Mystery at Saddle Creek (2 page)

Hannah chose her words carefully. “A woman was hit on the head. She's gone to the hospital now. The police, ambulance and fire truck were there — that's why there was so much noise.” Hannah turned to Liz. “Is your mom home?”

The diminutive girl shook her shiny black curls. “She'll be b ... back around four. The neighbour's home.”

Bird looked at her watch. It was only two o'clock. “Why not come with us?” She looked at Hannah for approval. “Julia and I are going out on the trails this afternoon and we need someone to ride Joey.”

Hannah nodded in agreement. “You'd help us out, Liz.”

Julia chimed in. “Yes! Call and ask your mom!”

Without a word Liz spun around and raced into the house. She was back in less than a minute with her riding hat plopped on her head and her chaps under her arm.

A few hours later, Bird walked down from the barn, leaving Julia and Liz cleaning the bridles. They'd had a wonderful ride through the trails along the crest of the Escarpment, and had all but forgotten the upsetting incident on The Grange. Bird breathed in the smell of freshly cut hay. Tomorrow or the next day, whenever it was dried and baled, the hay would start coming in. Cliff Jones, the farm manager, was making preparations. They'd need more than two thousand bales to feed the horses through next winter.

Sundancer whinnied as she walked past his field.
Why didn't you ride me today? You said you would.

I thought you said it was kinda hot and the grass was delicious.

True and true, but I don't like it when you ride another horse, especially one so inferior.

A little stuck up, are we? How about I ride you after dinner?

Maybe yes, maybe no. But more likely yes.

Bird laughed. It was nice to be back at Saddle Creek.

As Bird approached the farmhouse, Paul Daniels drove up and parked beside the door. He got out and stretched, then noticed Bird. “Hi there! What's for dinner?”

“If you're here it's going to be good, that's all I know. Aunt Hannah's still trying to impress you.”

“I hope she never stops!” The veterinarian's face broke out in a grin. “Don't tell her that I'm already impressed.”

Bird smiled broadly. “You just don't know how to play it cool, do you?” She was startled at her own cheekiness, and covered her mouth. Being able to speak again was part blessing, part curse. It was great to be able to say whatever was on her mind, but sometimes she needed to remind herself not to say everything she thought.

Paul, however, didn't seem in the least bit annoyed. “Why bother? Life is too darn short!”

Hannah appeared at the door, freshly bathed and radiant. Lucky slipped past her legs and ran to Paul, wagging his tail madly. The dog wriggled with joy as he jumped and yelped.

“Down, pup,” scolded Paul with a wink to Bird. “Play it cool.”

Liz and Julia came running from the barn. “Aunt Hannah, can Liz stay for dinner? Please?”

“Of course! Liz, check with your mom, and tell her I can drive you home after dinner, unless you want to spend the night.”

The girls locked arms and rushed into the house. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” they chanted.

Paul turned to Bird. “And you think I don't know how to play it cool?”

2

 

A MYSTERY

Tanbark felt so alone. More alone than he'd felt for a long, long time. He listened to the breeze ruffling the leaves overhead, and wished he had somebody to talk to. Somebody to tell about what had happened on the road.

He'd moved his camp since that morning, careful to erase any sign that he'd been there. But he couldn't erase the memory. The tire iron crunching the woman's skull. Her surprised expression. The shock in her eyes. The blood gushing. The woman falling. The metal bar clanging to the road. The man on the road, watching him run. And the blood. So much blood. He shook his head to clear the images out as a wave of despair flooded over him. He curled up in a ball and slept.

WHEN THE DOORBELL RANG, they had finished dinner and were trying to decide whether to go to Best's for ice cream or slice into the watermelon that Paul had brought from the Apple Factory. Two police officers stood on the porch, their identification in hand. Officer Ed Paris was in his mid-fifties and wide across his middle. Officer Patrick O'Hare was younger by two decades, and slim. Hannah invited them in, and Paul offered them something to eat.

“No thanks,” Officer Paris replied. “We're on duty. Sorry to interrupt your evening, but you probably know why we're here.”

“Is it about the attack on the woman in Inglewood?” asked Julia, her eyes wide.

“Yes. The witness was able to help our artist put together a composite sketch. We're going house to house, asking people to take a look.”

The younger officer added, “If anyone comes to mind when you see it, go ahead and tell us. We're trying to find people to interview.”

“Don't worry that it'll get someone in trouble,” Officer Paris added. “Just take a look and say who it reminds you of.”

He pulled an eight-by-ten sheet of paper out of his case, and turned it to face Hannah. “Remind you of anyone?”

Hannah took a good look at the sketch. “It could be half a dozen people up here! Dark, longish hair, unshaven, dark eyes, thin face.”

“Anyone in particular?”

Hannah shook her head. “No.” She passed it to Paul, who breathed in deeply, then shook his head. “Hannah's right. Wouldn't want to start any wild goose chases.”

Officer Paris frowned. “You'll have to leave that to us. As Officer O'Hare said, we're looking for people to interview. Time is of the essence. The man who did this is out there right now and we don't want him assaulting anybody else.”

“Can I see?” Liz looked at Julia and giggled. “From here it looks like my mother's b ... boyfriend.”

Officer O'Hare grabbed the sketch from Paul and showed it to Liz. Liz and Julia pored over it.

“I see what you mean,” said Julia, “but Phil isn't so skinny and his hair is much shorter.”

“What is his full name?” The young policeman smiled encouragement. “Phil who?”

“Philip B ... Butler,” answered Liz.

The two policemen exchanged a glance.

“But it couldn't be Phil! He's a really nice m ... man. He'd never hurt anybody.” Liz blushed and stammered, something she did only when she was upset. “A ... And he used to be a p ... policeman!”

“Thanks for your help. What is your name please, young lady?”

Liz was turning white.“Elizabeth Brown.But honestly,I didn't m ... mean that I think it's him, the picture only
r ... reminds
me of him. A
little
.”

“Don't worry. If he's innocent he has nothing to fear.” The young officer turned to Bird. “You haven't looked at this yet, miss. Does it remind you of anyone?”

Bird looked from one policeman to the other. “Yes.”

All eyes were on her.

“With shorter hair, it looks like you.” She pointed to the young officer.

Liz and Julia covered their mouths but the policemen were not amused. “This is not a joke,” said Officer Paris sternly.

But Bird wasn't joking; she was making a point. The picture resembled any number of people, all innocent except for one.

Paul deflected the tension with a question. “Could we keep one of your sketches and ask the people who board horses here?”

Officer Paris answered, “No. We'll ask them ourselves. We need to gauge their reactions. Where does your staff live?”

Hannah pointed north. “I don't think they're home right now, but it's the house at the end of the next lane. Go back to the road, turn right, then go up the next driveway. The house there has an apartment upstairs, so knock on both doors.”

“Thank you for your time.” The two policemen stood up and left.

Once the door closed, they all took a deep breath.

Bird was the first to break the silence. “We'd better warn Cliff. That sketch looked like him, too.”

Hannah nodded. “And Pierre Hall.”

Paul turned to Liz. “Don't worry. Somebody else would've identified Phil if you didn't. It does look a lot like him.”

“Anyone for ice cream?”asked Hannah brightly.“We can't sit here and stew all night.”

“You all go ahead,” said Bird. “I'm riding Sunny. I've got an hour and a half before it gets dark.”

“Bird, a woman was attacked today and the man is still out there!” Hannah's voice was filled with alarm.

“You think a man can outrun Sundancer?”

“Your Aunt Hannah's right, Bird.” Paul backed her up. “This is no time for you to be out there alone.”

Julia piped up. “She won't be alone. Liz and I'll go with her!”

“Definitely not.” Hannah was firm. “And definitely not for you, too, Bird. Your mother would never forgive me if something happened. And she'd be right. It's not safe.”

“I'll be perfectly safe,” Bird said calmly. “And I need to ride Sunny. Besides, the man's probably lying low. Hiding. He knows the police are everywhere. He wouldn't dare make a move tonight.”

Hannah and Paul looked at each other. Paul raised an eyebrow and motioned to the jumping ring outside the house. “There's mocha fudge ice cream in the freezer.”

Hannah looked Bird in the eye. “I don't like this one bit, but if you must, Bird, practice in the paddock where we can see you. Do you hear me? And be back inside within the hour.”

Bird grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the table and pulled on her boots. “Thanks.”

Before Hannah could change her mind, Bird ran out to Sunny's paddock.

Come on, horse. Time to rock and roll!

Give a horse a chance to think!

We've got to hurry before Hannah changes her mind. There's a bad man on the loose.

Just one? We can take him.

That's what I told her. Here's an apple.

That's my girl.

We have to stay in the ring.

Come on!

Hannah said.

Can we warm up on the trails? Please? It's so boring in the ring!

Bird thought about it. She ran a brush over Sunny and threw on the tack. She glanced at the house. Through the kitchen window, she could see Hannah making ice cream cones for the girls.

Quickly Bird mounted, and soon they were trotting down the path toward the back. She knew she was disregarding Hannah's instructions, but it was such a nice time of day! She loved the trails on summer evenings, after the hot sun had cooled. The perfect time to ride was after seven-thirty and before the sun set at nine. She'd just warm up on the trails, like Sunny had suggested, then work in the ring.

The smell of fresh-cut hay and thyme wafted on the warm breeze. Bird had been desperate to get outdoors after the policemen's visit, and she could think of nothing better than breathing in fresh air while sitting on the back of her horse.

“Ah,” Bird said aloud. “This is the life.” The trail led to the back of the farm, then down the Escarpment. She eyed the cool forest below with yearning. Decision time, Bird thought. Obey Hannah or go down the ridge.

Hannah didn't have to know.

Bird and Sunny carefully descended the winding, rocky path. The shade of the forest embraced them. Sunlight played through the leaves, and little creatures scurried for cover. Bird relaxed. The ride was having a therapeutic effect on her—it was washing away the stresses of the day. She was sure they'd made the right decision.

Suddenly, a man stepped out of the bushes and waved frantically. Bird and Sundancer were caught completely by surprise. Sunny reared up on his hind legs in fright and spun. Bird managed to stay on by a hair. She turned her head and looked hard at the man who'd materialized out of thin air. He seemed ... wild. He was around twenty, with matted dark hair and scrubby facial hair. He was naked except for a pair of old gym shorts and ripped sneakers. But it was his eyes that really caught her attention. They were full of worry and need.

Easy, Sunny. He wants to tell me something.

Sunny reared again and took off at a gallop.
I don't care. We're going home.

Whoa! I want to know what he wants. Whoa!

Don't pull that “whoa” crap. My heart is racing so fast I can't see.

All the more reason to stop running!

Bird, he's chasing us! Hold on to your hat!

There was nothing Bird could do but hang on. Sunny was in full flight, teeth clamped tight on the bit to avoid her efforts at control. He was covering the ground faster than he ever had before. Trees, bushes, the trail—everything was a blur. He stopped only when they reached the Saddle Creek barn. His sides were heaving and he was covered in sweat.

Bird slid down from the saddle, out of breath. She glared at him.

You could have killed us both!

That man could have killed us both!

He only wanted to talk to me.

Yeah? In the middle of the woods, smelling crazy? I know crazy and he's crazy.

You're crazy! You ran off like a lunatic. I'm so mad I could, I could ...

You could what? You never hit animals so don't pretend. And Hannah said there was a bad man out there.

Bird stared at him. “Good grief.” She slowly sat down on the gravel driveway. The man in the woods looked just like the sketch.
What if you're right, Sunny? What if I'd made us stop and he'd attacked me?

The big horse snorted and nuzzled Bird's hair.
Okay, maybe I didn't think of that ‘til now. Maybe I ran because I was scared.

But maybe your fear saved us. I guess I'll have to tell Hannah what happened.

She'll be upset.

You have no idea, Sunny.