Chapter 2:
Author's Note: Is it possible that Archie killed Calvin? If he didn't, then who did? Horatio has to uncover a deception in order to save his best friend's name, and possibly his future.
Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, you got it.
~*~
"But I saw them," Thomas insisted. "They were beneath me in the gardens and they were arguing, Calvin and Archibald. Archibald was ready to strike Calvin, then stopped. I find it hard to believe that it's coincidence that the knife that killed him was Kennedy's."
John, Emma, and Richard gaped at him. "you can't hear yourself," Richard told his son in law. "Archibald loved Calvin. Do you even know what they were arguing about? It could have all been in fun."
Thomas fumed, the tips of his ears turning a bright red. "I know what I saw. And I heard Sophie's name being uttered, as well as that of that harlot of a stable hand Winifred. They were about to come to blows. Do none of you believe me? Emma?"
His wife stared down at her hands. "I think my father is right Thomas. I know you mean well, but you don't know Archibald like the rest of us. You've barely gotten to know him. I can't see him as a killer, and certainly not over a woman. Perhaps you misunderstood," she squeezed his arm gently, but Thomas pulled away.
"Unbelievable. You'd let him get away with murder?"
"It was an accident Tom," John's voice was grave. "And you had better get used to seeing it that way. You're outvoted. But we shall keep an eye on Archibald for the remainder of the time he's here."
"Fine. But I'll be locking my doors at night." With that he stalked from the parlor.
--
Meanwhile...
Chase chewed nervously on her fingernails, gnawing each down to nothing. She stalked back and forth along the length of the Harrison's sitting room. She paused for a moment, wheeling to face Archie, who sat passively on a chair next to the fireplace. "What's taking so long? They've been in there for more than two hours."
For the first time all morning, Archie looked up from his glass of brandy. He had been staring at it since he poured it, only occasionally sipping from its depths. His eyes were transfixed on the amber liquid, as if it somehow held the answer. Glazed over blue eyes blinked and he looked at Chase. "Could you stop doing that? You're going to wear a hole in the carpet," his voice was as lifeless as his eyes, flat and unenthused.
"Don't joke Mr. Kennedy it's not funny. There are four people in that room right now who are deciding your fate and you don't seem to care. John, Emma, Thomas and your uncle are discussing the possibility that you murdered your cousin. I don't comprehend how you can just sit there in that chair and not say a word in your own defense."
Archie tipped the glass back, watching the liquor as it sluiced to one end of the glass. "And what would you have me tell them exactly?"
"I don't know. Something. Anything! Tell them that you had no part in Calvin's death, that you're not a murderer. That seems to me like an ideal place to start at the very least!"
"I can't do that Chase."
"And why the hell not? You didn't kill Calvin. Did you?"
"It's a possibility," he blinked lazily.
"A possibility! A bloody possibility? That is not an acceptable answer. I don't even think that is an answer! Now put down the damned drink and give me a straight response." Archie didn't comply, simply taking another small sip from the glass. Eyes blazing, Chase snatched the bottle from the end table and shook it in front of the Englishman's face.
"This," she shook the bottle again, "will not help you. My father did the same damned thing, drowning his sorrows in the bottle until he couldn't think and couldn't feel anything anymore. Everything went away and nothing was real, but I'll tell you something Archie Kennedy. You will not drown your woes in this flask and pretend nothing is happening because I damn well won't let you. It is not a 'possibility' as to whether or not you killed Calvin, either you did, or you didn't. Now which is it?"
"I. Don't. Bloody. Well. Know," he stated purposefully. The light of the fire flickered over his features and in his eyes. "I could have had a fit last night."
"A fit?" Now she was confused.
"Ah yes, you don't know. Well Ms. Chase I have fits. In what, coincidentally always seems to be the least appropriate times I will convulse, spasm, loose all control of bodily function in general, and black out. So yes, it is entirely possible that I went to the stable last night, killed Calvin, had a fit and just don't remember a damned thing. Satisfied?"
Chase sat heavily down on the other chair. She shook her head. "Well I don't believe it. It's not in you to murder."
This brought a faint smile to the officer's lips. "I've done it before Chase."
"But never in cold blood right? Never a calculated action. It was kill or be killed, not murder."
"I know that my family does not fancy me a killer. You, on the other hand, simply don't know me well enough to say."
"Hell I don't. I have known you since the day I met you in Virginia. You were willing to risk everything to get Horatio out of that prison. You're a good man, honest, brave, loyal and every other human attribute likely to get you killed before your time. You and Horatio both. And to be perfectly frank, at this moment, your unwavering faith in your family is unnerving."
"Why does it always seem that faith in another person wanes when doubt is present. You have very little faith in my family. What does that say about you?"
"That I'm realistic. As firmly as I believe that you did no harm to your cousin, I am convinced that someone in this house did. Now the only question is who and why?"
"You know, to be fair, that's two questions."
"Funny. Well what's your theory? That the whole thing was some massive accident? What, Calvin came down to the stable late at night, for no apparent purpose, carrying your knife, went into a stall that he knew housed a spooky horse, and then fell on the blade, only to be trampled further by the horse in question? That theory is completely ludicrous."
Kennedy set his glass on the table. He rubbed his face with his hands. "Yes, almost as ludicrous as your massive conspiracy theory. Calvin drank a lot last night, he was soused, and he did something stupid. No one here killed anyone."
"Fine," Chase threw her hands into the air. "I see I won't convince you of anything until I have proof. But mark my words Archie, someone killed Calvin and has set you up to take the fall. I will find out who."
The sound of someone clearing their throat at the entrance to the parlor made the two inside stop bickering. Sophie stood there, eyes cast on the floor and her weight shifting from foot to foot. "I hope that I'm not interrupting anything. I just came down Archibald to tell you that I don't believe a word of it. It had to be an accident."
Archie smiled broadly. "Come in please Sophie. You weren't disrupting a thing. Chase was just venting some of her frustrations. Nonsense really, but one must consider all the options."
Chase rolled her eyes skyward, mumbling beneath her breath. "Sophie, a disruption? Never. Me on the other hand, I'm the loon."
"Did you say something Winnie?" Sophie asked sweetly.
Chase smiled back and answered in the same sickly sweet tone, "No Ms. Riley. I'll leave you two alone now and get back to the stables where I am needed. Good day for now." The others barely mumbled a farewell, so deep were they interested in the other.
Chase rushed out of the house and down to the barns. "He doesn't want to help himself, fine. He doesn't want my help, fine. I'll go over his head."
She found the short groom in the aisle of the main barn a short while later, replacing the bedding in Holly's stall. Calvin's body had been cleared out shortly after they had found him, and the stall cleared and cleaned. "Brody," the groom stopped, "Brody I need a favor. I need you to delver this letter to a Dr. Hornblower. The address is on the envelope. Deliver it directly into the hands of his son Horatio. Tell him it's urgent. Can you do it?"
The stable hand nodded enthusiastically. He loved any excuse to go into the city. He took the note from Chase's hands and rushed to ready his horse. He was off, riding down the drive in less than an hour. Chase sighed and began to fling more straw into Holly's stall. Now it was just a matter of biding her time.
--
Horatio practically leaped from the carriage as it entered the Harrison's drive. He had received Archie's letter two days ago and had immediately made plans for his return. The carriage had traveled all night long and when it arrived the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon. Dark eyes scanned the drive wildly for any sign of his friend. Archie was not there, but Chase was waiting. He bolted toward her.
"Where is Archie? Is he all right?"
"Archie is fine Mr. Hornblower, at least for the time being."
Horatio stopped dead in his tracks, confused and a little irate. "What are you talking about? I received a letter from Archie two days ago that urged me to come here at once. The tone implied that something dire had happened. So if Archie's fine, why did he send the letter?"
"Mr. Kennedy didn't send the message Lieutenant, I did."
"That's not possible. I mean, I know Archie's signature."
This brought a small smile. "So then the forgery was as convincing as I had hoped. Wonderful. Look, I'll explain everything in due course, but for now trust that I would not have asked you back here had I not thought it of the utmost importance. Come have a spot of tea with me in my loft and I'll explain everything."
"...and now everyone is walking around on eggshells. They all seem quite content to let the matter lie. They don't care that even thought they ignore it, it looks quite bad for Mr. Kennedy. And Thomas has set out to prove that Archie's a killer. I need you to find out the truth."
Horatio leaned back in the chair, soaking up all that had just been revealed to him. "And what does Archie say of all this?"
Chase shrugged. "He wants no part in it. Doesn't want to believe that anyone in his family could set him up for murder. He refuses to even speak of it with me. In fact, for the past day he hasn't been away from Sophie's side any waking hour." She sighed, "I suppose it could be worse. They could have argued at the race before Calvin fell. At least the only people who know about it are here. You know..."
Horatio held up his hands. "Wait, wait a moment. What do you mean, 'before Calvin fell?'"
Chase stared at him blankly a moment, not comprehending the question. "Well...uh...during the race, Calvin's stirrup broke and he took a rather nasty tumble. He was fine, but the horse behind him broke his leg and had to be put down. Terribly sad really, it was a fine, gallant type of creature."
"Yes, yes, I'm sure he was. But more importantly, did you find that strange?"
"Find what strange?"
"That Calvin's stirrup broke during the race." Horatio pressed.
"No, not really." Suddenly her face lit up as she figured where Horatio was heading. "Of course! You are brilliant Mr. Hornblower. If the stirrup was fouled up intentionally then it proves that someone was after Calvin before he and Kennedy argued. How astute of you."
"Maybe," he conceded with a slight incline of his head. "Now we must see the leather to be sure. The saddle, is it in the tack room?"
"Yes I'm sure...oh bugger. I took it into town yesterday to be fixed."
Horatio jumped up from the chair. "Well we must get it back. Can you go today and pick it up?"
"I believe I'll be able to get away."
"Good. Take Archie with you. I want to make some inquiries without him around to ask me questions or get offended. I'll tell everyone that my father was called away on some dire emergency and that I decided to come back early."
"Perfect. I had been wondering as how to explain your return. Let's go and let everyone know you're back. Then I'll convince Kennedy to come with me into town." She started for the stairs that ran down into the main barn.
"Hold on Chase." She paused. "Be careful will you? Whoever killed Calvin, and it sounds to me as if someone did, is still out there. And they know that you're looking for answers. All right?"
Chase had gone mildly pale, but she nodded just the same. "All right. I'll ask John to hitch up the wagon. And you be careful too Horatio."
"I always am."
--
"I still can't believe that Sophie went riding without me," Archie muttered later, as the wagon bounced over a groove in the trail.
Chase rolled her eyes, hoping Archie wouldn't notice. They had been on the road for over an hour and all he had been able to do was gripe about Sophie abandoning him to his own devices. Not that it was true. It was simply that Sophie hadn't been around when Chase asked Archie to accompany her, and telling him that she had gone riding seemed like a plausible sort of lie.
Now of course, her lying was one more thing for him to be angry about, but she figured it would be all the same in the end. Upon their return he would probably find Sophie pouting over being left alone. 'Oh well,' she thought to herself, 'he's already in a snit over my asking questions anyway. What's one more little white lie?'
Chase guided the two horses through the narrow streets of the little town of Gloustershire. They plodded along, their heads bobbing together rhythmically. She drew the horses to a halt outside the dry good store and applied the brake. She might as well pick up some salt and flour while she was here.
It was only when she dragged out the heavy bags of foodstuffs that Archie broke out of his self-induced stupor. He hopped off the carriage and took the bag of salt out of her arms. "You shouldn't be carrying all this by yourself."
Chase grunted and tossed the sack of potatoes into the wagon. "Well maybe I wouldn't have to if someone would quit his moping about. Damn Archie, so you're not with her for one day. You'll see her as soon as we return. Honestly, you are acting like a scolded child."
One of Kennedy's eyebrows arched. "A child, you think so eh? I think I'll let that one slide by Ms. Chase, but it would be prudent to watch your tongue in the future," he teased.
Chase put her hands on her hips and grinned. "I think not. I rather like my tongue's razor edge thank you much. Now come on, we still have to pick up the saddle." Archie followed her down the ally between the dry goods shop and the hotel. The leather shop was just on the other side. Archie held the door.
Chase entered and trotted over to the counterman. "I'm here to pick up a saddle I dropped off yesterday." The owner sighed and trudged behind the counter to look. Chase leaned over the counter, "Yes that's it, the jumping saddle with the torn stirrup leather. No, I'll take it back as is thank you."
Archie frowned. "Why are you picking up Calvin's saddle? It's not even fixed yet."
"I think it's possible that the leather didn't simply tear. It might have been sabotage and I need to inspect it to be sure. Oh, don't look at me like that. It might prove that someone was after Calvin before you argued with him."
"Not this nonsense again! I was hoping you might let the matter drop. No one sabotaged Calvin's saddle," his voice lowered to a whisper. "You're being ridiculous."
"I am not. Your entire family is blind, don't you see? Believe me or not, I have stopped caring. Pay for the saddle will you?" She left in a huff. She walked alone back through the alleyway.
Halfway down it she stopped. Two rough looking men had stepped from the shadows. They approached slowly. One cracked his knuckles and another brandished a knife. Her arms dropped to her sides. "Well shit," she stated succinctly.
"Chase! Will you please wait! You have this nasty habit of walking away whenever you're...oh my God." He rounded the corner to see the two men approaching her. Chase had her back to him and was backing up slowly.
"I say, leave us alone." Archie was so intent upon the two men in front of him that he didn't notice two others sneak up behind him. He felt something hard strike him in the back an he went down on his knees. He felt the man step closer and he struck out with a foot, catching the assailant in the knee.
He jumped to his feet as the fourth man attacked, throwing himself upon Archie's back. Archie flipped him over his head. The man with the knife grabbed Chase while his companion rushed to join the fray.
While Archie fought the other three men the one with the knife closed in on Chase. He pushed her up against the wall and waved the knife in front of her eyes. Her right hand pressed up against the wood, scouring for something to use as a weapon. "You've been asking to many questions," the man sneered.
His hot, foul breath washed over her face. The blade was a mere inch from her neck. Chase closed her eyes. Her fingers found the edge of something, a board. It was propped up against the wall. Her hand closed around it. "Let dead dogs lie, or you'll be one dead bitch." She swung the board with all her might, striking the man against the side of the head. He released her with a howl.
The other three had Kennedy trapped. Two held his arms while the other punched him in the stomach repeatedly. Archie sagged against their hold. Chase launched herself upon the nearest man, digging her fingers into his shoulder. He let go of Kennedy's arm and lashed out at the woman. His elbow caught her upside the head and flew to the ground.
Archie, now free of one man, swung the other around into the third. They collapsed into a heap. "Let's get out of here!" The man with the knife cried, clutching his bleeding ear. "I didn't get paid enough for this." All four ran from the alley.
Archie lumbered over to where Chase sat on the ground. Her hair was a mess and blood trickled down from her nose. "Are you all right?"
"What do you think?" she snapped.
He kneeled in front of her, grasping her chin gently in his hands as he inspected her nose. His aquamarine eyes searched her emerald ones. "I don't think it's broken," he told her softly. "Thank God."
"Wonderful," she muttered. She touched his cheek, which was bruised. "And how are you?"
"Fine. A little worse for wear but fine just the same."
She nodded, "Good. You believe me now?"
"I think I'm starting to."
End Chapter 2
I know this is a little landlocked, but it was just on my mind. I've never written a mystery before. Hope you like it. Please R and R. Thanks.
Author's Note: Is it possible that Archie killed Calvin? If he didn't, then who did? Horatio has to uncover a deception in order to save his best friend's name, and possibly his future.
Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, you got it.
~*~
"But I saw them," Thomas insisted. "They were beneath me in the gardens and they were arguing, Calvin and Archibald. Archibald was ready to strike Calvin, then stopped. I find it hard to believe that it's coincidence that the knife that killed him was Kennedy's."
John, Emma, and Richard gaped at him. "you can't hear yourself," Richard told his son in law. "Archibald loved Calvin. Do you even know what they were arguing about? It could have all been in fun."
Thomas fumed, the tips of his ears turning a bright red. "I know what I saw. And I heard Sophie's name being uttered, as well as that of that harlot of a stable hand Winifred. They were about to come to blows. Do none of you believe me? Emma?"
His wife stared down at her hands. "I think my father is right Thomas. I know you mean well, but you don't know Archibald like the rest of us. You've barely gotten to know him. I can't see him as a killer, and certainly not over a woman. Perhaps you misunderstood," she squeezed his arm gently, but Thomas pulled away.
"Unbelievable. You'd let him get away with murder?"
"It was an accident Tom," John's voice was grave. "And you had better get used to seeing it that way. You're outvoted. But we shall keep an eye on Archibald for the remainder of the time he's here."
"Fine. But I'll be locking my doors at night." With that he stalked from the parlor.
--
Meanwhile...
Chase chewed nervously on her fingernails, gnawing each down to nothing. She stalked back and forth along the length of the Harrison's sitting room. She paused for a moment, wheeling to face Archie, who sat passively on a chair next to the fireplace. "What's taking so long? They've been in there for more than two hours."
For the first time all morning, Archie looked up from his glass of brandy. He had been staring at it since he poured it, only occasionally sipping from its depths. His eyes were transfixed on the amber liquid, as if it somehow held the answer. Glazed over blue eyes blinked and he looked at Chase. "Could you stop doing that? You're going to wear a hole in the carpet," his voice was as lifeless as his eyes, flat and unenthused.
"Don't joke Mr. Kennedy it's not funny. There are four people in that room right now who are deciding your fate and you don't seem to care. John, Emma, Thomas and your uncle are discussing the possibility that you murdered your cousin. I don't comprehend how you can just sit there in that chair and not say a word in your own defense."
Archie tipped the glass back, watching the liquor as it sluiced to one end of the glass. "And what would you have me tell them exactly?"
"I don't know. Something. Anything! Tell them that you had no part in Calvin's death, that you're not a murderer. That seems to me like an ideal place to start at the very least!"
"I can't do that Chase."
"And why the hell not? You didn't kill Calvin. Did you?"
"It's a possibility," he blinked lazily.
"A possibility! A bloody possibility? That is not an acceptable answer. I don't even think that is an answer! Now put down the damned drink and give me a straight response." Archie didn't comply, simply taking another small sip from the glass. Eyes blazing, Chase snatched the bottle from the end table and shook it in front of the Englishman's face.
"This," she shook the bottle again, "will not help you. My father did the same damned thing, drowning his sorrows in the bottle until he couldn't think and couldn't feel anything anymore. Everything went away and nothing was real, but I'll tell you something Archie Kennedy. You will not drown your woes in this flask and pretend nothing is happening because I damn well won't let you. It is not a 'possibility' as to whether or not you killed Calvin, either you did, or you didn't. Now which is it?"
"I. Don't. Bloody. Well. Know," he stated purposefully. The light of the fire flickered over his features and in his eyes. "I could have had a fit last night."
"A fit?" Now she was confused.
"Ah yes, you don't know. Well Ms. Chase I have fits. In what, coincidentally always seems to be the least appropriate times I will convulse, spasm, loose all control of bodily function in general, and black out. So yes, it is entirely possible that I went to the stable last night, killed Calvin, had a fit and just don't remember a damned thing. Satisfied?"
Chase sat heavily down on the other chair. She shook her head. "Well I don't believe it. It's not in you to murder."
This brought a faint smile to the officer's lips. "I've done it before Chase."
"But never in cold blood right? Never a calculated action. It was kill or be killed, not murder."
"I know that my family does not fancy me a killer. You, on the other hand, simply don't know me well enough to say."
"Hell I don't. I have known you since the day I met you in Virginia. You were willing to risk everything to get Horatio out of that prison. You're a good man, honest, brave, loyal and every other human attribute likely to get you killed before your time. You and Horatio both. And to be perfectly frank, at this moment, your unwavering faith in your family is unnerving."
"Why does it always seem that faith in another person wanes when doubt is present. You have very little faith in my family. What does that say about you?"
"That I'm realistic. As firmly as I believe that you did no harm to your cousin, I am convinced that someone in this house did. Now the only question is who and why?"
"You know, to be fair, that's two questions."
"Funny. Well what's your theory? That the whole thing was some massive accident? What, Calvin came down to the stable late at night, for no apparent purpose, carrying your knife, went into a stall that he knew housed a spooky horse, and then fell on the blade, only to be trampled further by the horse in question? That theory is completely ludicrous."
Kennedy set his glass on the table. He rubbed his face with his hands. "Yes, almost as ludicrous as your massive conspiracy theory. Calvin drank a lot last night, he was soused, and he did something stupid. No one here killed anyone."
"Fine," Chase threw her hands into the air. "I see I won't convince you of anything until I have proof. But mark my words Archie, someone killed Calvin and has set you up to take the fall. I will find out who."
The sound of someone clearing their throat at the entrance to the parlor made the two inside stop bickering. Sophie stood there, eyes cast on the floor and her weight shifting from foot to foot. "I hope that I'm not interrupting anything. I just came down Archibald to tell you that I don't believe a word of it. It had to be an accident."
Archie smiled broadly. "Come in please Sophie. You weren't disrupting a thing. Chase was just venting some of her frustrations. Nonsense really, but one must consider all the options."
Chase rolled her eyes skyward, mumbling beneath her breath. "Sophie, a disruption? Never. Me on the other hand, I'm the loon."
"Did you say something Winnie?" Sophie asked sweetly.
Chase smiled back and answered in the same sickly sweet tone, "No Ms. Riley. I'll leave you two alone now and get back to the stables where I am needed. Good day for now." The others barely mumbled a farewell, so deep were they interested in the other.
Chase rushed out of the house and down to the barns. "He doesn't want to help himself, fine. He doesn't want my help, fine. I'll go over his head."
She found the short groom in the aisle of the main barn a short while later, replacing the bedding in Holly's stall. Calvin's body had been cleared out shortly after they had found him, and the stall cleared and cleaned. "Brody," the groom stopped, "Brody I need a favor. I need you to delver this letter to a Dr. Hornblower. The address is on the envelope. Deliver it directly into the hands of his son Horatio. Tell him it's urgent. Can you do it?"
The stable hand nodded enthusiastically. He loved any excuse to go into the city. He took the note from Chase's hands and rushed to ready his horse. He was off, riding down the drive in less than an hour. Chase sighed and began to fling more straw into Holly's stall. Now it was just a matter of biding her time.
--
Horatio practically leaped from the carriage as it entered the Harrison's drive. He had received Archie's letter two days ago and had immediately made plans for his return. The carriage had traveled all night long and when it arrived the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon. Dark eyes scanned the drive wildly for any sign of his friend. Archie was not there, but Chase was waiting. He bolted toward her.
"Where is Archie? Is he all right?"
"Archie is fine Mr. Hornblower, at least for the time being."
Horatio stopped dead in his tracks, confused and a little irate. "What are you talking about? I received a letter from Archie two days ago that urged me to come here at once. The tone implied that something dire had happened. So if Archie's fine, why did he send the letter?"
"Mr. Kennedy didn't send the message Lieutenant, I did."
"That's not possible. I mean, I know Archie's signature."
This brought a small smile. "So then the forgery was as convincing as I had hoped. Wonderful. Look, I'll explain everything in due course, but for now trust that I would not have asked you back here had I not thought it of the utmost importance. Come have a spot of tea with me in my loft and I'll explain everything."
"...and now everyone is walking around on eggshells. They all seem quite content to let the matter lie. They don't care that even thought they ignore it, it looks quite bad for Mr. Kennedy. And Thomas has set out to prove that Archie's a killer. I need you to find out the truth."
Horatio leaned back in the chair, soaking up all that had just been revealed to him. "And what does Archie say of all this?"
Chase shrugged. "He wants no part in it. Doesn't want to believe that anyone in his family could set him up for murder. He refuses to even speak of it with me. In fact, for the past day he hasn't been away from Sophie's side any waking hour." She sighed, "I suppose it could be worse. They could have argued at the race before Calvin fell. At least the only people who know about it are here. You know..."
Horatio held up his hands. "Wait, wait a moment. What do you mean, 'before Calvin fell?'"
Chase stared at him blankly a moment, not comprehending the question. "Well...uh...during the race, Calvin's stirrup broke and he took a rather nasty tumble. He was fine, but the horse behind him broke his leg and had to be put down. Terribly sad really, it was a fine, gallant type of creature."
"Yes, yes, I'm sure he was. But more importantly, did you find that strange?"
"Find what strange?"
"That Calvin's stirrup broke during the race." Horatio pressed.
"No, not really." Suddenly her face lit up as she figured where Horatio was heading. "Of course! You are brilliant Mr. Hornblower. If the stirrup was fouled up intentionally then it proves that someone was after Calvin before he and Kennedy argued. How astute of you."
"Maybe," he conceded with a slight incline of his head. "Now we must see the leather to be sure. The saddle, is it in the tack room?"
"Yes I'm sure...oh bugger. I took it into town yesterday to be fixed."
Horatio jumped up from the chair. "Well we must get it back. Can you go today and pick it up?"
"I believe I'll be able to get away."
"Good. Take Archie with you. I want to make some inquiries without him around to ask me questions or get offended. I'll tell everyone that my father was called away on some dire emergency and that I decided to come back early."
"Perfect. I had been wondering as how to explain your return. Let's go and let everyone know you're back. Then I'll convince Kennedy to come with me into town." She started for the stairs that ran down into the main barn.
"Hold on Chase." She paused. "Be careful will you? Whoever killed Calvin, and it sounds to me as if someone did, is still out there. And they know that you're looking for answers. All right?"
Chase had gone mildly pale, but she nodded just the same. "All right. I'll ask John to hitch up the wagon. And you be careful too Horatio."
"I always am."
--
"I still can't believe that Sophie went riding without me," Archie muttered later, as the wagon bounced over a groove in the trail.
Chase rolled her eyes, hoping Archie wouldn't notice. They had been on the road for over an hour and all he had been able to do was gripe about Sophie abandoning him to his own devices. Not that it was true. It was simply that Sophie hadn't been around when Chase asked Archie to accompany her, and telling him that she had gone riding seemed like a plausible sort of lie.
Now of course, her lying was one more thing for him to be angry about, but she figured it would be all the same in the end. Upon their return he would probably find Sophie pouting over being left alone. 'Oh well,' she thought to herself, 'he's already in a snit over my asking questions anyway. What's one more little white lie?'
Chase guided the two horses through the narrow streets of the little town of Gloustershire. They plodded along, their heads bobbing together rhythmically. She drew the horses to a halt outside the dry good store and applied the brake. She might as well pick up some salt and flour while she was here.
It was only when she dragged out the heavy bags of foodstuffs that Archie broke out of his self-induced stupor. He hopped off the carriage and took the bag of salt out of her arms. "You shouldn't be carrying all this by yourself."
Chase grunted and tossed the sack of potatoes into the wagon. "Well maybe I wouldn't have to if someone would quit his moping about. Damn Archie, so you're not with her for one day. You'll see her as soon as we return. Honestly, you are acting like a scolded child."
One of Kennedy's eyebrows arched. "A child, you think so eh? I think I'll let that one slide by Ms. Chase, but it would be prudent to watch your tongue in the future," he teased.
Chase put her hands on her hips and grinned. "I think not. I rather like my tongue's razor edge thank you much. Now come on, we still have to pick up the saddle." Archie followed her down the ally between the dry goods shop and the hotel. The leather shop was just on the other side. Archie held the door.
Chase entered and trotted over to the counterman. "I'm here to pick up a saddle I dropped off yesterday." The owner sighed and trudged behind the counter to look. Chase leaned over the counter, "Yes that's it, the jumping saddle with the torn stirrup leather. No, I'll take it back as is thank you."
Archie frowned. "Why are you picking up Calvin's saddle? It's not even fixed yet."
"I think it's possible that the leather didn't simply tear. It might have been sabotage and I need to inspect it to be sure. Oh, don't look at me like that. It might prove that someone was after Calvin before you argued with him."
"Not this nonsense again! I was hoping you might let the matter drop. No one sabotaged Calvin's saddle," his voice lowered to a whisper. "You're being ridiculous."
"I am not. Your entire family is blind, don't you see? Believe me or not, I have stopped caring. Pay for the saddle will you?" She left in a huff. She walked alone back through the alleyway.
Halfway down it she stopped. Two rough looking men had stepped from the shadows. They approached slowly. One cracked his knuckles and another brandished a knife. Her arms dropped to her sides. "Well shit," she stated succinctly.
"Chase! Will you please wait! You have this nasty habit of walking away whenever you're...oh my God." He rounded the corner to see the two men approaching her. Chase had her back to him and was backing up slowly.
"I say, leave us alone." Archie was so intent upon the two men in front of him that he didn't notice two others sneak up behind him. He felt something hard strike him in the back an he went down on his knees. He felt the man step closer and he struck out with a foot, catching the assailant in the knee.
He jumped to his feet as the fourth man attacked, throwing himself upon Archie's back. Archie flipped him over his head. The man with the knife grabbed Chase while his companion rushed to join the fray.
While Archie fought the other three men the one with the knife closed in on Chase. He pushed her up against the wall and waved the knife in front of her eyes. Her right hand pressed up against the wood, scouring for something to use as a weapon. "You've been asking to many questions," the man sneered.
His hot, foul breath washed over her face. The blade was a mere inch from her neck. Chase closed her eyes. Her fingers found the edge of something, a board. It was propped up against the wall. Her hand closed around it. "Let dead dogs lie, or you'll be one dead bitch." She swung the board with all her might, striking the man against the side of the head. He released her with a howl.
The other three had Kennedy trapped. Two held his arms while the other punched him in the stomach repeatedly. Archie sagged against their hold. Chase launched herself upon the nearest man, digging her fingers into his shoulder. He let go of Kennedy's arm and lashed out at the woman. His elbow caught her upside the head and flew to the ground.
Archie, now free of one man, swung the other around into the third. They collapsed into a heap. "Let's get out of here!" The man with the knife cried, clutching his bleeding ear. "I didn't get paid enough for this." All four ran from the alley.
Archie lumbered over to where Chase sat on the ground. Her hair was a mess and blood trickled down from her nose. "Are you all right?"
"What do you think?" she snapped.
He kneeled in front of her, grasping her chin gently in his hands as he inspected her nose. His aquamarine eyes searched her emerald ones. "I don't think it's broken," he told her softly. "Thank God."
"Wonderful," she muttered. She touched his cheek, which was bruised. "And how are you?"
"Fine. A little worse for wear but fine just the same."
She nodded, "Good. You believe me now?"
"I think I'm starting to."
End Chapter 2
I know this is a little landlocked, but it was just on my mind. I've never written a mystery before. Hope you like it. Please R and R. Thanks.
