Page 15 of Wyoming True

He applied locals and stitched the cuts, then gave the animal an antibiotic injection, just in case, to prevent infection.

The vet sighed as he put up his tools. “If you don’t see any improvement, or if you see evidence of infection, call me, anytime. I’m always available. So is my wife, Ashley.”

“Thanks a million,” Ida said sincerely. “I love my horses.”

He smiled. “We both love anything with fur. Or without it.” He laughed. “I have one patient who’s twenty feet long and weighs over a hundred pounds.”

“Twenty feet long?” she exclaimed.

“He’s an albino python. Lovely creature, with white and yellow scales and red eyes.”

She shivered delicately. “I’m not a reptile person. I like warm-blooded things,” she laughed.

“It takes all kinds,” he said and smiled. “You call if you need us, okay?”

“That’s a deal. And thanks for coming so promptly.”

“SHE’LLBEALLRIGHT, I think,” Laredo told her later when they were alone, in his deep, calm voice. “I’ll make spot checks out here at night. But our biggest problem is going to be who did it. You know who I suspect.”

She sighed wearily. “Yes, I know. I have the same suspicion.” She grimaced. “Why would anyone hurt a helpless animal?”

“Some men love it. They get a feeling of power. They get off on hurting things.” He wasn’t even looking at her. His hands were jammed in the pockets of his jeans and he was staring sightlessly across the pasture, reliving some trauma in his past, perhaps.

“What about Silver and the other horses?” she asked miserably.

“I’ve got a remote camera set up, and I sleep light. I’ll be watching.”

She nodded. “Do whatever you have to.”

“That I will.”

As she walked back to the house, she remembered what he’d said about men who hurt animals loving power and being aroused by it. Maybe something had happened to him, in his past, that had prompted his odd comment. But she didn’t want to get personal, even with a bodyguard, so she put it out of her mind.

AWEEKLATERthere was a dinner party that she was invited to. She hadn’t really planned to go, but the hostess, Pam Simpson, was almost aggressive about it, pleading.

“You have to come. The numbers won’t work, and nobody else is free,” she lied. “Just for me, Ida. Please?”

Ida felt those words like bricks. Pam wasn’t malicious, but it was obvious that she needed a female body in place, not a friend.

“That was tactless,” Pam amended. “I could find somebody else, but I want you to come. Would you?”

“I’ll be accused of trying to hook somebody’s husband and there will be a firefight,” Ida sighed.

“No. I promise, that won’t happen. Please?”

“Oh, all right,” Ida said heavily. “But I really can’t stay long. I’m in a lot of pain. My orthopedic surgeon has me on powerful anti-inflammatories and I can’t drive when I take them...”

“No problem at all! I’ll send somebody to pick you up and take you home. How’s that?”

Ida gave in. She laughed. “Pam, you’re hopeless. But yes, I’ll come.”

“Thanks! You won’t regret it. Honest.” She hung up.

SOIDADRESSEDin a tasteful black cocktail dress, with cap sleeves, that fell to her ankles, with her beautiful back uncovered and a neckline that came above her collarbone. She looked elegant and beautiful, her pretty face accented by red lipstick and only a hint of powder. She put a black rhinestone clip in her short black hair and picked up her small evening bag.

She’d checked on her poor horse every day. Gold, as she was called, was doing well, but she was nervous, even when her colt was with her. The wounds were healing, but slowly. The mental ones, Ida considered, would be worse than the cuts. At least, Ida thought, Gold would live. That was enough. Now came the worry about whether or not Bailey had been responsible for her injuries. But Laredo had the house and yard wired like bombs, and he had outdoor cameras everywhere, along with sensors that would alert anyone listening about intruders. Bailey was going to have a hard time hurting any of her animals again, she thought angrily. But she wished he’d try, so she could have him arrested and sent back to prison.

SHE’DWONDEREDWHOPam would send for her. She was nervous of men. Pam knew that, but not why.

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