A Silver Christmas (Tipperary Carriage Company Mystery Book 4)

by J A Whiting

  Mae reported nothing was visible.

  Ross suggested the truck and trailer would park along the road and someone would walk back.

  Still nothing on the cameras, Mae told them.

  Ross texted telling everyone to be ready and they responded in the affirmative.

  Despite her anxiety, Stanley’s text response made Mae smile.

  He sent, Old man ready with binocs.

  Long moments went by.

  Unable to sit still any longer, Mae stood up, but kept her eyes on the camera views.

  The two dogs instantly got up as well and walked over to join her. They knew something out of the ordinary was going on and they were ready to join in on whatever might happen.

  One camera view suddenly lit up bright on the laptop screen.

  Mae texted. Big light is on, back of barn!

  Ross replied with, On it.

  Stanley responded. One man there.

  Brandon’s text asked if he could help.

  Mae told him to stay still, but be ready.

  Ross texted, Andrew - call the sheriff.

  Andrew had been assigned the job of calling the sheriff's outpost if anyone showed up at the barn uninvited, and it looked like they just had. He was to call Deputy Blackwood directly, with 9-1-1 as a backup if the deputy was unavailable.

  According to his text, Stanley saw one man at the back of the barn, but there was almost certain to be more than just one.

  As Ross had said, they would have parked their truck and trailer somewhere just out of sight and then walked back through the woods and pastures.

  And now at least one of them was somewhere in the shadows at the back of the barn, looking at the very easy target that Silver offered.

  Ross texted asking Stanley where the man was now.

  He ran when lights came on.

  Ross replied with, All watch. Stay quiet.

  A new text came in from Stanley. He’s BACK.

  Stand by all, Ross told them.

  Then Mae caught her breath.

  There he was, right on the screen as big as life. A slim figure edging into the barn and trying to stay out of the light as best he could. It was near impossible now that the big floodlight had been tripped by the motion sensors.

  The intruder disappeared into the barn. He was now out of the camera’s range since it only showed what was right behind the barn, but he’d seemed to be going straight for Silver where the horse waited in the very first stall anyone would see.

  Stanley announced in his text, He’s in Silver’s stall.

  Stand by, Ross told them. Ready the cracker, Brandon.

  All ready, Brandon told him.

  Ross’s next text told them all to be ready on his signal.

  Then Mae felt both her fear and anger shoot up as a second figure stepped into the barn from the rear door, apparently following the first person.

  Second man! In barn! Mae texted right as Stanley sent a similar message.

  Second man in barn.

  Stay ready, Ross told them.

  Stanley sent two quick texts to the group: Leading horse out. Ross is there – gun out – get ready.

  Mae knew that Ross would be demanding the two thieves let go of the horse and surrender, stating that he was armed and the sheriff's deputies were on the way. Ross would try to reason with them, at least briefly, telling them it was over, they could not escape, and the smartest thing for them to do would be to give up.

  She just prayed that Brandon would not take it on himself to open the tack room door. That would put him in the aisle right next to Ross. Neither she nor her son knew if the thieves were armed, but all of them would have to assume that they were.

  Brandon, wait for the signal! Wait! She told her son.

  Stanley texted. Horse and one man outside.

  And they were. Mae could see them now. Silver, his long lead rope still in the hands of the small figure who had gone into the barn first, seemed to be resisting and was actually pulling the small figure after him.

  Just then a larger man grabbed the lead rope and shoved the smaller one out of the way. The small figure staggered and nearly fell, but then got up and ran away toward the pastures.

  Again, Stanley texted. Man One ran to pasture. Man Two has Silver.

  Not only did that second man have a firm hold on Silver's lead rope and halter, he managed to turn the nervous horse sideways so that the animal stood between him and Ross. The man talked over the horse's back and seemed to be taunting Ross.

  He knows Ross won't risk shooting the horse. He thinks he can use Silver as a live shield. Silver may have other ideas.

  And then, in an instant, everything happened at once.

  The text from Stanley said, GO GO GO.

  When Mae threw open the rear door of the house, both dogs instantly tore off and ran straight into the barn, barking ferociously, as she darted after them.

  Brandon dashed out of the tack room and began cracking an eight-foot drop lash whip in the barn aisle over and over again. Each crack sounded like a gunshot as it echoed inside the huge cavernous space.

  All of the horses were spooking and whirling inside their stalls, confused by the sudden crazy commotion. They slammed into the walls and hit the wire mesh with their heads, snorting loudly and half-rearing as their flight instinct kicked in, but found themselves trapped.

  It would be some kind of miracle if none of them was hurt.

  "Let go of the horse!" Ross shouted. "Let go of him!"

  Silver had had enough of the hysterically barking dogs, the loudly cracking whip, and the spooked stablemates. He ripped the lead rope right out of the thief's hands and tore off into the night all by himself, heading away from the frightening barn and racing toward the quiet darkness near the familiar riding ring.

  For a stunned second, the thief stood frozen as his prize raced away with his tail flagged high.

  Then he looked up at Ross standing just in front of him with the gun drawn.

  The thief smirked. "You won't shoot." He spun around and ran toward the two dark pastures, but instantly stopped at the sight of Stanley holding a .22 rifle aimed right at him.

  "He might not shoot," said Stanley. "But, I will. You can either run now and get shot, or give up and go with the sheriff. Your choice. Don't matter to me at all."

  The smirk faded as the man sat down on the ground. Now he just looked angry, and not a little worried, as he sat between both Ross and Stanley and their weapons.

  The whip-cracking stopped, but the dogs were still barking fiercely at the thief sitting on the ground.

  Brandon glanced back at Mae, who stood behind him with her phone in her hand watching everything.

  "You okay, Mom?" he asked, over the noise of the dogs.

  "I’m okay, but keep your eyes open. There's at least one more person involved here. A smaller one who ran away."

  "Yeah, I know. And Silver's loose."

  "I don't think he'll go far. He's safe for the moment."

  "Andrew?" Mae asked.

  Brandon joked, "He’s still in the garage, the lazy bum."

  Andrew had been told to stay in there. He was their link to the sheriff and at least one of the group had to stay out of the line of fire.

  Ross had brought a pair of handcuffs with him, and he came back into the barn holding the cuffed thief tightly by the arm.

  Stanley followed a few feet away and kept the .22 trained on the intruder, and Mick and Mack were right at his heels.

  "Door, Brandon," Ross called, nodding toward one of the empty stalls, and as Brandon pulled the door open, the man walked the thief inside and firmly sat him down on the clean straw.

  Ross stepped out and Brandon quickly closed the door.

  "If you're halfway smart, you'll sit right there and keep quiet. Sheriff's deputies are on their way. You wouldn't get past the dogs even if you did manage to climb out of there."

  The man just sneered and looked away, appearing a lot smaller than before as he sat in the s
traw with his hands tightly cuffed behind his back.

  Ross glanced up at the others. "There's at least one more out there. Got to find him."

  Right then the two dogs turned around and raced out through the back door of the barn, barking like crazy and making a sharp turn toward the pastures.

  Ross walked after the dogs. "Stanley, come with me. Brandon and Mae … get into the tack room and lock it if you need to. Listen for the horse to come back in. He might do that."

  "No problem.” Brandon and Mae headed to the tack room door.

  Mae said, "Ross and Stanley will clean this up. Mick and Mack will help them. We'll stay here and watch for Silver to come back."

  Brandon nodded and they stood by the open tack room door.

  Mae worried. "I don't think he'd run out onto the road, and even though he's pretty spooked right now, I don’t think he’ll do that. If he goes anywhere, it'll be back to his stall. Just keep an eye out."

  "I will."

  Very quickly the dogs fell silent. In a moment, Ross came in with another prisoner, again with Stanley and Mick and Mack walking behind them. And to Mae's surprise he walked his prisoner right up to her.

  "Meet one of our thieves," he said. "She was the first one we saw in the barn. Now she's going to wait in the stall with the other guy until a deputy can take her away."

  With angry eyes, Mae stared at her and shook her head. "I saw you at the Christmas Fair. Several times. Didn't I." It was not a question.

  The young woman just bit her lip with a frightened expression and would not look at Mae. In a moment she, too, was sitting in the same stall as the other man with her hands tied behind her back.

  "Now for the horse," said Ross.

  "I'll get him," said Stanley. "I'll take the dogs. Ross, you watch our new pals there. Silver will be right back."

  "Okay, Stanley," Mae said, feeling just slightly less tense now. "I'll sure be glad to see him."

  When Stanley left the barn, carrying his rifle and hobbling only slightly, he called the two dogs after him. Near the barn door, Mick and Mack raced off toward the riding ring and Stanley followed them. Then they were lost in the darkness and couldn’t be seen any longer.

  Mae stood beside Brandon and turned to Ross, who was keeping a close eye on the two people who were locked in the stall. "Maybe I should go and check on Andrew. I haven't seen him since this started."

  "Not supposed to see him," said Ross. "His job is to stay safe in the garage and call the sheriff's office. He did. That's what – "

  They all jumped as gunfire erupted out behind the barn.

  The dogs barked fiercely. Stanley yelled something and a woman started screaming.

  Mae listened for galloping hoof beats, but heard nothing.

  There was only the terrifying commotion and shrieking out back … and then one final gunshot.

  17

  Ross shoved Mae and Brandon aside. "Tack room. Now. Call the sheriff's office again." With that he hurried to the end of the barn aisle, staying close to one wall and holding the .45 pointed upward.

  Mae had had enough of hiding. She was more angry than frightened now, and just wanted to put a stop to the threat to her family and her horses. "Brandon! Go to Andrew. Make sure he's safe!"

  "Mom. Mom!" Brandon hissed, trying to whisper. "He's fine. I'll watch the two in the stall. If someone comes around the front, you'll know it."

  "All right. All right. Text Andrew. Call 9-1-1. And stay down."

  Just as Mae started to move, Ross dashed outside into the darkness with his gun lowered. As fast as she dared, staying pressed up against the stalls, Mae crept along until she could peer outside.

  The glare of the barn's floodlight made it very hard to see. Out in the surrounding darkness, the dogs were still barking and the woman was still screaming.

  "Drop it! Drop it now!" shouted Ross.

  Then the screaming turned to sobbing. "He wanted him dead. He wanted him dead!"

  What on earth is she yelling about? Who is she?

  Mae stepped outside and quickly walked out of the pool of bright light. She glanced around, looking for the white of Silver's head and neck and long tail – about all that would show since he was wearing a dark green blanket. She saw nothing. There was no sound of snorting or hooves.

  The dogs had quieted and they came racing up to her, confused and anxious. She patted their soft coats and tried to calm them, and then the scene in the darkness just outside the barn began to come into focus.

  Ross was down on one knee beside Stanley, who lay on the grass and seemed to be trying to get up. The Colt .45 was trained on the woman a few yards away from them. The woman suddenly stopped the screaming, dropped to her knees, and fell flat to the earth, sobbing.

  Ross glanced up at the sudden motion. "Mae," he said, in a steady voice, "get her gun. She threw it toward the barn. It's not far. Take a look."

  With a deep breath, Mae searched for the weapon. The two dogs stayed close beside her. In a moment, she saw the small worn-looking pistol and gingerly picked it up by the dented handle.

  "Just lay it here on the ground."

  Mae placed the pistol a few feet from Ross.

  "Good. Text Andrew. Tell him to bring a lead rope. And we have one injury."

  "Okay." She wanted to ask about Stanley, but the man was obviously alive and seemed angrier than wounded.

  Mae texted her son. Andrew, bring rope. Third prisoner. Stanley hurt. Get here quick.

  Mae stood over Ross, watching the wailing woman. "Is she hurt?"

  "I don't think so. I shot once but it was a warning. Over her head."

  Then she heard Stanley swearing and trying to push Ross aside. "Let me up!"

  "Nope. Stay here until we get help."

  "My son is coming out," said Mae, trying to ease his mind.

  "Is he a doctor?"

  "Not yet," said Mae, "but he’s studying medicine."

  "Oh, great." Stanley gave up and sat down again.

  Just then Andrew arrived, carrying a lead rope. Ross took it and went over to the woman. In a moment, he had tied her hands and was marching her back to the barn, presumably to join the other two in the stall.

  "Hey, Mom," said Andrew, sounding a little bewildered as he watched Ross walk away. "What happened?"

  "It's Stanley. He's been shot."

  "Yeah," growled Stanley, sitting back and leaning on both hands. "She was trying to shoot the horse. She missed."

  The horse….

  Andrew crouched down beside Stanley. Mae could see a dark stain spreading at the top of the older man's right foot, through the damaged leather work boot.

  "Just try to stay still," said Andrew. "I don't think it's too serious, but you can't walk on it."

  "Help's coming," said Mae. "We've already called a couple of times. They should be here any minute."

  "Well, not necessarily," said Andrew, propping Stanley's right foot on top of his left ankle. "I don't want to take the boot off," he went on. "It will act as a cast and give some pressure to the wound. But we need to raise the foot up higher if we can."

  Stanley started to lay back, but then grabbed Andrew's arm. "What do you mean, 'not necessarily'?"

  Andrew glanced at Mae. "I told the sheriff's department we had an injury out here in addition to prowlers, but they said they were working a big accident out near the interstate. They'll send someone as soon as they can."

  Stanley just groaned and lay back down again.

  In just a moment, Ross returned. "They're all three locked in that stall. Brandon says he wants a pay raise for having to watch so many of them."

  Mae smiled a little in spite of herself. "I'll make sure he gets one," she said faintly. Then her voice turned serious. "Deputies and ambulances are tied up right now. There’s an accident near the freeway."

  Ross held her gaze for an instant and then looked down at Stanley. "Then we'll just have to do the best we can. They'll get here when they get here. Andrew, can you deal with this?"

/>   "I think so," he said, and Mae was proud of how well her city-bred son was handling all of it. "His vital signs are good. He's not bleeding excessively."

  "I'm just mad as hell and my damned foot hurts," said Stanley.

  "That's about right," said Ross.

  "So, somebody please tell me," pleaded Mae. "What happened out here?"

  Stanley raised himself up on one elbow. "I actually caught the horse. He was running around scared, but must have figured he was safer with me. Anyway, just as I was leading him back inside somebody fired shots from the pasture."

  "That second woman?" asked Mae.

  "Yeah. She was yelling something about wanting him dead. Don't know if she meant the horse or someone else. Crazy."

  "Stanley," said Mae carefully. "I know she hit you. Do you think she hit Silver?"

  The man frowned. "I don't think so. She was one poor shot, mostly from being so crazy upset. But the horse ran off fast. I didn't see him anywhere after I got hit." He looked closely at Mae. "He's here somewhere. Just got spooked enough to run and hide. He'll be back."

  Mae nodded, but stood up. "I have to go look for him. I'll be right back."

  The large field behind the house was very, very dark. There was no moon, and she couldn’t see much in the lights from the barn or from Stanley's small trailer.

  Mae didn’t want to turn on her phone's light, for it would only blind her to seeing in the distance and make her an easy target for anyone who might be watching. Instead, she watched closely for anything that looked like a horse's grey-white tail and reminded herself that Silver could see her even if she couldn’t see him.

  She tried not to think of what she would do if she found that the woman with the gun hadn't missed.

  Mae hadn’t gone far when she heard slowly trotting hoof beats coming toward her across the field, along with the panting and soft footfalls of Mick and Mack. The two dogs were jogging along with the horse, one on each side of him.

  "Hey, Silver . . . what's going on, buddy?" Mae reached for the lead rope dragging on the ground and then ran her hands down the horse's neck. He was tense and his eyes were huge and glistening, but he seemed unhurt from what she could see.

  Quickly she led him back to the barn, passing near Ross, Stanley, and Andrew.