Mar. 29, 2008
My Story [Part 9] --

Posted in My Main Story

Ring... ring... ring... ring! Kit moaned and cracked open an eye as her phone rang insistently. She groped for the phone, yawning wide before answering it. She recognized Dan's voice and she sat up to keep from going back to sleep.

“Kit? Are you there?”

“Yeah I'm here.”

“You sound as if you've been asleep,” Dan's voice sounded puzzled.

“Well yeah, that's what I usually do at six in the morning.”

She heard a chuckle. “Well Sadie just called and you'd better be heading up to the stables.”

“Now?” Kit got up, afraid she would resume the sleep the had been so abruptly interrupted if she sat on the soft futon a moment longer. “What happened?”

“Sadie'll fill you in when you get there but hurry, don't fall back asleep.”

“I won't I won't, bye.”

Kit stumbled into the bathroom to splash some water on her face. This invigorated her and she finished dressing with much more enthusiasm. She put some coffee on while she ate a piece of toast and an apple. As soon as her coffee was done she poured it into her thermos and hurried out of her room.

Outside the sky was just beginning to turn pink on the horizon, but she didn't notice as she started for High Ridge Stables once again. There were four cars parked near the barn, one she recognized as Jeremy's, and another she was pretty sure was Annette's. The strong coffee was now working on her, she no longer felt half asleep, she was fully awake and ready for the day. She hopped out of the car and followed low voices to inside the barn. There she saw Jeremy and Sadie talking softly. She could also see Annette grooming her horse and a couple other girls doing the same. Sadie had noticed Kit by this time and she came over quickly.

“I'm glad you're here. I came out at five thirty to groom my horse and I nearly ran right into some guy who was right inside the barn door! He made as if he were going to try and catch me but Bosco went crashing into him. Bosco gave him a bite on the leg and the guy took off! I must say it shook me up,” Sadie leaned against the wall and let out a sigh.

Kit took a deep breath. This was definitely turning into something interesting. She was about to start asking the usual, “did you see what he looked like” questions but then something struck her. “Do you usually go out so early?”

Sadie smiled a little and shook her head. “No, and that's something else. Annette is the one that is usually here really early. She was a little late today because her alarm clock decided not to go off.”

Kit looked over at Annette as she fed Chester and chatted with one of the other girls. “Could you make out anything about the man?”

“Well, he was short, white-skinned, and had brown eyes. I couldn't see anything else though,” she followed Kit's gaze. “She was a little shaken at first but she's recovered her spirits again. Nothing keeps her down for long.”

Kit nodded. “I can tell. How many people come here to work?”

“Oh about twelve come here. Some just work, some stable their horses.”

The door creaked and Kit turned to see a girl slip in. She recognized her as the same girl she had seen driving to the stables yesterday. Her hair was loose and hung past her shoulders to the middle of her back and she had the same hat pulled down low over her face. She didn't look up at Kit when she walked over to Sadie and held out a piece of paper.

“Sadie, this is for you.” Her voice was soft, Kit barely caught her words. It didn't help that she didn't look one full in the face either, she would raised her head and met Sadie's eyes for a moment and then she dropped her eyes again.

Sadie didn't seem surprised at her behavior, and spoke as briskly as ever as she took the paper, “Thanks Haley. Who is it from?”

“I don't know,” Haley shook her head. “It was a man.”

“What did he look like?” Kit pressed into the conversation eagerly, hoping for a clue.

Haley turned her head a little to study Kit. As she did, Kit caught sight of her eyes and was taken aback by the deep sorrow that lingered there. Haley noticed Kit's study of her face and lowered her head quickly, hiding her eyes behind the brim of her hat. “He was tall and had a jacket on with the hood up. He left it on Sadie's car and ran. I though I should bring it in since the wind is picking up,” she still spoke with a softness that made her voice hard to catch, but Kit was able to make out her words.

Sadie, who had unfolded the paper, now held it up for Kit to see. “What do you think of that?”

Kit read the single line that was scrawled across the crumpled paper.

“Look in the woods.”

Kit shook her head. “Well, I guess we have a clue. Me and Jeremy will go out and have a look around.”

“Alright, be careful though.”

“You too. See you in a few,” Kit walked out of the barn with Jeremy close behind her.

“So what do you think is going on?” He questioned.

“No idea but hopefully we'll get a clue in the woods.”

They struck the main trail and before long Kit was aware of someone following their progress from the shelter of the brush.

A whisper drifted to her ears. “Over here,” it coaxed.

Kit loosed her gun and Jeremy followed her example as they approached the tree line cautiously. Kit heard the person moving away and she plunged into the the trees, knowing that it was better to be there than on the path now being able to see into the woods. Here she could see better, even though the brush was thick. A crunching of dead leaves and twigs was heard ahead of them.

“Jeremy,” Kit whispered. “You watch the read, make sure no one sneaks up on us.”

Jeremy nodded and they moved forward. The air seemed to grow stuffy as they pressed farther and farther into the woods. Kit drew up in an abrupt halt as the noise ahead of them stopped and a new noise started up to their right. She hesitated, not sure if she should see if she could find the person that had been making the first noise or pursue the new one. She was well aware that following the noises was doing what whoever it was wanted, but she felt it would be worth it. She finally made up her mind and went after the new noise. They seemed to be gaining on this one, unlike the other that had kept ahead. The branch of a nearby tree whipped around as though it had been pulled down and then let up suddenly. Kit slipped her gun out of the holster and made her way around a tree that had a huge trunk, motioning to Jeremy to go around the other side. She carefully looked around it and to her disappointment saw nothing. Her brow furrowed in confusion when she felt something tug at her hair from behind her. She whirled around, and came face to face with...

“A horse?” Kit couldn't help but say it. It looked familiar too, that multicolored coat could only be Bethany's horse, Joseph. He had all of his tack on, which surprised Kit not a little. She let out a sigh, but still felt far from comfortable with the large creature nosing at her. She stepped back, only to have the horse follow right after her.

By this time Jeremy had come around to see what was taking her so long and he looked just as bewildered as Kit upon seeing the horse. “What is it doing out here?” He wondered out loud, walking up to it and taking a hold of the bridle.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Kit put her gun back into its place and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “It is definitely Bethany's horse though, I'd recognize those markings anywhere.”

“Sure is a friendly critter,” Jeremy rubbed Joseph's nose and then led it up to Kit. “Jump on, you can ride back to the stables!”

Kit shook her head. “No, I... it might be hurt you know. It shouldn't be ridden until it gets checked over.”

“That's true. Good thing you thought of that,” Jeremy patted the horse.

Kit looked at them for a moment and then led the way back to the stable.

Leave a Clue

Apr. 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SeaChel

Excitement; mystery; luv it!! ;-D

~SeaChel

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Apr. 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SuzyScribbles

Oh, yes! You did get back into the action--mysterious action, too. The reason for not riding Joseph back to the stables was great (poor Kit!).

This story is coming along nicely. Good action. Good mystery. You've got me wondering---who did what? WHO is the bad "guy" (or possibly "gal"). It's possible that it's someone we all know. He-he!

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