The Horse Rescuers by Patricia Gilkerson

Author:Patricia Gilkerson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: dating, pony, horse, high school, boys, boyfriends, animal rescue, steal, slaughterhouse, foal, mare, neglected, addie, patricia gilkerson, gang of criminals, horse rescuers, perfect horse, vicious criminals, birthing horse, horese rescue, piper jones
Publisher: Melange Books

Chapter Fourteen

~ A Wet Ride ~

I had tried and tried, after we saved Dotty, to tell the truth from then on, to do what I was supposed to do and follow all the rules. I mean, I really tried. But I had to tell another lie, a big one.

Miss Julie didn’t pick up her phone, and I was glad to leave a message. It was easier than lying to her directly.

“Hi, Miss Julie, this is Piper. I have to go with Addie to see one of her aunts who is sick. I’ll try to get out there later, but don’t wait dinner on me. Please tell Mom and Sam. ‘Bye.”

That job done, I walked the mile to the barn, watching to make sure Miss Julie’s speedy little car didn’t appear. I couldn’t let anyone see me.

When I got to the barn unseen, I collected a halter and began the hike out to Chickie’s. I didn’t want to haul my heavy saddle that far, so I planned to ride Nickel bareback, or lead him, if I had trouble staying on.

I tried calling Addie again a couple of times, but her phone went to voicemail right away. She was still at her aunt’s and had her phone turned off. I finally left her a message, which was risky because she doesn’t always check her messages. “Hey, Adds, it’s Piper. Call me right away, it’s real important.”

The sun began going down as I trudged along the two-lane blacktop. County Road 5 was not the main road into town, so very few cars passed me. I made a plan for when someone I knew stopped and asked where I was going. I would tell them I was lending my halter to someone. Another lie, but luckily no one stopped. About the time the wind started blowing my hair around, I stared at the sky and noticed black clouds on the horizon.

I started whistling and spinning the horsehair bracelet on my left wrist, while I held the halter slung over my shoulder. It was kind of awkward, but twisting the bracelet always calmed me. Whistling was supposed to make you feel braver. I wasn’t sure it did, but it was worth a shot.

Since an hour-long hike was time enough to think, I had pretty well planned out what I was going to say to my mom and dad about Nickel. Same deal as Dotty, right? They were proud of me for rescuing her, and they should be equally proud of me for saving Nickel from the slaughterhouse. I was banking on that reasoning.

It was full dark by the time I turned in at Chickie’s. I walked slowly down the bumpy, rutted driveway, watching for cars and headlights. A half moon rose over the woodland on the far side of Chickie’s property. I didn’t want to take Nickel through the woods. It would be hard to walk through. At least there was a little moonlight for me to see by. For now, until the clouds moved in.

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