Dark Days at Saddle Creek

by Shelley Peterson

  “The guard dogs!” gasped Sally. “I forgot!”

  “What else did you forget?” Bird groaned. She was beginning to feel like a fool. She held out both hands and messaged the dogs. Stop. We are not here to harm you or the horses or the property.

  The Alsatians halted their approach. One dog began to whine. The dog that wasn’t whining demanded, State your intentions.

  Bird identified him as the alpha dog. She answered with respect. We are here to help the horse named Tall Sox. Some humans believe him to be a bad horse. They will remove him and destroy him.

  Tall Sox. Now the whining dog spoke. We call him Sox.

  The lead dog slowly wagged his tail. He’s a good horse. Come with us. We know the way.

  Bird followed them.

  “How did you do that?!” Sally stood still. She looked bewildered and afraid.

  “Are you coming or not?”

  “Aren’t they vicious?”

  “No. They’re good guard dogs.”

  Sally was still unsure. She tentatively stuck her foot onto the Moreland property. When the dogs ignored her she quickly caught up to Bird. “I don’t know what you did or how you did it. Everybody knows these dogs are killers!”

  Bird was too busy to respond. Are people here?

  They sleep.

  Are there cameras to watch our actions?

  The leader answered, Up in that corner.

  Bird looked. A camera was mounted in the corner of the doorframe, but it looked dusty and disused. There was no light to indicate it was working. It was too late anyway. If it was working, it already had their faces on tape.

  Bird and Sally followed the dogs along the hall and around a corner until they stopped at a stall door and sat. Bird looked inside. Tall Sox?

  A dark horse with a wide white stripe down his nose turned and gave her a looking-over. In the dim light he appeared to be in good shape. As well as the white blaze, he had tall white markings on all four legs. Tall Sox. Apt name, thought Bird. She guessed that he was a thoroughbred, built for speed and agility, and was probably close to ten or eleven years old.

  Now the horse answered, Tall Sox is what humans call me. Animals call me Sox. When I raced against all the others, my name was Silk Stockings. That was a long time ago.

  So she was right — he was a thoroughbred racehorse. And friendly. He didn’t seem to have a bad attitude. Why would a horse like this become a problem?

  Do you have soreness or pain anywhere?

  Once I bowed a tendon. That’s when I stopped racing. It hurt.

  But now?

  I feel good all over, except for a sore spot on my back.

  Bird noted that he had an exceptionally handsome face, and clear, intelligent eyes. She asked another question. This girl beside me. Do you like her?

  She is not a good rider, but she is kind. I will look after her if I’m allowed.

  And the man we call Dexter Pill? Do you like him?

  Tall Sox backed into the far corner of his stall and began to shake.

  Bird reassured him. He’s not here.

  I do not like him. He puts something sharp on my back where he sits. It hurts when I move. It doesn’t hurt now, but it aches.

  Can I look? I want to help.

  Yes.

  Bird opened the stall door and entered. She gently worked her fingers along his back in the saddle area. Tall Sox flinched. There! That’s where it hurts!

  There was a raw spot in his coat. It was warm to the touch, and swollen. Bird felt the sticky residue of blood. With this sore, right where the saddle would sit, any horse would react to the pain. She gasped. Had Dexter Pill purposely made this horse misbehave?

  Sox, messaged Bird. Dexter is going to take you away tomorrow. Do you want to go with him?

  No. I don’t trust him.

  Then can you come home with me now?

  Where do you live?

  Bird knew that the unknown was sometimes worse than the known to a horse, however bad the known might be. Not far. I live with Sundancer and Moonlight Sonata.

  I know them. And now I know you. You go by the name of Bird.

  Yes.

  I will come with you.

  Let’s go now, before anybody wakes up.

  Bird opened the stall door wide and together they walked out.

  “What are you doing?” asked Sally, aghast. “You can’t just kidnap him!”

  Bird looked at the girl, surprised. “Then what do you want to do? Why are we here? Tell me.”

  “I don’t know,” Sally whined. She seemed confused and fidgety. “Can’t you just tell me what’s wrong with him? You said you could help!”

  Bird felt the girl’s uncertainty, and took her time to explain the obvious. “You told me they’re taking him away first thing in the morning. If he’s here in the morning, that’s what’ll happen.”

  Sally nodded jerkily and began to speak quickly. “Okay. You’re right. I know! I’ll clean out his stall and fix it up so the grooms will think it was meant to be like this. Then they won’t call for help right away. I mean, if it looks messy and everything, it’ll look like he was kidnapped. Like he was.”

  Bird said, “Great idea. I’ll start walking with Tall Sox, and you catch up when you can.”

  “You’d leave me alone in the dark?”

  “We don’t have a lot of time, Sally.”

  She nodded. “Okay, I’ll be quick. But go slow!”

  “Okay.” Bird walked down the hall with the gelding following. Horses nickered softly from their stalls as he said goodbye to his barn-mates. Once outside, the guard dogs escorted them to the path.

  Thanks, Bird messaged. Watch out for the girl, and make sure she gets back here safely. And try not to make her nervous.

  They wagged their tails. Yes, of course. Then they were gone, silently, into the barn.

  Bird picked up Hannah’s bike, and she and Tall Sox began to walk along the road. He kept close to her, and together they enjoyed the silence of the night until they heard the sound of bicycle tires on gravel behind them.

  “I made it look perfect!” exclaimed Sally. She jumped off Bird’s bike and walked along with them. “They won’t notice anything unusual until Dexter comes to get him.”

  “Good work,” said Bird. “That gives us a little time to figure things out.”

  “What things?” asked Sally.

  Bird stared at her. Sally seemed to be completely unable to think ahead. “Things like, what to do with your horse,” she replied, trying not to get irritated. “How we get Hannah to agree to keep him at Saddle Creek. How we convince your father that Tall Sox is not a crazy, untrainable horse that needs to be euthanized. How we get your mother’s car home. Things like that.”

  “Oh my gosh. You’re right.” Sally began to fret. “Oh my gosh. What’ll we do?”

  “Can you drive your mother’s car home? I mean, without killing yourself?”

  “Of course I can! I drove it here in the first place.”

  “This might be a bad idea,” Bird said, “but why don’t you leave Tall Sox with me and drive your mom’s car home. Slowly. And I mean slowly, Sally.”

  “I’m insulted you think I’m such a bad driver.”

  “That’s not important,” said Bird. “What is important is to think out a good plan for Tall Sox.”

  “Oh, yeah, I agree.” Sally sounded confused. “Which is …?”

  By now they were nearing Sally’s mother’s car, parked at a very odd angle on the road.

  “Which is this,” Bird stated firmly. “You go home. Slowly, remember? I’ll put Tall Sox in the barn for the night. You and your mother come here tomorrow morning. By then I’ll have talked things over with Hannah, and we go from there. How’s that sound?”

  Sally looked relieved. “It sounds great! What time should I come?”

  “Early. As early as you can.”

  “I know, but when?”

  “Seven-thirty? Eight o’clock?”

  “Too early. My mother
likes to sleep in on Sundays. How about eleven?”

  “This is a big deal, Sally. We’ve just kidnapped your horse! We have to figure this out before Dexter finds him missing. Wake your mother up. The last thing Aunt Hannah needs is to be charged with horse theft!”

  Sally’s eyes rounded. She nodded. “Right. See you tomorrow morning. Early.” With that, she dropped Bird’s bike on the side of the road and got in the car. She started it up and jerked forward. Bird and Tall Sox jumped out of the way.

  “Slowly, Sally!” pleaded Bird.

  Sally tried again. She began the arduous task of turning the car around. She backed up and halted, backed up and halted, moving her wheels inch by inch.

  Bird left her to it. She rescued her bike and walked up the Saddle Creek lane with two bicycles and a horse. On the bright side, Bird thought, Sally hadn’t run over her.

  Tall Sox settled in calmly and seemed to enjoy the roomy stall with fresh hay and water. This is a nice place, he messaged. Can I stay here?

  I think so, answered Bird. At least for now.

  I’m glad to be here. I feel safe.

  Bird was reminded how sensitive horses were. There was not much they couldn’t figure out from people’s demeanour and moods. They just took it in, like drinking water. I’m glad you’re here, too. Tomorrow you’ll meet Hannah. She owns the barn, and it’s important to make a good first impression.

  I always do. Tall Sox put his head back down and munched more hay.

  3

  A NEW BOARDER

  Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

  — Chief Seattle, Suquamish, 1854

  Bird was up very early, and was already in the kitchen when Hannah came down at six to make coffee. Bird immediately offered her a steaming cup with milk and a bit of sugar, just the way she liked it.

  “Toast?” asked Bird. “Bacon and eggs? Sunday brunch?”

  “What are you up to?” Hannah rubbed her eyes and yawned.

  “I’m just trying to be nice.”

  “Sorry, Bird. I shouldn’t be suspicious! How awful of me.” She sat down at the table and took a sip of coffee. “Delicious. Thanks, sweetheart.”

  Bird sat with her. “Actually, you should be suspicious. I have an ulterior motive.”

  Hannah’s sleepy eyes cleared. “Speak to me.”

  “Remember yesterday? The conversation I had with Sally Johns?”

  “The blond girl with braces?”

  “Yes.”

  “The girl with the horse at Dexter’s?”

  “Yes.”

  “The horse that I forbade you to rescue?”

  This was not going to be easy. Bird took a deep breath and decided to go for it. “Well, he’s here.”

  “Who’s here? Where?”

  “The horse, Tall Sox. He’s in the barn.” Bird waited for Hannah’s reaction.

  Hannah scratched her head. She took a sip of her coffee. Finally she said, “I can’t say I’m surprised. I don’t want to know how he got here. It might incriminate me.” She gave Bird a sideways look. “What’s he like?”

  Bird exhaled. “He’s really nice looking, Aunt Hannah. And sensible. He has a small, deep gouge on his back where the saddle sits. I think Dexter did it, and that’s why everyone thinks he’s untrainable.”

  Hannah tapped her finger on the coffee cup. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. We’re in a lot of trouble. I’m assuming you had Sally’s permission to move the horse” — Bird nodded as Hannah continued — “but you didn’t have her parents’. There are laws about things like that. I’m going to get dressed. I’ll think this over. When Paul wakes up I’ll ask his opinion.” She rose from the chair and left the room, then called back, “And Bird? Paul needs to see this gouge.”

  “Right. I’ll wait here.” Bird leaned back in her chair, relieved. She couldn’t have asked for a better reaction. Paul was a veterinarian. He would fix up Tall Sox’s back.

  Minutes later, Hannah and Paul came downstairs, and after Paul sleepily grabbed a coffee, they went out to the barn.

  “Who’s this new gelding?” asked Cliff, the farm manager, as he met them at the door. “Why didn’t I know about him?”

  Bird explained. “His name is Tall Sox. He belongs to Sally Johns. She asked me to bring him here last night because Dexter was going to euthanize him today.”

  Cliff ’s eyes widened. “Why? He looks healthy and sound to me. And he’s making friends with everybody, so it’s not that he’s a nutcase.”

  The four of them walked to Tall Sox’s stall and looked over the half-door.

  Hi, Sox. Did you sleep well? messaged Bird.

  Very well. I like it here. He stuck his nose over the stall door and sniffed Bird. She patted his head.

  “He’s handsome,” said Hannah. “I’ll give him that.”

  “Let me see this sore on his back,” said Paul. He’d brought his vet bag from his truck, and now he donned latex gloves. “Put him on cross ties for me, will you, Bird?”

  She did as he asked, and watched as he methodically examined the animal’s back.

  “There’s a pus pocket under the surface. Sitting where it is, it doesn’t drain well.” Paul cleaned the wound thoroughly and disinfected the area. “I don’t know why it hasn’t been looked after.”

  “Especially with the money they charge over there,” added Hannah.

  Paul stripped off his gloves. “When we get permission from his owners, put him on sulphur, Cliff, will you?”

  Cliff nodded. “Ten days?”

  “Yep. That should clear it up.” Paul shook his head. “I don’t know how this particular injury would occur,” he said, “unless he was poked hard with a sharp object, and the wound was kept open and allowed to fester.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of tires crunching across gravel. A car stopped at the door of the barn. Bird watched as Sally and a short blond woman got out. The woman did not look happy, but Bird steeled herself. She walked over to them with a welcoming smile on her face.

  “Hi, Sally! And hello, Mrs. Johns. I’m Bird.”

  The woman smiled feebly. “I’m Sally’s mother, but my name is Cindy Farr. Can anybody tell me what’s going on? It’s early, and Sally makes no sense at all.”

  Hannah ushered them over to Tall Sox’s stall. She introduced herself and Paul, then said, “Your daughter asked for help with her horse. How much do you know about the situation?”

  “Only what Sally told me on the drive over — which wasn’t much. Harold looks after the horse part of Sally’s life. She insisted I come, but I stay out of all this craziness. It’s easier that way.”

  Hannah and Paul looked at each other. Cindy was not going to be much help. Paul spoke next. “We need to speak to someone who can authorize stabling and treatment for this horse.”

  “That would be Sally’s father. I’ll call Harold.” Cindy Farr took a cellphone out of her small shoulder-strap purse. She pressed a number on speed dial, and handed it to her daughter.

  Sally stared blankly at the phone. “What do I say?” she asked her mother. “That I stole my own horse?”

  “Not my problem,” Cindy answered.

  Bird could hear a man’s voice on the other end of the line. “Hello? Hello?”

  Sally regained her composure. “Daddy? Sorry to call so early. I’m at Saddle Creek Farm with Tall Sox. I brought him here. They want to talk to you to get permission or something.”

  “About what? You say you’re at Saddle Creek?”

  “Yes.” Sally’s voice faltered. “I don’t want Tall Sox to go … anywhere. I love him.”

  There was a pause, then Bird heard Sally’s father sigh loudly. “I’ll call Dexter,” he said curtly. “I know where Saddle Creek Farm is.” Sally hung up without another word, but her face told Bird everything she needed to know. This girl was worried about being in trouble. Bird knew just how she felt.

  Tall Sox’s head
appeared over the stall door, and Sally stepped over to stroke his nose. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you? They’re wrong about you, I just know it.”

  I’m glad you all believe in me, the horse messaged.

  We won’t give up, replied Bird.

  Cindy fidgeted with her car keys. She was ready to leave. “I don’t want to be here when he arrives. Can Sally stay here?”

  Hannah nodded. “No problem.”

  Cindy kissed Sally lightly on the head as she prepared to go. “Call if you need a ride,” she said. “Good luck with your father.”

  When Cindy was out of earshot, Sally whispered to Bird, “They just got a divorce.”

  Cindy stepped into her car and turned it around. Bird gasped when she saw a fresh, long, deep scratch along the entire right side of the car.

  “Did your mom see that?” whispered Bird.

  “Thank gawd, no. I hope she doesn’t look until she gets groceries. That way she’ll think somebody did it in the parking lot.”

  “You’re lucky it’s the passenger side.”

  “Yeah,” Sally sniffed. “Not my fault Mom’s garage is so narrow.”

  “Right,” whispered Bird. “Couldn’t possibly be your bad driving.”

  “Okay, folks,” said Hannah, using her take-charge voice. “Since you’re here for the day, Sally, we’ll put you to work.”

  “Can I get a banana or a muffin or something first? I didn’t have breakfast.”

  “Sure. Bird, get Sally something to eat, and wake up Julia. I want the three of you out here pronto. We have a lot to do today.”

  KIMBERLY AND LIZ ARRIVED shortly after, and everyone pitched in to get things done quickly — they cleaned tack, washed out the truck and trailer, and organized boots, blankets, saddle pads, and bandages. After that, they went for a quiet hack on the horses that had been at the show the day before, to calm their heads and work out any stiffness. Sally rode Charlie, and became friendly with Julia, Liz, and Kimberly.

  Sally’s father didn’t arrive until noon. The girls had just returned from riding. Bird was in the tack room putting out food for the barn cats when Harold Johns strode up the aisle. “Hello?” he called out. “Hello?”