Lilly's smile was weak. "How nice for you both," she said. And her brain turned over the at least. Since she'd become intimate with Clay he hadn't left town. And Annie was a friend--if Clay had had female company here, Annie would have told Lilly.

Yet here was a woman who believed her ex-husband was still her husband in almost every sense of the word.

"Of course I had another reason for coming so far to see Clay," she went on. "Clay's the best--we hated to lose him at our stables. But if he's the best then the vet he chose to work with must also be the best. And I have a lame quarter horse that the vet my stable has on retainer can't fix. Clay loves that horse. She's worth half a million dollars. She has many more wins in her if she gets treated. So," she said, grinning, "I get the horse treated properly and I get to spend a couple of nights with my husband."

First Lilly's stomach did a flip--a couple of nights with Clay? Then she got stuck on that figure: half a million. She tried some quick math--had she earned that much in ten years? More to the point, would she earn enough to equal the cost of this truck and trailer in a dozen years?

"Clay should be back before long," Lilly said. "It's unusual to have everyone away from the clinic for long."

"Thanks, dear," the beautiful blonde said.

"Sure," Lilly said, heading for her truck. As she did so, something nagged at her. She turned back to the woman. "Where's the horse?" she asked.

"Oh, she's in the stall. I got here yesterday--Clay already looked at her, we spent some time together and Nate was going to read the MRI study that was done. And I might stay a few days, depending on Clay's schedule."

"Ah," Lilly said, putting her hands in the back pockets of her jeans as she backed away.

He was different last night, she thought. Tired. Slow. Maybe not interested? Maybe well satisfied by the blonde with the expensive gear and winning horse?

No. No, surely not.

But after she drove away, she took an unnecessary turn down a country road, pulled off to the side and tried to think it through. To get her bearings.

He said he'd been divorced a couple of years; she assumed that was the end of the relationship he'd had with his wife. He'd been different last night, but still loving and sweet. But the woman...the ex...she was irresistible. Did the woman, whose name she didn't even know, still have a hold on him?

Lilly didn't know how to answer these questions or how to find the answers. After about an hour of thinking it through she decided to go back to the clinic, even if it meant confronting Clay while the woman was still there. Whatever the challenge, she needed to know what was going on.

When Clay pulled into the clinic, he saw Isabel's truck and trailer, but she was nowhere in sight. He parked and found her leaning into one of the small paddocks, looking at Streak. She turned toward him.

"What an incredible horse," she said. "What's his story?"

"He came to us a difficult, unfinished stud colt," Clay said. "Let me bring him in and I'll talk to you about Diamond." He got the bridle and lead, put Streak in the stall, and stood in the aisle between the stalls. Isabel followed. She stayed quiet and back while he took care of the horse and put up the tack. Then he brought Diamond out of her stall. He explained about the minor training injury that Nathaniel had seen on the MRI and confirmed with examination. "Is it possible her trainer overworked her? That's the most common cause, and it's usually in a younger horse."

"Possible," she said with a shrug. "I usually pay close attention to detail, but lately... I admit, I've been a little lost without you at the stable...."

He tried to ignore that and said, "Well, the cure will cost you--she can't train for at least three months," he said. "Which means she won't race."

"How'd he see it?" she asked. "My vet didn't--"

"You could use a sharper, more conservative veterinarian. And why a stable as rich as yours doesn't have an orthopedic specialist on retainer is a mystery to me. Nathaniel spent some time at an equine orthopedics clinic, studying for a specialty. If a horse like this doesn't work for a living--"

"Can we please talk about...us?"

He was caught off guard. He gave Diamond a stroke. "Isabel, there really is no us."

She moved closer to him. They both stood beside the magnificent mare. Clay was tall at six-two, but Isabel was a good five-eight in her bare feet, and in boots she stood up to him admirably and could look in his eyes.

"I didn't realize how much it would hurt when you left," she said.

"And it also hurt while I was there. You needed that divorce to appease your father."

"Not just my father, Clay. You were so unhappy."

He let a huff of laughter escape. "Was I the only one who was unhappy? Come on, Isabel--we came from different worlds and couldn't live together in either of them. I couldn't make it in that mansion, inside your social life. I did put a tux on for you on several occasions. But for your part, you've never seen the inside of a reservation."

She laughed and her eyes actually sparkled. "Yes, a tux, with all that hair flowing down your back. You stood out, that's for sure. If it was your intention to be different..."

"Here's where we parted company from the start. I'm not different. I'm Native. There isn't anything about me that's contrived to fit in."

"And yet, we fit together so well..." she said in a sultry voice.

"For a while it seemed as if that was the case. Isabel, I think you chose me to challenge your father. You have a long history of love affairs that haven't worked for one reason or another and Frederik hated all of them. I don't know if you've spent a lifetime trying to meet his expectations or trying to provoke him. Whatever the case, I don't want to be a part of it anymore."

"But I love you," she said softly. "And you said you'd always love me." A tear spilled out of her eye and rolled down her beautiful, smooth cheek.

He put his big hand on her cheek and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Of course I'll always love you, but..."

He heard a gasp from the stable doors. Clay turned to see Lilly standing there, her hand over her mouth, her blue eyes wide. "Lilly," he said.

She backed away. Then she turned and ran. Before he could get to the doors, she jumped into her grandfather's delivery truck, started the engine and roared out of the clinic compound. Of course she didn't wait long enough for him to follow her, to speak to her. He hung his head and said, "God!"

"Oh God, is right!" Isabel said from right behind him. To his utter astonishment, he heard her laughter. He turned to see her face alight with amusement. "Clay! Did you hook yourself up to a little Indian girl? I knew it!" And then she laughed as if highly amused.

His eyes and nostrils flared and he took a giant step toward her. "She is not a girl! She's a Hopi woman!" he said in a low, menacing tone. "She is Native American! Of indigenous people! I want you to take your horse, your diagnosis and recommendation and go home now. And if you want help for your horses again, make an appointment and send one of your hands!" He strode away from her and the stable, digging in the pocket of his jeans for the keys to his truck as he went.

As Clay was pulling away from the clinic, Gabe was arriving in his little green truck, having just passed Lilly, who was flying down the road at high speed. Clay never looked at Gabe; never waved, never slowed. And even before the attractive blonde stepped out of the barn, he knew who the fancy truck and trailer on the property must belong to. And he knew something bad must have happened.

He parked his truck and got out, approaching the woman.

Her smile was bright and welcoming; she held her arms wide for an embrace. Both things were a first. "Well, hello, young man! It's been a while since I've seen you."

He really didn't want to touch her. Isabel had always repelled him. But not knowing what had gone on between his father and former stepmother, he allowed her to embrace him, kiss his cheek, give his dark hair a pet. When she touched him he realized that's what bothered him most--she made him feel like a pet.

"You're looking well," she said sweetly.

"What happened with my father?" he asked. "He looked upset or angry. And Lilly..."

"I'm not really sure," she replied, arching her eyebrows as if confused. "We were just talking when the girl--Lilly you say?--when she saw us and ran off. And I think I said the wrong thing--I asked your father if she was an Indian girl and he barked at me that she was Hopi." She shrugged helplessly. "I seem to have offended him, Gabe. I'll have to make amends."

Gabe put his hands in his pockets and hung his head. His father was not overly sensitive about such vernacular unless it was meant disrespectfully. He lifted his eyes and looked at her. "And that's all it was? You asked if she was Indian?"

Again the shrug, but Gabe didn't miss the shifting of her eyes. "As far as I know. I'll give him a day or two to simmer down, then call him and try to sort it out. You know, one of the things I'm most proud of is that we managed to separate, end our marriage, so amicably. We've always maintained a good relationship, a very strong friendship. I wouldn't want it to all crumble away because I stupidly chose the wrong word. Surely he'll accept my apology?"

"I didn't know you were here," was all Gabe could think of to say.

She laughed. "Well, we're even. I speak to your father regularly, but I didn't know you were here, either. Are you visiting?"

"No. I'm staying with my aunt and uncle in Grace Valley. My father arranged it so we could see each other every day. I didn't know you and my dad were in touch."

"I guess he wouldn't think to mention," she said with a shrug. "Now, what are you going to do while you're here?"

He knew she was lying. They weren't in touch much, if at all. "I work at the clinic and stable and will be be finishing high school here."

The shock was evident on her face. "Oh? Why, that's wonderful! You must be so happy!"

"My father has worked many hard years so we could be together," Gabe said.

"Yes," she said solemnly. And wisely she didn't say any more. Clay had brought Gabe to the Sorensons' after his marriage, brought him to that big, cold, unfriendly house, and after just a few weeks sent him back to his grandparents. Gabe had occasionally visited the Sorensons' ranch in L.A. but he never again attempted to live there. His dad had said, "Surely you can see this isn't the right place for you."

And Gabe had said, "Is it the right place for you, Dad?"

"You know, Gabe," Isabel went on, "there are opportunities for you at our ranch when you've finished school. I would sponsor you myself. Hire you, that is. We're connected to many important breeders, training programs, et cetera. It might give you the right connections to establish your own equine business. You have only to call me if you're interested."

"Thank you," he said politely, knowing he'd never take her up on the offer.

"Well, I'd better be on my way then," she said, turning away. "Very nice seeing you, Gabe." And she strode back into the barn.

He called after her. "Are you loading that horse?"

"Yes," she said over her shoulder. "I brought her up here for your father and Dr. Jensen to have a look at her leg. I wasn't satisfied with our vet's diagnosis and for good reason--Clay and Dr. Jensen had a better idea of what was wrong with her. I'm glad I made the trip."

She is so full of shit, Gabe thought. Isabel Sorenson didn't have to cart her own champion horses around the state in a trailer to get second opinions. She could bring half the high-priced vets in the nation to her door; they'd be panting for a chance to give their opinions, to find a niche in that wealthy breeding and racing family. Isabel had come for his father. And at the moment Gabe was very happy he'd seen his father leaving angrily.

But he said, "Can I help you load her?"

Isabel stood aside, her hands behind her back. "Thank you. That would be so nice of you."

Gabe took the lead and put the horse in the fancy trailer. He closed it up and turned to Isabel. "Is there anything else I can get for you before you're on your way?"

"Not a thing. But do remember what I said, Gabe. If you want a chance with a big breeder, you have only to give me a call. I'll set everything up for you. You'll never have to worry about a thing. Being your father's son, I know you're a talented young man."

"Thank you," he said with a slight nod.

He watched her climb in the big truck, turn it around to face the road and roll down the window to give him a winning smile. "Call anytime, Gabe!"

"Thank you," he said. And as the truck and trailer exited the lot, heading down the road, he said, "When hell freezes over."

Lilly drove away from the Jensen Clinic as though her tailgate was on fire. She had trouble breathing. Hadn't Clay just told her he'd love her forever? Exactly how many women had he pledged to love forever? Did he envision a harem?

She had a flashback to her old boyfriend. To the time she'd seen him flirting with another girl and had thought to herself, He's just a boy. When I tell him we made a baby, that will be over. But a different outcome was in store for her. She told him and he laughed and said it couldn't be his--that he'd been careful. Lilly never understood what he meant by that--he certainly hadn't used a condom!