Dark Days at Saddle Creek. Shelley Peterson

      Happily, Bird slid between the covers and rested her head on the pillow. She was proud of the way she and Sunny had ridden at the show. Tomorrow she would find Tall Sox. Next week, if he was at the show and she was lucky, she would speak to the mysterious man. Soon she would kiss the lips of her boyfriend, Alec. Within minutes, Bird had fallen into a contented sleep.

       BIRD? ARE YOU AWAKE?

      Bird rolled over to get more comfortable.

       Bird? Wake up!

      Bird sat up. She waited. Was she dreaming, or had Sundancer just called from …

       Bird!

      Sunny? What is it? She was fully awake now.

       You have human company. Look out your window.

      Bird jumped out of bed and stepped over to the window. On the ground below, somebody was looking around furtively. It was a female, and young. Bird watched as she fidgeted and fussed. She seemed very uncertain of what she should do.

      Bird removed the screen and leaned outside. “Hello?” she said quietly. “Who’s there?”

      The girl let out a weak scream and clutched her chest with her hands.

      From the kitchen below, Hannah’s dog, Lucky, started to bark.

       Lucky! Quiet! It’s all right!

      The barking stopped. If you say so. If you say so.

       Good dog, Lucky. Good dog!

      Bird spoke to the girl. “Don’t be afraid. I’m up here. In the window.”

      The girl looked up, and the moonlight revealed her face. Sally Johns.

      “Sally! Stay there. I’m coming down.”

      “Bird! I’m so glad —”

      “Shh! Don’t wake everybody up.”

      Sally nodded and slapped her hand over her mouth.

      Bird quickly pulled some clothes over her pyjamas and slipped on her runners. She crept downstairs and out the kitchen door with Lucky at her side. The brown dog raced over to Sally, who was standing under the big maple tree at the fence. He sniffed her, then took off to follow his nose.

      Sally looked like she might cry. “Bird, I’m not so sure I should’ve come. I’m scared! And I don’t have a driver’s licence!” She glanced to the end of the driveway, where a car was parked on the road. “That’s my mother’s. She doesn’t know I took it.”

      Bird guessed that Sally wouldn’t have come over in the middle of the night without a good reason. “Something new with Tall Sox?”

      Sally nodded wildly. “They’re taking him away first thing in the morning. Wanda — she’s a groom at Moreland’s — told me. I don’t know where he’s going, but they’re going to kill him, I just know it. I’ve been dying to talk to you since I heard! Can you come with me now?”

      “Do you have your beginner’s?”

      Sally’s head bobbed assertively. “I know how to drive.”

      “And you have a plan once we get there?”

      “Of course I do!”

      “Then what are we waiting for?”

      Sally’s face relaxed. The two girls headed for the road. They ran on the grass to avoid making any noise on the gravel. As quietly as possible they got into Sally’s mother’s car and pulled shut the doors.

      Lucky’s furry head appeared at Bird’s window. Can I come? Can I come?

       No. Good dog. Guard the house while I’m gone.

      The dog’s tail began to wag. Yes, Bird! Yes, Bird! He disappeared from sight.

      Sally started the engine. The car jerked into gear and sped into the road. She jammed on the brakes, causing the car to skid in a wide arc and throwing gravel in all directions.

      “I thought you said you could drive!” cried Bird. She willed her heart to stop pounding.

      “I can! I’ve driven the lawn mower since I was ten!”

      “How old are you?”

      “Fifteen.”

      “You said you had your beginner’s.”

      “No, I didn’t. I said I could drive. Another chance? Please? I can do better.”

      It was one thing to help Sally save a horse. It was another to risk her life. “No offence, but I’m going to ride my bike.” Bird got out of the car.

      “Really, I can drive! I’ll show you!” Again the car lurched forward as Sally put her foot to the gas pedal.

      “I’ve got bikes,” said Bird. “You shouldn’t be driving. You’re terrible.”

      “What’ll I do with Mom’s car?”

      “Just leave it. We’ll worry about it later.”

      Sally frowned, but she followed Bird back to the house. Bird’s bike was leaning against the bricks, and Hannah’s stood next to it. Bird wasn’t too sure about Sally’s bike riding skills, either, but there was really no other way. She gave her own bike to Sally and rode Hannah’s.

      The girls pedalled fast, and soon they neared Moreland Farm. Sally stopped, out of breath.

      “What?” asked Bird. She braked her bike as well. “Now that we’re here, I don’t know what to do.” “You said you had a plan!”

      “I did. My plan was to figure it out when we got here.”

      Bird decided not to scream at her. “You stole your mom’s car, got me out of bed, and you don’t have a plan?”

      Sally’s mouth tightened. She looked hurt.

      “Don’t worry.” Bird got back on the bike and pedalled slowly so that Sally could catch up. “Let’s leave the bikes at the gate and walk in.”

      “No!” Sally whispered urgently. “There are security lights and cameras at all the gates.”

      “That’s a good thing to know,” said Bird sarcastically. They’d been within a few feet of discovery. If they’d triggered the lights, their adventure would’ve been over before it had begun.

      “There’s a trail over there that leads to the stable.” Sally pointed to the right, and Bird peered into the darkness. She could vaguely see a path through the tall grass.

      “Okay. That’s where we’ll go.”

      They trespassed over the adjacent neighbour’s field and left their bikes in the bushes. Bird looked around. The night was still, and eerily quiet. Nothing moved — not even the blades of long grass in the meadow. Through the dimness, she took a good look at the barn. It was a huge old clay brick building with a separate arena off to the side. The Dutch doors were open at the top, letting in the night air, but the place looked dark and forbidding.

      Silently, two large Alsatians came racing around a corner. Their noiseless arrival put Bird on edge. She knew that a dog intent on catching something didn’t bark. A bark is a warning. No bark means business.

      “The guard dogs!” gasped Sally. “I forgot!”

      “What else did you forget?” Bird groaned. She was beginning to feel like a fool. She held out both hands and messaged the dogs. Stop. We are not here to harm you or the horses or the property.

      The Alsatians halted their approach. One dog began to whine. The dog that wasn’t whining demanded, State your intentions.

      Bird identified him as the alpha dog. She answered with