**********
The next day, Jarod went to the track. Parker stayed in their
new condo. She walked outside to bring in the last of the
bags when I woman from next door gave out.
"You must be my new neighbor." she said to Parker.
"Yes, my husband and I moved in last night." Parker was
trying to be nice. She wasn't used to meeting new people. In
fact, she never met anybody if she didn't have to. She like
to stay to herself that way nobody was bothering her.
"It's nice to meet you. My name is Ellen. Is this your first
child?"
"Yeah, could you tell?"
"I just didn't see any kids things so I figured it was your
first."
"What about you Ellen? Do you have children?"
"Yes, three. Let me tell you by the time you have the third
one everything goes down hill from there."
"What?" Parker replied.
"I mean you never have time for each other and for yourself.
Your clothes are stained from baby vomit. Your sex life will
be over. Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you all that. I
didn't mean to scare you. I just thought I should warn you."
"That's okay. How old are your children?"
"Well, Ryan is 5, Jordan is 3, and Alicia, the baby, is 7
months."
"Can I ask you a question?" Parker asked her.
"Sure, let me help you with that." Ellen said as she carried
the last bag in the condo for Parker.
"Do you know how to take care of a baby when you had Ryan?"
"You mean, did I know what to do, say when he was crying,
the diapers, and the whole bit?"
"Yeah," Parker responded.
"No, I had to learn it all. When I had Ryan I was so careful
with everything he did or touched and now by the time Alicia
came along I am lucking to keep an eye on her."
"I see." Parker said scared.
"I'm sure you will be fine. Don't worry. It will come to you."
"I hope so." Parker mumbled to herself.
"Well, I have to be going. I was on my way to the store. Can
I get anything for you?"
"No, but thanks for the help."
"You're welcome. I will see you around." Ellen said as she
walked out.
"Bye." Parker replied.
She shut the door and sat down of the couch. She put her
hands on her stomach. "I hope I can be a good mother to you."
she said softly.
Jarod walks in. "Honey, where are you?" he said as he walked
in the back door.
"I'm in here." she responded.
Jarod walks over to her, sits down on the couch. "What are
you doing?"
"Thinking." she replied.
"About what?"
"About being a mother."
"What are you worried about? You are going to be fine."
"That is easy for you to say. You won't be there everyday."
Parker replied hateful. Then she gets up and wallk into the
bedroom.
Jarod follows her and she shuts the door in his face. "What
did I do?"
She didn't answered him. He stands on the other side and
says, "Let me in." Still no word. He walks off. He goes into
the kitchen and makes himself a sandwich. He sit down on the
couch and watching TV. After awhile he hears Parker open the
door but he can't see her. He gets up and walks toward the
bedroom. She is laying on the bed.
"Are you going to tell me what that was about?"
She doesn't move. Jarod lays beside her. He rolls her over to
face him. "What is wrong with you? You know I would be there
everyday if I could. But daddy won't let that happen."
She looks at him and says, "It will all go down hill after I
have this baby."
He wipes her tears and says, "What are you talking about?"
"I meet our neighbor today. She has three children. She was
telling me how things go down hill after you have a baby."
"We won't let that happen to us. Besides we aren't like
normal couples and when did you start listening to other
people?"
"Yeah, tell me about it. We are not your normal Walton
family. I am sorry. How was your day?" she replied as she
wiped her tears.
"It was great. Three of the four horse I have been working
with won today." he said as he takes out a handful of money.
"Here."
"What this for?" she replied.
"Go, buy something. What ever you want?" he responded as he
handed her some money. "I guess I don't have to ask how your
day went." He wiped another tear.
"I guess not." she replied back looking into his brown eyes.
"I hate to do this to you again but Mr. Davis wants us to go
out with him tonight. He is having a party on the Belle to
celebrate his wins today."
"It's fine." she says softly.
"Now what is wrong?"
"Nothing." she responded. "What time do we have to be there?"
"8:00."
"Thats good." she said as she reached up to kiss him. She ran
her fingers over his chest. "What time is it now?" she asked.
"5:30. Why?"
"No reason." she replied. She kissed him again.
"Now, don't start something you can't finish." he replied.
"Oh, I can finish it." she replied softly. Then her tongue
entered his mouth slowly. She penned him down on the bed. He
wrapped his arms around her while she kissed him. Her lips
moved from his mouth to his neck. Just about the time they
were starting to get involved with each other, the phone rang.
"Not now." Parker yelled out.
"Don't answer it." Jarod whispered as he kissed her neck.
"I will have to get it. What if they decided to keep
calling?" she responded as she reached for the phone.
Jarod reached for her hand but it was too late. She picked up
the phone and said, "Hello."
"Is Jarod there?" the voice said.
"Yeah, let me get him."
"It's for you." she replied while handing him the phone.
Jarod took the phone and Parker got off the bed and started
to ready for tonight.
"Hello" Jarod responded.
"I thought you should know, watch your back."
"Who is this?" he asked.
"It's not important who I am. Just be careful around Mr.
Davis' place." the man hung up the phone.
Jarod walks into the bathroom where Parker is getting ready.
"Who was that?"
"I don't know. He told me to be careful. I am sure it was
nothing." he replied hoping not to worry her. "What are
wearing?" he asked her.
"This. Is that okay or do I need to change?" she responded.
Jarod looking the black dress pants and white dress shirt
that she had on, responded, "No, you look great. Hey, isn't
that my shirt?"
"Yes, I didn't think you would mind. It was the biggest shirt
I could find."
"No, I guess I better get ready." he said as he gave her a kiss.
**********
Everyone arrives at the Belle. Mr. Davis introduces Jarod to
his old pal, David French.
"This is my new trainer." he tells David.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard only good things
about you."
"Well, that good to know. I hope he didn't tell you any bad."
Jarod replied. "This is my wife, Missy."
"It is a pleasure to meet you." he told Parker as he kissed
her hand.
"Same here." she replied. Then, she turned to Jarod, "I am
going to walk over there. I will see you later."
Jarod watched her walk off.
"You have a lovely wife, Jarod."
"Thank you." he responded. 'I hope she stays on her best
behavior.' he thought to himself.
As the evening kept moving, Jarod learned several people. He
kept his eyes open for anyone supicious.
Mr. Davis walked to Jarod later in the evening, "I want you
to meet, Lynch Jackson. He has been with me for five years
now."
"It is a pleasure to meet you." Jarod said.
"The pleasure is all mine. So, you are the one that took
Tom's place. He was a good friend." Lynch replied while
shaking Jarod's hand.
"I'm sorry about Tom. I wished I would have met him."
Jarod replied.
He talked to Lynch for a while then responded, "Excuse me."
Jarod walked away for Lynch. He saw his wife talking to Mrs.
Davis.
He walked up to her and said, "Excuse me ladies but can I
talk to my wife for a moment."
"Oh, sure." Mrs. Davis responded.
Parker walked off with Jarod. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing, I just wanted to see you." he responded. He had his
arm around her back, when Mr. Davis walked up to him again.
"Jarod, come on. I have someone else for you to meet."
"I'll be right there." he responded.
Parker said, "Go, I will talk to you later."
Jarod kissed her forehead and walked off with Mr. Davis.
Mrs. Davis walked over to her. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah," Parker replied.
"Would you like to meet to the wives of men who work for my
husband?"
Parker responded, "Sure." She didn't really want to but what
else was she going to do. They were on a boat in the middle
of Lake Hamiltion.
She walked with Mrs. Davis. "This is Mary, Carol, and Debbie.
Their husbands work out at our ranch."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Parker replied trying to
smile happily.
Mr. Davis left Jarod talking to Richard, while he visited
more people. After a while Jarod couldn't see Parker any
where. James and Walter walked up to Jarod and Richard.
Jarod talked a minute before saying to Richard, "Excuse me. I
need to find my wife. It was nice meet you." Then he walked
off.
Jarod walked around before asking Mrs. Davis, "Have you seen
Missy?"
"She was here a minute ago. She may have walked up stairs to
get some fresh air."
Jarod walked up the stairs. Before reached to top, he heard
a voice saying, "I don't care. Do what I told you! Up the
dose on the horse." Jarod walking softly and listening
carefully. 'Who is that?' he wondered.
He heard he end the call. Jarod quickly walked up the stair
not to be seen. He watched the man walk back inside. He
watched as he entered in. The man turned to talk to Mr. Davis
when he noticed it was Lynch.
"Lynch!" he said to himself.
We watched him for a short while before finding Parker
standing by the railing at the front of the boat.
"Hey, I have been looking for you."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I had to get out of there." she responded.
"I'm sorry." Jarod replied.
"For what?" she asked him softly.
"For dragging you everywhere. I know you don't like this sort
of thing."
"It's okay. I have learned a lot about people."
Jarod wasn't sure if she mean that to be good or not. "I hope
you plan on finishing what you started before we got
interupted." he whispered softly in her ear.
"I can probably do that." she said with a smile.
"Here," he said.
"What?"
"My jacket. You must be cold." He put his jacket on her and
wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Look over there. Isn't that beautiful?" she said as she
pointed at the sky.
"I don't know. I have seen better." he responded as he kissed
her neck.
She turned around and faced Jarod. She gave him a kiss and
said, "We better get back down there before they come looking
for us."
"In a minute. I want to hold you." he responded as he held
her tight in his arms.
She laid her head on his shoulder and said, "I love you, Jarod."
"I love you too." he responded lovely.
He held her tight for a few minutes longer and said, "Okay,
we go if you want to."
He took her hand and they walked down the stairs.
"Be careful." he said as he walked behind her.
They walked back in the party and Mr. Davis was talking about
how wonderful Jarod was by having three of his horses come in
today. Jarod could see that Lynch was feeling jealous and
deceived.
The evening was coming to an end. They landed back at the
dock and everyone was leaving.
"Jarod, I will see you in the morning." Mr. Davis said as
they were leaving.
"Yeah, I will be there."
**********
Jarod took his wife back to the condo.
"Where were we?" he asked her.
"We were about here." she responded as she kissed his lips.
"No, I think we were here." he said as he lead her into the
bedroom. He kissed her lips and she pushed him down on the bed.
"Now I remember. We were here." he said as she unbuttoned
his shirt.
She didn't say a word. She looked at him and smiled. He
pulled her on him.
**********
The next morning he left Parker in bed. Before walking out
he bend down and gave her a kiss.
"I will see you later. I love you."
She touched his arm and said,"I love you." as he walked away
from her.
**********
Jarod arrived at the track. He ran into Dr. Baker.
"Hey, how are you?" Dr. Baker asked.
"Fine and you?"
"Fine."
"May I ask you a question?"
"Sure." Dr. Baker answered.
"Do you know what drugs Mr. Davis' horse was on before he died?"
"He was on Lasix and Butte."
"Why?"
"I was wondering. Did anyone do a drug test on the horse
after he died?"
"I don't know. I'm not the horse's vet but I want to say that
Lynch did."
Jarod didn't say anything at first. Thinking for a minute, he
said, "Thanks."
"I have to go. I will see you around." Dr. Baker replied.
"Yeah, See you later."
Jarod walked around to see if he could find something. Then
Lynch walked up.
"Hey, Jarod."
"Hey, Lynch."
"Have you seen Mr. Davis?" Jarod asked him.
"I think we is up in the stands."
"Thanks," Jarod responded.
He walked up to the track. He find Mr. Davis sitting in his
private seats.
"I have to run out to your house. I left the horse's papers
there. I will be right back."
"Okay, don't be long."
"I want. It will be just a few minutes."
Jarod headed for the Davis' house. He slipped in the house
and find the file on the horse that killed Tom. As he read
it, he noticed that Butte was mentioned. He made copies and
called the hospital behind the track.
"I need the lab, please." he said when the operate came on
the phone.
"Lab, Michelle."
"Yes, This is Dr. Wright. I am with Dr. Baker and I was
wondering if you still have the blood on the horse, Kiss Me
Mr. Davis."
"Let me check."
Jarod holds for a few minutes and Michelle returns to the phone.
"Yes, we do."
"Great, I was wondering if you could tell me if you could run
a drug test on it. I am looking for the drug Butte."
"Sure, no problem."
"Thanks. You can reach me at 555-0584. How long will that take?"
"Oh, about a 30 minutes to an hour."
"Okay, Thanks again."
"You're welcome. Bye." she said as she hung up the phone.
***********
"Now, to get back to the track." he said to himself. Jarod
made it back just in time to for the next race.
Lynch walked up to him, "Where have you been? I have been
looking everywhere for you."
"I'm sorry. I had to run to the truck. I left something out
there. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just didn't see you. You are suppose to stay with
the horse."
"I'm sorry. I left him in good hands. Besides I'm back now."
Jarod was suspicious of Lynch and knew he felt the same. An
hour went by and Jarod's phone rang.
"Dr. Wright." Michelle said.
"Yes," Jarod responded.
"I have the lab results that you asked for. It looks like
the horse was overdosed on the drug." Michelle replied.
"Thanks, can I get a copy of that report?"
"Sure, do you want to fax it?"
"No, I will be by in a few minutes to pick it up."
"Okay, see you then."
*********
Jarod goes into the lab and asked for Michelle.
Michelle hands him the report. "Thanks again." he said as he
looked it over. He headed back to the track and started
working on a plan to catch Lynch.
*********
The next morning, Jarod called Lynch.
"Can you meet in the stables? I have some news about Tom's
death. You will want to hear this." Jarod responded on the phone.
Lynch meet him at the stables. "Where are you?"
"I'm in here." Jarod replied as he sat in the stall.
Lynch walked toward him. "What are you doing in there?"
"I thought you might want to see how Tom felt before he got killed."
"What are talking about?" Lynch replied.
Lynch walked into the stall and Jarod sneaked out. A horse
ran in and Jarod shut the door.
"What's going on?" Lynch called out.
"This horse had an overdose to Butte just like the one that
killed Tom."
The horse started jumping up and ran over to Lynch. Lynch
cried out, "Don't let him kill me!" The horse had blood
coming from his nose and kept jumping up.
"Now, you must know how Tom must have felt before he died."
Jarod replied.
"Get him out of here."
"Not until you confess what you did."
"Okay, I did it. Tom found out I was stealing money from Mr.
Davis. I had to shut him up. I didn't mean to kill him. I
just want to hurt him. That's all I swear."
Jarod taping the whole thing, opens the door and Lynch comes
running out. Mr. Davis walked up about that time and heard
the whole thing.
Mr. Davis said, "How could you? I trusted you."
"I'm sorry. I needed the money. I was in trouble with loan
shark."
"You could have come to me. Why did you have to kill Tom? He
was a good man." Mr. Davis replied.
Jarod got the horse out of the stall as the police walked up
to carry Lynch away. He wiped the fake blood from the horse's
nose. He pet him and put him back into his stall.
Mr. Davis walked up to Jarod and said, "Thank you Jarod."
"You're welcome. I have to be going now. Thanks for the job
and the place to live."
"You can't leave now. We are in the middle of a racing season."
"I'm sorry but I want to get my wife home. She wants to have
to baby there."
"I understand but can you stay one more day. Come and watch
the race with us before you leave."
"I can probably talk my wife into that."
Jarod shakes Mr. Davis' hand and walks off. He goes home to
Parker. They are all packed up and ready to go. Jarod and
Parker goes by the track for one last time. They stay and
watch a few races before they headed off to another place.
The End