Mystery at Saddle Creek. Shelley Peterson
be perfectly safe,” Bird said calmly. “And I need to ride Sunny. Besides, the man’s probably lying low. Hiding. He knows the police are everywhere. He wouldn’t dare make a move tonight.”
Hannah and Paul looked at each other. Paul raised an eyebrow and motioned to the jumping ring outside the house. “There’s mocha fudge ice cream in the freezer.”
Hannah looked Bird in the eye. “I don’t like this one bit, but if you must, Bird, practice in the paddock where we can see you. Do you hear me? And be back inside within the hour.”
Bird grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the table and pulled on her boots. “Thanks.”
Before Hannah could change her mind, Bird ran out to Sunny’s paddock.
Come on, horse. Time to rock and roll!
Give a horse a chance to think!
We’ve got to hurry before Hannah changes her mind. There’s a bad man on the loose.
Just one? We can take him.
That’s what I told her. Here’s an apple.
That’s my girl.
We have to stay in the ring.
Come on!
Hannah said.
Can we warm up on the trails? Please? It’s so boring in the ring!
Bird thought about it. She ran a brush over Sunny and threw on the tack. She glanced at the house. Through the kitchen window, she could see Hannah making ice cream cones for the girls.
Quickly Bird mounted, and soon they were trotting down the path toward the back. She knew she was disregarding Hannah’s instructions, but it was such a nice time of day! She loved the trails on summer evenings, after the hot sun had cooled. The perfect time to ride was after seven-thirty and before the sun set at nine. She’d just warm up on the trails, like Sunny had suggested, then work in the ring.
The smell of fresh-cut hay and thyme wafted on the warm breeze. Bird had been desperate to get outdoors after the policemen’s visit, and she could think of nothing better than breathing in fresh air while sitting on the back of her horse.
“Ah,” Bird said aloud. “This is the life.” The trail led to the back of the farm, then down the Escarpment. She eyed the cool forest below with yearning. Decision time, Bird thought. Obey Hannah or go down the ridge.
Hannah didn’t have to know.
Bird and Sunny carefully descended the winding, rocky path. The shade of the forest embraced them. Sunlight played through the leaves, and little creatures scurried for cover. Bird relaxed. The ride was having a therapeutic effect on her—it was washing away the stresses of the day. She was sure they’d made the right decision.
Suddenly, a man stepped out of the bushes and waved frantically. Bird and Sundancer were caught completely by surprise. Sunny reared up on his hind legs in fright and spun. Bird managed to stay on by a hair. She turned her head and looked hard at the man who’d materialized out of thin air. He seemed ... wild. He was around twenty, with matted dark hair and scrubby facial hair. He was naked except for a pair of old gym shorts and ripped sneakers. But it was his eyes that really caught her attention. They were full of worry and need.
Easy, Sunny. He wants to tell me something.
Sunny reared again and took off at a gallop. I don’t care. We’re going home.
Whoa! I want to know what he wants. Whoa!
Don’t pull that “whoa” crap. My heart is racing so fast I can’t see.
All the more reason to stop running!
Bird, he’s chasing us! Hold on to your hat!
There was nothing Bird could do but hang on. Sunny was in full flight, teeth clamped tight on the bit to avoid her efforts at control. He was covering the ground faster than he ever had before. Trees, bushes, the trail—everything was a blur. He stopped only when they reached the Saddle Creek barn. His sides were heaving and he was covered in sweat.
Bird slid down from the saddle, out of breath. She glared at him.
You could have killed us both!
That man could have killed us both!
He only wanted to talk to me.
Yeah? In the middle of the woods, smelling crazy? I know crazy and he’s crazy.
You’re crazy! You ran off like a lunatic. I’m so mad I could, I could ...
You could what? You never hit animals so don’t pretend. And Hannah said there was a bad man out there.
Bird stared at him. “Good grief.” She slowly sat down on the gravel driveway. The man in the woods looked just like the sketch. What if you’re right, Sunny? What if I’d made us stop and he’d attacked me?
The big horse snorted and nuzzled Bird’s hair. Okay, maybe I didn’t think of that ‘til now. Maybe I ran because I was scared.
But maybe your fear saved us. I guess I’ll have to tell Hannah what happened.
She’ll be upset.
You have no idea, Sunny.
3
THE WILD MAN
Tan had not intended to scare the girl with the beautiful horse. He’d only wanted to talk to her. The sound of something moving had woken him up. First, he’d listened to the noises of leaves rustling and twigs snapping. Then, he’d seen movement through the trees. A gorgeous chestnut horse was striding down the trail with a girl on its back. Tan had studied the girl’s face; there was peace in her eyes. He saw something else, too—something that he couldn’t define. Suddenly he knew that he could trust her with his secret. He wanted to tell her about all the blood, and explain how it had happened—he’d need her help if they caught him. And they’d try. People always blamed him. And that man. That man had seen Tan, and Tan had seen him, and the man knew it. Maybe they were stalking him now. He looked at the girl again. She wouldn’t betray him. He could tell her about the morning. He must tell her. She would help. He’d stepped out of the bushes and—in an instant— the girl and the horse were gone.
HANNAH HAD BEEN every bit as upset as Bird had predicted. Maybe more. She’d yelled about safety and choices and reckless behaviour. And about breaking promises in general, and about her going down the Escarpment in particular. Hannah had never yelled at her like that, and Bird felt awful, mostly because Hannah was right.
But today was a new day, a fresh start, and Bird vowed to behave herself. Liz had ended up staying the night, and now Julia, Liz, Hannah and Bird were in the barn, saddling up for a light schooling and maybe a short hack. Bird was half listening to the younger girls’ rambling conversation as she worked.
“So, want to hear something weird?” asked Liz as she bent down to pick dirt and pebbles out of Timmy’s foot.
“Sure.” Julia brushed Sabrina’s thick white tail.
“When I called my Mom this morning, know what she said?”
“How could I?” Julia grimaced at her friend.
“You’re never going to guess.”
“Just tell me!”
“You know that sketch the police brought here last night?” Liz straightened up and