The Murdered Woman, The Stolen Horse

Chapter 4

        -This chapter will be 3 pages long. Anyway I'm running out of ideas, so anyone whose got an idea for a chapter, tell me, please. Fan, Comment, Vote.- 

      I was in a white room. Jess and my parents were there, all of them looked really nervous. When I sat up, my parents rushed over. Jess reseated herself beside the bed. My parents still looked really nervous, but they asked;

    "What happened to you?"

     They stretched out happened, like happ-end. I shook myself and told my story, about the trail ride, about the man, his knife, and Joe. They looked shocked. My father called the police. I heard him talking and told him the knife was in my saddle bags. I turned to my mom.

      "When can I go back to Starlight Stables?" I asked. Mom looked shocked. I looked at her, and I'm pretty sure that bewilderment was all over my face. Why was she so shocked?

      "Honey, you can't really be planning on going there, can you?" She asked.

      "Of course!" I said, kind of loudly. "You think I could just go home after all this? You must be joking, I have to find out who killed Aunt Ash!" Mom's eyes teared up. Aunt Ash was her sister.

      Her eyes flashed with some unknown kind of fire. "You think I would let you stay there?" Not waiting for an answer, she rushed on."Ash was killed, an attempt was made on your life and you think I could just, I could just  leave you there?"

     "Yes, I do. The cops won't do anything but twist this around so they can cart me off to jail, as a murderer. I have to find the killer, for Aunt Ash."

     She sighed. She knew I was too stubborn and mule-brained when I felt like it, to change my mind. I knew she was too, but they couldn't keep me home.

           "All right. I can't stop you. But you can't stop me, either. I'm coming with you." My father had been standing off to one side, apperently letting Mom force me to stay home. He looked shocked, and came over.

    "You can't be serious, can you? Going to a murder hive?" He asked.

     "Yes, we are serious. Me and Ash Will find my sister's killer," Mom stood firm. I knew where I got my stubborness from.

    "I guess we better pack. The police are testing for finger prints now. If they canfind any beside Ash's, we can go home.

      Jess stood silentley. Now she spoke. "Aunt Jess," she began.(They named their daughters after eachother, my Aunt and mother did) "You two can permanantley move here, you know. I really need the help."

       My father had recently lost his job, and my mother was a teacher in elementary school, so she didn't make a lot. We lived kind of on the outskirts of the town, and all of mom's friends were where she grew up, near the stables. I could tell she was all for it, but my dad was another story. He thought staying temporarily was sillines.

      Neither spoke. So I changed the suject. Mom would move here and Dad would follow, no questions asked. "Can we go to the stables now?"

     Mom nodded and I swung my feet over the bed and walked out the door, Jess behind me.

     Jess drove and I sat shotgun. I could hear my parents discussing the idea of moving here. I hoped they would. I knew they would. And I began to make a list in my head. It went something like this;

Who killed Aunt Ash;

-People who sold us Star Jewel

-Angry neighbor.

-Anyone who wanted Star Jewel for their own.

-Or saw us at at show

               That was alot of people. Too many. I sighed and looked out my window. As we were rounding the corner, A truck ran the light, and barreled toward us. I covered my head and braced myself for impact. It never came. Jess gunned the car so fast, I went flat against the seat and heard the tires skid. We flew through the turn and whipped into our lane. Jess never said a word.

       How does she do that, I wondered. But I shook of the question. We drove onward. No one said a word. When we got there, I went to the house. My parents followed. Jess came in last. We plopped down at the kitchen table. I was the first to speak.

  "The man who sold us Star, he stole him and murdered Aunt Ash."

  I hadn't been sure before, but know I knew it was true. Speaking it aloud, it confirmed what  I was thinking. I felt positive, till I saw my father. He was frowning. I knew he didn't believe me. I looked imploringly at Jess and Mom. They at least looked hopefull.

    Jess broke the silence "Then lets pay them a little visit." I realized now, how much she wanted revenge on the people who so brutally killed her mother.

    I nodded. Jess drove, she knew where to go. We pulled into the lot. Jess opened the door, and stormed out. She slammed the door behind her. I was right beside her. Soon my mother flanked her other side. Jess was the real one leading this charge. We walked into the stables, my father reluctantly behind us.

      We looked in the stables. Star Jewel wasn't there. I was so dissapointed, I wanted to cry. Jess, in a perfectly even tone, made a suggestion.

    "They probably sold him."

     I realized she was right. We all went to the car. Nothing to do but wait and guess, now.

      We drove into the stable driveway. I went and plopped on my bed. My parents were taking up residence in Aunt Ash's room. Suddenly, I felt cold. I looked at my wall. There, written in red ink, and carved into the wall, was two words.

      'Back off'

 Once I shook off my shock, I yelled. Jess made it in first. Mom second, with Dad right behind her. I pointed. Dad walked forward. He peered closer at the wall. He beckoned us forward. There, written smaller underneath, it were two more words.

   'Or else'

   I looked at the floor then up. Something, smelled weird. Like a camp fire. I realized with awful certainty what it was.

     "FIRE!"