Untamed by Terri Farley Read Free Book Online

don’t know about that,” Brynna said. “But he’s always complaining that his land is overrun with mustangs. He’s more of a nuisance than anything.”
    Sam’s mind stampeded with possibilities. Was Caleb Sawyer making complaints about horses so he could shoot them? Or was he really trying to hunt the antelope grazing alongside the horses? What had Mom thought?
    â€œHis spread does border BLM land,” Dad said.“He’s been claiming horse trespass for as long as I can remember.”
    Dad looked thoughtful for a few seconds, then his gaze swung back to Sam. “I want you to stay away from there.”
    Sam sat back in her chair. Now she really couldn’t tell Dad about the rifle shots.
    â€œI will,” she said. “But why?”
    â€œHe’s always been kind of an odd duck,” Dad said.
    Gram and Brynna looked at each other, trying to wring more meaning out of Dad’s words.
    â€œI don’t know what he’s done before, but I can tell you it’s Linc Slocum that keeps him stirred up, now,” Brynna said.
    â€œLands,” Gram muttered. “That Linc is never happy unless everyone around him is miserable.”
    â€œHow are they…” Sam searched for a suitable word. “Connected?”
    Brynna bit her bottom lip for a minute. “I’ve never asked Linc about it, but Caleb always brings him up. As if Linc Slocum gives him credibility.”
    Sam’s mind raced. Linc Slocum was always trying to put some unscrupulous plan in motion. His schemes were often cruel and dangerous. He’d tried to raise Brahma bulls and bison, and both plans had endangered people’s lives and left the animals miserable. And ever since he’d moved to northern Nevada with his millions of dollars, he’d longed to own the Phantom.
    There’d been a wild white stallion on this range for as long as anyone could remember. The horse—or horses, to be sensible—had become a legend, and Linc Slocum, who was used to buying everything he wanted, couldn’t stand it that the stallion had no price.
    Could Caleb Sawyer somehow fit into his obsession to have her horse?
    â€œI don’t get it,” Sam said. “What do you mean, Linc gives him credibility?”
    Brynna thought a minute. “You know, Caleb stays out there at Snake Head Peak all alone, but he brings up Linc as if he knows him. Like, ‘Linc says I have a legitimate gripe against BLM ’cause they put horses before people’ or ‘Linc says that white stud—’”
    â€œWhat?” Sam gasped.
    Both Gram and Dad stared at Brynna as if she’d made a mistake.
    â€œIt’s the Phantom he’s talking about,” Sam said.
    â€œNot necessarily,” Gram began.
    â€œOh, yes it is,” Sam insisted.
    She couldn’t explain why she was so sure. Only she, Jen, and the shooter had seen the Phantom at Antelope Crossing.
    â€œIt could be,” Brynna admitted, “but all he’s said to me is that the stallion is trespassing.”
    â€œIt would still be against the law to shoot him, wouldn’t it?” Sam said.
    â€œOf course,” Brynna snapped. “But that’s not what Caleb has in mind. I’m sure he just wants compensation.” Brynna gave an angry smile. “In otherwords, money, for the free meals the horses have had on his land.”
    Brynna was wrong.
    But Sam couldn’t tell her so, if she ever wanted to go there again to investigate.
    â€œSo you’re not going to report him to the sheriff?” Sam asked.
    â€œWhat in heaven’s name for?” Gram asked. “There’s plenty of greed to go around since Slocum moved in.”
    â€œIf greed were a jailin’ offense, Heck Ballard wouldn’t do much else,” Dad said.
    If she mentioned the rifle, Sheriff Hector Ballard would be involved, Sam decided. And soon.
    For tonight, she’d say no more. But