Page 17 of Coral Rustling

Never mind.My mate is perfect just the way he is.

Hell, Trey would never second-guess Fate.

Silas had hung up the phone and tapped the back of his hand against Dwayne’s chest.“Hey, maybe that’s where they were taken to be loaded.”Turning his attention to Ulkna, Silas asked, “Think you can show us where you found Bubba?Bet he got away from the thieves, and that’s how you ended up finding him.”Silas kept adding to his line of thinking.“Maybe we can find the direction they were taking them.”

Looking dubious, Dwayne asked, “What would be the point of that?”

Shrugging, Silas muttered, “Maybe we could get an idea of about the size of the trailer or something.”

“Right.”Dwayne scoffed.“You do that.”He pointed back at the corrals.“I’ll be right here getting ready for the first ride and waiting for the police.”

Then Dwayne began urging Trey forward once more.Following, he tipped his head a bit to watch those they were leaving.

Silas grimaced, appearing uncertain.

“Hey, what’s going on?”Reagan called, trotting toward them.“You guys are here early.”

“I woke up and checked our security cameras, same as I do every morning,” Dwayne told him, frowning.“Saw a number of horses missing.”Pointing his thumb over his shoulder at Trey, he continued, “Saw that this end paddock was empty.”Dwayne frowned in the empty paddock’s direction.“Didn’t realize you put Bubba in with Glen, Pixie, and Shirley.”

Trey knew he was referring to the trio—a gelding and two mares, respectively—that typically occupied that paddock each evening.

“Damn,” Reagan muttered, frowning.He glanced between Ulkna and Trey and back again.“Uh.”His attention snagged on the belt around Trey’s neck, causing his eyebrows to lift a notch.“Uh, and I’m sorry.You look familiar, but—” Reagan’s voice ended in a clear question.

Obviously, Trey’s nephew had no idea how to finish that without giving away the fact that he knew exactly who Ulkna was.

“I’m Ulkna,” his mate jumped in, holding out his hand.“Was here yesterday.”As Reagan shook his hand while nodding once, Ulkna continued, “Spotted this fella and returned him.”

“Oh.Okay.”Reagan was clearly at a loss for words.

“He’s willing to show us where,” Silas commented, his expression still troubled, and he no longer sounded so confident about his idea.“But we need to get ready for the day, and...maybe I should be here since I’m the one who called the cops.”

“I’ll go with him,” Reagan stated, pivoting.As he began jogging toward the barn, he called over his shoulder, “I’ll grab a halter for Bubba.We’ll ride bareback and double on him.It’ll be quicker.”

Trey was pleased by that plan and happily acquiesced to Dwayne’s light tug on the end of Ulkna’s belt.

“I’ll start feeding,” Silas stated and began throwing hay to the remaining waiting horses.

“I’m going to see if the security footage saved,” Dwayne stated, handing the belt to Ulkna.“Maybe it’ll show something.”

Reagan nodded as he returned with a halter and lead rope.“Keep me posted,” he ordered as he slipped the halter over Trey’s head and buckled it into place.“And I’ll let you know if we find anything.”

Then Reagan handed Ulkna his belt, and he quickly threaded it through the loops around his waist.

Dwayne grunted, but that wasn’t anything new.The wrangler really wasn’t much of a morning person.With him out there so early, Trey was surprised he wasn’t carrying a massive travel mug of coffee.

It was a good thing Trey had never bothered developing a taste for the fragrant drink.With him living as a horse, he probably would’ve really missed it.Instead, he was more than happy with the bucket of lemon water Reagan offered him every day.

Mmmmmm...lemonade.

The feel of Reagan tossing the lead rope over his neck returned Trey’s attention to where it should be—the paddocks and the missing horses.His nephew had tied the end of the lead rope through the opposite side of the halter, creating make-shift reins.It wasn’t as if Trey was going to try to run off or anything.

Noting the way Reagan gripped his mane near his withers, Trey squared up his legs, readying himself.With a bounce and swing, his nephew leaped onto his back.He settled himself, using his thighs to squeeze lightly to secure his position.

Then Reagan reached down with his left hand.Without hesitation, Ulkna gripped Reagan—their hands clasping each other’s forearms—and jumped up behind him.Trey felt Ulkna shift his weight a little, apparently finding a comfortable position.

“Ready,” Ulkna muttered.

Obviously taking him at his word, Reagan squeezed Trey’s sides with his calves as he used the lead rope like reins and asked him to turn toward the far paddock and the forest.Trey began walking.Easily handling the weight of the men, he felt the way they moved with him, and if he’d been in human form, he would have smiled.

---