The Fox Hunt Mystery by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

10

A Very Sharp Note

Peter Greenbriar hovered in the open doorway. “Hello, Miss Drew,” he said, his blue eyes glittering icily. “I didn’t expect to find you here.”

“No,” Nancy said guardedly. “It’s a surprise for us both.” Thinking quickly, she added, “George and I are here to look at Mr. Jackson’s horses—to purchase one, maybe.” She smiled, hoping he’d buy her excuse.

“Surely there aren’t any horses inside the Land Rover,” Peter Greenbriar said with a sarcastic chuckle.

“I thought I’d left something in it,” Nancy said, bluffing. “We all rode out in it earlier to look at the horses. They’re in the far pasture.”

“Is that right?” the groom replied, raising his eyebrows.

Nancy couldn’t tell whether he believed her or not, but she decided to take the offensive. “And why are you here?” she asked.

“I stopped by to ask Mr. Jackson whether he might have seen Morning Glory. But he’s not in the house or in the office, and I need to get going. Will you ask him for me?”

“Yes, sure,” Nancy said.

“Well, then, I’ll be seeing you.” The groom pursed his lips and stared at Nancy for a moment. Then he turned around and left.

Nancy paused, taking stock of the situation. Could Peter Greenbriar have had some other reason for stopping by? Maybe to plot with Charles Jackson about ways to make the Mill River Hunt disband?

As she left the barn, Nancy saw the brake lights of a car flash as it retreated down the driveway—Peter Greenbriar’s car, she guessed. She turned and spotted George and Mr. Jackson closing the gate to a nearby pasture.

“Hi there, Miss Drew,” Mr. Jackson said as he approached her. “Where have you been all this time? I’ve already shown George my best horses.”

“I’ve been searching my car for my sunglasses,” Nancy said quickly. “We’d better be going, George,” she added. “We’re supposed to stop by the Shaws’ later.”

“That’s right. I’m glad you reminded me. Let’s go,” George said, taking her cue from Nancy. “Thanks, Mr. Jackson, for showing me your hunters.”

“You can always count on Cold Spring to have the best hunters around,” Mr. Jackson said. “But did I hear you mention the Shaws? You could walk there, through the woodland trails. Our farms are adjacent.”

“If we had more time, that would be great,” Nancy said. “But we’re kind of late.”

“Fine,” Mr. Jackson said. “The Shaws live just down White Rock Road, the same road I’m on. Theirs is the next driveway.”

Waving goodbye, Nancy and George climbed into the Mustang and set off for the Shaws’. As Nancy pulled onto the main road, she told George about finding the barbed wire in Mr. Jackson’s car and about Peter Greenbriar’s surprise visit.

“Whew!” George exclaimed. “Lucky it wasn’t Mr. Jackson who found you.”

“You’re telling me,” Nancy said. “It was a close call.”

“But surely Peter Greenbriar guessed you were investigating,” George pointed out. “What if he tells Mr. Jackson anyway?”

“I’ll deal with it then.” Nancy shuddered. “Mr. Jackson has a nice manner on the outside, but I bet he can get pretty angry.

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