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Surely you have thought of replacing him.”
    She shook her head. “I keep hoping he’ll show up.”
    “What happened?”
    “I really don’t know. No one seems to. George worked for my parents,” Cat said stiffly, starting to feel like Aidan was backing her into a corner. “I never remember a time when he wasn’t here. He left while I was in Ireland and I’m hoping he’ll come back.”
    “If he quit his job, why do you think he might show up again.”
    “That’s the thing. He didn’t quit.” Once again, an awful feeling engulfed her. “He simply disappeared. No one knows where he went.”
    When Aidan fell silent, Cat bristled.
    Was he silently blaming her?
    Or silently criticizing her for not replacing George?
    And for not adding more workers?
    She couldn’t afford to hire anyone else right now, not even a new barn manager. If George came back, she would find a way to pay him again. She hadn’t given up on him yet, even though she couldn’t stop worrying that something had happened to make him leave.
    That his disappearance was somehow her fault.

Chapter Four
    “I cannot eat another bite. Allow me to help clear,” Aidan said, rising and taking the platter and his plate to the counter.
    “Thanks,” Cat muttered, head ducked away from him as she scooped up the flatware and threw it on her plate.
    He wondered what he and Cashel had gotten themselves into. Bad enough his partner had attitude and an angry ex-husband, but now to learn Cat didn’t have enough help made him worry that she didn’t have the finances to carry out their contract.
    Had he left Ireland simply to waste his time?
    The entry fee into a graded stakes race was thousands of American dollars. And what about the six-figure entry fee to the Breeders’ Cup Classic? The hope was that Mac could earn the money through the wins that would qualify him for the world-class meet, or, better yet, that he would win a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race. Aidan was confident that given decent weather conditions and no injuries, Mac could outrun his competition on any dirt track.
    But what if the payoff wasn’t enough?
    What if he didn’t win a Challenge?
    Could Cat really come up with six figures when she apparently couldn’t afford to hire more workers?
    Not wanting to get into it now lest he say something that he would regret, Aidan tabled that particular discussion for later. On edge, his gut in a knot, he forced himself to relax. Cat didn’t seem to be having an easy time of it, either.
    They remained silent as they finished clearing.
    When the last item was in the dishwasher, the leftovers in the refrigerator, she asked, “Ready to take that walk over to the barn?”
    “And eager. I want to make sure Mac has settled in.”
    Aidan followed Cat out the door and then walked beside her. As if the very action of taking one step after another was medicinal, he felt his inner tension dissolve. A quick glance Cat’s way told him she was more at ease, as well. He had no criticism of the grounds nor the barn, so, enough help or no, she was somehow managing to do things right. He had to give her the benefit of the doubt.
    “Dean’s truck,” she murmured, and Aidan followed her gaze to the dark blue truck parked to one side of the barn.
    Also noting the old silver sedan parked opposite the truck, he asked, “A couple of your clients?”
    “My high school workers are here. And one of my two big clients at the moment. A few weeks ago, Dean Hill decided to change barns, and he wanted me to be in charge of breeding his mares. As a matter of fact, I bred one of his mares this morning. No doubt he’s here to check on her, as well.”
    “How many mares does he own?”
    “He brought eleven here. But they’re not being bred to Dangerous Illusion. That’s my stallion. He’s a little high-strung and low on the champion totem pole. Dean brought his own stallion. You might have heard of him—False Promise.”
    “I know the name.”
    “You should. Last year