“Yes, I know.” Cheyenne sat up. As her thundering pulse slowed, she remembered the looming semitruck, the shock of impact, and the screech of crumpling metal. She put up a hand and felt the sore spot on her head. It was tender, but nothing to worry about now.
“That big truck had plenty of room. The driver didn’t need to move over.” She took a deep breath. “He didn’t even honk. That wasn’t an accident, was it?”
Roper’s only response was a shake of his head. What wasn’t he telling her? Why would someone want to harm them—even kill them?
Looking through the windshield, Cheyenne could see a flashing light. A highway patrol cruiser had pulled in front of them, blocking the flow of traffic from the outside lane. The trooper was motioning Roper to follow him.
Roper pulled into the lane behind the cruiser. There were no thumping noises to indicate a flat tire or damaged wheel, which was good. But all Cheyenne could think about was the horses. Even if they weren’t badly hurt, they would be terrified. She lowered the side window and listened, trying to hear them kicking and screaming through the high window slots in the trailer. But the traffic noiseand the laboring truck engine muffled any sounds she might have heard.
They reached the exit and followed the cruiser down the off-ramp, into the empty corner of a Walmart parking lot. The trooper parked, climbed out of the cruiser, and motioned Roper into a space with plenty of room around it.
The truck came to a stop. Cheyenne unfastened her seat belt and jumped to the ground. She could hear the horses now, snorting, shrilling, and slamming against the sides of their confining boxes. She reached for the bolt that secured the rear door. There was no way the horses could be let out of the trailer here. But at least she could check on them.
“Wait, Cheyenne. Don’t open the door without me.” Roper was on the ground, talking with the trooper as they inspected the damage to the rig. The long crease was ugly, but it hadn’t penetrated the steel skin of the truck or trailer.
“I’ll give you a permit to drive with the damage.” The trooper was filling out a form on a clipboard. “We’ll be on the lookout for that green Peterbilt that sideswiped you. Too bad you didn’t get a license number.”
“It was all I could do to keep the rig on the shoulder,” Roper said. “But that semi had plenty of room to pass—a clear lane next to me. The driver cut over with no warning and tried to push me past the edge. Did you see it happen?”
The patrolman stared at him. “No. I came along after the damage was done. If you’re saying it was deliberate, you’re talking attempted murder.”
“That’s the idea. But I don’t believe it was personal. The driver was more likely a hired hit man. If you catch the bastard, I’ll want to know who paid him. Thanks for your help, Officer. You have my cell phone number. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to look after these horses.”
As the cruiser drove away, Cheyenne turned to face herbrother. “What’s going on, Roper?” she demanded. “If somebody was trying to kill us, I need to know about it.”
“This has nothing to do with you, Little Sister.” Roper turned away and walked back toward the rear of the trailer. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it handled.”
Roper unfastened the lock and slid back the bolt at the base of the door. Cheyenne could hear the horses slamming against the sides of their stalls and whinnying in distress. She stood back, watching as the door rolled upward and daylight flooded the inside of the trailer.
The three horses were wild-eyed, snorting and bucking in their stalls. Their fear tore at Cheyenne’s heart. These innocent animals had no idea what had just happened to them. They had felt safe inside the trailer. Then they’d been flung violently to one side, their hooves scrambling for a hold on the slanted surface. No wonder they were terrified.
Roper knew better than to approach them. He kept his distance in the trailer, his expert gaze examining each horse for any visible sign of injury.
From where Cheyenne stood, the horses looked sound enough. But they would need close inspection by a vet once they were unloaded at South Point. Damage to the vital bones and tendons in their legs could be hard to spot at first. And there was no telling how long it would take for them to settle down and allow themselves to be examined.
Roper closed the door, walked back to the truck, and climbed into the driver’s seat. As she took her place beside him, Cheyenne sensed her brother’s dejection. He’d left the Culhane Ranch with high hopes of winning the Run for a Million on Saturday. If none of the horses he’d brought was fit to compete, the show would already be over for him.
But there was more. Even before the so-called accident,she’d noticed his somber expression and long silences. And she’d overheard what he was telling the highway patrolman—that the truck and trailer had been sideswiped deliberately.
Despite their age difference, she and Roper had always been close. But now he sat behind a wall of silence. What was wrong? And why wasn’t he telling her about it?
She got out her phone and began texting. Roper glanced at her, frowning.
“I hope you’re not telling our mother about this. She’ll only be worried.”
“I’m texting Hayden,” Cheyenne said. “He planned to meet us at the trailer entrance to South Point. I’m just letting him know we’ll be late. As for Mother, I don’t tell her anything. She fusses over me like an old biddy hen.” She imitated her mother’s voice. “Guard your honor, Cheyenne. Remember what the good book says—Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies.Good Lord, you’d think this was the 1800s!”
“Mother means well,” Roper said. “You’re her only daughter. She wants to protect you.”
“I’m a rodeo girl, Big Brother. I know how to protect myself, especially from cowboys.”
“And Hayden?” Roper’s voice had taken on a teasing tone.
Cheyenne hesitated. She hadn’t spent much time with Hayden Barr, but she liked him. He was handsome, from a good family, and seemed genuinely nice. He’d even promised to introduce her to cutting competition and offered to help her get the training she needed.
But past experience had taught her not to accept anyone at face value. Until she knew Hayden better, she would proceed with caution. Only if she felt completely safe would she give him her trust.
Roper was waiting for her reply.