Deadly Heritage: a horse mystery: a horse mystery

by Toni Leland

  His eyes glittered. “Go out in the living room.”

  Kellie bit back the knee-jerk reaction to say something nasty, instead taking hold of Sara's shoulders and guiding her into the hall.

  “It's okay, honey. Just do what he says.”

  Sara whimpered. “I was only trying to help.”

  Travis snarled, “Shut up! Get over on the couch!”

  Kellie approached the worn sofa and eyed the gleaming rifle, wondering if she could grab it and hold him off long enough to escape.

  He picked up the rifle and laughed. “Nice try. Now don't move unless I tell you to.”

  She would have to talk her way out of this. Maybe she could think of something to say that would put her nephew back into his other personality. She scanned the room and spotted the empty shadowbox where Randy's treasured rodeo buckle had been displayed for so many years.

  She gestured toward a framed photograph of Randy roping a steer. “I remember how proud you were of your dad. We all were-he was a true champion.”

  Travis's expression softened a little. “Yeah, and he could've been even greater...” The softness disappeared. “If that bitch hadn't dragged him down.”

  Kellie struggled to keep her tone level. “After you disappeared, she came around and tried to claim the land as her inheritance.”

  His eyes widened. “No shit!”

  “God's truth.” Kellie met his gaze with growing courage. “It cost me fifty thousand dollars to settle with her. This piece of the Sutton estate belongs to you, and I was damned if I'd let some gold-digger floozy have it.”

  Shaking his head, Travis leaned the rifle against the wall, but said nothing. The news had obviously affected him deeply.

  She took advantage of the momentum. “I see you kept the buckle all these years.”

  He moved his fingers almost lovingly over the face of the design, and the tension on his face eased. “Yeah, it keeps him close to me all the time.”

  Kellie's confidence grew and her brain swirled with how next to proceed. Suddenly, Travis straightened up and a scowl furrowed his dark brows.

  “Who the hell is that?”

  She followed his gaze to the picture window, and she nearly fainted with relief.

  Sara jumped up from the couch. “Uncle Hyde!”

  Her friend's appaloosa trotted briskly through the long grass toward the house.

  Travis snatched up the rifle and stepped back. “You listen up 'cause I'm only gonna say this once. I'll kill the Injun if you don't do exactly what I say. Go out there and tell him you found the kid here, and everything is fine. Nothing else. Then you get your horses and head for home at a leisurely trot. I'll be listening and watching, and if you try anything funny, I'll shoot your brat first, then your friend.”

  Travis's deep-set eyes darkened into bottomless pools. “And for dessert, I'll shoot you.”

  ~ ~

  Outside, Kellie shivered in the afternoon warmth, trying to handle the terror rolling through her insides. Why was Jethrow letting them go? The sickening truth almost overwhelmed her-he wasn't. Out there in the middle of nowhere, he'd use them for target practice, pick them off one by one. He was a Jekyll-Hyde, and all the family support in the world couldn't save him-maybe not even professional help.

  Rage coursed through her heart. Knowing he'd destroyed her horses, all familial concern for his welfare disappeared.

  She took Sara's hand. “You must do exactly as he said. He's sick, and he will kill us.”

  The child nodded solemnly, her eyes wide with fear. Kellie started toward the corner of the house to head off Hyde.

  Sara whispered, “Mom, the horses are gone. What are we gonna do?”

  Kellie's adrenaline kicked in and she turned back to the open kitchen window. “Travis, we have to go find the horses. I'll tell Hyde to go on home.”

  A long silence sent her fear into overdrive.

  Finally, his blood-chilling voice drifted through the screen. “Go ahead, but remember this gun is long range.”

  Hyde rounded the corner and reined in. “Jeez, Kellie, what've you been doing out here all this time? You gave me a good scare.”

  Her mouth turned to cotton and she swallowed hard, trying to form a normal response.

  His expression sharpened. “What's wrong?” He slid off the horse and took a step forward.

  “Nothing! The horses got loose. You go on back, we'll follow.”

  His eyes registered disbelief, then his gaze moved past her to the pickup. Her heart hammered in her ears as she took his arm and pointed out toward a field, her whisper ragged.

  “Please, go back. He'll kill us if you don't.”

  Hyde nodded and stepped away, speaking loudly. “Okay, well, hurry up-everyone's waitin' to eat.”

  In one graceful movement, he mounted his horse and reined around to the right. Kellie nearly threw up as he trotted back the way he'd come. She glanced at Sara, small and frightened. What could they do? Jethrow would just shoot them anyway-she knew it in her heart. Taking Sara's hand, she pulled her around in front, shielding the child with her own body. They started toward the field, Kellie wondering which step would be her last.

  The grass swished against her legs as she walked around to the far side of the barn, out of sight of the house. The still afternoon air had grown muggy again, and the sky was a hazy ceiling. Her knees began to wobble and she leaned against the barn, gasping for breath to quell the panic.

  “Will Uncle Hyde send help?”

  A sob cracked Kellie's voice. “I think so, honey, but we have to do this right now.”

  She scanned the fields, a strange image forming in her mind. The haggard men and women of the land rush, huddled under makeshift shelters, doggedly guarding their piece of the promised land. She shuddered, struck by the reality of their sacrifices-all for the sake of a dream. Not too different from her own life. Why am I thinking about this now?

  A light breeze blew from the south, and she looked toward the old windmill. The blades turned slowly, then another movement at the base caught her eye. The horses nosed through the grass, oblivious to the evil.

  Sara called out to Juicy and his head came up. He watched them for a minute, neighed once, then dropped his head to continue pulling up clumps of grass. A booming thump stopped Kellie in mid-stride. Thunder? She frowned up at the cloudless sky. The hollow, resounding thumps increased in volume as they neared the windmill.

  “Mom, what's that noise?”

  Kellie squinted at the blades, trying to pinpoint the sound. It came again, but from a different direction. The heavy air buffered the thumps, the breeze hurling it around, playing tricks on her sense of direction.

  “I don't know. Something is probably out of balance in the old shaft.”

  “Yeah, Cousin Travis said it needs adjusting.”

  An involuntary shudder shook Kellie's courage. Everything that had meant so much to her had become a deadly heritage.

  She grabbed her gelding's reins and turned to Sara. “Now remember, act calm, stay right next to me, and don't go faster than a trot.” She swung up into the saddle and tried to reassure her daughter with a confident smile she didn't feel. “It's going to be fine. Sheriff Campbell will take care of everything.”

  Chapter 19

  Travis watched his aunt through the kitchen window. She was dumber than he'd thought. A regular Pollyanna, thinking she could make everything right with words. And that's all they were-empty promises.

  He stepped away from the window and glanced around. “Time to get ready for my party.”

  He pulled the last beer from the cooler, then sauntered into the living room. He pulled the dingy sheets off the overstuffed chairs, straightened some pictures on the wall, and collected the empty beer bottles. When he'd finished, he stood very still. Listening. Smiling. No echoes from the past, no stale whiskey and cigarette odors to bring back the memories. He picked up the rifle and headed out to his truck, a smile forming in his head.

  He'd scared the shit
out of Kellie and her kid.

  He grinned at his reflection in the rearview mirror. “She ain't seen nothin' yet.”

  From the upper third of the field north of his house, Travis could see the barns and corrals of Kellie's ranch. To the east, a thick stand of pecan trees sequestered the estate farmhouse. Everyone would be there by now. He squinted at the scene. This would be one barbeque he'd never forget.

  The old metal gas cans weighed almost eighty pounds each, but years of manhandling cantankerous steers had built enough upper arm strength that he barely grunted as he carried the containers through the grass.

  A heavy rumble broke the warm air and he glowered at the gathering clouds. “Don't you dare fuckin' rain on my parade!”

  The thunder growled and bumped while he worked and, twenty minutes later, he pitched the last empty can aside. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, and reached into his shirt pocket for a cigarette.

  The wind had picked up, buffeting his back as he cupped his hands around the flame on the lighter. Then pulling a deep drag of smoke into his lungs, he gazed at the back of his hand.

  “Yep, better get this looked at.”

  He stared out over the long brown grass bowing before the wind, and peace settled into his mind.

  He took another long pull on the cigarette, then tossed it, watching it sail into the air and skid sideways on a gust of wind. In seconds, the dry grass exploded, flames racing away in both directions, licking at the trail of gasoline and igniting everything in its path. The wide arc of fire raced toward Kellie's ranch. Tension bordering on erotic excitement tightened his gut and he started to laugh, caught up in the intoxicating poetic justice of his deed.

  “Th-th-that's all, folks!”

  ~ ~

  Even with all the windows rolled down, the inside of the cruiser was sweltering. Ed removed his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

  “What the devil is taking Kellie so long?”

  Danielle fanned herself with a newspaper. “Want me to go find out?”

  “No, I'm not in any hurry to tell her the news.” He glanced sideways at his deputy. “You didn't have to draw your gun on those two-I had it under control.”

  “What's the matter? Can't stand being protected by a girl?”

  Her husky chuckle overrode the sarcasm, and Ed grinned.

  “Are you a girl? Could've fooled me.” He turned away and looked straight out the windshield. “You'll make a great sheriff.”

  A curtain moved at the living room window, and Clarke's face appeared. Ed opened the car door.

  “I'm going to find Kellie. Tell dispatch we're still here.”

  Striding across the gravel, he replayed his earlier conversation with Kellie. He understood her resistance to the information about her nephew-her family loyalties had always been her driving force, sometimes to her detriment. If Travis Mack was the one responsible for the tragedy in the barn, could she distance herself from the blood ties? Once upon a time, Ed would have thought he knew the answer-now, he couldn't be sure.

  Stepping into the cool interior of the barn, he exhaled with pleasure at the relief from the heat. The evening feed was underway, and he approached a young man tossing flakes of hay into empty stalls.

  “Ms. Sutton around?”

  “Dunno, ask Roy.”

  Ed continued down the aisle and saw the old man by the office, writing something on a blackboard.

  “Howdy, Sheriff. You lookin' for Ms. Kellie? She and Hyde rode outta here 'bout an hour ago.”

  Ed's gut bucked. “Where?”

  “Not sure, but they headed south through the fields. They was lookin' for Miss Sara.” His wrinkled face moved into a frown. “Sumpin' wrong?”

  “Can I borrow a horse?”

  Terrible thoughts raced through Ed's mind as he followed the old man across the aisle. Roy tightened the cinch on a saddle, then turned to Ed.

  “Anything I can do?”

  Ed swung into the saddle. “Yes, go over to the house and tell the deputy to meet me at the old Randolph Sutton house.”

  He kneed the horse forward without waiting for a response, then urged his mount into a canter the minute they cleared the barn door. The big chestnut gelding gathered himself and Ed leaned forward as they sailed over the fence, landing with a hard thud. To the south, ominous clouds gathered, reflecting the fear growing in his chest.

  He tried to remember the shortest way to Randy's place. The memories of horseback rides with Kellie merged with images of her in the clutches of a lunatic. His horse thundered over the hard ground, and Ed suddenly came to his senses and slowed the horse to a brisk trot. A second later, he heard a shout and reined in. He looked around, but saw nothing. Then he heard the voice again and turned toward the west. A lone rider approached. Ed started off in that direction and, in moments, recognized Hyde Browning.

  “Ed, someone's got Kellie and Sara over at Randy's old place. I don't know who or any details, but she managed to tell me he's threatening to kill them.”

  “How'd you find this out?”

  Hyde described the charade, and Ed took a deep breath. “It's her nephew.

  “There was a green Ford pickup parked in the yard. Texas license plate started with AZ9.”

  Ed punched the radio button. “Danielle, where are you?”

  Her voice sounded strange and tinny. “I'm parked down the section road from the house. I don't see any vehicles or signs of life.”

  “Can you see anyone on horseback?”

  “Nope. What do you want me to do?”

  “Stay put, I'll be there in a few minutes.” He punched the button again. “All units. Sutton Estate quadrants. BOLO green Ford truck, Texas plates, AZ9. Owner Travis Mack. Consider suspect armed and dangerous. Over.”

  He turned to Hyde. “You go on back-”

  “Forget that. Kellie's my friend too. And you shouldn't be out here alone in the sights of a crazy person with a rifle.”

  ~ ~

  Kellie jumped down and handed the sweaty horse off to Roy and moved toward Sara. She pulled the small shivering body close, terrified to ever let go again. Sara began to cry, and Kellie stroked her hair.

  “It's okay, honey, we're safe now. I'll call the sheriff.”

  “Sheriff took off on one of the horses, Miz Kellie. He was goin' to look for you.”

  “Oh, my God! Jethrow will shoot him!”

  She raced out of the barn, Sara beside her. A county cruiser was turning around in the driveway as she approached.

  She waved her arms and yelled, “Wait! Hey!”

  The car roared down the drive, lights flashing. Despair raged through Kellie's head. She turned and ran toward the porch where her brothers stood.

  “Ed's in trouble! We have to call for help!”

  Sara's voice shrilled from a few feet away. “Mom! I smell smoke!”

  Kellie whirled around, automatically looking toward the barns. The acrid odor of burning vegetation filled her nostrils and she exhaled sharply, racing out to the driveway where she could see beyond the trees sheltering the house. Brown smoke rose across the horizon, enveloping the wide expanse of land. The dull rumble of thunder vibrated the air, followed by a jagged bolt of lightning to the west. A gust of wind blew the terrifying odor into her face and she took off at a dead run, while trying to pull her cell phone from the belt holder. Then, she stopped and stared at the display-she hadn't recharged the battery.

  Cliff appeared beside her. “Tell us what to do!”

  “Call 911!” She turned to look at the approaching bank of smoke, now punctuated by vivid orange flames. The haze settled across the late afternoon sun, turning it into a giant pulsing globe hovering at the edge of the horizon. Terror consumed her. The fire would race across the parched fields to claim the barns-nothing would stop it. And Ed was out there somewhere. Nausea slammed into the back of her throat and she drew a shuddery breath, trying to quiet her fear. He'd be all right-he'd probably been in worse situations.

  She turned to C
larke. “We have to get the horses out of the barns before the fire gets there!”

  He looked scared. “And take them where?”

  “Anywhere-but for God's sake, don't turn them loose or they'll run back inside! Sara, you and Roy start pulling horses out of stalls and help Uncle Clarke get them into the field across the road-the one with the pond.”

  Terrified whinnies pierced the air and she wheeled around. Dark shapes raced back and forth against a fiery backdrop-her pregnant mares were trapped in the path of the inferno.

  She pointed toward the south pasture. “Cliff, open that gate!”

  She raced into the main barn, stopping only long enough to grab a saddle rag and tie it over her nose and mouth.

  The gelding she'd ridden earlier rolled his eyes when she ran into his stall. She snapped two lead ropes to his halter and dragged him out into the aisle. With the sharp odor of smoke, panic had coiled through the barn, and the horse danced and dodged, tossing his head. Kellie scrambled onto his bare back and wrapped her legs around his barrel. She leaned forward and gave him a sharp kick in the flank. He galloped out of the barn, then reared and tried to turn back, but Kellie slammed her heels into his sides and he shot forward.

  A dull roar inundated her senses, and determination replaced her fear. She raced through the open gate, the wind buffeting her as she tried to steer the horse toward the crazed herd in the middle of the field. Smoke burned her eyes and tears coursed down her cheeks. Even the cloth-filtered smoke seared her lungs, but the terrified cries of the trapped horses spurred her on.

  Suddenly her horse planted all four feet, skidding into a perfect sliding stop. Kellie flew over his shoulder, hitting the ground with a bone-jolting thud. The herd's natural instinct to be with other horses sent them pounding toward her. She scrambled to her feet and grabbed the horse's lead rope, pulling him around to face her. The herd was closing in and Kellie began to run toward the open gate, dragging the reluctant gelding behind her. Twenty terrified horses thundered past her, and the gelding took off to join them, whipping the lead rope through her hand. Searing pain knifed through the raw rope burn and she stopped, gasping for what little air remained. The herd ran straight through the gate and headed for the main barn.