Maple Dale (Maple Dale Series) by Myers MaryAnn

Author:Myers, MaryAnn [Myers, MaryAnn]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Sunrise Horse Farm
Published: 2014-01-13T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Leah was getting impatient with the horses. She'd just found them again and was leading them back to the barn, when just like before, after she'd only glanced away a second, they were gone. First Shad lying there dead. Now the horses. And where was Phoenix? She called out for him, her voice careening through the brush. And at that instant, Phoenix turned on Richard, scratching, biting, and wrenching to get free.

Richard tried to hold on to him, but finally had to let go. The cat landed on all fours, disappeared into the woods in a flash, and left him cussing as he wrapped a handkerchief

around his scratched and bloody hand.

Christine and Bethann were finishing their breakfast when he and Shad returned. "What happened?" Christine asked, reaching for his hand to see for herself.

Richard pulled away, then wished he hadn't, no matter how much it would've hurt. That was the first time Christine had touched him in so long. "It was the cat," he said, with a sigh. "I went out to Maple Dale to check on things and..."

Bethann got all excited. "You f-f-found Phoenix?"

"Yeah, but he got away. Sorry." Richard headed for the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. "He freaked out on me at the car."

Christine got up to add his cream and sugar for him as he told them what happened, and sat down across from him. "God, I hope it doesn't have rabies."

Oh great, Richard thought, that's all I need to hear. This grave-digging habit of hers used to drive him crazy when they were first married, always taking things one step further, always looking for the worst. "I'm sure it doesn't," he said, and sipped his coffee. "But just to be safe, we'll check its medical records. They came with Shad's."

Christine nodded.

"Oh, and by the way. There were some kids up there last night. They painted graffiti all over the outside of the barn and busted some of the windows."

"Did you call the police?"

"No, I just cleaned it up. It looks like whoever did it had second thoughts anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"It was smeared," Richard said, taking another sip of coffee. "As if they were trying to clean it off themselves."

Christine sighed, finding little comfort in that. "This is really getting out of hand."

Richard smiled. "The place is empty, Christine. Remember? It's to be expected. Kids do stupid things. Of course, not that you would know anything about that since you were never a kid."

Christine made a face at him. "Go ahead and make fun. But a crime is a crime, and this is getting weird."

Richard's smile widened as he just looked at her, and Bethann started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" they both turned asking.

"N-N-Nothing." She hadn't heard them talk like this is a long time, a very long time, and it was neat. "It's j-j-just..."

Richard ruffled her hair. He and Christine both knew what she meant. They even exchanged knowing smiles, though somewhat self-conscious ones. Then he stood up, saying how he was going to go unveil his hand and inspect the damages.

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