Mystery at Saddle Creek (15 page)

“Now, Pete, you've upset her.” Laura threw her arms around Bird, gathering her into a warm hug.

Bird shook her head wildly. The truth had upset her, not Pete. She nodded at him and tried to smile. She wanted him to know that she was grateful.

The redheaded groom passed by just then, still walking the pony that the boy had rolled. “Hey, Bird,” she called, her voice heavy with derision. “How's Uncle Tanbark?”

Bird didn't even try to control herself. She twisted herself out of Laura's arms and lunged at the groom. She grabbed her shirt, shaking with rage.

The pony backed up, startled and afraid.
Don't hurt us! Please!

Bird stopped short, and stared at the pony. She saw herself through the animal's eyes, and it wasn't a pretty sight. She must look like a maniac. She fell on her knees, sobbing, as the redhead hurried away.

Pete knelt beside Bird. “Listen to me. Never,
ever
, let the small-minded people in this world win. Rise above them. Take the high road. Do you understand what I'm saying?”

Bird nodded. She knew he was right, but it was so hard to do.

“Soon enough we'll know the truth about who's to blame for the murder and the barn fire. You know and I know that it has nothing to do with you, so don't let them bring you down.” Pete slowly rose to his feet with Laura's help, his jaw set.

Bird tried to take courage from his strength and wisdom. Small-minded people were everywhere. If she let them, they'd erode her confidence until she became one of them herself. She stood up.

She stuck out her hand, and Pete took it. They shook on it.

“Good.” Pete smiled at her proudly. “When you get your speech back I want to know the whole story about how Kimberly got to ride Moonie, but now, Laura and I are going to get a bite to eat and find a good spot on the bleachers. We'll be right there when you ride. We're cheering for you, Bird, in every possible way.”

As Bird watched them gather their things, she struggled to control a barrage of emotions. Love for Pete and Laura; shame at her attack on the groom; nerves about her imminent ride; a conviction that she would speak again; and, above all, a commitment to herself to rise above gossip and speculation—including the gossip about Alec. She replayed Pete's words. She would assume that small-minded people had started that rumour, and she would not let them win. Her eyes misted over as she watched the Piersons proceed to the stands, arm in arm.

18

 

SHOW TIME

Tan pretended to sleep. His body was still sore, but his brain was working just fine. In fact, he was in overdrive. His father was still sitting there, watching over him. Tan peeked out of a corner of an eye. Yes. Still watching him. Tan couldn't stay here. He was so agitated that his chest felt like exploding. He was a prisoner in this place, and he knew it wasn't safe to stay. His chance would come. It would. And when it did, he would take it.

AN HOUR LATER, Kimberly and Moonlight Sonata stood beside Bird and Sundancer at the in-gate. Kimberly was up first, followed by Bird. To Bird, Kimberly looked pale and limp as she reviewed the course. She reached out and squeezed her friend's arm. Kimberly turned to Bird and stared, then went back to studying the order of the jumps. There was a blankness in her eyes. Bird recognized the look—she was zoning out. Kimberly's worst fear had always been that she'd forget the course. It was perhaps one of the most common fears for riders, and Bird could never figure that out. To her mind, the actual fact of riding a jumper over large hurdles should be far more worrisome.

Hannah walked up and stood beside Moonie. “Ready, Kimberly?” she asked with an encouraging smile. The class had been announced a few minutes before, and Kimberly's number and name had been called twice. People were getting impatient.

Kimberly nodded, but didn't move.

What should I do?
Moonie asked Bird.

She'll be fine once you begin, so just trot in and start.

She hasn't asked me to.

She's in a daze. Trot in, circle in a canter and start your approach to the first jump. Do you know where that is?

The one just past the starting gate.

Right. The white picket gate. She'll be with you by then. Don't worry.

What if she's still in her daze?

Then go to the next one, the hedge, or come back here.

Moonie shook her mane and trotted in. Bird looked at Kimberly; she was still on auto-pilot.

I hope you know what you're doing, Bird.
Sunny clearly didn't like the advice she'd given to Moonie.

I don't.

You just sent Moonie out there with a rag doll on her back and you admit you don't know what you're doing? Even a horse knows it's bad.

Let's just hope she wakes up.

Moonie began her circle at a canter and passed the start-gate as she headed toward the first jump. Kimberly was riding like a robot, but nobody else would know it, thought Bird. Kim's muscle memory was allowing her to move with the horse. With no help at all from Kim, they cleared the gate nicely.

Where do I go now?
Moonie was nervous. She cantered slowly, waiting for instructions.

To the hedge! The hedge!

Moonie cantered to the hedge and leaped it easily.
Now where?

Follow the fenceline and jump the three in a row.

Moonie's ears went back and her tail swished.

Jump the triple with someone sleeping on her back?
Sunny snorted.

Sunny was right — it wouldn't be safe for horse or rider. Bird sighed.
Just come on back, Moonie.

Let me see if I can get her attention.
Moonie slowed her pace and did a little buck. Then another.

Suddenly, Kimberly's eyes focused. She sat up and tightened her legs. She was back. Bird relaxed.

Moonie and Kimberly judged the triple perfectly and landed on the correct lead. They increased their speed as they went for the water jump. Clear. A tight turn to the vertical.

Moonie's good, Bird. Kimberly's okay, but Moonie's better than I thought. Maybe we shouldn't have helped her. They could win.

We'll have to be better than them, that's all.

We'll have to be faster.

Sunny and Bird watched as the pair jumped easily around the course. They got their leads, saved time around corners and worked together beautifully. For Bird, it was a pleasure to watch, but Sunny grew more upset with every completed jump.

Sunny, please! Settle down. You're using up all your energy jiggling.

I have lots of energy left. It was better when I thought I was superior. She's so small, that mare, and I didn't know about her form.

Bird patted his neck.
You're my champion, Sunny. Forget about Moonie's round. I want us to go in there and have a good time.

A good time? I want us to WIN!

Moonie and Kimberly trotted out, with Kimberly all smiles. “That was awesome! I don't even remember going in!”

No manure.

Behave!

It's our turn, Bird. Hang on tight.

Sunny! You are NOT going to do a Sabrina!

To win, I must. Moonie's time was excellent and they had a clear round. Not so much as a toe in the water jump.

Make you a deal. Let's start slow and work up to it if it feels right, okay?

Wimp.

Sundancer and Bird trotted into the ring, both aware that all eyes were on them, and not for the usual reasons, either. Today, their popularity had nothing to do with their skill and everything to do with the strange case that had gripped the community. They were the freak show, Bird mused — the extra entertainment.

While Bird wanted to keep below the radar, Sunny pranced like an Austrian Lipizzaner. He held his head low with his neck arched, and moved with a slow, huge, muscular gait.

No need to show off, Sunny.

Look at their faces! They think I'm awesome!

Let's impress the crowd with your careful jumping.

Another time.

Bird moved him into a canter and they passed the starter. They lined up the first jump, the white picket fence adorned with brightly coloured flowers on both sides and along the ground line. They were airborne when Sunny decided to put on the speed. Bird sensed her loss of control immediately. On the landing, he threw his head and grabbed the bit between his teeth.

Not fair!

Get used to it.

They raced to the hedge. It was wide and tall and made of brambles. Sunny shot over it, landed and was off at a gallop. Around the ring to the left they tore, gathering speed as they rounded the corner. Now they faced the triple: three identical jumps in a row, spaced out with a two-stride and then a three. From where Bird sat, it looked like a mess of red and white bars.

We're going way too fast!

Let me go, Bird, and I'll do this in a one-stride then a two.

You've got to be kidding!

The faster a horse goes, the more ground he covers with fewer strides. Bird knew it was possible, but she'd never attempted it before, and she certainly didn't want to try now. But there was no way to stop Sunny. He jumped the first of the jumps, landed, took one stride and jumped the second. He landed, took two strides, then jumped the third. Sunny made it through.

Who's kidding now, Bird? Whaddaya say? Wanna go faster?

No!

Too bad.

As impossible as it seemed, Sunny galloped even faster as they turned toward the water jump. There was a low yellow and green vertical in front of a pool of water twelve feet wide. They shot over it like a cannon. They were going so fast now that they couldn't turn left where they should have, and had to go the long way around another jump to the fifth hurdle, a purple vertical. Approaching it from a slight angle increased the risk of knocking down a pole, but now they had no choice.

Over they went. Clear. Sunny had his right lead and pulled Bird to the triple bar along the fence to the right. Bird's heart was pounding and her mouth was dry with fear. There were so many ways that this could end in disaster. She stopped trying to control him and merely concentrated on staying on.

I think I hate you
, she messaged.

You'll get over it. We need to win!

Sunny continued his reckless race toward the blue in-and-out, then took the multi-coloured optical illusion without reducing his speed.

Things changed as they turned the corner. Sunny looked at all the various angled jumps, and blanked. With Bird no longer steering, he'd lost his bearings.

Where are we, Bird? What jump is next?

It's a little late to ask for my help.

Which one is next? There are too many choices!

Will you behave and slow down? Probably not.

Sunny slowed his pace dramatically to buy some time.

Then I won't tell you.

Even in his hyper state, Sunny sensed that Bird was serious. He cantered a few strides on the spot.
Okay, I'll listen.

It's the vertical again.

But we've already jumped it.

We jump it again. Let me steer you.

They were over the vertical before Sunny had time to argue. He grabbed the bit again and went left toward the triple bar, which had followed the vertical last time through.

No, Sunny! We make a sharp right. Let me steer!

But that's the hedge. We already jumped it.

From the other side. Turn!
Bird yanked right with all her strength.

Okay, already! Now what?

Left to the white picket again, backwards.

Okay!

Now, straight through the gate.

We're through the gate and we're done!

No kidding, we're done. I never want to ride you again!

What?

As Bird and Sundancer trotted out of the ring, Hannah's worried face came into view. “What happened out there? Are you all right?”

Bird didn't even try to answer.

“Cool him out. There are thirty-five riders to go, and there will be a jump-off.”

Bird had no intention of following Hannah's instructions. She trotted up to the trailer and slid down. There would be no jump-off for her, that much she knew. She needed a lot more practice time at home before she'd be back in the ring with this horse.

19

 

THE JUMP-OFF

Tan could see that his father was getting impatient with sitting watch by his bedside. It wouldn't be long now. Kenneth Bradley had never sat this long in his life. Very soon he would not be able to stand it. Tan tried not to smile.