Page 54 (1/2)

Sky, on horseback, see as if he were part of the ani the horse more with his knees than with his hands Back in the day, the Co in that ancient blood had trickled through the generations to pool richly into Sky Fletcher There was no ift

Leaning on the top rail of the fence, Beau watched theof bodies and colors—bay and roan, black, silver, paint, and buckskin, dun and claybank, in a kaleidoscope of grace and motion

His cell phone rang Seeing Natalie’s name on the display, Beau walked away from the fence to take the call

“What’s up, gorgeous?” He was in high spirits today

“Beau, are you alone?” She sounded like a terrified child

“What is it?

” he asked, alarain?”

“YesnoListen to me, Beau! The sheriff and his deputy just left here Slade’s dead Murdered on your ranch And they’re on their way to question you”

CHAPTER 12

It had to be a mistake

That was Beau’s first thought Then reality slammed him like a runaway train Slade Haskell was dead And it wouldn’t take a Sherlock Holmes to name the prime suspect in his murder

“Are you all right, Natalie?” he asked, needing to be assured of that

“I will be” Her voice quivered slightly “It’s just the shock of it You were at the ranch last night, weren’t you? Will can verify that”

“Call Tori,” he said, ignoring her questions “Tell her everything the sheriff said”

“Beau, I’m worried”