Mystery at Saddle Creek (8 page)

Bird found the softest old sweatsuit she had and put it on. Everything hurt. Her eyes, her throat, her skin, her muscles. Then she looked in the mirror. Her hair! Her thick, straight, dark hair. It had completely dried out and whole hunks at the front were missing. The hair that was left on her head was frizzled and yellowed. Bird gulped. Her eyes were swollen and red and she had no eyebrows. Pig eyes. She wondered how long Alec would be at camp. She hoped it would be a very, very long time.

I deserve that award for acting, Bird.

The Academy Award? I'm sure you do. What's the plan?

The adults are here saving my life. Sneak out the back and meet Cody behind the barn. He knows where the wild man is. I'll give you a head start, then I'll miraculously recover and follow your scent. They'll think you're still asleep.

Brilliant.

Not bad, if I say so myself.

See you soon.
Bird went from the mirror to the window for a peek at Sunny's performance.
Sunny, from up here it looks a little over the top. Colicking horses don't do that.

What?

Spin their tails and heads at the same time.

Well, what am I supposed to do?

Just lie down and groan and look at your tummy over and over again.

That's boring.

That's how colic looks. Do you want them to send you to Guelph for a total evaluation?

Right.

Bird snuck out of the house and made it past the barn without detection. Things hadn't improved since she'd left her room. Her head hurt, her eyes stung, her throat was raw, her muscles ached—but she was determined to find the wild man and get him help. She looked around for Cody as she advanced silently.

A bush rustled.
Girl. Come with me.

Cody!
Bird followed him down a thorny cliff. The further they went, the more Bird worried about Sundancer. Hannah and Paul were vigilant horse people. If he wasn't able to get away, how would she get the wild man home? It would certainly take some ingenuity.

She didn't have to worry for long. A moment later, Sunny came galloping. He stopped abruptly at the top of the ridge.

Sunny! How did you get away?

They lost interest in me when those men came asking questions, so I escaped.

What men? The police?

How would I know?

If it was the police, there must be new developments. Bird made a mental note to find out when they got back.

Come on down, Sunny. There's no time to lose.

It's too steep!

If I can, with two legs, you can with four.

I'll kill myself! The show is in three days, and I have to be perfect.

Sunny, I'm a swollen, burnt bag with bad hair. We're not going.

If you can climb down these hills, you can ride a horse around a show ring. I'll do all the work. As usual.

I'll think about it. Why don't you go around the long way and meet us at the bottom. Try to be quiet.

Like a rabbit.

Nearby, Cody had been listening in.
You two argue all the time.

We do?
Bird was surprised at his observation.
I guess we do. But we love each other.

They continued down, one step at a time. Cody stopped moving, so Bird did the same. Then she heard it. A low moaning sound. Definitely human—and definitely in great pain.

That's him, isn't it, Cody?

Yes.

He needs a doctor. We'll get him up to the farm.

Good.

Sunny appeared at the clearing below the ledge. He looked up at Cody and Bird.
Where's the wild man?

Follow the groans. Up on this ledge, a little to your left.

I can smell him. Now I hear him. Oh, now I see him. He looks yucky, he sounds yucky and he smells yucky.

Bird got a whiff of charred flesh. To her human nose it was bad enough, but for a more sensitive animal nose, it must have been close to unbearable.
We're going to bring him up to our farm. And you have to carry him.

I'm not putting that thing on my back! He's filthy! You fix him!

I can't fix him! He needs doctors. And medicine and creams.

Then bring them here.

They can't get anywhere near here with an ambulance.

I don't care! I don't want him on my back.

Think about it, Sunny. We don't have time to wait until the ambulance comes with the paramedics, who'd have to scramble down here and get him. It's faster if we just carry him back ourselves.

Not my problem. I'm going home.

If you don't help, I'm not riding you in the show.

No fair! I'm going to win!

It's up to you.

The horse paced and fidgeted for a moment, then stopped.
Okay, I'll do it. But you have to give me a bath with bubbles and everything.

Deal.

Cody slid closer and closer to the man until he was right beside him. He sniffed his face.
We don't have much time, Bird.

Let's figure this out.

Bird forced herself to take a good look. Sunny had not exaggerated — it was not a pleasant sight. The man lay on a dirty wet blanket surrounded by debris. A rude tent made of stolen horse blankets propped up on rocks sheltered his bed, and the ground was littered with foul garbage. In the worst state of all, though, was the man himself. His entire body was blistering and caked in mud. Bird had no idea how they could lift him onto a horse without causing him extraordinary pain.

She studied the problem from all angles, and came up with a plan.

Sunny, move as close to the ledge as you can. Cody, you take that end of the blanket, and I'll take this one.

Bird gently pulled the blanket until it lay flat under the man. He was lying on his side, so Bird rolled him onto his stomach and gently straightened his arms and legs. He made no sound.

Now we'll slide him onto Sunny's back, legs first, blanket and all. Are you two ready?

Ready.

Ready.

Slowly, inch by inch, the coyote and the girl slid the blanket to the lip of the ledge. When it was in place, Bird scrambled down and stood at Sunny's side. She reached up over his back, and grasped the foot ends of the blanket. She started to pull. Cody took the head-end blanket corners in his mouth and lifted, allowing Bird to slide it over Sunny's back.

Sunny stood completely still as the blanket and comatose man were draped over him. Finally, everything was in place. The man was on his stomach with his feet hanging down Sunny's right side and his arms down the left.

Sunny was getting restless.
Can we go now?

Soon, Sunny. I don't want him to fall off when we start up the hill.

It worried Bird that the man made no movement. His breathing was hoarse and shallow. She feared he was barely clinging to life.

Bird looked at their work and considered how to secure him. She couldn't tie his hands and feet together. If he slid around Sunny and hung down under his belly it would be horrible.

I know. I'll tie the blanket on so it doesn't slide off, then walk beside him all the way and hold his legs.

Bird took the rope from Tan's tent, and as quickly as she could, tied the blanket securely around Sunny's girth. She hoped they were ready.

Let's go.

10

 

SPEECHLESS

Tan was deep in childhood memories, rocking on his old wooden horse. His mother held his leg so he wouldn't fall, and she was singing something very quietly—so quietly that he couldn't quite hear the tune. Back and forth, back and forth, rocking on his rocking horse. Back and forth, back and forth ...

SUNNY FELT THE LIFELESS WEIGHT on his back and shifted a little to get comfortable with it. He took a step. He took another step, and another. Satisfied that the man was somewhat secure, and with Bird at his side holding the man's leg, Sunny began the steep climb up the Escarpment.

Bird, the way up is even harder than the way down.

We're going against gravity.
Bird was already breathing hard, which made her throat hurt more. At least she didn't have to speak aloud.

I know nothing about whatever that is. All I know is this guy feels dead. I'm going to freak out.

Hang in there, Sunny. You're doing great.

I'd feel better if he started groaning again.

Cody was in front of them, then behind, sniffing and watching out for trouble.
Be cautious. This red mud is very slippery. Go around it.

I know what I'm doing. I've walked on that red mud before ...

Just then, Sundancer stepped into a patch of the brick-coloured clay and slid out, legs splaying. Bird held tight to the man's legs, but she was having trouble keeping upright herself. Oh, no, she thought. Sunny's going down. He was on his knees now, with his nose in the mud. The horse tried mightily to keep his balance.

Hold on, Sunny!
urged Bird.
You can do it!

All at once, the man's body pitched forward. Sunny threw up his neck to stop him from sliding off, but the action caused his hind end to skid under him.

Bird held on tight, and looked ahead. Solid ground was one step away.
Keep going. You're almost there.

Sunny's left front hoof inched forward until it found good footing. He took a deep breath and moved his right front to join it. Now, with his two front feet out of the mud, he slid his back feet slowly forward until he was finally safe. Bird let out her breath. That had been way too close.

Good work, Sunny!

You try that with four legs, no toes and slippery ooze!

It took twenty-five long minutes of patience and extreme tension, but step by careful step, Sunny, Bird and Cody carried their human cargo up the steep slope. Thankfully, once they were on top of the ridge, the travelling was much easier. They walked silently along the trails and up to the kitchen door.

Bird ran into the house to call for help, but as she opened her mouth to shout out Hannah's name, she made a horrible discovery. She couldn't make a sound. Nothing. She tried again. Same result. Not a squeak, not a rasp. Her voice had shut down. She closed her eyes and rubbed her tender throat, hoping beyond hope that this was only temporary, maybe caused by the smoke. She'd worry about that later. The man needed help right now.

Bird ran through the house looking for Hannah. She wasn't there.

She ran back outside.
Cody, I need you to find Hannah.
Cody shot off with his nose on the ground to do the job.

Sunny began to fidget.
Can you get this guy off me, Bird? Now?

I need help to do that.
Can you stand still for a bit longer?

Look, Bird, I've loved every minute of this, but I can't keep it up. The blanket is itchy and he smells really bad.

I understand. I'll find something we can slide him onto, okay?

As long as it's now.

Just in time, Cody returned.
She's in the barn, Bird. With the good thin man and some others.

Bird knew that Cody called Cliff “the good thin man,” but she didn't know who the others might be. And she didn't care. She needed Hannah to call an ambulance, and she needed help getting the man down from the horse. Bird must get her attention.

The Saddle Creek truck was parked in the driveway. Bird opened the door and leaned on the horn.

Sunny planted his four feet and tensed.
You coulda warned me!

Sorry, Sunny.

I'm a horse! We startle easily!

Thanks for not spooking.

In seconds, Hannah came running. “Bird! What's the matter? What's on Sundancer? What are you doing? I thought you were upstairs sleeping!”

Bird opened her mouth to answer. Nothing came out. She shook her head and pointed to her throat.

“Oh no, Bird! You can't speak?”

Bird nodded. She stepped over to Sunny and flipped open the dirty blanket that covered his back.

Hannah gasped. “The wild man?”

Bird nodded.

“He needs help! I'll call 911. Wait! The police are here, up in the barn questioning Cliff. Just a minute.” Hannah ran back to the barn, calling.

Bird, I can't stand it. Get him off me! Really. I'm at the end of my tolerance. I'll do something I don't want to do.

I know, Sunny. I know. Look, they're on their way now. We'll get him off and I'll give you the bath I promised.

I don't want a bath! The second he's off I'll jump into my field and roll around for days. Just get him off!

The police, Hannah and Cliff quickly took over. Officer Paris had his phone to his ear, but the others expertly untied the knots and removed the man from Sunny's back using the blanket as a gurney. They laid him carefully on the ground.

As soon as Sunny's burden had been removed, he did precisely what he said he'd do. He galloped the few strides to the fenceline, jumped the split-rails into his field and rolled and rolled in the tall grass.

Thanks, Sunny. You were wonderful. I owe you one.

A big, huge, honking, fat one.

“The ambulance will be here in approximately three minutes,” said Officer Paris as he snapped shut his cell phone. “Now, young lady, what is this all about?”

Bird shook her head and put her hand to her throat.

“Her voice is gone, officer.” Hannah came to Bird's aid. “All I know is that this is the man we've been calling ‘the wild man.' He's the one who's been coming around. I don't know anything more.”

The officers stared at Bird. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

From the bushes beside the house came a low growl, startling the officers.

Thanks, Cody, but everything's fine.

Call me when it's not.

I will. And thanks for helping.

Good. I'm gone.

Bird smiled as Cody shot out from the bushes and sped away through the fields.

“That was a coyote!” gasped Officer O'Hare. “Too quick to shoot!”

Bird was horrified.

“That was Cody,” said Hannah. “He's a pet. If you ever harmed him, we'd be very upset.”

“A pet?” said Officer O'Hare. “Each to his own. What concerns us is this. Bird brings a badly injured man to your house with no explanation. There are a lot of unanswered questions, and Bird here can't speak.”

Bird darted into the house, and quickly returned with a pad of paper and a pen. She began to write, and when she was finished, she handed the page to Officer Paris.

“We call him ‘the wild man.'”
The officer read aloud.
“We thought he was bad cause he looked in windows & scared us, but he dragged me out of the barn saved the horses, so he can't B bad. I went 2 look 4 him cause I was worried. That coyote who U were going 2 shoot found him, my horse brought him home 2 get him 2 the hospital.”

After a few stunned seconds of silence, Officer O'Hare spoke. “Well, I never.” Then he pointed a finger at Bird. “This just leads to more questions. Who is this man, and how did you find him?”

The sound of sirens cut off the questioning. Everyone watched as an ambulance raced along the road and came to a halt at the door of the Saddle Creek farmhouse. Three minutes exactly.