Dark Days at Saddle Creek. Shelley Peterson

cooking, Hannah,” he sighed as he leaned back in his chair.

      “I love cooking for you,” replied Hannah. “You’re so appreciative!”

      “I’m appreciative, too,” said Bird. “I just don’t gush as much.”

      Hannah chuckled. “You don’t need to. I saw how you ate every bite and asked for more.”

      I like Hannah’s cooking, too. Lucky thumped his tail under the table.

       You like anybody’s cooking.

       I do. I do.

      “You made an extra pie,” noticed Bird. “Is that for tomorrow?”

      “No, that’s for the Piersons.” Hannah filled Paul in on her conversation with Laura. “Pete is under the weather, and he really likes this kind of pie.”

      Paul rubbed his belly. “Can you blame him? It’s amazing.”

      “Do you have time to run it over to them, Paul?” Hannah asked with a smile as they cleared the table. “Do you mind?”

      “Anything for you,” he answered, and kissed her on the cheek.

      “Why don’t I go instead?” Bird asked. “I haven’t seen them for a while. I could ride Sunny, and leave you two alone to get mushy with each other.”

      “One day you’ll understand.” Hannah grinned as she began wrapping the pie.

      “I understand already. I’m the three in the ‘two’s company and three’s a crowd’ rule.”

      “Never!” exclaimed Hannah.

      “I want to ride over and see the Piersons anyway, if it’s okay with you.”

      Paul looked at Hannah, who nodded. “Great,” she said. “Just be home before dark, okay?”

      “Okay.”

       Can I come? Can I come?

      “Can I take Lucky with me?”

      “Sure.” Hannah added. “Be careful on the road.”

      “Okay.” You can come.

       Hooray! Hooray!

      Bird helped Hannah put the wrapped pie in a cloth bag with handles so she could safely carry it on horseback. She left the house with the brown dog happily following her.

      5

       MERRY FIELDS

       Honour all with whom we share the Earth; four-leggeds, two-leggeds, winged ones, swimmers, crawlers, plant and rock people.

      — anonymous Native American Elder

      Sunny and Bird took their time getting to the Piersons’ farm. Leisurely, they hacked down the gravel road, followed by Lucky, who sniffed every bush happily. Bird smiled with pleasure. There was nothing she liked better than to ride her horse bareback in the cool, fresh evening air.

      Hannah’s pie smelled delicious. Bird was sure that Laura and Pete would be delighted. The Piersons had always been good to her. She counted them among the people she could rely on in times of need. They’d helped her when her grandfather had tried to sell Sundancer, and counselled her wisely whenever she needed to get on the right track. They cheered her up, too, Bird thought. They had a wonderful, sunshiny, practical outlook on life. Merry Fields was the perfect name for their farm.

      Bird could just picture them now, sitting by the fire in their roomy kitchen, chatting about the day’s events as Laura stitched a ripped pocket or mended a worn sock. The house would smell of fresh flowers and home cooking, and the kettle would be on, ready to offer a friend or neighbour a cup of tea. It was always like that.

      Merry Fields was not far from Saddle Creek, and soon Bird and Sunny were strolling up the driveway. Lucky was busy somewhere, but Bird wasn’t worried. Cody was likely around, and he’d keep an eye on the pup.

      Interesting, Bird thought. There were no lights on in the kitchen, and the truck wasn’t parked in its usual spot beside the house. Maybe the Piersons had gone out somewhere. But where would they go if Pete was not feeling well?

      Bird slid off Sunny and removed his bridle so he could graze. Don’t go far, Sunny. I don’t know how long I’ll be.

       Right you are. I won’t move. This grass is delicious.

      Bird took the pie and walked up to the kitchen door. She peered through the glass. There was no cheerful fire burning in the hearth, no fresh flowers, and no home cooking. The house seemed empty and forlorn.

      She knocked on the door. Nobody came.

      She glanced at Hannah’s pie. Leaving it outside wasn’t an option. The ants, raccoons, and squirrels would get at it within minutes.

      She tried the door. To her surprise, it opened. Bird called out, “Hello? Mrs. Pierson? Mr. Pierson? Is anybody home?”

      There was no answer, so Bird put the pie in the refrigerator and found some paper and a pencil to write a note. They’d find the pie when they returned.

      A wheezy, whining noise coming from the hall stopped her in her tracks. She put down the pencil and strained to listen. The noise came again. It was faint, but something or someone was definitely in the hall.

      Bird gathered her courage and crept to the hall door. She put her ear to the space between the door and the frame. She heard it again, this time more clearly. It was a rasping sound, like tortured breathing. Fear gripped her. Should she run? No. She had to know what was going on.

      Hands shaking, Bird opened the door a crack to take a look, having no idea what she might see.

      Pete! Bird gasped involuntarily. Lying on the floor! He was hunched over in an awkward position with his head jammed against the wall.

      Bird rushed to him. “Mr. Pierson! Are you all right?”

      Pete opened an eye, and then closed it.

      Bird pulled his legs with all her strength to straighten his body, and carefully moved his head to relieve the stress on his neck.

      “What happened?” Bird whispered. Pete didn’t react. “Where’s Mrs. Pierson?” His skin was yellowish grey and his mouth hung open. Bird felt panic rise in her chest. This was all wrong.

      Suddenly, Pete’s breath rushed noisily from his open mouth. Bird jerked back in fright. He coughed hoarsely. He opened one eye again, then shut it, as he had done before. There was no sign that he had seen her at all.

      Bird shot to her feet. Mr. Pierson needed help. She’d call 9-1-1, then Hannah. She ran to the kitchen and picked up the phone. There was no dial tone. She replaced the receiver and wondered what to do.

      Lucky began to bark wildly. Bird looked outside as the Piersons’ truck stopped with a screech of the brakes beside the house. Bird ran outside.

      “Mrs. Pierson! Mr. Pierson needs a doctor!”

      Laura got out of the passenger side, and Dr. Collins stepped quickly down from the behind the wheel. He grabbed his bag and ran past Bird into the house.

      “Bird, dear!” said Laura. “Pete had a spell. The storm knocked out the phone and I had to drive over to get the doctor. I hope you didn’t worry.”

      Not worry? Bird’s eyes grew round. She’d just seen a very old man gasping for air on the ground! “I brought over a pie from Aunt Hannah,” was all she could think to say. “I put it in the fridge.”

      “Thank you, dear. How very thoughtful.” Her eyes glanced to the house and back to Bird. “Can you visit another day? I must join the doctor now, and help my darling Pete.”

      “Yes!