“At least thirty horses! Call the cops, call 911 and get over here with the van and the trailer. We have to get them out!” He slammed down the phone and whirled toward Emily, his face red and the veins in his neck bulging. “Aunt Debby’s on her way with the van. We’re taking these horses out.” Her mouth dropped open. “We’re stealing them?” “Hey! What are you doing on my property?” Emily spun around to see a tall, lanky man with long hair in a ratty ponytail slouch around the corner. He was wearing torn overalls and a cowboy hat and was sucking on a red Popsicle. Her dad’s eyes narrowed, and he seemed to swell to twice his regular size. “Is this your barn?” His voice was deep and rumbling with an intensity Emily had never heard him use. “Are these your horses?” The man nodded. “What’s it to you?” Her dad shouted, and charged at the man. “Dad!” Emily screamed as her dad tackled the man, shoving him through an open stall door that was flooded with gross, black water.
