Read Online Wild Horses by D'Ann Lindun - Free Book Online

This idea was probably futile anyway. Spotting a boulder, he leaned against it and dragged in a few deep breaths. How far had the horses run?
    His thoughts turned to the dead man. Certain he’d found Martin Castillo, he hadn’t even considered the possibility of the man being someone else. But who? And why had he tried to turn the horses? Nothing made sense. No clues added up to a possible theory.
    Pushing himself up, Jake marched on.
    Just when he thought he couldn’t take another step, he caught sight of horses in a meadow. Moving slowly, as not to spook them, he inched up closer. Thankfully, the rain had ceased and the moon lit the area with its soft light. Closing in, he recognized Rojo. He dug a carrot out of his pocket and held it out. “Come here, boy. Look, it’s a treat.”
    Feeling ridiculous, he didn’t notice for a second that the horse didn’t move, only stared at him with pricked ears. Feeling confident that the animal wasn’t going to bolt, Jake walked toward him. When he grew close, he realized the lead had not just become tangled in the branches, but that the sorrel was tethered to a small tree. Someone had taken time to tie him with a slipknot. What the hell? He shot a glance around.
    Had Castaña found Rojo and left him here? No, she rode off in the other direction. And if she had found her gelding, wouldn’t she have brought him back to Jake? Puzzled more than he wanted to admit, he untied the horse. As he turned to head back toward the cabin, he spotted something hanging from another branch. He examined the red and black nylon halter. Without being told, Jake knew the piece of tack was the same one that had been on Cloud less than two hours ago. The halter hadn’t been caught on the tree limb and torn loose from the horse’s head, but had been buckled around a prominent limb, easy to spot.
    Jake took a slow turn, but all he saw was an empty meadow ringed by cottonwoods.
    There were no other horses in sight.
    And there were no people — alive or otherwise.
    Someone had caught Rojo, tied him to a tree and taken off Cloud’s halter and left it in an obvious place. If Castaña hadn’t, who had? And why hadn’t they stuck around to see if someone came to collect the horse? A shiver ran down his back. Somebody was out here with him.
    It had been years since Jake had ridden bareback, but if Castaña could do it at a dead run, he figured he could manage a walk. Slinging the extra halter over his shoulder, he fashioned a bridle of sorts, then swung up on the sorrel’s wet back. For a minute, Jake grinned. If Kelso could see him now, he’d die laughing. Jake nudged the gelding with his heels and turned him toward the cabin.
    As he rode away, the sensation of someone watching his back washed over him.

Chapter Six
    Halfway back to the cabin, Rojo lifted his head and snorted.
    Already edgy, Jake halted the gelding and attempted to follow the horse’s fixation.
    The ghost story atmosphere made his skin crawl. Give him a dark city street — even an alley — over this any time. Jake peered through the fog, but nothing seemed to move.
    Sure he was beginning to lose it, he nudged the gelding with his heels. But Rojo didn’t budge and continued to stare at the woods. A little aggravated, Jake increased pressure on the horse’s sides. As if he’d been geared into third, Rojo suddenly jumped forward, nearly unseating Jake.
    Something crashed through the downed timber.
    Only something big would make that much noise.
    A very large bear? A mountain lion? The mustangs had run the opposite direction, but maybe a foal had been left behind. Rojo obviously wanted to go that direction, tugging on the reins and dancing a few steps. What the hell? It wouldn’t hurt to look. Jake loosened his hold on the makeshift reins, and the red horse pranced toward the mysterious animal in the forest with his ears pricked, blowing soft little snorts.
    As they approached the thick timber, Jake spotted something among the