The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher Page A

it.” Galen glanced up at the wall wreathed with neatly hung harnesses. “The tack room is one of the most important places in the barn. Everything in its place, and a place for everything.”
    Why, Bethany should bring the old sisters over to this tack room on a field trip, that’s what she should do. They could take a lesson from Galen.
    He took the soiled liniment rag, folded it in half, anddraped it over a wooden peg as precisely as Rose draped a dish towel over the kitchen sink faucet. “If you’re looking for Naomi, she’s in the house.”
    Oh! She had become so fascinated with the orderliness of the tack room that she forgot why she had come. “Galen, would you help me find Lodestar?”
    He looked up at Bethany in surprise. “You think that horse is around here? I figured he’d be long gone by now.”
    “Maybe. But maybe not. Jake Hertzler stole Lodestar from Jimmy to make sure everyone knew he had the upper hand, but I don’t think he ever cared about the horse other than turning a profit. So wouldn’t it make sense that he would try to sell Lodestar again? He’s a pretty valuable horse. There are warrants out for Jake’s arrest—I doubt he wants to drag a horse around with him while he’s on the run.”
    “I doubt even Jake Hertzler would be bold enough to sell such a distinctive horse at an auction in this county.”
    “You never met Jake, did you?”
    Galen shook his head. “I saw him once in his truck, but it was getting dark. I’m not sure I would know him if I saw him.”
    “I just have the strangest feeling that he’s nearby. I can’t explain it.”
    Galen’s dark eyebrows shot up. “Have you seen him?”
    “No. Maybe I’m just hanging around Naomi too much. She’s always sensing things that aren’t visible.”
    Galen stiffened. He didn’t like to hear any implied criticism about his sister. “Naomi has good intuition.”
    Bethany nodded. “I know, I know. I think that’s what I’m starting to pay attention to.”
    “Maybe you should call that SEC lawyer Allen Turner and tell him what you told me.”
    “I thought of it, but I haven’t actually seen hide nor hair of Jake. It’s just a hunch. A feeling. I have no proof.”
    “The spring auctions are just starting up again. I could ask around about Lodestar.”
    Satisfied, Bethany turned to go.
    “The chance of finding Lodestar again is low, Bethany. But even if I did find him, would you really want him back? I thought Jimmy had made up his mind to give up horse breeding.”
    Bethany kicked a piece of straw with her shoe. “Haven’t you noticed a change in Jimmy? Something’s wrong. He’s missing his spark. I think he needs that horse back. Maybe once Lodestar is back, everything else will fall into place for him.”
    “Like . . . proposing?”
    Shootfire! How did everybody seem to know she had matrimony on her mind? She put her hands on her hips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Galen King.”
    He grinned. “I’ll do what I can. If Lodestar is anywhere in Lancaster County, I’ll find him.”

    Rose made a phone call to the minimum security federal prison where Tobe was being held, saying she had an emergency and needed to get a message to him.
    “Just one moment,” and there was a shuffling of papers before the voice came back. “Is this a documented emergency?”
    “In what way?”
    “Is it a matter of life or death for an immediate family member?”
    Rose had to admit that no, it wasn’t. The operator thensuggested she had three choices—she could send a letter to the inmate or have his lawyer call and speak to him or wait for the inmate to use his prepurchased minutes during his free time. Then she hung up without a goodbye.
    Rose pressed her forehead against the phone’s receiver. Frustrating! Today’s mail had come and gone, though maybe Mim could take the scooter into town and deliver it to the post office. Even so, a letter wouldn’t reach Tobe for a day or so. Then an answer back