Page 14 of Wyoming True

Just as the tension reached flash point, there was a quick tap on the door and a tall man with dark hair and even darker eyes came into the house.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said curtly, “but we’ve got a problem with one of the horses.”

“Which one?” she asked at once. “Not Silver?” she added worriedly.

“No, ma’am, not him. It’s the palomino mare. The one that foaled last week.”

She sighed. “Gold. She’s had so many problems since we delivered that colt,” she replied sadly. “What’s wrong with her? Do you know?”

“She’s got deep cuts on both her flanks,” he said without inflection. “Bad ones.” He had a closed expression as he spoke.

“But she’s only been out in the pasture,” Ida exclaimed. “And there’s nothing that could have injured her there!”

“I know,” Laredo replied quietly. “I checked.” His dark eyes were saying things to her that she didn’t want to share with Jake.

She just sighed. “Call the vet and see if he can come at once.”

“I’ll get right on it.” He went out without another word.

Jake’s eyebrow rose. “An employee?”

“One of my new cowboys,” she replied, but she was lying and she didn’t do it well.

He smiled. It wasn’t a nice smile. “Have a nice day.”

“Thanks for bringing my car to me,” she said quietly.

He just shrugged and kept on walking.

And so much for wild dreams, she told herself as she went back inside and closed the door.

SHEWALKEDOUTto the barn where the palomino was stabled. The mare, Gold, was standing, but long, bloody cuts were visible on her hindquarters. Even Ida could see the pain the animal was in. The new man, Laredo Hall, was kneeling beside the horse with one of the ranch’s cowboys at his side. The mare shied away from him.

“Oh, Gold, my poor baby!” Ida said worriedly. She went into the stall and drew her fingers down the mare’s soft mane. “My poor girl!” She looked at the cuts. “This was no accident,” she said icily.

“Looks like somebody did this on purpose,” Laredo said. His eyes narrowed.

Her heart ran wild. Was Bailey here? Or had one of his shady friends come right onto her ranch and damaged her horse? It was the sort of low-down, sneaky, mean thing he would do, and she knew it. Laredo, judging by his demeanor, was thinking the same thing.

“Have you called the vet?” she asked.

He nodded. “He’s on his way.”

SHEWRAPPEDHERarms around herself and winced at the horse’s pain. Gold was still shying away from Laredo, and she was making nervous whinnies. Nearby, she heard the palomino’s colt whimpering, as if he understood that his mother was ailing. Ida had become fond of the mare since she’d been living in Catelow. She rode her occasionally, as she rode Silver, another of her small herd of palominos with a beautiful white mane, and the colt’s sire, but the cowboys mostly took care of the horses. She’d always loved to ride, but now she was afraid of large animals, afraid of any more injuries that would require surgery. It had been so painful...

The sound of a truck pulling up outside gathered everyone’s attention. A young veterinarian came in the door, straight to the patient.

HEGREETEDIDA, introduced himself as Dr. Mulholland and spent a few minutes examining the animal. He winced. “Well, I don’t find any more injuries, just these cuts. Who would have done this?” he added angrily, turning to Ida.

“At a guess, somebody sent by my ex-husband, who just got out of jail,” she said tightly. “He’s made threats.”

The vet’s eyes blazed. “He should be arrested and put back in jail.”

“Chance would be a fine thing,” she said sadly. “I can’t prove he was responsible. Not yet, at least.”

“If you can, I’ll be happy to testify.”

“Thank you,” she said sincerely.

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