Mystery at Saddle Creek (21 page)

Sunny awoke to lightning and thunder. He tossed his head to shake out the drugs. Apart from the noise outside, the barn was quiet. He was alone. He pushed on his stall door. Solid. He tried the hardware and latch with his lips. Too tricky. He looked down at the hall floor. Slippery. He looked up at the height of the ceiling. It was his only choice.

Sunny backed up as far as he could. Keeping his head low to avoid the rafters and bunching all his weight over his rump, he neatly leapt over his stall door without touching a hair. He landed lightly, but the sparks flew as his steel-shod hooves hit the cement. The smell of sulphur rose to his nostrils. Sundancer trotted out of the barn and bolted into a gallop the second he touched dirt. He raced full out, along the trail, through the rocky crags and all the way to the top of the Escarpment.

The rain was hardening and turning to hail. It pelted his coat. A flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by the mighty roar and crack of thunder. He was terrified, but Bird needed him.

Stay alive, he messaged. I will find you.

In the tent, Bird heard Sunny's words and was comforted by them.
I'm safe
, she answered.

The storm was worsening. Bird stayed under the horse blankets, thinking hard about what Tan had said. Sandra Hall had hit herself with a tire iron—hard. Hard enough to knock herself to the ground. Hard enough to kill herself. It was horrible. Bird couldn't even imagine it! Was it even true?

And her grandfather saw Sandra on the ground, bleeding, but didn't call for help. Why?

Bird struggled to put the pieces together. Tan was clearly ill, but he had no reason to make this up. A man who would save horses—and another human—from a barn fire wasn't likely to kill a woman on the side of the road. Was he? And besides, it all kind of fit. Even Kenneth Bradley watching over Tanbark on his sickbed. Tanbark had been right to leave the hospital when he did, thought Bird. He was the only witness. And if Kenneth didn't want the truth to come out—and he obviously didn't—he would want to keep Tan quiet. Bird shivered.

Cody crept into the tent and shook himself off.

Cody! I'm glad to see you, but you're getting me all wet!

I need to be dry for a small time.

Bird smiled.
Okay.
Cody's presence made things much better.

Sunny is coming. The dogs are leaving and so are the humans.

That's good. The wild man is gone, too.

Yes. Maybe he will return. Maybe he will not.

I'll stay here until the lightning stops.

And until the bad man leaves.

The bad man?

I saw him. He's in your den. Waiting for the wild man to be captured.

Bird knew who Cody meant. He called her grandfather the “bad man,” and her “den” was the farmhouse. Now that she'd heard Tan's story, the last thing Bird wanted was to run into Kenneth.

Bird girl, I will go now to show Sunny the way.

How are you going to find him in this hail?

He'll get to the place where he lost you, then he'll look around.

Cody slid out of the tent and melted into the wild weather. Bird loved the mysterious ways of the coyote. She admired how he knew so many things and kept track of where everybody was, up at the house and down in the woods. He was a very smart and honourable animal, she thought.

Three minutes later Cody reappeared, followed by a drenched and huffing horse. Bird got to her feet and went out to greet them.

Sunny!

I'm sorry I left you down here, Bird. I'm ashamed.

You were frightened, Sunny! You did what horses do. I'm not mad.

I've come to carry you back to safety.

We're safe here. Come out of the storm.
Bird had been outside for less than a minute, and she was already drenched. She tried to steer the horse under the tent.

Where's the wild man?
asked Sunny.

He ran away a minute ago.

The sky became electrified with a bolt of lightning. A deep rumble followed instantly behind.

Sunny trembled.
Let's go!

But Bird was firm.
We'll stay here until the storm passes. I'm not arguing with you about this. We don't want to be struck by lightning.
She reached up and patted his nose.
Come under the tent with Cody and me. And here's a blanket for you. We don't need anything more.

Once under cover and out of the elements, Sunny relaxed.
It's nice in here, with you and Cody.

Bird smiled as she adjusted the wool cooler on his back. They were cozy and dry under this makeshift tent, and she could think of no better company. They would wait out the storm together.

26

 

THE PLOT THICKENS

Tan felt so good. He had told the girl — finally! — his story. The hail and the lightning didn't bother him one bit; in fact, he enjoyed it. He stretched up to embrace the forces of nature as a crash of thunder rattled the trees. The rain cleansed his body and the electricity around him cleared his brain. Now he needed to find a place to stay for the night. At least the dogs were far away. There was no hurry now. Something would come along. It always did.

PAUL AND KENNETH WATCHED the tracking dogs and policemen trudge back to their truck in the teeming downpour, empty-handed. Kenneth Bradley became more and more outraged as he watched them load up.

“Mickey Mouse, Daniels! It's Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck time! In my day we never gave up until we had our man. Give me an umbrella. I'll give them a piece of my mind.”

Paul rummaged around in the broom closet and found a big black umbrella. He handed it to Kenneth. Grabbing it, the older man slammed the kitchen door and stomped through the mud and rain to the police truck. Paul chuckled at the scene before him. Kenneth waved and gestured while the men went about their jobs. Casually and efficiently they got the dogs, equipment and men into the truck, while Kenneth grew angrier by the minute. Finally, he threw the umbrella on the ground and raised his fists in a challenge.

The leader of the unit quietly got behind the wheel and drove off, leaving Kenneth alone in the driveway. He turned toward the house and prepared to storm in.

Paul was trying to sort out how to handle the situation when Kenneth had a change of mind. He got in his new car soaking wet, and drove away with his wheels spinning in the wet gravel. The car lurched suddenly when it found traction, and with a mighty roar from the high-powered engine, Kenneth Bradley was gone.

Paul let out a loud sigh.

Hannah and Julia came running downstairs and threw open the kitchen door.

“Thanks!” Hannah put her arms around Paul and hugged him. She kissed him full on the mouth. “I sure owe you one.”

“Anytime,” said Paul good-naturedly, “if you pay me in kisses.”

“Deal.” Hannah's smile faded into a more serious expression. “I saw the canine unit leave. Did they call it off?”

“They did. I expect Mack'll call and tell us what's happening. He said from the outset that the dogs would have a tough time in this weather.”

Hannah nodded. “I know. The dryness, then the downpour.” Her face dropped. “I'm having a tough time myself. I'm worried about Bird out there alone with Tanbark. He's not a sane man.”

Julia gave her aunt a hug. “She'll have Cody watching over her. That's what cheers me up.”

Hannah's eyes welled up. Her mouth twisted as she made an effort to hold back the tears. “That's so sweet, Julia.And of course you're right.”

A soft knock sounded on the screen door. It was Cliff.

Hannah ushered him in.

Cliff stepped in and stood on the mat. “I overheard what you said, Julia. About Cody. Well, she has Sundancer watching over her, too.”

“What?” Everybody spoke at once.

“He's gone. He jumped out of his stall. You can see the marks his hooves made in the hall.”

Paul stood up. “The storm's getting worse with that hail, but I hate sitting here. Should we go out looking?”

“I'm ready, but Hannah and Julia should stay here in case there's any news.”

“I should come, too,” Hannah said. “I know the trails better than either of you.”

“And leave me alone? No way!” Julia gasped. “I'll be so scared!”

“Somebody has to be here in case they come home, Hannah,” said Paul. “And Mack will be calling. It's best that you and Julia stay here, and Cliff and I go search.”

The phone rang. Hannah sprang out of her chair and grabbed the receiver.

“It's Kenneth Bradley. Any sign of Tanbark yet?”

“Dad, no. And we haven't found Bird yet, either.” She looked at Paul. “Do you want to come help Paul and Cliff search? They're just leaving.”

Paul and Cliff both grimaced.

“No,” barked Kenneth, loud enough for the men to hear. “I certainly do not! Call me when you find him. Where have you been, Hannah? I was just over there.”

“Too bad I missed you. I'll call with any news.”

“You do that.” He hung up.

Less than a second later the phone rang again. It was Mack Jones. “We called off the search for now, but don't worry, we'll find her.” His voice was as calm and reassuring as always. “I'm sending the dogs back the minute the lightning stops.”

Hannah closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. She wondered how good an idea it was for Paul and Cliff to go out, if the professionals would not. “But what about Bird?” she asked Mack.

“Knowing her, she's found shelter. The problem is getting down there. Someone's going to get hit with lightning.”

“I totally understand. Can they follow the scent later, though? After this storm?”

“They won't even try to track them,” Mack explained. “They'll be scenting for humans. They'll go through every thicket and swamp and they'll find her.”

Hannah dared not ask if that meant dead or alive.

“Call me immediately if she comes home, or if there's anything at all that concerns you.”

“I will.”

“Oh, Hannah. A head's up. Philip Butler hasn't been seen all day. Call me if he shows up there?”

“Yes, of course.” Hannah's head spun as she hung up the phone.

Paul sensed something wrong. “Hannah?”

“Philip hasn't been seen all day.”

“Is that a problem?”

“He's not under arrest,” added Cliff. “He can come and go as he pleases.”

Paul agreed. “Why don't I call Patty? See what's up.”

Hannah nodded. She sat at the table, hands clasped in front of her. With Bird gone and Tanbark on the loose, she didn't want to think of anything else that could go wrong.

Paul punched in the numbers. After a brief conversation, he hung up. “Patty hasn't seen him all day—not since he got the note.”

Hannah shook her head. No matter how bad it got, it always seemed to get worse. She wandered to the freezer and absentmindedly took out a frozen chicken pot pie.

She turned to Cliff, who still stood dripping on the mat. “Please stay for dinner, Cliff.”

He shook his head. “No thanks. I've still got things to do after we go looking for Bird.”

Hannah's mouth set in a determined line. “Mack called his men off for safety reasons. No matter how much I want Bird back, you cannot go looking in this weather. We have to trust her ingenuity, and believe that she's found a dry place.”

A crash of thunder underlined her words.

Paul put down his coat. “I hate to admit it, Hannah, but you're right.”

Cliff wasn't so sure. “What if that guy's got her scared? We can't wimp out on her. She wouldn't wimp out on any of us!”

Bird was very hungry. She hadn't had breakfast before she'd jumped on Sunny's back that morning, and she calculated that it must now be close to six in the evening. It was difficult to be accurate since she'd been unconscious for part of that time, and the stormy skies and dense treetops made it impossible to see the sky. The only thing she knew for sure was that her stomach was completely empty. She'd missed breakfast and lunch, and now dinner.

Sunny stood in the middle of the tent with his head down, slowly turning. He nibbled on the grass in and around the tent.

If I could digest it, I'd eat that grass, too.

I'm glad you can't. There wouldn't be enough for me.

Nice that you're so generous.

Bird's stomach grumbled loudly. The hail and strong winds howled above them, bending treetops and flattening undergrowth. The sound of ice pellets hitting the blankets overhead was deafening. There was no way they could leave. Bird looked through Tan's garbage for anything that might be edible. All she found were empty cans and a banana skin.

Cody stood up and stretched.
I'll catch you a rabbit or a gopher. Maybe a rat.

Really? That sounds oddly tempting, if a little creepy.

Better than starving.

We'll cook it over Tanbark's fire.
Bird studied the charred remains in the firepit that Tanbark had used the night before.

Get it started and I'll go hunting.

Cody slunk around the farmhouse in search of food for Bird. The wind was blowing from the northwest, so he stayed in the lee on the southeast side of the house. The kitchen door faced south, and he peeked his nose around the corner. The cooking smells were unbearably enticing.

The screen door opened, and Cody pulled back. A second later, Lucky trotted out and started sniffing around for a bush.

Lucky!

Cody?

Yes.

It's raining ice cubes. I'm going back in.

Wait. Bird needs food. Get some.

They'll punish me!

I don't care. Get food. Now.

I'm afraid!

Cody crept out of hiding and growled at the young dog.
Are you more afraid of them or me?

Lucky stood awkwardly in the driving rain, staring at the soaked, snarling coyote. His decision was immediate.
Wait here.

He pawed at the door to be let in. The door opened, then closed.

Cody waited.

Suddenly, inside the house he heard surprised shouting and the clattering of objects dropping to the ground. The screen in the door ripped apart with a long, soft zipping sound, and Lucky raced out with his tail between his legs. His mouth was clamped on an entire loaf of fresh bread in a plastic bag.

I'm coming with you, Cody. No way I'm going back in there.

Good work, Lucky. Come this way.