Page 56 of Where They Belong

“Did she sedate him?”

“Nope,” Mason said. “He’s just a mellow old man. He’s one of the first mustangs I adopted, so he knows the routine. For the most part. Of course, he is still a wild animal, so you can’t let your guard down completely.”

Once the mask was on, Mason closed the side panel and opened the front of the chute. Lancelot sauntered out as chill as could be. There was a maze of moveable fence panels that Mason could adjust as needed to guide the horses where he wanted them to go, and the current maze for Lancelot directed him to a one-acre paddock. Fresh hay and alfalfa had been put out for him in advance by one of the hands.

“I’ll keep him here for the week so we can administer his meds and make sure his eye improves.”

They stood together and watched Lancelot check out his surroundings for a couple of minutes and then settle into enjoying the hay. There was a sense of peace standing there that Colt hadn’t felt in a long time. He wasn’t sure if it was because he and Mason had finally cleared the air and reconnected or if it was simply being back here at Haverstall Mountain. Despite how it had ended with Mason all those years ago, some of his best memories were from his time living on the ranch as a kid.

“How’s he doing?” Dion asked. He’d come out to stand with them on Mason’s other side.

Dion shot a questioning glance at Colt before looking at Mason, reminding Colt that he’d have to tell Mason what had happened in the tack room soon.

“He’ll be good in no time,” Mason said. “It’s a small ulcer. I’ll put the meds and instructions on his stall card. Can you make a check sheet, please, so the three of you can keep track of when he got his drops?”

“You got it,” Dion said and then went back into the barn.

“You want to head over to the house with me?” Colt asked.

He’d gone for nonchalant, but Mason frowned.

“What happened?”

Colt tipped his head and started walking. Mason fell into step beside him.

“There was another incident,” Colt started.

“And you’re just telling me now?” Mason snapped. He sounded angry but worry swirled in his eyes.

“You were busy with the vet, so yeah, I’m just telling you now,” Colt answered.

“That’s why you drove the truck back instead of Wes,” Mason mumbled. He huffed, took his hat off, and scratched his head. “Sorry. What happened?”

“Someone took to the tack room in the main barn and cut all the cinches and girths, as well as some of the cinch straps.”

Mason stopped dead in his tracks. “What the hell!”

“I’m sorry, but at least it wasn’t more serious than mischief,” Colt said apologetically.

Mason tilted his head to the sky, eyes closed, mouth pinched tight. Then he sighed. His voice was just above a whisper when he said, “I’m so done with this.”

Colt hated seeing him so beat down and put a hand on Mason’s shoulder. A thrill ran through him at the touch. Mason turned tired eyes on him, and he looked so lost and vulnerable in that second that Colt didn’t even think. One second, he was standing there with his hand on Mason, and the next, he fully engulfed Mason in his embrace and held him tight.

They stayed that way, frozen, for a few seconds before Mason extracted himself and stood taller. He looked away, almost as though he was embarrassed, and then he faced Colt with a determined expression.

“You have more to tell me?”

Colt nodded. “I set up some extra surveillance cameras after all the trailer tires were slashed. Whoever it was knew where the cameras were.”

“You didn’t tell me that.” Mason sounded hurt.

“I didn’t tell anyone,” Colt replied. “Not even my brothers.”

A grin flashed over Mason’s lips and then disappeared just as fast. “Bet they weren’t happy about that.”

“They got over it.” Colt shrugged, and they started walking again. “Anyway, we’ll know who did this as soon as we check the footage.”

“Good.” Mason increased his pace and was a few strides ahead before Colt stepped it up to catch him.

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