“Hard to believe, I know.”
“Suzy Solomon will be relieved. Maybe the Shane girl, too, if he’s the one who abducted her.”
“For Lisa’s sake, I hope the cops find the connection they’ve been looking for so she won’t have to be afraid anymore.” Standing on the front porch with the phone pressed against his ear, Josh looked up as Howler walked out of the house.
“Sheriff’s still here. I gotta go.”
“Be sure to give the good sheriff my regards,” Linc said dryly.
“Yeah, I’ll do that.” Josh hung up the phone.
“I got what I need from the Bradford girl and Clara Thompson,” the sheriff said. “EMTs checked everyone out and they all seem okay. Little girl’s fine and Clara refused to go to the hospital. Anything you want to add before I leave?”
“If you’re interested, there’s a chance this guy tortured and killed a woman in Phoenix. A detective named Jeremy Larson handled the case.”
“I’ll give him a call. You got that horse locked up good and tight?”
“He’s in the barn,” Josh said.
“I’ll be out with the vet in the morning. I saw a skip loader parked out back. Ought to do to bury the animal.”
Josh froze. “What are you talking about?”
“That horse is a killer. He’s got to be put down.”
“No way,” Josh said. “That horse saved Tory’s life. He killed a man who likely meant to torture and murder her. The stallion’s a hero. No way are you putting him down.”
Something that resembled payback gleamed in the sheriff’s eyes. “I’ll get a court order if I have to, Cain. That horse is a menace. He’s got to be dealt with.”
“Try it and I’ll fight you all the way.”
The door opened just then and Tory walked out on the porch. She took in the sheriff’s puffed-up posture and Josh’s angry stance.
“What’s going on?”
“Why don’t you explain it to her, Cain? As soon as I get that court order, I’ll be back.” The sheriff swaggered off to his truck, climbed in, and slammed the door. The vehicle rolled off down the road. The ambulance would be leaving with Bridger’s body as soon as the medical examiner was done.
“What’s going on?” Tory repeated.
“Howler’s getting a court order to have Star put down.”
“What?” Her gaze shot to the barn. “He can’t do that! We have to stop him!”
Josh caught her shoulders. “Take it easy. We aren’t going to let it happen.”
“What can we do?”
“I’ll call Nate Temple, see if he’ll take the case or recommend someone who will.” He drew her into his arms. “It’s going to be okay.”
Tory pulled away. “Is it? It seems like no matter what we do, nothing is ever okay.” Turning, she went back inside the house.
Clara Thompson came out, said good-bye, and headed for home. A few minutes later, Tory and Ivy came out and went over to their trailer.
Josh wanted to follow them, make certain they were okay, but he wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do. Ivy had been terrified of Bridger. She had to be traumatized by what had just happened.
And watching a man be stomped to death had to have been terrible for Tory.
He wanted to give her the space she needed, the time she needed to heal.
