Kidnapped Colt by Terri Farley

thick branches she and Jen, then she and Ryan, had used as posts.
    â€œSomeone took this fence down,” the sheriff said flatly.
    â€œHow do you know?” Mannix asked. “I bet theybroke out and ran for the hills.”
    Sam crossed fingers on both hands, hoping Mannix was wrong.
    â€œHorses would jump over, or break through with their chests, pulling the fence through the staples. They sure wouldn’t aim for the posts. Whoever got ’em out yanked right here by the posts and popped the staples loose.”
    Relief coursed through Sam. The Phantom wasn’t to blame.
    â€œAmazing,” Mannix said with a chuckle, and it struck Sam that he hadn’t expected such detailed analysis from a small-town sheriff like Heck Ballard.
    â€œShould we have Jake come up and look for tracks?” Sam asked.
    â€œNo,” Sheriff Ballard said. “Ryan wanted to keep the horses from his dad. This is for them to work out.”
    â€œYeah,” Mannix seconded.
    â€œI don’t know how he would’ve had time,” Sam protested.
    â€œHe might’ve hired some help,” Sheriff Ballard said. “After all, look how he turned to you.”
    It sounded nice, put that way, but Sam knew Sheriff Ballard was repeating what he’d told her before. If Ryan had left her holding the bag, why wouldn’t he hire someone else to take the horses?
    The walk back down was quiet as the three concentrated on putting their feet in safe places on the steep trail.
    â€œSheriff, I’ll just hitch up that trailer and be on my way,” Mannix said when they reached level ground again.
    â€œLeave it here,” Sheriff Ballard said, and when Mannix looked startled, he added, “I want another look at it in the daylight. You never know where you’ll find evidence.”
    He sounded friendly, Sam thought, but firm.
    â€œI’ll call you if they turn up back at the ranch,” Mannix said, then started toward the Hummer.
    â€œYou do that,” Sheriff Ballard said, then stood watching as Mannix drove the vehicle carelessly to the highway.
    Once they were back in the truck, Sheriff Ballard radioed his office to tell Linc Slocum to stick around River Bend Ranch. After that, they drove in silence.
    When Sam and the sheriff drove into the ranch yard, Sam saw the white curtain on the kitchen window pulled back.
    Whoever was looking would notice they didn’t have a horse trailer hooked on behind.
    Gram held open the kitchen door and Jen stood behind her. Dad, Brynna, Mikki, and Gina sat at the kitchen table, watching expectantly as Sam walked inside. Linc sat there, too, but he barely glanced up.
    â€œThe horses were gone,” Sam said.
    Jen’s hands went up to cover her eyes. Then, after a loud exhalation, her arms dropped to her sides and she returned to sit at the table along with the others.
    â€œThat’s a shame,” Brynna said.
    Sam wanted nothing more than to climb the stairs to her room, pull the covers over her head, and pretend this day had all been a bad dream.
    â€œWe’re just finishing a fried chicken dinner,” Gram said, and only then did Sam notice the scent of Gram’s buttermilk batter. “There’s plenty left for you, Sam. And Sheriff, we’d love to have you join us. It’s the least we can do after you taking so much time and trouble.”
    Shouldn’t Linc be the one saying that? Sam let out a heavy sigh, but her tight chest felt no better for it.
    â€œNo, though I do thank you,” Sheriff Ballard. He, too, waited for some reaction from Linc. “I should probably be getting back to town.”
    In a moment of silence, Linc rubbed his napkin across his lips and met the sheriff’s gaze.
    â€œYou don’t know what you’re missing,” Linc chuckled. He rocked his chair back on two legs and patted his belly.
    â€œPut all four legs of that chair on the floor,” Gram snapped.
    Everyone at the table