Mystery Rider

by Miralee Ferrell

  Mrs. Velasquez patted her shoulder. “We’re glad you invited us. I think our children have something they’d like to say.” She turned. “Tori, Kate, would you come over here?”

  Kate glanced at Tori. “Sure.” She tucked her hand into the crook of Tori’s elbow, feeling the need of a little support, and Colt followed.

  Tori drew in a deep breath. “Mrs. Maynard, we’re so sorry we upset you when we came. We were only curious about your beautiful horse and why you were riding at night.”

  The older lady raised her head and stared at Tori, and it was all Kate could do not to gasp. A horrible scar ran from the outside of her eyebrow all the way down her face and under her chin. It looked as if someone had taken a jagged knife and slashed her face. Kate raised her hand and touched her own cheek. Whatever caused that must have hurt terribly.

  Melissa gave a little shriek and backed up a step, but Colt caught her by the wrist and whispered something Kate couldn’t hear. Melissa stopped in her tracks and bowed her head.

  Mrs. Maynard gave a gentle smile. “I didn’t realize you children hadn’t seen my face before—I’m sorry for startling you. That’s why I ride in the evening with the cloak and the hood. I got tired of explaining or putting up with frightened stares and whispers from children and even adults. I know that’s part of the reason for some of the rumors over the years. That and the fact that I prefer to stay close to home and don’t go out more than I must.”

  “But what happened?” Kate blurted the words before she’d even realized they’d formed in her thoughts.

  “Kate!” Her mother frowned. “That was rude. Please tell Mrs. Maynard you’re sorry.”

  The older woman shook her head. “No need. She only asked what I’m sure all of you are wondering. Won’t you come sit while I bring some iced tea?” She gestured toward a tree off to the side, not far from the pen where the black gelding paced. She took a step toward Pete and gingerly lowered herself to his level. “What’s your name?”

  “Pete. What’s your name?” He lifted blue eyes and met hers for a moment before they shifted away. “Do you have M&M’s?”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Pete. My name is Martha. I don’t have any M&M’s, but if you come visit me again sometime with your sister or mother, I’ll be sure to have some. How does that sound?”

  “Good. Can I pet the cat?” He pointed at a cat curled up in the sun not far away.

  “I’m sure Milton would like that. He’s a very friendly cat, and he thinks I don’t give him enough attention. Can you be very gentle with him?”

  He nodded, then wandered over and sat on the grass by the cat.

  Kate noticed six wicker chairs and a little table sitting on the only patch of grass in the area. “That’s pretty. And your front yard is beautiful.”

  “Thank you, dear. I was starting on this, but I got sick a few months ago and didn’t have the energy to continue. It’s as much as I can do to keep the flowerbeds watered and exercise Starlight occasionally.”

  “Starlight?” Tori breathed the word. “Is that your horse? He’s so beautiful.”

  “Yes. You probably didn’t notice when you were here before or when we rode by, but he has a tiny spot of white on his forehead about the size of a silver dollar—the only white on his body—and it’s shaped something like a star. He’s a good boy, but he’s getting mighty restless since I haven’t been able to ride him as much as I used to.” She motioned to Colt. “Would you help me bring out a tray with glasses and iced tea?”

  He nodded, then followed her to the back porch, reappearing a few minutes later with a heavily laden tray.

  Kate sank into one of the chairs. “If you used to ride him a lot, why have we only seen you this summer?”

  Tori giggled. “Silly. You moved here a few months ago, remember? And none of our houses are on the same road where Mrs. Maynard lives.”

  “Oh. Right.” So much had happened since Kate’s family had moved to Odell that it seemed as though she’d lived here a lot longer than a few months.

  Colt served the drinks, then settled onto the grass so Mrs. Maynard could have a chair.

  She seated herself and took a long drink, then set her glass on the round table. “I’m sorry I startled you today, and that I scared you the other two times you came. As I explained in my letter, I thought you were the teens who have been bothering me—that is, until I found your cookies and note. If you’d be willing to humor an old woman and listen, I’ll tell you my story.”

  Kate’s mom nodded. “It’s not a bother at all. We’d be honored to listen if you’d care to share.”

  “Thank you. It’s not a long story, and I’m not complaining, simply stating facts. Many years ago, when I was a few years older than you girls”—she nodded at Kate, Tori, and Melissa—“I was considered quite pretty, but I didn’t care about boys or clothes or the things most girls craved. All I cared about was horses.”

  Melissa quit fidgeting in her chair, and Tori leaned forward.

  Kate smiled. “That’s how all of us kids feel, even Colt.” She giggled. “What I mean is he doesn’t care about clothes or boys—uh, I mean girls—and he likes horses too.” Warmth crept into her cheeks as Colt burst into laughter. “Sorry for interrupting, Mrs. Maynard.”

  “It’s fine, dear. I don’t mind at all.” She smiled at Tori. “And I thought that might be the case after I read Victoria’s letter.”

  Tori’s brows rose. “How did you know my real name?”

  “Your mother told me when I complimented her on the lovely note her daughter had written. She said that her Victoria has always been good with words, and I have to agree.” She waved a wrinkled hand in the air. “Now back to my story. When I was seventeen, I was a princess in the Fort Dalles Rodeo, and I was crowned queen. I was so excited that after the coronation and the parade, I went out with my friends to celebrate. The young man who was driving had been drinking, but none of us worried about it. At that age, we thought we were invincible—especially me, after I’d won the crown. I felt everything in my life was going my way.”

  She took a sip from her glass, then set it back down. “But all of that changed when he ran a red light, and a pickup smashed into the side of our car.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Kate gasped. “What happened? How badly were you hurt?”

  Mrs. Maynard’s eyelids fluttered. “A big piece of jagged glass hit my face and tore it open, and my leg and ribs were broken. But I was lucky. My best friend, who was in the backseat with me, was killed. The boy who was driving walked away with only a broken arm, but the other boy in the front had a severe head injury and was in a coma for over a month. All because we didn’t see a problem with having a few drinks to help us celebrate.” She shook her head. “If only we could go back and make better decisions for our lives … but that’s not possible.”

  “What happened then?” Tori barely breathed the question.

  “They didn’t have the type of reconstructive surgery back then that is available today. There was a lot of broken glass in my face wound, and it tore through muscles, not just the flesh. The doctor did the best he could at our small hospital, but my parents didn’t have the money for a specialist who might have done better. That accident changed my life. The boy I was dating broke up with me when he saw my scar, and I was unable to complete my responsibilities as rodeo queen, due to my injuries. The emotional scars I carried as a result of the accident, and how ugly it left me, made me a recluse in my own home.” A tear trickled down her wrinkled cheek.

  Melissa’s face contorted. “But that’s terrible. How did you stand it? I would have wanted to die.”

  “That’s how I felt for a long time. It took months for the wound to heal, and even longer before the red started to fade. My ribs and leg healed, but I was broken inside. My parents urged me to see my old friends, but I didn’t want to, and my friends eventually qui
t calling or coming by. When they’d visited in the hospital, I saw the horror and pity in their eyes. I didn’t want anyone’s pity, and I wouldn’t be an object of ridicule. So I cut them off, believing it was best for them and for me.”

  Melissa nodded. “I understand.”

  Kate blinked, suddenly realizing what Melissa must have been feeling. When her friends found out Melissa’s family wasn’t rich like they’d believed, Melissa must have faced those same reactions. She’d pulled inward and cut herself off from them rather than deal with the whispers and gossip. What kind of courage had it taken for Melissa to come to the barn the day they were painting the fence and take the chance the three of them wouldn’t reject her as well?

  Kate wasn’t sure she could have done it, and new respect rose in her heart for Melissa. All Melissa’s cutting remarks were probably to cover up her own fear and pain. From now on, she was going to be kind to Melissa, no matter how snotty she acted. Kate had a feeling it might take Melissa a while to trust their friendship, but she was determined to prove it was real.

  And poor Mrs. Maynard. Kate couldn’t imagine what she must have gone through—being crowned rodeo queen, then losing it all due to someone who’d been drinking. She shuddered, remembering what her parents had always taught her about being responsible and making good choices. That made even more sense now that she’d heard Mrs. Maynard’s story.

  Melissa’s gaze stayed fixed on Mrs. Maynard, as though she was trying to discover something important. “So you didn’t leave the house the rest of your life? That must have been awful.”

  “No, dear. Only that first year. Then one day my parents convinced me to attend church with them again. The pastor had visited faithfully since my accident, and not once did I see disgust or pity when he looked at me, so I decided to go. I told my parents I’d sit in the back, and if one person gasped or sneered, I’d leave and never come back.”

  “What happened?” Colt asked.

  She drew in a long, slow breath as though remembering, then released it with a soft sigh. “A few people greeted me and told me they’d been praying for me, and others simply nodded and smiled. But one young man came over, grasped my hands, and stared right into my eyes, not even noticing my face. He said that God had placed me on his heart from the time he’d heard about the accident, and he’d been praying daily ever since. He introduced himself as Joshua Maynard.” She gave them a warm smile. “And I’m guessing you can figure out the rest of the story.”

  Melissa relaxed in her chair, all the tension seeming to drain from her. “You married him.”

  Mrs. Maynard chuckled. “Not right away. It took me months before I trusted him enough to go out with him, and another couple of years before he convinced me my scars didn’t matter—that he loved me for who I was, not what I looked like. Besides, he said he thought I was beautiful, and that’s all that mattered. He saw into my heart and loved what he saw, and I loved him for it until the day he died ten years ago, and I still do.”

  Tori swiped at her eyes. “That’s cool. But I don’t understand why you don’t want to come out of your house now.”

  “I’m tired, dear. And most of my old friends have moved or died or gone to an old folks’ home. The new people don’t know my story, and I get tired of dealing with the stares. I still don’t care for pity, and sometimes it’s easier to stay home with Sam, Starlight, and Milton.” Her face clouded over. “That is, until Sam died. I’m lonelier than I expected.”

  Melissa got up, went to the older lady’s side, and knelt in the grass by her chair. “I’d like to come visit you again, if that’s all right?”

  The story Mrs. Maynard told must have really touched Melissa, Kate thought, startled. “I want to come too.”

  Colt nodded. “I was thinking if you’re not feeling well, we could help with your yard work. I’m pretty good at planting stuff and hauling bark chips, and I’ll bet the girls wouldn’t mind doing a little housework, or whatever else you need.”

  Tori bounced in her seat. “I’d love to exercise Starlight—I don’t mean ride him—but I could take him out of his pen on walks or lunge him. I’m good at that.” She suddenly wilted. “If Mom agrees.”

  Mrs. Velasquez smiled. “It’s a nice thought, but we don’t want to impose on Mrs. Maynard.”

  The older lady looked from one to the other. “Goodness! It wouldn’t be imposing. I’d love if the children came to visit again, although they certainly don’t need to do work. Tori, if you’d like to go make friends with Starlight, feel free. But don’t enter his pen. He’s not partial to strangers.”

  Kate squeezed her lips together to keep from giggling at Mrs. Maynard’s use of children. Of course, at Mrs. Maynard’s age, even a nineteen-year-old might seem like a child, much less a bunch of thirteen-year-olds. “I’ll help wherever you need me. It’s not like we have much planned for the summer.”

  Melissa groaned. “Except for that parade, and we still don’t have any banners for our horses.”

  Colt sighed. “Maybe we should ditch the idea.”

  Mrs. Maynard’s brows rose. “What’s this about a parade?”

  Kate opened her mouth to answer, then thought of Melissa. She had brought up the subject, and she was supposed to be the head of their committee. Maybe letting Melissa answer would show a bit of trust. She tipped her head. “Melissa is the head of our parade committee.”

  Melissa straightened, and her face brightened. “We were pumped when we first talked about the idea, but it hasn’t come together like we’d hoped. Kate and her family own a boarding stable where we all keep our horses.”

  Tori swiveled and stopped her advance toward the nearby corral. “All except me. I mean, I don’t have my own horse. I use Mr. Gray, the lesson horse at the barn. He’s really sweet.” She tossed a longing look at Starlight. “But he’s not near as pretty as your horse.”

  Mrs. Maynard’s face crinkled in a wide smile. “He’s special, that’s for sure,” she called as Tori continued toward the corral. Then the older woman turned to Melissa. “You said something about banners for the horses. Is that what you meant by things not coming together?”

  “Yes. We’d like to advertise the barn by riding our horses and having nice banners over their rumps, but we’re not sure how to come up with the money for the fabric or what we should wear.”

  “I see.” She rested her head against the back of her chair and closed her eyes.

  Kate’s mom pushed to her feet. “I think we need to go. We don’t want to tire you.”

  “No, no.” Mrs. Maynard opened her eyes. “Let’s check on the girl who’s so interested in my horse. Tori, I believe her name is.” She took her time rising and shook her head when Colt stepped near and offered his hand. “I’m fine, young man, but thank you. The doctor says I should rest, but I also need a certain amount of exercise to keep my joints limber.”

  She walked at a slow pace toward the corral, with Kate’s and Tori’s mothers following behind a ways. Tori leaned on the fence, her hand outstretched to the black gelding. Starlight nuzzled her palm and nickered. “My goodness, how unusual. Starlight doesn’t like many people. In fact, he never comes near a stranger, and sometimes I have trouble catching him. He must sense something special about you.”

  Tori’s cheeks flushed, but she kept her gaze on the horse. “He’s the special one. As soon as I whispered his name, he came up to me.”

  “Has he allowed you to touch him?” Mrs. Maynard squinted at Tori.

  “Yes. I stroked his face, but I think he’s expecting a treat.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m afraid I’ve spoiled him.”

  “How old is he? Have you had him all his life?”

  “He’s fourteen, and yes, I owned his mother and raised Starlight from birth. He’s the smartest and kindest horse I’ve ever owned, but like I said, he doesn’t take to many people. Never has. I had a trainer come
once, and she had a dickens of a time catching him. Then he refused to budge when she got on, and she even laid her spurs into his side.” She shook her head and clucked. “I’d told her not to wear them, but she wouldn’t listen. Thought she knew best.”

  Kate moved up beside them. “What happened?”

  Mrs. Maynard gurgled a laugh. “He didn’t hurt her, if that’s what you’re asking. But he did a lot of dancing, along with a couple of crow hops that convinced her she didn’t want to stay on long. The trainer told me I’d misled her when I said he was broke to ride, and she didn’t care to work with a horse that was green and ill mannered. I told her he was completely broke, but he didn’t like spurs or a rough hand. She didn’t return. Starlight and I didn’t care.” She crooned to the horse and stroked his face.

  Melissa strolled over and climbed on the rails, then held out her hand. “Hey, Starlight. Can I pet you too?”

  The horse shied and snorted.

  Colt chuckled and leaned against a rail several feet from Melissa. “Don’t feel bad. I bet he won’t come for me either.” He reached through the rails and clucked his tongue. “Come on, boy. We’re not going to hurt you.”

  Fascinated, Kate watched as Starlight shook his head and pawed the dirt. She wasn’t going to try. Apparently this horse had decided he liked Mrs. Maynard and Tori, and that was it. But she was thankful Colt had tried, or Melissa might have felt like she’d been rejected again—even if it was only a horse.

  The last thing Kate wanted was Melissa being jealous of Tori and causing trouble for her friend. She planned to continue to be kind to Melissa and help her feel a part of their group, but there was no way she’d put up with her taking out her frustration on Tori. She was probably the kindest girl Kate knew, and Tori didn’t deserve that.