Don't Tamper With Horses

Sam Morgant sat on a bench while the cowboy splashed water over his face. His eyes were red-rimmed and he looked terrible. "If you didn't get drunk you wouldn't be hungover," Sam said.

The cowboy shrugged sheepishly and ran his hand through his brick-red hair, making it stand on end. "Easy enough to say now, but it was hard to remember yesterday."

"Speaking of remembering yesterday Moss," Sam rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "what was all that about horses growing wings?"

Moss's embarrassment grew determined and the cowboy squared his shoulders. "Well, whenever the Casady brothers show up, horses go missing. The best cutting horse I ever rode flew away the night after they came calling."

Dogs interrupted, barking as they announced a visitor. Sam raised an eyebrow at Moss, indicating he wasn't finished with their subject, then stepped out to greet his guest.

Orville Wilkins dismounted from the back of one of his horses that had been stolen. His face radiated helpless outrage.

"They found 'em, huh?" Sam asked.

Orville dragged in a deep but ragged breath. "Found 'em? Sure, they come riding into my place this morning, proud as peacocks, and charged me fifteen bucks a head to bring my own horses back. Half a month's wages for two days' work! And what could I do?" He rubbed his face as if he was trying to wipe away the memory.

Moss stepped into the sunlight, toweling his hands. "Did you pay 'em?"

Orville nodded, his shoulders slumping. "What could I do? I can't work my place with just one horse, and I'd agreed to a finder's fee already. But they never said I'd be buying my horses twice!"

"Do you reckon I could get my cutting horse back for fifteen dollars?" Moss asked. His eyes sparkled with a stronger emotion than humor.

Orville sighed, his anger burnt out and defeat seeping into its place. "What could I do?" he repeated.

Sam's eyes narrowed with determination. "They've won this round, but we'll get them yet." He looked from dejected Orville to Moss, bleary-eyed and spunky, and shrugged. His forces didn't look very effective compared to the three Casady brothers, but his veins tingled with excitement as he snagged their attention. "They've run their last crooked scheme in Kirby"...To be continued