Kidnapped Colt by Terri Farley Page B

blame for the horses’ disappearance. But she’d put Hotspot and Shy Boots ina place where they had no protection against thieves.
    â€œShould I expect you to come into my office and file a report?” the sheriff asked Linc.
    â€œWhy wouldn’t I?” Linc demanded.
    â€œJust asking,” Sheriff Ballard said.
    â€œDo you still hang horse thieves out here?” Gina asked with a totally fake guffaw.
    Sam winced. Gina had rotten judgment, but Sheriff Ballard just gave her a quick frown.
    â€œWe don’t even catch most of them,” he told her. “But we’ve got a good start on this one. Linc, you might want to get on the phone to Duke Fairchild at Mineral Auction Yards, first thing tomorrow morning.”
    Sam shivered and her eyes met Dad’s. The last time they’d been at the auction yards, she and Dad had rescued Tinkerbell, a giant mustang who’d nearly been sold for slaughter.
    It wasn’t unusual for ranchers to bring aged saddle horses, or other animals they considered useless, to Mineral Auction Yards.
    With nightmarish clarity, Sam remembered a man named Baldy. With his clipboard and calculator, he’d reduced each horse to its price per pound and decided whether to purchase it for the Dagdown Packing Company.
    â€œHotspot’s a valuable horse,” Sam said. “No one would sell her for—you know.”
    â€œThe ‘criminal genius’ pretty much exists only on TV and in the movies,” Sheriff Ballard said.
    Gina made a soft noise of protest, but no one seemed to hear.
    â€œI’m not saying it would happen, but it could. By the pound, those Appaloosas would sell for at least five hundred dollars,” Sheriff Ballard said. “A thief could make a tidy profit for a few hours’ work.”
    â€œThat’s awful,” Jen said. “Do you think, by calling Mr. Fairchild, we can keep it from happening?”
    We , Sam thought, smiling.
    This was another reason Jen was her best friend. She’d already taken on the task of finding the horses. Sam guessed she could forgive her for that jab in the ribs.
    â€œDuke keeps an eye on the stock coming into his place,” Dad was saying. “He’s a good businessman and sure doesn’t want the publicity of selling a stolen horse.”
    â€œHe told me he’s especially careful accepting animals that arrive just minutes before the sales,” Brynna said. “Most cattle and horse thieves give owners or neighbors as little time as possible to recognize stolen animals.”
    â€œWho wouldn’t recognize their own horse?” Mikki asked.
    Sheriff Ballard glanced pointedly at Linc, but Linc didn’t notice. He was busy watching Gram arrange cookies on a platter.
    â€œHorses can be disguised with hair dye,” Brynna told Mikki. “Sometimes they’ll trim manes and tails,too. At a glance, the horse might look like a completely different animal.”
    â€œThere’s more I can do, Linc,” Sheriff Ballard said, thoughtfully, “if Hotspot is valued at more than $750.”
    The mention of money snagged Linc’s attention away from Gram’s cookies.
    â€œYou bet your boots, she is,” Linc insisted. “Every animal on my place is! Except for that colt and Kitty, the mare I bought from—” He jerked his thumb toward Dad, and Sam felt herself grow hot with anger. He was talking about the Phantom’s mother. “—they all have the finest bloodlines. Why, I was tellin’ Karl just the other day that I’ve got millions of dollars tied up in my Brahmas, my Dutch Belted cattle, that Morgan of Rachel’s, my saddlebreds, Quarter Horses, and that Thoroughbred—what’s his name?”
    He looked to Jen for the answer.
    â€œSky Ranger,” she told him.
    â€œRight, Sky Ranger. And I almost forgot those ponies from the Shetland Islands. They’re worth more than all the others put