spies and spells 02 - betting off dead by tonya kappes Page A

wrote: This is the horse the Tuckers want.
    Mick read it and his eyes shifted up to mine. He lowered them as if he needed more explanation. I scribbled: When they were in here, Forest said that he wanted her to bet on this horse and the horse in stall four.
    His gaze slid past my shoulder and across the stalls to number four.
    “How do you know?” he asked in my ear and I scribbled away like I was supposed to, writing down what he was saying. Only I scribbled: I overheard them when they were in here.
    He quirked his brow questioningly. Forest and Riley were already in a different stall and number four stall didn’t seem to be busy.
    Mick walked over there and I followed behind.
    “Bet The Farm,” I smiled when I said the name of the horse inside.
    I stood next to the horse and noticed a visible difference in the shape of the muscles compared to Rails and Nails. This horse didn’t have the back thigh muscles, but according to Mick, the doping would help with that.
    “Testing. 1, 2, 3. Testing.” The auctioneer patted the live mic to get everyone’s attention.
    Mick and I walked out of the stall and made our way back toward the entrance of the barn as one member of each couple approached Ranger. He had them sign something and gave them a paddle with a number on it. The last person to get a paddle was Amber Byrd and it just so happened to be thirteen, which meant there were fourteen couples here, counting me and Mick.
    Riley was standing in the front. Her steely gaze assessed the crowd before it landed on me. This time there was no smile. She simply eased her head to face the front.
    “Lots going on today.” Forest smacked Mick on the back in the good ol’ boy way.
    “Yeah.” Mick nodded. “Thanks man, for letting me get in on it. Now that I know how all this works, I’m in for next month’s auction.”
    “Alright.” Forest nodded with a significant lifting of his brows. “I knew you’d get it.” He leaned around Mick. “Maggie, are you enjoying yourself?” he asked.
    I ran my finger under my nose, giving Forest a little spell.
    “I am.” I smiled, staring deep into his eyes.
    “Mick, you sure are one lucky man.” Forest winked at me. “I’d love for the two of you to join me and,” he stuttered.
    “Riley?” My lips curled into a flirtatious smile.
    “Riley,” he whispered, his eyes on my lips. “Right.” He snapped out of it. He looked at Mick. “Riley and I are having a cocktail party in a few nights and would love for the two of you to join us.”
    “So dinner is still on tonight?” I asked.
    “Of course.” He smiled back.
    Mick shot me a look.
    “We’d love to come to your home for the party. Maggie can get your address from your wife .” Mick’s emphasis on wife caught my attention. “Isn’t that right, honey?”  He ripped out the words impatiently. He clenched his mouth tighter.
    “Um, hum.” I dropped my eyes from Forest and stared straight ahead.
     “First up on the block is a two-year-old Thoroughbred, Rails and Nails, from stall number one,” the auctioneer rattled off the exact same stats that were on the piece of paper on the clipboard. The breed, stud and mare from which the horse came, the farm as well as a few stats that I didn’t understand or care to understand.
    “It’s humid in here.” Mick changed the subject. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead and his upper lip. He unbuttoned the sleeves on his white shirt and rolled it up to his elbow.
    At the same time, Forest walked up front and helped Riley bid on the horses.
    “What was that about?” Mick was irked. “I said get an invite to the cocktail party, not his bedroom.”
    “Why Mick Jasper.” I snorted. “I never figured you for the jealous type.”
    “My God, Maggie. SKUL has asked you to play the part of my wife. Loyal wife. Not a wife looking for an affair.” He gave me a black, layered look.
    “I did what you asked me to do. I got an invitation so be happy with that,” my voice harsh with