Read Online Kidnapped Colt by Terri Farley - Free Book Online Page B

“So when Mr. Slocum got home from Winnemucca, I asked him about it. We checked to see if all his stock was accounted for, and you know the rest.”
    The air might have been full of bees, for the buzzing Sam heard in her ears.
    Why hadn’t she told Ryan no? She should have stood up to him, and it was pretty ironic that she hadn’t, since she’d always thought he showed no backbone.
    â€œWith Ryan being a newcomer, and Samantha’s reputation for loving wild horses…” Linc let his voice trail off, hoping the sheriff would reach the wrong conclusion.
    Mannix gave an indulgent smile. Sam felt everyone’s eyes on her as he added, “Well, what boy hasn’t let a pretty girl talk him into—”
    â€œDo I get to say anything?” Sam demanded.
    â€œI think you’d better,” Sheriff Ballard told her.
    â€œWait just a minute,” Brynna interrupted. “Before Sam says a word, I’m going to.” Brynna gave Sheriff Ballard a stern look that said she was depending on him to see her as a fellow professional. He gave a slight nod. “Sam knows what can happen when awild stallion takes on a mare with a foal that isn’t his. She wouldn’t turn Hotspot and her foal loose on the range.”
    Sam swallowed hard. If they couldn’t believe in her honesty, they’d still believe in her soft heart for horses.
    If there hadn’t been so many people standing around, she would have given Brynna a hug.
    â€œI wouldn’t do that,” Sam agreed. “Honest.”
    Sheriff Ballard met her eyes. “Tell me what did happen.”
    â€œThe horses weren’t stolen,” Sam insisted. “And they’re not lost.”
    When her eyes strayed to Jen’s, Sam saw the tug-of-war between her friend’s loyalties.
    â€œSam,” the sheriff said seriously, “I didn’t ask what didn’t happen.”
    â€œRight,” she said.
    â€œShe’s protecting someone,” Jen blurted.
    Mikki and Gina gave uneasy laughs. In a way, Sam didn’t blame them. Jen’s words sounded kind of dramatic, like something you’d hear on television.
    â€œGo ahead and tell,” Jen told her.
    Sam stared toward the barn corral, hoping for a glimpse of Tempest between the fence rails. The flicker of shiny black comforted her and made her feel a little stronger.
    â€œRyan brought Shy Boots—that’s Hotspot’s foal,” she explained to the sheriff, “over to play withTempest.”
    â€œOf all the—” Linc began, then clamped his lips shut.
    â€œWhile Ryan was here…” Sam said, then swallowed. This was hard to do with just the facts. “He asked me to help hide Hotspot and Shy Boots.”
    â€œDid he say why?” the sheriff asked.
    â€œHe was afraid his father was going to get rid of Shy Boots while Hotspot was at Sterling Stables.”
    â€œIs that what you think, or what he said?”
    â€œHe said his father was embarrassed when Hotspot bit and kicked Cloud Cap, and when the Sterlings said it might be easier after the foal was weaned. And Ryan overheard his father talking on the phone to someone this morning, saying the easiest way to wean Shy Boots was to cull him.”
    â€œIs that so?” the sheriff asked.
    â€œI’m afraid not,” Linc said. “I left home for Winnemucca long before Ryan was awake, and I didn’t talk with anyone before I hit the road. I did plan to wean the colt early, but I only meant to pasture it where the mare couldn’t see it.”
    Sheriff Ballard held up a hand to halt Linc’s long-winded defense.
    â€œAnd so, Samantha, you took the horses somewhere,” Sheriff Ballard said.
    â€œUp to a box canyon on the way to Cowkiller Caldera,” Sam admitted. “And I was just about to tell my dad, because I didn’t think they’d be safe up thereovernight.”
    Dad rubbed the back of his neck and scuffed