Free Kidnapped Colt by Terri Farley

one boot in the dirt. “I wonder why ya took ’em up there, then.”
    â€œRyan wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Sam said, but when Dad exhaled and shook his head, she heard how lame her excuse sounded.
    The sheriff closed his notebook with a snap.
    â€œDoesn’t sound like a crime’s been committed. It’s inconvenient, but a family matter.
    â€œLinc, since he caused the inconvenience, you might think of sending your boy up there to retrieve those horses, soon as he gets home.”
    â€œThat’ll be a few days,” Linc said. “And I still say he’s not to blame.”
    â€œThey can’t stay up there overnight,” Sam protested.
    â€œYou’re thinking of coyotes and cougars,” Dad said. “She’s got a point. Even if you leave now, Linc, it’ll be dark by the time you get there.”
    They all glanced up. Dusk was falling. Against the purple-gray sky, a bat flickered out from the barn’s loft.
    â€œThey’ll be fine,” Linc said.
    They won’t be fine , Sam thought. But Ryan had been right. Linc had already lost interest in Hotspot.
    Karl Mannix hadn’t. He cleared his throat, attracting everyone’s attention.
    â€œSheriff, if you’ll lead the way, I’ll follow you upthere and bring the horses back.”
    â€œThe trailer’s still up there,” Sam said.
    â€œThat’s handy,” Karl Mannix said.
    Sheriff Ballard stuck his pen in his shirt pocket. “Shouldn’t take but a few minutes. If it’s okay with you,” he said to Dad and Brynna, “I’ll have Sam ride along to point out the canyon. With it coming on dark, I don’t want to miss it.”
    When Dad nodded, the sheriff said, “Let’s go, Samantha.”
    â€œBut Mikki and Gina,” Sam said. “I have to help get them settled and—”
    â€œWe can handle things without you,” Brynna said, sounding almost cold. “This takes precedence.”
    Sam wasn’t sure, but the firm set of Brynna’s lips implied that since Sam was supposed to be a role model for the HARP girls, she’d better hurry up and clear her good name.

Chapter Eight
    S am had always thought it would be fun to ride in a police car. It wasn’t.
    A metal grate loomed behind the seat. She didn’t turn to look at it, but it hovered there like a silent threat.
    She told herself she was lucky Karl wasn’t riding with them. Otherwise Sheriff Ballard might have made her ride in that backseat cage.
    â€œYou can let go,” Sheriff Ballard said as he drove down the highway along the La Charla River.
    Sam didn’t know what he meant. Without taking his eyes from the windshield, he reached over and tapped her clasped hands. Sam looked down.
    Her fingers were interlaced so tightly, she had towork them apart. While she did, she thought of how badly she’d messed up this time.
    Sheriff Ballard was her friend. He’d helped her solve the mystery of her mother’s death and he’d adopted Jinx, the fierce but frightened mustang who’d been a bucking horse. Her misbehavior must be embarrassing for him, just as it was for her family.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said softly.
    â€œI know you did this out of the goodness of your heart,” Sheriff Ballard told her. “But you want to put a little more thought into situations like this. Peer pressure—”
    â€œI didn’t do it for Ryan; I did it for Shy Boots. I think Ryan’s probably right. Linc would have gotten rid of the colt.”
    â€œMaybe. And maybe I heard through the grapevine that something like this was brewing.”
    Sam started to ask who’d told him, but she knew he wouldn’t tell.
    â€œSamantha, how’d you get hurt?” he asked suddenly.
    Sam’s hand darted to her cheek.
    â€œMy filly did it,” she said, wondering why he cared. “I’m training her to