Dark Days at Saddle Creek. Shelley Peterson

night. You and your mother come here tomorrow morning. By then I’ll have talked things over with Hannah, and we go from there. How’s that sound?”

      Sally looked relieved. “It sounds great! What time should I come?”

      “Early. As early as you can.”

      “I know, but when?”

      “Seven-thirty? Eight o’clock?”

      “Too early. My mother likes to sleep in on Sundays. How about eleven?”

      “This is a big deal, Sally. We’ve just kidnapped your horse! We have to figure this out before Dexter finds him missing. Wake your mother up. The last thing Aunt Hannah needs is to be charged with horse theft!”

      Sally’s eyes rounded. She nodded. “Right. See you tomorrow morning. Early.” With that, she dropped Bird’s bike on the side of the road and got in the car. She started it up and jerked forward. Bird and Tall Sox jumped out of the way.

      “Slowly, Sally!” pleaded Bird.

      Sally tried again. She began the arduous task of turning the car around. She backed up and halted, backed up and halted, moving her wheels inch by inch.

      Bird left her to it. She rescued her bike and walked up the Saddle Creek lane with two bicycles and a horse. On the bright side, Bird thought, Sally hadn’t run over her.

      Tall Sox settled in calmly and seemed to enjoy the roomy stall with fresh hay and water. This is a nice place, he messaged. Can I stay here?

       I think so, answered Bird. At least for now.

       I’m glad to be here. I feel safe.

      Bird was reminded how sensitive horses were. There was not much they couldn’t figure out from people’s demeanour and moods. They just took it in, like drinking water. I’m glad you’re here, too. Tomorrow you’ll meet Hannah. She owns the barn, and it’s important to make a good first impression.

      I always do. Tall Sox put his head back down and munched more hay.

      3

       A NEW BOARDER

       Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

      — Chief Seattle, Suquamish, 1854

      Bird was up very early, and was already in the kitchen when Hannah came down at six to make coffee. Bird immediately offered her a steaming cup with milk and a bit of sugar, just the way she liked it.

      “Toast?” asked Bird. “Bacon and eggs? Sunday brunch?”

      “What are you up to?” Hannah rubbed her eyes and yawned.

      “I’m just trying to be nice.”

      “Sorry, Bird. I shouldn’t be suspicious! How awful of me.” She sat down at the table and took a sip of coffee. “Delicious. Thanks, sweetheart.”

      Bird sat with her. “Actually, you should be suspicious. I have an ulterior motive.”

      Hannah’s sleepy eyes cleared. “Speak to me.”

      “Remember yesterday? The conversation I had with Sally Johns?”

      “The blond girl with braces?”

      “Yes.”

      “The girl with the horse at Dexter’s?”

      “Yes.”

      “The horse that I forbade you to rescue?”

      This was not going to be easy. Bird took a deep breath and decided to go for it. “Well, he’s here.”

      “Who’s here? Where?”

      “The horse, Tall Sox. He’s in the barn.” Bird waited for Hannah’s reaction.

      Hannah scratched her head. She took a sip of her coffee. Finally she said, “I can’t say I’m surprised. I don’t want to know how he got here. It might incriminate me.” She gave Bird a sideways look. “What’s he like?”

      Bird exhaled. “He’s really nice looking, Aunt Hannah. And sensible. He has a small, deep gouge on his back where the saddle sits. I think Dexter did it, and that’s why everyone thinks he’s untrainable.”

      Hannah tapped her finger on the coffee cup. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. We’re in a lot of trouble. I’m assuming you had Sally’s permission to move the horse” — Bird nodded as Hannah continued — “but you didn’t have her parents’. There are laws about things like that. I’m going to get dressed. I’ll think this over. When Paul wakes up I’ll ask his opinion.” She rose from the chair and left the room, then called back, “And Bird? Paul needs to see this gouge.”

      “Right. I’ll wait here.” Bird leaned back in her chair, relieved. She couldn’t have asked for a better reaction. Paul was a veterinarian. He would fix up Tall Sox’s back.

      Minutes later, Hannah and Paul came downstairs, and after Paul sleepily grabbed a coffee, they went out to the barn.

      “Who’s this new gelding?” asked Cliff, the farm manager, as he met them at the door. “Why didn’t I know about him?”

      Bird explained. “His name is Tall Sox. He belongs to Sally Johns. She asked me to bring him here last night because Dexter was going to euthanize him today.”

      Cliff ’s eyes widened. “Why? He looks healthy and sound to me. And he’s making friends with everybody, so it’s not that he’s a nutcase.”

      The four of them walked to Tall Sox’s stall and looked over the half-door.

      Hi, Sox. Did you sleep well? messaged Bird.

      Very well. I like it here. He stuck his nose over the stall door and sniffed Bird. She patted his head.

      “He’s handsome,” said Hannah. “I’ll give him that.”

      “Let me see this sore on his back,” said Paul. He’d brought his vet bag from his truck, and now he donned latex gloves. “Put him on cross ties for me, will you, Bird?”

      She did as he asked, and watched as he methodically examined the animal’s back.

      “There’s a pus pocket under the surface. Sitting where it is, it doesn’t drain well.” Paul cleaned the wound thoroughly and disinfected the area. “I don’t know why it hasn’t been looked after.”

      “Especially with the money they charge over there,” added Hannah.

      Paul stripped off his gloves. “When we get permission from his owners, put him on sulphur, Cliff, will you?”

      Cliff nodded. “Ten days?”

      “Yep. That should clear it up.” Paul shook his head. “I don’t know how this particular injury would occur,” he said, “unless he was poked hard with a sharp object, and the wound was kept open and allowed to fester.”

      Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of tires crunching across gravel. A car stopped at the door of the barn. Bird watched as Sally and a short blond woman got out. The woman did not look happy, but Bird steeled herself. She walked over to them with a welcoming smile on her face.

      “Hi, Sally! And hello, Mrs. Johns. I’m Bird.”

      The woman smiled feebly. “I’m Sally’s mother, but my name is Cindy Farr. Can anybody tell me what’s going on? It’s early, and Sally makes no sense at all.”

      Hannah ushered them over to Tall Sox’s stall. She introduced herself and Paul, then said, “Your daughter asked for help with her horse. How much do you know about the situation?”

      “Only