Mystery at Saddle Creek (18 page)

22

 

THE VISIT

Tan waited. He had to be patient. So far, his plan was unfolding exactly as he'd wished. He'd fooled everybody from the people walking down the hall to the old lady at the reception desk. It wasn't all luck, either. It was smarts—and skill.

It felt so good to be free! The fresh night air, the wild energy, the feel of dirt and grass under his feet! But now it was crucial that he reach the girl. He needed her help. He watched the farmhouse. Patience. He had waited this long; he could wait a little longer.

LUCKY'S WHINING WOKE BIRD. She opened one eye. The clock on her bedside table read four-fifteen. It was practically the middle of the night! But then Bird heard something else. It wasn't only Lucky making noise. Through the open window she could hear Sunny racing around outside in his field. Shaking the sleep out of her head, she stumbled to her window. The night was pitch black. No moon or stars were out to light the countryside. She couldn't see a thing.

Sunny! What's happening out there?

No response.

Sunny? Can you hear me?

Still no response. Sunny was panicking, and his mind was closed — he'd switched into his flight reflex. It must be bad.

Bird quickly pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt over her nightgown, and slid her feet into her sneakers. She crept downstairs, careful not to wake anyone else. She had to calm Sunny, or he might colic or twist an intestine.

Lucky? What's going on?

Intruder! Intruder!
The dog sounded one shrill, urgent bark.

Shh! Should I let you out?

Yes! Yes!

Will you be in danger?

No! No! Let me out! Let me out!

Bird unlocked and opened the inside door. Lucky shot outside as she reached out to hold open the screen. At the same instant, a man's hand grabbed her arm.

Bird stiffened. She tried to pull back her arm, but his grip was too strong. The hairs all over her body stood up. Where was Lucky? Bird tried to scream, but nothing came out. She held tight to the door frame and refused to be pulled outside.

Terrified, she braced herself with her right leg and walked her fingers along the wall until she found the switch. She flicked on the kitchen lights. In the flood of light, Bird saw who was holding her arm. It was Tanbark Wedger, smiling at her, with a bandage over his forehead.

Lucky sniffed at his leg.
It's the guy who saved you and the horses. No problem.
He picked up a scent in the garden and followed it away.

In a split second, Bird's fear disappeared and was replaced by fury. Tanbark had scared her silly.

The fly swatter hung beside the light switch, and Bird took it in her free hand. She wound up and swatted Tanbark's shoulder with all her strength. He jumped back and dropped her arm. “Ouch!”

She glared at him and brushed herself off. Nobody had the right to manhandle her, mentally ill or not.

“You hurt me! I've got burns! You didn't have to hit me.”

Bird glared at him harder and put her hands on her hips.

“That hurt! But forget it. I really need to talk to you. I need to tell you what happened, and I can't tell anybody else.”

Bird took a long look at him. This was the first time he'd spoken to her. She saw the urgency in his eyes — and the need. If he'd escaped from the hospital and travelled this far so fast to tell her something, she really wanted to hear what he had to say.

The sound of footsteps interrupted them. Paul was coming down the stairs. Quickly. Bird put her index finger to her lips.

Tanbark dropped back in the shadows beside the door.

Paul was now in the room. “Bird? Is that you? Lucky woke me up. Is someone here? I thought I heard a man's voice.”

Bird didn't want Paul to scare Tanbark away. If she could only talk, she could explain it to Paul. She opened her mouth and tried hard. Nothing.

“Bird? Close the door. The bugs'll come in.” Paul stepped closer. “Did I hear a voice? Bird?” Paul was beside her now, and Bird could sense his curiosity about why she was acting so strangely. Then he saw the figure outside in the shadows. He stiffened with uncertainty. “Hello there?”

Tanbark backed away. His face caught the light and Paul recognized him.

Bird took a step between them to slow Paul down.

“Stand back, Bird.” Paul put his hand out. “Easy now, Tanbark,” he said gently, ignoring Bird. “Nobody's going to hurt you.” Paul slowly approached. “Why don't you come inside? We have some delicious food left over from dinner.”

Tanbark looked wary. With every step that Paul took forward, he stepped back. Bird sensed his growing anxiety.

Paul's face was that of a hunter stalking his game. If Bird could read Paul so easily, Tanbark could, too. Using her eyes and chin she tried to tell Paul to back off or Tanbark would run. Paul didn't pay any heed, and stepped slowly closer and closer.

Sunny messaged her.
Bird.

Sunny.

He came downwind. I went crazy. I didn't know it was the wild man.

He came to talk to me.

He wants to run and hide.

What should I do?

Nothing. Let him run.

Just then, Tanbark jumped back, spun around and raced amazingly fast across the front field. Paul stood there, watching him go.

Sunny let him run right past. The big chestnut horse nodded his head up and down.
Was I right or was I right?

You were right.

Paul turned to Bird, concern on his face. “Are you okay?”

Bird nodded.

“I'll call the police. They should know he showed up here. Kenneth Bradley should know, too. He's worried sick.”

Bird shook her head. She walked quickly into the kitchen and plucked a pencil out of the cup. She grabbed the pad of paper and wrote:
Don't call police. Not Grandfather, 2. Something's wrong. Tanbark wants 2 talk 2 me. He knows things.

“He can tell the police. We have to be sensible, here.”

He wants 2 tell me, not the police! Wait 'til he tells me, or we'll never know.

Paul thought about it. “I can't promise that, Bird. We don't know when, or even if, he'll come back, do we? But I'll make a compromise. I won't call tonight. They wouldn't be able to find him anyway.”

Thanks
, she scribbled.

“Understand, Bird, Tanbark needs medical attention. You know that. I'm calling first thing in the morning.” He looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. “Which is two hours from now.We can't leave him out there alone in the woods and in need of help.”

Bird nodded. She knew Paul was right. But she also had a funny feeling that Tanbark would be safer in the woods. He was strange, but she didn't think he was dangerous. Bird wanted to hear what he'd come to say, and also why he'd left the hospital in such a hurry. She didn't have much time to find out.

Bird waited quietly in her room, listening, until Paul's snuffly snores became steady. Gathering her courage, she slid on her clothes again, crept down the stairs and made her way outside. Dawn had just broken and the early birds chirped as they searched for their worms. She hopped the fence into Sunny's field.

Let's go for a ride, Sunny.

I can tell you're up to something.

You're right.

Say, “As always.”

Okay. You're right, as always. I want to find the wild man.

You're crazy.

Probably, but he came here to tell me something and I want to know what.

You won't rest until you do, will you?

No.

Bird and Sunny travelled along the path to the back of the farm. Riding bareback with neither bridle nor reins, they passed the far fields and the wild, rocky area that was only good for cow pasture. Hannah used to have cows, Bird remembered with a snort, but after their last escape, she'd sold them all and vowed never again. That had been the end of Hannah's flirtation with using all the acres of Saddle Creek land. Now they just enjoyed riding through the shrubs and rocks and ledges and drops.

Bird and Sunny came to the lip of the Niagara Escarpment, a rocky deposit left by the glaciers in the Ice Age. Along this same ridge, just a little over a hundred kilometres away, was the famous Niagara Falls. Bird looked down—way down. On one side of a narrow path was a sheer drop. On the other were thorny, tenacious trees, hanging on to the rocky cliff by their roots.

Last time, when he was burnt in the fire, you went down this way, Bird.

Let's do it again. He probably went back to where he was before.

Nothing to lose — except our lives.

Very funny, Sunny.

Let's go down the way I went. It meets the same path.

Okay.

I'm having a nice time. Maybe horse shows are too much stress. They used to be fun.

They'll be fun again, Sunny. It was my fault. I was preoccupied and inattentive. Sorry.

I was pigheaded and belligerent. Sorry.

Bird smiled broadly as she and Sunny slowly descended into the deep, dark woods at the bottom of the cliff. It was refreshing to have Sunny as her friend and not her enemy. She felt his body stiffen.

Bird, do you smell that?

No. What?

A storm's coming.

Now?

No, but very soon. It makes me nervous.

Don't worry, Sunny. We'll be home before the storm.

Promise?

Promise. The sky is blue. Red even, over there on the horizon.

That colour red is the storm coming. I'm very nervous.

They descended farther. The trees obscured the light, and, step by step, they became more engulfed in darkness. Sunny startled at a sound.

What was that, Bird?

I didn't hear anything.

Humans have very poor ears. There! It happened again!

Sunny, I can't hear a thing.

I can! This is scary, Bird. Let's go back.

But we're having a lovely time!

Speak for yourself. There it is! A hissing sound. Let's go!

I don't want to go back yet! I want to find the wild man. That's what we're doing down here, remember?

If it's a huge snake, I'm outta here.

The snakes here are harmless.

They're ugly and they wriggle. I want to go home.

Sunny, stop jiggling. I don't have a saddle!

I jiggle when I'm nervous. Can we turn around?

Just then, out of the trees, came the thunderous crashing noise of an animal charging through the woods.

Sunny reared up, spun around and shot off like a rocket, leaving Bird in a heap on the ground. With one eye she glimpsed the terrified horse scale the Escarpment like a deer.

With the other, she looked up at the blurry figure of Tanbark Wedger, still garbed in his filthy hospital gown. Bird tried to smile; then she passed out.

23

 

THE STORM

Tan congratulated himself. He'd accomplish everything so easily! First his escape from the hospital, and now the girl had literally fallen into his hands! He would be patient a little longer. Once she regained consciousness, he could tell her the entire story — at long last.

BIRD DREAMT ABOUT ROCKS and a tent made of old horse blankets. The green one belonged to old Sir Galahad — Saul was his barn name.

But was it really a dream? It was hard to tell.

Bird thought she heard a rustling near the tent, but she wasn't sure. Noises echoed hollowly and made no sense. Everything was a little fuzzy. Her eyes couldn't focus properly. Her arms and legs wouldn't co-operate, so she lay slack.

The rustle again. Maybe it was real.

Bird girl. I'm here.

Cody?

Yes. You're tied up. Don't try to move.

Oh. That's the problem.

I've been watching. If you are in danger, I'll kill him.

I'll be okay. He has something he wants to tell me.

He's not right in his brain. He might make a mistake.

Bird felt a chill run up her spine.