Double Standards by Patsey Gray

Author:Patsey Gray
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: English riding, Horse, Childrens, Fiction, Jumping, California
Publisher: Acme Book Continuum

SEVEN

LATER THAT NIGHT a car woke Sis, no doubt bringing Bud home. It passed again almost immediately on its way out.

The smell of lumber drifted in the window. It reminded her of the housewarming she and Jeff had planned, to finish the treehouse. Jeff’s mother was due for another ride. Maybe he’d bring her. Heavens, he didn’t know yet about Fury.

Sis sat up at thought of Fury. She wondered if Manuel really knew enough to follow Doctor Nesbit’s orders—things like how to take Fury’s temperature, to feed lightly, to help him turn or stand. And who was supposed to do Manuel’s normal work? And how would they all get ready for the County Fair this weekend? It would be an overnight jaunt at that, because the drive took several hours, and they were to show early Sunday morning.

Falling back, she groaned, “Go away, everything. I just want to sleep.” But she couldn’t.

After a restless interval she crawled out onto the platform. Now in July the water beneath her was low. Except for its murmur, silence was absolute. Over her cabin’s roof, she saw how the round moon whitened the valley and blackened the buildings. It dimmed a glow just apparent above Lee’s storeroom. As once before, he’d forgotten to turn off his light. This time it must have been after he put his gun back. The thought of anything unusual next door to Gull made Sis uneasy. She decided to go see. A walk might help her sleep.

Dressed, she padded down the hill. It was eerie to be out in the black-and-whiteness and the total quiet.

Light came weakly from Gull’s barn, and at the entrance she saw why: the door to Lee’s storeroom was ajar. A sound inside halted her. Someone was there! Her pulse began to throb, faster and faster. She tried to swallow, and couldn’t. She felt suffocated.

Should she run for Bud and Manuel—for Ernie? Ernie was at work. Laurie, then?

Before she could move, the storeroom door swung slowly wider. Petrified, she watched a man’s arm appear—his shoulder—leg—until he stood fully in the light. It was Bud! Relief flooded her, and she called his name.

He jumped, and both together asked, “What’re you doing here?”

She answered first. “I saw the light and came to investigate.”

“Me too.” He switched the light off and added, “The door was open.”

She heard the door pulled shut, then the click of the lock. She thought of Lee’s gun, but didn’t mention it, only asked, “Was everything all right inside?”

“Sure, I guess so. Ol’ Lee must be gettin’ careless.”

“He had too much on his mind today,” Sis explained. “If you saw Manuel, you know about Fury.”

“I haven’t seen Manuel,” Bud said. “I didn’t stop at the trailer.”

“He’s not at the trailer. At least I don’t think so. But—” Sis was growing confused.

Bud stepped closer. Once again, it made her nervous to be alone with him in the dark barn. She turned to Gull who loomed, ghostly, at the door. He nuzzled her as she stroked his neck, and the familiar feel of him reassured her enough to tell Bud about Fury.

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