Joanna was disappointed, though she too could see there were no other options. “All at once? Or should we take turns?”
“I will go first. That way, if anyone sees me, the rest of you will know to escape.”
“No, let me go first,” said David.
“Wait. What do we do if we see Mr. Thomas?” asked Joanna.
“You get me to talk to him,” Cally said. “Even if he thinks I’m my mom, he’ll still listen to me.”
Angelica nodded. “Okay. I will run across.” She held up her hand to stop David from speaking. “And then when I am safely over, you will all follow me at once. When we are in the shadows, we will search for side entrances that are not as well lit.”
“Okay,” Joanna and Cally said as one.
David looked down at the ground, his jaw clenched.
“David, it makes sense for me to go first. You know why.”
When David nodded, Angelica smiled briefly and slipped through the fence. She darted across the bright ground like a golden vision and moments later disappeared into the shadows between the two closest barns.
David got up to follow her, but stopped when Joanna touched his arm.
“Why does it make sense for her to go first?” If David knew something about the mysterious Angelica, Joanna thought it only fair he tell them.
“She’s magic,” David said, surprised. “Didn’t you know?”
“What?” Again, Cally and Joanna spoke at the same time.
“She has powers. She can heal, and glow, and do all sorts of things. You mean you really didn’t know?”
“I didn’t.” Joanna said, then noticed that Cally was quiet. “You knew?”
“She must’ve done the glowing thing to Grandpa. I thought she had a flare or something like that, but I wasn’t sure. Everything was suddenly so bright that I covered my eyes. I didn’t believe Grandpa when he told me she burst into light, especially after he seemed to forget about her.”
“Did her glowing hurt him?” Joanna asked David.
“No. She only does it to startle people who are giving her trouble. She doesn’t hurt anyone. I don’t think she’s allowed.”
“Not allowed? If she’s magic, who stops her?” Suspicion suddenly clouded Joanna’s mind. “Hey, how do you know her anyway?”
“We don’t have time to get into it now. Short version is that she saved my life when I was a kid, and I trust her completely. Now come on. She’s waiting.” He slipped through the fence boards, and waited for Joanna and Cally to follow.
“Go,” he whispered when they were ready. They ran. One second, two seconds, three seconds, four, five, six, seven, eight, and then they were inside the blessed shadows. Joanna collapsed against the barn wall and looked back. There was no movement from the yard. No one had seen them.
So why was the hair on the back of her neck prickling, as if she were being watched?
Cally and David moved off, deeper into the shadows, but Joanna stayed put, waiting. She was probably being silly.
Then a dark form trotted into view. A moment later, a second joined it. German Shepherd dogs. They both sniffed at the ground, then the darker one walked stiffly toward Joanna hidden in the shadows. The black and tan dog followed it, growling softly. Mr. Williams had found a new way to protect his horses. Guard dogs. She could see the hair rising on their backs as they drew near.
She needed to signal her companions – and yet if she said anything, the dogs would bark, alerting Mr. Williams and his hired help. Or they would attack!
“Come to me, my beauties.”
The dogs stopped short, their heads raised. Joanna was as surprised as the dogs. How had Angelica gotten back so quickly? She’d been halfway down the aisle between the two barns just moments ago. More of her magic?
The teenager walked toward the dogs, not even pausing when she reached the light. She held her hand out to the two beasts, murmuring endearments.
The dark lead dog barked, and Angelica stopped, knelt down.
And miraculously, the dog dropped to his belly and crawled toward her. The black and tan dog followed the first, whining now instead of growling. Angelica laughed, her voice musical, as she hugged the two dogs. “My friends. It is so nice to meet you.” She looked back at Joanna. “Come meet Bandit and Oliver.”
Joanna edged toward the two dogs, but stopped short when Angelica suddenly jumped to her feet.
“So that is why,” she said, looking at Joanna with wild amber eyes. “I must go. Silver Sky… someone has found him in the woods… Mr. Thomas…” She turned to the dogs. “Bandit, Oliver, be good to my friends.” A sudden flash of light made Joanna gasp and fling her arm across her eyes. One of the dogs yelped.
Then the light vanished. Joanna slowly lowered her arm. Angelica was gone – and the two massive German Shepherds who’d been fawning at her feet were now staring at Joanna. She watched in horror as the fur on Bandit’s back rose up. Oliver’s lips curled and a snarl slid from his throat.
Joanna took an automatic step backward, but when both dogs lowered their heads and took two steps toward her, she stopped. They could run a lot faster than she could, and would if she tried to get away.
But was she any better off staring them down?
The fillies led him straight to the white pony. This was Kathy’s Thunder? The pony looked bigger than he remembered. But it had to be him.
He approached Thunder with outstretched hand and soft murmurs. The pony edged away from him, nervous, but didn’t run.
The man moved closer. That’s when he noticed Thunder was tied to a tree. He hadn’t run because he couldn’t.
With his heart beating wildly, the man turned a full circle, searching the dark forest, but the night was too intense. The moon shadows too black. Anyone could be there, even feet away, and he wouldn’t know. He could hardly see even the darker young ponies, unless they moved. How was he to see a human who might be trying to hide?
He froze. Impossible!
There was a human, glowing faintly as she walked toward him and the herd of ponies. The person stepped slowly, gracefully, down the trail he’d walked just moments ago. Closer. Closer.
Light sparked along the young ponies’ mane like fireflies as the person came near. With his mouth open in awe he glanced back at Thunder. Light was dancing over the pony’s mane and back, along his fine hair, shimmering in his tail. Magic!
He suddenly remembered the girl he’d seen in the shed, the one who wasn’t really human. So she hadn’t been a dream. He was never sure any more. Either that, or this was a dream too.
That made more sense.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
The girl didn’t answer. Just moved closer.
The sounds of the forest rose around him: birds twittering, frogs croaking, boughs sighing. A breeze caressed his face and he heard a sound like a far off flute, yet not a flute. The wind maybe, or the moon and stars singing to him from above.
The strange girl stopped yards away.
“The pony you think of as Thunder has agreed to carry you,” she said, her voice far more melodious than all the sounds combined. “Please, mount.”
The man backed until he could feel the pony’s solid side behind him – and this time Thunder didn’t shy away. This had to be a dream for sure. And if it was just a dream, he could afford to play along.
When he was secure on the pony’s back, the girl walked into the forest. “Come.” The word wisped behind her, and one by one the young ponies stepped after her. Last of all, Thunder followed. How had the pony been untied?
But it didn’t matter. It was just a dream, and in dreams anything could happen.
Bandit took another stiff-legged step toward her, and another.
“Joanna, run. There’s a door here.” David’s voice.
But he was too far away. She knew that.
There was only one thing to do. Use the same trick Angelica had. Joanna stepped toward Bandit and Oliver, her hand out. “Good boys,” she murmured. “I’
m nice too, just like Angelica. I’m not going to hurt you. And you won’t hurt me, right?”
Bandit stopped and cocked his head to the side. Oliver came up alongside him, still growling. Barked once, twice.
“Shhh, Oliver. Now sit.”
Both dogs sat. Joanna’s eyes opened wide. They’d listened to her. Cautiously, she walked toward them, stopping at the edge of darkness. Angelica had gone into the light to greet the dogs and nothing had happened, but Joanna didn’t feel so confident.
Bandit looked to his right and whined. Oliver stood, barked again. And this time Joanna didn’t tell him to be quiet. This time she felt frozen to the spot, too frightened to run. Too frightened to move.
Mr. Williams was striding toward the dogs from the direction of his house, and from across the yard, five grooms came from the employees’ quarters. They were all strong looking men. Joanna, Cally, and David didn’t stand a chance.
Joanna almost shrieked when she felt a hand on her arm. “I have an idea,” David whispered close to her ear. “I figure this might be the one time it’s good to look like this Graham guy.”
Gratefully, Joanna slipped behind him. The men still hadn’t seen them, but the dogs knew they were there. It wouldn’t take Mr. Williams long to send them after the intruders. He must know someone was hiding in the shadows. Why else would Oliver bark?
David pulled his baseball cap low over his eyes.
“Bandit! Oliver! Find them!”
The two dogs leapt toward them – and David stepped into the light. The dogs came to a sliding halt in front of him, and behind them the men stopped, Mr. Williams at the front of the mob looking momentarily speechless at the intruder’s audacity.
David stood with his hands in his pockets, looking from one to the next from under his hat brim.
“Who are you?” demanded Williams.
“Don’t you recognize me?” asked David. His voice was surly. Impatient. “You should.”
Mr. Williams stepped closer, peered into the shadows beneath the hat brim. “I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
“Not me,” said David. “But my dad. I look like him.”
“I don’t know your father.” Mr. Williams stepped back, and motioned for the grooms to grab David.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” David warned. “I have proof of what you did, Williams. I have documents. Dates. Dad gave them to me. He told me everything, including how rich you’d become.” He laughed, a cold, hard bark. “I figure it’s time to collect my share.”
“Who is your father?”
David swept his hat from his head. Though Joanna couldn’t see his face from behind him, she imagined him glaring at Mr. Williams with hard eyes. “I know you can see the resemblance. I’ve been mistaken for him before.”
“Graham.” The dread in Mr. Williams’ whisper carried the sound into the shadows like a shout. “I–”
“Don’t play games with me, Williams. I have proof. Not here of course, but somewhere safe. I know all about Thomas, and what you did to him.”
Joanna could see by the horror-struck look on Mr. Williams face, painfully illuminated in his own lights, that he was indeed guilty of drugging Mr. Thomas’s horses and causing him to go bankrupt.
“You want me to tell your boys about it?”
“No!”
“Should I phone the police, Mr. Williams?” asked the biggest groom.
“No. Let me think.”
“Of course he doesn’t,” said David. “If you did that, his little secret would be out.”
“And what secret is that?” asked the groom.
“Yeah,” said another.
“Shall I tell them? Or will you pay me?”
“I’ll pay,” said Mr. Williams quickly. “Come into the house.”
“No, I’ll wait here. Remember to bring me enough that I’ll want to keep my mouth shut, and keep in mind that I’ve had a good look around. I have an idea of what you’re worth.”
Mr. Williams turned to his grooms. “Keep him here until I get back.” Then he strode toward his house.
The group of grooms glared at David. “You stole Tango?” asked the biggest one. The house door slammed. Mr. Williams was inside.
David shook his head. “But I’m bringing him home,” he said in his normal voice. “And I have no interest in Williams’ tainted money either. He can keep it. All I want is for you to know what happened, how Williams got where he is. And I want you to let me go after I tell you.”
“We’re listening.”
And so David told them. Joanna felt tears come to her eyes as she listened to David’s story of how Graham and Mr. Williams conspired to ruin Cally’s grandfather, all in the name of greed. Cally sniffled beside her and the big groom’s sharp gaze leapt to the shadows.
“Who’s there? Come out now, or I’ll send the dogs in after you.”
Joanna grabbed Cally’s hand and the two of them walked into the light. “It won’t do you any good,” she said. “They like us.” As if to prove her words, Oliver came forward and licked Joanna’s hand. Bandit was right behind him, wagging his black tail.
“You’re the granddaughter?”
“No, I am,” said Cally.
“I’m sorry about your grandfather.”
“Thanks,” whispered Cally, scuffing the ground with her shoe.
“I heard rumours of how Mr. Williams got his fortune,” the big groom continued. “I always wondered.”
“Me too,” said a groom with bright red hair. “But I’m guessing you don’t really have proof, do you?”
David shook his head.
“The fact that Williams is so quick to pay you off is proof enough for me,” the big groom said.
Joanna glanced nervously toward the house. “We should go before he comes back.” When the big groom nodded, she added, “We’ll take you to Tango.” They walked toward the road, and the two grooms fell in beside them.
“I’m Casey, by the way,” said the big groom.
“I’m Josh,” said the groom with the red hair.
Joanna, Cally, and David introduced themselves.
“Thanks for believing us,” said Cally, when they reached the road.
For a few moments, the sound of their feet on the asphalt filled the silence, then Casey sighed. “I might as well tell you. There might not be proof of Williams ripping off your Grandfather, Cally, but I bet there’s proof Williams is still pulling the same trick on other stables.”
“What do you mean?” asked Cally.
“We’ve worked here longer than most of the grooms. Williams isn’t an easy man to work for, so there’s a lot of turnover with his employees. Josh stays because of Tango, and I stay because I grew up near here. I love this area and working with racehorses. Anyway, one night last month I couldn’t sleep, so I went out for a walk. Just when I got back I noticed this guy knocking on Williams' door, all secretive and quiet like. It seemed odd, but none of my business, so I just went back to bed. Then last week Williams went to a bankruptcy sale and bought a bunch of really nice horses for cheap.”
“I know it sounds innocent enough,” added Josh, “But when Casey told me about the guy visiting Williams, it made me think of another guy that I saw around the stable last year. Tango didn’t like him and tried to bite him, so I remembered him, even though he was only here for a couple hours. Anyway, when I described the guy to Casey, we realized we’d seen the same guy. Then we checked an old calendar and discovered that last year Williams went to another bankruptcy sale, shortly after the guy showed up then, too.”
“We asked Williams about it a couple of days ago,” continued Casey. “He told us the guy was a horse broker.”
“But he doesn’t act like any broker I’ve ever met, coming in at midnight like that,” Josh finished. “And both happened right before Williams bought horses at bankruptcy sales.”
“So you think Williams is still doing the same thing? Sending someone to work as a groom, and they sabotage the horse races until
the owner goes broke?” asked Joanna, horrified.
“I think so, especially after hearing your story,” Casey said.
“And after seeing Williams in such a hurry to give David money,” Josh added. “It just makes sense.”
“I’m so glad we told you,” Joanna said, aghast. “Too many people and horses have been hurt already.”
A whinny came from the darkness ahead and a huge smile appeared on Josh’s face. “I’d recognize my Tango anywhere,” he said, and picked up his pace.
“What’ll you do if Williams goes to jail?” asked Joanna, suddenly feeling terrible. Now Tango and the other horses might be sold. The grooms would probably be fired.
“I can always find work at another farm. I heard that big Saddlebred farm was hiring and that they’re good honest people,” Casey said.
“They are,” said Cally. “They’re friends with my Grandpa.”
“And I’ll go with Tango,” Josh said. “He’d never be happy unless I was with him, and his new owners would find that out soon enough. There you are, my beauty!” The red haired groom put one hand on each side of the big horse’s head, and Tango leaned forward to breathe heavily in his face.
Joanna laughed. Josh acted with Tango the way she did with Raven and Silver Sky.
“Thanks for everything, man,” Casey said, and shook hands with David, then moved on to shake Joanna and Cally’s hands. “And don’t worry. We’ll take care of Williams. We can give the police enough information that they can find all the proof they need.”
“Thanks,” said Joanna and Cally together.
“Let me know what happens,” said David. “Here, I’ll give you my cell number.” He pulled a pen from his pocket, but didn’t have any paper, so Casey wrote the number on his hand. Then the two grooms led Tango back toward Williams’ barns.
Joanna watched them go. Tango was going to be fine, but he may not live so close to her farm any more. In a way, it had been like living near a famous celebrity, and even though she’d never met him in person before last night, she’d be sad when he moved away. But he would be all right. Of that she had no doubt. Tango would be more pampered than she would ever be. She sighed and moved to Breeze’s side. “Can I ride back with you?” she asked Cally.
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