Free Wild Horses by Claire McEwen Page A

make sense of this new reality. Todd ran an organization to protect the mustangs? And she’d just accused him and his obviously married colleague of being on a date? It would be interesting to see if this day could possibly get worse.
    Tess stood up, gathering her folders and giving them a view of her outrageously long legs and tiny skirt. “Look, Todd, I’d better get going. I’m meeting Slaid for dinner. And it seems as though you have some things you need to take care of. Just give me a call once you’ve looked all this over. And thanks for the drink.”
    Nora could tell Todd’s face was red, even in the dim light of the bar. He stood up, as well. “Thanks for everything, Tess. I so appreciate it.”
    â€œHey, it’s for a good cause.” Tess gave Nora a big smile and a small wink. Then she stepped closer and leaned in, surrounding Nora with a cloud of expensive perfume. “He’s all yours,” she murmured. “He’s a pretty good guy, most of the time. We’d miss him around here if you ripped him to shreds.”
    â€œI’m so sorry about the...misunderstanding.” Nora didn’t know what to call it. Her own temporary insanity?
    â€œPlease don’t worry about it. That was the most entertaining thing that’s happened to me in a while.”
    Nora watched Tess until she disappeared into the sunlight outside and the bar door closed behind her.
    â€œNora, what the hell is going on?” Todd was still standing, with the small table between them.
    â€œYour idiocy, that’s what.” She took Tess’s former seat and motioned for Todd to sit, as well. “The DRM is all riled up about the missing horses.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œThe manager of the station, Lee, questioned me today. He knows my car was the last one in the lot that night. I had to lie and say I’d seen nothing.”
    Todd looked stricken. “I’m so sorry, Nora. I honestly didn’t think it would be a big deal to them.”
    â€œNo? Well, you should have thought. Lee’s worried he’s going to lose his job over this. He has three kids to support. He can’t afford to lose his livelihood.”
    â€œThey won’t fire him,” Todd said more confidently. “The government has so many rules and regulations attached to hiring and firing personnel, there’s no way they can fire him without evidence.”
    She raised her brows skeptically. “You don’t know that for sure.”
    â€œI’m pretty certain. Look, I’ve seen this kind of thing before. They have to act as if they care. They have to investigate, but they’re just jumping through their hoops. I promise you that in a few days, it will all calm down. They don’t want those horses anyway.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œBecause they were planning on selling them to a broker.” Todd’s expression darkened. “And that broker is notorious for getting hold of mustangs and selling them for meat.”
    â€œWhat?” Nora shook her head, trying to clear it. Trying to understand. “Nobody eats horse meat!”
    â€œPlenty of people eat it. In Mexico, and in Europe. Even here in the States. It’s not supposed to be legal to slaughter horses for meat, but often the DRM just sells the horses to whatever broker comes along. They don’t care if that broker takes them to an illegal slaughterhouse.”
    Nora tried to take in this new information. Slaughtering wild mustangs? It seemed almost sacrilegious. “I didn’t realize.”
    â€œBut you’re right. I didn’t think through the consequences of this very well. I don’t want you to have to lie and I don’t want the station manager to lose his job. If I’m wrong, and it doesn’t blow over in a couple days, I’ll figure something out.”
    â€œOh, that’s comforting.” Nora shoved her clenched fists into