She stared at him, and Pedro didn’t make any sudden moves to scare her off. He held up his hands and slowly opened his truck door, slid out, and walked around the front of it. He walked up to the horse, and ran his hand over her neck, then down each leg, starting at the back one. When he reachedthe front left one he lifted it and nodded. He dug out his jackknife and removed the stone he saw there. He set it down, and then looked at the woman.
“What about you? I don’t want to point out the obvious,” he said as he waved a hand over toward his own face, “but you look like you can use some help.”
“Do you have a phone I could use?” Her expression was so hopeful, that Pedro couldn’t deny her anything she asked.
“Yes.” He hurried back to his truck, opened the passenger door, and unplugged the charger, and brought his phone out to her. He handed it over and waited for her to dial someone.
“Are you wanted for anything?”
“Like by the police?”
“Yes.”
“No, I’m one of the good guys.” He held up his fingers in a Boy Scout promise. “May I ask why you asked that?”
“Because I’m going to call my cousin, and he’s going to come screaming here both in his vehicle and his voice. I just wanted to make it clear that he’s going to question you.”
“I can hold my own.”
“Good.” She turned to the phone and dialed a number and put it on speaker.
“Hello?” came the confused voice on the other end.
“Jim, it’s me, Myrna.”
“MYRNA!! Where are you, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Jim. I got away. I’m someplace, but I don’t know where. Someone stopped to help me, and I’m using his phone.”
“Put him on the phone.”
Myrna held it out with a smirk. “I guess he wants to talk with you.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Pedro took the phone and spoke into it. “Hello?”
“Who are you? Where are you?”
“Sir, I’ll answer your questions, but who are you?”
“I’m Sheriff Jim Faulkner, based out of Fool’s Gold. I’m in my office now. Do I need to dispatch my deputies?”
“No.”
“Where are you?”
“Ten miles east of Fool’s Gold, on the main drag out of town. My name is Pedro Alvarez. I’m the new horse trainer over at New Double. You can call Cole Mercury, Naomi Alcott, or Erin Riceman to verify who I am. They are expecting me.”
“I know all of those people. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. DO. NOT. LEAVE!” He hung up, and Pedro looked at Myrna.
“When was the last time your horse ate?”
“Sally, my horse’s name is Sally. And I don’t know. See, my ex-boyfriend stole her from me, and she’s been missing for the last couple of weeks before I could make plans to get her back. He stole her afterhe put me in the hospital. He thought he could control me by taking my horse from me. I’ve only been out of the hospital for two days. I went to his brother’s place and found Sally there.”
“I’m not doubting anything you say, but do you have paperwork to back up your story?”
“Yes,” she said as she patted her behind. “This is only a copy, my cousin that you just talked to has the original.” She tried to smile, but reached up and covered her split lip that wasn’t healed yet. “She has a lip tattoo, something that asshole didn’t know about. Jim does.”
The entire time she had been talking, Pedro had gone to the front of his trailer and retrieved food and water for Sally, and water for Myrna. He handed her the bottle of cold water first, and then walked back to Sally and gave her the water first, then food. He had only given her enough to give her a taste, but not enough to make her stomach cramp.
