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“Never watched it,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Do you think it’s safe to leave a man you barely know alone with your little girl?”
She stopped what she was doing and turned to him, her pale eyes flashing.
He held up both hands. “Sorry. Obviously you know him better than I do. If you trust him, that’s the main thing.”
“The main thing is that Teddie trusts him,” she said in a soft, biting tone.
He shrugged. His keen eyes looked around the room. “Primitive, but I suppose it’s serviceable,” he mentioned. “Some nice collectibles on that shelf,” he added. “World War II?” he asked.
“Yes. My grandfather brought them back from Japan.”
“They’re worth some money,” he said. “Do you still have those old Western pistols your husband had?”
“I sold them,” she said. “I don’t like guns.”
“Neither do I,” he agreed.
She finally managed to get a tea bag and hot water in the same cup. She handed it to him.
“Sugar’s on the table,” she told him.
He waved it away. “I learned to drink tea in Japan. They never offer sugar with it. You have to ask for it.”
He sipped the tea and frowned. “What is this?”
“I’m not really sure,” she said apologetically. “We don’t drink tea. That was in a housewarming gift the Dentons sent over when we moved in.”
“I prefer Earl Grey,” he said, sipping it. “Or Darjeeling. But this is okay.”
“I’m so glad.” She bit her tongue to keep from making it sound sarcastic.
“So. Tell me about this horse.”
“He’s a beautiful old horse, a palomino. Teddie named him Bartholomew and she loves him dearly.” She drew in a breath. “The previous owner had neglected him so badly that his hooves were clogged and infected, and he had deep cuts where he’d been abused with a whip.”
Ron’s eyes narrowed. “Can anyone prove that he inflicted those cuts?”
She sighed. “There were no eyewitnesses.”
“Surveillance cameras?”
“Please. The man lives in a shack up a mountain.”
“Sorry. I guess this is pretty far in the boondocks.”
She didn’t reply.
“All right,” he said after a minute. “You said he was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.”
“Yes. The animal control officer said that a neighbor reported him. It wasn’t the first time he’d had such a charge leveled against him. But he has friends and relatives in high places, so the charges were just dropped.”
He pursed his lips as he sipped tea and frowned, deep in thought. “First order of business is to speak to the person who reported him, and have the neighbors questioned. If he has close relatives who live with or near him, they can be deposed as well. The local veterinarian examined him?”
“Yes. Dr. Carr.”
“Would he be willing to testify?”
She smiled. “He said of course he would.”
