Read Online Horse With No Name by Alexandra Amor - Free Book Online

did not appear to be
someone who could be ruffled easily, and yet, she noticed he often
seemed a little ruffled around her. She liked having this effect on
someone so large and imposing.
    She smiled at the man, "Good morning,
Constable Merrick."
    "Good morning, Miss Thom. Please tell me
you've come in to ask about the stage coach schedule."
    "I haven't, but tell me anyway."
    Merrick watched her for a few beats. Finally
he said, "I won't waste your time. Or mine. Why don't you tell me
why you're here?"
    "You mentioned that you were going out to the
Double A Ranch today to question the drovers there about the
interrupted..." she faltered slightly, and then rallied, "incident
at the dance on Saturday night."
    Merrick nodded, chewing slowly.
    "I would like to propose something. But
before I do, will you promise to listen to me without prejudice
until I am finished?"
    The constable thought about this for a
moment. He swallowed. "I won't promise, but I'll try."
    "Fair enough. Here's my suggestion: wait
until school is finished today so that you can take me with you to
the Double A."
    "No way."
    Julia was shocked by the rapid response. She
began to speak but snapped her jaw shut and pursed her lips. When
she opened them again her voice sounded grave. "Now, Constable, you
promised to listen without prejudice and..."
    Merrick interrupted her, "And I did. I
thought about your idea and then I rejected it. I told you when you
suggested going with me to the Green ranch that the idea was
inappropriate. It's...it's... I don't even have a word for it. Miss
Thom, I am an officer of the law. You are a civilian without the
requisite legal authority to be questioning suspects with me. I
cannot and will not take you with me to the Double A. There is
nothing further to discuss."
    ***
    "It's a fine afternoon for a ride, isn't it?
The horses seem to be really enjoying themselves." Julia shifted
her reins to one hand and patted Stanley's neck.
    Merrick grunted at her, not wanting to agree,
even though she was right.
    She had worn him down and won the argument
about taking her with him to the ranch. She’d pointed out that she
was the only person who could potentially identify her would-be
attackers and that without her the trip would be futile. Whoever
Merrick spoke to would deny having been at the dance, and also deny
threatening Julia. If he took her with him, he would save time and
have a definitive answer to the question. His trip the day before
to Middle Lake Ranch had been unsuccessful and every hour that he
spent riding around to local ranches was another hour away from
town. Finally, feeling caught between a rock and Julia Thom's
torrent of words, he'd given in.
    But he was not happy about it.
    Julia liked it when Merrick sulked. She was
learning to deal with the moods and upsets of the children in her
classroom and dealing with Merrick at times just gave her more
practice.
    Walt joined them, and Julia was grateful for
this. He so often provided a buffer between herself and Constable
Merrick.
    The three horses walked shoulder to shoulder,
Julia's paint horse, Stanley, in between the two enormous animals
on either side of her. Had the Double A been any further out of
town, Julia's plan to have Merrick wait until after school to ride
out would not have worked. But the ranch was within easy riding
distance and the trio would make it back to Horse by supper time
and before dark.
    Julia inhaled deeply, appreciating the scents
of dry grass and soil. Crickets chirped as they walked. A startled
thrush flew up in front of the group, and all the horses flicked
their ears forward to watch but stayed calm.
    Julia was riding astride her horse, as she
always did. Her long skirt flowed over Stanley's rump and the
jodhpurs underneath it made her feel capable. She always felt less
hampered by her gender when she was riding.
    The silence and space allowed her to think
and, unbidden, visual memories of the night of the dance came to
mind. She could still smell