pulling the latigo out of the cinch ring. “You know my dad?”
“We graduated high school together.”
Something in the way she said it told Liv that they were more than classmates, that they may also have been friends, so she asked, “Have you seen him lately?”
“I just moved back to Dillon a few months ago.” A small ironic smile formed on her lips. “And your dad tends to keep to himself.”
“Definitely not a social butterfly,” Liv agreed, pulling the heavy saddle off Beckett’s damp back. The white hair of the healed sores stood out against the sweat-slicked dark hair. Damn. If Matt wasn’t responsible...
Margo laughed. “Understatement of the year.”
Liv stopped, still holding the saddle. Margo really did know her father. Curiosity piqued, Liv said, “You know, if you ever wanted to stop by and say hello, Dad would probably enjoy catching up.”
An odd look crossed Margo’s face. “I’m not much for popping in to visit people.” She folded the reins she held into an accordion before saying, “Although I wouldn’t mind talking to him at some time.”
There was a note in her voice that Liv didn’t quite understand, making her wonder if perhaps she shouldn’t have been so hasty with her invitation. Perhaps Tim didn’t like Margo. Or vice versa. “Well, maybe we can work something out,” she said noncommittally.
Margo laughed softly. “Yes. Maybe.” Her horse nudged her shoulder and she reached up to run a hand over his nose. “I need to get going. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t embarrassed at me overhearing your conversation and tell you that it will go no further than me.”
“Thanks,” Liv said.
“And...well...just so you know, Ronnie and Becca and I meet down here in the morning to practice the drills at a slower speed.”
“You do?”
“Sometimes we just practice ground work and equitation, but most of the time we do the drills. If you’re interested, the next time we meet is this coming Saturday at eight. Just show up. It’s a lot more...relaxed.”
“Thanks. I might do that.”
Margo smiled and disappeared back around the trailer just as Andie rode up.
“So, no problem with Matt?” Andie said.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Liv replied as she pulled the saddle off Beckett’s sweaty back. “Just...horse stuff.”
“All right...” Andie did not sound convinced, but she didn’t push, either. “Ready for your first day of work?”
“Totally,” Liv said. She was looking forward to something to think about besides Tim, Matt and Beckett. She’d tell Andie about Matt’s accusation in a day or two, but right now she wanted time to think and work through a few issues, such as who was lying about Beckett. Trena? Or Matt?
* * *
MATT DROVE HOME on autopilot, his mind more focused on his horse than the road. One mystery had been solved and another more disturbing mystery had taken its place.
What the hell had happened to Beckett since the last time he’d seen him? His gut kept twisting in knots as he thought about his horse being hurt.
It was now obvious why Liv was treating him like crap; she thought he was responsible—that he’d used the horse to the point of abuse and then dear Trena had taken advantage of his absence to sell Beckett in order to save him.
A grim smile formed on his lips. Oh, yeah. Trena was truly a champion of animals, which was why Beckett was all scarred up.
But his ex hadn’t caused Beckett’s injuries. He was positively certain of that, because she was nervous around any animal larger than a cat. The few times he’d tried to get her to ride had been disastrous. She’d ridden to please him, clinging to the saddle horn and smiling bravely. He’d thought she’d eventually relax, as most people do, but Trena was truly uncomfortable on horseback.
Therefore, the only logical conclusion he could come up with was that she’d allowed someone else access to Beckett. And he had a very strong feeling that the someone was a he, not a she.
So who had Trena loaned Beckett to? And where had the guy ridden Matt’s horse to the point that he’d caused serious sores without any of the locals seeing him?
Easy answer. Not here.
Beckett had pulled a tendon at the very beginning of the Texas circuit and he’d brought him home to heal. It should have been a matter of weeks, but Matt hadn’t bothered driving the thousand miles back home again to pick up the horse. He was doing okay in Texas on Ready, his other horse. He figured he’d give Beckett