That girl was so brazen, riding Kathy’s pony as if he belonged to her. What right did she have? He could see the pony’s whiteness like a pale shadow as it came near. So beautiful. In fact, more beautiful than he remembered, far more beautiful. Was this Kathy’s Thunder, or had he made a mistake?
The pony stopped abruptly. It was looking toward him. It must have smelled him or seen him. He had to hold still. Completely, totally still.
Suddenly, the pair turned and started toward the forest.
He’d been lucky this time, but who would’ve thought they’d come back the same way so quickly?
He could hardly see Thunder’s paleness any more. Tears filled his eyes as the pony disappeared into the darkness. He was being silly and far too emotional! He would see the pony again. In one night, or two at the most, he would be back.
Kathy was going to be so surprised and overjoyed to have her Thunder home once again. This would be the final and greatest surprise of all.
Silver Sky’s hooves sounded like a heartbeat as he trod along the trail, making the forest seem alive. The trees that lined the property edge grew close together, and it was pitch black beneath their canopy. Joanna wasn’t worried though. Robbie, Jason, and her dad had widened the trail, cleared it out so that two ponies could walk beside one other. No branches would sweep her from the saddle.
She inhaled the sharp scent of pine, glad that she hadn’t gone straight home. What would she do there? Watch TV? Read? Boring! Or at least boring by comparison to riding a beautiful white pony along a forest trail at night. Especially when that pony was Silver Sky. She bent forward to stroke his neck. “You’re so awesome, Sky. And I’m so lucky! How many horse crazy girls get to live on a pony farm?”
They rounded a bend in the trail, and Joanna’s eyes tracked the lights through the trees to her right – the neighbour’s house on the property that backed their farm. She didn’t know Mr. Thomas, the man who lived there, very well.
His porch light was on and was so bright that the house seemed even closer than usual to the fence dividing their properties. Joanna pulled Silver Sky to a halt. She hadn’t heard people talk about Mr. Thomas for a long time, but she heard stories when she was young. Apparently, he’d once raised racehorses on this land, but then had a run of bad luck and the bank sold them all to pay his debts. Everyone said he was lucky to not lose his land too. In Joanna’s mind, it was almost too bad he hadn’t, especially with Robbie and her dad keeping their farm so nice. Mr. Thomas’s land could look just as good, but instead, over the years, she’d watched the buildings slowly collapse with neglect. The last time she’d looked, only the house and one dilapidated shed still stood. That was it. Sad after what the farm must have once been.
She heard a thump and Silver Sky’s ears whipped toward Mr. Thomas’s house. A hushed neigh floated toward them.
Joanna tensed. Mr. Thomas didn’t have any horses that she knew of.
Silver Sky snorted and tossed his head, but there was no response. Had the soft neigh been a trick of the forest, bending a whinny from the fillies so it seemed to come from another direction?
Really, a horse at Mr. Thomas’s place seemed ridiculous. Where would he keep it?
Silver Sky bobbed his head, ready to continue. “Walk on,” murmured Joanna.
There was only one place to stable a horse on the property – in the rickety old shed that wasn’t remotely suitable for a horse.
Should she tell someone what she’d heard?
It probably wouldn’t do any good. She could already imagine her dad saying that Mr. Thomas owned horses long before she was even born, and certainly knew how to care for them. Even worse, Robbie would laugh at her. And besides, there was nothing wrong with Mr. Thomas having a horse.
Unless the horse wasn’t safe in the shed.
There was one thing she could do. She could find out what the whinny meant. Tonight. If she had proof a horse was in an unsafe situation, they’d listen to her.
“Joanna!”
“I’m here!”
Her dad’s silhouette was dark against the lights of the barn as he walked toward the gate. “How were the fillies? I was getting worried.”
“They’re fine. I just took the long way home, through the woods.”
“Next time let me know first, okay? I thought something happened.” Her dad reached the gate and opened it so Joanna and Silver Sky could ride through.
“I will,” said Joanna.
“How was Sky?”
“Perfect.” She slid from the pony’s saddle when they reached the front of the barn. “Thanks for letting me ride him, Dad. He’s awesome.”
Her dad smiled and ruffled her hair. “Not a problem, kiddo.”
Tango, I hear you. Yes, it is I, Angelica. I feel your anxiety. Your nervousness. Someone you do not know has just stepped inside your stall.
My dear, I am sorry I cannot come this instant. All my energy is being used in trying to help Erin and Talent, as they face Erin’s kidnappers. I cannot abandon them now.
You say the man does not seem unkind. He speaks to you softly. He strokes your forehead, your neck, your back, with a gentle hand? You say you are feeling more comfortable with him now?
Tango, I do not wish to destroy your peace, but ruthless acts can still be done with a soft hand and kind words. As soon as I am able, I will come. Be wary of this stranger until you are sure of his intent.
Until then, my dear, be careful.
At last, his beautiful Dancer was standing before him. The man brushed tears from his cheeks. How he’d dreamed of this day. How he’d ached for this moment when he’d be reunited with his beloved horse. Now he would bring Dancer home where he belonged.
The old man reached up and took the horse’s face between his trembling hands. “I’m sorry I took so long to come for you,” he whispered.
Dancer pulled away and cast his gaze nervously about. He didn’t remember his former owner. But it didn’t matter. He would, given time. After all, they hadn’t been apart for that long. Mere weeks. Or had it been months? He wasn’t sure now.
The man slipped the bit into the horse’s mouth and the headstall on his noble head. The leather was stiff – that must be why the bridle seemed too small. With throbbing fingers, he forced the leather to bend enough to unbuckle, then rebuckled the headstall so it was bigger. That was better. Dancer looked more comfortable now.
The man undid the catch on the stall and led the stallion out, then down the barn aisle. He’d come in through an open window, but with the horse there seemed only two ways out of the barn – massive double doors on either end of the barn aisle. He would use the double door closest to the parking lot and road, but even then their getaway would have to be quick if they didn’t want to be seen.
At the big double doors, the man undid the latch and pushed with both hands.
Alarms blasted around them! Dancer reared up, then jumped back, his eyes wild.
“Steady, boy. Steady.” The man followed the horse as he skittered backward, deeper into the barn.
The grooms would be there in a minute, maybe two at the most. He didn’t have time to panic. Other than leave Dancer behind, there was only one thing he could do, and he had to keep his head about him if he was going to succeed.
The man led the horse back to his stall at a trot. As he suspected, the stallion calmed immediately. He felt safe in his stall. Using the upturned water bucket, the man slid onto the shiny bare back.
“Let’s go!” He dug his heels into the horse’s side.
Dancer leapt forward as if he were coming out of a starting gate. The man managed to turn him just before he ran into the wash stall across the wide aisle, and then they were galloping toward the doors he’d already opened.
Within moments they were outside, racing down the driveway and onto the road – and not a single soul in sight to witness their escape, despite the alarm. They were all too slow. Even Graham. Ha!
As they galloped around a corner in the road, the al
arm stopped. Distant shouts ricocheted through the air. But the grooms were far, far too late. No one had seen him, and the man was sure the sound of the alarm and subsequent shouting had covered the sound of Dancer’s hoof beats on the asphalt. And on the road, they would leave no tracks. The grooms wouldn’t know where to start looking for the horse.
If only Graham was the one who found the stall empty. Then it would be up to him to tell Williams that Dancer was gone. That would be perfect. He’d give almost anything to see Williams’ face at that moment: the dismay, the fear of being found out.
But he needed to stop fixating on Graham and Williams. Not only was petty revenge beneath him, but also it had nothing to do with why he’d done this. He’d taken back the magnificent Thoroughbred stallion because Dancer was rightfully his. And this time, he would never let him go. It was that simple.
The night was cold and clear. Stars gleamed overhead as Joanna lowered herself carefully out her first story window. She landed among her mom’s planted daisies, poppies, and marigolds with a gentle thump.
“Noah,” she whispered, hunkering down beneath her window. She had to let the dog know she was there before she started wandering about. Otherwise, he might bark before recognizing her, and wake up her parents. “Noah. Here boy.”
Snuffling in the dark. It was he. Or at least she hoped so!
“Noah?”
There was no light from the house behind her – she hadn’t wanted to risk leaving her bedroom light on – and the black lab was invisible in the night.
Something warm and wet touched her hand. He’d licked her!
Silently, she scratched the old dog behind his ears. He wasn’t much use as a guard dog any more, thank goodness.
“You stay home and guard the house, Noah.” She rose to her feet. “Now, stay. Stay.”
Slowly she backed away. The dog whined.
“Stay.”
Joanna heard him groan and smiled. He must have lain down. Ever since he was a puppy, he’d always groaned whenever he plopped to the ground.
“Good boy. Now stay,” she added, even though she knew he wouldn’t need the reminder. He’d probably still be lying there when she got back, hours from now. She turned and hurried into the night.
The barn was closed tight. Joanna slipped in through a side door and grabbed a flashlight that was kept there for emergencies. A chorus of whinnies greeted her, and she smiled. Surely, they didn’t all think it was breakfast time. It was amazing how much ponies focused on their stomachs.
“Ravie,” she said in a singsong voice as she approached her pony’s stall. His whinny was deep for a small pony. Across the barn aisle, Silver Sky whinnied to her as well.
“Not tonight, Sky. Sorry.” In the stall beside Raven’s, Silver Belle greeted her as well. Joanna stopped to pat the mare on her neck. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Belle.”
Her foal, Silver Chime, leapt up from her soft straw bed. Joanna laughed when the filly thrust her head over the stall door to be petted. She was such a beauty, and one day would be a champion, just like the other ponies raised on their farm. What she liked best about this one though, was her personality. In fact, this filly was a lot like her sire, Silver Sky – energetic and athletic, with a quirky sense of humour. Joanna always wanted to call the filly Crime instead of Chime, because she was constantly pestering the other foals, trying to get them to chase her.
A second whinny from Raven brought her back to the task at hand.
“Hey, Ravie. Are you ready for a ride?”
The pony pawed at the stall door. He seemed overjoyed that tonight she’d chosen him for her midnight ride. Joanna grimaced. For weeks, he’d watched her take Silver Sky, no doubt feeling rejected and abandoned as they rode away.
She opened the stall door and slipped the bridle on his head, laughing in astonishment when he opened his mouth for the bit, then clamping her lips shut. Poor Raven. He wanted so badly to please her.
How could she be so cruel, always choosing Silver Sky over him?
He was almost home, and there had been no pursuit. Dancer was as fast as ever. His strides swallowed the ground in giant leaps and his hoof beats were loud on the asphalt. Good thing there was no one to hear their passing this time of night. Only sleepy farmhouses, horses and cows already settled down for the night in barn and field, and foxes thinking of ways to raid henhouses. This late, the road was deserted and perfectly safe to gallop on, although a little hard on the horse’s legs. Maybe he should slow Dancer down.
A blast of lights! Directly in front of them! Bearing down on them!
A car!
The old man jerked the reins and Dancer rocketed to the side of the road. The car careened by with a squeal of brakes. He tried to hear what happened to it, but the thunder of Dancer’s hooves was too loud. The stallion was running flat out now, as if he were in a race.
The man sawed on the reins. Somehow, he had to bring the big horse under control! Pain stabbed through his hands, elbows, and shoulders, making him gasp. But even worse was the pain he knew he was causing Dancer and his tender mouth. And yet he couldn’t slack off on the reins. Anything could happen then. A slip on the road that could easily break a horse’s leg, or another car could come around the corner. Without guidance, the horse might run off the road and into a fence in the night. And pulling on the reins kept the man steadier on the horse’s back. He knew he couldn’t fall off. If he did, Dancer would be in far greater danger, galloping with the leather slapping his front legs, driving him on to further panic.
At long last the horse slowed to a canter, then a trot. Soon afterward, he was walking. Finally, stopped, he stood with head down, breathing heavily.
The man let him stand for a moment and then, taking up the reins in his throbbing fingers, he turned the horse around and looked back down the road. He couldn’t see any headlights – but would he, after galloping around the corner?
In their headlong run, they’d also passed the driveway to his house. He asked Dancer to walk back the way they’d come and, before turning him onto the dirt lane, looked down the road. No sign of the car. Good. It mustn’t have stopped. The driver must be okay, probably just feeling lucky that he or she had missed the horse.
He directed Dancer down the driveway. Finally, they were home, all of them but Thunder. There was still time for that. For now, he was tired, more tired than he ever remembered being, and there was still so much to do to settle Dancer into his stall. Surely Kathy would help. She was such a good girl. Even after he’d been such a disappointment to her.
Raven had a spring in his step as they rode to the gate. Within moments Joanna had opened it, reined him through, and closed it behind them. The small pony was an expert at the gate manoeuvre because he’d done it so many times.
Joanna asked him to trot, then turned him toward the trail going through the woods. Soon she had to slow him to a walk. Out in the open, the starlight had been barely strong enough for Joanna to see where they were going, but beneath the branches she was blind.
They walked and walked and walked, and still Joanna didn’t see the lights through the trees that would signify Mr. Thomas’s house. Strange. She’d expected to see them minutes ago. Maybe he’d turned off all of his house lights.
They rounded another bend in the trail and there they were, not the bright porch lights this time, but one barely illuminated distant window glowing faintly through the trees. She pulled Raven to a halt. The pony snorted softly and bobbed his head.
“Shhh, Ravie,” Joanna whispered. She slid from the pony’s back, and leaned on his dark shoulder. The heat from his body made her feel safe and protected. She could be on his back in a jiffy if anything threatened. But nothing did. The woods seemed empty.
She led the black to the side of the trail and wrapped his rein around a branch, then leaned forward and gave him a long hug. How she wished she could take him with her, but he couldn’t go through the fence between the two properties.
She took the bag of oats
she’d kept balanced on his withers as she rode and dumped the grain on the ground. Immediately, Raven dove into the pile. Picking up every last morsel should keep him occupied long enough for her to make her way through the narrow strip of trees, over the fence, and across Mr. Thomas’s pasture to check the dilapidated shed. She had ten minutes, maybe more, before he began to wonder and possibly neigh for her.
She took her flashlight from her pocket and turned it on. The beam was weak, but that was okay. With the flashlight battery low, the light wasn’t too bright, and yet she could still see her way through the trees. She wouldn’t need it once she reached Mr. Thomas’s overgrown pasture.
Joanna gave Raven another hug, then with her heart doing a quick pit-a-pat, she entered the forest.
The house looked the same as when he left. Kathy must still be asleep. Maybe he shouldn’t wake her to come help him. Surely he could manage on his own?
But if he didn’t get her up, in the morning she might be upset at him for not telling her about Dancer right away. She was going to be so thrilled to see the big stallion again – or at least he hoped she would be. She hadn’t been as excited about the others as he’d expected. He still hadn’t figured out why, but guessed it had something to do with Thunder still being gone. Kathy didn’t know he was planning on returning her pony to her and having the others around could be a painful reminder of him.
When he flipped on the light in the shed, he saw Wings and Rocket Gal in the stable, just as he’d left them. Rocket Gal whinnied loudly when she saw him, her voice plaintive and irritated. Surely she couldn’t be hungry again. That mare certainly could eat.
He replaced Dancer’s bridle with a halter and lead rope, backed him into the corner, and tied him. If only the stable was larger. With three horses inside, it was almost filled to bursting. But he was sure he had stabled these three and more in this building before. It couldn’t have shrunk.
Silver Dream Page 2