Elle James - Protecting the Colton Bride

The tension returning for an entirely different reason, Daniel’s chest tightened. “The lab reported they found poison in Halo’s blood. We have no idea how it happened.”

“Maybe she got hold of something in the barn or in the field.”

“Megan and I went over the entire barn, thoroughly cleaned Halo’s stall and couldn’t find anything that would have poisoned her. We don’t use rat poison in the barn.”

Ryan smiled. “That’s why we have Sleek.”

“Right, and we have too much invested in the horses we keep in the breeder barn to risk storing anything poisonous there.”

“Do you think someone might have given it to her?”

Daniel had considered that option. “Who would want to hurt Halo? She’s one of the best mares in my breeding program, and she’s got the best temperament.”

“I don’t know.” Ryan scratched his chin. “Do you know of any competing breeders who’d go to the trouble of sabotaging your horses?”

Daniel shook his head. “It’s not like she’s a race horse with the potential to win a derby.” He shrugged. “It makes no sense.”

“I’ll nose around and see if I can learn anything that’ll shed some light.”

“Thanks.”

“Hey, on another topic, is Greta back from Oklahoma City?” Ryan asked.

His half sister, Greta, had been in Oklahoma City busily planning her wedding to Mark Stanton, the son of one of the wealthiest families in the state. He missed her expertise with the horses. She was one of the best trainers he’d known.

“Not that I know of.” Daniel checked beneath the plane for any leaks. “Why do you ask?”

“I could swear I saw her at the hardware store yesterday.” Ryan shrugged. “Must have been seeing things.”

“I’ll be glad when she’s done with this wedding planning business.” Daniel straightened.

“You and me both. It’s not like her to get all girlie.”

Megan emerged from the shadows of the hangar and out into the open, rolling a suitcase behind her. She wore jeans, boots and a green blouse that exactly matched her eyes. Her hair was damp but pulled back in her normal French braid. Other than the nice shirt, she looked like she was ready to go to work, not to her wedding in Vegas.

Daniel’s heart skipped several beats. Megan could wear a feed sack and make it look great. With those long legs, the subtle sway of her hips and the way she smiled...his groin tightened, and he wanted to hold her close all over again. Keeping her at arm’s length would be a challenge.

“Hey, Dan.” Ryan waved a hand in front of Daniel’s face.

Daniel barely saw the hand, his gaze on the woman walking toward them.

Ryan turned. “Ah, Megan. Are you going, too?”

Megan rolled her case to a stop, nodding. “Yes, I am.” Her gaze shot from Daniel to Ryan and back.

Daniel took Megan’s bag and loaded it into the plane. “I have a couple more checks. Then we’ll be ready to go.”

“So, what’s in Vegas besides the usual—gambling, wedding chapels and shows? I haven’t heard of any of those involving horses.” Ryan stared at Daniel, then Megan.

A flush of pink rose in Megan’s cheeks. She glanced at Daniel and gave him a slight shake of her head.

Taking Megan’s cue, Daniel replied, “We’re going to see a man about a horse. If the Kennedy Farms deal doesn’t work out, we want to have a backup plan.” Daniel didn’t like lying to his brother, but Megan wasn’t ready to announce their plans, and that was okay with him. He wasn’t certain how he felt about what they were about to do.

“Well, then, I won’t keep you.” Ryan held out his hand. “Be careful. I understand there are some storms heading this way.”

“I’ve already checked the weather. We’re flying north of the system.” Daniel took his brother’s hand.

“Good. We kind of like having you two around.” Ryan shook Daniel’s hand and then pulled him into a hug. “See you in a day or two?”

“It might be closer to a week.”

“A week?” Ryan stepped back, his eyes wide. “What kind of horses take a week to look at?”

Daniel’s lips firmed. “After we stop in Vegas, we’re going to California to check out more horses. I have a meeting scheduled with Marshall Kennedy in Reno in a week. We’ll be back at the Lucky C long enough to regroup and head out again.”

“Sounds like a nice vacation. Wish I could go along with you.” Ryan nodded. “Again, you two take care and come back in one piece.”

“We will.”

Ryan stood back as Daniel helped Megan into the plane and climbed in after her. She settled in the copilot’s seat and Daniel sat beside her, going over the remainder of his preflight check. When they were finally ready, he showed her how to wear the copilot’s headset and slipped his headset over his ears.

“Ready?” he said into microphone.

“Ready.” Her voice came to him over the sound system.

As they taxied down the grass runway and lifted off into a westerly breeze, Daniel gripped the yoke, his pulse racing as he thought about what lay ahead. In a few short hours, they’d be in Vegas getting married.

* * *

Megan’s fingers curled around the armrests as the plane left the grass strip and climbed into the sky. When they were far enough away from the ground that she didn’t have to worry about crashing, she settled back and relaxed.

“I knew the Coltons had a plane, but I didn’t realize you all knew how to fly it.”

“Not all of my brothers have learned.”

“Just how long have you been flying?”

“Since I was about fifteen and Big J bought the plane. He paid for my flight lessons while he learned to fly, as well. It’s always a good thing to have a copilot in case something happens to the pilot.”

Megan’s stomach fluttered as she stared at the yoke in front of her. “Just so you know, I don’t have a clue how to fly this thing, but I’m willing to learn.”

He smiled over at her. “It’s not a requirement, but I’m glad to hear you’re willing. Not many people are interested.”

She liked it when he smiled at her. He had the faith in her to think she could learn to fly an airplane. She’d always been interested in flying, but her parents wouldn’t have allowed her to take flying lessons any more than they wanted her working with large animals. To say they were overprotective would be a gross understatement. Hell, she’d learn to fly if it was something Daniel wanted.

“My parents are likely to flip when I come home with a husband. Just so you know. We’re likely to incur resistance.”

“I can handle it,” Daniel assured her.

“I placed a call to the attorney who handled my grandmother’s will and arranged an appointment with him in two days. I also arranged to meet with a horse broker.”

“Good thinking. By this time a week from now, we should be sitting pretty. You with your horses, me with my breeder stock semen.”

Megan nodded. “Sounds easy enough. However, I’ve never known anything to be that simple.”

Daniel shot a glance her way. “True.” He held out a hand. “We’ll get through this together. We make a good team.”

She took his hand, that same sharp crackle of electricity shooting through her. She had no doubt they’d make it, and she refused to think about what would happen afterward, when their marriage of convenience was no longer needed.

“Hey.” Daniel squeezed her fingers. “It’s going to work out.”

She nodded, comforted by the gentle pressure on her hand.

“You didn’t get much sleep last night. Why don’t you relax and take a nap? I might need you later to spot me through the mountains.”

Her heart leaped into her lungs. “Mountains?”

“Unless you want to take the long way around, we’ll be flying just south of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico.”