Part 10
Windswept Farm
Outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky
1410 Local
Harm stood in the shadow of the porch and sighed. When Mac hadn't returned after an hour, he'd wandered down to the barn. There, he'd been surprised to learn that she had left the safe confines of the arena to ride around Windswept. Carol hadn't had much time to talk to him about it other than to say that her daughters and Liz would keep an eye out for Mac. The Pikes had arrived at that moment and he'd beat a hasty retreat back to the house. The less they saw of him, the better. Typically, he hadn't been able to reach Clay and had left a message asking him to find out what he could about the Pikes.
He watched as Harley, Gus, Carol and Stump welcomed their visitors to Windswept. The Pikes appeared to be an average couple; middled-aged with a teenage son in tow. After the obligatory chatting that seemed to be part and parcel of Southern hospitality, the group headed into the barn. Harm turned as the front door slammed open and grinned when Nicky came barreling through. There was something about boys and doors - he remembered his mother threatening dire things every time he had catapulted in or out of the house. Pick came through the door next, his arms full, reflexively starting to come to attention when he caught sight of the Commander. Nicky had already disappeared down the steps.
Harm waved a hand, "Relax, Pick." He gestured at the various bags and bottles, "Off on another expedition?"
"Yes sir," Pick smiled, "There's a wooded area up in the northeast quarter of the property, sir. I thought we'd ride through there. We haven't covered all of it yet."
Harm nodded, "Sounds good, just remember the plan: You see anything suspicious, get the hell out. You have your cellphone?" He smiled at Pick's emphatic nod, after Memphis the young man never went anywhere without a phone. "You might see the 'Countess' while you're out and about, the twins talked her into going with them on a trail ride. Please don't run any of them over on your way out."
Pick blinked in surprise, "Is that safe?"
The Commander gave Pick a rueful look, "Probably safer than having a certain bored and frustrated somebody looking for ways to keep busy."
Pick's eyes widened slightly as he contemplated just what a particular Marine Colonel might consider doing. He nodded his head quickly in agreement, "I think you're right, sir." He glanced down towards the barn, "I'd better get going before Nick takes off without me."
Harm laughed, "No danger of that, Pick. You're carrying the food." He waved a hand, "Go on, keep an eye on the prince and try not to fall off your horse."
"Yes sir!" Pick grinned and hustled off to the barn.
Windswept Farm
Outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky
1410 Local
Mac couldn't help smiling as she took in the beautiful Kentucky landscape. At the moment, it was hard to believe that she was on assignment and that there were people out there with murder on their minds.
"It's fun, isn't it?"
Mac looked over to see Cat grinning at her. She nodded, "It certainly is." Glancing back at the scenery, she asked, "Has this place always belonged to your family?"
Cat smiled and nodded, "Yes, our five times great-grandfather, Eli Montgomery, homesteaded here. He was a younger son of the Tidewater Montgomerys of Virginia. Horse breeding was the family business and he came out here in 1832 to make his fortune."
Mo took up the tale, "He did pretty well for himself. If there's one thing the Montgomerys know - it's horseflesh. By 1860, he'd acquired about 600 acres, not to mention a wife and three sons. With all the turmoil that was going on, he wrote to his oldest brother and suggested that he send their breeding stock out to Kentucky for safekeeping. It wasn't easiest thing to do for either of them. Grandfather Eli, his wife and two sons were staunch Unionists, the rest of the family was loyal to the South. There had been harsh words exchanged but, in the end, keeping the bloodlines intact was more important and the stallions and mares were shipped out here."
Cat jumped in again, "The horses never went back. Virginia was decimated by the war and the Tidewater Montgomerys lost everything - their home was burned, the stock stolen and the land ruined. Almost all of the Montgomery men wound up in the Confederate army, less than a quarter of them survived. Eli had two sons in the Union army and one in the South. He lost one at Gettysburg. When Lee surrendered, he offered his home to those of the family that were left. He did it for their protection as well as to keep them from starving to death. After Lincoln's assassination, a lot of Northerners blamed the South and wanted them punished."
Mo snorted, "Like they hadn't been already, twenty percent of the population was dead or maimed and the economy was wrecked... " She trailed off and then smiled sheepishly, "And that's probably more than you wanted to know, right?"
Mac laughed, "Well, 'yes' would have sufficed but thanks for the history lesson. Are you this well-versed in American history or is it just the Montgomery family story?"
"They're second-generation Civil War buffs," Liz called from behind, "If you really want to be bored to tears, ask Carol a question about 'The Late Unpleasantness'."
"It's NOT boring!" Mac got the stereo effect as both twins turned and protested at the same time. She couldn't help laughing, being around identical twins was definitely an odd experience.
She decided to change the subject, "How much further is the outdoor course?"
Mo pointed to the right, "Once we get past the yearling pasture, it's off that way about a quarter-mile just beyond that little rise." She looked at Mac with a question of her own, "How long have we been riding?"
"If you mean just the trail ride, we've been out 42 minutes. Otherwise we've been riding for 1 hour and 37 minutes." 'And I'm beginning to feel every moment of it.' Mac thought to herself, shifting a little in the saddle.
"I wish I could tell time like that," Mo said somewhat wistfully.
Cat snorted, "No you don't, you'd never have an excuse for being late again." She looked at Mac, "I have the worst time getting her moving sometimes."
"Me?" Mo was indignant.
Mac slowed Jack a little and fell in beside Liz, watching the twins continue their argument. "They're not getting serious, are they?" she asked Liz quietly.
Stifling a laugh, Liz shook her head, "No, that's just normal twin harassment. They do it all the time." She eyed Mac, "How are you holding up?"
Mac shifted again and smiled ruefully, "I'm not sure I'll ever walk upright again."
Liz nodded sympathetically, "Drop your stirrups, bring your knees up, lean forward and stretch your back." She grinned, "That'll help your back a little, but the only thing that will help your butt is to get it off the horse."
Mac did as directed, groaning a little as her back popped. She pulled herself upright again and looked over at Liz, "Tomorrow, I'm not getting up here without a pillow."
"I hear you," Liz laughed. She pointed ahead, "There they are."
They rode up to the far edge of the field and stopped. Mac looked out over an impressive array of jumps. The Pikes and Stump were at the other end. Stump was holding a flashy chestnut with four white stockings and blaze face. Carol was mounted on a dark dapple gray and was weaving through the field, alternating between a trot and a canter. Mac felt a trifle smug at recalling all the pertinent horse terms. Research paid off. She glanced over at Cat, "Is your mother going to jump any of these?"
Cat nodded, watching the gray smoothly execute a flying change of leads, "Probably in a little bit. She's still warming him up." They watched in silence for a few more minutes until Carol came to a halt in front of her brother and the Pikes. They could see her talking, first shaking and then nodding her head. Bringing the gray around, she cantered up the field, made a sweeping turn and popped over a jump. Circling, she did it again and then changed direction and took the jump from the opposite side. She brought the gray down to a trot and moved to the top of the field. Cat glanced down at Mac, "She's finished her warm-up, now they'll take the course."
Even as she spoke, Carol put the large gray into a canter towards a big, solid-looking jump. "That's called a coop," Cat said helpfully as horse and rider flowed over it with ease. They went over several standard pole jumps and then turned towards a fence that perched on top of what looked like a small cliff. "That's a bank jump," Cat continued her running commentary. "It doesn't look big going in but there's a lot of hang time on the landing. Sometimes it rattles the rider more than the horse."
"Your mom doesn't seem to have any trouble," Mac said. She was suitably impressed with how effortless Carol and the gray made jumping look.
"Mom's an Olympic caliber rider," Cat said proudly. "This isn't an easy course." They watched as she took two jumps that were close together. "That's an in and out," Cat picked up her commentary again. "After the ditch, the only tough jump left on the course is the triple combination." She pointed down the field a little way at three solid fences close together. "It's timing more than anything else. Get in correctly and the rest are a snap."
They watched as Carol slowed a little on the approach and then gave the gray his head. He flowed over the first jump like he had all the others but on the landing, something changed. Mac heard the three women beside her gasp as it looked like Carol pitched forward on the landing. It was enough to throw the gray a little off-balance and he threw in a quick, choppy stride before heaving himself over the second jump. He was too close and took the top rails down with his front legs. At the same time, Carol was starting to come off the side. The landing after the middle fence took her completely off and the gray, unable to gather himself or stop his momentum, crashed into the third jump at the same time Carol did.
Mac watched, frozen. The jump literally looked like it exploded as over half a ton of horse hit it. The force knocked the gray off his feet and then he scrambled up and stood there, pointing a foreleg and trembling. Hearing Mo scream 'Mom!' shook her out of her paralysis and she swung off Jack to join the rush to the jump. The other three soon outdistanced Mac as she hobbled forward, cursing the kinked muscles that didn't let her get much faster than a hurried walk. Fortunately, the more she moved, the easier it became and she arrived at the jump just a few seconds ahead of Stump.
Carol was sprawled forward in the grass. Cat and Mo were removing debris from the ruined jump while Liz was on her hands and knees calling her friend's name anxiously. Stump slid to a halt next to Liz just as Carol's eyes fluttered open. There was a collective sigh of relief and then Stump said with a forced smile, "That was a helluva landing, Flash. Can you move your hands and feet?"
Carol closed her eyes for a long moment and then gave a minute nod. The group watched anxiously as she slowly moved each extremity. Stump's smile looked a little more genuine this time, "Okay, let's get you turned over." Together, he and Liz rolled Carol carefully over on her back. Neither missed the grimace of pain as they did so and Liz began undoing the fastenings on the vest Carol was wearing. Mac looked at it in surprise. From a distance, she had just assumed it was an ordinary, insulated vest but close up it looked more like body armor. She glanced over at the twins who were now crouched shoulder to shoulder on the other side of their mother. Both looked white-faced and scared.
The Pikes arrived at that moment, Mac was the only one to notice their presence. Her eyes narrowed slightly; the adults wore identical expressions of concern but the son, trailing several steps behind, almost looked like he was smirking. When he noticed her attention, he frowned slightly and focused on fallen rider. Jonathan Pike looked at the group and then down at Carol, "Is she alright?"
Stump shook his head, "I don't know yet." He looked at the stricken expressions on his nieces' faces and said reassuringly, "I'm sure she'll be fine." He inclined his head towards the gray, "Would you check Elsinor, please? He took a pretty hard fall, too." Reluctantly, the twins rose and made their way over to horse. Mac realized with a start that he was no longer wearing a saddle. She started scanning the area and finally spotted it not far from Carol, tangled in the smashed remains of the jump.
She focused back on the Pikes when Jonathan pulled a cellphone out. "I'll call 911 for you," he offered.
"No." All eyes turned back to Carol as she lay propped up against her brother. She had her arms wrapped around her middle as she repeated in a breathless but defiant tone, "No. No ambulances. I'll be fine."
Pike stared at her in open-mouthed astonishment. His wife, Audrey, looked no less surprised, "But... but... you need to go to the hospital."
Carol took a careful breath and said slowly and distinctly, "No, I don't." Liz rocked back on her heels, gazing intently at her friend and, after a quick glance at Mac, stared silently at Stump.
He stared back and then, with a sigh, looked at the Pikes, "Thank you for your concern but we'll handle it from here. I think it's best to call it a day for now. I'll give you a ring later to reschedule."
Mac could see from their expressions that the Pikes weren't used to being summarily dismissed. However, there was nothing they could do about it and finally left with as much dignity as they could muster.
Stump looked after them regretfully, "There goes that sale. They'll probably be on the next plane back to Chicago." He gazed down at his sister, "Why the hell don't you want to go to the hospital, Flash? You know you've probably broken some ribs." He paused for a moment, watching the retreating Pikes, "And from the way you're acting, I think you rattled your brains as well."
"Is Elsinor alright?" Carol asked, ignoring her brother's statement. She tried to turn herself to see but stopped with a groan.
"Goddammit," Stump exclaimed, "You're out of your mind, you know that? I'LL call 911."
Liz held up a hand, "Just a second, Stump." She looked at Carol, "What's wrong?"
"The saddle," Mac said suddenly, pointing to it in the midst of the debris. Carol nodded in relief.
Stump gave her a startled look, he'd clearly forgotten about the Marine Colonel. Liz hurriedly retrieved it and brought it over for all of them to see. "Son of a bitch," Stump said suddenly. He pulled the girth free and held it out grimly, "This wasn't an accident. It's been cut."
"What?!" Both Liz and Mac chorused together. Mac looked at the three in confusion, "Wouldn't someone have noticed?"
Stump shook his head, "It was cut from the inside and not all the way through. Each jump put a little more stress on it until it finally gave way."
Liz gave Carol a wry look, "Couldn't you have waited 'til after the combination?"
Carol just smiled but Mac noticed she was looking paler. Liz noticed as well, "How about if we take you to the hospital?"
Carol shook her head slowly, "Just get me to the house and call Doc Finley. I don't want to be away from Windswept."
"Dammit, Sis! Doc Finley's not going to be able to x-ray you here! Just go to the damn hospital!" Stump was getting red-faced with frustration.
"That's enough, Jackson. Aggravating Carol isn't helping her either." Liz stood up and looked over to the twins. "Mo!" she called, waving for the young woman to join them. She glanced over at Mac, "Would you bring the horses over, please?" Mac nodded and jogged back to their mounts as Mo joined the group, dropping down next to her mother. Carol smiled at her, "How's Elsinor?"
Mo grinned, relieved to see her mother awake, "His knee on the off side is beginning to swell. He doesn't want to put any weight on the leg but we couldn't feel any breaks." She hesitated for a second and then asked, "How are you?"
Carol grimaced a little, "I've had better landings."
"And worse ones," Liz added dryly. She looked at Mo, "She's probably broken some ribs." Liz threw a pointed look at Stump when he started to open his mouth and he subsided with a scowl. She looked up to see Mac making her way back trailing four horses behind her. Liz gave a quick smile of relief when she saw Gallant on the outside next to Jack. She'd forgotten about the Colonel's inexperience and hadn't warned her not to put the young hunter next to the temperamental Calypso. She waited until Mac drew nearer and then asked the group, "Did anyone besides the Pikes bring a cellphone?"
Mac reached into her jacket pocket, pulled out her phone and tossed it to Liz. As she flipped it open and began punching numbers, Carol said warningly, "Liz... "
Liz knelt down and gave her friend's leg a reassuring pat, "I'm calling your dad to come pick you up in the Land Rover. It'll be almost like old times." She turned her attention back to the phone as the other end was picked up, "Hi, Miz Harley, this is Liz ... " She stood back up and moved away, still talking.
Carol watched her and then called, "Colonel?"
"Right here," Mac said, handing reins to Mo and Stump and kneeling down next to Carol.
Inclining her head towards the saddle, Carol said grimly, "You realize what that means?"
Mac nodded with an equally grim expression, "Yeah, someone at Windswept was trying to kill you."
"What??" Mo looked from her mother to Mac in disbelief. "What are you talking about?" She glared at each adult in turn.
Mac looked at Carol and Stump, then stood up with a sigh, "This wasn't an accident. Someone cut the girth on your Mom's saddle halfway through."
Mo stared at her soundlessly, her face growing darker. In icy tones, she said, "You mean someone from Windswept, don't you?"
Warily, Mac nodded, "Probably."
Abruptly, Mo thrust Gallant's reins at her uncle and backed Goose out of the group. Mac skirted around the rest of the horses as the princess flung herself up into the saddle. "Mo," she called, "what are you doing? ... Mo? ... Mo!" She watched as the young woman turned her horse and booted him into a canter and then a gallop toward the main barns. Swearing, Mac hurried over to Liz.
Liz had just disconnected and turned, hearing a horse galloping away. She saw Mo disappearing back towards Windswept and swung back, frowning to Mac, "Now what?"
Mac held out her hand for the phone, "Mo just found out it wasn't an accident. I think she's decided who's to blame." Liz uttered a few choice words of her own as she slapped the phone into the Colonel's hand. Mac hurriedly punched Harm's cell number on the speeddial and stood tapping fingers anxiously while she waited for him to pick up. C'mon... c'mon...
There was a click and then Harm's anxious voice said, "Mac?"
"Yeah," Mac jumped in before he could say more, "Listen, Carol's fall wasn't an accident, someone sabotaged the saddle. Mo's headed towards you with a full head of steam - she thinks she knows who did it. She'll probably go right to the barn. Head her off before she does something stupid, will you?"
"Son of a bitch!" Harm exclaimed, "Okay, I'll catch her. Are you all right? How bad is Carol? When Gus and Harley flew by me, all they said was that she'd fallen. Ruth's on the phone to a doctor right now. Aren't they taking her to a hospital?"
"I'm fine. At the least, she's most likely broken some ribs and she's refusing to go to a hospital... oh crap, I gotta go. Carol's made it to her feet - she's probably worried about Mo. Make sure you stop that kid." Mac ended the connection and quickly made her way back to the group. Carol was upright by virtue of Liz and Stump being on either side of her. Cat had moved closer also, bringing a limping Elsinor with her. All four were talking at once. Stump was, once again, arguing with Carol about the hospital. Carol was snapping at him while trying to talk Liz into going after Mo. Cat was desperately trying to find out what was going on. Mac surveyed them for just a moment and then bellowed 'ENOUGH!' in her best drill instructor voice.
Silence fell. Mac suppressed a smile when she realized she had the horses' attention as well as the people. Hands on her hips, she eyed them all sternly, "I've just spoken with Commander Rabb." She looked at Carol, "Your parents should be here in a just a few minutes. If you think you can stand for that long without tipping over, fine, otherwise plant your butt back on the ground. Harm will intercept Mo before she does something we'll all regret." She tossed her cellphone at a startled Stump and gestured at Elsinor, "Ruth is calling a doctor. Shouldn't you be calling a vet?" Finally, she swung her gaze to Liz and Cat, "You two can bring the rest of the horses in after we get Carol out of here." Her expression turned rueful as she placed a hand on her lower back, "I'll go back in the car with the Montgomerys. I think I've ridden enough today."
She glared at them all again as she heard the sound of an approaching vehicle, "Is everyone clear on what they're doing?" There were silent nods all around. Mac turned as the Land Rover came to a halt and Gus and Harley sprang out of the vehicle. They collected Carol and carefully walked her over to the SUV. Mac grabbed the saddle and hurried after them, grateful that they weren't bothering with a lot of questions... yet. As she stowed the saddle in the back, she glanced at the remaining members of the group. Stump now held Elsinor and had the phone to his ear. Cat was holding Cal, Jack and Gallant while Liz went to collect Gypsy Queen. The mare wasn't far from where Stump had left her, happily grazing. Mac shook her head and slid into the backseat next to Carol and Harley. It had been a pleasant day. As soon as the door closed, Gus took off for the house.
Windswept Farm
Outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky
1515 Local
Harm stared at the phone for a moment after the call ended and then headed out the door. He'd just reached the bottom porch step when he saw Mo arrive at a gallop, flinging herself off in a flying dismount even as Goose slid to a halt. 'Damn!' Harm broke into a run, his long legs covering the distance between the house and the barn quickly. He reached the entryway and stopped, straining his senses. There didn't seem to be anyone in the barn but he knew Mo had to be nearby. She couldn't have disappeared that fast. He quickly and quietly moved up the aisle, glancing into stalls as he went.
The sounds of a scuffle reached him and he hurried to the end of the aisle and turned the corner. Harm was just in time to watch Mo crouch under a roundhouse swing from a large, dark-haired stableboy. She uncoiled with a solid right hook, throwing her weight into the punch. Her fist connected with his eye and he went staggering backwards into a wall. 'Damn,' Harm thought in amazement, 'she's gonna be a Marine.' He stepped in between the two, fending off Mo and freezing the stableboy with a look.
Satisfied he wouldn't move, Harm turned and glared at Mo, "What do you think you're doing?"
Angry and red-faced, Mo jabbed a finger at the stableboy, "Someone cut the girth on my Mom's saddle." She glared at the young man venomously, "And he's going to pay."
"It wasn't me!" the young man declared defiantly. Simultaneously, Harm folded his arms, "How do you know it was him?"
Mo didn't give an inch, "Because I know him and it's the kind of underhanded thing he'd do."
Harm swallowed a sigh and turned back, giving the stableboy a stern look, "Did you?" He didn't really expect anything but a denial. Guilty or not, the young man certainly wasn't a fool. Still, how he reacted to questioning might give some insight.
"What difference would it make?" the stableboy answered sullenly. "Y'all will think I did it no matter what I say." He drew himself up in self righteous indignation, "You people are all alike. Blame the little guy. Just because I don't have money or a fancy education, you think I'm dirt. I've worked like a dog for you people and this is what I get: 'Blame JD, he's one of those good-for-nothing, white trash Cartwrights from down the road.' "
Harm raised an eyebrow. So this was the kid that had aroused Mac's suspicions the other day. She'd candidly confessed it was nothing more than a feeling but Don and Tink had jumped on it anyway. Their check revealed that the Cartwright clan was familiar with incarceration, starting back three generations. There were assaults, drunk and disorderlies, petty theft, drug possession and numerous instances of domestic abuse. None of the Cartwrights had finished high school or held a steady job... until now. JD had managed to stay out of trouble for the last two years and his juvenile records were sealed. He'd been working at Windswept for about a year. He didn't mingle with the other employees, just did his work and left.
Either he was seriously trying to turn over a new leaf or... he was a lot smarter than he looked. Harm continued to stare at JD as he mulled things over. The young man stared back, ignoring a still-steaming Mo. His eye was already swelling and he was the picture of sullen resentment. Finally, Harm waved a hand at JD, "Go home and put some ice on that eye." He turned to an incredulous Mo, "And you, young lady, can apologize to him for jumping to conclusions." Harm quelled her sputtering with a glare, inclining his head towards JD with a clear 'I'm waiting' expression on his face.
Mo clamped her lips shut in silent rebellion. There was no way she was going to apologize to the scum that almost killed her mother.
Harm turned his full attention on her, "Natalya Moira Tamary Dzurick. You will apologize for accusing Mr. Cartwright without the slightest shred of evidence." Behind him, JD's momentary expression of surprise was replaced by a more calculating one. When he looked at Mo, the smirk on his face did nothing to appease her temper.
Mo's hands curled tightly into fists. If she thought there was a chance in hell of getting past Mr. Rabb, she'd wipe that look off Cartwright's face. Tearing her gaze away from JD, she glared at Harm in betrayal, "I will not."
Feeling his own temper slipping, Harm stared back. He spaced out each word, "You...have...no...proof." Damn stubborn teenager! Too caught up in her anger, she was missing what Harm was trying to tell her. Finally, he straightened up and pointed towards the entrance to the barn, "Fine. Then please leave and I'll apologize to Mr. Cartwright." When she still hesitated, he jabbed a finger more forcefully towards the entrance, "Get out. Go find your horse. God only knows where he is right now - you just left him." That got a reaction from Mo. Without another word, she turned and fled.
Harm watched her leave and then turned back to JD, "I'm sorry she went after you, young man. Did you see anyone hanging around near the two horses Mrs. Dzurick was supposed to ride?"
JD stared at the tall man. This was completely unexpected. Putting on a thoughtful look, he said slowly, "No... can't say that I did. I was busy with my own work and not paying much attention. I guess almost anybody could have done it." He put a hand up to his eye and winced, "Can I go now?"
Nodding, Harm watched while the stableboy beat a hasty retreat and then turned back to find Mo. Not seeing her as he walked back through the barn, he headed over to the smaller, private stable. Harm was almost there when the Land Rover pulled up. Immediately, he veered towards the vehicle. Gus and Mac were the first out. Mac stepped aside as Gus reached in to help his daughter out. Harm paused just long enough to rest a hand lightly on Mac's shoulder as he went to see if Gus needed assistance. Mac gave him a smile and headed to the back of vehicle to retrieve the saddle. After lifting the back door open, she stopped for a moment to scan the area. There was no sign of Mo.
Together, Harm and Gus maneuvered Carol out of the Land Rover. She was unable to suppress the groans as she climbed painfully out. Harm and Gus let her rest for a moment, braced up against the side of the SUV. Harley scrambled out as Ruth, Tink and El appeared at the top of the porch steps. Ruth had an arm across the little girl's shoulders and Tink had one hand. El looked frightened, "Mama?"
Carol looked up at her and gave a slight smile, "It's okay, baby, I just did a crash and burn today. I guess I don't bounce like I used to." She glanced from Gus to Harm and said quietly, "Get me into the house before I collapse in front of El, she's frightened enough."
Harm placed a firm hand under Carol's elbow, throwing a look over at Mac as he did so. She was doing a visual sweep and he could guess for whom she was looking. Catching her eye, he nodded towards the smaller barn and then returned his attention to Carol as Gus began moving her forward. It was a long, slow trek to the bedroom. Once they had Carol safely sitting on the bed, Harm and Gus stepped back and let Ruth shoo them away. "Go on," she said, flapping her hands at them. "Go downstairs and wait for the Doctor, he should be here any minute.
They walked out into the hallway to find El waiting anxiously, still clutching Tink's hand. She flung herself at her grandfather as soon as she saw him. Wrapping his arms around her, he began murmuring soothing reassurances. Harm caught Gus' eye and gestured that he'd wait for the Doctor. He headed down the steps with Tink right behind him.
When they reached the porch, Tink cleared his throat, "What exactly happened, sir?"
Harm glanced over at him, "Carol's fall wasn't an accident. Someone cut the girth on her saddle partway through." He returned his gaze to the surrounding area, there was no sign of the Doctor or Mac.
"Any ideas who?" Tink asked.
Shaking his head, Harm grunted sourly, "Mo is positive it was JD Cartwright. She already accused him to his face and gave him a black eye besides." He rubbed the back of his neck, "God save me from angry teenagers... she's probably right but there's no proof. He started in with the 'everybody blames the little guy' defense and I let on that I believed him. There's no way to know if this was just a random incident or if he was recruited by our 'friends' and this is their opening move. I'd rather have him around thinking he's outsmarted us." Harm broke off and straightened abruptly, looking down the driveway, "That's gotta be the Doctor."
*********
Mac watched as Harm and Gus walked Carol up the porch steps and into the house. Closing the back of the Land Rover again, she turned and made her way to the Montgomerys' smaller, private barn. Standing in the entryway, it looked deserted but Harm had indicated that Mo would be here. Wondering what had happened that would keep Carol's daughter away from the house, she began her search. She knew Mo's horse's stablename was Goose but she had no idea what his real name was. Mac wasn't sure if she could recognize him in a stall. Silently, she worked her way up the aisle, looking from side to side. Midway up on the left, a stall door was partially ajar even though there was a horse inside.
Mac walked over and leaned in to take a look. Huddled up against the wall, near the feed tub, Mo was sitting despondently. She had her arms wrapped around her legs and her head resting on her knees. She didn't bother to look in Mac's direction, but merely said, "Go away."
Windswept Farm
Outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky
1410 Local
Harm stood in the shadow of the porch and sighed. When Mac hadn't returned after an hour, he'd wandered down to the barn. There, he'd been surprised to learn that she had left the safe confines of the arena to ride around Windswept. Carol hadn't had much time to talk to him about it other than to say that her daughters and Liz would keep an eye out for Mac. The Pikes had arrived at that moment and he'd beat a hasty retreat back to the house. The less they saw of him, the better. Typically, he hadn't been able to reach Clay and had left a message asking him to find out what he could about the Pikes.
He watched as Harley, Gus, Carol and Stump welcomed their visitors to Windswept. The Pikes appeared to be an average couple; middled-aged with a teenage son in tow. After the obligatory chatting that seemed to be part and parcel of Southern hospitality, the group headed into the barn. Harm turned as the front door slammed open and grinned when Nicky came barreling through. There was something about boys and doors - he remembered his mother threatening dire things every time he had catapulted in or out of the house. Pick came through the door next, his arms full, reflexively starting to come to attention when he caught sight of the Commander. Nicky had already disappeared down the steps.
Harm waved a hand, "Relax, Pick." He gestured at the various bags and bottles, "Off on another expedition?"
"Yes sir," Pick smiled, "There's a wooded area up in the northeast quarter of the property, sir. I thought we'd ride through there. We haven't covered all of it yet."
Harm nodded, "Sounds good, just remember the plan: You see anything suspicious, get the hell out. You have your cellphone?" He smiled at Pick's emphatic nod, after Memphis the young man never went anywhere without a phone. "You might see the 'Countess' while you're out and about, the twins talked her into going with them on a trail ride. Please don't run any of them over on your way out."
Pick blinked in surprise, "Is that safe?"
The Commander gave Pick a rueful look, "Probably safer than having a certain bored and frustrated somebody looking for ways to keep busy."
Pick's eyes widened slightly as he contemplated just what a particular Marine Colonel might consider doing. He nodded his head quickly in agreement, "I think you're right, sir." He glanced down towards the barn, "I'd better get going before Nick takes off without me."
Harm laughed, "No danger of that, Pick. You're carrying the food." He waved a hand, "Go on, keep an eye on the prince and try not to fall off your horse."
"Yes sir!" Pick grinned and hustled off to the barn.
Windswept Farm
Outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky
1410 Local
Mac couldn't help smiling as she took in the beautiful Kentucky landscape. At the moment, it was hard to believe that she was on assignment and that there were people out there with murder on their minds.
"It's fun, isn't it?"
Mac looked over to see Cat grinning at her. She nodded, "It certainly is." Glancing back at the scenery, she asked, "Has this place always belonged to your family?"
Cat smiled and nodded, "Yes, our five times great-grandfather, Eli Montgomery, homesteaded here. He was a younger son of the Tidewater Montgomerys of Virginia. Horse breeding was the family business and he came out here in 1832 to make his fortune."
Mo took up the tale, "He did pretty well for himself. If there's one thing the Montgomerys know - it's horseflesh. By 1860, he'd acquired about 600 acres, not to mention a wife and three sons. With all the turmoil that was going on, he wrote to his oldest brother and suggested that he send their breeding stock out to Kentucky for safekeeping. It wasn't easiest thing to do for either of them. Grandfather Eli, his wife and two sons were staunch Unionists, the rest of the family was loyal to the South. There had been harsh words exchanged but, in the end, keeping the bloodlines intact was more important and the stallions and mares were shipped out here."
Cat jumped in again, "The horses never went back. Virginia was decimated by the war and the Tidewater Montgomerys lost everything - their home was burned, the stock stolen and the land ruined. Almost all of the Montgomery men wound up in the Confederate army, less than a quarter of them survived. Eli had two sons in the Union army and one in the South. He lost one at Gettysburg. When Lee surrendered, he offered his home to those of the family that were left. He did it for their protection as well as to keep them from starving to death. After Lincoln's assassination, a lot of Northerners blamed the South and wanted them punished."
Mo snorted, "Like they hadn't been already, twenty percent of the population was dead or maimed and the economy was wrecked... " She trailed off and then smiled sheepishly, "And that's probably more than you wanted to know, right?"
Mac laughed, "Well, 'yes' would have sufficed but thanks for the history lesson. Are you this well-versed in American history or is it just the Montgomery family story?"
"They're second-generation Civil War buffs," Liz called from behind, "If you really want to be bored to tears, ask Carol a question about 'The Late Unpleasantness'."
"It's NOT boring!" Mac got the stereo effect as both twins turned and protested at the same time. She couldn't help laughing, being around identical twins was definitely an odd experience.
She decided to change the subject, "How much further is the outdoor course?"
Mo pointed to the right, "Once we get past the yearling pasture, it's off that way about a quarter-mile just beyond that little rise." She looked at Mac with a question of her own, "How long have we been riding?"
"If you mean just the trail ride, we've been out 42 minutes. Otherwise we've been riding for 1 hour and 37 minutes." 'And I'm beginning to feel every moment of it.' Mac thought to herself, shifting a little in the saddle.
"I wish I could tell time like that," Mo said somewhat wistfully.
Cat snorted, "No you don't, you'd never have an excuse for being late again." She looked at Mac, "I have the worst time getting her moving sometimes."
"Me?" Mo was indignant.
Mac slowed Jack a little and fell in beside Liz, watching the twins continue their argument. "They're not getting serious, are they?" she asked Liz quietly.
Stifling a laugh, Liz shook her head, "No, that's just normal twin harassment. They do it all the time." She eyed Mac, "How are you holding up?"
Mac shifted again and smiled ruefully, "I'm not sure I'll ever walk upright again."
Liz nodded sympathetically, "Drop your stirrups, bring your knees up, lean forward and stretch your back." She grinned, "That'll help your back a little, but the only thing that will help your butt is to get it off the horse."
Mac did as directed, groaning a little as her back popped. She pulled herself upright again and looked over at Liz, "Tomorrow, I'm not getting up here without a pillow."
"I hear you," Liz laughed. She pointed ahead, "There they are."
They rode up to the far edge of the field and stopped. Mac looked out over an impressive array of jumps. The Pikes and Stump were at the other end. Stump was holding a flashy chestnut with four white stockings and blaze face. Carol was mounted on a dark dapple gray and was weaving through the field, alternating between a trot and a canter. Mac felt a trifle smug at recalling all the pertinent horse terms. Research paid off. She glanced over at Cat, "Is your mother going to jump any of these?"
Cat nodded, watching the gray smoothly execute a flying change of leads, "Probably in a little bit. She's still warming him up." They watched in silence for a few more minutes until Carol came to a halt in front of her brother and the Pikes. They could see her talking, first shaking and then nodding her head. Bringing the gray around, she cantered up the field, made a sweeping turn and popped over a jump. Circling, she did it again and then changed direction and took the jump from the opposite side. She brought the gray down to a trot and moved to the top of the field. Cat glanced down at Mac, "She's finished her warm-up, now they'll take the course."
Even as she spoke, Carol put the large gray into a canter towards a big, solid-looking jump. "That's called a coop," Cat said helpfully as horse and rider flowed over it with ease. They went over several standard pole jumps and then turned towards a fence that perched on top of what looked like a small cliff. "That's a bank jump," Cat continued her running commentary. "It doesn't look big going in but there's a lot of hang time on the landing. Sometimes it rattles the rider more than the horse."
"Your mom doesn't seem to have any trouble," Mac said. She was suitably impressed with how effortless Carol and the gray made jumping look.
"Mom's an Olympic caliber rider," Cat said proudly. "This isn't an easy course." They watched as she took two jumps that were close together. "That's an in and out," Cat picked up her commentary again. "After the ditch, the only tough jump left on the course is the triple combination." She pointed down the field a little way at three solid fences close together. "It's timing more than anything else. Get in correctly and the rest are a snap."
They watched as Carol slowed a little on the approach and then gave the gray his head. He flowed over the first jump like he had all the others but on the landing, something changed. Mac heard the three women beside her gasp as it looked like Carol pitched forward on the landing. It was enough to throw the gray a little off-balance and he threw in a quick, choppy stride before heaving himself over the second jump. He was too close and took the top rails down with his front legs. At the same time, Carol was starting to come off the side. The landing after the middle fence took her completely off and the gray, unable to gather himself or stop his momentum, crashed into the third jump at the same time Carol did.
Mac watched, frozen. The jump literally looked like it exploded as over half a ton of horse hit it. The force knocked the gray off his feet and then he scrambled up and stood there, pointing a foreleg and trembling. Hearing Mo scream 'Mom!' shook her out of her paralysis and she swung off Jack to join the rush to the jump. The other three soon outdistanced Mac as she hobbled forward, cursing the kinked muscles that didn't let her get much faster than a hurried walk. Fortunately, the more she moved, the easier it became and she arrived at the jump just a few seconds ahead of Stump.
Carol was sprawled forward in the grass. Cat and Mo were removing debris from the ruined jump while Liz was on her hands and knees calling her friend's name anxiously. Stump slid to a halt next to Liz just as Carol's eyes fluttered open. There was a collective sigh of relief and then Stump said with a forced smile, "That was a helluva landing, Flash. Can you move your hands and feet?"
Carol closed her eyes for a long moment and then gave a minute nod. The group watched anxiously as she slowly moved each extremity. Stump's smile looked a little more genuine this time, "Okay, let's get you turned over." Together, he and Liz rolled Carol carefully over on her back. Neither missed the grimace of pain as they did so and Liz began undoing the fastenings on the vest Carol was wearing. Mac looked at it in surprise. From a distance, she had just assumed it was an ordinary, insulated vest but close up it looked more like body armor. She glanced over at the twins who were now crouched shoulder to shoulder on the other side of their mother. Both looked white-faced and scared.
The Pikes arrived at that moment, Mac was the only one to notice their presence. Her eyes narrowed slightly; the adults wore identical expressions of concern but the son, trailing several steps behind, almost looked like he was smirking. When he noticed her attention, he frowned slightly and focused on fallen rider. Jonathan Pike looked at the group and then down at Carol, "Is she alright?"
Stump shook his head, "I don't know yet." He looked at the stricken expressions on his nieces' faces and said reassuringly, "I'm sure she'll be fine." He inclined his head towards the gray, "Would you check Elsinor, please? He took a pretty hard fall, too." Reluctantly, the twins rose and made their way over to horse. Mac realized with a start that he was no longer wearing a saddle. She started scanning the area and finally spotted it not far from Carol, tangled in the smashed remains of the jump.
She focused back on the Pikes when Jonathan pulled a cellphone out. "I'll call 911 for you," he offered.
"No." All eyes turned back to Carol as she lay propped up against her brother. She had her arms wrapped around her middle as she repeated in a breathless but defiant tone, "No. No ambulances. I'll be fine."
Pike stared at her in open-mouthed astonishment. His wife, Audrey, looked no less surprised, "But... but... you need to go to the hospital."
Carol took a careful breath and said slowly and distinctly, "No, I don't." Liz rocked back on her heels, gazing intently at her friend and, after a quick glance at Mac, stared silently at Stump.
He stared back and then, with a sigh, looked at the Pikes, "Thank you for your concern but we'll handle it from here. I think it's best to call it a day for now. I'll give you a ring later to reschedule."
Mac could see from their expressions that the Pikes weren't used to being summarily dismissed. However, there was nothing they could do about it and finally left with as much dignity as they could muster.
Stump looked after them regretfully, "There goes that sale. They'll probably be on the next plane back to Chicago." He gazed down at his sister, "Why the hell don't you want to go to the hospital, Flash? You know you've probably broken some ribs." He paused for a moment, watching the retreating Pikes, "And from the way you're acting, I think you rattled your brains as well."
"Is Elsinor alright?" Carol asked, ignoring her brother's statement. She tried to turn herself to see but stopped with a groan.
"Goddammit," Stump exclaimed, "You're out of your mind, you know that? I'LL call 911."
Liz held up a hand, "Just a second, Stump." She looked at Carol, "What's wrong?"
"The saddle," Mac said suddenly, pointing to it in the midst of the debris. Carol nodded in relief.
Stump gave her a startled look, he'd clearly forgotten about the Marine Colonel. Liz hurriedly retrieved it and brought it over for all of them to see. "Son of a bitch," Stump said suddenly. He pulled the girth free and held it out grimly, "This wasn't an accident. It's been cut."
"What?!" Both Liz and Mac chorused together. Mac looked at the three in confusion, "Wouldn't someone have noticed?"
Stump shook his head, "It was cut from the inside and not all the way through. Each jump put a little more stress on it until it finally gave way."
Liz gave Carol a wry look, "Couldn't you have waited 'til after the combination?"
Carol just smiled but Mac noticed she was looking paler. Liz noticed as well, "How about if we take you to the hospital?"
Carol shook her head slowly, "Just get me to the house and call Doc Finley. I don't want to be away from Windswept."
"Dammit, Sis! Doc Finley's not going to be able to x-ray you here! Just go to the damn hospital!" Stump was getting red-faced with frustration.
"That's enough, Jackson. Aggravating Carol isn't helping her either." Liz stood up and looked over to the twins. "Mo!" she called, waving for the young woman to join them. She glanced over at Mac, "Would you bring the horses over, please?" Mac nodded and jogged back to their mounts as Mo joined the group, dropping down next to her mother. Carol smiled at her, "How's Elsinor?"
Mo grinned, relieved to see her mother awake, "His knee on the off side is beginning to swell. He doesn't want to put any weight on the leg but we couldn't feel any breaks." She hesitated for a second and then asked, "How are you?"
Carol grimaced a little, "I've had better landings."
"And worse ones," Liz added dryly. She looked at Mo, "She's probably broken some ribs." Liz threw a pointed look at Stump when he started to open his mouth and he subsided with a scowl. She looked up to see Mac making her way back trailing four horses behind her. Liz gave a quick smile of relief when she saw Gallant on the outside next to Jack. She'd forgotten about the Colonel's inexperience and hadn't warned her not to put the young hunter next to the temperamental Calypso. She waited until Mac drew nearer and then asked the group, "Did anyone besides the Pikes bring a cellphone?"
Mac reached into her jacket pocket, pulled out her phone and tossed it to Liz. As she flipped it open and began punching numbers, Carol said warningly, "Liz... "
Liz knelt down and gave her friend's leg a reassuring pat, "I'm calling your dad to come pick you up in the Land Rover. It'll be almost like old times." She turned her attention back to the phone as the other end was picked up, "Hi, Miz Harley, this is Liz ... " She stood back up and moved away, still talking.
Carol watched her and then called, "Colonel?"
"Right here," Mac said, handing reins to Mo and Stump and kneeling down next to Carol.
Inclining her head towards the saddle, Carol said grimly, "You realize what that means?"
Mac nodded with an equally grim expression, "Yeah, someone at Windswept was trying to kill you."
"What??" Mo looked from her mother to Mac in disbelief. "What are you talking about?" She glared at each adult in turn.
Mac looked at Carol and Stump, then stood up with a sigh, "This wasn't an accident. Someone cut the girth on your Mom's saddle halfway through."
Mo stared at her soundlessly, her face growing darker. In icy tones, she said, "You mean someone from Windswept, don't you?"
Warily, Mac nodded, "Probably."
Abruptly, Mo thrust Gallant's reins at her uncle and backed Goose out of the group. Mac skirted around the rest of the horses as the princess flung herself up into the saddle. "Mo," she called, "what are you doing? ... Mo? ... Mo!" She watched as the young woman turned her horse and booted him into a canter and then a gallop toward the main barns. Swearing, Mac hurried over to Liz.
Liz had just disconnected and turned, hearing a horse galloping away. She saw Mo disappearing back towards Windswept and swung back, frowning to Mac, "Now what?"
Mac held out her hand for the phone, "Mo just found out it wasn't an accident. I think she's decided who's to blame." Liz uttered a few choice words of her own as she slapped the phone into the Colonel's hand. Mac hurriedly punched Harm's cell number on the speeddial and stood tapping fingers anxiously while she waited for him to pick up. C'mon... c'mon...
There was a click and then Harm's anxious voice said, "Mac?"
"Yeah," Mac jumped in before he could say more, "Listen, Carol's fall wasn't an accident, someone sabotaged the saddle. Mo's headed towards you with a full head of steam - she thinks she knows who did it. She'll probably go right to the barn. Head her off before she does something stupid, will you?"
"Son of a bitch!" Harm exclaimed, "Okay, I'll catch her. Are you all right? How bad is Carol? When Gus and Harley flew by me, all they said was that she'd fallen. Ruth's on the phone to a doctor right now. Aren't they taking her to a hospital?"
"I'm fine. At the least, she's most likely broken some ribs and she's refusing to go to a hospital... oh crap, I gotta go. Carol's made it to her feet - she's probably worried about Mo. Make sure you stop that kid." Mac ended the connection and quickly made her way back to the group. Carol was upright by virtue of Liz and Stump being on either side of her. Cat had moved closer also, bringing a limping Elsinor with her. All four were talking at once. Stump was, once again, arguing with Carol about the hospital. Carol was snapping at him while trying to talk Liz into going after Mo. Cat was desperately trying to find out what was going on. Mac surveyed them for just a moment and then bellowed 'ENOUGH!' in her best drill instructor voice.
Silence fell. Mac suppressed a smile when she realized she had the horses' attention as well as the people. Hands on her hips, she eyed them all sternly, "I've just spoken with Commander Rabb." She looked at Carol, "Your parents should be here in a just a few minutes. If you think you can stand for that long without tipping over, fine, otherwise plant your butt back on the ground. Harm will intercept Mo before she does something we'll all regret." She tossed her cellphone at a startled Stump and gestured at Elsinor, "Ruth is calling a doctor. Shouldn't you be calling a vet?" Finally, she swung her gaze to Liz and Cat, "You two can bring the rest of the horses in after we get Carol out of here." Her expression turned rueful as she placed a hand on her lower back, "I'll go back in the car with the Montgomerys. I think I've ridden enough today."
She glared at them all again as she heard the sound of an approaching vehicle, "Is everyone clear on what they're doing?" There were silent nods all around. Mac turned as the Land Rover came to a halt and Gus and Harley sprang out of the vehicle. They collected Carol and carefully walked her over to the SUV. Mac grabbed the saddle and hurried after them, grateful that they weren't bothering with a lot of questions... yet. As she stowed the saddle in the back, she glanced at the remaining members of the group. Stump now held Elsinor and had the phone to his ear. Cat was holding Cal, Jack and Gallant while Liz went to collect Gypsy Queen. The mare wasn't far from where Stump had left her, happily grazing. Mac shook her head and slid into the backseat next to Carol and Harley. It had been a pleasant day. As soon as the door closed, Gus took off for the house.
Windswept Farm
Outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky
1515 Local
Harm stared at the phone for a moment after the call ended and then headed out the door. He'd just reached the bottom porch step when he saw Mo arrive at a gallop, flinging herself off in a flying dismount even as Goose slid to a halt. 'Damn!' Harm broke into a run, his long legs covering the distance between the house and the barn quickly. He reached the entryway and stopped, straining his senses. There didn't seem to be anyone in the barn but he knew Mo had to be nearby. She couldn't have disappeared that fast. He quickly and quietly moved up the aisle, glancing into stalls as he went.
The sounds of a scuffle reached him and he hurried to the end of the aisle and turned the corner. Harm was just in time to watch Mo crouch under a roundhouse swing from a large, dark-haired stableboy. She uncoiled with a solid right hook, throwing her weight into the punch. Her fist connected with his eye and he went staggering backwards into a wall. 'Damn,' Harm thought in amazement, 'she's gonna be a Marine.' He stepped in between the two, fending off Mo and freezing the stableboy with a look.
Satisfied he wouldn't move, Harm turned and glared at Mo, "What do you think you're doing?"
Angry and red-faced, Mo jabbed a finger at the stableboy, "Someone cut the girth on my Mom's saddle." She glared at the young man venomously, "And he's going to pay."
"It wasn't me!" the young man declared defiantly. Simultaneously, Harm folded his arms, "How do you know it was him?"
Mo didn't give an inch, "Because I know him and it's the kind of underhanded thing he'd do."
Harm swallowed a sigh and turned back, giving the stableboy a stern look, "Did you?" He didn't really expect anything but a denial. Guilty or not, the young man certainly wasn't a fool. Still, how he reacted to questioning might give some insight.
"What difference would it make?" the stableboy answered sullenly. "Y'all will think I did it no matter what I say." He drew himself up in self righteous indignation, "You people are all alike. Blame the little guy. Just because I don't have money or a fancy education, you think I'm dirt. I've worked like a dog for you people and this is what I get: 'Blame JD, he's one of those good-for-nothing, white trash Cartwrights from down the road.' "
Harm raised an eyebrow. So this was the kid that had aroused Mac's suspicions the other day. She'd candidly confessed it was nothing more than a feeling but Don and Tink had jumped on it anyway. Their check revealed that the Cartwright clan was familiar with incarceration, starting back three generations. There were assaults, drunk and disorderlies, petty theft, drug possession and numerous instances of domestic abuse. None of the Cartwrights had finished high school or held a steady job... until now. JD had managed to stay out of trouble for the last two years and his juvenile records were sealed. He'd been working at Windswept for about a year. He didn't mingle with the other employees, just did his work and left.
Either he was seriously trying to turn over a new leaf or... he was a lot smarter than he looked. Harm continued to stare at JD as he mulled things over. The young man stared back, ignoring a still-steaming Mo. His eye was already swelling and he was the picture of sullen resentment. Finally, Harm waved a hand at JD, "Go home and put some ice on that eye." He turned to an incredulous Mo, "And you, young lady, can apologize to him for jumping to conclusions." Harm quelled her sputtering with a glare, inclining his head towards JD with a clear 'I'm waiting' expression on his face.
Mo clamped her lips shut in silent rebellion. There was no way she was going to apologize to the scum that almost killed her mother.
Harm turned his full attention on her, "Natalya Moira Tamary Dzurick. You will apologize for accusing Mr. Cartwright without the slightest shred of evidence." Behind him, JD's momentary expression of surprise was replaced by a more calculating one. When he looked at Mo, the smirk on his face did nothing to appease her temper.
Mo's hands curled tightly into fists. If she thought there was a chance in hell of getting past Mr. Rabb, she'd wipe that look off Cartwright's face. Tearing her gaze away from JD, she glared at Harm in betrayal, "I will not."
Feeling his own temper slipping, Harm stared back. He spaced out each word, "You...have...no...proof." Damn stubborn teenager! Too caught up in her anger, she was missing what Harm was trying to tell her. Finally, he straightened up and pointed towards the entrance to the barn, "Fine. Then please leave and I'll apologize to Mr. Cartwright." When she still hesitated, he jabbed a finger more forcefully towards the entrance, "Get out. Go find your horse. God only knows where he is right now - you just left him." That got a reaction from Mo. Without another word, she turned and fled.
Harm watched her leave and then turned back to JD, "I'm sorry she went after you, young man. Did you see anyone hanging around near the two horses Mrs. Dzurick was supposed to ride?"
JD stared at the tall man. This was completely unexpected. Putting on a thoughtful look, he said slowly, "No... can't say that I did. I was busy with my own work and not paying much attention. I guess almost anybody could have done it." He put a hand up to his eye and winced, "Can I go now?"
Nodding, Harm watched while the stableboy beat a hasty retreat and then turned back to find Mo. Not seeing her as he walked back through the barn, he headed over to the smaller, private stable. Harm was almost there when the Land Rover pulled up. Immediately, he veered towards the vehicle. Gus and Mac were the first out. Mac stepped aside as Gus reached in to help his daughter out. Harm paused just long enough to rest a hand lightly on Mac's shoulder as he went to see if Gus needed assistance. Mac gave him a smile and headed to the back of vehicle to retrieve the saddle. After lifting the back door open, she stopped for a moment to scan the area. There was no sign of Mo.
Together, Harm and Gus maneuvered Carol out of the Land Rover. She was unable to suppress the groans as she climbed painfully out. Harm and Gus let her rest for a moment, braced up against the side of the SUV. Harley scrambled out as Ruth, Tink and El appeared at the top of the porch steps. Ruth had an arm across the little girl's shoulders and Tink had one hand. El looked frightened, "Mama?"
Carol looked up at her and gave a slight smile, "It's okay, baby, I just did a crash and burn today. I guess I don't bounce like I used to." She glanced from Gus to Harm and said quietly, "Get me into the house before I collapse in front of El, she's frightened enough."
Harm placed a firm hand under Carol's elbow, throwing a look over at Mac as he did so. She was doing a visual sweep and he could guess for whom she was looking. Catching her eye, he nodded towards the smaller barn and then returned his attention to Carol as Gus began moving her forward. It was a long, slow trek to the bedroom. Once they had Carol safely sitting on the bed, Harm and Gus stepped back and let Ruth shoo them away. "Go on," she said, flapping her hands at them. "Go downstairs and wait for the Doctor, he should be here any minute.
They walked out into the hallway to find El waiting anxiously, still clutching Tink's hand. She flung herself at her grandfather as soon as she saw him. Wrapping his arms around her, he began murmuring soothing reassurances. Harm caught Gus' eye and gestured that he'd wait for the Doctor. He headed down the steps with Tink right behind him.
When they reached the porch, Tink cleared his throat, "What exactly happened, sir?"
Harm glanced over at him, "Carol's fall wasn't an accident. Someone cut the girth on her saddle partway through." He returned his gaze to the surrounding area, there was no sign of the Doctor or Mac.
"Any ideas who?" Tink asked.
Shaking his head, Harm grunted sourly, "Mo is positive it was JD Cartwright. She already accused him to his face and gave him a black eye besides." He rubbed the back of his neck, "God save me from angry teenagers... she's probably right but there's no proof. He started in with the 'everybody blames the little guy' defense and I let on that I believed him. There's no way to know if this was just a random incident or if he was recruited by our 'friends' and this is their opening move. I'd rather have him around thinking he's outsmarted us." Harm broke off and straightened abruptly, looking down the driveway, "That's gotta be the Doctor."
*********
Mac watched as Harm and Gus walked Carol up the porch steps and into the house. Closing the back of the Land Rover again, she turned and made her way to the Montgomerys' smaller, private barn. Standing in the entryway, it looked deserted but Harm had indicated that Mo would be here. Wondering what had happened that would keep Carol's daughter away from the house, she began her search. She knew Mo's horse's stablename was Goose but she had no idea what his real name was. Mac wasn't sure if she could recognize him in a stall. Silently, she worked her way up the aisle, looking from side to side. Midway up on the left, a stall door was partially ajar even though there was a horse inside.
Mac walked over and leaned in to take a look. Huddled up against the wall, near the feed tub, Mo was sitting despondently. She had her arms wrapped around her legs and her head resting on her knees. She didn't bother to look in Mac's direction, but merely said, "Go away."