Read Online Saddled With Trouble by A. K. Alexander - Free Book Online

then?”
    “No.” She didn’t want to go there. It wasn’t necessary. He just needed to know the facts, and why Brad would have the need to see her uncle dead . . . maybe even her. She couldn’t imagine him actually doing it, but one never really knew a person. And, after nine years with Brad, she’d discovered that she hadn’t really known him at all. But Uncle Lou had him pegged from the get-go. Why hadn’t she listened to him?
    “With Brad out promoting me, and me supporting him, my uncle Lou became even more wary of him. He didn’t trust him. He never thought he was good enough for me, but he’d kept that to himself after I finally told him to drop it.” Michaela took a sip of her tea before going on. Cocoa padded over to her, her tail wagging. She reached down to scratch the dog’s head.
    “Beautiful dog.”
    “Thank you. She’s an old girl, but like tonight, she’s obviously still got it, still alert— sometimes.”
    “I’ve got a feeling that your uncle may have stopped talking about your ex, but he did something else to prove his point.”
    “He did. First, he decided to play by my rules and give Brad the benefit of the doubt. He gave him a job at his ranch, helping out with the artificial insemination program my uncle started a few years ago. But, Brad took advantage of the fact that Uncle Lou was family , and it didn’t take long before he came and went as he pleased. He also thought the job was beneath him.”
    “Why is that?”
    Michaela felt heat rise to her cheeks. “Well, even though the program Uncle Lou ran was a breeding program, as I said, it was artificial insemination, and someone needed to collect the . . .”
    Davis held up his palms. “Say no more. Brad was the collector?”
    “Yes, but it’s not what you’re thinking. It’s quite technical. They use dummy mares. It’s all very clean, but still,” she said, not really wanting to continue.
    Thankfully, Davis didn’t seem to either. “Right.”
    “Anyway, Brad was blasé about the job. My uncle grew more suspicious of him and had him followed.” Michaela stood, walked over to a drawer in the kitchen, and pulled out a large envelope, which contained photos. She handed them to Davis.
    “Brad.”
    “Yes, and Kirsten Redmond.”
    Davis thumbed through the prints that Michaela had gone over countless times in the past until she’d finally accepted that it was true: Her husband had cheated on her with Miss Rodeo America. She shut her eyes tight for a second as Davis continued scanning the photos. “I’ll burn those after we go to court.”
    “Your uncle Lou had him followed, this is what came of it, and you divorced Brad. I would assume that Brad also lost his job at the ranch?”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you think Brad wanted to get even with Lou for having him followed, thus causing your breakup?”
    “Partly. But Brad did plan to divorce me.”
    “Then what gives?” Davis patted his leg and Cocoa came over to him. “I like dogs. I’ve got a Lhaso Apso.”
    She laughed. “That’s not a dog.”
    “Oh, so you’re one of those people who believes a dog is only a dog if it’s big and loud. He may not be big, but I assure you he’s loud.” He grinned.
    “I’m kidding. I like all dogs.”
    “Right. So, what happened with you and your ex?”
    “Brad and I had been married nine years like I said. We were three months short of our ten-year anniversary when I filed for divorce.”
    “Let me guess: You were the breadwinner, and he knew by waiting the full ten years it would make him eligible to receive spousal support for a very long time.”
    Michaela couldn’t help but laugh at the way he’d put it, but yes, that was exactly how she’d felt when one of Brad’s ex-cronies told her of his devious plan. The laughter felt good for a moment. How could she laugh today, or any day ever again, for that matter? She’d found Uncle Lou only that morning with a pitchfork through him. She shook her head, hoping to cast