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“Hey, John, did you hear me?”
“Why do you think I took her in the first place?” John replied angrily. “I fuckin’ saw them.”
“Where? Doin’ what?”
“I was at a rodeo and that girl was performin’ there. She was doin’ stunts with that horse. And I mean, crazy ass shit.”
“You stole that horse from a rodeo?”
“I sure as hell did, along with the other two, but it wasn’t a big deal like this show. They were in a field behind a barn next to where the rodeo was bein’ held. I just drove up at night, loaded ‘em into the trailer and left.”
“Are you totally nuts?”
“Hey, I got clean away. The only reason I couldn’t sell ‘em when I got back was because my usual buyers were spooked, like I told you. But I’ll get rid of ‘em privately. Not sure how, but I’ll figure it out. First I have to—”
“John, stop right there. You need to move on.”
“Are you shittin’ me? Not a chance.”
“It’s a lost cause. You’ll get caught.”
“Hah…not in a million fuckin’ years. We can—”
“Sorry, count me out,” Tom said tersely, cutting him off. “The security here is too tight. You’ve gotta let these ones go, John. Find other marks.”
Turning his gaze from his cousin back to the young woman and the dark bay mare, Big John shook his head.
“Nope, can’t do it. I want that horse, and the other two as well. You weren’t with me the first time I nabbed ‘em, and you don’t have to be there this time either.”
“You’re makin’ a big mistake. Walk away.”
“Tom,” Big John said solemnly, still staring into the ring, “I never walk away from unfinished business.”
* * *
Bailey brought her horse to a stop, then smiled at Rick as he walked up to join her.
“She looks fabulous,” Bailey said happily, gathering up the lunge line as Miss Piggy ambled over to her. “Maybe all those weeks off were good for her. But she must have been so upset being away from me.”
“At least she had Lizzy and Cocoa with her, and thankfully it doesn’t look like they were mistreated,” Rick remarked. “They even had their feet done.”
“Whoever trimmed Miss Piggy did a decent job, thank the Lord,” Bailey said, wrapping her arms around the mare’s neck and hugging her. “Not as good as our farrier though, right Piggles?”
“I like that nickname the best,” Rick said with a grin. “Why did you name her Miss Piggy in the first place?”
“Because she can be such a princess, and she’s so impatient. You should see her when she’s waiting for her treats. She tosses her head just like the other Miss Piggy.”
“Well, I have to say, if mares could be princesses, she’s so beautiful she would be one—just like her owner,” Rick added, lowering his voice. “But you’d better call Tammy. She needs to know you might not be performin’.”
“Actually, I have an idea.”
“Uh-oh, should I be worried? You’ve got a devilish gleam in your eye.”
“It’s not devilish, it’s excited. I feel great now, and Piggles looks like she’s itching to get back to work. I want to go ahead with the performance, but with her.”
“Uh…Bailey…are you sure that’s wise after everything the two of you have been through?”
“You saw her, she looks fantastic, and I can’t think of a better way to welcome her home than for the two of us to do what we do best. I’m calling Tammy to ask if she’ll come over and run us through the routine. If it goes well there’s no reason we can’t wow the crowds together.”
