Honoring Freedom (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #3)

Chapter Fourteen

“Freedom, wake up.”

Slowly she came awake, blinking against the bright sunlight flowing in through the open barn doors. Keller stood above her holding a thermos and wearing a smile.

She’d fallen asleep in a bed of straw in the barn and her body ached.

Standing, the blanket she’d been covered up with fell to the ground. She felt immediate relief seeing Requiem munching on his feed. “How is he?”

“Heart rate’s better. Lungs still sound good.”

She felt a twinge of pain in her neck. She massaged the tight muscles with her fingers. “What time is it?”

“Eight.”

She stretched her arms, yawning. “Please tell me that you have enough coffee to share.”

“Plenty.” Keller poured coffee from the thermos into two paper cups, and handed her one.

Desperate for caffeine, she readily accepted it. "Are all the other horses alright?"

“I made my rounds earlier. They all look good.”

The coffee made her feel more human. “Thank goodness. I can’t seem to wrap my head around this. Who would do something like this? My gut feeling tells me that Kent Downs is behind this, but even he wouldn’t sink to this level, at least I wouldn’t think so. Killing a horse? Attempting to kill another? This smells of someone who is unwell. What makes Kent so dangerous is that he is sane.”

“I can't see how someone could have trespassed and poisoned the horses without being seen."

“That would mean one of the hands did this.” That theory made things more difficult.

He shrugged. “I’ll see what I can find out.”

She nodded. “We should keep our suspicions quiet for now.”

“I agree. Didn’t you have something to do this morning? You were mumbling something as you were falling asleep last night about a meeting.”

“Oh no. I completely forgot. I’m late for meeting my sisters. They’re going to kill me since we’re already down one.”

“You go. I’ll keep an eye on Requiem. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.”

She walked backwards as she said, “I’ll see you later, right?”

“Definitely.” He saluted her with his cup.

She turned and hurried toward the farmhouse. She was breathing hard by the time to she made her way through the front door. The house was quiet so she thought she might have time to run upstairs to at least change out of her dirty clothes and brush her hair, but Honor came sweeping around the corner.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Freedom swiveled on the heel of her boots. “I was just coming to the meeting.”

“That’s what it seemed like. You’re fifteen minutes late.” Honor was on edge. “We’re in the sunroom and we’ve been waiting for you.”

“Can I have five minutes?”

“No. we have a long list of things we need to get done.”

Reluctantly, Freedom followed her sister to the sunroom. Justice and Hope were sitting at the table whispering about something. When they saw Freedom, they sighed in unison.

“It’s about time,” Justice huffed.

“Sorry, I was busy,” Freedom said as she sat down and reached for a couple of bacon slices from the plate. She was starving.

“Did you sleep in the barn last night?” Hope plucked a piece of straw out of Freedom’s hair. “Who is he?” She wagged her brows suggestively.

“He’s a powerhouse that had me up most of the night,” she answered with a straight face.

“Oh?” Justice smiled, leaning in, seeking more details.

“No juicy stories to tell. Requiem was sick.” She’d leave it at that.

“Too bad,” Hope said with a snicker. “At least one of us should be getting some.”

Justice shook her head. “The days of getting some might be over after Daddy’s little addendum.”

Freedom didn’t want to discuss the predicament. “Honor, have you heard from Liberty?”

“No, I haven’t.” Honor jotted something down into her notebook. Her anger at her twin was evident in her tight jaw.

“I understand why Daddy’s impossible demands upset her—they upset all of us—but she can’t skip his birthday,” Justice said worriedly. “Right? She wouldn’t do that, would she?”

Honor’s pen paused. The tension seemed heavier, thick with unspoken concerns in Liberty’s absence.

“That’s not like her to not reach out to you,” Freedom said to Honor.

“She hasn’t replied to any of my texts, calls or emails.” Honor nibbled pensively on a strawberry.

Hope sighed, running a hand through her silver-blonde hair. "Maybe she's just taking some time to herself. You know how Liberty gets when things get too extreme."

Freedom glanced between her siblings, her heart aching. "It's not like her to be this silent. Especially with Daddy’s birthday party that she demanded be over the top."

“The show must go on.” Honor set her pen down. “We have a lot of work to do today.”

Dolly swept in with a heaping platter of pancakes and homemade syrup. Freedom loved Dolly’s pancakes. The second she set the plate in the center of the table, she forked two and covered them with syrup.

“You ladies be aware that your father is coming home in a few hours,” Dolly said.

“Thanks, Dolly,” Freedom said, blowing the elderly woman an air kiss. She’d been like a second mom to the girls.

“Don’t stress too much over this party. Your daddy is a simple man,” Dolly said over her shoulder as she headed back inside.

“I have a question.” Hope ran her finger over the rim of her glass as she directed her gaze on Freedom. “How did the trip to Catskills go? You’ve been MIA lately.”

Freedom filled her glass with orange juice. “Great. We returned with two thoroughbreds and ten head of cattle,” she said, nibbling on her pancakes.

“That’s not what I’m referring to,” Hope smiled. “You, a hunky veterinarian, and a cabin all to yourselves. You can’t tell me you two didn’t rekindle the old flames.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

If she wasn’t careful with her response, her sisters would see right through her. “Keller and I are just friends. Shouldn't we be concentrating on the party?”

“I’d rather talk sex,” Justice laughed.

“Same,” Hope chimed in.

“Nothing happened between Keller and me,” Freedom insisted. “He’s no longer my type.”

"Sure, who wants a hot stud doctor as a lover anyway?" Hope teased, giving Freedom a side-eye.

Freedom sighed. “You should focus on your own love life. Pretty soon we’re all going to have to find a husband.”

“Oh? So, are you considering Keller as your husband?” Justice twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.

“Is there something wrong with you two this morning?” She looked from Justice to Hope accusingly.

“I was just curious," Justice said, raising her hands in defeat. “But you and Keller do make a cute couple.”

“Can we please not invent relationships where there aren't any?” Freedom groaned.

“Invent?” Hope laughed. "Honey, we're just reading the signs. You've got that glow."

Freedom rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. “You watch too many movies.”

“And you don't watch enough,” Justice countered. “Come on, spill the beans. Did he at least try to pursue you with his cowboy charm? He’s always been fine if you ask me.”

"Honor, do you hear our sisters?” Freedom looked for help.

“She agrees,” Hope said slyly. “How about stolen kisses?”

"Sorry to be a disappointment," Freedom replied, "but no. Now, seriously, let’s get back to the party planning."

Her sisters exchanged knowing glances but let the subject drop, for now.

Justice’s phone rang and she suddenly looked tense. She glanced at the screen, her playful demeanor evaporating. “I’ve got to take this,” she said, her voice losing its usual lightness. She stepped away from the table, heading out into the hallway for privacy.

Her sisters exchanged concerned looks but remained silent, giving Justice the space she needed. Freedom watched Justice’s pinched expression. “I hope everything’s alright,” she murmured, breaking the uneasy silence. She’d noticed that all her sisters were acting strange these days. She wanted to mention Midnight’s death to them but if she did, she’d probably lose all control and be a blubbering mess.

Justice's voice was quiet but urgent as she talked on the phone, her normally calm demeanor replaced with intensity. The call was short, and when she came back, she looked composed, but Freedom could see in her eyes that something was bothering her.

“Everything okay?” Hope asked cautiously, her brow furrowed in curiosity.

Justice nodded, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just some unexpected news.” She took a deep breath, forcing herself to refocus. “Now, where were we? Ah yes, party planning”

After each sister had their assigned party duties for the day, Freedom quickly made her exit.

A thought had been bothering her through the breakfast meeting. Although there was no proof that Kent participated in the incident at the Catskills cabin, or her horses getting sick, deep in her gut she knew he played a role. There were too many roads that led back to the scheming man. He’d never accepted that she made the breeder an offer he couldn’t refuse and that was how she bought Requiem and Midnight. Ronnie Quay had owned her a big favor and she called it in. Kent had been as mad as a hornet, even showed up at Sagebrush Rose demanding that she sell him the sires.

She’d laughed at him, and he’d stomped away like a child having a temper tantrum. Men like Kent weren’t used to hearing the word ‘no’.

As she thought about the issue even more, she knew there was only one way to let her steam off. She drove straight over to Kent’s house, not listening to her own reasoning that it could be a big mistake.

It was a risk, but anger soared through her. She’d invested so much in her horses, spent so much time with them. Had such high hopes for the magnificent sires they were sure to be. This felt like she’d lost part of her family.

By the time she strode up to the grand double doors of the natural stone mansion, she didn’t have the opportunity to knock because the brawny, bald man with a tattoo of a cross on his cheek flung open the door and gave Freedom a sweep of his beady gaze.

“What do you want?” he growled.

So, apparently he recognized her.

“I’m here to see Kent.” She didn’t dare show any fear.

“He doesn’t take drop ins.”

“Tell him I’m here to speak to him about my horses being poisoned.” She held the man’s gaze.

“Wait.” He closed the door.

Freedom turned to look out over the land. Kent had a beautiful piece of land himself. The lush pasture went on for what seemed like miles where horses grazed. Ornate bushes and plants lined the cobblestone walkway and the front of the extravagant home. She could tell a lot about a man by his house. Kent liked finer things and wanted everyone to know that he could afford them.

The bodyguard returned. “He’ll see you.”

“Wonderful,” she said sarcastically. Once he stepped back so she could pass, she crossed the threshold and waited for him to lead the way down the long hallway to a closed door.

She didn’t wait for Mr. Happy Pants to open the door for her, and she shoved her way inside, barging into the masculine office. Kent was sitting at his desk, like a king on his throne, wearing a grin that ate right through Freedom. No doubt he knew exactly why she was there. She did get satisfaction in seeing the ugly, colorful bruise around his eye.

“What do I owe this pleasure, Freedom?” he said smartly.

“Let’s cut to the chase, shall we?” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the plastic bag, slapping it down on the desk in front of him. “Look familiar?”

He examined the bag with a narrowed gaze. “No.”

“I’m sure the person who broke into my cabin to steal them provided you with all the details how he stole my panties and then damaged a truck.”

Kent appeared genuinely surprised. “How about you fill me in on what I don’t know because I’m out of the loop.”

“You had someone poison my horses. Was it for revenge?”

“Hey, hold on there, sweetheart. Let's not start blaming anyone just yet." He got up. He was tall, had a full head of dark hair, and kept his goatee neatly trimmed. Although he was the devil incarnate, he was a handsome man. And he did have a bit of charm. “Now what’s this about your horses?”

“I know you’re behind this.” Her distaste seethed through every pore.

He rounded the desk. “These are serious allegations. Sorry about your horses, little lady, but I’m afraid I’m just as confused as you are,” he said slickly.

Everything about the man drove through her like a dull knife. His ego stretched for miles. “When did you get so low as to kill the competition’s horses, Kent?”

“Do you have proof that it was me?”

“I don’t need proof. Maybe you didn’t feed them the poison directly, but I’m sure you were involved.” The more she rolled the theory around inside her head the more confident that she was that Kent had a hand in the incident.

“I think we’re done here.” With his words, the bulky bodyguard stepped into the room.

“You might be done, but it’s only a matter of time before you get caught up in your own web of deceit.” The bodyguard took her elbow and she jerked it away, giving him a daring glare. “I can walk myself out, thank you.” She swiped up the plastic bag.

She left the house in a rage, gripping the steering wheel tightly as she got into her car. After starting the engine, she reversed. “Your time is coming, Kent! Mark my words…”