Mystic Tide (Horse Guardian)
Page 10
Erin rolled her eyes. “Believe me, I know what you mean.”
Her dad’s smile disappeared. “Are you sure you’re okay, Erin?”
She nodded. “I am.” And she was. That was the amazing thing. Facing her fear, confronting the kidnappers and watching them turn into gibbering idiots, had been just the medicine she needed to conquer her fear. “I’m just tired, that’s all,” she added.
“Here, let me help you mount.” He lifted her onto the big horse’s back.
“Do you want to ride too?”
“No, I can walk.” He tugged on Talent’s mane. When the gelding looked at him with a curious expression on his elegant face, Erin laughed.
“Don’t worry, Dad, I know how to direct him.”
“Even without a bridle?”
Erin touched Talent with her heels and the horse stepped obediently forward. “It’s not as hard as it seems,” she said, looking back. “If your horse knows leg aids, that is, which Tallie certainly does.”
She flashed her light into every nook and cranny as she rode. Luckily the sea cave was relatively straight and there weren’t many hidden spots. The water had left pools here and there and Erin found them the hardest to check. What if Angelica’s ledge hadn’t been high enough and the tide had drowned her? What if she found the beautiful, strange girl floating in one of the pools? She couldn’t bear it if Angelica died, especially if it happened while she was saving Erin. She just had to be all right!
All too soon, they were at the cave opening. The tide had receded somewhat and they walked out onto the rock beach and around the big boulder without getting any wetter. Then they began their long trek along the ocean. Erin was glad her dad wasn’t asking her any more questions. Her saying she was tired had apparently made him decide to wait to get the rest of the story.
The rocks beneath their feet turned to pebbles, the pebbles to sand, and then Erin could see the parking lot ahead of them, just behind the beach. Car lights, she assumed from police cars, and a small crowd of people were in the parking lot, waiting for them.
At the edge of the parking lot, the trio stopped. “You can wait here if you want, Erin. I’ll tell them I’m taking you to the hospital, and then home for some rest. They’ll want to talk to you tomorrow though, okay?”
Erin was relieved. She didn’t feel up to telling the story tonight. Not when she didn’t know how it would end. “Okay.” When her dad strode away, Erin leaned forward to rest across Talent’s withers. Slowly, she stroked his neck. “Where is she, Tallie?” she whispered. “How can we find her?”
Erin.
Talent raised his head and Erin sat bolt upright. “Angelica?” she said, too loud. She looked toward the group of men and women near the cars. Two people glanced her way, and then hurried toward her. “Angelica,” she said again, quietly. “Can you hear me?”
I had to go help another who needed me. But I left something for you.
There was a sudden tingling against her little finger and Erin looked down. Something was glimmering there in the light, something caught in Talent’s mane. She reached down and pulled it free. It was a long golden hair.
Suddenly, the hair glowed with light. Warmth spread along Erin’s fingers, to her hand, to her arm. She was so surprised she almost dropped the single strand, but then the tingling ceased. The hair quivered.
And it was a hair no longer. It was a necklace! The most beautiful necklace Erin had ever seen!
When you need me, touch the necklace and call my name. I will hear you then, and come to you.
“Thank you,” Erin whispered, though the words seemed so inadequate. Angelica had saved her life and helped her face her fears. And now she’d left her this necklace as a lifeline in case anything bad ever happened again. Now Erin really never needed to feel afraid again. How could she ever express enough gratitude?
And I thank you and Talent too.
Erin smiled sadly. It was just like Angelica to turn her words around. How she was going to miss her! Tears prickled her eyes. “But if nothing goes wrong, I’ll never see you again. I don’t want to say goodbye.”
To you then, my friend, I will not say goodbye. Instead, I will say fare well, Erin, until the next time we meet. And we will meet again. Without any kidnappers being involved.
Talent snorted, and Erin could hear Angelica’s laugh flow around her on the night breeze, soft and musical.
Erin smiled. “Fare well, Angelica,” she said loudly, not caring anymore if anyone heard her. Let them all think she was crazy. “Fare extremely well.”
“I knew she’d break under the pressure, Mum. She’s gone insane.”
Erin looked back to see Siobhan and Sylvie walk the last few steps toward her and Talent. She slid from the gelding’s back and was immediately engulfed in Sylvie’s hug. “Oh, Erin. Oh, Erin,” was all her stepmom could say before she burst into tears.
Erin hugged her back as hard as she could. “I’m so glad to be home.”
“You’re not home. You’re in a parking lot,” corrected Siobhan.
“You’re wrong,” said Erin, when Sylvie released her. “I’m home when I’m with Dad and Sylvie.” She smiled into her stepmom’s eyes, then turned to her stepsister. “And you too, Siobhan.”
The moonlight illuminated a tentative smile on Siobhan’s face. “I’m glad you’re home too,” she finally said.
“I’ll be back in a minute, sweetheart,” said Sylvie, stroking Erin’s hair. “I’ll call to see if your riding instructor will come to give Talent a ride home in her horse trailer, okay?”
“Thanks, Sylvie.” Erin watched her stepmom walk away, then looked down at the ground. Now that she was alone with Siobhan, it was probably a good time to tell her how she regretted her unkind comment about Siobhan’s play. “I’m sorry,” she blurted out, and then looked up, surprised. Siobhan had said she was sorry at exactly the same moment! “What are you sorry for?” asked Erin. “You didn’t say anything mean.”
“Oh, just for being such a pain and trying to get on your nerves.”
“You’re pretty good at that,” Erin admitted with a grin.
Siobhan gave her a lopsided smile. “Thanks. It’s one of my talents.”
“I want to thank you too,” added Erin.
“For what?”
“For being such a pain and spouting psycho stuff all the time. It helped out there, a couple of times, in fact.”
“Glad to be of service,” said Siobhan.
Talent whinnied, and stepped toward Siobhan, his ears pricked forward. Instinctively, Siobhan stepped back.
“He won’t hurt you,” said Erin. “I promise.” She stroked the gelding’s cheek. “He’s the best horse in the world. He saved me.”
“I know. It’s just he’s so big and…”
“Hey, you have equine-phobia!” interrupted Erin, laughing. “You’re an equinephobe.”
“No, I’m not!”
“Really? Then prove it.”
“Okay. I will.” Siobhan reached cautiously to touch the gelding’s face. Jerked her fingers away. Reached out again. “Hey, he’s soft. And silky.”
Talent nickered and reached out to nuzzle her, and Siobhan laughed when he tickled her neck.
“So what’s this?” said Erin’s dad as he approached, Sylvie beside him. “Siobhan likes horses too now?”
“She’s a reformed equinephobe,” offered Erin.
Siobhan looked sideways at Erin, winked, then turned to face their parents. “Mum, can I have a horse too? Not one to ride, but one to take care of? One that needs me.”
Instantly, Erin realized what Siobhan was up to, and she wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass by. This was the perfect solution for Magic – having Siobhan pamper him. “And I know just the horse for her,” she added quickly. “You remember me asking about Magic? Well, he’s the sweetest horse you’ll ever meet, except for Tallie, of course.”
“Well, I think Magic’s even sweeter than Tallie,” said Siobhan in her snobby voice. “In
fact, I’m thoroughly positive he is.”
Sylvie rolled her eyes. “Great, more competition!”
“Just like sisters,” said Siobhan.
“Just like sisters,” Erin confirmed with a grin.
David, I hear you. I am coming.
Are you here?
I see no one.
The old house and overgrown yard are completely dark. The fields are neglected and only one small shed remains, but I recognize this place. There was a barn here once, and well-manicured fields. The house was painted and the horses who lived here were healthy and happy. This is where I once assisted Dancer. Wings and Rocket Gal lived here too then. However, that was long ago. They would all be gone now.
Though the yard is empty, I am sure this is the place from which David called me. But where is he now?
I will unite with Tango. He is nearby, in that small shed. I can sense his summons still, though it is not strong as it once was. His emergency is over. I feel dreadful that I could not go to him earlier, when he needed me. But there is nothing I can do about that now, other than my best to right what has been wronged.
And maybe his crisis is related to David’s. Maybe I can help them both.
###
What will happen next?
SILVER DREAM
Available at:
www.ponybooks.com
Joanna suspects that her neighbour, old Mr. Thomas, is keeping stolen horses – but is he an ordinary horse thief or is the situation far more complicated? Only his granddaughter knows the answer and she is protecting her grandfather at all costs.
But what if the price turns out to be the lives of the stolen horses and the young man who has gone missing?
Joanna is determined to find the truth. When she sets out to investigate further, she discovers a decades-old crime, long hidden – and unfortunately, finds the person who is still very motivated to keep everything concealed.
Also available at Enchanted Pony Books
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Freedom Series
Freedom
Echo
Whisper
Horse Guardian Series
Dark Fire
Desert Song
Condor Mountain
Swift Current
Gold Fever
Slave Child
Rattlesnake Rock
Sobekkare’s Revenge
Mystic Tide
Silver Dream
Fighting Chance
Wolf Chasm