Sundancer

by Shelley Peterson

  Bird couldn’t remember the last time she’d used a telephone, but she picked it up and dialed Paul’s emergency number, praying that he was on call. It rang once. Bird waited. It rang again. Each second felt like an hour.

  “Paul Daniels here.” Paul’s voice sounded hoarse and groggy.

  “Co … me!” Bird whispered.

  “Who is this? Speak up, please.”

  “B … ird. Come! Ba … rn.”

  “Bird? What happened?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I’ll be right there.”

  Bird hung up, then dialed the house. Hannah picked it up on the first ring. “Hello?”

  “Co … me b … arn. N … ow!”

  “Bird is that you? Are you all right? You said the barn?” Hannah was clearly disoriented from sleep.

  “El … vin.”

  “Elvin’s here? Now? It’s three in the morning!”

  Bird hung up. She listened. Sunny was making a terrible noise. It sounded like he was choking to death. Bird started pounding on the door.

  “Shut up, kid!” yelled Elvin. “I’ve got enough trouble here with the horse!”

  Sunny? Are you all right? Bird tried to reach him.

  I’m fine.

  What’s all that noise?

  Does it sound good?

  No! It sounds like you’re dying.

  That’s what I’m going for.

  Good boy. Paul and Hannah are coming.

  Sunny’s throaty coughs and chokes and gags got louder. Another horse started to cough. Soon, the entire barnful of horses was snorting and hacking. Even in her desperation, Bird stifled a laugh. She’d done all she could. Now, she simply had to wait.

  It didn’t take Hannah long to get to the barn. She’d thrown a coat over her nightgown and slid her feet into sneakers. “I saw the lights! What’s going on?”

  Elvin spun around, fear etched on his face. “Hannah!”

  Sunny continued to hack and rattle. The others fell silent.

  “What have you done to my horse? He’s choking to death!” Hannah rushed to his stall.

  “I didn’t touch him, I swear! He just started making all these … er … sounds.”

  “Did you give him anything? What’s in that syringe?”

  “Ace. I haven’t been able to get near him. I promise.”

  She opened Sunny’s stall door and stepped in. “Easy boy.” She stroked his throat. “Easy, Sunny.” The big horse suddenly stopped choking.

  “Look, Hannah,” started Elvin uncomfortably. “Look. The client wants him sooner than we thought, so I came …”

  “You came to make sure we didn’t pull a disappearing act. I wondered if this might happen.”

  Elvin pulled himself up to full height. “Yes. That’s right. No point pretending. The last time we came to get him, Bird ran away with him.”

  Hannah cleared her throat. “I meant, I wondered if this might happen because this is exactly what you pulled last week. Remember? Leon stole Sunny from the Piersons’ barn in the dark of night.”

  “Let’s just say that there’s not a lot of trust on either side.”

  Paul’s truck screeched to a halt at the front door of the barn. He jumped out, slammed the door, and ran in. “Hannah! Where’s Bird?”

  Hannah’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, my gosh. I completely forgot!” Bird started pounding on the tack room door.

  “The tack room.” Hannah and Paul spoke at the same time. Together they pushed the ancient oak tack trunk away from the door.

  “This weighs a ton,” said Paul.

  Bird opened the door and stepped out. Hannah gasped when she saw the bloody gash on her head.

  “What did you do to my niece?” demanded Hannah.

  Bird mimed being man-handled and thrown into the tack room.

  Hannah spoke sharply to Elvin. “We’re pressing charges.”

  “Let’s all calm down. I’m sure we …” Elvin began.

  “No!” snapped Hannah. “Let’s not calm down. You came here in the dark of night to remove a horse from my premises without permission. And you roughed up and injured my niece. I’m calling the police.”

  Elvin clamped his wrists together, miming handcuffs. “Take me away in chains. Guilty as charged. But look at it my way. We’ve just sold this horse for three hundred thousand dollars, U.S. I want to have him at my barn, under my care, until he gets on the trailer tomorrow.”

  “And there’s no excuse, ever, to hurt a child,” added Paul. Bird was sitting bravely on the oak tack trunk. Paul had already swabbed the cut with antibacterial soap, and was applying antibiotic ointment and a bandage.

  “I’m sorry. Look, I’ll leave now. I’ll be back for Sundancer at nine. I would appreciate it if we can forget all about what happened tonight.”

  Hannah glared icily at Elvin. “I make no promises. And Elvin, Sundancer will be under guard for the remainder of the night. Don’t try anything stupid.”

  Elvin tried to manage a smile, but it looked strange. “Don’t worry, I won’t. By the way, I need Sundancer’s passport. It goes with him.”

  Paul looked up from his patient. “The passport? You’re using Sundancer as his name?”

  “Yes. It only makes sense. That’s the name he’s been showing under.”

  “But surely his papers say Prince Redwood?”

  Elvin turned to go. “Leave the details to us. And Hannah, send the bill for board and training directly to me. I’ll pay it promptly and add a little extra to compensate for tonight.”

  Stunned, Paul, Bird, and Hannah watched as Elvin turned the truck and trailer around and drove out the lane. This time the lights of the truck were on.

  19

  DANCER

  I like to be scratched under the chin.

  Bird had made her decision. She would remain with Sundancer for the rest of the night, and nobody was going to talk her out of it. She had no idea what would happen in the morning, but each time she thought of Sunny leaving she felt a sharp pang in her chest.

  Hannah and Paul went into the house to make coffee. They would take turns guarding the barn with Bird while the other napped.

  Bird got herself comfortable in a nest of hay and rested against the wall of Sunny’s stall, tucked into a soft horse blanket. Sunny was content. After the Elvin incident, he was happy for Bird’s comforting presence.

  Thank you, Bird girl.

  For what?

  For using your voice. You got help for me.

  I did, didn’t I?

  That was good.

  I surprised myself. I haven’t used the telephone since I was six.

  Maybe you can talk now. To humans, I mean.

  Maybe. It hurts, though.

  Why?

  To answer that question, I’d need all night.

  As it happens, that’s exactly the amount of time I’ve got.

  Bird paused for a very long time while she gathered her thoughts. Sunny took a sip of water from his bucket and munched some hay. He circled a couple of times, then lay down in the wood shavings beside her.

  Go ahead, Bird girl. Tell me your story.

  Bird patted his long neck and took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling, and she didn’t know how to explain. She’d have to feel her way through.

  I was six and a half, and I just stopped talking. Period. Overnight. Sometimes not speaking is inconvenient, but it’s amazing how well a person can get along. People react in different ways. Some think I’m crazy, or stupid, or willful. It doesn’t bother me much, mostly. People don’t talk to me, either, but I know what they’re thinking. And they don’t often say what they mean anyway, so what’s the point? The funny thing is, when I do talk, nobody listens.

  Sunny continued to crunch on hay. Okay, but other humans speak. Why not you?

  I’ve been trying to figure that out. I think it started with my mother. Sometimes I wonder if it started with my father. He didn’t even want to know I existed! But that can’t be it. He didn’t know me so I can’t take i
t personally, right? He didn’t want to know about any baby, period. If he knew me and rejected me it would be different. That takes me back to my mother. She heard only what she wanted to hear. She saw only what suited her. She liked to paint pretty pictures in her head and make them real. She forced them to happen.

  If it wasn’t perfect, it scared her?

  Exactly. And I wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t what she wanted from the very beginning. I look like my father, who she doesn’t want to remember, and she could never understand my relationship with animals. It made me different from other kids — my friends teased me when I told them I could talk to the dog. I didn’t care — it was their loss — but it totally embarrassed her. She wasn’t able to force me into her picture. I tried, Sunny. I tried hard to fit in to her world, but I couldn’t.

  Bird wiped her eyes. She tried to take a deep breath, but it caught in quick gasps. I smiled and laughed like she wanted me to, but I was faking and she knew it. The clothes she got me to wear made me feel stupid. I hated how she wanted me to be, and how she made me feel.

  Bird paused for a moment, remembering. Mom always had boyfriends. And it was very important to keep the boyfriends happy. Even if they were creepy. Like Bill. I could read his mind and I knew what he was thinking about me. It was disgusting. So I told Mom and she didn’t believe me. She said I was making it up. That I was a liar. She was really, really angry. And whenever I tried to explain what our animals were saying, she freaked out. You see, every time I said something important, Sunny, she told me I was lying. We grew further and further apart until we hated being near each other.

  Sunny yawned and stretched his neck. So you hated her.

  It’s not just that I hated her. I hated me for hating her, and I hated that I cared so much that she hated me! Then one day, it was like I didn’t have the energy to speak. It wasn’t really a decision or anything. It was just … easier. And it worked in a way, because Bill got mad and then he left. But then Mom hated me even more. Bird slumped against the stall wall, tears rolling down her cheeks.

  Sunny chewed on hay. That was a long time ago, Bird girl. She doesn’t hate you now.

  Bird looked at Sundancer. His remark caught her by surprise. You’re right. She doesn’t hate me now. She’s trying hard to learn to love me. But really, what’s more important is that I don’t hate her any more. It still hurts, but I understand more now, and I can forgive her.

  Sundancer put his nose on her arm. Understand what, Bird girl?

  Understand about my mother. She has a hollowness inside, Sunny, from how she grew up. Same as Hannah, but it shows in different ways. My grandfather is not a nice man, and he wasn’t a good father. I never thought about that until lately. I mean, I never thought about why Mom is how she is. What her life was like when she was a kid. I only cared about what she was, how she acted, how she treated me, what she thought of me, and why I mattered so little to her. But mostly I thought about how I hated her.

  Hate is fun for a short time, Bird girl, then it gets very wearying.

  I know what you mean, Sunny. It’s an exhausting emotion. It takes away energy. It took away my ability to speak.

  Yet you speak to animals, Bird girl. No other human that I’ve ever met can do that.

  Some must, Sunny, but don’t you see? That’s my biggest problem! That’s what makes me weird.

  Do you wish you couldn’t?

  No! It’s my biggest problem but it’s also my greatest skill. I don’t know how other people get along without it. If people just tried to communicate with animals, they’d understand more about humans. About how confusing we are … to animals, but to other humans as well. Animals are direct. They’re not deceptive or manipulative, and they don’t have secrets. I prefer them to people, for the most part. Bird found that Sunny’s question had distracted her. She felt calmer now.

  I was messed up by humans, too, just like you.

  I know. But we survived, didn’t we? We’re both survivors. We did what we had to do. I guess for me, that meant being quiet for a while.

  Sunny took a bite of hay. I started hurting people before they hurt me.

  I know that, Sunny. But most people still don’t understand why you do the things you do.

  Some days are bad days and some days are good days.

  You have fewer bad days now.

  True. It’s because you explain things to me, and my troubles go away. Partly. But you had to be willing to let go of your hatreds and fears. You helped me do that, Bird girl.

  And you helped me, too, Sunny. More than you know.

  Bird thought about the last few weeks — her school troubles, her mother’s visit, her grandfather’s tricks and schemes. Would she have been able to make it through without Sunny? She doubted it. If she made his troubles go away, then he did the same for her. When she was on his back — or even just near him — she felt strong and capable and loved. She felt like she could do anything — forgive her mother, forgive herself, even talk. She leaned forward and rubbed his ears.

  And now, I need to take my own advice.

  What are you talking about?

  You were willing to let go of your fears, Sunny. Now, I have to let go of mine.

  HANNAH HAD NOT SLEPT well. Taking shifts on watch with Paul, the time evaporated into stress-filled thin air.

  Stuart showed up at the house for breakfast at eight thirty. Without knocking, he walked right into the kitchen with a cheerful smile. “Good morning, Hannah! Lovely Sunday.”

  Hannah sat alone, hunched over the table. She peered at him over her coffee mug through puffy eyes. “Morning Stuart. You almost live here, lately.”

  Stuart nodded happily. “Seems I do. Is the beautiful Eva up yet?”

  “Yes. She’s shaving her legs.”

  “Wonderful. Wonderful.” Stuart whistled as he poured himself a coffee. He peeled a banana and crammed a day-old blueberry muffin into his mouth.

  “Help yourself to coffee, Stuart. And please, get yourself something to eat.” Hannah didn’t bother to conceal the sarcasm in her voice. “Tell me, Stuart. Why exactly are you so happy today?”

  Stuart winked at her. “Hannah, all will be revealed. I have a surprise guest. He should be here any minute. Trust me, today will be a very happy day for us all.”

  “You’re proposing to Eva?”

  “Great idea! I think I may. It may be rushing things a bit, but she is the most perfect woman I’ve ever met. But first, I have a little surprise.”

  Hannah steeled herself. “Stuart. I can’t imagine that you didn’t notice, but I’m in a terrible mood. Sundancer is leaving in half an hour and Bird will be wretched. Surprises are not welcome today.”

  “This one will be.”

  There was a rap on the door.

  “My guest!” Stuart opened the kitchen door with a flourish. Standing there was a sturdy man of about fifty years of age. He had short-cropped greying hair and a friendly smile. He wore jeans, a plaid shirt, and work boots, which he leaned over to remove.

  “Don’t worry about your boots, the place is a mess,” said Hannah, too tired to rise.

  “Hannah, this is my brother-in-law, Mack Jones. Mack, meet Hannah Bradley.”

  Hannah took another look at the man. “Mack Jones? Not the Police Chief?” She found herself standing.

  Mack nodded. “I’m in my weekend clothes. Stuart explained your little problem and I think I can help.”

  “Help? Really? How?”

  Stuart put his finger to his lips. “All will be revealed.”

  “Stuart, you’re driving me crazy!” Hannah snapped.

  Eva appeared at the hall door. “Hannah! Don’t talk to Stuart that way.”

  “Eva, my darling!” said Stuart. “It doesn’t bother me one bit. Have you gotten rid of all unwanted hair?”

  “Stuart! What’s gotten into you? And who is this?”

  “Eva, it’s time you got to know my family. I’d like you to meet my brother-in-law, Mack Jones. Mack, this is Eva Simms. You
might remember her. She’s Hannah’s sister.”

  Mack smiled warmly and put out his hand for Eva to shake. “I certainly do. It’s been a while, but you look exactly the same.”

  “Thank you, and I’m pleased to meet you,” said Eva, returning his smile. “Again.”

  “I asked Mack to come this morning. To meet you, of course, but he may be able to help.”

  “Help? How?” asked Eva.

  Hannah and Stuart said in unison, “All will be revealed.”

  Eva gave them a perplexed look, lifted her eyebrows, then turned to get some coffee.

  Paul Daniels entered the kitchen and went right to the coffee pot. He’d driven to Guelph for the DNA results, and then checked on the situation at the barn. “Hi, Stuart, hello Mack,” he said as he passed by.

  “Hi, Paul. How’s it going?”

  “Fine, with the help of a cup of fresh coffee. What brings you to Saddle Creek this fine Sunday morning, Mack?”

  “My brother-in-law,” Mack answered.

  Paul poured his coffee, then slowly turned to face Mack and Stuart. “Good idea, Stuart. Why didn’t I think of it?”

  “Think of what?” asked Eva.

  “What are you going to do?” Paul asked Mack.

  “All will be revealed,” chimed Eva, Hannah, and Stuart. They burst out laughing. Now it was Paul who looked confused.

  “Don’t worry, Paul. We’re all in the dark except Stuart and Mack.” Hannah gave him a reassuring smile.

  “Where’s Bird?” asked Eva.

  Paul answered, “In the barn. She’s asleep beside Sunny. Don’t wake her, she’s been up most of the night.”

  “Poor girl,” said Mack. “This must be very tough on her.”

  The rumbling sound of a big diesel engine interrupted their conversation. They all knew what it meant.

  “It’s here.” Stuart was the one who said it aloud.

  Up the driveway rolled the biggest equine transport truck that any of them had seen. It was pure white, with enormous red and white Canadian flags emblazoned on the sides. The jolly driver waved as he hauled it past the house toward the barn.