Kidnapped Colt by Terri Farley Page B

to us in great detail,” Jen interrupted. “And Jake, don’t feel left out. She’ll entertain you with her adventures about five minutes after she meets you.”
    Jake lifted one shoulder in a shrug as Brynna rushed on.
    â€œâ€”after her parents had a baby. The psychologist’s evaluation says since Gina felt uncomfortable in her own home, she gave in to a compulsion to make other people feel the same way.
    â€œSo what kind of problems can we expect from her?” Brynna asked. She closed the folder and ticked them off on her fingers. “Lots of bids for attention—good attention, bad attention, attempts that will be both annoying and endearing.”
    Sam wondered which category last night’s offer fell into. Gina wanted to catch the thief who’d stolen Hotspot and Shy Boots. That was good. But her help had been inspired by her burglary skills. Was that an improvement, or just showing off? Sam would have asked Brynna, but her stepmother glanced at the kitchen clock, obviously in a rush to finish.
    â€œHow do we deal with these bids for attention? Try to give her credit for the good stuff and attempt to ignore the rest.”
    Brynna had turned to the next page of her notes when Jen said, “Show her.”
    â€œShow me what?” Brynna asked, facing Sam.
    â€œYou know how Sheriff Ballard was talking about making a flyer to let people know about the missing horses?”
    â€œYou couldn’t have made one. Not already.”
    Pride zinged through Sam as Brynna took the sheet of paper that Sam scooted across the table.
    â€œWe all worked on it,” Jen said.
    But Brynna was already lost in reading it.
    â€œI can’t believe you got two new girls to collaborate with you on this the first night!”
    Brynna rearranged her chair so that Jake could look at the flyer, too.
    â€œIt’s just hand lettered,” Jen said.
    â€œSomeone will have to type it, and print it out,” Sam added.
    Shaking her head at their modesty, Brynna looked up at Sam and Jen with shining eyes.
    â€œIf I could, I’d give you a raise,” Brynna said, but Sam smiled when Brynna couldn’t stop reading the flyer. Such concentration was as good as money.
    Gina’s input included a section they’d entitled “Preventing the Theft of Your Horse!” In it, they listed prevention techniques as simple as sturdy fences, watchdogs, light and alarm systems, and more complicated things like motion detectors.
    Together, they’d written a section called “Once Your Horse Is Gone!” There, they listed the sheriff’s suggestions about contacting law enforcement agencies, breed associations, feed stores, vets, rodeos, and farriers. One thing they’d all agreed on had been a large-print, underlined warning that horses could be sold at auction and processed into meat within twenty-four hours.
    â€œGrace, come look at this,” Brynna said to Gram, then glanced up at Jen and Sam. “I am amazed. Where did you get this last part, about keeping all of the important papers pertaining to your horse?”
    â€œBill of sale, breed registration, brand or tattoorecords, updated photographs…” Gram read over Brynna’s shoulder.
    â€œThat was Jen’s idea,” Sam said.
    â€œIt’s just common sense,” Jen said, blushing. “I know Dad has it for the Kenworthy palominos.”
    â€œAnd Sam, I can tell you did the illustrations,” Brynna said, giving her an enthusiastic thumbs-up, for a horse she’d sketched to break up all the words. “What did you girls have in mind for the front?”
    â€œWe left it blank because we were hoping to get pictures of Hotspot and Shy Boots,” Sam said. “And tell about their disappearance.”
    â€œI’ll take care of that,” Brynna said. She slipped the flyer into her folder. “Leave it to me, and as soon as I get that information, I’ll make