“He’s coming,” Myrna said, and pointed back toward Fool’s Gold.
Pedro turned and saw the blue and red lights of an emergency vehicle coming at them at a high rate of speed. His only concern was Myrna and Sally, because they were out in the open, but his truck and trailer protected them from the road. It made him happy that the cop stopped several yards behind his trailer. He was out of his vehicle in a hurry and rushed up to Myrna. He gripped hershoulders, shook his head, and brought her in for a hug.
“When did he get to you again? Randy did do this, right?” He pointed to her bruised face.
“Yes, I got out of the hospital last week. I ran into Randy two days later. He did this, again, but I was able to get Sally’s location out of his drunk ass. I waited until he and Gus were passed out drunk, and took Sally back. I have the papers.”
“Show me her tattoo,” the man said, and turned to Pedro. “Sheriff Faulkner.”
“Pedro Alvarez.” They shook, and Pedro ended up holding Sally’s head while Myrna rolled her lip so they could see the numbers tattooed there.
“It’s her,” he sighed, and turned back to Pedro. “I called Cole, they told me you were due any day. I told them about Myrna and Sally.” He turned to his cousin. “You’re going to New Double, neither Randy nor Gus will be able to find you. You did nothing wrong, because they stole your horse and you took her back.” He turned back to Pedro. “I have a gigantic favor to ask of you.”
“What’s that?”
“Can you give Myrna and Sally a ride to New Double. On my way here I called Erin, she’s going to have Lorissa meet us there. She’s also going to let Cole know you’re coming and bringing Sally and Myrna. They are family there, and will protect Myrna and Sally.” He knew he was babbling, but forthe life of him, he couldn’t seem to stop. He was so relieved that Myrna and her horse were now safe. He needed them to be safer and untouchable by getting them to New Double. He hoped Pedro would help with that.
“I can’t impose on anyone,” Myrna started, but Jim turned a look on her, and she swallowed hard.
“Do you have room in your trailer for Sally?”
“I do,” he said, and didn’t hesitate to go to the back of his trailer and open it. He talked to the horse inside, and it only took five minutes to load Sally up, and Pedro put Myrna in the front seat of his truck.
“Follow me,” Jim said, and went to his cop car, climbed in, turned off the lights, and headed down the highway with Pedro pulling out behind him. They drove in silence for about ten minutes before Pedro spoke,
“You don’t know me, and I don’t know you. To be perfectly honest, I don’t even know where we’re going.” He glanced over when she stared at him with wide eyes, but didn’t speak. “It’s true, all I can tell you is that I’m the new trainer at New Double Ranch. There is only one person that I know personally at our end destination. I’ve talked to two other people there, but I don’t know them.”
“What’s a trainer?”
Pedro grinned. “Have you ever seen a horse race?”
“Not in person. Randy always went to the track,spent all his money and blamed me when I wouldn’t give him any of mine.” She shook her head sadly.
Not thinking, Pedro reached out and took her hand in his, and when she jerked, he immediately let go. “I’m not going to hurt you. I am a very honorable man. I only took your hand to let you know that you’re not alone anymore.”
“Thank you, it’s probably going to be some time before I can trust anyone again,” she said after a full three minutes of silence. She moved in her seat, so she faced him more. “So, what’s a trainer?”
“Basically, I work with the owner and the jockey to make sure the horse being run is being trained properly.” He looked at her with a grin when she snorted a laugh.
“So, this ranch we’re going to has racehorses?”
“Yes, but I need to tell you something, so you won’t freak out when you get there.”
“What’s that?”
“Both or our horses will have to go into quarantine when we arrive at New Double.”
“Why?”
“As a precaution. I overheard you tell the Sheriff that when you were in the hospital, some man named Gus took Sally. We don’t know what he did to her, and being quarantined, she will be looked over by a vet, blood will be drawn, and Sally will get the best of care. Once the results come back, she can join theother horses. It’s for her health, and the health of the other horses on the ranch.”
“What about your horse?”
“Same thing. I know the history of my horse, however, there are about six or seven years that I don’t know about. I purchased him just before I left to come here. We’ve been traveling for three days. My horse is in bad shape, I had to basically threaten the ranch hand not to use a crop on him when they tried to load him into my trailer.”
“Oh, crap, one of those type of people? I hate people like that.”
“Yes, and it’s sad. My horse has been abused, neglected, and he’s scared. I’m hoping that once the vet clears him, the only person I know at New Double and I can get him back to his former glory. We will never be able to erase the memory of the abuse he endured, but we can prove to him that he is loved, safe, and he can be trusted with us. Sally will be the same way, slow to trust others around her, but as long as you’re there, it should be easier on her.”
