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“Idiot,” John grunted, then walked closer to the animals calmly grazing.
Their coats glinted with health in the morning sun, and their muscled bodies were evidence of their exercise regimen. He was convinced they were either jumpers or dressage horses—and they were top of the line. He’d make a fortune, but a sudden frown creased his brow.
“Hey, Steve, you said won them in a poker game,” he called, striding back to speak with him. “How much was the pot?”
“A lot.”
“How much! Ball park.”
“Uh, over thirty-grand.”
John lowered his eyes to the ground.
Each of the magnificent horses was worth double that—at the very least.
It was a con.
He was being set up.
The familiar fury began bubbling inside him.
He’d pin the bastard calling himself Steve to the ground and get the truth.
And fast.
But just as he bent down to climb through the fence, he heard a click.
“Freeze.”
John paused, slowly straightened up, then looked behind him. A sheriff’s deputy was pointing his gun.
“Get on your knees and put your hands behind your back.”
John grinned, then shook his head.
“I said, get on your knees and put your hands behind your back!” the deputy shouted.
“You’d make a terrible poker player, and won’t shoot me. I’m unarmed, You’d lose your fucking badge,” he said calmly. “Do you know how much one of those horses is worth. You’d better not pull that trigger. If you miss and hit one of ‘em, or spook ‘em and they take off and injured, you’re lookin’ at a hundred grand, at least.”
“Look around you. There’s law enforcement—”
But before the deputy could finish, Big John ducked sideways and sprinted towards the horses.
* * *
From the safely of the trees, Rick and Bailey watched in horror as Big John used the large equines for cover. Two deputies had joined the first, and with their guns drawn, they had climbed through the fence and were spreading out and moving closer.
“God, please, please don’t let them shoot,” Bailey prayed, grabbing Rick’s arm.”
“They won’t, but I hope they have back up on the other side of the field or that bastard might get away. I thought Trevor said there’d be at least dozen deputies here.”
“Maybe they’re still on their way,” Bailey suggested, “or even hiding in the trees like we are. Rick! Look, a car,” she exclaimed, pointing to a Mercedes SUV driving up from the expensive homes. “Holy crap, that’s Duke, and there are cops chasing him.”
As the speeding SUV came to a screeching halt, Duke, Carl and Madge climbed out and ran towards the fence.
“What the hell are they doin’?” Rick exclaimed, watching the scene unfold. “Bailey, those cops weren’t chasin’ them, they’re with them. How the hell did that happen? Oh, I see now. They’re not cops, they’re the security guards for the community.”
But Bailey was fixated on the three deputies and Big John still using the horses as his shield.
