"Oh no." Rob's tone was mournful as Rick gritted his teeth. He stole a glance at his son as he said "Who called in the report?"
"John Lake, the stable manager. He'd like you to stop by as soon as you can."
"Roger, I'll be there. Thanks, Calla."
As soon as he clicked off, Rick calmly told him, "Let me call your Uncle, then I'll tell your mother, I don't want her to find out from someone talking."
As soon as he turned on his transmitter, he found a familiar voice trying to reach him.
"Rick, it's Steve. Pick up, would you."
Relieved, Rick answered. "Hey, Steve, am I glad to hear your voice…when did you and Jaime get into town?"
"This morning-we had to drop some things off for Chrystal, then we headed to your place. Has something happened?" Rick grinned as he realized the former Colonel had picked up his tone of voice.
"Yeah, but I want to tell you guys in person. See you at the ranch?" he questioned, and was relieved to hear Steve reply, "In about 20 minutes, We can't wait to see Laurie and the kids."
As soon as Robbie secured the stable area and had the Center's security take over the search for clues, he hopped in his cruiser with Rick and they drove to the ranch.
As they pulled into the drive, Rick used his transmitter to alert his wife.
"Laurie, it's Rick, open up."
Instantly the gate unlocked and swung open for the police car to drive through and park.
A moment later, Steve and Jaime Austin drove in behind them. At once Robin came out onto the porch, followed by her and Ian's children. Rick saw the smiles on their faces and wished he didn't have to ruin the joyful mood they were in.
"Hey, guys! Look at the reception committee!" Steve called, and at once Petey and Katie ran to the big man as Robin came and embraced Jaime. Robbie had a half-smile on his face as he said "Hey, sis." giving her a hug.
"Hay is for horses, Robbie." She joked, getting a full grin out of him. Seeing the gravity in his eyes, she gave him a puzzled look, "What?"
Shaking his head, her brother said, "Tell you inside, where's Mom?" He picked up Jaime's suitcase and carried it into the house.
"She got a call from the manager of Starlight Ranch, one of Ian's mare's got stolen along with some rodeo horses. Ian drove her over there, they should be back in an hour."
Robin said. She noticed her father had the same look as Robbie. "What is it, Pop?"
"Honey, I've got some bad news. I have to call your Uncle A.J., as soon as we get inside." He began, then led the way into their living room.
"Why, what happened, Rick?" Steve asked, as Rick grabbed the phone.
"We got a call from Starlight Ranch, pal, just before Robbie and I were going to head here. Someone stole 6 horses from the stables there, one of them was Ricky's."
"Oh, not Starboy…..how did it happen?" Robin replied, distressed. Rick put the phone down and put an arm around her. He'd forgotten that Robin had helped raise the colt after its mother had died.
"Someone locked the night security guard in a stall, then took 5 horses from the competition barns. Starboy was missing from his stable. They won't hurt him," Rick added, "he's probably going to be sold over the border."
"Pop, you have to get over there, Mom's going to be upset. I'm glad Ian's with her." Robin took a deep breath and said, "I'll call Uncle A.J. and Ricky, so you can go."
"Okay, Bird, have your Uncle meet us there." Rick dropped a kiss on her forehead as Steve told him, "If it's a bad time for us to be here…."
"No, Steve, I'm glad you and Jaime are here-can you keep an eye out?" Rick met his eyes, the unspoken worry that Robin and the kids were alone.
"Sure, as a matter of fact I brought some of my secret barbeque sauce with me, why don't I make lunch?" Steve offered, and Rick nodded. "Thanks, guys. We'll be back as soon as we can."
Within minutes Rick and Robbie were out on the road to the outskirts of Window Rock. For once Rick was glad his son was driving, he was torn by not being there when his wife found out their nephew was the victim of a horse thief.
"Mom can handle it, Pop."
"I know, son." Rick sighed, then gave Robbie a rueful grin. "She spoils me by being home whenever I need her, so when I'm not there and something happens…."
"We'll be there in a few minutes, Pop, wait a minute…." Robbie slowed his cruiser as they passed a small turnoff, marked only by a small sign. Stopping for a moment, the two Simons looked down the road at an old homestead, barn weathered by the sun.
"You don't suppose the cattle and horses could be hidden around here, like…." Rick didn't have to finish his thought as Robbie chuckled.
"Like someplace like the old Redstone ranch? Could be…let me call Andy."
As they pulled up to the breeding farm a few minutes later, a familiar police car went past them. "Good idea, son, Andy can take up position behind the cottonwoods on the other side of the highway." Rick remarked approvingly, then sobered as Laurie and Ian came out of the manager's office.
Seeing the glum look on her face change as she spotted her husband and son, Rick climbed out of the cruiser a step ahead of Robbie, then met her halfway up the walk.
"I'm glad you're here…." She began, then embraced him as Ian greeted his brother-in-law. "Sweetheart….it's going to be okay." Rick assured her, holding her tightly.
"I know, now that you and Robbie are here." She whispered, then released him as her son cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry, Mom. We were on our way to the ranch when we got the news, I need to talk to Mr. Lake."
"He's in the office, honey, calling the other owners. Do you want Ian and I to show your father where the break in was?"
The young sheriff shook his head. "No, Mom. Pop and I can handle it….well, it would save time……" he paused, then smiled as Ian added, "We didn't touch anything, so the barns are pretty much the way the guard found them, I mean, once he got out of the stall he was locked in."
"Okay, Ian, you and Mom take Dad to each barn where a horse was taken, I'll join you as soon as I get Mr. Lake and the guard's statements." Robbie picked up his report book and went into the main office as Laurie led the way into the first barn.
By the time they reached the fifth one, Rick was getting frustrated. No clues, fingerprints or other traces of the rustlers. Even the footprints were swept away from the doorway of each stall, out to the main door.
When they reached Starboy's stable, Rick spotted a blood spatter on the ground, then a piece of plaid shirt in the hay.
"Poor guy, he put up a struggle, Rick. See, not just blood, but the shirt….and look…" Laurie eyed the torn hay bale that rested in the middle of the stall.
"Good work, darlin', there might be something here….yes, see!" Rick lifted the hay and pointed at a distinctive boot print. "All we have to do is get a picture of this, we'll be able to id that at the local Western store."
Just them Robbie came in, and Rick reined in his enthusiasm as their son saw the various clues. He stared at the boot print intensely, then spoke.
"Thanks, Pop, for spotting that…it looks awfully familiar."
"I think it's a local, we ought to run a picture of that footprint past a few people, I bet we'll get a name to go with that voice." Robbie smiled as his father nodded.
"Good work, son. Now I need to get a hold of Steve and Jaime, plus Rob and Uncle Oscar; I've got an idea."
