Page 7 of Beau

Beau followed the prints until he came out to the road. He saw mud from truck tires turning right, but that was all. No trailer tracks. What the hell? He glanced up and down the road but saw nothing else.

As he turned to head back, he stopped, looked across the road, and frowned. Were there other tracks over there? Checking for traffic, he crossed the road, and saw more tire tracks along with trailer tracks, but heading in the opposite direction of the other tracks, which made him believe there was more than one person involved in the theft, and they planned to take more than just the mare because, by the length of distance between the front and back tires of the trailer, it was big one. Too much for just one horse. Unless they stopped at other ranches or were going to take more from the Lawrence ranch.

He would check into the tracks once he got back to the office. Taking a deep breath, he headed back across the road, then walked to his truck. Brenna was nowhere to be seen. He wondered how she was doing, really. It had taken a long time for him to get past the hurt their spouses had caused, and he was sure it had been for her too.

When he arrived back at the ranch, he stopped the truck beside the porch, stepped out, and made his way to the door. He knocked and it opened.

“Come in,” Greg said. “Did you find anything?”

“Hoofprints that led to the road. There were three sets of tire tracks. Two trucks, and one trailer. The tracks of the trailer and one truck were on the opposite side of the road. I’m thinking it was they were either hitting other ranches to take one or two animals, or they planned to take more of yours, but were scared off.”

“It’s strange though. If they wanted more than one horse from here, why not drive to the fence with the trailer. That’s a little strange, isn’t it?”

“You make a good point, but honestly, when it comes to rustlers, nothing surprises me, but it would be easier to take livestock from one ranch.” Beau frowned. “Who knows?”

“That mare belongs to my wife, and we want it back.”

“I understand. I’ll do all I can. I’m going to head to the office and see if anyone else is missing just one horse, or whatever. I’ll be in touch in a few days.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Yes, sir.” Beau opened the door, stepped onto the porch, and saw Brenna riding into the yard, then she entered the barn.

He trotted down the steps and strode across the yard, then entered the barn. He saw her cooling the horse, so he strolled toward her.

“Brenna?”

“Yes?” She smiled at him.

Beau folded his arms across his chest and stared at her. He didn’t know where to begin.

“Uh, how are you really doing?” he asked and watched her sigh.

“I’m fine. Now. It took a while.”

“I know. I’m sorry—”

“What do you have to be sorry about, Beau? You didn’t do anything.”

He shook his head. “Maybe if I’d been home more.”

“No. I don’t believe that. They’re the ones who did wrong. Not us. I was faithful.”

“So was I.”

“I had a feeling you were.”

“I believe in those vows.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything more as she walked the horse along the barn’s aisle.

“Would you like to get coffee sometime?” he asked then almost kicked himself for doing so when she turned to face him with a frown on her face.

“Coffee?”

“Yeah, surely you know what coffee is.” He grinned when her eyes narrowed.

“I never realized you were a smartass, Beau McCallister.”

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