Page 38 of The Rancher

Lyris lifted her brows and nodded. “Oh, I see.”

“Yeah. Anyway, I won’t let him near any of our horses.” Will shuffled back and forth on his feet.

“Are you out here all night?”

“Yup, I’m the last defense these animals have and I mean to keep them safe.”

She nodded. “Good. That’s good. I’ll sleep better knowing someone is with them.”

“Yeah. I’ll make sure all the guys know about Ted. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already approached the newer men. I’ll tell them he’s been fired and if they don’t want the same thing to happen to them, they’ll show him to the exit immediately.”

“Thanks, Will.” She smiled. “I’m glad to know the animals are in such good care. They need someone who loves them. Ted didn’t care about anything but money. I believe he’s responsible for Stormchaser’s injury and so does Ray, but we can’t prove it.”

“I wondered that myself. Especially when Ray ordered all of us to comb that pasture for more traps.” He shifted the shotgun to rest on his shoulder pointing at the ceiling instead of the floor. “ I found a few as did the other men. Ted was the only one who didn’t find anything. After we were done and everyone headed back, I went back over the part of the pasture Ted was supposed to comb. I found three traps. He had to have seen them and didn’t pick them up.”

Lyris narrowed her eyes. “Why am I not surprised? I bet he would have tried to get Ray to open the pasture again, hopingto hurt the horses permanently. Do you think all the traps have been found now?”

Will shrugged. “I can’t say for certain, but I’m pretty sure they have been. We should go over the pasture again just to make sure before any horses are let loose in there.”

“I agree. I think you should talk to Ray about it.”

“I’m on my way to see him now. It would kill me to see an animal maimed because we missed one. That’s not saying Ted won’t reset them, but the men and I will make it as safe as we can for the horses.”

Lyris walked over to Will and laid a hand on his shoulder. “You’re a good man, Will Asher. A very good man.” She backed up. “I’m headed to bed. If anything happens, have Ray call me.”

He held the shotgun in his arms like he would a baby. “I will. You can rest easy. I’ve got this.”

“I believe you do. Goodnight.” She turned and headed to the guesthouse. What if Ted did something else to hurt the animals? What if he hurt Maddy like he boasted he would?

A knock soundedon Ray’s office door.

“Enter.”

Will entered the office. “Do you have a minute?”

“Sure, have a seat and tell me what’s up?” Ray pointed at the brown leather Queen Anne chairs in front of his desk.

“Well, I wanted to tell you that we found three more traps in the area that Ted supposedly searched. There is no way he couldn’t have found them. I think he meant to leave them there and hopefully maim a horse again.”

Ray slapped a hand on his desk. “I think you’re right. Thank you for letting me know. And Will. I’m firing Ted, and I’m promoting you to Stable master effective immediately.”

Will’s eyes widened and then a grin spread across his face. “Thank you, Mr. Kincaid. Thank you, very much.”

“Don’t thank me. You’ve earned it. Let the men know, and if they have any questions, they can come to me.”

Will stood and extended a hand to Ray. “Thank you, again, Mr. Kincaid.”

“Call me, Ray. And come to dinner tonight. Six o’clock sharp.”

“Thanks, I will…Ray.” He turned and left the office.

Ray watched him go and then followed him out. The days were longer now and even though the time was after eight o’clock, it was still light out. He went looking for Ted. He might not be able to prove that he’d killed Francie, but he sure as heck wasn’t working here anymore. He found him down at the racetrack. He was leaning on the rails with his right boot on the bottom and his arms crossed over the top rail.

Maddy was riding White Lightning putting him through his paces. She’d be riding a practice race tomorrow. They had to know how the horse would behave with other horses on the track. They’d done it before but just with two other horses. This would be with seven others. Hopefully he would still perform well.

Ray had to stop and watch her. She was so good and he was so proud of her. Then he turned toward his quarry.

“Ted. I want to talk to you.”