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"All right," sheshe said was going to make any difference at this point

"Good Then we’re clear on that" His voice was devoid of expression

"Perhaps you could explain why this is so iether, but not touching, they walked over to the fence Leaning against it, Cal braced his boot on the botto trapped by the Bureau of Land Management and because of a t-t-technicality in the law, once they’re sold, too htered"

He’d mentioned some of this when he’d visited on Easter Sunday She hadn’t paid h

"Why?" she asked "How can they do this?"

"United States law allows e of ten to be sold ‘without limitations,’" he explained

"In other words," she said, "they’re being caught and sold and whoever buys them can do what they ith these horses"

"Th-that’s what’s happening, yes"

"But it doesn’t necessarily ued

"I wish you were right Unfortunately that’s not the case These beautiful beasts are being used for dog food here in the States or sold for human consumption in Europe"

That couldn’t be true It just couldn’t Although she knew little about horses, she was reluctant to accept that the governhter

Several minutes passed in silence before Cal turned to look at her "Can you understand why this is so important to me?" he asked

Linnette did understand What she didn’t grasp hy Cal had to go He was only one person and there wasn’t er to Cal’s lips Her eyes filled with tears and she couldn’t see hi around the knot in her throat "How long will you be gone?" She wanted him to hold her, reassure her, but he didn’t

"A month, six weeks at the s?" She wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her sweater

"There are various agencies that adopt the with the BLM and working with one of the agencies Once the horses are captured and checked for health problems, they’re available for adoption or auctioned off I’ll buy a few for Cliff and roup in whatever way they need" A s I can to prevent even a few of the to wait for him to make the first move, Linnette threw her arainst his shoulder "What about us?" she asked She could hear a distant truck, growing louder as it approached

Cal stroked her hair with tenderness Although his touch was gentle, an uneasy feeling refused to leave her Soed between them, and she didn’t knohat Or why

Just then, the truck she’d heard rolled into the yard Cal dropped his arms and stepped away from her

"Who’s that?" she asked

"The vet"

Vicki New like a h her name routinely came into conversations She often stopped by the ranch for one reason or another These horses seeht, unable to curb her cynicishtly on her shoulder, Cal made the introductions

Vicki Newaze She wasn’t attractive or even very feht-brown hair was long and severely tied back, which sharpened her features She wore jeans and a faded shirt

"Nice to finally meet you," Vicki said

"You, too," Linnette told her After an aard moment, she realized she was in the way Whatever business they had to conduct, she clearly wasn’t needed "I, ah, guess I’d better get home"

Cal walked her to her car and kissed her cheek As she drove away, Linnette glanced back and saw Cal and Vicki with their heads together, talking It intensified the anxiety that roiled in her stohteen

"Coed several paces ahead of her on Lighthouse Road Fortunately traffic was light for a Saturday afternoon

"Jack," she panted, struggling to keep up "Slon" She’d never thought she’d see the day that Jack Griffin could outrun her But now that he was down thirty pounds and working out regularly, he’d become an exercise convert His heart attack had been the --that he needed

Trying to catch up, Olivia trotted along, breathing hard by the time she reached his side "How much farther?" she panted

"Around the next corner is three full miles"

As soon as they rounded the curve in the road, Olivia stopped, slun, exhausted She leaned forward to catch her breath "I can’t keep up with you anying in place, Jack looked exceptionally proud of hiht want to lose a few pounds"