Horse Gods: The Dressage Rider’s Betrayal

A shriek of laughter pulls my attention over Willow’s shoulder to a girl on the couch. She’s sitting facing a guy, her legs folded under her. A glass of something dark red bobbles in her right hand, held high and out of the way as the guy licks her neck. The glass tips…and that’s when I see him. Beyond the living room, in the entrance foyer, Wade is leaning against the banister at the bottom of the stairs. He’s not wearing much of a disguise—just surgical scrubs covered in what I hope is fake blood.

“Oh, God.” I duck behind Willow. Even though Aunt Sophia said I could come, he’ll probably find some reason to punish me for being here.

Willow follows my stare. “What’s the matter?”

“That guy.” I jerk my head in his direction. “The one dressed like a doctor.”

Willow scrunches her face. “The vet?”

I step farther away from the entrance of the foyer. “You know him?”

“Sure. He seems nice.”

“So does Galen.”

Her face registers my meaning. “Point taken. How do you know him?”

A girl in a skimpy nurse’s uniform approaches Wade and wraps her arm around his waist. He pulls her to him.

“He’s my mother’s boyfriend.” We both take a second look around the corner. “But doesn’t look like it now, does it? C’mon.” I pull Willow along after me, heading back to the kitchen, maybe out the back door. All I want is to get out of there, but I file away this little tidbit of information about Wade if I need it later.