Shadow Horse (19 page)

Jas sighed as she slid across the seat and climbed from the truck. Miss Hahn and Lydia stood behind the trailer, waiting for Chase to unload Shadow.

Jas pulled her helmet from the truck bed. After tucking her hair behind her ears, she put it on. She pulled out the grooming box and Shadow’s bridle. As she dragged herself into Lydia’s barn, she felt she was moving in slow motion.

Maybe Chase is right. I should fight for Shadow. If I tried, I could make him look as crazy as a bronco. And if Lydia hates him, then at least I have him for a little while longer
.

Feeling better, Jas hurried down the aisle
until she came to what looked like the door to the tack room. Draping the bridle over her shoulder, she opened the door. The room was dark.

When she stepped inside, she groped along the wall for a light switch. She flicked it on, but nothing happened.

A thump from the far corner made her stiffen. Eyes wide, she stared into the dark room, her brain trying to make sense of the unfamiliar shapes. She could make out saddles and bridles. But then her gaze stopped at a larger, rounded form silhouetted against the back wall, as if a person was sitting on something.

“Hello?” she called, feeling foolishly scared.

“Hello, Jas.”

The silky-smooth voice sent shivers up Jas’s spine. The shape moved, and a boot clunked on the floor.

Hugh
. Jas’s fingers tightened around the handle of the grooming box.
No, this isn’t happening
, she thought, fear rising in her throat.
Your mind is playing tricks
.

“Close the door behind you, Jas. We have a lot to talk about and we don’t have much time.”

Jas didn’t move. Then she realized that no matter how scared she was, she needed to find out what he wanted. He wouldn’t have risked being with her unless it was important.

Raising her foot, she kicked the door shut behind her, leaving it open a crack—just in case.

“What do you want?” she whispered.

“I hear you’ve been telling people that you have my horse.”

He knows about Shadow!
Anger flared inside her. “Did Miss Hahn tell you?” she demanded.

“It doesn’t matter how I found out, Jas. What’s important is that you tell me everything and that you give up this obsession.”

“No! I won’t give up.” Jas glared fiercely at his dark shape. “Especially now. The insurance company knows you cheated them, and when they prosecute you,
you’ll
find out what it feels like to be guilty.”

Hugh exhaled, expressing his impatience. “Don’t play dumb, Jas, because I know you’re not. You were smart enough to discover some things that were better left alone. Now be smart enough to quit. The insurance company will never prosecute me. One of the clerks from the
company is calling Danvers right now to explain that the company made a mistake and that the two horses’ numbers do
not
match.”

Jas sucked in her breath. “But … how …?”

“Power and money, Jas. They make things happen like that.” He snapped his fingers.

“But Danvers knows,” Jas protested. “And you won’t be able to buy him off.”

“The only thing Danvers knows is that his files on Aladdin are gone and he can’t prove a thing. Don’t make it harder than it already is,” Hugh said. “In two weeks, you’ll be free. I lived up to my deal, and your grandfather’s received the best of care. As soon as he’s strong and your probation is over, you two can start life over—somewhere far from Stanford and me.”

He sounded so sane and reasonable that Jas almost nodded in agreement. But then the vision of Whirlwind, her eyes glazed over in death, filled her.

“Only you killed Whirlwind,” Jas choked out. “And somehow, you’re going to pay for it.”

Hugh didn’t say anything. Instead, he looked down at the ground, a devious smile planted on his face. The room grew so thick with silence that suddenly Jas knew the truth.
She realized why it was important to figure out that Shadow and Aladdin were the same horse. She knew what her brain was trying to tell her all along.

Whirlwind wasn’t dead!

THE DIM LIGHT FROM THE OPEN DOORWAY
streamed across the room and sent a line of gray angling up to Hugh’s face. Jas could see the gleam of his eyes.

“Whirlwind’s not dead, is she?” Jas whispered. “You killed another horse. A ringer. Then you sold Whirlwind to someone else. Just like you did with Aladdin.”

The light caught Hugh’s arrogant smirk. “That’s right. It took me a while to find her twin, almost a year of combing auctions. But I obviously did a good job since even you never suspected it wasn’t her lying in that paddock.”

“Where is she?” Jas demanded.

“She’s safe. But you’ll never find her, which means you’ll never prove she’s alive.”

Abruptly, Jas straightened. “I don’t care about proof anymore,” she said. “You’re evil,
Hugh. You may not have killed Aladdin or Whirlwind, but you killed two other horses. Then you blamed one of the deaths on my grandfather. And why? For money. You make me sick. As far as I’m concerned, our deal is off. I’m going to tell everybody what I know.
Everybody!”

“No you won’t,” Hugh said coolly and without hesitation. “Because if you do, I’ll make sure your grandfather stays at Stanford House forever. Then I’ll tell Ms. Tomlinson you broke the rules of your probation by coming onto my farm and stealing my property.”

Jas inhaled sharply. “How’d you know that?”

“From the surveillance camera I installed. I have a great shot of you and your boyfriend sneaking into the barn. By the way, how do you think
he’ll
like the Juvenile Detention Center?”

“No,” Jas moaned, knowing she was trapped. She didn’t care about herself, but she couldn’t get Chase in trouble. And Grandfather would die if he had to stay in the nursing home forever.

“I’m glad you see it my way,” said Hugh.

Jas shrank away from him with a feeling of total defeat.

He’s done it again
.

But then something inside Jas snapped.

Reaching up, she wrapped her fingers around the leather reins. She wanted to lash out with the bridle and swing the metal bit so hard it would smash into Hugh’s face.

“Go ahead, Jas. Do it,” he urged, his tone as honeyed as a preacher’s. “Because then it really will be over for you. I’ll tell the police how once again you attacked me viciously and without provocation,” he said, chuckling. “And no matter what you say in your defense, who would ever believe
you
, a convicted criminal?”

No!
Jas’s fingers tightened around the leather. Violently, she shook her head, wanting to deny what he was saying. But she knew it was over. He’d beaten her for good.

“
I’d
believe her.” Miss Hahn’s voice rang clear and strong through the small room. Startled, Jas twisted sideways as the door flew open behind her. Pushing past Jas, Miss Hahn strode into the middle of the room, her boots echoing on the wooden floor. She reached up toward the ceiling, made a twisting motion, and the light went on.

Jas blinked, half-blind, seeing Hugh for
the first time since the trial. He was dressed impeccably in a long-sleeved riding shirt, ascot, tall black boots, and breeches. He stood ramrod straight, and with the light streaming down on him, Jas saw him for what he was—a ruthless, greedy human.

Her gaze shifted to Miss Hahn.

“You told Hugh I’d be here, didn’t you,” Jas accused. “You told him everything.” Without waiting for a reply, she rushed on, “Only I don’t care if you’re
both
against me. I know what I need to do.”

Boldly, Jas stepped from the shadows. It was time she quit hiding. It was time she told the truth. “I know what Grandfather would want me to do.”

Raising her hand, Miss Hahn silenced her. “Don’t say anything else, Jas, until Hugh tells us what he’s doing here. And why he’s threatening you.”

Surprised, Jas stared at her.
Wasn’t she on Hugh’s side?

Hugh arched one brow. “Threatening her? I don’t think so, Diane. In fact, it was the other way around.”

“Bull. I heard enough to know what you were trying to do. Jas was smart enough to
figure out how you conned the insurance company and now you’re trying to keep her quiet. Well, it won’t work.”

Momentary anger flared in Hugh’s eyes, but then his composure returned. “I think you’re confused, Diane. And if you persist in taking her side, you’ll be sorry.”

Miss Hahn’s eyes narrowed. Jas had never seen her so angry. And her anger was directed at
Hugh
.

Suddenly, Jas realized that she’d been wrong.
So
wrong. Miss Hahn hadn’t been in cahoots with Hugh at all. “Don’t threaten me, Robicheaux,” Miss Hahn replied, her body shaking with rage. “You forget I’ve known you for a long time. I’m just sorry I didn’t have the guts to confront you twenty years ago when you coolly risked everything—even your friend’s life—in order to win.”

Hugh humphed. Stretching out one arm at a time, he smoothed the cuffs of his tailored shirt. “It’s not too late to take me on, Diane—I even look forward to it. But remember, just like twenty years ago, I’ll win.” He touched the brim of his cap politely and, without glancing at Jas, strode from the tack room.

Miss Hahn watched him go, then her eyes
returned to Jas, and for a second they stared silently at each other.

“Hey, what are you two doing in that tack room?” Chase yelled from outside. “I’ve got a horse out here that’s trying to eat me alive.”

“We’ll be out in a minute, Chase!” Miss Hahn hollered. “We’re having a girl talk.”

Sagging against the wall, Jas dropped the grooming box to the floor. Her fingers had been holding the handle so tightly, they were stiff and cramped.

“Thank you,” she breathed. “I had no idea …” Her voice trailed off.

“No, thank
you,”
Miss Hahn said. Exhaling raggedly, she limped over to a tack trunk and sank down on it. “I had no idea standing up to Hugh would be so hard. And I’m a grown woman. I admire you, Jas. You went after him, and you’ve got a lot less years than I do.”

Jas shook her head. “Sure, I went after him. But it’s too late. I lost.”

“You
didn’t
lose. You have other people on your side now. Dr. Danvers and I will help you get Hugh.”

Jas’s eyes widened with surprise. “All this
time I thought you were on Hugh’s side. How do you know what’s going on? How do you know about Shadow?”

“The day I saw you jumping Shadow, I knew the horse looked familiar. Dr. Danvers had already mentioned your—and his—suspicions about Whirlwind’s death. Then he told me about your suspicions about Shadow.

“Today, when we arrived at Lydia’s, you and Chase were so gloomy, I knew something was up. I cornered Chase and he told me about Dr. Danvers’s phone call confirming that Shadow and Aladdin were the same horse. Chase also told me you believed I was in cahoots with Hugh—though I should have guessed by the way you acted around me.” Glancing down, Miss Hahn massaged her knee as if it hurt. “I just thought you hated being at the farm, and that after your experience, you didn’t want to trust anyone.”

“At first I did hate being at the farm,” Jas admitted. “And I hated being a foster kid. It wasn’t until today that I realized that I kind of think of the farm as home now,” she added. Embarrassed, Jas rushed on, “You could have helped me if I had trusted you. I’m so sorry. Still, Chase
wasn’t
supposed to tell you.”

“But I’m glad he did,” Miss Hahn said. “I was coming in to talk when I found you with Hugh. I have no idea how he knew you were going to be here today—I’d hate to think Lydia had anything to do with it.”

“She wouldn’t be the first to succumb to Hugh. Besides, as horrible as it was, I’m glad I talked to him, because now I know that Whirlwind’s alive!”

“Whirlwind’s alive?”

Jas nodded excitedly. “Hugh killed a ringer, just like he did with Aladdin. That means—”

“Jas,” Miss Hahn cut her off. “Don’t get your hopes up. If the insurance company goes after Hugh, the first thing he’ll do is hire the best lawyer in the state. He’ll never admit to anything, which means we’ll never find out what happened to Whirlwind.”

“B-b-ut …,” Jas stammered. She stared at Miss Hahn, not wanting to believe what she was saying, even though she knew it was true. If Hugh was cornered, he’d never admit to his scam. She was lucky enough to find out that Whirlwind was alive.

“At least I know she’s not dead,” Jas finally said, her tone resigned. “And I can
always hope that she’s being well cared for and loved.”

“Maybe we won’t find her, Jas, but I promise we’ll get Hugh,” Miss Hahn said. “Mr. Jenkins, the president of the insurance company, is one of Second Chance Farm’s main supporters. He’s going to be very interested in hearing that Hugh might have cheated his company.”

“But Hugh said a clerk was mistaken about the identification numbers.”

“Forget what Hugh said. He’s been twisting people around all his life, and it’s time someone stopped him.”

Jas frowned. “You sound like you know him well.”

“I do,” Miss Hahn said as she patted herself on the knee. “It’s a long story that I’ll tell you all about when we have time. But right now, there’s a horse waiting for you.” Miss Hahn slid a saddle onto her arms. “Come on. I’ll help you tack the big guy up.”