The Saddle Creek Series 5-Book Bundle. Shelley Peterson

She didn’t want to think about it. The toast was buttered, the eggs were scrambled, and Abby arranged the plates with sliced tomatoes and parsley. She set them on the kitchen table with knives and forks and napkins, and two glasses, one with milk and one with water.

      “That looks delicious, Abby!” praised Liam as he returned the receiver to its cradle. “I guess you heard everything?”

      “No. I was thinking about other things. Why? What should I have heard?”

      Liam sat down at the table and shook out his napkin, placing it on his lap. “First, a little gossip for you. Samuel Owens and Helena Casey are an item.”

      Abby snorted. “They deserve each other.”

      Liam nodded, smiling. “Aside from the age difference, I can’t think of a better match.” He dug into the steaming plate of food. “Maybe that’s too harsh. I remember Helena Sandford when she younger. She was a great girl. A wonderful dancer, and an eyeful, too. But she changed.”

      He nodded his approval of Abby’s cooking, then his face darkened. “Joy found a bullet in the back of Dancer’s saddle.”

      Abby’s face paled. “Oh my gosh, I forgot to tell Hilary about that. Someone shot at us when we came through Owens’ place.”

      Liam stopped chewing. “You forgot?”

      “Well, so much has happened today, and all I could think about when I got back with Cody was getting him to the vet’s.” She stopped. “Dancer. A bullet in his saddle? That was close.”

      Liam nodded. “Real close. Rory called the police and they’re having the bullet examined. They’ll want to talk to you. We were lucky this time, Abby my girl, but you stay off Owens’ property from now on, you hear?”

      Abby could only murmur, “I hear.”

      They ate in silence, deep in their own thoughts. Liam wiped his mouth with his napkin after a few minutes and tried to lighten the tone.

      “Joy and Robert Wick have gone into partnership. In a theatre venture.”

      “Hilary told me.” Abby was relieved that the topic had been changed.

      “So Joy is going to be around a whole lot more.”

      “That’s good. I really like her, although I don’t know her very well.”

      Liam raised an eyebrow. “Would you like to get to know her better?”

      “Sure.” Abby looked up from her eggs. “Why? And why are you looking at me like that?”

      “Because Joy could move in here while your mother and I are at the clinic. How would that be?”

      “Dad, I can look after myself. I’m a very responsible person. I’ll be fine by myself.” Abby stopped herself from adding that she’d been virtually alone all the time that her father had been in jail.

      “Honey, I’m not going to leave a sixteen-year-old girl alone on a farm. It’s too isolated. You’re too young.”

      “I could move in with Leslie.”

      “What about Cody? And how would you look after the horses if you weren’t here?”

      Abby looked at her father. She swallowed the last mouthful of toast. “If it would put your mind at rest, then do it. But understand, it’s for your sake, not mine.”

      Liam laughed aloud. “That’s my girl.”

      8

      NEWS

      ON A WEDNESDAY MORNING one month later, Abby was riding her bike to school. Although there had been a spell of hot weather, this day in mid-May was fresh, and she was wishing she’d worn a sweater. But the sun was shining and soon the temperature would rise. All around her were signs of full-blown spring. The riotous flowers, the noisy nesting birds, the bright green leaves on the trees. Abby breathed in a lungful of fragrant air and smiled. It was a beautiful day and her spirits were high.

      Before she’d left for school that morning, her parents had called from the clinic. Her mother was working hard in her treatment, and her father was using the time to finish a mountain of paperwork he’d brought from his office. Five weeks remained before her parents were due to return.

      Joy Featherstone and Diva had moved in the day they’d left. Diva was a curious, friendly dog, given to mischievous jokes, like hiding one shoe or moving her food to a location of her own choosing. Abby had wondered if Diva would get along with Cody, but so far it wasn’t an issue: Diva followed Joy everywhere, and Cody kept his distance.

      Abby was growing quite fond of Joy, and admitted to herself that having her around was actually a great idea. Joy was always cheerful and had a quick, cozy sense of humour. The theatre project was keeping her totally absorbed, and Abby loved hearing about its progress at dinner, which was usually their only extended time together. No matter how busy Joy got, she always made time to prepare a delicious evening meal for Abby. Lunch became more interesting, too, with the tasty little treats that Joy would sneak into Abby’s lunch bag.

      Mr. Wick dropped in quite often, entertaining Abby and Joy with funny theatre anecdotes and stories. The story of Ambrose Brown intrigued them both, and there was much discussion about whether or not he approved of the refurbishings. Abby grinned to herself, thinking how much happier and better-dressed Robert Wick was lately. She suspected a little chemistry between the two older people, which amused her.

      Cody had survived his stay at the vet’s. He’d been extremely happy to see Abby every time she visited, but became very upset when she left without him. Finally, the day came for Abby to take him home. He could hardly contain himself, wiggling and whining and bumping into Abby’s legs. Colleen Millitch was every bit as relieved as Cody when he left. Having a wild animal in a cage who glowered and growled and sulked and skulked did not make for an enjoyable work environment. But she pronounced that he had been as good a patient as nature would allow, and that the leg would heal perfectly. Now, Cody was once again following Abby to school and hiding behind trees to avoid detection.

      Abby had rigorously kept to her horse schedule. She rode Moonie and Dancer at least three times a week, and trained Leggy daily. She could already see results in each one. Moonie was growing more responsive to leg aids, and jumping a three-foot course effortlessly. Dancer was getting much more fit. He enjoyed working, and met Abby at the gate to walk up to the barn with her. Abby got a big kick out of that. Pete Pierson helped with Leggy when he could, and expertly guided Abby in Leggy’s training. Leggy was driving happily now, responding immediately to voice commands and steering with confidence. Her attitude, haughty and proud and full of life, gave Abby great pleasure.

      She arrived at the big red-brick school with time to spare. Abby swung her leg over the bicycle seat and dismounted. She waved to a couple of kids as she walked over to the bicycle rack. Everyone was in a good mood on this sunny, brisk day, she thought, noting the smiles on people’s faces.

      Abby was kneeling at her bike, snapping the lock through the spokes when she realized that someone was standing over her.

      “Hey, Abby.”

      She rose slowly, combing her hair through her fingers. “Hey.” She looked up into the handsome face of Sam Morris, hardly daring to breathe. His curly dark hair and deep brown eyes made her heart beat rapidly in her ears. She was sure Sam could hear it, too.

      “Can I walk you in?”

      “Sure. Are you going that way?”

      “No. But you are, and I wanted to just, well, talk to you.”

      Abby willed her face not to blush. Too late. Fire-engine red, she knew. Her defences rose like thorns on a rosebush.

      “Whatever.”

      “I don’t want to bother you.”

      “You’re