Dark Days at Saddle Creek

by Shelley Peterson

  That’s really disgusting, Bird messaged.

  Paul inhaled and pursed his lips. “So, the gate was open. The horses were here all along.” Paul looked at Bird. “I’m very sorry that you thought I doubted you. I never did, but it must’ve looked that way.”

  Bird smiled to let him know she was okay. She didn’t care what people thought anymore. She was innocent, and she knew Frank believed her. That was enough. Right now, there were a lot of unanswered questions floating around in her head, and until those questions were answered, horses’ lives were still in danger.

  “So, what about this lawsuit, and Bird’s name on the papers as Tall Sox’s seller?” Hannah asked. Now that one problem was cleared up, she was ready to focus on another.

  “Let’s start at the beginning,” said Frank. “Where did your information come from?”

  Hannah’s shoulders stiffened as she brushed the hair from her face.

  Bird caught the familiar action. Kenneth Bradley?

  “I was pledged to secrecy. I promised not to tell anyone, or he wouldn’t tell me his news.”

  Frank nodded. “Understood. But let me guess. Your father, Kenneth Bradley?”

  “Yes!” Hannah answered, taken aback but relieved that she could now tell Frank. “Harold Johns uses a lawyer at my father’s firm,” she answered. “My father called this morning from jail. He said his partner had received copies of the legal paperwork, and he wanted to give us a heads-up.”

  “And that Bird received money?” asked Frank.

  “That information came from my father as well.”

  “How much money?”

  “Thirty thousand.”

  Bird was amazed. Frank’s eyes narrowed. “How did he get Bird’s bank statements? They’re confidential.”

  “I don’t know,” said Hannah, flustered.

  “Harold Johns is the manager of the bank,” said Paul, putting his arm around Hannah’s shoulders. “We assumed that he’d taken a look at the statement himself.”

  Frank pursed his lips and considered this. “Assumed? Have you spoken to Harold?”

  Paul shook his head. “We called and left a message. He hasn’t returned it.”

  “How much did you tell him in the message?”

  Hannah answered, “I just asked him to call us. I said it was important.”

  “It’s Sunday,” said Frank. “Hard to check with the bank or the law office until tomorrow.”

  Bird’s head shot up. Somebody’s buying time.

  That’s just what I was thinking, Frank replied.

  Bird noticed a rustling in a nearby bush. Cody?

  Bird girl. The man you call Dexter is at the place you were last night.

  Frank heard what the coyote had said. He and Bird glanced at each other.

  “I have to go to the shed beside Moreland’s,” said Frank out loud. “Paul, can you assist me? Bird, you come, too.” Frank jumped in his car and started the engine. Bird got in the back. Paul looked at Hannah in surprise, but got in the front seat on the passenger side.

  “What’s going on?” asked Hannah.

  “We’ll let you know ASAP. Stay up here with the horses. And get Cliff over to help. I don’t think anybody knows they’re here, but you never know.”

  Cody? Will you stay to help?

  It is my duty.

  Thank you. Lucky? messaged Bird.

  Yes, Bird girl? Yes, Bird girl?

  This is very important. Help Cody guard Hannah and Julia. A bad man might be coming.

  I will! I will! Lucky growled ferociously.

  Good dog! praised Bird.

  “Lucky!” scolded Hannah. “Don’t growl!”

  Cody telegraphed Lucky a response. We will do more than growl if the bad man shows up.

  Yes, Cody! Lucky puffed out his chest with pride. The brown dog would take his assignment seriously, Bird was confident.

  “Buckle up!” Frank drove quickly. In record time they arrived at the rutted lane to the shed. A small black truck and a navy blue trailer were there, in the process of turning around.

  Frank parked his car at an angle that prevented the rig from leaving.

  The driver slowed briefly, then decided to call Frank’s bluff. He aimed his truck and sped down the lane, directly toward them.

  “Jump!” screamed Paul. All three of them leapt out of the car, rolling into the tall grass. A split second later, the truck crashed into the side of Frank’s car. Bird stared at the deep indentation for a moment before raising her eyes to the truck.

  Dexter Pill’s head rested on the steering wheel. He lifted it slowly, shook it, and blinked. He staggered down from the truck and made an effort to run away, but Frank and Paul grabbed him easily.

  “Mr. Pill, do you wish to explain why you destroyed my car?” asked Frank.

  Dexter smiled slowly. His words were filled with hostility. “About time someone smashed that piece of junk, you lazy Indian.”

  Bird was repulsed.

  Don’t react, Bird. Those words are pointed inward. They have nothing to do with you or me.

  Bird understood, but Dexter’s vileness felt like poison. She wanted more than anything to be miles away.

  Paul took his cellphone from his pocket and held it up for Frank to see. “Shall I dial 9-1-1?” he asked.

  Frank spoke firmly. “No. Bird, get the phone from the dashboard.”

  Bird quickly did as she’d been asked. The driver’s side of the car was completely caved in, but the passenger door opened. She grabbed the cellphone and raced back to Frank.

  Dexter lurched forward in a sudden effort to escape. Paul and Frank reacted by tightening their grips.

  Press 8-1-1, Bird, and hold it to my ear.

  Bird did just that.

  Frank spoke into the cell. “Backup needed. Concession 10 and Second Line. Emergency #54378 Second Line.”

  “When did you get so smart?” sneered Dexter.

  “You ain’t seen nothing yet,” responded Frank.

  “Oh, yeah?” snorted Dexter. “We’ll see who gets the last laugh.”

  Bird had a sinking feeling that they still didn’t have the whole picture.

  Within minutes, two police cars arrived at the scene. Paul and Frank handed over Dexter to the young officers in the first car. He was handcuffed and put in the back seat of the cruiser without ceremony.

  Frank got in the second car and quickly rolled down his window. “Hannah is on her way to pick you two up. A tow truck is coming, too, but don’t wait for them.” He smiled. “I think it’s time for me to get another car.”

  Paul laughed. “Might be!”

  “I’ll interview Dexter. If there’s any news at all, I’ll be in touch.”

  Bird nodded.

  Frank began to roll up the window, but stopped halfway. “Bird? If we’re going to get this solved once and for all, it’s got to look like business as usual. Have you ever done a derby?”

  Bird shook her head.

  “Well, you’re doing one tomorrow. The Caledon Derby. You’re already entered. Ask Hannah to help you prepare.”

  With that, he closed his window, and the cruiser sped away.

  18

  PREPARATION

  Friend, do it this way — that is, whatever you do in life,

  do it the very best you can with both your heart and mind.

  — White Buffalo Calf Woman, Lakota (Pte Ska Win)

  What’s a derby?” asked Paul, standing at the side of the road with Bird. “A hat? A race?”

  Bird shrugged. She had a vague idea that it was a hybrid of show jumping and eventing, but she’d never seen one and wasn’t entirely sure.

  Paul looked down the road. “Here’s the Saddle Creek Farm truck.”

  Hannah pulled in. Julia sat in the front seat, waving. “Hi, Paul! Hi, Bird!” she yelled out her window, but then stared in disbelief at the smashed vehicle.

  “Holy smoke!” Hannah called. “What happened to Frank’s car?”

  “It’s a wreck!” Ju
lia exclaimed. The truck stopped, and she scrambled into the back seat.

  “We’ll tell you everything we know,” answered Paul, getting into the front. “But first, is everything okay at the farm?”

  “Yes. Cliff and Lucky and Boss are still up at the back field,” Hannah said, turning the truck around. “But now that Dexter is in police custody, I don’t think there’ll be a problem.”

  Bird sat in the back seat beside Julia, thinking. Dexter couldn’t do any harm for the next little while, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any problems.

  “Oh. Hannah, what’s a derby?” asked Paul.

  “It’s an elite, skill-testing course. Why?”

  “Because Frank wants Bird to compete in the Caledon Derby tomorrow.”

  “We don’t have a derby horse!” said Hannah with surprise.

  “I wonder what he’s thinking.”

  “Whatever he’s thinking, it might be helpful to get Bird ready for it.” Paul turned his head and grinned at Bird. “Frank already entered her.”

  “The nerve!” Hannah said with irritation. “There’s no way to get Sunny ready for tomorrow! It’s quite a specialty. It’s really difficult and potentially dangerous. It’s rarely held — the last one around here was years ago. There’s a steep slope called the Bank that’s really scary. It’s about forty-five degrees, then once you’re down there’s a rail fence to jump. Very technical.”

  “I think I know! Does a derby have the Devil’s Dike?” asked Paul. “If it does, I saw it on television from Spruce Meadows. And if it does, I agree: there’s no time to get ready. And it’s too dangerous.” Hannah was nodding. “Yes, of course you’re right, it’s too dangerous. The Devil’s Dike is always part of the competition, and the Water Jump, too, with the fence on the inside and the water beyond. It’s tough, for sure.”

  Bird leaned forward in her seat. This sounded fun! The more the adults thought she couldn’t do it, the more excited she became. She tapped Paul on the shoulder and gave him two thumbs up.

  “You want to do this?” asked Paul. He looked skeptical.

  Bird nodded enthusiastically.

  “No, Bird,” stated Hannah. “No way. It’s not safe. That’s that.” She set her jaw. “No more discussion.”

  AN HOUR LATER, HANNAH and Bird were putting together a course that was as close a replication as they could get to a Derby course.

  “That Frank can talk a potato farmer into buying french fries,” Hannah muttered as they built a jump at the top of a dip in the field. “I still think this is a bad idea.”

  Bird grinned as she helped. As soon as they’d gotten home, she’d gone right to the internet for course specifics. She’d printed out illustrations and measurements of past Derby challenges. Then, they’d loaded the four-wheel-drive Rhino with tools, jump standards, and wood, and started looking for the right landscape for the various obstacles.

  They found the perfect place for the Devil’s Dike. Bird paced it out. Basically, it was three vertical jumps positioned over a hollow. One vertical at the top, two strides down a hill, a fragile vertical at the bottom with a ditch underneath, two strides up the hill, then another vertical at the top.

  Bird stood with her hands on her hips. She could see the difficulties. Too fast, too slow, or not careful enough would lead to certain failure or a serious fall. Precision was needed.

  Easy peasy.

  Sunny! Bird hadn’t seen him watching.

  Easy peasy. Sundancer rocked back and leapt his fence. He trotted over to Bird to study the obstacle more closely. What’s the problem, Bird? You’re not worried, are you?

  We’ll have to go into this just right.

  When it’s ready, I’ll give it a whirl. The big chestnut gelding put his nose into the grass and began to graze.

  Bird patted his neck and chuckled. At least her horse was confident. That was half the battle.

  It took about thirty minutes to complete the set-up. Hannah picked up the measuring tape, hammer, and nails, and began to pack up the Rhino. Bird figured out how to ride it in her head.

  Sunny? Do you want to try this out?

  Sunny lifted his head. Sure. He whinnied loudly, rearing up on his hind legs.

  Hannah spun around. “What’s he doing here?”

  Sunny eyed the Devil’s Dike and began a slow canter. He came at it squarely.

  “He’s not going to jump it, is he, Bird?” Hannah gasped.

  Over the first hurdle, Sunny hopped. He took one stride down the hill and screeched to a halt at the ditch and rails.

  Hannah shook her head. “What is that darn horse up to?” Sunny backed up the hill and came again to the ditch. This time he cleared it. He took two strides up the hill, but ran out to the left of the top jump. He snorted, pawing the ground in frustration.

  Easy peasy, big boy?

  I’ll get it. Just wait.

  “Bird,” called Hannah. “Stop him. He’ll wreck the whole thing.”

  Bird pretended not to hear. It was far better for Sunny to figure this out himself than with her on his back — she’d make her own mistakes.

  He came at the whole combination again, with quite a bit more speed and impulsion. Over the first jump, down the hill, over the ditch and rails, up the hill, and then crash! Sunny went right through the vertical at the top of the hill, sending the rails flying. The horse kicked out with both rear legs.

  “Seriously, Bird! Stop your horse this minute! He’ll hurt himself! See the skid marks and the cracked rail?”

  Bird ignored her aunt and put the jump back together.

  “You’re not listening!” Hannah yelled.

  Sunny picked up a canter and came around again. His speed was faster than it had been the first try, and slower than it had been the second. Bird could see how hard he was concentrating.

  The big horse headed for the Dike. Over the first one he went, then down the hill and over the ditch and rails. He cleared it by a hair and powerfully cantered two strides up to the last vertical. Bird held her breath.

  He cleared it!

  Bravo, Sunny! Well done!

  Easy peasy, Bird!

  “Okay. You win. He did it.” Hannah was exasperated, but she smiled at the gelding’s skill. “Now, on to the forty-five degree Bank!”

  What’s that supposed to mean? Sunny transmitted.

  Come with us and take a look.

  Bird and Hannah climbed into the Rhino. Hannah drove past the barn and over to the edge of the far field. Sundancer trotted along with them. They stopped when the field ended abruptly.

  There, right in front of them, was a steep drop. It was about twelve feet to the bottom, and looked almost straight down.

  “This is as close to forty-five degrees as we have,” said Hannah. “Unless you want to go down the entire cliff.”

  I can’t do this, Bird. You know I’m afraid of heights.

  Okay.

  What? Okay? You think I can’t do this?

  Yup.

  Watch me! Sundancer sat on his hocks and slid all the way down. Got anything to say now?

  Good job, Sunny!

  I guess so!

  “That horse does nothing but amaze me, Bird!” praised Hannah. “You’d think he knew he was training for the derby!”

  Bird stared at her aunt. Didn’t she see? That’s exactly what Sunny was doing — training for the derby. He wasn’t sliding down hills and smashing through rails for nothing!

  “Let’s build a fence at the top and the bottom of this hill, like the picture.” Hannah stared at the page. “One stride, only! My goodness.”

  Hannah and Bird erected the top fence with two standards and a rail. When it was built to their satisfaction, they slid down the hill with the materials from the farm vehicle and joined Sunny at the bottom. They paced out the distance, marked it, and constructed another set of standards with one rail sitting precariously on top.

  “This is just like the picture,” said Hannah dubiously. “But it looks so airy.”

 
Airy and scary, thought Bird.

  Not so scary, telegraphed Sunny. Let me at it!

  Sunny scrambled up the rise and turned around. His eyes widened. His knees trembled.

  What’s wrong? asked Bird. You slid down just a few minutes ago.

  It looks horrible with that jump at the top and one at the bottom. I’ll break my leg!

  Take it nice and slow and you’ll be fine.

  Easy for you to say! I’m way up here and you’re way down there!

  You have a point. We don’t have to do this, you know.

  Give me a minute. I’ll trot away from the ledge and try again.

  “I guess Sundancer’s had enough.” Hannah started to pack up.

  Bird shook her head.

  “Well, go up there and get him saddled up. You’re going to have to try this sooner or later.” Hannah began to climb up the hill to the Rhino.

  Bird tried to stop her. She pointed to the top of the hill and made a galloping action.

  “Sunny’s not coming back, Bird. Horses won’t do something like this on their own.”

  Hannah was interrupted by the sight of a determined-looking Sundancer, cresting the hill and coming down fast.

  Bird grabbed her aunt and pulled her out of the way just as the big horse leaped over the top fence and slid past. Together they watched him gather his hind end under just in time to power himself up and over the bottom obstacle.

  “Wow.” Hannah was almost speechless. “Marvellous.”

  AT DINNER, HANNAH EXPLAINED to Paul what had happened. “We decided that Sundancer had done enough training himself. He was amazing! We didn’t want to overdo things.”

  “So Bird didn’t ride him at all?”

  “No. No need, really. Bird knows he can do it. She’ll just leave him alone tomorrow and trust him.” Hannah tasted her chicken pasta. “Please pass the pepper.”

  Julia handed her the mill. “What time is the derby tomorrow?”

  “It starts at ten. Bird and Sunny will ride over, it’s so close. They should leave no later than eight-thirty, and we’ll head over at nine. More salad?” Hannah lifted the wooden bowl and offered it around.

  There was a knock on the screen door, followed by Sally’s voice. “Hello? Sorry to come at dinner time!”

  “Come on in, Sally,” said Paul, rising from his chair.