False Gods: The Show Jumper's Challenge

The heavyset woman with the graying hair leaned out and checked Epiphany’s hip number, then consulted the sales roster.

“Says here she was run through an ‘as is’ sale. You bought her, you take her. As is.” She went back to sorting a stack of checks.

The woman threw the lead rope to one of the girls standing nearby.

“What about the three-day soundness guarantee? She isn’t sound.”

The office manager didn’t raise her eyes from counting the checks. “Doesn’t apply to an ‘as is’ sale.”

The woman’s face bloomed red. “I’m not taking her. I’m not paying for her.”

The office manager nodded to a security guard standing outside the screened window. “You are under contract to pay, says so in the agreement you signed when you registered. You can bring her back and run her through the next sale if you want, for a consignment fee.”

“I’m leaving her here. You can sell her in the next auction.”

“No, ma’am. Next auction’s not until after the holidays.” She turned her back on the woman and walked to the dark interior of the office.

Jack walked up to the red-haired woman, who was fumbling with the lead, trying to slip it through a ring to tie Epiphany up to a post. Maybe she really was going to leave her.

“Excuse me, but I overheard you saying you didn’t want the horse after all.”

The woman spun around. “No, I don’t. Who would want a lame horse for that kind of money? They have my credit card info, so I can’t even refuse to pay. And now I’m stuck with a dead lame horse, the cheaters. Cheats!” She tossed this last comment to the empty office.

“Well, ma’am, if you don’t want the horse, I may be able to help you out.” Jack’s voice was like honey, and Cory thought she detected a hint of a Virginia accent she’d never noticed.

“You see,” he continued, “the poor gal’s always been off and on lame. Never know when she’s going to show up sore on that leg . . . ever since she had a bad fall over a fence at Difficult Run in the Prelim a few years back.”

“You know this horse?” The woman’s eyes widened.

“That’s the only reason we were bidding on her. We just wanted to take her home again.” Jack lowered his head and shook it gently back and forth. “She was sold to a big-time event rider, and when she didn’t hold up during the competition, well, she dumped her at the auction. We got wind of it and hurried down here to buy her back so she would have the retirement she deserves.”

Cory opened her mouth then shut it again. What was Jack going on about? She glanced at Vee and saw the hint of a smile playing over her lips.