Willow went out there looking for something. More than likely she hitchhiked and Mr. Leroy picked her up. She probably gave him some song and dance and he fell for it. My thought is she either bought his truck or he gave it to her. It's just a guess. She might have had money stashed there, or Junior might have had some stashed and she knew about it. Don't forget, she walked out of the police station with nothing but the clothes on her back. Somehow she got to Santa Fe, and where she is now is anyone's guess. Whatever was at the house is gone now, so let's head home, kid, and put this whole thing to sleep. If we ever want to find Mr. Leroy, we know where he lives.”
Nick threw his hands in the air. “This whole thing was stupid. We wasted a whole night and for what? Yes, he knew her, no, he didn't know her, yes, he helped her, no, he didn't help her. We're right back where we started.”
“No, Nick, we're not. Something happened between that old man and Willow. Sooner or later, one or the other will get in touch. I'll have Cal get some of his operatives out here in Vegas to take it on. We'll monitor him, his comings and goings, his mail, his telephone. Sooner or later, we'll come up with something.”
“No, you won't,” Nick said. “She's gone, and it's over.”
11
Emmie scanned her portfolio statement before she slipped it back into the envelope, then opened her checkbook to view past entries in the robust account. She fingered the six dividend checks she had yet to deposit. Her mother was always prompt about sending the generous checks that she normally transferred to a trust for Gabby. She really should go to the bank, but these days anything having to do with her mother annoyed her. Ian Hunter's words blared in her ears:
Don't procrastinate
.
Meet it head-on, deal with it, and put it behind you.
And he was right. She rummaged for the deposit booklet and ripped out two copies. She endorsed the checks, and filled out the ticket before attaching a paper clip to the little stack of checks. There, she'd met it head-on, dealt with it, and could close the checkbook. Done.
Dillon Roland came up behind her chair and put his hands on her shoulders. “Do I dare ask what is causing that ferocious look on your face?”
Emmie waved the stack of checks in front of him. “These. As half owner of Blue Diamond Farms, I get dividend checks every month. I put them in a trust for Gabby.”
“That's a good thing, Emmie. You should be happy that you're lining Gabby's nest.”
“I am happy about it, Dad. It's just that sometimes I get mad that I own something and have no say in the way things are done. Half the farm is mine. Mom never asks for my input. I understand that I screwed things up, but I'm okay now. She never asked for my input before I got sick either.
“When Josh Coleman died years ago, he left SunStar to me, and Mom made me sign it over to my uncles Rhy and Pyne. I did it because she said it was the right thing to do. I don't know if it was or not. I always did what she said. Then there was that awful court thing that dragged on with the Colemans before things were finally settled. The way Mom wanted them settled. I guess in some ways I was a little upset with the way she used the farm's money to pay off the Coleman loans and give them back their homestead. She didn't consult with me even once. I like to think I would have agreed, but I don't know that for sure.”
Dillon walked around the table and sat down. “Something else is bothering you, isn't it? We said we were going to talk about everything. Doctor Hunter said that was the key to your recovery. So, Emmie, talk.”
Emmie bit down on her lower lip. “We already talked about it, Dad. It was what Mom said that day when I was leaving rehab. She said you were just being nice to me to get one of her horses. She said you didn't love me. As Doctor Hunter said, once words are spoken, you can't take them back. You can't undo a mistake either, but you can work to make things right.”
“I'm sorry your mother doesn't understand that people can change. Look, if you want to go back to Kentucky and talk to her, let's do it. It will be nice for Gabby to see her grandmother again. And if you want some say in the training of Hifly, I'm all for it. He's your horse. Nothing is ever going to change that.”
“I'm not as good as she is. I wanted to try, though. I had such a good rapport with Hifly. Then I got sick. She's worked with him all the time I was gone. I don't even know if he'll remember me. I wish you could have seen her face when she saw him for the first time. Then she turned to look at me and that said it all. I'm not mom bashing here, it's the way it was then. You know what, Dad, let's go to Kentucky. I want to see my horse. I dream about him all the time.” Emmie smacked her hands together. “When can we go?”
“Whenever you want to go, honey. This afternoon, tomorrow, the next day. It's your call. Just be sure it's really what you want to do.”
“Oh, I do. What about you, Dad? Are you up for a visit with Mom?”
“Let's just say I'll stand on your end of the property as long as you show me which end is yours. I have no desire to upset your mother. There's every possibility she'll be civil to me, but I don't think either one of us should count on it.”
“Tomorrow. Let's go tomorrow. We can stay at the Inn or at my old house. If you do the airline tickets, I'll pack for all of us. Should we take Cookie? Of course we have to take Cookie. Hifly loved him. He was his barn buddy there for a while. I'm so glad you're okay about us going back home. Thanks, Dad.”
“My pleasure, honey.”
Dillon Roland sat at the table for a long time after Emmie left to go upstairs to pack. Was he making a blunder by going to Kentucky with his daughter? Well, he'd had his share of screwups along the way, so one more wouldn't matter. He knew he could handle whatever Nealy threw at him, but he wasn't sure about Emmie.
True, Emmie had come a long way both physically as well as mentally because he'd been able to keep her free of stress and trauma. According to Dr. Hunter, Emmie was her old self again, and while he didn't know exactly what
her old self
meant, he was happy with the prognosis and her progress to date. To him she appeared absolutely normal in every way. She was so improved that she could ride daily and work as many hours as she wanted in the barns.
He thought about all the years he'd spent in a loveless marriage just to please his father. In many ways he was just like Emmie, and perhaps that was what endeared him to her. He didn't love his sons the way he loved her, and the thought saddened him. First, they had been spoiled by their mother, and then by his own father, who doted on them as they grew into tall, handsome young men. Young men who had never worked a day in their lives. They lived off huge trust funds and traveled around the world playing and partying. He shook his head when he recalled how he'd tried to intervene only to be shot down by his father and his wife. Sad to say, he'd just given up.
He looked around the great room he was sitting in and smiled. Cookie was asleep in his little bed near the fireplace. Toys were scattered everywhere, a doll buggy, a small racing car, and a basket of blocks that Cookie had upended before he conked out to sleep. He wasn't sure if the toys were Gabby's or the dog's. Not that it mattered. He laughed aloud when he remembered how Gabby had dressed Cookie in one of her doll outfits and taken him for a ride in the buggy. He'd never been happier in his entire life—except when he was seeing Nealy Coleman, back when he was a kid. He'd been so in love with her then, and so happy he could have walked on air.
A lifetime ago.
There was still one area of his daughter's life he had to work on: Buddy Owens, Emmie's ex-husband and Gabby's father. Dr. Hunter had said Emmie would never be one hundred percent until she faced her daughter's father. “If you have to, fight it out in the courts, but do something. Don't live with something like that hanging over your head. Gabby won't thank you as she gets older and finds out her father is alive and well and was kept from her. Now, if the child's father isn't interested and doesn't want visitation, that's a different story.”
Emmie lived in fear that Buddy would sweep Gabby away, that the child would be lost to her. No amount of talking, cajoling, or wheedling could change her mind, even when her doctor told her, time and again, if she did it right, nothing would happen. She was simply too frightened. If she lost Gabby, she lost everything. Her favorite expression, where Buddy Owens was concerned, was,
Why stir up a hornet's nest?
Dillon sighed. Maybe after the trip to Kentucky, he'd try again to talk Emmie into calling her ex-husband. Sometimes a miracle did happen if you were open to all things. He crossed his fingers the way he had when he was a little boy and made a wish.
“Grandpa, Grandpa! I'm home. Where's Mommy?” Dillon was off his chair in a second, his arms spread wide. Gabby ran right into him. He scooped her up as well as the whirling dervish called Cookie and hugged them both.
He closed his eyes, inhaling the warm, sweet smell of his granddaughter. He couldn't ask for more.
Nealy tilted the brim of her Stetson to shield her eyes from the early-March sun. Off in the distance she could see an expanse of gray clouds. By noon it would be raining, but for now it was a beautiful spring day. She whirled around when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Hatch!”
“That's my name. How's it all going?” he asked, shielding his eyes, too, against the glare of the bright sun.
“Take a look,” Nealy said, pride ringing in her voice. “If those two young men keep this up, by Derby Day they're going to be superstars. I say this with all modesty, but they're as good as I was on my best day.
“I've always said a Thoroughbred is one of God's best miracles. Do you realize they can run forty miles an hour? They live for that one word,
run.
Hifly is a constant surprise to me. Jake is doing so well with him. I know you know this, but I'm going to tell you again. When a jockey is running a horse, he doesn't actually sit in the saddle. Jake had some trouble with that in the beginning. You have to crouch over, placing all your weight on your toes. The metal base of the stirrup hangs about a foot from the horse's topline, and that's where your toes go. It's tricky till you master it. When the horse is running, the only parts of the jockey that actually touch the horse are his ankles and the insides of his feet. All the rest is balanced in midair. Jake got it down pat, and it only took two good spills.”
“I still shiver when I think about you racing those races.”
“Sometimes I shiver, too,” Nealy smiled. “Those two,” she said, pointing her index finger at Jake and Lee, “are fearless. Jake actually turned green the day I put him on a pony. Just look at him now. You know, Hatch, everything about a jockey comes down to seconds. Just mere seconds. Some of the greatest jockeys in the world are called freakish because they have to be able to gauge pace to within two- to three-fifths of a second of the actual time. It all comes down to a fast faction and a slow faction. Jake has that ability, and from what I've seen from Lee, he's got it, too. I've got two fine jockeys here, Mr. Littletree.”
“Did you ever get around to making your donation to the Jockey's Guild, Nealy?”
“Absolutely. I'm taking it a step further this year. All the proceeds from my Derby Ball are going to go to the guild. They're currently supporting over fifty riders who were disabled on the job. I think that's a wonderful thing for them to do. I just wish more people would donate.”
Hatch turned around to look back toward the house. “I think you have company, Nealy.”
Her eyes on the paddock, Nealy said, “It's probably some reporter. They're getting rather bold this year. We need to put the gate down. The rumors are starting to fly. I expected it since we have just two months till the Derby. I think the word is out that I'm running two horses.”
“Wonder how that rumor got started,” Hatch mused.
“Cordell started it.” Nealy laughed. “When the time is right, I'm going to have both boys give an interview to the papers. So, who's here?” she asked, turning around.
“Emmie! Gabby! Come here, you little rascal, and let me look at you. My gosh, you've grown half an inch. Well, hello, Cookie! It's nice to see you, Emmie,” Nealy said, reaching for her daughter. Emmie took a step backward to avoid her mother's outstretched arms. Instead, she climbed over the board fencing and ran across the paddock to where Hifly was standing next to Jake. She stopped halfway to where the horse was standing and whistled. Hifly turned, swung his head about, and raced to her side.
“Hello would have been nice,” Nealy mumbled. She dropped to her knees to hug Gabby, tears filling her eyes. The little girl in her arms, she turned to watch the byplay in the paddock between Emmie, Jake, and Hifly. Lee Liu watched from a distance, a frown building between his brows.
“Hi, Jake, how's it going with my horse?” Emmie asked, nuzzling the horse's head. Hifly whinnied in pleasure. “I've missed this guy.” She whispered in the horse's ear, and, to her delight, he nudged her gently until her back was against the board fencing.
“Why is he doing that?” Jake asked.
“He wants me to get on his back. He remembers me. I was so afraid he would forget all about me. Walk away and call him. I want to see if he'll listen to you.” Jake retraced his steps and called out. Hifly ignored him. He called again. This time Hifly's tail swished angrily as he waited for Emmie to climb on his back.
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