The You I Never Knew by Susan Wiggs Page A

receiver. He hesitated, listening, and his grin widened as he hung up. “You took the purse last night, boss, but I was the one who celebrated.”
    “So what else is new?”
    “That biff on the back of your trailer. Did you see that? Looks like some idiot nailed you last night.”
    “As a matter of fact…” Sam stepped out of the doorway and motioned the kid into the office. “This is Cody. He’s going to be helping out around the place. Cody, this is my partner, Edward Bliss.”
    Edward glanced up distractedly. Then he did a double take, looking from Sam to Cody and back again, his eyes wide. “Jesus H. Geronimo Christ—”
    “Something wrong?” Sam knew Edward didn’t care for punks, but he’d never known his partner to make such a snap judgment. So the kid had hit the trailer, so he’d made a mistake. It wasn’t the end of the world.
    Edward stood up, gathering the papers on the desk into a stack. “Nope, not at all. Cody’s going to take Diego’s place, then?”
    “That’s what I figure. For a while, at least.” Sam hadn’t even had time to ask Michelle how long she’d be visiting.
    Scout lost interest in the entire situation and trotted out to the yard. Edward kept staring at the kid as if to drill a hole through him. Cody stared back, eyes narrowed.
    “All right.” Edward snapped his suspenders and reached for his battered plaid coat, flecked with hayseed and oat grains. “Let’s get started.”
    Most of the stalls were empty, the horses turned out for the day since it promised to be sunny. The barn had the feel of a cathedral. Daylight streamed through high windows under the eaves, and the echo of footsteps sounded loud in the hush.
    “So what do I do?” Cody asked, dubiously eyeing the area. Mild suspicion tinged his voice.
    Edward opened the door to one of the stalls. “Simple. You move the manure out and the cedar shavings in.”
    The kid swallowed, staring at the floor of the stall. “Just this one?”
    “Nope.” Sam gestured down the length of the barn. “What’ve we got here, twenty jugs?” Sam told himself not to enjoy this, but he couldn’t help it.
    “Great,” said Cody.
    “Don’t go into this one without Edward or me present.” Sam showed him a roomy stall in the middle. “That’s Sylvia. She’s expecting, and she’s getting kind of cranky.”
    Cody peered over the top of the half door. The roan mare flared her nostrils at him and laid her ears back in warning. Her sides fanned in and out like a set of bellows.
    “Yeah?” Cody asked with the first spark of interest he’d exhibited since seeing Molly.
    “The foal could come tonight,” Sam said. “Sylvia’s showing signs of her labor. We’ll be bathing her today and getting the birthing stall ready.”
    The mare glared white-eyed at the stranger. The boy glared back. Sam added, “Just relax, act a little friendly, and she’ll warm up to you.” He made a clucking sound in his throat. The mare’s ears eased up, and she stuck her head out of the stall. Cody hung back a moment, then put out his hand. The mare sniffed his shoulder. He rubbed her nose and cheek, hesitantly at first and then with more force.
    “Don’t put any cedar shavings in Sylvia’s stall,” Sam said. “Sawdust and chips are bad for the foal. Straw only. Edward’ll show you, and you can help hose her down, too. But remember—she’s cranky.”
    “Just wait till we give her that phosphate enema,” Edward said.
    Cody winced. “I can wait.”
    Edward held out a pair of leather gloves and rubber pac boots. “Put these on and let’s get started.”
    Cody looked askance at the boots, but took them and sat on a plastic milk crate to unlace his faux-biker shoes.
    “I’ll leave you guys to get after it.” Sam started walking back toward the house, then turned.
    “Glad you showed up,” he called.
    “Yeah, right.” Cody tossed his hair out of his eyes and rammed his foot into one of the boots.
    When Sam reached the doorway, he