Bridles and Bourbon

By Mary Ann Marzheuser

"Join Tess Seta and Brise Bennett in "Bridles and Bourbon." This book is a rollercoaster of emotions filled with love, jealousy, ambition, and adventure. Place an order of this incredible book today!"

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Book Publishing Solutions
• Release date: Aug 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781962204262

Book preview

BRIDLES AND BOURBON

Mary Ann

Copyright © 2023 Mary Ann

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons or animals, living or dead, events, or locals is entirely coincidental.

Printed in United Stated of America

To my Dad and Mom, Clemens and Antoinette.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

About the Author

Acknowledgements

To my husband, Bob, for always standing by my side and encouraging me. For being my love and best friend.

To my family who always gives me motivation, support and love.

To my cousin, Donna Kendall, a wonderful writer and author who told me, Just let your words flow. For her advice, wisdom and motivation got me through my work.

To Tom Levack, for his cover design and knowing just what I was looking for. Thank you Sarah also.

To Jay and the staff at Amazon Publishing for their help and guidance on the completion of this novella.

Chapter One

I was always surprised by how anyone could have unconditional love. According to Wikipedia, it means having affection without limitations or love without conditions. I couldn’t help but think that there must be conditions. Would you beg, borrow, steal, or even kill out of love?

Then there is unrequited love, or you could say, one-sided love. The person that is loved doesn’t even know or has rejected the other person openly. Would you beg, borrow, steal, or even kill to reverse the rejection?

I also wonder if it is plain and simple; greed and jealousy.

My first big PI case has me thinking these three things are the cause of this case. My name is Tess Seta, and I beg your patience as I try to solve this case. I work closely with Brise Bennett, the Chief of the Police in Lexington, Kentucky. Bennett is a 6’4, 220 lb, all-muscle man. Like the old cliche, Brise is the tall, dark and handsome kind of guy. No one in their right mind would want to mess with him. He has the respect of his peers, staff, and, most of all, the local business owners and government officials. He is smart but a little cocky if you ask me. I am a little attracted to him and do appreciate his good looks. His cockiness seems to get in the way, though. I think I should be attracted to the quiet brainy guys, but I haven’t really found one. My last date was a year ago, and it failed miserably. So I am comfortably living with my mom and grandmother until my PI business gets more successful. I am hoping and praying.

Chapter Two

Amas Arnold steps into the study of his grand Antebellum-style home. He and his brother are the owners of the AA Ranch, which is a beautiful Kentucky Thoroughbred Horse Farm. The house resembles the old plantation estates but with all the modern amenities. Behind his beautiful mahogany desk is a big-picture window with an incredible view of his 100-acre horse farm. It’s 7:00 pm, and he has been up since 5:00 am. He wore his work clothes but left his boots at the front door. Amas’s wife, Celeste, has driven in his head to always take off his shoes before entering the home. He appreciates how spotless the house and ranch are. They have worked hard to achieve this, a truly envied horse farm.

Amas’s mind starts to wander as he looks at the beautiful green acres. I am so tired, he says to himself. Working like this day in and day out for all these racehorses. Is it worth it?

Amas and his brother, Adam, started the ranch in their twenties. The Double A Ranch, as they call it, is the product of twenty years of work, sweat, and the need to put every cent into it. Adam lives about an acre away. However, Adam built a larger home, hoping to fill it with lots of children. Now both Amas and Adam are in their forties, each a son and no other children.

Amas thinks to himself, I should be so happy. Their horse, Smok’n Hot, won the Kentucky Derby. The purse rendered three million dollars. The purse was the biggest in the history of the Kentucky Derby, and they could bring in more money when Smok’n Hot goes out to stud. Amas and Adam have two other thoroughbred horses that they think are ready for the next year’s Kentucky Derby. I have a wonderful wife, Celeste, and a hard-working son, Kyle. It just doesn’t end; even though the purse was three million, it is not pure profit. Amas and Adam’s head horse trainer, and overall ranch manager, Mark, has suggested that Amas and Adam use part of the money to build an Equine Pool. Amas just wants to think about that tomorrow. While Amas’s head is in his hands and his sandy blond hair is dented from his cowboy hat, Celeste enters the study.

Honey, you look like you need a drink, says Celeste.

Yes, I do, Amas responds. Please pour me two fingers of Blanton’s Bourbon in the cabinet.

Why Blanton’s? Celeste says. Why don’t you want the boy’s bourbon?

Amas’s son, Kyle, and Adam’s son, Ron, started a distillery four years ago and just produced their new bourbon.

Amas says, I just want my old standby today, honey. Why don’t you have one? as he kisses her when she brings him his glass.

Celeste responds, Not in the mood for bourbon today. My stomach is a little queasy.

Celeste has been saying that a lot lately, but Amas did not comment.

Celeste asked, "Do you want to tell me about