Free Taking the Reins (Roped and Wrangled) by Kat Murray Page B

desperate. Or maybe he was passing out kickbacks on what he skimmed.” She nodded. “Yeah, I knew. Or suspected anyway. But without the books, no way to know for sure. Plus, what was I going to do about it? Not my ranch, legally. Once my mother was gone, I managed to get the key and came in here to look. Found the proof I needed, told him to get his sorry ass out of town.”
    He settled back, trying to quickly make sense of the whole thing. “Why not involve the police?”
    “I just wanted him gone.”
    “It’s not too late.” He lifted the book in his hand. “You report him, and we might at least get some of this money back.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “And risk having the word out there? It already looks bad enough he left so quickly. I don’t need more negative press. We’re struggling to rise from the ashes as it is.” Leaning over, she placed her palms on the desk and closed in until she was inches from his face. “Before my mother died, I was blocked from every opportunity to make this place better. Now that she’s gone, I still don’t have full authority, thanks to my two siblings. But I did my best then. And I’m doing my best now.”
    With that parting shot, she stood and walked out, shutting the door behind her.
    Oddly, the action was not nearly as erotic when she was on the other side of it.
    And hell, he’d just screwed that one to Kansas and back. She was still touchy on the subject, and he couldn’t blame her. She’d see it as the ultimate slap in the face that someone was stealing out from under her nose and she had no control over it. He hadn’t meant to accuse, just to get a handle on how it’d gone on for so long. But it was obviously still a raw wound. And knowing he’d inadvertently poured salt into that wound tore at his gut in ways he didn’t quite understand.
    Time to make amends.
     
    Peyton let Lilly Mae’s graying nose snuffle under her arm in search of more treats even though it tickled. Wrapping her arms around the old horse’s neck, she breathed in the familiar scent of horse and hay and feed and instantly felt her heart rate drop from its formerly racing status.
    “Big mistake,” she muttered into the horse’s mane. “I let him get to me. Lost my cool. Stupid.”
    Lilly Mae made a soft nickering sound in response. Peyton smiled and decided to take the noise as an It’s okay, you’ll do better next time .
    “She’s sweet.”
    Her skin prickled at the sound of Red’s voice, but she didn’t look up. A new tension momentarily vibrated through Lilly Mae’s muscles, but she calmed down quickly when there was no threat.
    “She’s mine.” With a scratch between the ears, she stepped back and grabbed a brush, intent on doing something with her hands while they talked. “I’ve had her almost my whole life. Learned to ride on her. She’s ancient, but she’s my favorite.” Leaning forward, she mock whispered, “Don’t tell the other girls,” into Lilly’s ear.
    Red chuckled and stepped forward cautiously, holding out a hand for Lilly Mae to sniff and nuzzle. “Nice. Bet you’re the queen around here, aren’t you?”
    Peyton took it as the peace offering it was. “I sure am. Oh, you meant Lilly.” She grinned when he smiled.
    “Thought I might find you riding some two-year-old around the ring for a hard workout to work off the tension.”
    “Too pissed for that. Does nobody any good when you can’t keep a cool head to train a stubborn horse. Especially an arrogant two-year-old.”
    “Glad to hear it. Good instincts.” Lilly Mae stepped forward, bumping into him hard enough to send him back a step, shoulder hitting the nearest wooden post. “Well, hey now. I didn’t mean to ignore you, I’m sorry.” He scratched her between the ears, smoothing down to her nose where he rubbed with gentle thumbs. Lilly Mae sighed with delight and took another step into him, all but snuggling against his chest.
    “Floozy,” Peyton muttered.
    Red just grinned. “The