Читать книгу Dark Days at Saddle Creek - Shelley Peterson - Страница 8

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TALL SOX

In any great undertaking, it is not enough for a man to depend simply on himself.

— Lone Man, Teton Sioux

The horses were all outside in the cool evening air, bathed and fed, grazing in their fields. The heavy rain had greened up the grass, and the leaves sparkled with drops of rain. It had been a very successful day. After cleaning the tack and bringing the laundry inside to wash, everybody was ready for dinner and bed.

Once Bird had helped with the dishes, she went upstairs to shower and change into her pyjamas. She looked around her old room with pleasure — the open window facing Sunny’s field, her cozy bed, the scratched dresser and cracked mirror — she was so happy to be back at Saddle Creek Farm! She and Julia had made a deal with their mother, Eva: they would stay over with Aunt Hannah whenever there were shows. This arrangement worked well for everybody. It gave Eva a chance to be alone with her new husband, Stuart, and it allowed Bird and Julia to concentrate on the horses and the shows.

For Bird, the chance to stay with her aunt was welcome for an entirely different reason. Ever since her mother had returned from her honeymoon a few months earlier, things had been strained. Lately, they argued about every little thing. Bird sighed. She felt much more relaxed here.

As she dried her hair with a blue towel, she observed herself in the mirror. Her hair was growing in very nicely. It had been singed in a barn fire in June, and she’d had it all cut off and styled quite short. She liked it much better now that it was a little longer. It felt more like it belonged to her.

Her body was starting to change, Bird noticed, but not enough to be embarrassing, like her mother, whose large breasts made every outfit look too tight. At fourteen, Bird still had a girlish look. She hoped she’d always stay that way. She didn’t feel ready to be a grown-up.

She noted the darkness of her skin and eyes. She liked her colouring, especially in the spring, when other girls looked strangely transparent until the sun gave them substance. Eva was blond with blue eyes, as was Julia. Bird had always known she had a different father than her sister; she’d just never met him. She tried not to dwell on it, but now, drying her dark hair in the mirror, questions resurfaced. Did she get her dark eyes and hair from him? She’d always thought so, but the truth was, she had no idea. All she knew was that her father had met her mother at the Calgary Stampede, where he was a broncobuster, and that he’d disappeared shortly thereafter. She desperately wanted to know more. He was her father, after all! But Eva constantly rebuffed her questions. It was always “someday” or “not now” or “later.” Mostly, Eva just lost her temper.

There were a few other things on Bird’s mind as she dried her hair in the mirror.

Firstly, Alec. Bird smiled. Her reflection smiled back, happy and content. Alec was away at Camp Kowabi for the summer as a counsellor-in-training, but he was her boyfriend again. Pamela was out of the picture. For good, Bird hoped. She wasn’t going to worry about it. When Alec had gone back to camp last time, he’d left her with his favourite sweater — to keep her warm in his arms, he’d said. Bird shivered with joy and her reflected grin grew even wider.

Secondly, and amazingly, the strange man who’d spoken telepathically at the show. She felt shivers up her arms. Would he be at the show on Friday? Was there really someone who could speak to animals in the same way she could?

And most urgently, there was Tall Sox. Bird didn’t care how angry Hannah might be, she would try to get to the bottom of the problem with Sally’s horse. She vowed to do that the very next day, which was Sunday. Bird needed to visit this horse before he could be euthanized. Put to sleep. Killed. Vets usually didn’t work on weekends except for emergencies, so tomorrow would be her best chance.

Bird girl. Bird’s thoughts were interrupted.

Cody? Is that you?

It is.

Is there a problem? Cody was a small coyote. He always knew what was going on, and he was usually the first to alert her when there was trouble. They’d had many adventures together. How he always knew when she was there was a mystery to Bird.

Bird released her breath.

I’m glad to be back, Cody. And I’m glad you came to say hello.

Bird looked out her window, but the coyote was nowhere to be seen.

She gazed into the growing dusk and searched the field across from the farmhouse with her eyes. She could just make out two shadows. Sundancer and Charlie were at the fenceline at the far end, heads down, feasting on the refreshed August grass.

Happily, Bird slid between the covers and rested her head on the pillow. She was proud of the way she and Sunny had ridden at the show. Tomorrow she would find Tall Sox. Next week, if he was at the show and she was lucky, she would speak to the mysterious man. Soon she would kiss the lips of her boyfriend, Alec. Within minutes, Bird had fallen into a contented sleep.

BIRD? ARE YOU AWAKE?

Bird rolled over to get more comfortable.

Bird? Wake up!

Bird sat up. She waited. Was she dreaming, or had Sundancer just called from …

Bird!

Sunny? What is it? She was fully awake now.

You have human company. Look out your window.

Bird jumped out of bed and stepped over to the window. On the ground below, somebody was looking around furtively. It was a female, and young. Bird watched as she fidgeted and fussed. She seemed very uncertain of what she should do.

Bird removed the screen and leaned outside. “Hello?” she said quietly. “Who’s there?”

The girl let out a weak scream and clutched her chest with her hands.

From the kitchen below, Hannah’s dog, Lucky, started to bark.

Lucky! Quiet! It’s all right!

The barking stopped. If you say so. If you say so.

Good dog, Lucky. Good dog!

Bird spoke to the girl. “Don’t be afraid. I’m up here. In the window.”

The girl looked up, and the moonlight revealed her face. Sally Johns.

“Sally! Stay there. I’m coming down.”

“Bird! I’m so glad —”

“Shh! Don’t wake everybody up.”

Sally nodded and slapped her hand over her mouth.

Bird quickly pulled some clothes over her pyjamas and slipped on her runners. She crept downstairs and out the kitchen door with Lucky at her side. The brown dog raced over to Sally, who was standing under the big maple tree at the fence. He sniffed her, then took off to follow his nose.

Sally looked like she might cry. “Bird, I’m not so sure I should’ve come. I’m scared! And I don’t have a driver’s licence!” She glanced to the end of the driveway, where a car was parked on the road. “That’s my mother’s. She doesn’t know I took it.”

Bird guessed that Sally wouldn’t have come over in the middle of the night without a good reason. “Something new with Tall Sox?”

Sally nodded wildly. “They’re taking him away first thing in the morning. Wanda — she’s a groom at Moreland’s — told me. I don’t know where he’s going, but they’re going to kill him, I just know it. I’ve been dying to talk to you since I heard! Can you come with me now?”

“Do you have your beginner’s?”

Sally’s head bobbed assertively. “I know how to drive.”

“And you have a plan once we get there?”

“Of course I do!”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

Sally’s face relaxed. The two girls headed for the road. They ran on the grass to avoid making any noise on the gravel. As quietly as possible they got into Sally’s mother’s car and pulled shut the doors.

Lucky’s furry head appeared at Bird’s window. Can I come? Can I come?

No. Good dog. Guard the house while I’m gone.

The dog’s tail began to wag. Yes, Bird! Yes, Bird! He disappeared from sight.

Sally started the engine. The car jerked into gear and sped into the road. She jammed on the brakes, causing the car to skid in a wide arc and throwing gravel in all directions.

“I thought you said you could drive!” cried Bird. She willed her heart to stop pounding.

“I can! I’ve driven the lawn mower since I was ten!”

“How old are you?”

“Fifteen.”

“You said you had your beginner’s.”

“No, I didn’t. I said I could drive. Another chance? Please? I can do better.”

It was one thing to help Sally save a horse. It was another to risk her life. “No offence, but I’m going to ride my bike.” Bird got out of the car.

“Really, I can drive! I’ll show you!” Again the car lurched forward as Sally put her foot to the gas pedal.

“I’ve got bikes,” said Bird. “You shouldn’t be driving. You’re terrible.”

“What’ll I do with Mom’s car?”

“Just leave it. We’ll worry about it later.”

Sally frowned, but she followed Bird back to the house. Bird’s bike was leaning against the bricks, and Hannah’s stood next to it. Bird wasn’t too sure about Sally’s bike riding skills, either, but there was really no other way. She gave her own bike to Sally and rode Hannah’s.

The girls pedalled fast, and soon they neared Moreland Farm. Sally stopped, out of breath.

“What?” asked Bird. She braked her bike as well. “Now that we’re here, I don’t know what to do.” “You said you had a plan!”

“I did. My plan was to figure it out when we got here.”

Bird decided not to scream at her. “You stole your mom’s car, got me out of bed, and you don’t have a plan?”

Sally’s mouth tightened. She looked hurt.

“Don’t worry.” Bird got back on the bike and pedalled slowly so that Sally could catch up. “Let’s leave the bikes at the gate and walk in.”

“No!” Sally whispered urgently. “There are security lights and cameras at all the gates.”

“That’s a good thing to know,” said Bird sarcastically. They’d been within a few feet of discovery. If they’d triggered the lights, their adventure would’ve been over before it had begun.

“There’s a trail over there that leads to the stable.” Sally pointed to the right, and Bird peered into the darkness. She could vaguely see a path through the tall grass.

“Okay. That’s where we’ll go.”

They trespassed over the adjacent neighbour’s field and left their bikes in the bushes. Bird looked around. The night was still, and eerily quiet. Nothing moved — not even the blades of long grass in the meadow. Through the dimness, she took a good look at the barn. It was a huge old clay brick building with a separate arena off to the side. The Dutch doors were open at the top, letting in the night air, but the place looked dark and forbidding.

Silently, two large Alsatians came racing around a corner. Their noiseless arrival put Bird on edge. She knew that a dog intent on catching something didn’t bark. A bark is a warning. No bark means business.

“The guard dogs!” gasped Sally. “I forgot!”

“What else did you forget?” Bird groaned. She was beginning to feel like a fool. She held out both hands and messaged the dogs. Stop. We are not here to harm you or the horses or the property.

The Alsatians halted their approach. One dog began to whine. The dog that wasn’t whining demanded, State your intentions.

Bird identified him as the alpha dog. She answered with respect. We are here to help the horse named Tall Sox. Some humans believe him to be a bad horse. They will remove him and destroy him.

Tall Sox. Now the whining dog spoke. We call him Sox.

The lead dog slowly wagged his tail. He’s a good horse. Come with us. We know the way.

Bird followed them.

“How did you do that?!” Sally stood still. She looked bewildered and afraid.

“Are you coming or not?”

“Aren’t they vicious?”

“No. They’re good guard dogs.”

Sally was still unsure. She tentatively stuck her foot onto the Moreland property. When the dogs ignored her she quickly caught up to Bird. “I don’t know what you did or how you did it. Everybody knows these dogs are killers!”

Bird was too busy to respond. Are people here?

They sleep.

Are there cameras to watch our actions?

The leader answered, Up in that corner.

Bird looked. A camera was mounted in the corner of the doorframe, but it looked dusty and disused. There was no light to indicate it was working. It was too late anyway. If it was working, it already had their faces on tape.

Bird and Sally followed the dogs along the hall and around a corner until they stopped at a stall door and sat. Bird looked inside. Tall Sox?

A dark horse with a wide white stripe down his nose turned and gave her a looking-over. In the dim light he appeared to be in good shape. As well as the white blaze, he had tall white markings on all four legs. Tall Sox. Apt name, thought Bird. She guessed that he was a thoroughbred, built for speed and agility, and was probably close to ten or eleven years old.

Now the horse answered, Tall Sox is what humans call me. Animals call me Sox. When I raced against all the others, my name was Silk Stockings. That was a long time ago.

So she was right — he was a thoroughbred racehorse. And friendly. He didn’t seem to have a bad attitude. Why would a horse like this become a problem?

Do you have soreness or pain anywhere?

Once I bowed a tendon. That’s when I stopped racing. It hurt.

But now?

I feel good all over, except for a sore spot on my back.

Bird noted that he had an exceptionally handsome face, and clear, intelligent eyes. She asked another question. This girl beside me. Do you like her?

She is not a good rider, but she is kind. I will look after her if I’m allowed.

And the man we call Dexter Pill? Do you like him?

Tall Sox backed into the far corner of his stall and began to shake.

Bird reassured him. He’s not here.

I do not like him. He puts something sharp on my back where he sits. It hurts when I move. It doesn’t hurt now, but it aches.

Can I look? I want to help.

Yes.

Bird opened the stall door and entered. She gently worked her fingers along his back in the saddle area. Tall Sox flinched. There! That’s where it hurts!

There was a raw spot in his coat. It was warm to the touch, and swollen. Bird felt the sticky residue of blood. With this sore, right where the saddle would sit, any horse would react to the pain. She gasped. Had Dexter Pill purposely made this horse misbehave?

Sox, messaged Bird. Dexter is going to take you away tomorrow. Do you want to go with him?

No. I don’t trust him.

Then can you come home with me now?

Where do you live?

Bird knew that the unknown was sometimes worse than the known to a horse, however bad the known might be. Not far. I live with Sundancer and Moonlight Sonata.

I know them. And now I know you. You go by the name of Bird.

Yes.

I will come with you.

Let’s go now, before anybody wakes up.

Bird opened the stall door wide and together they walked out.

“What are you doing?” asked Sally, aghast. “You can’t just kidnap him!”

Bird looked at the girl, surprised. “Then what do you want to do? Why are we here? Tell me.”

“I don’t know,” Sally whined. She seemed confused and fidgety. “Can’t you just tell me what’s wrong with him? You said you could help!”

Bird felt the girl’s uncertainty, and took her time to explain the obvious. “You told me they’re taking him away first thing in the morning. If he’s here in the morning, that’s what’ll happen.”

Sally nodded jerkily and began to speak quickly. “Okay. You’re right. I know! I’ll clean out his stall and fix it up so the grooms will think it was meant to be like this. Then they won’t call for help right away. I mean, if it looks messy and everything, it’ll look like he was kidnapped. Like he was.”

Bird said, “Great idea. I’ll start walking with Tall Sox, and you catch up when you can.”

“You’d leave me alone in the dark?”

“We don’t have a lot of time, Sally.”

She nodded. “Okay, I’ll be quick. But go slow!”

“Okay.” Bird walked down the hall with the gelding following. Horses nickered softly from their stalls as he said goodbye to his barn-mates. Once outside, the guard dogs escorted them to the path.

Thanks, Bird messaged. Watch out for the girl, and make sure she gets back here safely. And try not to make her nervous.

They wagged their tails. Yes, of course. Then they were gone, silently, into the barn.

Bird picked up Hannah’s bike, and she and Tall Sox began to walk along the road. He kept close to her, and together they enjoyed the silence of the night until they heard the sound of bicycle tires on gravel behind them.

“I made it look perfect!” exclaimed Sally. She jumped off Bird’s bike and walked along with them. “They won’t notice anything unusual until Dexter comes to get him.”

“Good work,” said Bird. “That gives us a little time to figure things out.”

“What things?” asked Sally.

Bird stared at her. Sally seemed to be completely unable to think ahead. “Things like, what to do with your horse,” she replied, trying not to get irritated. “How we get Hannah to agree to keep him at Saddle Creek. How we convince your father that Tall Sox is not a crazy, untrainable horse that needs to be euthanized. How we get your mother’s car home. Things like that.”

“Oh my gosh. You’re right.” Sally began to fret. “Oh my gosh. What’ll we do?”

“Can you drive your mother’s car home? I mean, without killing yourself?”

“Of course I can! I drove it here in the first place.”

“This might be a bad idea,” Bird said, “but why don’t you leave Tall Sox with me and drive your mom’s car home. Slowly. And I mean slowly, Sally.”

“I’m insulted you think I’m such a bad driver.”

“That’s not important,” said Bird. “What is important is to think out a good plan for Tall Sox.”

“Oh, yeah, I agree.” Sally sounded confused. “Which is …?”

By now they were nearing Sally’s mother’s car, parked at a very odd angle on the road.

“Which is this,” Bird stated firmly. “You go home. Slowly, remember? I’ll put Tall Sox in the barn for the night. You and your mother come here tomorrow morning. By then I’ll have talked things over with Hannah, and we go from there. How’s that sound?”

Sally looked relieved. “It sounds great! What time should I come?”

“Early. As early as you can.”

“I know, but when?”

“Seven-thirty? Eight o’clock?”

“Too early. My mother likes to sleep in on Sundays. How about eleven?”

“This is a big deal, Sally. We’ve just kidnapped your horse! We have to figure this out before Dexter finds him missing. Wake your mother up. The last thing Aunt Hannah needs is to be charged with horse theft!”

Sally’s eyes rounded. She nodded. “Right. See you tomorrow morning. Early.” With that, she dropped Bird’s bike on the side of the road and got in the car. She started it up and jerked forward. Bird and Tall Sox jumped out of the way.

“Slowly, Sally!” pleaded Bird.

Sally tried again. She began the arduous task of turning the car around. She backed up and halted, backed up and halted, moving her wheels inch by inch.

Bird left her to it. She rescued her bike and walked up the Saddle Creek lane with two bicycles and a horse. On the bright side, Bird thought, Sally hadn’t run over her.

Tall Sox settled in calmly and seemed to enjoy the roomy stall with fresh hay and water. This is a nice place, he messaged. Can I stay here?

I think so, answered Bird. At least for now.

I’m glad to be here. I feel safe.

Bird was reminded how sensitive horses were. There was not much they couldn’t figure out from people’s demeanour and moods. They just took it in, like drinking water. I’m glad you’re here, too. Tomorrow you’ll meet Hannah. She owns the barn, and it’s important to make a good first impression.

I always do. Tall Sox put his head back down and munched more hay.