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San Francisco. That’s how you two had it planned, right?”
    Sam knew she was gulping like a beached fish, but she couldn’t form words. Why would Ryan leave her to take the blame for stealing the horses?
    â€œOkay Linc, if you’re done blowin’ off steam, let’s start over.”
    Sam jumped. She’d been so focused on Linc, she’d forgotten Sheriff Ballard. He took out a small notebook and pen, in a routine manner.
    â€œYou have two missing horses. That’s all I know for sure. Now, forget the speculation. Don’t tell me what you think happened, just list the facts, starting when you realized the horses were missing.”
    â€œOkay, Sheriff,” Linc said. When he squared his shoulders and tugged briskly at his shirt cuffs, Sam felt chills.
    She’d rather see Linc ranting.
    He must have realized bluster would get him nowhere with Sheriff Ballard, because Linc seemed almost businesslike.
    This was a far more threatening Linc Slocum, because the sheriff might take him seriously.
    â€œI realized Apache Hotspot and her foal were missing exactly”—Linc glanced at his heavy gold watch—“thirty-five minutes ago.”
    â€œSo you called my office right away,” Sheriff Ballard said, consulting his notes. “That’s good. In cases like this, the first twenty-four hours are critical.”
    â€œDo you have any fences down?” Dallas asked. “Were the front gates to your place open?”
    â€œThey didn’t wander away, if that’s what you’re thinkin’,” Linc said.
    â€œWhen did you see them last?” Sheriff Ballard continued.
    â€œLast night,” Linc said. “We—that’s Ryan and I—were standing in the barn discussing how he was supposed to take the mare to Sterling Stables and leave her to be bred.”
    â€œAnd now Ryan’s out of town,” the sheriff said.
    â€œYes sir,” Linc answered.
    Sheriff Ballard looked up from his notes. “So, he could’ve taken the horses to Sterling Stables beforehand.”
    Linc looked uneasy. Though he wasn’t much of a father, he didn’t want any blame placed on Ryan.
    All he said was, “The mare never got there.”
    Sheriff Ballard exhaled loudly.
    â€œOkay, the first thing we need to do—” Sheriff Ballard began.
    â€œSheriff, excuse me. This is where I need to step in.” Karl Mannix did just that, taking a stride forward.
    Sheriff Ballard nodded as if he’d been expecting this interruption.
    Karl Mannix cleared his throat, then introduced himself. While Sheriff Ballard made notes, Mannix explained he was employed by Linc Slocum, then turned to the day’s events.
    â€œIt’s true Ryan didn’t want that mare taken from her foal,” Mannix said. He paused, blinking. His eyes looked watery behind his glasses. “But earlier today, I saw him with this young lady.”
    Mannix cleared his throat again. Was he trying to underline the significance of seeing her with Ryan?
    â€œYou know how Samantha is,” Linc said, keeping his voice level. “She convinced him to turn the Appys loose to run with that wild bunch.”
    â€œNo, I did not!”
    Sheriff Ballard held up his hand. “Linc, that’s the kind of speculation I want you to avoid.”
    â€œOf course,” Linc said. “Sorry.”
    But he looked satisfied that he’d made his point.
    â€œYou’re sure it was Samantha you saw with Ryan?” Sheriff Ballard asked Mannix.
    â€œPretty sure,” Mannix said.
    â€œIt was me,” Sam said.
    â€œWell, what if she did go out for a drive with him?” Gram tsked her tongue. “I said it was fine.”
    Beside her, Dad sighed. He sounded disappointed, and that hurt.
    â€œIt just seemed strange to me that Ryan would be way out here, when he was supposed to be dropping the mare off so far in the opposite direction,” Mannix said.