Page 60 of More Than a Fling

“Thanks, officer,” Gabe said.

“We appreciate your thoroughness,” Sam said.

Getting behind the wheel of her police cruiser she said, “We’ll be in touch.”

“What’s going on? I just saw the cops leaving,” Cal said, making an appearance.

“Some vandalism. Gabe saw someone in the barn last night, they got spooked and ran off but not before depositing a poisonous pile of ferns in Midnights stall,” Sam said.

“I don’t have much hope of them catching the asshole, so I think prevention is our best line of defense,” Gabe said to Sam.

“I agree, but sometimes you get lucky.”

“You know Sam, there is something that didn’t occur to me until this very moment, recently someone tried to run me off the road when I was on my motorcycle.”

“What? When did this happen?”

“Several weeks ago, while you were away. I honestly had forgotten about it, but at the time I was pretty shook up.”

“Where were you riding?”

“It happened on the stretch of road right before the turn-off to the farm. Just as fast as the truck came up on my ass, it stopped and turned back around and sped away. I was assuming that it was some young punk wanting to fuck with someone, and it worked.”

“Damn Gabe, that is some scary shit!” Cal said.

“I definitely think it’s worth mentioning to the police.” Sam said.

“I don’t see how it’s connected but I’ll mention it next time I talk to them.”

“I don’t have a good feeling about all of this,” Sam said.

“Nor do I.”

“Stay alert. I’m going to the hospital to pick up Slim this morning, I’ll fill him in.”

“Cal you need to double and triple check everything from now on. Check the hay before bringing the horses in, double check the gates, check the grain, be hypervigilant!” Gabe said.

“Yessir.”

“There is a cold wind blowing and I don’t like it one bit. It is some kind of evil to try to harm an innocent animal,” Gabe said. “Right now, since we’re down a hand with Slim out, we’d better get moving. I have a lot to get done before the security folks arrive.”

“Security?” Cal asked.

“Yeah, we’re having cameras and alarms installed as soon as possible.”

“Wow, this is serious then,” Cal said.

“It doesn’t get much more serious than this for a horse farm and vet clinic,” Sam said. “Our boarders and patients are dependent on us one hundred percent; if that trust crumbles we are out of business. I’ll be back in an hour or so, then I have half a day of barn calls to wade through and hopefully no emergencies coming in. See ya.”

Gabe returned to the office to take care of a few things before starting the barn chores. He rubbed his hands over his face then through his hair. He was tired.The only good to come out of this is I haven’t had time to wallow in my own misery.

It was going to be a long day because he had a gig tonight at the Dew Drop Inn. He was happy for the distraction since he had plenty of time to think about Annie when he was lying awake in bed tossing and turning.

27

Annie only had one more client to get through before she could leave. She was glad it was just a cut. James was still there, and she was happy for the company. She had filled him in on what had transpired between she and Gabe since he had missed the salon scene with Robbie. He was on the same page as Darcy, that Annie had jumped the gun and not given him a chance.

“I am relying heavily on you and Darcy’s opinion, J.J.,” Annie said. “I know Gabe has a gig tonight and I am going to show up and see if we can work something out.”

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