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“Like I said, it’s over. You found Miss Piggy, and you rescued her, though...”
“What? Though what?’
“When I think about all the things that might have gone wrong,” he remarked, a frown crossing his brow. “I’m real happy you got her out, but takin’ a chance like that…”
“I had no choice.”
Not wanting to get into an argument, he turned on the radio, and they listened to the country music station for the remainder of the drive. When they finally reached the show grounds and stopped at the gate, the security guard handed Ben a parking permit to hang on his rearview mirror, and told him where to go.
“See? We arrived safe and sound,” Rick declared as Bailey switched off the radio. “We’ll get the horses settled, then go back to my motorhome for a much needed drink.”
“I’m not sure I can leave her.”
“She’ll be busy gobbling down hay.”
“This is true. She must have lost at least seventy-five…maybe even a hundred pounds. But I must find the vet here. They need to be checked out.”
“And you will. Tomorrow. Let them be for now. They know they’re back with you where they belong, and they’ll be happy to lie down in that soft beddin’.”
“You’re right. From the look of those hock sores they must have been living in that field. I hate that man. If I had a gun I’d drive back over there and put a bullet in his head. But I will have my revenge. I don’t know what yet, but he can’t get away with what he’s done.”
Rick was about to tell her to leave well enough alone, but the trailer had stopped, and Ben had already climbed from the cab. As Rick saw him and Pete walk around to unload the horses, he hastily stepped from his truck in case he was needed. Bailey followed, and stood beside him while the horses were unloaded.
“Rick,” she began softly, ”for the first time since I brought Miss Piggy over the hill, I think I can breathe.”
“Why is that?” he asked, moving an am around her shoulders.
“Because I know Big John can’t get in here, let alone take any horses out. They’re safe, but, uh, my legs are suddenly feeling like jello.”
* * *
Standing in his empty field next to the broken fence, Big John’s fury bubbled up inside him like hot lava in a volcano. He had spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to find buyers for the fancy horse flesh he’d managed to steal—all to no avail. He thought he’d be able to turn them over fast, but the sale barns he usually dealt with had turned him down flat. A couple of places they knew had been caught with microchipped horses and ended up in trouble. Big trouble.
Weeks had passed.
He was at a loss.
But out of the blue he’d received a call from a friend who had moved to Florida. There was a shortage of decent horses and the market was hot. After emailing photographs, his friend had told him he’d arrange transportation immediately.
With the trailer due to arrive the following day, John had traipsed down to the field to bring the horses up to the barn—only to find them gone.
Staring at the plank lying on the ground, he knew it wasn’t where it should be if it had been kicked out. Leaning over and studying the ground, not only did he discover human footprints, the horses had left a trail leading into the trees.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
With Miss Piggy and the other two horses settled in their comfortable stalls munching on hay, and the security staff on alert, Rick was finally about to pry Bailey away. As they entered his motorhome, she dropped down on his couch and leaned back her head.
“You must be exhausted,” he remarked, sitting next to her.
“I’m not sure what I am,” she replied, turning to look at him. “I’ve prayed so hard for so long, and today those prayers were finally answered, but I still can’t believe it. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and it was all just a dream.”
“I can’t believe it either. I can’t believe you knocked out that rail, then jumped on your horse and leapt over the fence. And I bet you galloped through those trees.”
“Not exactly, but we cantered in a few spots. If I hadn’t been so scared it would’ve been great fun. I kept thinking Big John would show up with a shotgun. My heart was racing so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest.”
“Come here,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her. “You’re insanely brave, but you should’ve waited for me. What you did wasn’t very smart.”
“Probably not, but when the idea came to me I felt compelled to do it. I couldn’t wait. I just couldn’t. You understand, don’t you?”
