Disclaimer: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and all its characters are copyright Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu.
"I told you before, Rashid. The thieves stealing my cattle will be found, caught and punished." This was an argument Rashid wouldn't let go. The older man just couldn't see that Quatre wasn't too young to have the know-how to handle the situation. This was something that had to be taken care of tactfully. Quatre didn't want to start a war over something as foolish as income. Money was only money.
"Yes, sir," Rashid continued, "but we cannot find them unless you condone the search."
"I do not wish to endanger the people of this ranch. Friends are more important to me than cattle."
"It's fourteen cattle today. Tomorrow it could be the main house itself and we all end up dead. We must find them."
Quatre held up a hand. "No." Rashid opened his mouth to object, but was halted by Quatre suddenly rising to his feet. "I will handle this. Have a little faith in my abilities... In me."
Rashid looked doubtful before giving a half bow. "Very well," was his parting comment.
It was getting to be too much for Quatre to handle. His father always had Rashid and his men to assist. They would follow the elder Winner unto death, if it were justified. But they hadn't. Winner had died a year earlier from a nasty case of the flu and Quatre as the only son was left with the responsibility of running the ranch. He'd done exceptionally well until the raids began four months ago. It was then that Rashid began doubting him.
"Quatre, sir?" A small brunette stood in the doorway, clutching the molding.
Quatre shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Yes, Hilde?"
"It's about my supplies."
Did she look nervous? "What about them?"
"I'm not sure how, but they're missing. They're all missing. I walked into the smithy this morning to find it empty."
"What? Everything!?!"
She nodded.