Chapter 10

Sara reined the stallion in from a run to a walk as they came to the end of the bridle trail. Walking up onto the road, she turned his head toward the farm. As they drew nearer to the farm, she sensed something was wrong. A policeman had parked his car in front of the gate so it blocked anyone from entering. When he motioned her to stop, she obeyed.

"You can't go inside," he told her.

"I live here. I'm their horse trainer. What's going on?"

"You can't go inside."

"I have to get this horse back to the barn. I still have five more to work out before lunch."

"I'm sorry, miss, you can't go in."

"What is happening?"

"I can't say."

"You can! Tell me what's happened!"

"I'm sorry, miss, I can't say. You have to wait here."

Sara looked toward the house, but it was hidden by trees. She glared at the police officer for a moment, then reined the stallion away. She spurred him into a canter, going back down the road. At the neighbor's property, she turned and rode along the fence to a gate. Sara jumped off and started pulling at the overgrown weeds until the gate was free. She tugged the gate open, led the horse through, and then tugged it shut. She climbed back onto the tall Thoroughbred and spurred him into a run toward the house.

She came around the barn to find a dozen police cars, three ambulance and the coroner's car parked at the farm house. Sara slowed the horse to a walk. Two officers spotted her and ran toward them with their pistols aimed at Sara. She stopped the horse, and for a moment the officers and Sara stared at each other.

"How did you get on the property?" one demanded to know.

"I live here. What has happened? Why is the coroner here?" Sara demanded. "Where are Ben and Mary and the kids? Are they okay?"

"Who are you?" one of the officers asked.

"Sara O'Dwyer. I'm the trainer. What is happening?"

"How long have you been gone, miss?"

"Three hours. We left before dawn for a ride. Why?"

"Did you go to the house before you left?"

"No. Tell me what is happening! Where is Ben? I want to talk to Ben."

The officer said something quietly to the other and the other officer ran off. The policeman and holstered his gun and motioned Sara to him.

"Get off the horse, Sara."

"I am not getting off until you tell me what his happening!"

"The family is dead."

Sara froze. "Dead?" she whispered.

"Yes. They were murdered."

"No? What? Where are the children and the baby?" She began shaking. The horse responded by pawing and trying to fight her hold on the reins. Instinct kept her hold on the horse, holding him in place, but her attention wasn't even on him.

"All of them, Sara." He reached a hand out again. "Come on. Get down. We need to talk."

"Why would someone murder them? Why would someone kill a baby and children?"

"How well did you know this family?"

"I've worked for them for years. Why?"

"That boy shouldn't have started the things he did. He should have kept his nose out of other people's business and let things just be. It's what got all of them killed, even the baby."

"What things? What did he start?"

The officer didn't answer.

"You mean the equal rights protests? Is that what you mean?"

"I'm mean their kind should know better."

"Their kind?"

"Colored."

"They were killed because they were colored!? It's 1977! They just wanted pay to be equal!"

"Miss, get down."

She backed the stallion up when he reached toward her. "My employers were killed because of their skin color?"

"Hello," a voice said behind her.

She turned the horse and found The Doctor behind her. He smiled, walking up as he flicked open an identification holder. She'd seen him use this identification before, and it was always something different when he showed it to people – even her. Like magic, it always fit the situation.

The Doctor approached the officer, telling him, "I'm here from the F.B.I."

The officer read the identification and then scowled. "Of course you are. Here to take over our case, I suppose? Tell us how to do our job?"

"No, actually. I'm here because Miss O'Dwyer has been doing some clerical work for us. I came to pick it up. What's happening here?" He motioned at the house.

"There's been a murder."

"I see. Well, why don't you get on back to it and I'll stay with Miss O'Dwyer? As soon as you lead investigator can, we'd like to know what's happening."

He nodded and walked away.

"Get down, Sara," The Doctor told her, turning to her.

She shook her head as hot tears began running.

"Oh, Sara, plain and tall." He laid his hand on her knee, giving it a light squeeze. "Come down, dear."

"You only call me dear when you have bad news," she whispered.

He nodded. "Come down, dear," he repeated.

She climbed off and threw her arms around him. He held her tight. The tears began to ebb as a realization came to mind. She stepped back, staring wide-eyed at him.

"Three months ago, you asked me if I had ever gone into their house. You said that was good when I told you no. You said I should never go inside for any reason. You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?"

He solemnly nodded.

"You should have told me! I could have warned them!" She burst into gasping sobs

He laid his hands on her shoulders. She tried to push him away but he firmly gripped her shoulders until she stopped moving.

The Doctor looked in her eyes, quietly telling her, "There was no saving them, Sara. Trust me, I tried but they always died. And you always ended up dying with them. Not telling you and doing nothing was the only way I could save you."

"You didn't tell me because you didn't want me to die, too?"

"Yes."

"That's selfish! Why do you have to be so selfish?"

"I could save you or I could save no one. How is that selfish?"

She didn't answer."

"Are you mad at me right now because I saved you, or are you mad because of the ludicrous reason they died?"

That renewed her sobs and for several minutes she couldn't talk. The Doctor pulled her into a hug and held her until she had calmed down again.

"It's not fair. Their skin color shouldn't matter."

"No. That is not fair," he agreed.

She looked up at his face. "Does it ever change? Do humans ever stop discriminating?"

"Of course."

She shook her head. "You're lying."

He nodded. "I am."

She closed her eyes. "What's going to happen to the horses? They have three dogs. What's going to happen to them?"

He smiled. "I know that they are left in very good, capable hands."

"Whose?"

"Yours."

"Are you sure?" She stared intensely at his face.

"I'm sure. I read the newspaper and it talked less about that, and mostly about the murder. Don't get the newspaper for the next few weeks. They won't be kind to such a kind family."

Sara barely nodded. He patted her shoulder. "Why don't you tend to this beast here?" The Doctor laid his hand on the horse's sweaty neck. "Tara is waiting in the barn for you. Then the two of you can join me in your apartment and we'll wait for more information from the police."

She nodded, but started to cry again. She gathered the reins in her hand and led the horse away to the barn.

The Doctor turned, looking at the house. His love for humans and Earth made times like these painful. He wished that they could see each other better and accept differences, but having traveled from the start of time to the end of it, he knew this was an empty wish.

Although, in fairness, it was a problem that plagued every corner the universe, not just this small blue speck.