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that it would have mattered. She was certain her heart was pounding so loud, it would have drowned out anything she said.
    “Miss Susannah? Can you vouch for what this here fella is saying?”
    Once again, every eye in town was turned toward her. Normally, that would have been enough to send her shrinking away, but without knowing why, she suddenly felt brave—and ready to come to the stranger’s defense. “Yes, he stopped on the road where it passes by our farm. He was riding that roan just as he said.”
    “And the saddle? Did you see it?”
    “Yes, Sheriff. It’s the same saddle I saw today!”
    “Anything else?”
    “He was leading a fine-looking dapple-gray packhorse as well.”
    A buzz of conversation went through the crowd.
    Susannah saw the gleam of victory in Reed’s eyes. “He was looking for work,” she said, then gave him a hard stare.
    He returned her stare and that prompted Susannah to speak with a tone that sounded smug even to her. “I did not hire him.”
    Apparently Dahlia had been silent as long as she could. “If you ask me, she showed uncommonly good sense in not hiring anyone who looks like he does.”
    Violette made a disbelieving sound. “And what, pray tell, is wrong with the way he looks?”
    “Too handsome,” she said, matter-of-factly. “A handsome man is good for nothing except giving a woman ideas she’s better off without.”
    “What ideas would that be?” Violette asked.
    “That is not something I care to discuss right here on the main street of town, within earshot of half the community.”
    “That means she doesn’t know,” Violette said.
    As Susannah watched, Violette looked at Reed Garrett with keen interest—which quickly turned to deep speculation.
    “Looks like you’ve gone and found yourself a witness,” Sheriff Carter said.
    “I’m thankful for that,” Reed said. “Does that mean I get my horse and saddle back?”
    Sheriff Carter looked down at the ground and pondered the question for a minute. He kicked a dirt clod one way and then back the other. “I guess I can’t see any reason why not,” he replied. “Miss Susannah’s word is good enough for me.”
    He turned to Curly. “Hand over the man’s horse.”
    “Tate ain’t gonna like this any more than his old man,” Curly said.
    “Well, you tell Tate to come on into town because I’ve got some things to ask him. I’m not through with this. Not by any means. I want to know how this man’s horse and saddle ended up on the Double T, and while I’m at it, I’d like to know what Tate knows about this man’s other belongings.”
    “I’ll tell him.”
    “And you can also tell him if he wants to get mad at anybody, he can get mad at me.”
    Curly handed the reins to the sheriff. “I’ll see that he gets the message,” he said.
    The sheriff watched Curly walk off and join his friends. He turned to Reed and offered him the reins. Realizing that Reed was still tied, the sheriff turned to Hiram Bixby, who stood nearby, looking sheepish, and said, “I guess you’d better untie him, Hiram.”
    “What about my cow?”
    “You’ve got your cow and your pie,” Jonah said.
    “But he was stealing my cow.”
    “I don’t recollect ever hearing of any thief who rustled cattle on foot or by looping a belt around the neck of the creature. If part of this stranger’s story is true, then I reckon all of it is.”
    Hiram didn’t say anything, but he did untie Reed.
    “Thanks,” Reed said, and began rubbing his sore wrists.
    Susannah was wondering if that was going to be all there was to this incident when Jonah said, “Folks around Bluebonnet don’t cotton to aimless, drifting strangers in town.” He paused and hooked his thumbs through his belt loops, doing his best to look wise. “Course, I might be persuaded to release you—seeing as how you’ve gone and got yourself a witness and all—if you give me your word that you’ll get out of town and stay out. Bluebonnet is a peaceful enough