The Murdered Woman, The Stolen Horse

Chapter 2

-Last chapter was kinda dull, but this ones better, at the end. Yeah that was the longest chapter I ever posted. I'm aiming for three pages with this one and all the chapters in this book will be at least two pages. Votes are good, comments are better, fans are the best.-

       I ate dinner with Aunt Ash, who was bubbling about a horse she bought. It was supposed to be a cross, and was obviously probably expensive. I listened raptly as she chattered on about bloodlines, and plans.

"His dam is Superior Moonlight, thats her show name, who won big awards in Show jumping. His sire was a Cross country star named Sky Runner. He won so many prizes, any foal would be amazing. With those two as parents, the foal will probably be an eventer. He's won one show, but has gotton out of shape after an injury that prevented him from continuing his training. He was a real bargain, with them too lazy to get him into shape again. You will help get him ready, won't you?"

  I was trying to make sense of all the facts she spouted, but nodded and said "Of course,"

 "Thank you, Anything you do will be appreciated."

And that ended the conversation. I retired to bed, thinking about how much I would ride Joe, Sophie, and help the new horse. I remembered his name, Star Jewel. Star for short. I was hoping, if I was any good at the end of the summer, to ride him in a show. I doubted it, not at his level. I knew he had been gelded, so he would be calmer.

  As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about horses. Horses, horses, and horses.

    When I woke up the new horse was being delivered, the trailer bouncing along the driveway. I had overslept! I rolled of the bed, landed witha thump, and pedaled the blankets off. I jumped up and got changed, ran a brush through my hair, and threaded it through the back of a baseball cap. The only thing I ever did with my hair.

  I ran through the kitchen, skipped breakfast and jogged outside as the new horse was coming down. He was an almost goldish color. He leaped out of the trailer, like something had scared him. A man holding  a little crop got out behind him. I immediately didn't like him. He had oily black hair and had a tuxedo. I don't judge people by what they look like. But the horse shied away from him. He swung the crop with practiced grace.

    He shook hands with my aunt spoke a few words, jumped in his truck and left. I was glad. I go with my gut on everything, and that guy was trouble to say the least. I strode over to the horse. He had a leather halter, and a dark blue lead rope. He had a dorsal stripe, and dark high stockings. I petted him and he snorted air. He was sweaty, like he was terrified or over worked.

   Aunt Ash gave me the rope and asked me to walk him around to cool him off. I complied, and led him around his new home.  I went by the paddoks, and the horse calmed down. I noticed that he was out of shape, with a dull coat, and such. I pet him. When he was calmed down and cooled off, I led him to the barn. Aunt Ash had prepared a stall for him.

   I put him in and took the halter off. He started circling and found a bucket of water. He plunged his muzzle in and started drinking. I left him too it, and went to find Aunt Ash. She asked what I thought about his health. I was surprised at being asked for my opinion. But I told her what I thought, that he just need excersize.

    She nodded, and told me to ride Joe after the Star was done eating. I was to pony him along the trails. Jess would come along to excersize Sophie. I went to get Joe tacked up and find an extra lead rope. I put the new horses halter on and clipped a lead line on. I held onto it and clipped it to Joe's halter, which he wore under his bridle. I rode Joe and the new horse followed. Sophie and Jess were waiting. We went the same way. We trotted and cantered almost the whole way. Jess nodded at me when I was done.

I led them both into the barn and crosstied them both. I took off Joe's tack. Then I used a stiff brush, to get all the sweat and saddle marks off. Once he was done being groomed, I gave him a quickpat and a treat, I led him into his stall.

    Now for Star. I picked his hooves, then started brushing one side. Jess, appered and went for the other. While I was still working she got his face cleaned. She really was quick. I finished up and led him to his stall. When I was done I went to find Aunt Ash.

 "He had no problems keeping up, at all?"

"None," I told her.

"We can enter him in another show for eventing in abot two weeks."

I nodded this seemed long enough. Who knew what a fiasco the whole thing would be a tragedy, a fight , never mind every thing else. 

xxxxxxx 2 weeks later xxxxx

     We were entering Star Jewel in a competition today. I'd gotten better at riding, with the every day experience. Joe was my favorite horse to ride, and I'd ridden Sophie once or twice. I rode Star Jewel, a little. But the best part was, Aunt Ash had instructed me on eventing, and I was going to the small, local show and with me riding.

   I was sure that we wouldn't get last. We definately wouldn't get first, but I was equally sure we wouldn't get last. When it was our turn in the dressage arena, I nodded to the judge before performing. Star was perfect, listening to my every command.

    At show jumping Star took the huge jumps like puddles. He soared right over them, not a single refusalal, or pole down. I was sure we did better than everyone else ther, but I wasn't sure about Cross Country. It was bad for me, I don't know why. I was horrible at it.

   But there was no turning back now. I aimed at the jump and tried my best. I knew I didn't do amazing as with everything else, but I did okay. Star trotted into the line-up for his awards. I hoped we wouldn't get last place for my sloppy cross country riding.

When the judge called last for ribbons, there were only six who'd gotten ribbons. We were on the list thankfully. Not sixth, or fith or fourth or third either. Only two of us were left. The person beside me was on a stunning black horse. She looked down at the people on the sidelines, and riveted her attention on the man with the microphone.

  "Second place goes to, ..................Amelia Jameson on Night Dancer! Good job Amelia!"

 I sighed with relief, Star's amazing Show Jumping and Dressage must have cancelled out the other stuff. I had gotten first! The thought riveted me to the saddle. How had I beat four teen other people? I shook it off and walked forward on Star to claim the blue ribbon. I was amazed. How, How, how, how, HOW?!?

   As we loaded him in the trailer, Aunt Ash was all smiles. She was so excited. We had another first to go on his record. The place was actually more, professional, than local, as I'd thought before. I was excited that we'd won.

    Over the next few weeks Star won six more firsts at big shows. Stars value was Skyrocketing. Which was why I wasn't as surprised when he was stolen.  I ran in to tell Aunt Ash, when I saw it. 

  A lifeless form crumpled to the floor, with blood still seeping from her head.

 Dead.

 My Aunt Ash was dead.