But now, without meaning to, he had walked straight into something dangerous. And there was no turning back. A cold wind swept through the open barn doors, rattling the wooden beams overhead.
Ambrose felt the weight of Levi’s words settle deep in his chest. They’ll come for you too. The thought sent an uneasy shiver down his spine.
He had never been the kind of man to go looking for trouble. But somehow, trouble had found him anyway. Waymaker shifted in his stall, his ears twitching as if sensing the tension in the air.
The old horse was no ordinary animal. Ambrose was sure of that now. But whether he was a key to some buried secret or just an inconvenient reminder of something Halston Stables wanted to forget, one thing was clear.
Keeping him here was a risk. Levi let out a slow breath and turned toward the barn entrance, his boots crunching against the straw-covered floor. You have no idea what you’re caught up in, Ambrose.
Then tell me, Ambrose said, his voice firm. What the hell am I up against? Levi hesitated before glancing toward the horse once more. Halston Stables isn’t just a racing operation.
They’ve got deep pockets, high-powered connections. They’ve covered up scandals before. If Waymaker is still alive, it means something went wrong with their plan.
Ambrose frowned. Plan? You think they meant to kill him? Levi’s expression darkened. Maybe.
Maybe not. But one thing’s for damn sure. If they let him go, it wasn’t out of kindness.
A tense silence filled the barn. Ambrose leaned against the stall, his arms crossed tightly. His farm had always been his sanctuary, his escape from the world.
But now it felt different. Exposed. Vulnerable.
A sudden noise outside made both men turn their heads sharply. The distant sound of tires crunching over gravel. Ambrose’s heart pounded as he stepped toward the barn door, peering out into the night.
Headlights. A black SUV was crawling down the long driveway, moving slow, deliberate. Damn it, Levi muttered under his breath.
They already know. Ambrose clenched his jaw. He had lived a quiet life for decades, avoiding trouble.
But now. He was standing in the middle of it. And the men in that SUV weren’t here to make conversation.
He turned back to Waymaker, who stood tall and still in his stall, watching everything with quiet intelligence. What the hell did you get me into, boy? The SUV came to a stop. The engine idled.
And then. A car door opened. The low rumble of the idling SUV sent a pulse of unease through Ambrose’s chest.
He wiped his hands on his jeans, forcing himself to stay calm. Whoever these people were, they weren’t here by accident. Levi’s jaw tightened.
Stay quiet. Let me handle this. Ambrose wasn’t so sure about that, but he nodded.
A second car door opened. Two figures stepped out, both men dressed too clean for farm life. One was tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a black wool coat over an expensive-looking shirt.
The other was shorter, wiry, with sharp eyes that flicked toward the barn like he already knew what was inside. Ambrose stepped onto the porch, his boots scraping against the wooden planks. Something I can help you with? The taller man smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
You Ambrose Calloway? Ambrose took his time before answering. Who’s asking? The man in the wool coat pulled a sleek leather wallet from his pocket, flipping it open. A badge.
Richard Halston. I run Halston Stables. His voice was smooth, controlled.
The kind of voice that didn’t need to be loud to command attention. Ambrose’s stomach twisted. Halston.
The man standing on his porch was the Richard Halston, the same man whose stable had produced dozens of champion racehorses. A man who rarely left his Kentucky estate unless it was for something that truly mattered. Ambrose forced his expression to stay neutral.
Didn’t expect to have company this late. Halston smiled again, tucking the badge away. Apologies for the hour.
I won’t take much of your time. I just have a few questions. Ambrose crossed his arms.
About what? Halston’s gaze flickered toward the barn. I believe you recently acquired a horse at auction. Ambrose felt Levi shift slightly beside him.
I pick up horses all the time. Halston’s smile never wavered. Of course.
But this particular one, I think he might have belonged to us. Ambrose’s pulse pounded in his ears. He knew this was coming, but hearing the words made his skin prickle.
That so? Halston nodded. We had a horse go missing some years back. Waymaker.
A real beauty. But he vanished without a trace. Never knew what happened to him.
That is, until we heard a certain farmer picked up an old chestnut with a very specific brand. Ambrose swallowed hard, keeping his expression unreadable. And if I do have him? Halston’s smile faded slightly.