“If my horse did his best, yes.” Gunter nodded emphatically.
“That’s a laugh. You Germans never score lower than a sixty-seven. So even if my horse did his best, you’d still win. Just like in the Olympics.”
Slowly Gunter set down his soda glass. “Would you like to explain that remark?” he asked politely.
“You know what I’m talking about. Dressage is big business in your country. You have sponsors who pay for everything. You don’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll have a horse to ride or how you’re going to pay for everything.”
“You have good horses here.”
“Your castoffs. Curio would be a mediocre horse in Germany.”
“Michael!” Lee Anne protested. “That’s not true. Why don’t you quit arguing and just have a good time?”
Throwing down his napkin, Michael stood up abruptly. “I’d love to, but I’ve got more important things to do. Like proving to the judges that I’m as good as the European riders. Good night and enjoy your dinner,” he said. Turning, he stormed out of the restaurant.
“What was that all about?” Bess asked.
Gunter shook his head. “That was about being too competitive. It’s the I’ve-got-to-win attitude like Michael’s that sours a sport.”
“Michael doesn’t have a bad attitude,” Lee Anne said. “And he’s right. Riders in Germany don’t have to scrounge for everything.”
Lee Anne stood and faced the others, her cheeks flushed. “Michael’s had to work hard to get where he is. He’s sacrificed everything. If he doesn’t do well at this show, he might lose Curio, too. The stress is really eating at him.”
Nancy touched her friend’s elbow. “Hey, we understand, Lee Anne.”
Tears pricked Lee Anne’s eyes. “You can’t possibly understand. You have no idea how hard it’s been for him. I’m sorry. I’ve got to go find Michael. I’ll see you back at the motel room.” Picking up her purse, she hurried out of the restaurant.
Bess stood up. “Lee Anne!” she called.
“Let her go,” Nancy said. “She and Michael may need some time together.”
“We can get a cab,” Ned said. “I, for one, would like to stay and enjoy a juicy steak.”
Gunter raised his soda glass. “I second the motion. Bess?”
With a sigh, she sat down and clinked glasses with him. “A toast to a pleasant evening. I think we’ll have one now that Michael’s gone. He really is a downer.”
Nancy had to agree. Still, Michael obviously was under a lot of pressure. Though, Nancy wondered, what had Lee Anne meant when she’d said Michael might lose Curio? Did it mean he was so eager to win that he’d be desperate enough to injure or steal a competitor’s horse?
“Nan?” Ned’s voice broke into her thoughts. “What are you going to order?”
Nancy smiled. “How about the answers to my questions?”
“I know it’s a cliché,” Nancy said to Ned as they stepped into the motel lobby. “But that really was the perfect ending to a great evening.”
The dinner had been delicious. Since Gunter had to be up early to prepare for his ride, he and Bess had taken a cab from the restaurant. Ned and Nancy had chosen to take a leisurely walk back to the motel. It had given them time to catch up on how Ned’s college classes were coming along this semester. Nancy filled Ned in on the news from River Heights.
“The dinner was great,” Ned said, “except for Michael’s outburst, of course.”
“Yes. But that didn’t seem to ruin anyone’s appetite.” Nancy yawned. “Well, it’s almost eleven, and I’m bushed.”
“Me, too. Chasing bad guys is hard work.” After saying good night, Ned and Nancy headed for their rooms. Nancy unlocked the door to her room, opened it, and peeked in. The light between the still-made beds was on. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. She shut the door, slipped off her shoes, and fell backward on one of the beds, exhausted.
Bess came out of the bathroom, dressed in pajamas, her face washed. “You made it.” She plunked down next to Nancy. “I thought maybe you’d fallen in a ditch.”
“No. It was a beautiful night to walk. Also, it was nice to be with Ned and talk about friends and school—anything but horses.”
Nancy laughed. “Did you and Gunter have a good time? He seems really nice, and his stories about life in Germany were interesting.”
“We had a great time—after Michael and Lee Anne left.”
Propping herself up on her elbows, Nancy glanced at the other bed. “Lee Anne’s not back?”
“No. And there was no message.”
“I hope she’s okay.” Nancy felt a pang of anxiety.
Bess wrinkled her nose. “Maybe Michael bored her to death.”
“Don’t say that.” Jumping off the bed, Nancy picked up her purse.
“Where are you going?” Bess asked.
“We are going back to the showgrounds, so get dressed.”
“Why?” Bess picked up a pair of jeans she’d draped over the bed.
“To look for Lee Anne. If Michael is the thief who attempted to steal the horse, or if he’s involved in any way, Lee Anne could be in trouble.”
