by Claire Adams
“Your horses look alright,” the sheriff commented.
“I was able to unlock the stalls as I came in and get them out, though three just tucked themselves deeper in their stalls.”
“Called the vet yet?” he asked.
“No need. No wheezing, no issues with their running,” Colt said.
He got back to the area where the fire started and took a few pictures. He started digging around a bit, trying to find what had started it, and he came upon what he thought was a charred matchstick. He plucked out a glove and picked it up, but then he asked Colt the looming question.
“You said the person looked at you before they took off. So, you got a good look at their face?”
“The sun was at their back. I didn’t get a good look at all. They were tall and slender, but that’s all I got,” Colt said.
“Alright.”
“Sheriff, this is happening. And I know I’m not the only barn that’s experienced these issues over the past couple of weeks. Something needs to be done,” Colt said.
I could hear the agitation in his voice, and I was poised and ready to calm him down if necessary. If he lost his cool with the sheriff, someone like him—with his stature and strength—could easily be arrested for attempting to intimidate an officer.
The last thing we needed was this idiot to successfully dismantle this barn and the man who ran it.
“Colt, I’m sorry. I mean, it’s obvious that someone lit a match in here, but without a description or even a boot print to go on, there isn’t much I can do.”
“Are you serious?” he asked.
“Keep your barn locked up better and keep an eye out. It’s what I tell everyone around here, and it’s what I’ll tell you.”
“Someone just tried to burn down my damn barn! How in the hell do you think—”
I put my hand on Colt’s arm, and I could feel the veins pulsing underneath my touch. I knew he was angry, and I understood; I had been absolutely furious myself. Tears rose to my eyes thinking about all the crap I’d endured when my barn burned to the ground, and I was thankful Colt didn’t have to go through those same emotions.
“Colt, he’s right,” I said. “Take some deep breaths.”
“Cheyenne. Someone burned your damn barn down, killed one of your horses, and just tried to do it with mine. You mean to tell me no one’s paying a price for that?”
A tear trickled down my cheek at the thought of my perished horse, and that ripped Colt from his trance.
“Cheyenne, I’m so—”
“Thank you for your time, sheriff,” I said breathlessly. “If we have anything else, we’ll call you.”
I stuck out my hand for him to shake, and I could tell how remorseful he was. I knew he wanted to catch this person just as much as we did, but his hands were tied if he didn’t have any real leads. I’d had to come to terms with that over the past few weeks, and now it was Colt’s turn to do the same.
But I knew what I had to do to keep everyone safe, and Colt wasn’t going to like what I had in mind.
“Keep the barn locked up and keep an eye out,” he said. “Your animals deserve it.”
“Our animals deserve justice,” Colt said hotly.
“He’s right. More horses could have died, Sheriff, and at this point that would’ve been on the department’s head,” I said.
“And I’m not arguing with you on either of those points. But justice requires a certain amount of information, and there are too many holes that need to be filled before we can open an investigation.”
“Like what the guy looked like? I thought it was your job to figure that out,” Colt said.
“Yeah, but we need starting markers. A tattoo on his neck. A scar on his right pinky. Something to set him apart from everybody else in town,” the sheriff said.
I could tell from the look on Colt’s face that he was disgusted with the entire situation. The sheriff was an intelligent person, but even he had his limits, and Colt was finally realizing that.
“I might as well just install some fucking security cameras,” Colt said.
“That’s actually not a bad idea, if you can afford it. Most people around here can’t, but video of whatever this person was doing would open an investigation, whether or not he looked at the camera,” the sheriff said.
“Then that’s what’ll be done,” I said. “Thank you for your time, Sheriff.”
“The two of you stay safe, alright? I’m with you when I say I’m not sure these are pranks anymore, but without evidence to open this thing, it’s out of my hands.”
I walked behind the two men, checking on each of the horses and kissing them on their muzzles as was my custom. I was so relieved they were alright and not hurt in any way, but I knew my presence here was putting them in danger. Someone was targeting the people attempting to help me, and that meant I had to remove myself from the equation altogether. I knew that other places were being targeted, but it made me wonder if it was still connected to me. Like the other places were just to throw people off someone targeting just me. I needed to get out of here before anyone else got hurt.
But Colt wasn’t going to like that one bit.
We saw the sheriff off, and as he rolled down Colt’s driveway, that’s when I realized I was still trembling. Colt threaded his arm around me and pulled my body into his, when all of a sudden, my tears were unleashed. He held me close to him, and his warmth radiated throughout my entire body, but I knew I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t stay underneath his watchful eye any longer.
It was putting everything he had in danger.
“This is all my fault,” I said.
“No, it’s not, Cheyenne. Don’t think that way.”
“Colt. You’ve opened yourself up to this kind of danger and ridicule because of me. It’s obvious I’m being targeted.”
He tightened his grip on me, and at that moment, I knew he knew what was coming. It was like his body was in tune with the future, while his head was still swirling in the present.
“That fire could’ve spread,” I said.
“But it didn’t.”
“Had you not been up, it could’ve killed all the horses on the ranch. Look at how close these barns are! God Colt, what if Rick had been sleeping in the apartment? He could have been killed!”
“But none of that happened, Cheyenne,” Colt said. He grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back from his body. I looked into his eyes and saw the fear. I saw the protector in him fighting against the rational mind, and I knew I had to put my foot down.
I had to leave in order to keep them from being in any more danger.
“I have to leave, Colt,” I said.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m obviously being targeted, and you know that. We have proof. They came after your barn. Your horses, Colt. What if they came after your restaurant?”
“No one is coming after anything because of you,” he said.
“I can see in your eyes that you don’t believe that.”
“We took you in because we wanted to help. We knew the risk to us, and we were willing to take it,” Colt said.
“So, you agree that you’re being targeted because of me.”
“Cheyenne, you’re not—”
“My mind is made up,” I said. “It was made up the moment we had to put out that fire. I’ve had an entire day to think about it, Colt, and you know you’re in danger with me around.”
“Please, Cheyenne. No one got hurt. The horses are fine,” he said.
“But if I leave, there will be no more trouble. I won’t be here, I’ll be back home, and all those problems will come with me.”
“Then, I’m coming with you too,” he said.
“No, you’re not. You have to take care of things here, especially with Tif laid up like she is.”
“You are needed here. You’re safe here, Cheyenne. The help you’ve given us while things get going at your sanctuary has been invaluable. You can’t just leave.”
> “Yes, I can. And I’ll do it to protect you guys. Just like you’ve protected me,” I said. “Plus, I have a few decisions I need to set in motion.”
I walked into the house with Colt hot on my heels, and I headed up to the guestroom and started packing up my things.
“Cheyenne, just listen to me. You’re not putting us in danger. Someone is going around doing all this—”
“Because I kicked up drama with Bill Coates when I sent PETA after him. Colt, you’re not in charge right now.”
“Just listen to me for a second!”
“No,” I said, as I closed my suitcase. “And I need you to do something for me. I need you to cancel the fundraiser.”
“Oh, hell no. I know where this is going. You’re not giving up because of this.”
“I’m not giving up. I’m putting people I care about in serious danger, and I’m not putting up with it any longer.”
“We’re not in danger, Cheyenne!”
“Someone just tried to set your barn on fire, Colt!” I yelled. “Someone just tried to kill your horses! Destroy your business!”
I stood in the middle of his porch with my suitcase in my hand, and he bent down to grab the strap. I knew he wasn’t going to let this go without a fight, but I’d already made up my mind. I knew what I had to do. I knew the fight was over. The moment they came after Colt and Tiffany’s farm was the moment I knew I was done fighting this. Whoever this person happened to be was targeting people I loved, and I wasn’t going to stick around. Every day I stayed was a risk to everyone who surrounded me, and I couldn’t be that. After everything Colt and I had experienced, I couldn’t watch myself become a burden to him.
“Please, Cheyenne,” he said. “Just stay.”
“Cancel the fundraiser. I have to go back to my barn and do my best to arrange transfer of ownership of my horses.”
“Cheyenne—”
“There are plenty of people in this town who don’t abuse their animals like Bill does, and there are plenty of rescue shelters in the neighboring counties for the horses who are still rehabilitating.”
“Cheyenne, this is crazy,” Colt said. “You’ve worked too hard—”
“To watch it all burn?” I exclaimed. “I’ve had enough. I’m tired. I’m petrified. Obviously, I can’t protect those horses, and, to top it off, I’m putting you, Tiffany, and your livelihood in danger.”
I care about you, Colt. Can’t you see that? Can’t you feel it at night?
I tugged on the strap of my suitcase one last time while we stood by my truck. I grasped his hand and slowly pulled it from the harness, then tossed it into the back of my truck.
“Let me know when you’ve canceled the fundraiser,” I said.
I watched Colt fade into the background as I slowly drove away from his ranch. I knew I was doing the right thing, leaving them behind so they wouldn’t be a target. I knew someone was after me, and I knew I’d made enemies. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if another animal died because of me.
But I also knew my horses would still be targeted whenever I got back to my sanctuary, so my hand was forced.
I was rehoming the horses, closing everything down, and finding a new path for my life.
One that didn’t involve dead horses and the people I loved getting hurt.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry, Colt.”
Chapter 26
Colt
“Cheyenne contact you about the horse yet?” I asked Michael. Things had been going well since the reopening, with no leaks or other catastrophes in site.
“She told me she’d call me soon, but that’s the last I heard from her.”
“When did you guys talk?” I asked.
“This afternoon. I’m surprised you didn’t know?”
“Cheyenne took off this morning after the issue with our barn.”
“What happened with the barn?” Michael asked.
“Someone broke into it and lit some hay in one of the horse stalls on fire early one morning.”
“Are you serious?” Michael asked. “Did you call the sheriff?”
“Yeah, for all the good it did. He said there wasn’t anything he could do. Evidence of arson from the match on the ground that was charred, but nothing could be done because I didn’t see the bastard’s face. Can you believe that?”
“Well, the sheriff is bound by the limits of the law. If he doesn’t have a way to ID someone, what more can he do?” Michael asked.
“I don’t know! I thought that was his damn job!”
I slammed my bar towel down onto the bar and began to scrub and polish. I needed to get my mind off of this horrible day. I’d called Cheyenne at her sanctuary twice today, but no one picked up. She was obviously making phone calls if she’d called Michael, so that told me she was at least making calls, but not necessarily accepting them.
“What the hell is happening around here?” Michael asked.
“Any more issues with your chickens?”
“Nah. Nothing lately. Now, what does the barn shit have to do with Cheyenne?” he asked.
“She thinks someone targeted our barn because we were helping her out,” I said. “How stupid does that sound?”
“Actually, not too stupid at all,” Michael said. “She pissed off a lot of people in town, some of them with a great deal of influence.”
“Then don’t abuse your animals! Christ, how hard is that to do?”
I was infuriated with the whole situation. I knew Cheyenne was a target for caring about the horses she took in, and I knew people in this town were mad at her, especially for calling PETA, who could be really extreme. But, if they didn’t want her sticking her nose in their business, then don’t abuse your animals then abandon them with Jacob. It was that simple!
Now, at this very moment, Cheyenne was a moving target back at her ranch, where she had already been attacked. Meanwhile, she was seeking homes or sanctuaries for the horses and making strides to leave this place altogether!
I wasn’t going to let the bullheaded people of this town run her out of it. She was the only bright spot some days, and I wasn’t going to lose that without a fight.
“Now, if you could get evidence together for the sheriff, he’d be able to do something about it,” Michael said.
“That’s why I’m having security cameras installed around my place. The house and the barns, at least. I’m catching this fucker on camera.”
“And, in my experience, suing someone is usually easier than getting a criminal investigation open. If you can get any decent evidence to identify them, you could take it to a lawyer and serve them with a lawsuit. I’ve seen those things change people’s tune on a nickel.”
“That’s actually not a bad idea, Michael. Thanks,” I said.
“Now, the real question is this how is Cheyenne going to get the money to rebuild everything? I know her insurance will probably cover the barn, but it won’t cover things like feed, tack, and the other equipment and supplies she lost.”
“Well, we were going to hold a fundraiser, Tiffany had it all arranged. But Cheyenne told me to cancel it.”
“Why?” Michael asked.
“She’s running. She does that when she feels like she’s been backed into a corner she can’t get out of.”
“I don’t blame her for feeling that way,” Michael said. “Where is she now?”
“At her sanctuary trying to rehome her horses. It’s probably why you got the phone call from her today,” I said.
“Jesus, so she’s serious,” Michael said. “What are you going do about the fundraiser?”
“Well, I was thinking maybe I’d have it anyway. I tried calling her a couple times today, and she didn’t pick up, so I figure I could throw it before she can get her horses rehomed to show her the support she still has around here.”
“You think that’ll convince her to stay? I hope she does. That woman is a legend with horses around here,” Michael said. “At least to horse lovers.”
Michael and I continued to talk about the fundraiser for a bit, and he said he’d help in any way he could. I told him I needed someone who could spread the word about it without passing it on to people he knew were pissed at Cheyenne, and he said he could see what kind of support he could drum up before we started finalizing plans. I knew if I could throw this fundraiser and show her the emotional and monetary support people around here could give, it would help my argument in getting her to stay.
She was jumping the gun and defaulting to a state of mind that made her feel more comfortable, and I’d devoted too much time and energy into her to just let her run off into the sunset after abandoning what I knew she truly loved. I cared for her too much to sit back and watch that happen.
“You and Tiffany gonna throw it?” he asked.
“Yep. I’m gonna take care of the food and drinks, and Tiffany’s probably gonna arrange the decorations, the date, and all that. She’s already gathered donated auction items and that kind of thing.”
“Well, I’ll definitely see what I can do. In the meantime, what about those security cameras?”
“I’ve already got it under control. I called someone today, and they said they’d be installed by the end of the week. I can hook them all up to the computer in my house and check the cameras at any point in time.”
“Sounds fancy,” he said.
“I’m sparing no expense. If I can put together enough information and catch this son of a bitch on camera, then I can make all this stop.”
“And maybe then Cheyenne will stay?”
I saw the smirk on Michael’s face, and I simply shook my head. I made a few drinks for those that had walked up to the bar, but I could see Michael’s eyes watching me intently.
“What?” I asked.
“You care for her,” he said.