A Texas-Sized Secret (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 6)

“I don’t know about better,” Gabe admitted sadly, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “But Maverick has sure perked Dusty up. The mystery of it has him intrigued and more interested than anything else has been able to do. I think he’s trying to figure out who the guy really is.”

“I hope he does,” Naomi said with feeling. “I won’t feel really safe until he’s caught.”

“He will be,” Gabe assured her before he left to meet his friends for lunch. “No one can stay hidden forever.”

Naomi wondered, though. For months, Maverick had proven elusive enough to avoid being caught. Who was to say anything would change? And if he came after her again...

Scarlett’s cell phone rang, and when she glanced at the screen, she said, “It’s Toby.”

Naomi listened to the one-sided conversation, and when Scarlett hung up she asked, “What is it?”

“It’s Toby’s horse, Legend.” All business now, she looked worried. “Toby says he’s gone down and won’t get up again. Sorry about lunch, but we have to get to the ranch.” She waved a hand at Amanda and called, “We have to cancel. Sorry.”

Naomi was already gathering her things, and when she pushed herself out of the booth, Scarlett was right behind her.

* * *

Toby hated feeling helpless.

Legend’s labored breathing filled the air and brought Toby to his knees beside the failing horse. Fresh straw littered the floor and rustled with every movement. Toby rubbed his hands up and down the big animal’s neck. He felt each shuddering breath and the thready beat of Legend’s big heart. Hell. He was old. The horse had had a long, great life. Toby had brought him to live with him at the ranch because he knew that Legend’s life was coming to an end. And God, Toby wished he could do something to change what was happening.

He heard his sister’s approach before he saw her and recognized the quick, lighter steps of Naomi coming in with her. He’d hated to interrupt their day out together, but he didn’t want Legend to suffer. He owed his old friend that much. And damn it, he’d wanted Naomi with him.

Scarlett came into the stall with her doctor’s bag and instantly went to work. Toby stood up, making room, and walked to where Naomi stood at the open door. She didn’t say a word, just wrapped her arms around his waist and nestled her head against his chest. Toby held on to her like a lifeline in a churning sea and felt everything inside him settle.

Holding Naomi, he watched his sister examine the horse, and as he looked at Legend, he saw his own life flash in pictures through his mind. The day Legend arrived at Toby’s home. The first time they rode off together, down back roads and out through the fields. He could still feel the excitement of being astride Legend and pretending to be everything from a great explorer to a Western outlaw. Life had been easy and full of possibilities, and Legend had been with him through all of it.

That horse had been the most important thing to him for a lot of years, and now it was time to let him go. Toby didn’t need the sympathy shining in his sister’s eyes to know Legend had run out of time. His heart ached with the truth.

“I can put him down gently, Toby,” Scarlett said. “He’ll just go to sleep.”

“Oh, God...” Naomi’s voice was a whisper, but he heard the pain in it and was grateful she was with him.

“Give us a minute with him first, okay?”

“Sure.” Scarlett stood up, kissed her brother’s cheek and said, “Call me when you’re ready. I’ll be right outside.”

“Thank you.” Naomi squeezed Scarlett’s hand as the woman slipped out of the stall.

Toby walked to Legend’s side and held out one hand to Naomi for her to join him. The horse’s breathing was more labored, and his eyes wheeled as if he were trying to understand what was happening.

“Poor Legend,” Naomi whispered, then bent to kiss the horse’s forehead. “You’re such a good boy. Such a good horse.”

“He loves you,” Toby said simply, watching as Legend tried and failed to rest his head in Naomi’s lap.

She lifted tear-drenched eyes to Toby’s. “I’m so sorry. So sorry you have to lose him.”

“I know. I am, too.” He stroked the horse’s side, then back up to his neck and face. Bending down to look into the big brown eyes of his oldest friend, he said, “We had a great life together, Legend. And I’ll never forget any of it.”

The horse jerked his head as if agreeing, then tried to stand, failed and fell back into the straw again. It broke Toby’s heart to watch the valiant old horse try so desperately to stand and be what he once was.

“Easy, boy,” he said quietly. “It’s all right. You can go on now.”

Naomi never stopped stroking him, whispering to him as the horse labored on until Toby couldn’t stand it any longer. Glancing at Naomi, he saw her tears and felt his own. But it did none of them any good to drag this out. Best to say goodbye and let Legend go on to the next adventure.

“Scarlett?”

“I’m here.” She stepped into the stall, sympathy etched into her features.