The Challenger by Terri Farley

like a dying rabbit or a deer in distress? These were his second choices, though. What he really wanted was to do an aircraft flyby, then get some night-vision goggles and—”
    â€œMr. Kenworthy,” Sam interrupted. She heard her voice quaver and she steadied it. “Have you talked to Jake Ely about the cougars?”
    â€œNo,” Jed said, eyebrows raised. “Should I have?”
    â€œJake says the tracks show the mother is limping and she’s just teaching her kitten how to hunt.”
    â€œThat so?” Jed shook his head. “Might be some point to this after all, then. An injured cougar is more likely to take down unusual prey. Instead of waiting for a deer or antelope, she’ll take whatever she can. Like a horse and rider.”
    Both fathers looked at Jen and Sam. The girls rode together in desolate areas all the time.
    Sam had the awful feeling she’d just made things worse, so she gave Dad a look that begged for help. She wasn’t sure he even noticed.
    â€œYou taking Sundance up there after a cat?” Dad jerked his head toward the ridge as if he couldn’tbelieve Jed would put his palomino Quarter horse in such danger.
    â€œWith those hounds drooling around his knees? Don’t think so.” Jed shook his head. “That’s a lot to ask of any horse, if he’s not trained to it. Especially if we get one.”
    He was talking about shooting a cougar and bringing it out dead. Sam didn’t want to picture it, but the image filled her mind. To a horse, the cat would look and smell almost alive. Few would tolerate the limp weight of a cougar swaying over their withers.
    â€œWhy doesn’t he hire a guide and do it right, since he’s set on doing it?” Dad asked.
    â€œDoesn’t want a guide taking credit for the kill.” Jed looked through the camper window. A swarm of speckled dog faces greeted him. One even licked the glass.
    â€œHe wants it for a trophy?” Dad glanced back at the house as Blaze renewed his barking.
    â€œSorta,” Jed said. “He wants a hide to tack up on the side of the barn.”
    Sam gasped, then reminded herself she was not going to act like a kid anymore. She could hide her feelings, but right now it was hard. With a halfhearted wave, she jogged toward the barn.
    That poor injured mother cougar. She was only teaching her baby to hunt so he could do it for himself. The cub would have to learn or starve. Whywould Slocum want to make that cub an orphan?
    Sam grabbed the barn doorway. Inside, she heard straw rustle. She walked toward the warmth of resting horses. Overhead, a pigeon cooed in the rafters. Outside, the men laughed. Sam bit the inside of her cheek. Once she was alone with Ace, she could cry if she had to. But she wasn’t alone. She heard Jen’s steps coming up behind her.
    â€œAre you okay?” Jen asked.
    â€œI can’t believe,” Sam said slowly, “your dad is going out there with Slocum.”
    â€œHe doesn’t want to,” Jen answered.
    â€œBut he’s going to do it anyway.”
    â€œHe’s been thinking about what’s the best thing to do. It’s not an easy choice, Sam.” Jen sounded reasonable, but Sam could tell she didn’t like defending her father. “He figures he can either let Linc go out alone, get mauled, and have the ranch sold off to someone who won’t let us live there,” Jen explained, “or he can go help him and get it over with.”
    â€œBut it’s wrong,” Sam insisted. “Those cats haven’t hurt anybody.”
    Jen took her time retying the ends of her braids before she answered. “You’re probably right. So maybe my dad should just let Linc go out there alone, and maybe the cougars would get away. That’d be nice. But what if Linc wounds one of them? You know he’d just leave it out there, suffering. Then what?”
    Sam didn’t know. Right and wrong