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The severity in his gaze faded. “I want you to hang it up,” he implored. His fingers were gentle on her shoulders as he tried to persuade her. “Sell Gypsy Wind if you have to, or better yet, keep her, but for God’s sake and hers, don’t let her race!”

“That’s crazy.”

“It might be the sanest thing I’ve ever suggested.”

“It’s impossible. Gypsy Wind was bred to run.”

“She was bred to absolve you of Sentimental Lady’s death.”

The insult stung, but she didn’t let go of her emotions. “There’s no point in arguing about this,” she stated, attempting to rise. His hands restrained her.

“There’s more.” His voice was low.

“More to what?”

“I want you to stay with me.”

“Oh, Brig,” she said, thinking of a thousand reasons to stay. “Don’t do this to me. You know I want to stay with you . . .” Tears began to gather behind her eyes.

“But you can’t?”

She shook her head painfully, thinking of Starlight Farm, her brother, Dean, and Gypsy Wind. She had worked six long, tedious years to get where she had, with no help from Brig Chambers. In the beauty of one quiet weekend, he expected her to change all of that. “I’ve got to go home.”

He struggled with a weighty decision. His eyes grew dark. “Stay with me. Make your home with me. Be my wife.” .

The tears that had pooled began to spill from her eyes and her chin trembled. “I wish I could, Brig,” she said. “But it’s just not possible. You know it as well as I.”

“Because of Sentimental Lady.”

“Because you lied to the press. You accused me of killing the horse—”

“I knew that you didn’t intend to kill her. I never for a moment thought that you intended to hurt her.”

“You know that I didn’t hurt her.”

“But someone who worked for you did.”

“Is that what you’re doing? Trying to convince me that it was one of the grooms . . . or maybe Ian O’Riley . . . or how about my brother, Dean, or the vet? You know who did it, Brig. Don’t point the finger somewhere else. I might have been gullible enough to believe you once, but not any longer.”

“Becca, I’m telling you the truth. Why can’t you accept that?”

His eyes were steely gray, but clear, his expression exasperated. Becca longed to trust him. She wanted to believe anything he told her. “Maybe because you never came after me.”

“Only because you didn’t want to see me.”

“That’s a lie.”

“I called, Rebecca. You refused to speak to me.”

Becca shook her head, trying to dodge his insulting lies. “You never called. Don’t start lying to me, Brig. It’s too hard a habit to break.”

The pressure on her arms increased. “I did call you, damn it. I talked with your brother once and that old trainer O’Riley a couple of times. I even talked with your cook, or housemaid, or whatever she is.”

Doubt replaced her anger. “You talked to Martha? When?”

“I can’t remember exactly.”

“But she’s been gone for over five years.”