Pressure Point (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 3) (3 page)

Nash blinked. “There must be another way other than stealing him, which can’t be good for you…or me. Can you buy him from Nazarene? Don’t they sell horses next to nothing when they can no longer race?”

“I’ve tried. John is asking for the same price Sea Breeze was worth at birth. I can’t afford that and he knows it. If he’s putting Sea Breeze to sleep, then John should let me take him. He’s being an ass.” She tapped her nails on the steering wheel. “I figure if John wants to carry on like a villain from an old western movie, then I’ll take him back in history my own way.”

“Sure, and when the horse thieves were caught back then, they were hung. Nazarene will have you arrested.”

“Only if he catches me. That won’t happen.”

“A man with this much money must have security cameras.”

“Not on the backside of the north stables. That’s where he keeps the horses that no longer hold value to him.” She sighed heavily.

“Have you spoken to your dad? Maybe he can come up with a solution.”

“I’m in this alone.” She pulled the truck behind the large, red stable and put it into park.

“Everyone is right, Em. You
are
a loose cannon.”

She blinked. “Well, I’m glad everyone is right.”

His jaw relaxed. “Turn around before it’s too late.”

Shaking her head, she held the door handle. “Walk home or you can stay here. You’ll only botch this up anyway.” She opened the door and slid out. “I’m doing this.”

“Wait, Em. You can’t.”

“Yes, and I will.” She slammed the door.

He slid out of the truck and caught up to her. “Shit! There are rocks in this dirt.”

Darting a glaze at him, she saw that he’d wrapped the blanket around him, kilt style. He carefully made his way behind her. She almost felt sorry that he didn’t have shoes—almost. She’d warned him. “You don’t have to come with me.”

“I can’t let you do this. You’ll thank me later.”

“Go back, or keep quiet.” She made it to the back of the stable door. Glancing from side to side and seeing they were alone, she slid open the wide doors.

“Damnit, Em!” He hissed. “This is crazy.”

She turned and faced him. “A racehorse’s life isn’t glamorous as one might think. It’s a ruthless industry driven by greed, especially for men like John Nazarene. At six months old, Sea Breeze was taken from his mother and the unyielding, and awful, challenges of training began. Therefore, he was broken. Do you know what broken means?” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “He learned to obey a human’s command through fear.”

Nash’s eyes slightly rounded. “I’m sure not all racehorses are mistreated.”

“Well, Sea Breeze was, and is. He had a fracture, preventing him from racing again. John is already training a new horse, Trojan, who was born from the same sire, to take Sea Breeze’s place.”

“Maybe I can help,” he offered.

Shrugging, she strolled into the stable. “John is beyond listening.” She went straight to the last stall on the right, stopped and smiled. “There he is.”

Nash stepped up next to her, wearing a grim expression and dark eyes. She’d have to deal with him later. For now, she had to hurry before Musgee, John’s right hand man, came out to feed the horses. “Help me, Nash.”

“I’m not helping. Why would I? This horse doesn’t belong to you.” He wrapped his arms around his chest, his legs wide.

“If we don’t, he’s going to die only because he no longer has value. We can’t let that happen.”

“We?” He lifted a brow.

She unhooked the lock to the metal gate and it swung open. “Hi there, sweet thing.”

Sea Breeze looked from Em to Nash, then back to her. He scraped the ground as if in warning. The idea that she stayed seemed to piss the horse off more and, to show her that he meant business, he reared up and kicked his back leg, hitting the wall. He snorted loudly.

“Sea Breeze doesn’t want to be saved. That’s what he’s telling you,” Nash whispered.

“Shush! Don’t make him nervous.” She rolled her eyes.

“Darlin’, if you can’t see it for yourself, he’s already as tense as a bull ready to charge.” Nash arched a brow, taking a step back.

“You’d be pissed off too if you were living on death row. It’s hard to tell what he’s been through since his injury last month.”

The horse still stared, skittish and shiny-wide eyes. 

“Is there anything I can do to convince you?” he asked.

“Not a thing. So don’t waste your breath.” She met his gaze, determined to see this through.

“He’ll need lots of care from a vet who won’t turn you in.” 

“We’re wasting time. Grab the rope from the hook behind you. The thickest one.”

****

Nash grabbed the rope, but he didn’t hand it to her.

Afraid she was going to get a hoof to the chest, he groaned and stepped up next to her. Em looked small next to the horse and although she could fry an egg with her glare, he couldn’t let her take this on alone. “Let me get him so we can hurry and get the hell out of here.” He stepped into the stall, slowly, keeping his eyes on Sea Breeze, the rope steady at his side. This was not where a naked, bootless, cowboy wanted to be. “It’s okay, boy. We’re going to break you the hell out of prison.”

Sea Breeze blew out air and kicked at the dirt again, stirring up a cloud of dust. Nash coughed and blinked. He just hoped the blanket stayed in place and his parts remained safe. Nothing was worth losing his jewels over.

The horse’s watchful gaze remained firm on Nash as he gripped the rope and stepped closer. “Okay, big fella, let’s break this down. If you want your freedom, now is the time. Otherwise, you’re gonna walk across the rainbow bridge come day after tomorrow. No one wants to see that happen, especially this little lady wearing the ugly dress.”

He never realized he could speak horse talk, but Sea Breeze actually neighed and calmed.

Nash stepped closer and nuzzled Sea Breeze’s nose. “Yeah, you’re not so bad are you?”

“Are you kidding me? He warmed up to you in no time flat,” Em whispered.

Nash chuckled. “I’ve got the magic touch, sweetheart.”

He had the horse hooked in no time at all and they were nearly out of the barn when a rustling sound made them stop. Sea Breeze whinnied as if he recognized they were in danger.

“Hold it right there.” The deep voice echoed off the walls.

Nash looked over his shoulder, still holding Sea Breeze’s rope. He recognized one of Nazarene’s ranch hands holding a shotgun, aiming it at Nash’s back. “Howdy, Musgee.” Nash attempted calm and collected, but that was far from what he felt. Not only was he underdressed, but he now faced the barrel of a gun.

“What the hell kind of crazy shit is this? You two clowns just break loose from the freak show?” Musgee scratched his jaw.

“No, actually, a wedding reception,” Em said.

“Em Stone? Is that you?” He continued to hold the gun steady. “Well, for heaven’s sake. What are you doing out here in that getup?”

“And I’m Jeb’s son, Nash Walters.”

“What are you doing with the horse, boy? Ain’t you got enough of your own?” He spit a wad of tobacco on the ground.

“Well, I want this one, Musgee.” Nash tightened his hold on the rope. There was no possible way they could outrun a bullet.

Em stepped forward. “I want to keep Sea Breeze from being euthanized. How about we pretend you didn’t see a thing?”

He laughed and pushed his worn hat further back on his forehead. “I tell you what, you have your friend here put Sea Breeze back into his stall and I’ll let you two walk away, then I’ll pretend this never happened, as a favor to your fathers.”

“Not so fast, Musgee. I don’t agree with that solution at all.” John Nazarene stepped from the shadows.

Nash narrowed his gaze on the man. The moment Em saw Nazarene, her shoulders slumped and her breath swooshed from her lungs. Nash gritted his teeth. He didn’t much care for Nazarene. He thought he owned the town because he had more money than he knew how to spend.

“Well, well. I’m shocked, Em. I never would have pegged you as a horse thief.” John straightened his fancy button down as he moved closer. “Your father isn’t going to be very happy when he finds this out.”

“Come on, John. Let me take Sea Breeze.” Em’s voice quivered. “You’re planning to put him down. I can take care of him.”

“He’s my horse. I have that prerogative. And why would you want a sick horse?”

She huffed. “But you’re doing this out of spite.” Nash could see the harsh set of her jaw. He respected the fact that she stood up to Nazarene.

“Is that right? Why would I do a thing like that?” Nazarene lifted a brow. He was dressed in an expensive hat, designer clothes, and the best boots money could buy, but not all of the money in the world could buy a good attitude.

“Because I stopped seeing you. I know it’s true. You gave me Sea Breeze.”

“You’re mistaken, honey. I wouldn’t hand over a prized horse like Sea Breeze. I did name you a price. Do you have it to give?” Em shook her head and Nazarene sighed dramatically. “You’ve lowered yourself to seeing a man who can’t even afford clothes.” Nazarene slipped his beady gaze over Nash.

He didn’t like watching Nazarene toy with Em’s feelings, especially when the man understood how much the horse meant to her. “Nazarene, this isn’t what it looks like. Em wanted to see Sea Breeze before, well, you killed him. So, that’s what’s she’s doing. Plain and simple. No crookedness involved.” Nash shifted his gaze to Musgee who had already lowered his gun. “We can put him back in the stall now.” Nash took a step, but didn’t get very far.

“Let me get this straight, you both just decided to stop by, Em in her prom dress and you in your kilt, with a trailer hitched to the truck? Interesting. Fact is, you’re both trespassing. Musgee, call Sheriff Barnes. Tell him we have a couple of trespassers on our hands.”

Musgee’s expression soured. “Sir, I think—”

“No, Musgee, don’t think. I’ve made up my mind. No worries. I’ll call myself”

Apology crossed Musgee’s thin face.

CHAPTER TWO

“DAMN WOMAN!” NASH grumbled and adjusted his sore ass on the cold, wooden bench in the county jail. He was locked up. Of course, Sheriff Barnes had left the door open because one, he knew Nash and Em weren’t flight risks, and two, Barnes and Nash’s father had known each other since they were kids and still played poker every Tuesday night. But Barnes had brought Nash and Em downtown in the back of a cruiser just to appease Nazarene. That was enough to make Nash’s blood boil.

Aside from being the laughing stock over his ‘skirt’, Nash could handle this, except that his dad was going to rip him a new one. He wouldn’t be surprised if his father didn’t turn Nash over his knee and womp him a good one. None of the Walters had ever been arrested, at least not caught to see the inside of a jail cell.

Nash thought back to his brother DJ and Pearl’s wedding. He’d gotten a little choked up at seeing his brother happy. So when Nash had looked across the yard and met Em’s gaze, it only seemed natural in his vulnerable position that he should later ask her to dance.  Hell, who was he kidding? She looked hot in the snug-fitting dress and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. When the music started, she looked lonely sitting at the table, nursing a cocktail and moving her shoulders to the band’s tunes. Hell, he’d just wanted to dance.

He didn’t do anything wrong, unless being a gentleman had suddenly become sinful. He’d danced with her a few times, knowing she was tipsy, which meant anything more than dancing would be crossing the line. When she’d told him she wanted to go for a skinny dip at the pond to sober up, he couldn’t let her go alone, not when she was feeling the alcohol she’d knocked back.

One thing led to another and they’d ended up taking a wade in the pond together, but he’d kept his hands off, except for a kiss after they’d crawled into the back of the truck. His cock had been as hard as a steel rod, but he had morals and ethics.  Plus, he’d fallen asleep.

He scratched his jaw, staring down at his bare legs. For the life of him, he couldn’t remember where his clothes ended up. He’d taken them off, laid them on the bank, and they’d disappeared.

He buried his forehead in his palm. Some predicament.

Although he had regret now, no one liked sitting in a cold jail cell wearing a skirt and commando, but long-term, he wouldn’t change a damn thing. Em had spunk and he liked that about a woman. She wasn’t bad to look at either.

No denying he’d have a hard on for days remembering her tight body in the red lacey bra and panties. He’d tried to keep his gaze in a safer region, like her forehead or nose, but being a red blooded man and Em being beautiful beyond imagination, yeah, he’d been in trouble. Looking, and fantasizing, wasn’t a crime though.

He’d wanted nothing more, though, than to celebrate his brother’s wedding and to have a good time. Instead, he ended up babysitting a sloshed Stone sister and helped her steal a horse— almost steal a horse. He sniffed loudly.