Saddled With Trouble (31 page)

“
Davis, yeah. He is a great guy. I should call him.” Michaela turned her cell on. There were a half a dozen messages from a worried and concerned Davis. He answered on the first ring.

“
Are you okay? I just got off the phone with the Vegas PD. My God! I’ve been worried sick.”

“
You have?”

“
Yes!”

“
I’m sorry. It’s just that with all that happened, I didn’t really get much of a chance to call. I’ve kind of been . . . tied up. But I’m fine.”

“
You are?”

“
Really, I am.”

“
I wish I could come on out there, but my little girl . . .”

“
That’s right, her ankle. How is she?”

“
In a cast, but she’ll be fine. But between the two of you, I think I’ve developed an ulcer.”

Michaela laughed. This guy really cared. “I’ll be back in a couple of days. I think I’ll try and get some R&R. Then, I have to figure out how to get Dwayne’s horses home. The police impounded the truck and trailer. But that’s the last of my worries.”

“
I’m working on getting Dwayne cleared of the charges. It doesn’t look as if he had anything to do with his cousin’s crimes.”

She sighed. “Thank God.”

“
You
should
take some time out. See that rodeo you were talking about.”

“
The NFR isn’t just some rodeo. It is
the
ultimate rodeo. You’d love it. Too bad you couldn’t come.”

“
Yeah. How long you think you might stay?”

“
I’ll get things figured out by Sunday and leave here Monday morning.”

“
What are you doing on Tuesday?” he asked.

“
Same old. Getting up, working horses.”

“
You need a coffee break?”

She smiled. “I just might. Know where I can get a good cup of Joe?”

“
The Honey Bear Cottage. I like to go there around four.”

“
Funny. Me, too. I need a pick-me-up about that time.”

“
Maybe I’ll see you there.”

“
Maybe you will.” Michaela told him goodbye and donned the gorgeous, drop-dead-sexy rose-colored dress Camden had given her. She walked out into the front room of the suite. “Doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Good thing I don’t have big boobs, or I’d be falling out of this thing.”

“
For once, go with it. You look fabulous.”

“
I plan on it.” Oddly enough she did want to look good, and although it had been one eventful day and she should be exhausted, a weight had been lifted. She knew that both Uncle Lou and Bean could now rest in peace.

They met Ethan in the lobby. Camden had done as she’d promised and arranged rooms for everyone. She had a date later on that evening with the manager.

Gosh, did Ethan look handsome in a light gray pin-striped suit and white shirt. Michaela’s stomach sank.

“
Look at you!” Camden said. “Didn’t know you cleaned up so well.”

“
Thanks. I try.”

“
Where’s the blushing bride?”

“
She’ll be down in a minute. Something about wanting to look perfect.”

“
Ah. I’m sure she will. I think I’ll grab us some champagne before we head out.” Camden winked at her.

Ethan smiled at Michaela and approached her.

“
You okay?” she asked.

“
Sure. Big step. A baby and everything.”

“
Yes it is.”

“
You do understand, don’t you, Mick?”

No!
she wanted to scream.
I don’t understand why Summer is carrying your child and you’re marrying her
. But the words that came out didn’t match her feelings. “I do. You’ll make a great daddy.”

He hugged her. “Thanks.” He kissed her on the top of her head. “You’re my girl, you know.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“
Always.”

“
Yep.”

EPILOGUE

SAM WAS CONVICTED FOR THE MURDERS OF UNCLE Lou and Bean, as well as for fraud. Michaela received her inheritance and used some of it to pay back all of the owners of the mares who’d had foals that did prove to be out of her stallion, Rocky. The AQHA did not pursue the charges, and Michaela did move on to her uncle’s ranch. Camden also moved in with Michaela and refuses to ever get involved with a man again, especially one like Kevin Tanner. Kirsten was convicted of vehicular assault, and on top of some jail time must do community service, which entails roadside litter cleanup. As far as Michaela and the rest of her family, friends, and foes, look for the next segment of The Horse Lover’s Mysteries in
Death Reins In.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

As a writer of fiction, at times for the story’s sake, I might take a bit of literary license. I realize that in
Saddled with Trouble
that I did a bit of this with Dwayne Yamiguchi’s character. I have been to the NFR in Las Vegas several times and have grown up around horses, so I know what it takes for the men and women of rodeo to qualify to compete at the NFR. With Dwayne’s position at Uncle Lou’s ranch, I realize that he probably would not, in the real world, be an NFR competitor. To compete at that level would mean a rider must be completely devoted to that task only. I completely respect the men and women of rodeo and hope you enjoy reading The Michaela Bancroft Series.