“I bought that horse as part of a package deal, just the way I sold him to you. The previous owner was a fella named Porter Sturgis. Sturgis is kind of an a-hole, if you don’t mind my saying. Treats his stock really poorly.”
“Makes him worse than an a-hole in my book.”
“Sturgis had the stallion for a while, but the horse was raised from a colt by a woman named Amanda Bonner. When she was killed in a boating accident, the horse was sold to Porter.”
“You think Porter’s mistreatment was what made the stallion so crazy?”
“I hate to spread gossip, but yes, that’s what I think.”
“I appreciate the help, Noble.” And it might just be the answer to the question he’d wanted answered.
Why did the stallion respond to Tory and no one else?
After talking to Noble, Josh believed the obvious might be correct. The horse trusted her because she was a woman.
He ended the call as he pulled into the parking lot of Jubal’s, a false-fronted wood-framed building at the edge of town that looked like something out of the Wild West. Even had a board walkway out front.
Jubal’s was a locals’ joint that served good food and cheap pitchers of beer. The place catered to both cowboys and bikers, mostly without trouble.Mostly.
As he shoved through the swinging doors, peanut shells crunched beneath his boots. Pool balls clacked on green felt tables in the back, and Garth Brooks sang “Friends in Low Places” from the digital jukebox in the corner.
He hadn’t expected to see Cole and Noah sitting at the bar or Linc’s blond wife, Carly, seated at a battered wooden table next to her high school girlfriend, Brittany Haworth, a blue-eyed brunette.
At the moment, Britt’s gaze was locked on Cole, though he didn’t seem to notice. When she realized Josh had caught her staring, her cheeks turned apple red.
He bit back a smile as he approached, leaned down, and kissed his sister-in-law on the cheek. “Hey, Carly.”
She turned. “Josh! It’s so good to see you. It seems like ages. You remember my friend Brittany, don’t you?”
“Sure.” He smiled. “Hey, Britt.”
“Hello, Josh. Why don’t you join us?”
He pulled out a chair and sat down, then turned back to Carly, who was picking at the last of an order of French fries. “So you and Linc are back at the ranch?”
“I’m staying out there. I had some stuff to do at work.” Carly was the owner of Drake Trucking. She and Linc had met when a drug lord had threatened Carly’s business. “Linc’s in New Mexico. Work’s been really crazy for him lately.”
At the bar, Noah spotted Josh and waved, and Josh waved back. “Have you met Noah Beal and Cole Wyman?” he asked, thinking of the pretty brunette who seemed so interested in Cole.
“Cole went to community college with Britt,” Carly said. “Linc introduced us to Noah in here one night. They’re friends of yours?”
“They work for me. Great guys.” Josh waved them over and both men slid off their stools and walked over to the table.
“Ladies.” Noah, always friendly, flashed a warm smile. Cole gave a curt nod of his head.
“Why don’t you two join us?” Carly suggested.
“Why not?” Noah agreed. The men pulled chairs up to the table. Josh ordered a shot of Jack Daniel’s to settle him down and a Lone Star to quench his thirst. He bought Noah and Cole each a fresh beer. The women hadn’t finished the ones they were drinking.
They talked for a while, mostly about the fire. “I heard it was arson,” Carly said. “Have they caught the guy who did it?”
“It was a kid who worked for me. I left it to his dad to handle things. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about it happening somewhere else.”
“That’s a relief,” Carly said.
They chatted a little while longer. Finally Noah rose from his chair. “I hate to have to leave such sterling company, but I’ve got a sexy wife waiting for me at home and a job that starts early in the morning. ’Night, y’all.”
Cole had barely said three words and Brittany hadn’t talked much, either. Didn’t look like that relationship had much chance of getting off the ground.
