The Michaela Bancroft Mysteries 1-3 (14 page)

"I'm telling you, I think you should relax."

Maybe Camden was right. It wasn't a big deal. The big deal was that Rocky had gotten loose and acted like a maniac and it was the last thing she needed today. She pulled up next to the quad. "I'll drive it home and meet you back there. I'm going to set her halter back and check on her. Make sure she didn't try and bust herself out of here after lover boy paid a visit."

"Okay."

Michaela got out of the truck, carrying the halter she'd borrowed and walked back into the barn. This time all was quiet. No dust, no noises, and as she came toward the stall— no horse either. Nothing. No feed. No sign that a horse had been in this very spot an hour earlier. As she started to back out and get the hell out of there, something caught her attention. There on the ground not too far from where the horse had been kept was a pile of clothes and a sleeping bag. What in the world? Who had been staying here? She bent down to look over the pile. There was a small radio, a bag of chips and bananas, and a book. A children's book. Interesting. The clothes were too large to belong to a child, yet the book, a copy of
Peter Pan,
appeared worn. It was obvious there was a guest here at the old farm, and whoever it was could be lurking nearby. It had to be the same person who had taken the mare out of here. Michaela knew she'd better get the hell out of this place.

She set the book down and quickly headed out of the barn, feeling spooked. She jumped on the quad, drove around the opposite side of where she'd been before and turned to head home the back way. That's when she noticed a paper taped to the side of the barn, and even though her adrenaline was running from fear, she had to see what the paper read. It was a permit to build. And, it was issued to Tanner Developments. Michaela's mouth dropped. Camden's boyfriend owned the land.

MICHAELA WENT TO HER OFfiCE BEFORE GOING back to the house. She was shaken and she didn't want Camden to clue in. She needed to pull herself together, before heading out for their night on the town.

She had to find out who the barnyard resident was at Tanner's newly acquired piece of property and if he was aware that a pretty little mare had been holding down the fort. Who owned that horse? And where the hell was that person now? Michaela wanted to head back to the dairy farm and take another look around, but she wasn't about to go there alone. That would be plain stupid. She'd already accomplished the
stupid quota
for the day. Who could she trust right now to go back over there with her? A frightening thought crossed her mind: She didn't feel like she could really trust anyone at the moment. Everyone she cared for seemed to be hiding something from her.

"Michaela."

She jumped, nearly coming out of her skin as she turned and saw Summer, Ethan's
ex
-fiancé.

Summer was a pretty woman with cinnamon-colored hair, which she usually wore slicked back into a ponytail. Her eyes were an interesting green color, so light that they almost appeared clear. Each time Michaela saw her she was reminded of a Stepford wife. Her skin was dewy with the perfect amount of meticulously applied makeup and she always looked as if she'd just stepped out of a Ralph Lauren catalog.

"I didn't mean to frighten you," Summer said. She fiddled with the knot of a khaki-colored cashmere sweater around her shoulders.

"Oh, hi, Summer. I didn't hear you walk up." This was the last thing she needed right now. Hadn't she had enough for one day? Now, she'd have to listen to Summer's crap.

"Yes, well that's obvious. You've done some wonderful things to the place since I was last here. When was that? I think your Christmas party? God, a year ago— can you believe that? We really shouldn't let time go by without visiting. It's simply not neighborly."

What in the world did Ethan see in this woman?
"Summer, why are you here? We both know that there isn't a lot of love lost between us, so don't carry on about how we should get together more often."

Summer shrugged. "I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about your uncle. I cared a lot for Lou and I wanted to extend my condolences because I know how close you were with him."

Michaela studied her. "Thank you. You didn't have to come out here to tell me that, though. You could have called, but I do appreciate it." She wondered if she should pursue asking Summer about Lou's books. "You were still working for my uncle?" She'd decided to go for it, although with trepidation.

"Some. Lou really wanted to have somebody come on full-time, and I can't do that. I have my own business to run. I did his books on the side to subsidize my own work."

Why was she lying? Michaela knew that Summer had been relieved of most of her duties because of the obscene way she'd left Ethan. And, Lou held a grudge, as Ethan should have as well! "Oh, so your business is taking off? You training a lot of jumpers these days?" Michaela tried to be nice. She knew that Summer had grown up riding warmbloods and thoroughbreds and had done well in the world of show jumping.

"Yes. It's going well, and now with things kind of changing in my world..." She ran a hand over her stomach and looked down. "...I'm thinking about expanding my business into a breeding program, kind of like what Lou had."

"Huh. You're multitalented." Michaela tilted her head to the side. "I didn't know you bred horses."

Summer let out an aggrieved sigh. "I don't. I would, of course, hire a breeding manager, but I think that Ethan can help me get it off the ground. He's a vet, after all. I'm sure that until I found the right person, he could do it for me."

"Right." Michaela nodded. "Well, good luck with that. Thanks for stopping by. Sorry to be short, but I have work to do."

Something not so deep down told Michaela that this conversation was far from over and that Summer hadn't only come here to pay her respects. She'd seen the woman work her "magic" on her friend, and she had the art of manipulation down to a science. Michaela felt sick to her stomach and decided not to pursue a line of questioning about Uncle Lou's books with Summer until she found out what institution the money from the owners of the mares had been deposited into.

"Michaela?"

"Yes?"

"I am aware that Ethan has confided in you about our... little surprise." Again she touched her stomach, and Michaela's did a flip.

"Yes."

"Well, I am very happy about the situation."

"I'm sure you are."

"And I am coming to you woman to woman and asking that you remain neutral. Ethan and I have many things to work out between us, and, I'm not sure how to say this, so I'm just going to."

"Please do."

"I'm asking you to stay out of Ethan's and my business."

Michaela folded her hands together, squeezing them— an attempt to keep from wrapping them around the woman's swanlike neck. "You know, Summer, I could actually do that if you hadn't taken Ethan's heart and ripped it into shreds. The man would have crawled across broken glass for you. Believe me, I don't know why, but regardless, he would have, and I supported his and your relationship because he loved you. But, I'm sorry, I can see right past those pretty green eyes and that Pilates body and the graceful airs that you put on. Ethan is a man, after all, and I think we..." She pointed to herself and then to Summer. "...both know they don't always think clearly."

Summer crossed her arms over her crisp button-down. "You have some gall. I may have made mistakes in the past where Ethan is concerned, and I am willing to admit that and make changes. He can see that and forgive me. And, do not forget that Ethan and I
are
having a baby together, whether you like it or not. If you want to stay in Ethan's life I would suggest you stay out of mine. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest you support me thoroughly, or you may be sorry. We both know how important family is to Ethan. He would never leave a child, not after what happened to him with his own father."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No. I'm not at all. I am only stating facts. You know, I find something fascinating about you." Summer shook a finger at her. "You're a very controlling woman. You don't want your closest friends to be happy because you've never been able to have that. It's not only Ethan I've watched you try and control. It's that ex of yours, and now your friend Camden. I know Kevin Tanner quite well, and he's told me that you're negative about your friend dating him. Why is that, Michaela? Maybe you should look at that. Maybe it's time you let people go, and have your own life. What's the saying? 'If you love something, set it free...' and you know what I think about your opinion of me? I think this has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with Ethan."

"What?"

"It's obvious, Michaela. You're in love with the father of my child. You've been pining for him for years, and it appears that you'll have to continue to pine. Give up the
best friends
act. Ethan is mine. Stay out of our lives."

Michaela's mouth opened to say something. But nothing came out as she watched the arrogant Summer MacTavish leave her barn. A few seconds later she bolted out of the tack room and yelled at Summer as she climbed into her Cadillac Escalade, which had a decal on the back window that read MACTAVISH SHOW JUMPERS. "I am not a control freak! You are! Look at you! You've even gone so far to get knocked up so you can manipulate Ethan! And, I do love him, because he's my friend, and I refuse to stand by and watch you destroy his life! You bitch!"

Summer slammed her car door and drove away. Michaela went back to her office and thought about the words they'd just exchanged. Why hadn't she been able to make a quick-witted retort? Comebacks were not usually a problem for her. Instead, her anger had gotten the best of her and the words came out sounding immature, like something from a seedy talk show. God, what had come over her? And now, she couldn't help wondering if there was any truth to what Summer had said. Was she the controlling type who drove people away? More than that, was there any truth to the idea that she was
in
love with Ethan?

THERE WAS NO CHOICE FOR MICHAELA BUT TO forget the day. At least for now. She couldn't let Camden know that she had a gazillion things running through her mind, including thoughts that Camden or her love interest might have wanted to harm her uncle, or that her own father was gambling again and possibly in debt to the mob, or that she suspected someone was trying to frighten her for God only knew what reason, and that there was even a possibility that the person trying to scare her was also her uncle's killer. Even more than that, she couldn't confide in her friend that Summer MacTavish was pregnant with Ethan's baby and that the perfect princess had come by to tell her to buzz off. But worse was the fact that Michaela wasn't able to ask the woman she'd considered her best friend for a decade now if she did indeed have control issues, and if so, did she push the people she loved away? Normally questions such as these— and honestly, there had never been questions posed for her quite like these— she'd have opened up about them to Camden. For as light-hearted as her pal seemed to be, she also had a good ear and an available shoulder to cry on, plus she'd always been totally frank and honest with her. At least she'd always thought so, and Michaela despised this burning ache inside her that raised doubts about Camden. She hated the thought that all of this could be true, but she really hated that she could even
think
there was the possibility that any of these thoughts were true.

Michaela was applying some blush when Camden walked into her bathroom, a margarita in one hand and a bag from Saks in the other. She swung the bag back and forth. "Here you go. Let's get this party started." She handed the margarita to Michaela.

Michaela set it down on the sink counter. "I think I'll wait until we get to the bar."

Camden frowned. "It's one of my specials. The Cadillac— you know, with a Grand Marnier float on top. Smooth." She took a step back. "Honey, I know sometimes I can be crass and put on a good game face. I know you're hurting, and I'm sorry. I thought maybe a bit of devil's brew might help relax you. But if you're taking it easy, I understand."

"Thanks."

"Now give it back to me. Why let it go to waste?" She smiled, but Michaela knew she was only half kidding. "Okay, since you're not ready for the hard stuff, do me the favor of..." She pulled out a black lace camisole, "...wearing this. I saw it, and knew it would look absolutely hot on you with a cute pair of tight jeans. You'll have all eyes on you from the minute you walk in the bar. The men will be fighting over you and the women will want to fight you."

Michaela looked at the wannabe blouse. Yes, it was cute in a Frederick's of Hollywood kind of way, and surely it would attract attention, but not the kind she desired. "As pretty as it is, Camden, you know I wouldn't be comfortable in that. I just can't."

"For me? I thought it would be so gorgeous on you. Come on."

She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I wish I could, but you know how self-conscious I get. Look, I know what you're trying to do. You want to make me feel better and I am so grateful, but it's hard enough for me to go out tonight, much less wear something that should really be worn by Pamela Anderson."

Camden waved a hand at her. "Oh pooh, she's got nothing on you. But fine, all right. I understand. Maybe someday, my friend, you will realize just how beautiful you are and start dressing like it. Me? I already know I'm hot property and I ain't afraid to show it. Now, Kevin's driver will be by in about a half hour. I am so pleased you decided to go with us tonight. Where's the doc? Hell, he might as well come, too. I figure he's not going anywhere. I can see it now: You and me in rocking chairs with our margis or one of them mojitos, Ethan nursing sick horses while pushing a walker, while the two of you still try and reconcile the fact that you have feelings for one another."

"What?"

"I'm just kidding. But face it, Michaela, you two can't live with or without one another. You've both got a bad case of unrequited love gone wrong."

"That is not true. That is
so
not true. I've known Ethan since I was three years old. I don't love him and he doesn't love me, at least not in that way... and why do people keep suggesting that I have feelings for Ethan?"