explained to the family. “I have somethin’ I have to take care of. My apologies. Enjoy your ride today.”
“Thank you,” the mother called after me as I stormed toward the main barn.
“Percy! Come on, buddy. Follow me.”
The chief’s phone rang a few times before he answered. “One of these days, these phone calls will be to invite me out for a beer, but I suspect today is not that day. How can I help you, East?”
“I got vandals again. Matt called from the trail and said he saw somethin’ all over my storage barn. Spray paint. I’m headin’ out there now to check it out. This is me officially reportin’ it. Again.”
“Shit.” There was shuffling on the line, papers crinkling, and a chair creaking. “I’ll send Bygrove out. Is that the barn on the far side of your property?”
“Yeah. Tell ’em to take the service road. It’s faster.”
“All right. He should be there in twenty minutes tops.”
“Thanks.”
I hung up and checked over my shoulder to make sure the little feet running behind me were keeping up. Percy had two hands holding my hat in place as he jogged after me, cheeks pink from exertion.
“Run over to the storage barn and find yourself a helmet. You remember what size you need?”
“A helmet? Yeah, I know.”
“Good. Gimme back my hat.”
“We going riding?”
“Just to the storage barn.” I’d have taken the truck since it was only about a mile, but without a license and the cops showing up, I didn’t want to cause problems. Especially since I’d been warned. “Once you’re set, come find me at the pasture over there where Bella is.” I pointed. “Okay?”
Percy followed my finger. “Okay. I’ll be fast.”
He handed over my hat and ran off toward the barn. I grabbed padding, Bella’s saddle, and a bridle before making fast strides to where she was probably lazing about her day, waiting for our usual ride in the afternoon.
Percy caught up once I’d saddled Bella. I hoisted him up and got on behind him. As we headed toward the storage barn, I scanned for Logan. Matthew had said he’d heard him barking and assumed the dog had scared off the kids, but I didn’t see him anywhere. He wandered all over the property, and I didn’t worry about him most days, but something sat funny in my belly, and I didn’t like his absence.
I whistled, calling his name, but he didn’t respond.
Frowning, I kept my arm locked tight around Percy’s middle and encourage Bella to pick up her pace.
The barn came into view, but nothing looked amiss. I feared I’d called the police prematurely and that Matthew had been seeing things. But when I took Bella at a slow trot around the back of the building, everything changed.
The rear of the barn was covered with wet spray paint. Vulgar symbols and slurs all surrounding my sexuality. They were not meant for a child’s eyes. It was too late though. Percy gaped at the sight before I could tell him not to look.
“Who did that?” he asked as I brought Bella to a standstill.
“Rotten kids.”
“But why?”
“Nothin’ better to do, apparently. Summer’s hardly here, and they’re causin’ a problem. Don’t look at it. You don’t need to see that garbage.”
“What does ff… aahh…g—”
“I said, don’t look at it. It’s not a word you need to know. I never want to hear it come out of your mouth. It’s worse than swearing. You understand me?”
“Yes. I don’t know what it means anyhow.”
“Good. You don’t need to know.”
I dismounted from Bella then helped Percy down. Bella wandered to the far fence and grazed on the grass on the other side by poking her head through the low slats. Never mind that there was all kinds of fresh grass in front of her. She always had to make it difficult. Maybe the grass tasted better on the other side of the fence.
Percy copied my stance as I propped my hands on my hips, frowning at the mess on the side of the barn. It was fresh. Matthew was right, Logan had probably startled them off. But where was he?
I whistled for him again, shouting his name. “Where are you, you mangy animal? Get your ass out here.”
Percy perked up as he looked behind me. “Here he comes, East. He’s back there.”
Relieved, I spun, but my heart lodged in my throat at the sight of him. His ears and all down the length of one side of his body was covered in black spray paint.