Grave Instinct

  GRAVE INSTINCT

  by

  BEV PETTERSEN

  Bev Pettersen is a three-time nominee in the National Readers Choice Award and a two-time finalist in the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® Contest as well as the winner of many other international awards including the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Award, Aspen Gold Reader’s Choice Award, NEC-RWA Reader’s Choice Award, Write Touch Readers’ Award, Kirkus Recommended Read, and a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit. She competed for five years on the Alberta Thoroughbred race circuit and is an Equestrian Canada certified coach. If you’d like to know about special offers or when her next book will be available, please visit her at http://www.BevPettersen.com where you can sign up for a newsletter.

  OTHER BOOKS BY BEV PETTERSEN:

  Jockeys and Jewels

  Color My Horse

  Fillies and Females

  Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash

  Studs and Stilettos

  Millionaire’s Shot

  Riding For Redemption

  A Scandalous Husband

  Backstretch Baby

  Shadows of the Mountain

  Along Came A Cowboy

  A Pony For Christmas (Novella)

  Table Of Contents

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Author’s Note

  OTHER BOOKS BY BEV PETTERSEN

  PROLOGUE

  Nikki Drake pulled in a cautious breath and crept closer to the hay bales, relieved they let her remain unseen. Stacked five feet high, the bales were a full inch taller than her head. She rose on her toes, craning over the hay toward the sound of laughter. Just as she feared, her sister Erin posed at the end of the aisle with the wealthy boarders, acting like she didn’t have a care in the world…or a long row of stalls to clean. She’d pushed her wheelbarrow behind a saddle rack as if hoping everyone would forget she was a lowly stable hand.

  Voices bubbled as the girls spoke about their afternoon trail ride and how today’s route would take them beyond the brook and through a stand of California oaks. Erin would be delighted to be included and Nikki was relieved to hear her laugh. But it meant she’d have to clean her sister’s stalls again today.

  She sagged against the hay, tired and confused. A year ago Erin had been obsessed with horses. Cleaning stalls at the local stable in exchange for riding lessons had been their dream jobs. But it seemed her sister had flipped a switch when she hit fifteen. Now all she cared about was clothes, makeup and complaining with the older girls—the ones rich enough to own their own horses, who always had their noses tilted up and dressed as if they were riding in the Olympics.

  Those girls weren’t even real friends. Friends wouldn’t whisper behind Erin’s back or make fun of people shoveling manure. But there wasn’t much Nikki could do. She needed Erin to want to come to the barn. Their mother wouldn’t drive twenty miles after work to pick up only one daughter. It was always double or nothing. And Erin was the oldest, the one who dictated their after-school activities.

  Nikki adored her sister but deciphering her frame of mind was bewildering. And Erin needed constant attention, not just from their mother but from outsiders. Otherwise she moaned and sulked and descended into dark moods, and there was that time she thought she was fat and wouldn’t eat, not even when Nikki made Erin her favorite desserts.

  However, their mother was worried and that only fanned Nikki’s determination to help. She’d do anything to make her sister smile, to get her best friend back, but it seemed Erin had changed when she started wearing makeup. It sucked that Nikki wouldn’t have time for her riding lesson today, something she’d worked all week to earn, but at least a trail ride would leave Erin in a good mood. And cleaning extra stalls meant Nikki would have a reason to be around the big jumpers.

  Those horses were so majestic that simply leading them to their paddocks was an honor, even if they pulled too hard on their lead lines and sometimes hurt her hand. Besides, if she worked quickly cleaning the stalls she might finish up in time to practice braiding. Plaiting manes was an excellent way to make money. On show days, the boarders paid a fortune to anyone who could properly braid their horses’ manes and tails.

  Time would be tight though. The shavings pile was on the other side of the barn, and the huge box stalls would each need three and a half wheelbarrows of shavings. Filling them with fresh bedding took almost as much time as mucking out the manure.

  Squaring her shoulders, she hurried back down the aisle. Erin was responsible for cleaning six stalls. Five of the stalls were empty—the horses were turned out in paddocks for the day—but the sixth stall contained a towering bay mare. Despite her size, the mare needed a separate turnout or else she was picked on by the others. Even Stormy, the smallest pony in the stable, chased her around unmercifully, something that the other kids found amusing but Nikki thought was mostly sad. Nothing bothered her as much as a bully.

  “Give them a swift kick,” she said, clipping on a lead line and eyeing the bay mare’s massive feet. “Bet then they’d leave you alone.”

  “I bet they would too.” Justin Decker’s amused voice sounded behind her. “But size doesn’t equate to toughness. Just look at you and Stormy.”

  Nikki gave a wary smile at her boss who was standing by the stall door. She’d had a little fight on her first day—not a fight, more of a dust-up really—but Justin never forgot how she’d stood up to one of the biggest boys. She used to be intimidated by Justin. He was a great instructor and could ride the wildest animals, even Diesel, who pinned his ears and shook the ground whenever he bucked.

  At first she’d thought Justin was one of the privileged boarders but later learned he was working his way through university and had been around horses all his life. The stable owners trusted him completely and rarely visited the barn when he was around.

  His half smile turned to a frown. “What are you doing with that mare?”

  “Turning her out so I can clean the stall.” Nikki’s words came out a bit defensive but she wanted to prove she could handle the big jumpers almost as well as Erin. Sure, maybe the big horses dragged her around a bit but she’d never once let go of the lead rope, no matter how far they pulled her. And she didn’t need anyone looking out for her.

  “But this is Erin’s section,” he said. “And your hands are already rope burned.” She gave a silent groan. Justin noticed everything. He’d already turned toward the sound of giggling, his eyes narrowed. Three of the four girls were boarders—they paid to keep their horses here. They could laugh and laze around all they wanted. But Erin wasn’t a paying customer. She was supposed to be working.

  “I promised Erin I’d clean her stalls today,” Nikki said quickly. “And my hands are much better today so I can work really fast.”

  Justin didn’t like animals stan
ding in dirty stalls longer than necessary and always worried about the horses. He’d fired a girl for feeding an hour late although one rumor said the real reason was that was because she’d shown up wearing a swim suit top.

  Nikki made a mental note to keep an eye on Erin’s clothes. Lately her sister had been changing at school and wearing her riding clothes on the bus. It was weird to wear an expensive pair of breeches to shovel manure, but Erin seemed to be copying the rich girls, from their hair and makeup right down to their clothing.

  But what if the boarders started wearing skimpy tops? Justin couldn’t kick out the boarders but he was in charge of barn help. And he was a stickler for rules. He was still frowning, looking back and forth from Nikki’s hands to the cluster of girls at the far end of the barn.

  “They’re going on a trail ride,” Nikki explained, giving a vague wave down the aisle. “So I want to clean Erin’s stalls. And just skip my riding lesson with you.”

  Justin tilted his head and for a moment she thought everything would be okay. Then his mouth firmed. “I already set up the pony jumps,” he said. “Besides, these stalls aren’t your responsibility. This is the third time this week you’ve had to clean your sister’s stalls. I’ll have another talk with her.”

  Nikki’s fingers tightened around the lead rope. Justin was already turning away, his tight shoulders showing it wouldn’t be a friendly chat. But Erin would be mortified if he chewed her out in front of the boarders. Doubly mortified because Erin had a ridiculous crush on Justin. All the older girls did.

  “Wait,” Nikki called. “Don’t say anything. Don’t, please…Justin.” She stumbled over his name, hated asking for favors. Besides, pleading wouldn’t help. Justin was like a bossy older brother, and not the type to change his mind.

  But surprisingly he turned, folded both arms over the top of the stall door and waited. Everyone said he could make both people and animals listen, simply by leveling his intimidating stare. He rarely used that look on her. Had always been patient, even at the beginning when she didn’t even know how to properly halter a horse.

  His dark eyes pinned her now though, as if he could read every thought, and that wasn’t at all comfortable. She stilled, just like one of the horses he handled so effortlessly. Silence stretched and she began wiggling. Then the truth came out.

  “It’s just that Erin feels better if everyone likes her.” Nikki’s words escaped in a rush. “This is the first time those girls ever invited her on a trail ride. It’s important to her so I want her to be able to go.”

  Something flickered in Justin’s expression. He no longer looked so bossy, only resigned. “I can’t let this continue. You’ve been doing the bulk of her work. There are others who would love to have her job, kids like you who work and listen and appreciate the chance to be here. Besides, lately she’s been impatient with the horses.”

  Nikki swallowed the growing lump in her throat. Everything he said was true. She hated how Erin misused her spurs when Justin wasn’t around. But she couldn’t imagine how empty her own life would be without horses. There wouldn’t be a single bright spot left.

  “Erin has to stay.” Her voice cracked. “Or I won’t be able to work here either.”

  The mare edged sideways, picking up on Nikki’s distress, almost squashing her toes with a plate-sized hoof.

  Justin yanked open the stall door. “This isn’t a teen hangout. And don’t let that mare push you around. Make her listen or else you could get hurt.”

  Naturally the horse turned stock still as soon as Justin entered the stall. Usually Nikki brushed off any help, but today she let him pry the lead line from her hand. He never let a horse get away with bad behavior. People either. And it had been a mistake admitting the truth. Justin was her boss, not a friend. She should have said Erin had a headache or a sore arm, even a painful menstrual period. Anything would have been better.

  “You’re too small to safely handle these jumpers.” Justin continued to scold, his voice as disapproving as her school principal’s. “That’s why I assigned you the pony section. And you can’t do your work properly if you keep blistering your hands.”

  Her shoulders slumped and she stared at the toes of her boots, guessing he was going to send her packing along with Erin. But his next words surprised her.

  “Now tell me why you can’t be here without your sister,” he said. “You come on the bus, correct? Is it the drive home? Maybe I can find someone who’s going your way.”

  She jerked her head up, astonished by his offer. They both knew that if Justin asked, any number of parents would volunteer to drive her home. But the good feeling vanished as quickly as it had come. Her mother didn’t trust Erin to be alone. And if Justin fired Erin, she’d need cheering up; she’d need Nikki’s company. That’s the way it always worked.

  “Don’t worry,” Justin said, studying her face. “I’ll figure out the driving. But you need to accept that Erin no longer shares the same interests. It’s no big deal. It happens a lot with the older kids.”

  “She likes to ride though,” Nikki said, crossing her arms. “She’s really excited about the trail ride. And if she can ride with those girls, it will change everything.”

  Justin shook his head. “Trail rides take too long. And remember the rule: No working, no riding.”

  “But couldn’t you let me do her stalls again, just for this week? Because I know my sister. Once she feels good about herself, she’ll be back to normal and then she’ll be even better at her job.” Nikki crossed her fingers, not completely certain Erin would ever be content mucking out stalls. But desperation left her scrambling.

  Besides, it didn’t matter what she said. Judging by the set of Justin’s jaw, it was clear he wouldn’t change his mind. She’d seen that look before and it never boded well for the person on the other end. She pressed her hands over her stomach, physically sick at the thought of not being able to see her favorite pony. Knowing Stormy was waiting to greet her, ready to trot out and receive his apple, helped her make it though the boring school day.

  “I can’t make exceptions,” Justin said. “It’s not fair to all the other kids who work so hard. But don’t worry. There’s no reason you can’t keep your job. I’ll make sure you have a way home even if I have to drive you myself.”

  His kindness only made her gut roil again and she hated the way her eyes itched. But she felt helpless and embarrassingly close to crying. She certainly wasn’t going to admit the truth, that her older sister was acting weird and couldn’t be left alone or—and Nikki had learned to accept it as fact—that her mother loved Erin more than her.

  She settled her quivering breath and raised her head, knowing she couldn’t leave here without a fight. “If you let me work out the stalls with Erin,” she said boldly, “I’ll wash and groom your horses before every show.”

  She didn’t want to think of how much time that would take or how she’d ever fit in any more riding lessons. But at least she and Erin would still be able to come to the barn.

  Justin’s expression didn’t change, but she sensed his surprise. She definitely had his attention. He didn’t even notice the mare was sniffing at his pocket, a familiarity he didn’t usually permit.

  “I’ll braid their manes and tails too,” she added, guessing that offer wouldn’t have much value. Justin could braid a horse in his sleep: tight beautiful plaits while hers were big and loose, and usually fell out as soon as the horse started to trot.

  But he just looked at her with those dark eyes. Then he gave a little nod. “All right, Nik. But you need to put the horses in crossties and use the mounting block, not the tippy stool. And wear gloves the rest of the week. There are some extra pairs beside my tack box.”

  “Really? We have a deal?” Nikki gaped for a moment then solemnly stuck out her hand, not caring about her blisters, scarcely daring to breathe until he shook it.

  But this was so incredible it was hard not to jump in delight. Justin’s word was like gold. He always did what
he promised and he could never be coerced. Even when a boarder’s father had demanded Nikki cool out his daughter’s fancy show pony, Justin had refused, saying it would be better if the pony moved to another stable. And when he was teaching, he never wasted time by talking to adults, no matter how expensive a car they drove.

  Two hours later, she was still bouncing. No one ever negotiated with Justin but she’d done it. She and Erin had a reprieve.

  Her sister had looked so happy heading out on the trail with the older girls. Of course, the three boarders had been mounted on their long-striding hunters and Erin had been on Pancho, her placid lesson horse. But her sister had worn a beautiful smile beneath her new helmet, delighted just to be included.

  “I can’t believe I have the rest of the afternoon off,” Erin had whispered. “This is perfect, thanks to you!” She’d even twisted in the saddle, giving Nikki a grateful wave before disappearing in the trees.

  But now the air had chilled and the day was dissolving into dusk. Nikki peered out the doorway, rubbing her arms and scanning the trail. She’d finished dumping shavings in the stalls much faster than expected and even had time to braid two manes. But now she was eager to hear about the ride. The girls should be back soon. None of the riders wore jackets and their horses would be eager for their evening grain.

  At least Erin would be in a good mood after the trail ride. Crossing the brook was always fun. Justin had taken Nikki and Erin out there many times, and brook jumping was high on their list of favorite things.

  Finally voices sounded in the distance, followed by the drumming of hooves. Three horses trotted out from the towering trees, with riders perched high on their backs, girls with fancy black helmets and perfect white smiles. They were talking about low-hanging branches, jumping the brook, and how hard it was to trot and get a really good selfie.

  Nikki scooted from the barn. “Where’s Erin?” she asked, peering past them into the gathering gloom.

  The first rider, Kimberley, looked blank then glanced around the open doorway. “Isn’t she back yet? We haven’t seen her since she didn’t want to jump the brook.”