by Olivia Swift
“Open it for me,” Magda said and climbed on board from the fence. The horse was big, but she knew it was gentle and Magda was an accomplished rider herself. She joined the other three.
“Follow round a couple of times and then all in a line,” Branston called and set the new stallion to a smart trot. Chloe, Gladdie, and then Magda all followed. Sam had the cell phone out and took a video. Merle came over pushing the stroller with Samantha and the others arrived back from their tour.
Branston waved a hand and they moved up beside him one by one. The four riders trotted together in a line around the corral twice and then he called a halt and they all stopped together. The audience had grown to include some of the dude ranch visitors. There was a good round of applause as the riders dismounted.
“Thanks, Bran,” Magda said.
“You’re welcome, Mags.”
She forgave him for the nickname and walked the stallion to the stable to take off the saddle and then she opened the gate and he went back in his normal corral. Sam gave her shoulders a squeeze.
“Got it on video.”
“When would everyone like to see Cody’s actual stable?” Rula asked and everyone called out that now would be good.
They loaded Merlin into his traveling quarters and left in a cavalcade to Rula’s. The street filled up with parked vehicles and it looked like they were having a party.
“Come to the stable first,” Mikey said and led the way. The stable was still on the edge of the group of trees and the land they had stretched out behind. Two noses heard them coming and looked over the fence. Rula ran over and patted Beryl. The big gelding immediately recognized Branston and nickered loudly. The man stroked his nose and then Mikey led the way inside. The lights were switched on to show the new stalls and floor in all of their glory.
“The staircase,” Rula said. “We left it untouched. It’s the history of the place.”
“It does have a mystery about it,” Clara said. “What would you find at the top, it seems to say.”
“Just a loft at the moment,” Mikey said.
“Hello Uncle Cody,” Chloe said, and the sound of a horse nickering was so loud that they thought one of the horses had followed them inside.
“It’s the painted pony,” Declan said, “and it’s right behind Gladdie.”
“Is it crazy that I can feel the breath of a horse on my neck?” the young man asked.
“Not crazy at all,” Merle said. “We all have different senses. Declan and Chloe can both see who is there. Bart sees a ball of light and I feel things and sometimes hear voices.”
“We all saw the glow around you, and we all feel a slight warm breeze or maybe a touch that feels like a cobweb.”
“You just learn to accept it,” Declan added. “If you fight it, it can make you really unhappy.”
Chloe turned to the stairway.
“You did it, Uncle Cody. You put us together as a team again. Thank you.”
“We have the painted pony and a wonderful stallion,” Branston said.
“He’s telling you to take care,” Merle said. “He’s fading. For a second there, Maiya was with him as well.”
“Do you think we’ll ever see them again?” Chloe asked. “I felt so close to them.”
“I think,” Merle said, “that as long as that staircase is a link to their time, he’ll not be far away.” She brought them all back to reality with a few words of visualization and Rula invited everyone inside for a drink.
Gladdie was very keen on the gym equipment and Mikey said that he could feel free to use it. He went straight to a rowing machine and put himself in position.
“You’ve done this before,” Mikey said.
“Trying to build muscle without weight,” Gladdie answered. That made Chloe ask if it was for the riding and he told her, in between pulls, that strength was a necessity sometimes.
“I’m slightly built but tall. Need to be stronger.”
“I might try that,” Chloe said and left him to it.
“It’s been a wonderful day,” Clara said. “The meal was really good, and the dude ranch lived up to its reputation.”
“On top of which, Gladdie joins the show team next week and we have the painted pony in foal,” Chloe added.
“I would like to visit the cafe sometime as well,” Clara said.
“And come and meet our psychic Birman,” Magda laughed. “We can arrange that next week.”
“I guess I have so much material for painting now that I’ll have to get some serious work done,” Shelby said.
“We need them in the gallery,” Katie laughed.
It was a delightful end to the afternoon and eventually everyone went away one by one. Magda, Sam, and Samantha were left with Rula and Mikey.
“Now I can hear about this land and stable,” Rula said and opened a bottle of wine. Magda asked if she could warm the baby’s bottle in the microwave and said she would like to see the stable again.
Sam and Mikey took a beer each and settled down to be comfortable.
Magda carried the baby on her hip as the two girls went back to the stable and the horses.
“Who would have thought that me seeing Cody from the corner of my eye would have led us to finding everything out?” Rula surprisingly pondered aloud.
The girls chatted about the stable and went back to see the men.
“Home?” Sam asked.
“Please. A great day but tiring and Samantha is ready for a nap.”
“Dadadada,” Samantha said.
“Here I am sweetheart.” He picked her up and they made their way to the car.
Crystal had a whole lot of crime novels on the floor when they arrived home. There was one baby book on the floor as well.
20
“It’s slightly worrying that she keeps going back to crime,” Magda said as she picked up the books. She looked at the baby book and shrugged.
“I’ll make us some sandwiches to eat for dinner while you bathe Sammie,” Sam offered.
“Sammie?” she echoed.
“Well she can’t be Sam. That would be too confusing.” Magda shook her head and took Sammie away to the bathroom. The baby splashed in the bath for a bit then Magda wrapped her in a big fluffy towel to take her to the bedroom to dress her.
“I did her supper as well,” Sam called, and Magda smiled as she found he had done the baby’s favorite dinner and dessert. He had set the table with a quick meal of sandwiches and leftover potato salad.
“Dadada,” Sammie chortled. Magda sat back and watched the man in her life spoon feed his daughter.
“You don’t suppose there is any danger to Sammie, do you?” Magda worried. Sam paused in the feeding.
“When Cody seemed to think there was danger, it was connected to the horses.”
Magda nodded.
“He never moved near Sammie or the stroller. It seemed to be Chloe or maybe Gladdie that he was concerned about. Probably Chloe because he was worried before the others came to visit. Sammie is with me most of the time. I’ll just be very careful.”
“Everything with him seems to be horse or family connected. We’re not family. Have a look at my video. You looked fantastic up there, Mags.”
She forgave him for calling her Mags. She opened the photos. The video made her smile.
“Long time since I rode anything as big as Branston’s stallion. He’s a very steady horse. The four horses in a row look fantastic.” She laughed, “I bet Branston is up at the crack of dawn every day to start working with that new boy. Merle was right. He fell in love as soon as he saw him.”
“What did you think of the stable?”
“Great job, but personally I’d like a bit more space.”
Sam grinned.
“Which was why I ordered a sectional building that could be extended if we need to have ponies for the kids.”
“Kids?” she threw back at him. “Do I get to have a say in that?”
“Go on. Admit you would love a boy that’s just l
ike me.”
She smiled at him. “Had crossed my mind.” She looked at the baby and went on. “You know I always have this plum-colored hair and I love it?” He waited for what was coming. “I think I might go blonde to match my daughter.”
“Wow. That would look wonderful,” he told her.
“Be a different me though.”
“You were not plum-colored when you turned me down at fifteen and you looked great then.”
“And in the end, you won me over and I produced a daughter that says Dadadada.” She laughed as she took her daughter to put her to bed.
He followed them in.
“Love you both and we’ve managed to deal with spirit things today.” She glanced across to see what he was thinking.
“The picture Katie painted of the woman and daughter in the enchanted Irish wood could have been a forecast of you and Sammie.”
“Sam Barnes,” she said, straightening up and coming to wrap her arms around his waist. “You still surprise me with these romantic thoughts.”
“On a practical note,” he started, “if we put the stable in our garden on the concrete, it would mean it was on our property and I wouldn’t have to do a foundation.”
“And move the fence in to keep the stable out of the garden,” she added. “And away from the kids.”
They sat together on the sofa and held hands like a courting couple.
“The gallery certainly seems to be a success,” he remarked.
“Brings a lot of customers to the café as well,” she added. “I feel really guilty leaving to go to the rodeo, but I do want to see Branston and Chloe ride. I’ll stay in the café for the midday rush and then go and watch in the afternoon. Branston is on fairly late in the day, I think.”
“I will help and then we can go together.”
“Aunt Alison and Gina are both coming to help Rita. Gina says that Bart will be covering everything, and she might as well be doing something useful.”
“I‘m starting a new extension project tomorrow but will be free on Saturday.”
They let the cats out into the covered area and then saw them come back in shaking their paws. Magda laughed.
“They are definitely indoor cats.” She found the treats and the felines settled for the night.
Morning came far too soon. Magda said that she felt like she could sleep for a week. Then they heard ‘Dadada’ from the next room and both slid out of bed.
Life was what passed for normal in The Chocolate Magic Café. Magda started to think about a new look for the shop area. Katie covered truffles, and since stock was depleted, they made new centers. The gallery ran on oiled wheels. They were all really pleased with the way customers had taken to it.
There was no word from Branston, who was presumably practicing his demonstration. Rula told them daily about how the horses were settling, and how well the stable was working.
Then on Thursday, the new sectional stable was delivered to the house. Sam stayed at home and directed them where to leave it. He called the café and told her it had arrived then went to work.
Saturday came with the café being busy from the time they opened the doors. There were lots of visitors in town for the rodeo. Aunt Alison and Gina came and found their way around during the morning. Mikey had one of the girls from his shop in the gallery and although lunchtime was manic, things went quiet afterward. After Sam had fed his daughter, the three of them set off for the rodeo.
The place was packed to the eyebrows with people, horses, wagons, trailers and there were stalls selling everything from hats to burgers. There were more people wearing Stetsons than you see in a month on a normal day. Sammie was in the stroller and Magda pushed it until they reached the part sectioned off for displays. They found that Katie had left earlier and was defending the space for them against all comers. Clara and Gladman were sitting beside them and called out that Chloe and Gladdie had both won rosettes. Sam unfolded the chairs and Katie held her arms out for Sammie.
“Wow, we made it,” Magda said and looked around. “This place gets busier every year. More like a small town than a fair,” she said.
“Thank goodness this display area is near the edge. At least the horses can come in without going through the crowds.”
“Lots of folk lining up at the cash machine the bank has there,” Katie pointed out. “I guess the stallholders are doing well.” Then she added that she must go and find Ava and Jay.
The people in the ring in front of them were herding a whole lot of llamas and the audience was clapping as they took them away. Magda looked around and saw Branston with the two youngsters behind him heading for the ring. She nudged the others and Branston lifted a hand.
“He has outdone himself with that outfit,” Katie smiled. She had her camera at the ready. Magda took back the baby. Clara added that Gladdie had wanted to dress up as well.
“He’s obviously impressed with your cousin, Magda. Branston had a very bright deep pink shirt that glittered as the sun caught it and had metal edges on the lapels and cuffs. He had a matching pink band around the black Stetson. Chloe was a slightly more feminine vision in pink with a pink Stetson and Merlin had a pink noseband. Magda pointed out that Chloe had pink boots as well.
Gladdie was in a toning purple outfit with metal tips to the collar like Branston and a purple band around his hat.
The loudspeaker told everyone that the display of horse riding was about to start and gave the names of the three riding into the ring. The three of them rode around the ring as Magda had done with them the weekend before. The crowd clapped and cheered and one or two men who knew Branston called out cheeky comments. He grinned and raised his hat to them.
Then the two youngsters left the ring and Branston kept the crowd quiet with a pretty stunning display of riding, scooping up things from the ground, jumping up and down, and passing himself under the horse’s neck. He did a very fast finishing circuit and jumped from the horse to wave his Stetson in a theatrical bow. The crowd clapped and cheered, and the horse came and knelt its front legs beside him. Branston sat on the saddle and the stallion rose to its full height.
“That was impressive,” Sam said.
Chloe rode in as someone opened the gate for her. Branston presented her like a magician with his assistant and left the ring. Chloe did not disappoint. She did some of the things Branston had done but her walking around with Merlin’s nose at her shoulder enchanted the crowd. Stops, starts, turns, faster pace, and very slow pace, the stallion matched step for step. Then she jumped back into the saddle and finished off with some fast jumps up and down. The crowd loved her, and the cheering was still going on as the gate opened and she presented Gladdie as Branston had done for her.
The audience settled back into silence. The same tricks that the other two had introduced to start their routine were repeated again and then Gladdie Ryder-James stunned the crowd with his acrobatics in the saddle. Handstands, jumps back and front, balancing as the horse cantered quite fast around the ring.
Magda saw that Bart had been catching everything on video. Katie was filming as well and lots of the audience were doing the same. It was sensational and Gladdie finished to resounding applause. The other two came back into the ring. They rode around in a single line and then as three in a row.
Magda heard a commotion at the bank and pulled at Sam’s arm.
21
“There’s something wrong over there,” she said. The big van that the bank used at these outdoor events was the center of everybody’s attention around it. There was a gunshot from inside and the people scattered like dust in a wind.
“Get down,” Sam said, and Magda dropped to the floor with her back to the bank and the baby in her arms. Sam stood in front of her, but it seemed the danger was going to be over as the two men who had robbed the bank came out with a gun in one hand and what he assumed was a bag of money in the other. They had bandanas over the bottom half of their faces and masks over their eyes. They wore black clothing, and eac
h had a black Stetson pulled down to meet the eye masks.
The men turned to run away with their stolen property when another shot rang out and one of the robbers dropped to the ground with a shout. His pal, with true loyalty of thieves ignored that and grabbed the bag the shot man was holding.
“Stop right there,” a voice called, and another shot thudded into the side of the bank van. Then another shot followed it. The man dropped the bags and pulled his gun. A shower of bullets rang out. Sam dropped on top of Magda and the baby and covered them with his body.
“The shots are from behind Branston,” he said into her ear. “Chloe is in the middle of it.”
Both Sam and Magda looked around from where they were hiding on the ground and saw Chloe clutch her arm. She was still on Merlin and still in the ring directly between the two lots of guns.
Branston was on the horse but outside of the ring and so was Gladdie. They were to one side and out of the line of fire. Branston kicked his big stallion and raced toward the fence. The big horse took off and soared majestically over the fence and thudded to where Merlin was standing waiting for an instruction. Chloe was frozen into immobility.
Branston circled around her and shouted. They couldn’t make out what he was shouting but the bullets still thudded past them and by the grace of some higher being neither of them was shot. Branston came around again and Sam heard him shout to her to jump.
“Now, Chloe.”
She kicked free of the stirrups and when he came alongside again, she jumped and he grabbed her and raced out of the line of fire but Merlin was still there.
Gladdie took his cue from Branston, set his big horse at the fence and cleared it. Then he galloped to the smaller stallion and grabbed the reins. The horse was reluctant to move and Gladdie shook the reins.
The shots were still going back and forth. Most sensible people had run for cover and the law was on its way because sirens could be heard.
“Look,” Sam said, and Magda looked out from under his arm. A golden stream of what could have been sunshine but had a small tail like a comet flew under the nose of Merlin and the horse moved toward the fence. Gladdie pulled at the reins and shouted for Merlin to jump. He soared over the fence and the small flicker of golden light seemed to lift the smaller beast up and over as well. Merlin stopped when Chloe held up a hand and Branston whisked the two youngsters and the horses away from the scene.