Page 62 of Smoky Mountain K-9
Out in the soft dirt, she kicked him into a slow trot to warm up his muscles. They did a couple of laps before she nudged him faster, increasing the tempo each time she passed the stables until they moved at a quick canter.
Mara felt some of the stress of her day melt away with each thud of Stinger’s hooves in the dirt. This was her happy place. Being with Carter was wonderful, but there was something about being alone on a horse that spoke to her inner self. It set part of her soul free so it could soar without a care in the world.
The bang of a door brought her back down to earth. She slowed Stinger and looked toward the sound, expecting to see Carter. He now had keys to every building she did, so he could come and go as he pleased. They’d done a lot of talking over the last couple of days since their heart-to-heart here the other morning. Mara made it clear she cared about him and wanted to involve him in all aspects of her life. He’d felt the same, so they exchanged keys. He’d also given her her first lesson with Maverick. It went well, but she definitely needed to practice the commands more. Getting the pronunciation down would be key. So would remembering them all. He’d given her a book and a list of websites to help her. She’d been studying and was hopeful she’d do well when they practiced again.
But it wasn’t Carter standing at the fence rail. It was Constance Miller.
Mara changed course, a fierce frown on her face as she rode over. “How did you get in here?” Pam would have locked the front doors on her way out. The rear doors were never unlocked anymore. Not after all the trouble they’d had.
“We really need to talk.” Constance headed for the gate, a concerned frown on her face. “Get off that horse and come over here.”
“What? No. You need to leave. I still want to know how you got in.”
Constance’s look turned cold. She pulled a matte black handgun from her coat pocket. “I said, get off the horse, Mara.”
Mara’s blood turned to ice. “Why do you have a gun? What’s going on?”
“Get off the horse. I’m not asking again.” She raised the weapon, pointing it at Stinger. “Get off or I’ll make you get off.”
“Hey, whoa. Leave my horse out of this.” Mara raised her hands, then grasped the pommel with one hand, rising up to swing her leg over and drop to the ground. “There, I’m down.”
“Leave him there. You’re coming with me.”
Mara thought frantically. She couldn’t leave with Constance. That was what all the dumb women in the horror films did. And they ended up dead. She had no intention of leaving this world yet.
She yelped as a shot rang out, and dirt flew at her horse’s feet. Stinger reared, his loud whinny echoing off the metal rafters. Mara fought to hold on to him. After several tense seconds, he stopped trying to pull away, but continued to paw at the dirt.
“I won’t miss with the next one. If you don’t want a dead horse, drop the reins.”
Mara let go of the leather straps and walked toward the insane woman. She didn’t want to go with her, but she didn’t want her horse to die, either. “What’s going on? Why are you doing this?”
“It’s nothing personal. Not with you, at least. Your boyfriend, though—he’s another story.”
“Carter? What issue do you have with him?”
Ice flowed from the woman’s steel-blue eyes. “He killed my husband.”
Thirty-Four
Carter swiped his palm on his pant leg, then rapped his knuckles on the doorframe of Ben’s office. His boss glanced up. “Got a minute?” Carter stepped just over the threshold.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Mara got another call from Constance Miller.” He held up the piece of paper in his hand. “From a different number.”
Ben motioned him forward and took the note. “Have you called this yet?”
“No. I don’t want a lawyer to come back and say I interfered in any way.” If this woman was behind all their problems, he didn’t want her to walk because he couldn’t let someone else handle it.
“Good.” He lifted his phone, but Carter was surprised to hear him call Tristan and not the number on the note.
Hanging up, Ben glanced at Carter. “Tristan and Jake are handling the case on our end. They’re cooperating with ATF now.”
Carter bit back a groan. He had nothing against the ATF. They had better resources. But it meant he couldn’t stay in the loop like he could here.
Boots on the tile floor heralded their arrival. Carter stepped to the side to make room.
Ben held up the note. “Find this woman. And let Agent Porter know whatever you find.”