Fenced-In Felix by Cheyenne Blue

Author:Cheyenne Blue [Blue, Cheyenne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783955337063
Google: AQr9MAAACAAJ
Amazon: B01MTNG6RR
Barnesnoble: B01MTNG6RR
Goodreads: 32330009
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Published: 2016-11-15T03:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Josie was clearly as baffled as I was by the microchip. I took her out to the paddock and read Flame’s chip once more and showed her on the database that it matched the one registered to Fiery Lights. I told her, too, what Alain had said about heart disease in horses.

“I could call Barney.” Josie scratched Flame on the neck, and the mare nudged her in the ribs for more. “Ask him why I can’t ride Flame. See what he says.”

“And tip him off in the process that you’re suspicious? Great idea.” I couldn’t quite keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

“Not if I put it that I just would like to ride her. After all, he said he wanted me to look after his horse because I knew about horses. It’s not so stupid.”

When she put it like that, it made sense.

“I’ll miss her.” Josie watched Flame nose the bare dirt, searching for grass. “I’ve got fond of her.”

“Me too,” I admitted. “She’s such a calm presence. Although it was different when I rode her. Then she was fired up, ready to gallop. If she’s not Fiery Lights, I’m sure she was a racehorse at some point in her life.”

“It’s just a matter of which racehorse.”

The sun beat down. It was baking in the middle of the paddock with no shade. I turned to walk back to the house, Tess at my heels. So far, the dog had shown no inclination to stray.

There were still no campers, which was hardly surprising. Now, only the hardy or insane were holidaying in the outback.

“I have to go back to Worrindi.” Josie turned to face me. “I have to work this evening. I wouldn’t normally have come, but I wanted to see you. Wanted to see if we could mend things between us. Can we?”

I moved so that I could rest my arms on the rail of the gate. “I don’t know.” Tess came to sit by my feet.

“Do you believe me?”

“I don’t know,” I said again. “I believe you more than I did before. After all, if you were up to your neck in this, you would have just disappeared. With or without Flame. The fact that you’re still here runs in your favour.”

She nodded, but didn’t speak.

“As for us? Is there an ‘us’, Josie?”

“I thought there was, that we were getting to that point. I thought you were with me on that.”

I couldn’t answer. She’d lied to me, repeatedly, and I wasn’t sure if I could live with that. Trust had been the bedrock of my family and my friendships. Could I sustain a relationship without it?

“Okay, then.” Josie turned away when I didn’t answer. “I’m going to work. I’ll let you know if I hear from the owner or if anything changes. Are you going to call the police?” Her voice was offhand, but the tension radiating from her was palpable.

“No. Not yet. I want to check a few things first.”

She didn’t ask what, and in truth, I wouldn’t have known what to answer.

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