by J A Whiting
After driving straight through, the three men and two horses finally arrived at Lenny Crickson's little three-acre property out in the very loneliest part of Franklin County, Ohio. There, the rough little bait pony and the big fancy show horse were both turned out in a muddy pen with only a shed for cover and only hay to eat, no grain.
"He won't look so fancy after a couple of weeks of this," said Lenny, pulling off the heavy blanket and throwing it at Tim. "We'll pull his shoes, too. He's no show horse anymore."
That same night, Jake sent a message to Volunteer Stables, the owners of the horse down in Tennessee.
Follow directions. Wire the money where we say or your horse is gone. Might be a fire at your barn. Send the money.
Almost to their amazement, the horse's owners did pay the ransom, but only half of it. "They said they'd pay the rest when they get him back," said Tim.
"I want the rest of that money," said Jake. "We just leave the horse for them and it's ours, right?"
Lenny sighed with exasperation. "Look, you two. The plan all along was never to give that horse back."
Jake and Tim looked at each other.
"Then why'd we take him?" said Jake.
"Yeah, they paid the ransom like we told them to. Or at least some of it," said Tim. "Don't we have to give the horse back now?"
Lenny scoffed at him. "You're not thinking. If we show up with that stolen horse, that's proof we stole him. That's the last thing we want to do."
Tim frowned. "How they gonna know it's the same horse? They all look alike to me. And he's way out of state now."
Lenny just closed his eyes and shook his head. "That one has got some odd markings. He'd be easy to identify. And he's probably got a microchip, too."
"Microchip?"
"Yeah, like a dog. For identification. Look," Lenny said, his frustration rising, "you're gonna have to listen to me on this one. It ain't the first time I've done this."
"Yeah, but I want the rest of that money, too," said Tim. "Can't we leave him somewhere and let them find him? We’ll still get paid."
"How? Where?" demanded Lenny. "We can't just leave him out on the road. If something happens to him, they're not going to pay."
"Okay," said Tim, trying to think. "So we leave him at another show, or at a racetrack or something."
"You can't just take a horse to a show and put it in a stall, you idiot," said Lenny. "Got to have proof of ownership, health records, entry fees, all that. And there's an APB out for this one."
"He's right," said Jake. "We have to take the money we got, which still isn't bad, and get rid of this horse."
"Maybe I should take him into the woods and shoot him," said Tim, glancing at the other two.
"Nah, you don't have to do that. There's a better way."
"Yeah? What is it?" asked Jake.
"I take horses to auction all the time," Lenny said. "Sell them for meat. I get money out of them and they go on a truck to Mexico, where they disappear for good."
The other two nodded. "So, more money on top of the ransom we got?" asked Jake.
"Works for me," said Tim.
Lenny grinned. "It sure does work. Heck, half the time I don't even have to steal them. I get them cheap. Sometimes for free."
Tim frowned. "How?"
"Plenty of folks run into trouble and can't keep their horses. They don't want to sell them at some auction. But they'll sure give 'em away when you say you've got a ten-year-old daughter who would love him and feed him and brush him out in the backyard."
"Huh," said Tim.
"Works every time," said Lenny. "People are fools for horses."
"What do you mean, he never got on the truck to Mexico?"
Sitting in a small local diner, Jake set down his coffee cup. He stared hard at his cousin Lenny, who stood over them with a manila envelope and a piece of paper.
Tim just went on eating his waffles. "Didn't the slaughterhouse buy that horse?" he asked, his mouth full.
"No," said Lenny, dropping down into a chair. "My idiot friend who works there let the horse get sold to a regular buyer. Not the killer buyer."
"Is that the money?" asked Tim, nodding at the envelope.
"Yeah. And they paid a lot. Way more than killer price."
"It must be the owners," said Jake, getting worried now. "Who else would pay extra for him? Did they track him down somehow?"
"No, it wasn't the owners. It was somebody local," said Lenny, holding up the piece of paper. "Somebody named Ross Goodnight, out in Galloway."
"Aw, jeez, Lenny," said Jake. "We'll have to go there and steal him back. Can't let anyone find him. They could trace him to us."
"Shut it, Jake. I already drove by the place. That's why I'm late for breakfast. There are trucks and trailers parked there for some carriage company. If that's what they bought him for, we'll be able to find him pretty fast. All we have to do is look up the name."
"Wouldn't be hard to take care of him out on the street," said Tim. "Accidents happen."
Lenny looked at him. "You're smarter than I thought. But it won't be us who takes care of him. I've got an idea about that, too."
"That's him, all right," said Jake, looking at the photo. Then he handed the cell phone back to his sister, Dina. "You did good."
Dina beamed a bright smile at Jake. "Yeah, that driver woman didn't suspect a thing. Me and Tim got right up to the horse."
“You did good work,” Jake said.
"We sure did," said Dina, looking up at her husband, Tim. "Nobody would worry about a nice young couple like us."
"Right," said Tim. "And the sooner that horse disappears, the better."
"Hey, we tried," said Tim defensively. "Dina and me did our best. But the horse wouldn't take the bait, remember? He dropped it."
"Yeah, he sure did," snarled Jake.
"Then that old man got in the way of my hot-wiring the truck," Tim went on. "That woulda been perfect. We woulda had the stolen horse back, plus another one to sell for meat price."
"Yeah, but that didn't work, either, did it?" Jake paced up and down inside the double-wide trailer. "And the night we followed them to their barn, they stopped at the sheriff's outpost first. No luck."
"So, we go to that barn when they're not around," said Tim, shrugging. "This time, if that horse doesn't get on the truck to Mexico, we take him out in the woods and shoot him."
"Yeah," said Jake, nodding. "We already got some money out of him. It wasn't a total loss."
"We can go out there late, like we did at the fairgrounds," said Tim. "Dina and her friend, Lisa, will help. Lisa’s got the hots for you," he told Jake. “She’d do anything you asked her to do.”
Jake began to smile. "Yeah, she sure would. That gives me an idea. Let me get hold of Lenny and tell him to get his horse trailer ready."
20
"But nothing they did worked," said Mae. "Silver is still alive and well. And when they showed up at the farm last night … was it really just last night? … the first thing they did was push Dina out there."
"They did," said Sheriff Josephson. "They told her nobody would shoot a woman and that she was small enough not to be seen so easily."
Mae just shook her head. "That's awful. But the real question I have is why did Lisa try to shoot Silver? A dead horse would have implicated them as much as a live one. He could still be identified by his unusual markings, never mind his microchip."
"He could," agreed Deputy Blackwood. "She actually did it because she thought she would be pleasing Jake Crickson, saving him by getting rid of the horse. But she didn't think about what you just said."
"And now she'll most likely end up in prison," said Mae. "It's always such a waste, isn't it?"
“The one named Lenny took off when the shooting started and ran through the fields. We picked him up after his pals told us his name,” the sheriff said. “Real good friends, aren’t they? Only took a few minutes of questioning for them to rat out their buddy.”
Mae looked at S
heriff Josephson. "I'm still very curious as to what it was they put in that piece of apple. Silver was wise enough to drop it after getting just a taste, but those pigeons weren't so lucky. Did you get the lab results back yet? Though I know it's only been two weeks and those tests can take a long time."
Josephson nodded. "Usually, yes, but we were able to put a rush on this given the circumstances. It happened right out in a crowded area and other people could have been affected. You never know what a small child might try to pick up and eat."
"That's what I was thinking, too," said Mae.
"So anyway, yes, we did get the toxicology on that piece of apple." Deputy Blackwood pulled up another screen on his computer. "The lab wrote, and I quote, 'There were enough street drugs in that sample to kill a horse.' And they weren't kidding."
Mae closed her eyes.
"I read the whole report," Blackwood went on. "It looked like these people just threw in everything but the kitchen sink in trying to poison that animal. It's a good thing he didn't actually eat it."
Ross glanced up at the detective. "Would take a lot to get a horse to eat something that tasted that bad. Horses love to eat, but only things they like."
"Some of my co-workers are already very interested in how these crooks came by that collection of drugs in the first place, " said Sheriff Josephson. "They'll get multiple charges just from that incident alone. Endangering the public, cruelty to animals . . . " He shook his head. "The formal list will be nice and long."
"They weren't so brave when they had to face people," said Ross, "and not animals who couldn't fight back. Cowards of the worst sort."
Mae nodded in agreement. "They always are."
"You should know, Mrs. Monahan," said Josephson, "that your courage in sticking with this, as well as that of Mr. Goodnight and Mr. Monroe and your sons Brandon and Andrew, led directly to the breakup of a horse-slaughter fraud ring that has been operating out of central Ohio for a long time. Probably for years. "
Mae just nodded somberly. "I'm glad for that. And more grateful than I can say for the help of the people you just named. I'm also very sorry for all those who lost their horses to it . . . and for what the horses themselves went through."
They were all silent for a moment. "When the story hits the news media," said Sheriff Josephson, "I'll be sure to have the reporters mention that no one should ever give a horse away, or sell it cheap, to someone they don't know very, very well. "
"And I'll tell them to state that horses should be microchipped whether they go to shows or not," added Deputy Blackwood. "Some people may not realize you can chip a horse the same way you chip your cat or dog. This story is exactly the reason why."
Ross just nodded. "I don't guess there's any word on that bait pony they had in the trailer, is there?"
Mae smiled. "Right now he's enjoying a nice stall, an oversized blanket, and lots and lots of hay back at Ross's barn."
"Actually, we think we have a lead," said Blackwood. "The Sullivan County sheriff had an old report of three horses disappearing from a small pasture last summer. One of them fit the description of the one you found in that trailer, right down to an old scar on his right hind foot."
"The thieves probably sold the other two and kept the pony for bait," said Ross.
"We think so. But it looks like this one will be going home. He was very lucky you found him when you did."
Mae took a deep breath and looked directly at Sheriff Josephson, gathering the nerve to ask the question she had been dreading. "Since my horse turned out to be stolen property, too, I know you've been looking for his rightful owners as well. Did you find them?"
"Yes, Mrs. Monahan," he said quietly. "We did find them. A Mr. and Mrs. Howard and Maria Holland, of Nashville."
"I see," she answered, her voice low. "Good. That's good. I know they'll be very glad to get their wonderful horse back."
"You were right," Blackwood said. "That is a show horse. He actually came out of a big place down there in Tennessee called Volunteer Stables."
"I've heard of the place," Mae’s throat was tight with sadness. "Named for the Volunteer State. Well, just let me know when they want him. I'll make sure he's ready to travel."
Josephson smiled and held up one hand. "They said they’ll not be able to send transport right away. They might want to wait until the spring, due to winter weather. They are quite satisfied that the horse is being well cared for and you can go ahead and keep working him if you want to."
"And they'll settle up with you on the board bill later on," finished Blackwood.
"All right. Thank you for telling me." With that, she, Ross, and her sons stood up and prepared to leave.
Sheriff Josephson stood up and opened the office door. "There are a lot of horse owners out there who will sleep better tonight, Mrs. Monahan, because you followed your instincts and had your vet read him for a microchip. And then all of you were ready for the crooks when they came looking for him."
"We always advise folks to call us and not try to do their own law enforcement," warned Blackwood. "But I think I can say that we're glad it worked out the way it did."
Mae glanced at Ross and smiled. "Even when we run into these awful people, as we sometimes do in the course of dealing with the public, it's always worth it in the end to try and stop them. Always."
Together, Mae and Ross walked down the hallway toward the exit, with the two young men following them. "I know he has to go back home," she said, her heart full of sadness. "But I'm sure going to miss him."
Ross said, "It won't be right away. Don't know if that makes it easier or not."
She shrugged. "I guess it might give me a little more time to get used to the idea that he'll be leaving.”
"Could have been a lot worse for him."
"It sure would have been worse if you hadn't brought him home from that auction. A lot of us are very glad that you did."
"All's well that ends well," he said.
"Yes, indeed. Silver is going back to a very good home and I've still got four other wonderful carriage horses. I'm grateful for that."
As Ross pushed the door open for her, Mae smiled bravely at him.
And maybe, someday, I'll have a Saddlebred again.
At last it was Christmas Eve, and a prettier winter afternoon Mae had never seen. With only Silver and the sleigh in the trailer, she and Ross pulled into the parking lot well before sunset since the Holiday Fair was closing a little early that night.
As she backed Silver out of the trailer, a small car pulled up near them in the parking lot. Instantly Mae was on guard, but then she grinned and walked over to the vehicle, leading Silver along with her.
Brandon, Andrew, and Chloe were in the car.
Mae beamed at them. “So glad you could make it. The work will be easy today. And right now I have to get ready for it. Come on over and you can help us."
Andrew did exactly that, helping Ross to roll the dark-green antique sleigh out of the trailer while Chloe held the horse and Mae and Brandon got him harnessed.
"So, Mom, you're not staying too late tonight?" asked Brandon, as they all worked together to get Silver ready and hooked to the wheeled sleigh.
"Not tonight," said Mae. "Most people will have their own parties and gatherings and want to get home to be with family."
"Carriage rides only go until sunset tonight," said Ross.
"Only until sunset? That's barely a couple of hours from now," said Brandon. "Hardly seems worth coming out here just for that."
"I think it will be worth it," said Mae, smiling. "We've got a special assignment right at sunset."
"Oh, what is it?" said Chloe with a squeak of delight. "Some VIPs coming out for a ride?"
"Pretty much," said Mae. "You'll see."
Mae got into the front seat of the sleigh and took up the reins while Brandon and Chloe rode in the back and pretended to wave to the people on the side streets as though they were some kind of celebrities.
Ross and Andrew fol
lowed along on foot through the cold, clear afternoon, and Mae could see them talking – or sort of talking – to each other.
They are two of the quietest men I've ever known. I think they'll be great friends.
For the next couple of hours, Mae and Silver took a steady stream of customers for "sleigh rides" through the decorated side streets of the quiet adjoining neighborhood. Yet the lines for the carriages, just Mae and two others from other companies, were shorter than on the earlier days. It seemed that most of the people were only at the fair for last-minute gifts or to let their kids see Santa one more time.
As the day drew to a close, the light began to turn a soft shade of pale gold. A sense of magic seemed to descend, the magic that always came on the night before Christmas.
Mae brought Silver to a halt at the pick-up stand and said her farewells to her passengers. "Good night, and Merry Christmas," she called. "Thanks for riding with us."
As the couple waved goodbye, Brandon brought Silver a bucket of water and Ross walked over to Mae. "You doing any more rides or was that the last one?" he asked.
"There’s just one more. Let Silver rest for just a minute while he can. I want him to put on a show for the crowd tonight."
Ross nodded to her, and stepped back. "As long as it's the good kind of show."
"Oh, I think it will be."
It will have to be. Silver's owners could take him back at any time. This could well be the last time I drive this horse in front of anyone. All I can do is make it something the crowds won't soon forget.
Just then, one of the crew running the fair walked quickly over to Mae. "Are you ready, Mrs. Monahan? The street's been cleared and your passenger is waiting for you."
She grinned back at him. "You bet I am," she answered, and guided Silver away from the stand. As the horse walked, Mae reached down to the floor of the sleigh and picked up her four-foot driving whip. She always had one with her just in case a balky horse ever needed a little encouragement while out in city traffic.
Tonight, though, was going to be different.