Promise Canyon (Virgin River #13)(68)

On days she didn't deliver, she was often at the stable for at least a couple of hours. She frequently had dinner with Clay--either at her house or out. There was the occasional dinner with Annie and Nathaniel, sometimes at the Toopeek house, and she'd finally brought Clay to her grandfather's house for their Sunday meal together.

Clay took her to Jack's Bar, where just about the only vegetarian dishes were pie and coffee. Although the big, scary-looking cook scowled, he could be talked into serving her something that hadn't been simmered in the juices of animals. And then with his heavy dark eyebrows furrowed, he said, "I'm going to make up some mac and cheese--three cheeses--and before I add the ham and bacon, I'll put some aside in the freezer, in case you ever come back."

The best part of her life was that time she spent in her lover's arms. He was so right--their bodies together made music. And then in the still of the night or early morning, they would hold on to each other and whisper. Clay said to her, "You'd better never leave me, because I'm sure I'll never be able to stop loving you. I'll love you forever, Lilly."

It had only been a couple of months since they'd met and a couple of weeks since he'd told her he was in love with her. A matter of days since he'd said he'd love her forever... And it was a bright, crisp, clear and sunny afternoon in mid-October when it all fell apart.

Clay was in the veterinary office, doing some online charting Nate had left for him when he heard the growl of a diesel engine. They weren't expecting a patient, and Nate had gone to Mendocino County to check on a pregnant mare who'd previously had a couple of stillbirths. Clay pushed back from the desk and looked out the window. There, in the large parking expanse between the house and clinic was a late-model pickup with dual rear wheels pulling a custom horse trailer. And he knew whose it was.

He stepped out of the office just as Isabel shut off the engine and jumped down from the cab of the truck.

She looked lovely, as always. She beamed when she saw him--all smiles and pleasure. She had what appeared to be a healthy tan, but Clay knew it was from her expensive, custom-formulated tanning cream--Isabel was afraid of aging, and would never surrender her skin to the sun's rays. Her ideal shade of blond also cost a fortune. In fact, everything from her perfect body to the clothes on it was very expensive, very chic. But the effect was breathtaking to just about anyone, and very few people knew how much time and money she threw at it. Her ex-husband, of course, was privy to this information.

She came toward him, reaching for him. "Clay," she said, smiling warmly. "Oh, Clay!"

He returned the gesture, giving her a hug and exchanging cheek kisses. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I have a problem--with one of your favorite horses," she said, but she didn't let go of him. "It's Isa Diamond Two. She's got a slight limp. The vet's seen her, we've done X-rays and ultrasounds and can't find a problem, but her gait is off--unpredictable and uneven."

"You could have called me," he said.

"But I knew you couldn't come to me, not with your new responsibilities. And I needed a getaway. Besides," she said with a laugh, giving her silky, shoulder-length blond hair a toss, "I wanted to see where you are now." She craned her neck to look around. "I have to admit, beautiful country."

"But you should have at least told me you were coming."

"Hey, listen, if you and your vet are too busy, I'll wait. I have excellent accommodations," she added, throwing an arm wide to indicate the horse trailer. He'd been in this one plenty of times--the rear was outfitted with two enclosed, padded stalls while the front section had upscale living quarters with full kitchen, bath, king-size bed, leather couch, small table and plenty of electronic equipment. Nothing but the best for the Sorensons. Actually, they only used their custom trailers for relatively short hauls--Frederik Sorenson had private jets to transport his horses to races. The money in the Sorenson family was nothing short of astonishing.

The horse in her trailer was a famous, prizewinning quarter horse, a blond bay with one white stocking, a white mane and a blaze. She was not only a beauty, but skilled and accomplished. And she had lent her eggs to more prizewinners, mated in a petri dish and carried by a surrogate to save her body from the strain. Diamond was only eight years old and could yet win quarter-mile races. If she wasn't lame.

"Let's bring her in," Clay said, pulling out of Isabel's grasp and going to the back of the trailer. "Nathaniel is on a call, but he should be back before long."

"Thank you," she said with her customary grace. "I knew you'd help."

"And I know there's more going on than the horse," he answered without looking at her. "You came unexpectedly for a reason...."

"You've never required notice before," she said. "All I ever had to do was ask."

"True. That was before," he said.

He opened up the back of the trailer, put the harness and lead on the horse and expertly backed her out. He talked softly to her and she responded with familiar friendly nickering. Isabel was right about this much--he loved the horse. And the horse loved him. As he led Diamond into the stable, Isabel followed at a distance, giving him charge. Part of her charm was knowing when to step back and let a man take over. No doubt she learned that technique from a father who demanded it and praised it, and it worked.