Page 23 of After 5
Caiyan started the Buick and passed us on the way out of town. “We need to follow him.”
“Hunting the pirate may not be a good thing. If he discovers us, we could cause problems back home.”
“My gut feeling tells me Mortas is looking for him, too.”
“It’s your call, doll, but let’s hurry ’cuz I don’t want to be stuck here wearing these knickers longer than necessary.”
I decided not to ask what he meant by that and searched for keys left in the ignition of the few cars in front of the bar. We came up empty. These farmers locked their cars. They weren’t taking any chances with the money they’d invested on their transportation.
“What happened to leaving the key in the ignition?” I tugged on the last door handle with no luck.
“That’s the fifties. These cowboys saved their pennies to buy these cars, and they’re not parting with them easily,” Ace said. “We could check out the hardware store and see if they have something to jimmy the lock.”
At the end of the row of buildings, a tall, chestnut mare was tied up to a hitching post located at the side of the barbershop.
“I’ve got a better idea,” I said and walked toward the horse. Ace followed.
“Oh no, I don’t do horses.” Ace stood hands on hips.
“What you mean you don’t do horses?” I asked. “I thought horseback riding was part of our training requirement?” I had spent three weeks at horse camp learning how to ride.
“I skipped that lesson,” he said.
“Ace, we’re in a hurry. We need to follow Caiyan before he gets too far ahead.”
“I’m not riding that beast.”
I put my foot in the stirrup and asked for a boost. Ace rolled his eyes and pushed my behind up onto the large horse. It wasn’t easy straddling the horse in my dress, but a girl’s got to make do.
“We need to find Mortas. I have a feeling Caiyan is the common thread here. We’re going to follow him. So, alley oop.”
He frowned up at me.
“Ace come on, this is not debatable.”
Ace stood his ground. “Everything’s debatable, hon.”
“What’s it going to take?” I asked, trying to keep the horse steady.
He paused. “Full day at the Shibui Spa with a facial, mani-pedi, and an aromatherapy massage by one of the hot guys, not one of the wimpy females with the small hands.”
“Done.” I held out a hand to Ace.
He put his foot in the stirrup, grabbed my hand, and I boosted him aboard.
The horse gave a snort at its new passenger.
Ace leaned into my back and huffed into my ear. “I should have held out for a microderm abrasion.”
After a few minutes, I became acquainted with the horse. As we trotted down the street, a man, most likely the owner of the horse, ran out of the barber shop, shaving cream on his beard, shaking his fist, and shouting profanities my way.
“Hold on!” I shouted at Ace, and he wrapped his arms around my midsection. I gave the horse a good thrust with the heel of my shoe, and he galloped off down the road.
I headed the direction Caiyan took in the Buick and slowed the horse to a steady gait after I confirmed the angry owner wasn’t in full pursuit. Ace maintained a steady bitching about being saddle sore.
“How can you be sore already? We’ve been riding less than ten minutes.”
“My parts are sensitive.”
