A Lady's Luck (Thoroughbred Legacy, 8),Used

Product DescriptionWidower Brent Preston greets every morning with bittersweet memoriesand the burning desire to know who is responsible for the encroaching ruin of Quest Stables. But then Brent stumbles across a clue one that could solve the mystery surrounding his family's Thoroughbred champion once and for all.The trail leads to England and Lady Devon Hunter. Brent hopes she can help him infiltrate her brother's secrets. But with only one glance, his longburied emotions are resurrected. Now, he's torn between pursuing the gracefully elusive Devon and hunting down the culprit who ruined his familyunaware that both paths will lead him straight into the arms of danger!Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Monday, January 5"It's no good," Brent Preston said sharply at his brother's entrance. "I've hit a wall in this investigation.""That bad?" Andrew inquired. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat at the marble counter in the middle of the family's country kitchen.Brent had gone over everything in his mind and on paper a hundred times, and still he came up without answers that made sense.He swept a hand over his face and turned to his brother. "Dammit, I don't know what the hell went wrong. That breeding went like scores of others I've arranged and supervised."Andrew regarded him sympathetically. "No one's blaming you."Like hell they're not. And even if they aren't, I am. I was in charge.Last spring, threeyearold Leopold's Legacy had become the star racehorse at the family's Quest Stables, winning the Kentucky Derby, as well as the Preakness. The stallion appeared to be on his way to taking the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, as well, but even without the Triple Crown, Leopold's Legacy would garner enormous stud fees. Then a computer glitch at the Jockey Association prompted a call for a certain group of Thoroughbreds to have their DNA resubmitted.No big deal.Until the results came back. Then all hell broke loose.According to the new DNA test,Apollo's Ice was not the sire of Leopold's Legacy, as the registration papers stated. Even worse, no one knew who the sire was, since the DNA didn't match that of any stud in the Thoroughbred file.The Jockey Association wasn't interested in how the mixup had occurred; their sole concern was that the provenance of the horse was not what it was purported to be. Leopold's Legacy was pulled from the Belmont Stakes and Quest Stables was given three months to solve the discrepancy. When they were unable to do so, all Thoroughbreds majorityowned by Quest were banned by local and regional racing commissions from competing in North America. An international ban soon followed.Almost overnight, revenue dropped by half as owners pulled their horses from the stables.Andrew idly stirred his cup. "Listen, Brent, most of our clients will come back.""Maybe," his brother allowed, "if this DNA debacle can be solved soon, and if it's cleared up without prejudice. But a prolonged investigation or proven fault on the part of Quest, and on me" He let the words fade as he gazed toward the wall of windows looking out on the winter garden. Its bleakness matched his mood. "If there's no resolution at all, it'll be the end of Quest." He let out a long breath. "When I think about what Granddad has created, all his hard work, his love, his passionwhen I think of it being wiped out in his own lifetime because I was too damn blind to know when I was being taken I'm the head breeder. I witnessed the live cover. What are people supposed to think?""Look," Andrew said. "As manager of this place, I can tell you we're not going to fold. It's just a matter of time before we get a break."He was being optimistic. Stables had gone out of business for less. He was also being generous in not mentioning how the situation was impacting his personal ambitions. Andrew had been planning to run for president of the International Thoroughbred Racing Federation someday. Brent h