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Jessie padded barefoot down the stairs of her house, a pair of scuffed Mary Janes clamped to her side by one elbow as she attempted to slide the post of one of her pierced earrings through the hole in her lobe. She hadn’t worn the things since her dinner with Daniel.
She crossed the center hallway into the living room where Molly lay on the sill of the newly replaced front window. The tabby crouched next to the sofa, his rapt attention riveted on something black in front of him. A spider. He drew one paw back and batted it.
Jessie left him to his prey and headed toward the dining room. The earring back slipped into place on the post just as someone pounded on the back door. She glanced at the mantle clock. Who the hell could that be? She was going to be late.
After dumping the shoes in the middle of the floor, she crossed the kitchen and peeked out the windows of the enclosed back porch.
Daniel waved.
She hadn’t seen or heard from him since that night two weeks ago at the track.
“I hope you don’t mind me just dropping in like this,” he said when she opened the door. “Are you going somewhere?”
Jessie smoothed away some nonexistent wrinkles from the front of her sleeveless sweater and glanced down at her black jeans. Not quite the attire for Lorenzo’s but a step up from her usual faded blue jeans and t-shirt. “I have an appointment.”
“With the doctor? You look great.” Daniel motioned to her cheek. “The swelling has really gone down.”
“And greenish yellow is a better color on me than the old purple and blue. But no, not the doctor.” She stepped back and tipped her head to one side, inviting him in. “I’m meeting with my divorce attorney.”
He feigned shock. “Really? I’m surprised.”
She started to close the door but hesitated when she caught sight of the smallish red SUV parked on the hillside. “Where’s your Corvette?”
“I sold it. And the Expedition.”
She shut the door behind him. While the contractor had been there fixing the window, he’d repaired the door too. It closed and stayed closed.
Jessie followed Daniel through the kitchen to the dining room where he turned toward her. “Money’s been tight lately.”
“But your ’Vette? You loved that car.”
He shrugged. “I’ll own another one when the situation improves. I’m working on some investments to turn things around. What about you? A divorce attorney?”
“I’ve put it off long enough. I’m moving on. I’ve had to accept Doc wasn’t the hero I always believed him to be. And Milt—” Her voice caught. Daniel reached a hand toward her, but she shook her head. “I’m still having trouble accepting that Milt was responsible for Doc’s death. And tried to kill me. But I’m working on it.”
Daniel studied her, his eyes narrowed.
Jessie lowered into a chair at the table. “At least one good thing came out of the ordeal. After sleeping here those few nights, Vanessa discovered she doesn’t like the dark and quiet of country life, so she’s not lusting after my house anymore.”
“That’s great.” He pulled out a chair and sat next to her.
Silence fell over the room, broken only by the steady tick, tick, tick of the mantel clock. Jessie wasn’t sure how to broach the subject of her future employment with the man she’d accused of murder. She studied the backs of her hands, but the answer wasn’t there. Finally, she drew a deep breath and lifted her gaze to find him watching her. “I...wanted to talk to you. About Doc’s practice at the track.”
Daniel leaned back and crossed an ankle over a knee. “What a coincidence. I wanted to talk to you about that too.”
She wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing. “Okay. You first.”
He shook his head. “You brought it up.”
“But a lot of it’s up to you. I mean, the last we talked, you banned me from Riverview property.”
“No. The last we talked, you were violating that ban and nearly got yourself killed.”
“True.” She cleared her throat trying to dislodge the lump stuck there.
“For the record, I’ve lifted the ban.”
She relaxed. A little. “Then, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to take it over. Doc’s practice, that is.” She detected a hint of a smile on his face. “After I meet with the attorney, there’s a young vet coming here to look at the hospital. He’s interested in buying us out. And even if he doesn’t, Amelia’s agreed to let me make payments. Plus she’s made me a heck of a deal on it.”
The hint of a smile turned into a full blown one. “Yes, it’s all right with me. It’s what I’ve wanted all along, remember?”
“But a lot’s happened since then. Things are so bad you had to sell your cars. If it wasn’t for me and the quarantine—”
“The quarantine isn’t your fault. It’s part of the mess you inherited from Doc.” All traces of the smile vanished. “And me. I have to claim my share of responsibility in the matter. I should have put a stop to it the minute I found out instead of letting Doc manipulate me. I was afraid of losing everything I’ve worked for. And now, it still might happen.” He huffed a short laugh. “You sure you want to come back to Riverview? You might be climbing onto a sinking ship.”
Now it was her turn to smile. “I don’t believe that. From what I’ve seen, you can handle whatever adversity comes your way.” She grew serious. “Did you really kill a man?”
He traced an invisible pattern on the tabletop. “A long time ago, I did. Yes.”
She reached over and put her hand on his to stop the doodling. “What happened?”
A melancholy smile spread across his lips. “Maybe I’ll tell you about it someday. Not now.”
Jessie gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry. I’ve been burned quite a few times lately by blind trust. I don’t have it in me to do it again.”
He met her gaze, considered her words, and nodded. “The short version? I was in college. And in love. A man...a fellow student...raped my girlfriend. His parents were rich, so he got off, which only emboldened him.” Daniel took a ragged breath and shifted his gaze away from Jessie, looking over her shoulder. “He started harassing her, stalking her. I only meant to scare him. To make him stop. I never should’ve taken that gun.” His voice broke.
As did Jessie’s heart. “I get it. You don’t have to say anymore.”
He lowered his eyes.
Time to change the subject. She leaned back. “What’s going to happen to Clown?”
Daniel’s expression relaxed. “Zelda decided to retire him to stud on her farm and doesn’t plan on moving him anywhere ever again. That way she can keep a better eye on what drugs get shot into him.”
“Good. She called me right after I got out of the hospital. Told me if I wanted her to, she’d have him put down. But I don’t see the sense in it. Milt was the murderer, not the horse. Clown was simply Milt’s weapon of choice.”
Daniel uncrossed his legs and leaned toward her. “By the way, you should come over to my place. I’ve got something I’d like to show you.”
“Oh?”
Daniel grinned. “I bought Mexicali Blue. Catherine’s selling out and moving to Kentucky, can you believe it? Guess she figures she’ll be closer to her dream, physically at least. She made me a hell of a deal on the horse.”
“But, Daniel, you know he’s not sound.”
“Doesn’t need to be. I’m offering him for stud. I know what you’re going to say. He’s not proven. But I’m looking at it as one of those investments I mentioned. I may pick up a few mares of my own. See what happens. I’ve got that big empty barn.”
“That’s a pretty risky investment for someone who’s just sold his Corvette to make ends meet.”
“Maybe that’s what I’ll name his first offspring. Risky Investment.”
Jessie laughed. “It’s got a ring to it.”
Just then the tabby skidded through the dining room, claws scratching, scrambling to find traction against the wood floor as he made a less-than-graceful turn and charged into the hallway, chasing some imaginary creature.
Daniel chuckled. “What was that all about?”
“Since his hip has healed, he’s turned into a maniac. If there isn’t something real to hunt, he chases shadows. I’ll never have to worry about mice as long as he’s around.”
“Looks like we both have a knack for picking up strays.” Daniel slapped the table with his palm. “Speaking of good names. Hunter,” he said. “There’s your name for him.”
“Hunter?”
Daniel smiled. “He’s a tabby. Tab. Tab Hunter.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, great. Make me feel like an old man. Tab Hunter. He was a huge star—back in the fifties and sixties.”
“Never heard of him. But I like the name. Hunter it is. Looks like I have to keep him now.”
“One other thing.” Daniel fixed her with a puzzled gaze. “You said you have a vet who’s interested in buying ‘us’ out. Us?”
“Meryl and me. You don’t know?”
“Apparently not.” He looked like he wasn’t sure he wanted to.
Jessie grinned. “Meryl’s selling her half of Cameron Veterinary Hospital too. She’s taking over for old Dr. McCarrell. But he’s agreed to stay on until I’m cleared to come back to work.”
Daniel’s shoulders sagged in mock defeat. At least Jessie hoped it was mock. “Are you telling me,” he said, “that both of you are going to be practicing at my track?”
She gave him a smug smile.
“Look at all the trouble just one of you caused. I can’t begin to imagine the headaches two of you will give me.”