Authors: Abigail Keam
Something woke me.
It was Baby’s growls as he peered out the bedroom’s patio door. With the moonlight
spilling into the room, I could see that the kittens were with him. Several perched
on his back looking out the glass door as the others tussled for a spot around the
mastiff’s legs.
“What is it, Baby?”
The fawn mastiff turned his blind eye towards me and shook his head a little as if
to say “danger.” He turned back to the glass, emitting a low threatening growl.
The motion lights around the pool came on.
“Jake!” I hissed. “Jake.”
Climbing out of bed, I reached for my wolf’s head cane and stumbled to the bedroom
door. It was locked. Jake must have locked me in and gone searching the grounds. I
looked through a secret peephole Jake had installed for me. The hallway was dark.
Limping into the closet, I searched through my shoeboxes until I found both my stun
gun and handgun.
I no longer kept them near my bed, as the animals were always scampering around looking
for a place to nestle.
After checking the safety, I placed the handgun on my dresser where I hunkered down
beside it with the phone, walkie-talkie and stun gun. If someone came through either
the patio or the steel doors, I could get off a good shot at them. If I missed, their
shot would go over my head, as I was low, giving me another opportunity.
I didn’t dare call Jake on the walkie-talkie as it might give away his position. He
was outside somewhere. I strained to listen, as did the animals.
A large shadow fell across the patio door. I gasped. Someone was outside my patio
door. Oh Lord, where was Jake? Where was Asa?
Baby began barking, rearing up against the glass door. Flicks of foam escaped from
his mouth as he frantically pawed the glass. The cats scampered under the bed and
were no more to be seen.
BANG!!!!! A chair was thrown against the patio door, creating a huge noise against
the house.
I didn’t scream. My hands were shaking badly as I raised the stun gun, while the other
reached for the handgun, placing it beside me on the floor.
The hit against the house had set off the alarm. It wouldn’t be long before someone
came, but a lot could still happen before the law arrived.
Then there was a shout followed by a crashing noise. And a gunshot.
Now silence.
Except for Baby.
I strained to listen. “Baby, shut up. I can’t hear.”
Baby looked at me with disdain and kept threatening the intruder with his loud barks
and growls.
The silence continued. The shadow did not reappear. Baby stopped growling and then
commenced to adjust his head so he could see better out of his one good eye. He thumped
over, snorted snot on me and took his position back on the patio door, satisfied that
I was safe.
I wiped the gooey stuff on my nightgown. For some reason, Baby’s goo took my fear
away. Should I unlock the door and look for Asa and Jake? What if they were injured?
Was someone still out there? Had they found a way into the house?
Suddenly the alarm went off. Someone thudded down the hallway.
“Josiah, unlock the door. It’s Jake.”
My heart leaped. “I can’t. Baby’s too wild. I’m afraid he might attack you.”
“Okay. Stay in your room then. Don’t unlock the door until I come for you.”
I made my way to the door and pressed my lips against it. “Are you alright? Asa?”
“We’re both fine. You?”
“Scared. What happened?”
“Will tell you later. I’m going to check on the barns now.”
“No, Jake. Don’t leave me. Please.”
“You’ll be fine. Just call me on the walkie-talkie if you need me.”
I didn’t want to be left alone. Still I said, “Okay.”
“Remember. Stay locked in until I come for you.”
I nodded my head.
“Josiah?”
“Yes. I will wait for you.” Pressing my ear against the door, I heard Jake retreat
down the hallway.
Much to Baby’s chagrin, I pulled the draperies closed. But I made it up to him when
I pulled out a pint of ice cream from my little freezer and gave it to him. It was
the least I could do for his gallant protection. I rubbed his head as he lapped up
the ice cream.
Sensing someone was eating something they were not, the cats stuck their heads out
from beneath my Hans Weger bed. They looked at me with total dismay. Chuckling, I
got out another pint of ice cream and spooned it onto the floor. I would clean up
the mess later.
Realizing that I was still in the dark, I turned on the lights, tinkled, brushed my
hair, brushed my teeth, washed my face and my nether regions as I had . . . you get
the idea. I changed into sweatpants and top, then sat at my dresser waiting.
It seemed like an eternity before voices sounded in the hallway. I looked through
the peephole. Lights throughout the house were turned on. Jake strode down the hallway,
knocking on the door. “Josiah, it’s me. Unlock the door.”
“Anyone with you?”
“Yeah. Charles and a cop.”
“I’m going to let Baby out. Everyone should stand very still until Baby checks them
out. I won’t be able to hold him. He’s too wound up.”
“We’re ready. Let him out. I’ve got a leash.”
I slowly opened the door, giving Baby ample room to rush out. I didn’t want my 225-pound
guard dog to knock me down in his excitement. Baby quickly smelled Jake and started
to pound past him when Jake grabbed his collar and attached a leash. Baby turned and
snapped at Jake. Taking the other end of the leash, Jake tapped Baby’s nose and commanded
him to sit. Baby snarled. Jake jerked on the leash and commanded again, this time
straddling Baby. Seeing that he was dominated by an Alpha, Baby finally gave in.
Jake rubbed the dog’s ears and gave him a biscuit treat.
I pushed past them and went into the great room where Charles and a cop were waiting.
The cop’s eyes grew very big at the sight of Baby following me.
“Just stand still and let him smell you,” I cautioned. “He’s scared and not very well
trained. Oh dear, I guess I shouldn’t have said that.”
Charles held out his hand for Baby to sniff. Recognizing Charles’ scent, Baby thundered
past to the cop.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got a good hold on him,” reassured Jake. “Just hold out your hand
and talk to him.”
“You sure he’s not gonna bite me?”
“Mastiffs rarely bite. They knock people down and sit on them. I’m not kidding. This
breed is several thousand years old. Julius Caesar brought them back from England
to fight in the circuses. Knights took these dogs with them on the Crusades.” Jake
rubbed Baby’s scarred head. “He comes from a noble lineage. A warrior race of dogs.”
The young cop reluctantly held out his hand. Baby sniffed him, gave him a curious
glance with his good eye and snapped up another treat that Jake gave him. Seeing Baby’s
haunches had relaxed, Jake let him go. Immediately Baby stuck his snout in the policeman’s
crotch.
I pulled Baby away, mumbling an apology. I threw a chew toy into a corner where Baby
retrieved it and laid down, but not before circling three times. Why do dogs do that?
The cop audibly breathed again and sat down where I motioned. Charles followed suit.
Hearing the front door open and close, we looked up as Asa strolled in. She was covered
in soot and smelled like a chimney. I noticed then that Charles was filthy too. He
took out a handkerchief and wiped his face.
Leaving for a moment, Jake came back with water bottles and hot wet washcloths. They
were gratefully accepted.
“What happened?” I asked.
We looked to Charles to do the explaining. “Some crazy woman tried to burn down one
of the horse barns!”
“Is everyone alright?” I asked, alarmed. Barn burning was a very serious and horrible
thing to witness.
“We got everyone and all the horses out of all the barns. Not a scratch on them.”
I looked at Asa and Jake.
“Everything is fine at our place,” replied Asa. Jake and I have doubled checked all
the animals and hives. They are fine.”
“Someone threw a chair at my patio door and I heard a scuffle.”
Glancing at his dirty washcloth, Charles stated, “That was Jake and this boy, Officer
Snow, tackling that crazy woman. Snow and I had chased her across my land onto your
property till we met up with her here. Didn’t you hear the fight?”
“Yes, I did,” I replied, ashamed of my own cowardice when everyone else had been outside
trying to put out the fires – literally. “Who was she?”
Office Snow looked up. “She said her name was Lacey Bridges. She was rambling about
some story that Lady Elsmere was using her influence to hide a murder at her house
and stuff like that.”
I looked hard at Snow. He looked familiar. “Do I know you?”
Turning red, Officer Snow replied, “Yes ma’am. I sat in your driveway for weeks this
past summer. You gave me some vegetables one time.”
It was my turn to feel heat rise on my face. “Of course, Officer Snow. Sorry I forgot.”
Trying to change the subject, I offered, “I know this Lacey Bridges. She approached
me at Addison DeWitt’s funeral. She claimed to have been Addison’s girlfriend and
that he was going to leave Doreen but that Doreen killed him. The reason why Doreen
would murder her husband was rather confusing. Anyway, she wanted me to help convince
the police that Doreen was behind Addison’s death. Where is she now?”
“She’s on her way to jail,” responded Officer Snow. “In the morning, she’ll go before
a judge. She will most probably be turned over for a psych evaluation.”
“So she was burning down the barn in protest?” I asked again.
Charles looked tired and sad. “It seems so. Just plain mean, if you ask me.” He looked
at his watch. “I gotta go. See you folks later on tomorrow. Lady Elsmere is waiting
for me.”
Asa rose and escorted Charles out. She was fond of Charles and thought of him as an
uncle. Asa had known him all her life. Charles was one of the few people that had
believed her story when she had been hounded out of Washington.
I realized then that Matt was missing. “Where’s Matt?” I asked, holding my breath
that nothing had happened to him.
“It was Matt who called the fire department. He said he awoke for some reason and
looked out the back window and saw flames coming out of the barn. He called me and
I woke up Asa. We rushed over to help.
He’s with Meriah now. I think Matt will stay at the big house the rest of the night.”
“That’s good,” I replied.
“You were never in danger,” said Jake. “I made sure.”
Smiling, I said, “I know that. I was just of no help at all though.”
“Your time will come again, Mom. Just keep getting better,” encouraged Asa, coming
back in the room.
I patted her arm.
She yawned. “I’m going to take a shower, get this stink off me and then go back to
bed. This has been too much excitement for me.”
“Same here,” concurred Jake.
I took my cue. “I’m going back to bed also. See you both in the morning.” Realizing
that I wouldn’t see Jake again until breakfast, as he stayed in his own room when
Asa was home, I padded off to bed with Baby.
Darn!
Mike Connors and I looked at what was left of the barn – not much. Smoke was still
rising from some of the fallen beams. I shuddered. A barnburner. It reminded me of
the movie
The Long Hot Summer
with Paul Newman playing Ben Quick. In the countryside, a barnburner was almost akin
to a murderer.
Firemen and the insurance investigator were in the ruins poking around and taking
readings.
Finally the Fire Chief conferred with some of his men and stepped out of the charred
wood and over to Connors. He looked dubiously at me.
“What started the fire?” asked Connors.
“Just like the lady told us last night,” grumbled the Chief. “She started it with
gasoline in the back.”
“It’s a wonder all the horses got out,” I marveled.
“She stated that she let all the horses out before she set the fire,” replied the
Chief.
“Those horses are very high-spirited and hard to handle. I don’t think one woman could
have gotten all those horses out.”
“You got them accounted for?” asked the Chief.
Connor nodded.
The Chief shrugged. “A determined person can do almost anything, if she’s got her
mind turned to it.” He looked to me for confirmation.
“You sure she didn’t have help?” asked Connor.
“Nothing to indicate that,” replied the Chief. “Everything will be in my report. Even
the recommendation last year when I told you to put in a new water line to the barn
complex. There is not enough water pumping through now. What if she had set two barns
on fire, especially the one with the mares and foals? That would had been a tragedy
for sure, Mike.”
Mike threw up his hands. “I know. I know. I just didn’t expect someone to set fire
to the place.”
“This all started with Addison’s death,” I interjected. “Chain reaction. No one could
have foreseen these events.”
The Chief patted Mike on the back. “Don’t mean to be so hard on you, Mike. All the
facts will be in my report.”
“I know that you’re doing your job. I’m just mad at myself for not doing mine,” groused
Mike before stumping off.
Giving the Chief a brief nod, I started the motor in my golf cart and headed back
to the Butterfly when I spied Shaneika with Comanche strolling over to Lady Elsmere’s
track. Her trainer and Velvet Maddox were with her. A rider was atop Comanche. I went
to intercept them.
“Are you sure you want to train today?” I asked, riding along side them walking.
Shaneika shot a look at Miss Velvet.
“Comanche is totally oblivious to the commotion,” stated Miss Velvet. “He is a true
narcissist. If it doesn’t interfere with his feeding or safety, he could care less.”
We got to the track and a prancing Comanche entered it. Everyone else took places
around the railing. The trainer took out a stopwatch and cried, “Go!”
Comanche took off in his usual lackadaisical gallop.
Shaneika turned to Miss Velvet. “Are you sure this is going to work?”
“Not sure of anything,” said Miss Velvet. “But that horse won’t do nothing if it is
not in his interest to do so. That’s why you’re going to give him a treat if he comes
round that bend running like the Devil is after him.” She pulled Shaneika over to
the railing and instructed, “Now when he comes round the last bend, you hold out your
arm real far and let him see that peppermint. He’s got to see it.”
“You think a peppermint is going to inspire that lump of meat to win a race?” I snorted.
“Hush,” commanded Miss Velvet. “That horse loves only two things, his companion goats
‘cause they look up to him and peppermint.”
I rolled my eyes and shot a look at Shaneika but she was earnestly watching for Comanche.
When Comanche came round the bend, Shaneika leaned over the railing and waved the
bag of red and white candies.
It didn’t seem like anything had changed but then Comanche thundered past us, depositing
little bits of the turf on our heads.
The trainer stopped the clock. Miss Velvet and Shaneika bent over to take a look at
it.
“Well, I’ll be,” said the trainer. “Four seconds better. He wouldn’t win a race still,
but this is the best time he’s ever had.”
Miss Velvet gave me a smug look. “Now, honey, you give him some peppermint right now
and tell him if he does better tomorrow, you will give him more peppermint. Make him
understand that the faster he goes, the more peppermint he will get. He has to earn
it. No more free treats. Go on now. Tell him,” coached Miss Velvet pushing Shaneika
towards the sweating horse.
Shaneika stole a glance at me before telling Comanche in a no-nonsense voice that
she expected him to work like the rest of us and that he would only get peppermint
if he kept increasing his speed. She also went into length about how she would have
to sell him if he didn’t start doing better at races because she couldn’t afford him.
Comanche gave her a wide eyeball stare before snorting and pawing the ground.
“He understands,” said Miss Velvet. “He’ll do better. My work is done here. I’ll send
you a bill after he wins his first race.”
“That’s all?” asked Shaneika.
“Horses aren’t that complicated. He’ll work for sweets. If I thought for one moment
that you would sell him for horse meat, I wouldn’t help you.” Velvet Maddox smiled.
“But I can tell you love him.” Always one to have the last word, Miss Velvet strode
back to the barn where she’d left her big farm truck.
Shaneika looked at me and shrugged. Could it be that simple?
Comanche winning a race for peppermints?
There is a first for everything . . . I guess.