Page 89 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“I asked Mr. Stubbs what the deal was. He said the animal belonged to his late wife and won’t let anyone near him.”

“Which is no excuse for not feeding it!” JD snapped.

“I think he’s fed the horse a time or two but forgets about it. He’s been mourning the loss of his life partner, who he lived with for fifty years. Don’t think he’s got his head on straight yet,” Sheriff Dans added.

“Well f—hell,” JD said, remembering the young girls just in time.

“So, I asked Mr. Stubbs if he’d let someone else take him, and he said yes, if they can catch him. I thought you might like to take a look at him, JD. Seeing as you collect strays.”

“Yes!” Zoe, Vi, and Ally cried.

“Do I get a say?” JD asked.

“No,” they all added.

“Like you won’t go and see what’s happening with that animal,” Sheriff Dans scoffed. “Everyone knows you love animals way more than humans.”

“They’re more intelligent,” JD muttered, pulling out his cell phone. He needed a trailer if he was about to own a horse and knew just who to call.

Chapter25

“You really need to buy a trailer, JD,” Vi said from beside him. “Then you don’t have to borrow the Dukes’ one all the time.”

“They should give it to me because they don’t have animals anymore.”

“They have a few cows,” she said.

“And you know this how?”

“Ally told me.”

“Should you call your family or something and tell them where you are, Vi?”

“No. They’re not home today.”

She sat with her hands folded neatly in her lap, looking out the windshield at the rear of the trailer Sawyer Duke towed in front of him.

JD thought he’d be going alone to see the horse. Turned out he was wrong there. He’d called Sawyer, who had arrived with the trailer and Ryder. With them was Tripp Lyntacky, of all people, who had transferred into the back of JD’s car, as it was more comfortable, apparently.

“Tripp is really good with horses,” Vi said, which answered JD’s next question.Why was the mayor in his car?

“Glad you’re helping JD out, Vi. He needs you,” Tripp said, catching JD’s eye in the mirror. He wasn’t sure what he was meant to read from that look, but he thought it might be approval. “I brought some apples, but what horses really love are sugar cubes. I have some of those too,” Tripp said from the back seat.

“Thanks. I’ve only ever owned a donkey,” JD said, because he wasn’t sure what else to say. He’d not spent a lot of time with the man, and in fact, he thought he was cracked in the head for making the entire town square dance whenever he felt like it.

“Horses are just big ponies,” Tripp said. “Swedish Fish?” A hand appeared between the seats holding a bag of candy.

Vi took one.

“I’m good, but thanks,” JD said.

“Berry flavored. One of our finest sweets if you ask me,” Tripp said.

“I like Sour Patch Kids,” Vi said.

“What flavor?” JD asked, because when the crazy was all around you, it was best to embrace it.

“Watermelon.”

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