She Bought the Bull Nobody Could Handle…Every Rancher in the County Was at Her Gate by Spring.
Chapter 8
For several seconds, Emma couldn’t speak.
Her grandfather’s death certificate had always said heart failure.
Helen told her the truth.
Samuel had suspected someone was poisoning him.
He refused to go to the hospital because he feared his medical records would be manipulated.
Instead, he kept notes.
Names.
Dates.
Symptoms.
And one name appeared more than any other.
Wade Mercer.
Emma left the clinic carrying copies of everything.
She returned home before sunset.
Midnight was waiting by the gate.
Emma walked toward him.
The bull lowered his head.
She placed her forehead against his.
For the first time since learning the truth, she cried.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
Midnight breathed slowly.
She closed her eyes.
“I wish Grandpa were here.”
The bull remained still.
Then he turned toward the barn.
Emma followed.
He stopped beside the old foundation.
She understood.
“That’s where I found the box.”
Midnight pawed at the dirt.
Emma looked down.
Something metallic was buried beneath his hoof.
She dug.
It was a small steel cylinder.
Inside was a cassette tape.
Emma found an old player in her grandfather’s office.
She pressed play.
Static.
Then Samuel’s voice.
Older.
Tired.
“If Emma ever hears this, it means I couldn’t protect her from this.”
Emma stopped breathing.
Samuel continued.
“Midnight is not the last bull.”
Emma’s eyes widened.
“There are three others.”
The tape crackled.
“They were separated because Mercer knew I was trying to prove the bloodline could be trained without cruelty.”
Emma whispered:
“Where are they?”
Samuel’s voice answered.
“One is in Texas.”
Static.
“One is in Oklahoma.”
More static.
“And one is still here.”
Emma looked toward the pasture.
Midnight was staring back at her.
Samuel continued.
“Do not trust Wade.”
Then the recording became distorted.
Emma leaned closer.
A final sentence emerged.
“He will come for the fourth one.”
The tape stopped.
Emma sat in silence.
Then her phone rang.
Wade.
She answered.
“What do you want?”
His voice was calm.
“Your grandfather left you something.”
“You mean the truth?”
“You don’t know the truth.”
“I know you poisoned him.”
Silence.
Then Wade laughed.
“You really shouldn’t listen to old recordings.”
Emma’s blood ran cold.
“You were watching.”
“I’ve always been watching.”
“Why Midnight?”
“Because he’s valuable.”
“No.”
Wade sighed.
“Because he’s proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That your grandfather was wrong.”
Emma looked toward the pasture.
Wade continued.
“Bring him to the county sale.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll come get him.”
The call ended.
That night, Emma reinforced every gate.
She called the sheriff.
But the sheriff told her there wasn’t enough evidence.
“Bring me something I can arrest him for.”
Emma hung up.
Then she heard a sound.
Metal scraping.
She grabbed a flashlight.
The pasture gate was open.
Midnight was gone.
