Gypsy Gold by Terri Farley

asked.
    â€œTo investigate some irregularities in my office procedures.” Brynna pronounced the words in a prissy way.
    â€œOh, B.,” Dad said, using his nickname for her as he gave her shoulders a squeeze.
    â€œI’m not worried about it,” Brynna said. Sheleaned against Dad so that he left his arm around her shoulders and looked up to tell him, “I’ve always followed policy to the letter.”
    â€œSo which ‘irregularities’ could he be talking about?” Dad asked.
    â€œHe wouldn’t discuss that at church,” Brynna said, “but—and I know this sounds paranoid—I got the distinct feeling he’d only come because he knew I’d be there.”
    Sam believed Brynna. If Brynna thought Norman White was spying on her, he probably was.
    Dad nodded. He believed her, too, but he offered another explanation.
    â€œC’mon now,” Dad said. “Even old No Way Norman’s allowed to have a yen for church, isn’t he?”
    â€œSure,” Brynna said, “but once I spotted him sitting up front, I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. I had a hard time paying attention to my own devotions, because I could see him writing something.”
    â€œWriting? Like taking notes?” Sam asked.
    â€œLike that,” Brynna admitted, “but when the service ended and we were all filing out, he dropped what he’d been working on and, well, I was right behind him.” Brynna touched the rounded front of her dress and laughed. “Norman was pretty surprised that I managed to bend down quick enough to swoop them up and return them to him.”
    â€œWhat was it?” Sam asked.
    â€œA couple things. I didn’t get a good look at thediagram, but I saw the computer spread sheet had dollar signs and the names of different herd management areas. I have no idea what he’s scheming to do while I’m gone.” Brynna’s tone verged on despair.
    Ace mouthed his snaffle loudly, then swung his head against the reins. Sam followed his glance toward the hitching rail nearest the house. Jen and Jake were tying their horses. Sam couldn’t blame Ace for reminding her that she’d already loosened his cinch. That usually meant he was done for the day.
    â€œThis doesn’t sound like good news, but you’ve got almost a month to keep your eye on him, right?” Sam asked, and when Brynna agreed, Sam added, “I’d better go put Ace up.”
    Brynna nodded, then pointed to Sam’s saddlebags and bedroll.
    â€œHey! I didn’t even ask how your camping and vulture-watching went.”
    â€œIt was great,” Sam said.
    Then, Sam heard the clopping of heavy hooves, which meant Nicolas was leading Lace this way for water, and she yearned to talk about something that wasn’t serious. Homecoming week at school, maybe, or a spur-of-the-moment Halloween party. She wished she and her friends could just take a picnic lunch somewhere else, away from River Bend Ranch and its problems.
    Dad looked at his dirty, horsehair-covered hands and said, “Better wash up and turn Blue out.”
    When Brynna just nodded, Dad said, “We can talk more.”
    Sam led Ace toward the pasture, then shouted back over her shoulder, “And we have company for lunch.”
    Brynna was usually cheered up by visitors.
    Sam freed Ace. As she hurried back toward the house, she saw Dad was still talking with Brynna. He hadn’t gone to wash up or turn Blue out at all. Were they discussing something they didn’t want her to hear?
    Dad’s head jerked up, and he said, “Besides, you’re gonna like Sam’s new friend.”
    â€œI bet I will,” Brynna said.
    Sam thought it probably revealed something significant about her social life that Brynna started glancing around the ranch yard at animal level. As if her stepdaughter couldn’t have a new human friend.
    â€œHe’s a kid with a horse and