Chapter 1 - The Horse
“That’s Emma’s horse.”
Samuel Hale stepped into the auction aisle as the riderless black horse slowed to a controlled stop before him.
Emma’s red scarf was tied to the saddle.
A broken padlock dragged from a short leather strap.
Samuel had spent nine days listening to Mason claim his daughter had abandoned the ranch after an argument. Now her horse had returned without her.
Mason approached cautiously.
“It must’ve wandered back.”
The horse turned its head away from him.
Then it pivoted and walked directly toward the attached barn corridor.
Everyone watched.
The animal stopped before a recently installed wooden partition and scraped the sand three times.
A silver riding spur slipped from the saddlebag.
Samuel picked it up.
The Hale family crest had been engraved into the metal.
“She was wearing this.”
Mason tightened his grip around a box of new construction nails.
Something metal fell behind the partition.
Then a weak but clear voice came through the wood.
“Dad?”
Samuel stopped breathing.
“Emma?”
Mason immediately moved between him and the partition.
“You can’t open that wall.”
Samuel looked at the fresh boards.
“This wall wasn’t here yesterday.”
“It covers an unsafe storage area.”
“My daughter is behind it.”
Samuel reached toward the mounted inspection-release handle but stopped before operating it.
He looked at Mason.
“What did you do?”
Mason’s face turned pale.
Then Emma spoke again.
“Dad, stop the auction.”
A pause.
“He isn’t selling the horses.”
Samuel looked toward the wealthy buyers gathered behind the barriers.
May you like
Emma’s voice became steadier.
“He’s selling the ground beneath everyone who works here.”
