A Deal's A Deal: A Western Short Story

Henderson Smith buys an old mare with the idea she'll carry his children safely to and from school during the winter. As he expects, Ira Plano tries to skin him in making the deal, but Henderson hangs tough. It isn't until the men discover the mare is in foal that relations between the two heat up. Turns out the foal was accidentally sired by Plano's expensive Kentucky stallion and he wants the mare and foal back.

He shouldn't rub Henderson the wrong way, though. Threats, shots fired into his barn, and skulking around the ranch only make Henderson mad. He and his family are determined that if Plano wants the foal, he's going to have to pay. Invited to place a sealed bid for the foal, Plano wins the prize, but the question is, who skinned whom?