Blind Eye
Episode 1. Part 1
It was a beautiful day at Pine hollow, Carole and Stevie were grooming their horses when Lisa came running up. She was obviously excited.
"guys," she said, "guess what!"
"I'll bite," said Stevie, "What?"
"My Cousin Ella Macleod is coming to spend a few days here at Pine Hollow!" Lisa Replied, "Is it alright if she hangs out with us?"
"Of course," said the Girls.
"Impossible!" said a Voice behind them.
"What Veronica?" Stevie half muttered in annoyance
"You can't be talking about Ella Bridget Macleod!" replied Veronica, "the Daughter of the Chieftain of one the Most powerful and respected Clans in the Scottish, highlands! You can't be her cousin!"
Lisa grinned, "Afraid So." Veronica huffed and stomped away,
"why does everything good happen to the saddle club!" she muttered
Steve snickered,
"Lise it looks like you might have to deal with Veronica kissing up to your cousin!" she said. Lisa laughed,
"That won't be easy," she replied, "Elle hates suck-ups!" the girls giggled again, secretly looking forward to seeing Veronica get knocked off her high horse again. They tacked up and went on a short hack before their lessons.
Just as they got back for their lesson a polished white SUV pulled up. The driver jumped out and opened the passenger side door. A pretty girl about Lisa's age stepped out. She had long dark hair and was wearing a Dark Red shirt and black jeans. On her wrist was a leather armband topped with a silver plate that was emblazoned with the Macleod family crest.
In her hand was a fancy white cane that also had a Macleod Crest on it. It was a little over three and a half feet long and looked like fancy walking sticks the grand ladies of old carried.
"Elle," Called Lisa.
Elle turned and came toward them. It was at this point that Carole and Stevie realized something, Elle was blind!
Then Stevie's breath caught in her throat…a few days ago Max had allowed Red to talk him in to giving his buddy Jake another chance. Now here came Jake driving one of the ATVs moving hay bales to one of the paddocks for Red.
Jake was once again listening to his music on his headphones and not paying attention to where he was or anything going on around him, and he was flying too. Elle was still coming toward them and Jake was cutting straight across her path.
Just then Melanie came around the building walking toward Elle. Problem was Melanie was absorbed in a horse Magazine and not looking. Just when one more step would have put Melanie right in the path of the ATV, Elle suddenly sprang forward, scooped up Melanie and jumped out of the way.
Jake slammed on the brakes and multiple mouths dropped open. Elle whirled around and there was a flash of metal in the sunlight. Eyes widened. Elle was sliding a sword back into her cane as Jakes headphones dropped to the ground in two pieces. In one move Elle had cut the headband of the headset in half. Then she reached over and turned off the ATV.
"What in the name of common sense is wrong with you?!" Elle snapped, "Are you trying to kill somebody?!"
Just then Max came running out of the Barn and Red came running up from the paddock.
"What happened?" Said Max, Elle Jabbed a thumb toward Jake.
"Brain Boy here nearly ran over my Cousin!" she replied. Max and Red saw the sliced headset at the same time. Max glared at Jake and Red face palmed.
"Jake!" he roared, "How many times to I have to tell you to save the music for your own time?! Do I have to review your track record? The last time you worked here…,"
"Max please Calm down," pleaded Red, "Nobody was hurt!"
"It was still a little too close for comfort," said Max calming himself a little. "I'll leave it you this time Red, but, if anything else happens, it's both your necks!"
Max turned and walked off toward the dressage ring to get ready for the lessons. The girls rushed over to check on Melanie and Elle.
Lisa gave Elle and big hug, then introduced her friends. They exchanged greetings. Lisa stifled a laugh when Stevie Cautiously waved a hand in front of Elle's face. Elle's hand suddenly shot up and caught her wrist making her jump.
Elle grinned at her and started giggling.
"Yes, Stevie I really am blind," she chuckled
"But if your blind," asked Stevie, "how did you just do what you just did?"
"I may not have eyesight," Replied Elle, "But I have four other senses that work!"
Lisa nodded.
"and you won't believe how acute those other senses are!" she added. Stevie shifted on her feet wanting to ask something else.
Elle smiled again and drew her sword again.
"You're curious about this right?"
"Yes," said Stevie. Elle held out the handle and let Stevie hold the weapon. My father had it made for me. He was a big fan of those blind swordsman movies. And he was good friends with a Master blade maker in Okinawa.
So, I got a beautiful sword cane and the training to use it."
"Yeah I noticed," chuckled Stevie handing the sword back. Elle deftly returned to its scabbard which was the other half of the cane.
The girls then walked off together toward the lounge. Elle explained that her horse Arabella would be arriving in about an hour.
Elle's personality was magnetic, and it wasn't long before it seemed like they had all known each other forever. The rest of the day passed uneventfully and soon Elle and Lisa were at the Atwood home getting ready for bed.
Lisa was in her room primping as Elle got ready to take a shower. She came to borrow a towel from Lisa then she headed toward the bathroom door. she turned to Lisa and rolled her eyes.
"You're getting ready for bed, Lisa you don't have to look that good." She teased playfully
"you never know when you're gonna meet a cute guy in dreamland!" Lisa Joked back
Elle laughed and headed into the bathroom.
After Elle got her shower she headed next door to the guest room. She was sitting in her room brushing her hair. When suddenly the power went out.
Elle immediately grabbed her cane and stood up. The first thing she heard was several sets of footsteps coming from Lisa's room and muffled cries.
Shadowy figures and come through the window of Lisa's room and grabbed her from behind seconds after the power had gone out. A hand had clamped over mouth. Lisa was being dragged toward the window. When suddenly the darkness was filled with slashing sounds the other men gave a cries of pain and dropped to the floor.
Not being able to see what happened the spooked would-be kidnappers abandoned the attack and grabbing their wounded comrades have dragged them out the window. Lisa Managed to grab something off one of her attackers before he got away. Seconds after they were gone, the power came back on as mysteriously as it went off. Elle was standing in the middle of the room with her sword in her hand.
"Lisa are you alright?" asked Elle
"Yeah," said Lisa catching her breath, "You're a life saver, Elle."
Then Lisa looked down at the object in her hand and Froze! Ice filled her lungs. The object was a Coin pendant!
"No No, No," she said, "It can't be!
"Lisa," said Elle coming over to her, "What is it?"
"Elle," said Lisa sounding heartbroken, "I think our attackers were Gypsies!"
To Be Continued…..
Coming up…. Was it really the gypsies? Has Rafael has got some explaining to do?!