Smoketree - By Jennifer Roberson Page 0,3

blaze-faced sorrel horse put its head down and rubbed against the cowboy’s back. Absently he shoved the nose away, saving his balance with effort. I saw a crooked smile half-hidden in the dark moustache.

Cass came vibrantly alive beneath his clear blue gaze and it took no speculation on my part to see where her romantic inclinations lay.

“Is this a new duty?” She grinned at him. “Riding out to impress impressionable guests?”

If so, it certainly was impressive. He glanced at me a moment, then looked directly at Cass. “No, but I reckon you’d be happier if that’s what I was doing.”

Her brightness faded instantly. “Why? What’s happened?”

“Preacher’s out.”

Her hands tightened on the steering wheel. Apprehension, frustration and anger vied for dominance in her voice. “Where is he? What happened? How—”

He interrupted gently. “You’d best check the chain on his pen.”

“Harper!”

He gestured across the meadow. “I found where he got through into Forest Service land. Fence has been cut. I’ll find him, Cassie. Don’t you worry.”

She ignored his soothing words. “What did you mean about the chain on his pen?”

He brushed his hand across his moustache, considering, then lifted his shoulders in a lazy half-shrug. “Looks like bolt-cutters to me. It appears someone wanted him out.”

Cass’s indrawn breath hissed between her teeth. “Damn it! Why do they keep—” She cut it off and glanced at me quickly, then looked away. But her hands were fisted against the steering wheel and her jaw was set tightly. “Wait for me, Harper. I’ll get a horse and come with you. ”

“See to your guest, Cassie.”

She opened her mouth to protest but said nothing, mute unwillingness written plainly on her face. Then the cowboy leaned down to look past her to me.

“Ma’am, it’s nothing to concern yourself with. Just a little ranch business. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

“It’s all right.” I wondered, inanely, at being addressed as ma’am.

“Wait for me,” Cass repeated between her teeth.

“You have a guest.”

She flashed him a resentful glance, included me in it as an afterthought, then took her foot off the brake and sent the car forward.

I turned in my seat and glanced over my shoulder, watching the wrangler mount the horse. He wore no spurs, I saw, but the horse spun neatly and loped off across the meadow as if it needed no urging at all save a single word. The dogs streaked after him.

“He’s your wrangler?”

“Head wrangler.” Apparently it made a difference. Her smile was lopsided and fond. “Of course, that’s not all. Not by a long shot. Harper’s a little bit of everything. My Uncle Nathan is the owner and manager of this place, but Harper’s sort of the glue that holds it all together. ”

“And will he wait for you, as you asked?”

Her mouth tightened as she swung the car around a curve. “I doubt it. He’ll find that big baby of mine and bring him back, probably before I can throw a saddle on another horse. Oh well… so long’s I get him back. ” She sighed and I saw the lines of tension between her eyes. “Too much hangs on that animal…”

“On a horse?”

Cass glanced at me impatiently. “Preacher’s not just a horse. He’s the horse. ” She shook her head and smiled at my incomprehension. “Preacher’s the means to an end. He’ll get me out of here.” She shoved fingers through her long, dark-brown hair. “He and I are going to hit the professional rodeo circuit one of these days, when he’s ready, and we’re going to win a lot of money. ”

I thought about what the wrangler had said about the chain on the horse’s pen. Bolt-cutters. “Then someone could very well want to steal him, if he’s that valuable.”

She looked at me sharply. “Steal him!”

“Your wrangler said maybe someone wanted him out.” I looked at her still face. “I heard him.”

“That,” she said dismissively. “No, they wouldn’t steal him for the money. He’s not worth a whole lot without his registration papers, and I have those locked up in the ranch safe. No, they wouldn’t steal him for the money.” Her face was grim. “They’d steal him for the aggravation…”

I frowned. “Strange reason for stealing a horse.”

Cass looked at me thoughtfully for a moment, then affected a casual shrug. “Well… it’s sort of a strange situation. It’s just… ranch business.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Forget about it. Harper will catch him. ” A suddenly speculative glance slid my way and pinned me to the seat. “This wouldn’t make you want