Page 48 of Signed, SEALed, Delivered

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Kennedy

In the past year a boy has stalked me, while another didn’t exist. Now, the one I gave my heart to, played with it until it broke. I wasn’t naive enough to think the news report and my father's sudden urgency to return to his office were coincidental.

My father was a man of means. He was quite capable of hiring a man of certain characteristics to tidy up the situation with Ethan. The media can spin any explanation they want on how he died, but it doesn’t take a genius to know a man on a mission isn’t suicidal.

I pulled into the stables where we kept my horse, Chestnut, a racehorse who had outlived her usefulness to her previous owners. She was found by a couple of hunters when her foot got caught in a barbwire fence. They called a family member who happens to be a veterinarian, but Chestnut had been too weak to do any real damage to herself. My mother agreed to let me have her after I let it slip the media had done a story on her, in hopes of finding her a forever home.

I walked over to the stall where Chestnut has made her home since that fateful day. How many times have I come here to share the secrets I couldn’t tell anyone else?

A perfect black nose greets me before I can get my hand out to stroke her face. “Well, hello to you too.” Running both hands along her healthy features, she nudges around me; looking for the crunchy treat I usually bring her. “Sorry, Chestnut, I didn’t have a chance to stop and get you an apple.”

Unlatching the door, I keep one hand on her coat as I pass over the threshold. “Things have become complicated and I needed to see you.” My voice cracks as the hurt I’ve been holding back rushes forward, demanding to be heard.

Chestnut allows me to lean against her, letting the tears roll off my face, sobs racking my body as the images of the girl from the night before haunt me. I’d never seen the shirt she had on, but I imagine Zach has a million stuffed in a drawer in his bedroom. I know I’m torturing myself as I ponder where he would have found her. Was she a client or someone from his past? Whatever the case, she had been beautiful.

“Come on, Chestnut. Let’s go stretch those legs.” The stables employed several handlers to prepare the owner’s horse for riding, but I’d had my fill of men with fake smiles and ulterior motives. I’ve known how to saddle my own horse since I was ten. With the straps secure, I hoisted myself onto the back of Chestnut, kicking her into a walk, with no real destination in mind. Giving Chestnut the freedom to walk where she wanted, I lost myself in the trees and blue sky above, falling into my thoughts.

I had to place at least half the blame on my own shoulders for thinking a man— particularly a man in Zach's position—would hold out until the perfect moment. A man who had spent that much time away needed to relieve the tension built up by his months of celibacy. The remaining half of the blame needed to be placed on his broad shoulders. He could have, at any moment, ended things with me and went searching for someone to bed.

I refuse to accept any blame in the Ethan situation. I had done nothing to give him any hope I returned his feelings. Clearly, he had something twisted deep in his psyche.

With my head somewhat clear, I focused my eyes on my surroundings. The edges of Ella’s fence stood out in the distance. Chestnut had walked the miles, which separated the two businesses. With her age in mind, I needed to let her rest and get something to eat and drink. I would call the stables in a little while and have them send over a trailer.

Letting Chestnut continue at her leisurely pace, I cringed as she rounded the main office. The parked truck of the one man I didn't want to see, was sitting in the spot I usually filled. Of course he would be here, telling his family how my working here would be a conflict of interest, as he no longer wanted to play the game with me.

Pulling back on the reins, I let Chestnut know her job is done and slide off the saddle, guiding her the rest of the way by hand. The stall beside Hercules is empty. I know I can keep her there long enough to cool her down and get a trailer over here. Swallowing the new set of emotions brewing in my chest, I walked past Ella’s office and down the long hall.

“Hercules, this is my girl, Chestnut. You be nice to her, she’s had a long day.” Settling her into the stall, I remove the saddle and blanket. Hercules is acting like a busy body, staring at us through the bars separating the stalls. “Oh, don't be a creeper, she was my horse long before I met you.”

I run my hand down the side of her neck, letting her know this is a safe place and the mammoth beast beside her would do her no harm. “I’m with you, Chestnut, boys make me jumpy too.”

“Not every boy.” My body flinches and I turn to look at the man I’d spent the day trying to forget, standing not three feet away. “At least I didn't used to.”

Shaking my head, I let my breath out. Responding to him would mean I want to talk, which I certainly did not. “What are you doing here?” I avoid looking at him, giving my attention to Chestnut instead.

“I know you came by the house. We need to talk.”

“Talk about what? How you lied to me about having a meeting and needing to get some rest.”

“I didn’t lie, Kennedy. I did have something to do.”

“Oh, really? Don’t you mean somebody? Since you know I came by your house, you also know I saw the half naked girl in your kitchen.” Regret fills my mind, I didn't want to have a conversation that escalated like this. The last thing I want is to have someone in my life who is there for the wrong reason.

“Kennedy, I had to meet one of the guys from my SEAL team. We had a mission we had to carry out. The girl—”

“Stop! I don’t want to hear anymore. If you think for one second, I believe you were on some secret mission for the military, you're crazy. Even with all the technology we have today, there is no way you traveled across the world and returned in less than twenty-four hours. Unless you want to try and convince me NASA has been hiding a time travel portal in Area 51. Or are you just that elite, where you can jump in and disarm the situation in seconds, hopping back in your Doctor Who telephone booth and arrive back home in a few hours.”

“Kennedy, not all missions take place overseas. What I needed—”

“Stop, I don’t want to hear about this secret mission you had to go on. I don’t want to hear how the half naked girl appeared in your kitchen.” I looked at my watch, sick to my stomach with the direction this conversation has headed. “Don’t you have a shop to run?”

“I’m the boss, so it opens when I say.”

“Well, I’m not the boss around here and I have things to do. If you will excuse me, I need to get Chestnut home.” Stepping around him, I pull my cell from my back pocket, and charge down the hall, not really caring if he followed me or not. I had nearly made it to the front of the building when Ella blocked my path.

“Hey, did I hear my nephew's voice?” Her eyes say it all, as she reaches out for me. “Kennedy, are the two of you arguing?”

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