It takes a second for the words to sink in and then I give hima scowl. Oh, ha, ha. Tease the blind girl. Ride alone, indeed!
But he’s dead serious.
Despite my opposition, the doctor helps me onto the horse andgives me the reins. “You’re slipping a little to the left, minx. Move back.Good.” He walks around the animal, gives it a pat. “Your cloak is long enoughto cover your legs, but a riding habit would be better.”
A riding habit? My wardrobe is extensive but Mama neverthought to get one of those.
I rub the horse’s smooth coat and it whickers softly. Oats, dryhay. I love his smell. Kelly mounts his own horse.
What’s happening? I ask, trying to sign and hold thereins simultaneously.
“Hmm,” Kelly replies. “Are you referring to our ridingarrangement?”
Of course.
“Let me introduce you to your noble steed. Jupiter meet Hester.Hester, Jupiter.”
My mouth falls open. Jupiter? My steed?
Kelly seems amused by the situation. “They were going to shipthe beast to a glue factory in Colorado Springs, but I bought him for youinstead. Just a few dollars, really. He’s been hitched to a wagon at the millhis whole life.”
It bothers me that Kelly is so nonchalant. Jem died not longago, and I still feel terrible about it. Besides, what would I do with theanimal? No horse for me. Blind, remember? Crash, fall off, die.
“I have created a monster,” Kelly says. “You can be quitesarcastic at times.”
His mount takes a few steps and Jupiter follows, as thoughthere is no other option for him but to show obedience. I am terrified initiallyand then I remember the reins in my hands. Leaning forward, I reach out andfind a lead rope connected to my horse’s bridle.
“Don’t worry, minx. I have the other end. You’re safe.”
I feel better now. Kelly can be exasperating at times, but Itrust he will keep me from harm. We use side streets—where there isn’t muchtraffic—and I sigh in relief once we are out of Stonehenge.
The world smells clean and new. Sunlight warms my cheeks andthe wind whirls about me, tossing tiny particles of ice into my face. I patJupiter, thankful he and I are both alive to enjoy this day.
I hear Kelly turn in his saddle. “Would you like to gallop abit?”
Smiling in confirmation, I can barely contain my excitement.Our horses spring forward and their hooves churn up the slushy ground.
Oh, it’s marvelous! My eyes water, my heart thumps. I’ve neverfelt so alive.
“Too fast?” Kelly yells over the noise. “Shall we slow down?”
I shake my head, and he laughs. “All right then. Loosen yourhold on the reins, and let old Jupiter have his way.”
We ride for another mile or so, nearly reaching our meeting pointwith Tom. He might even see us galloping along the road. Horrors! He does.
What are you doing, Hettie? And why are you sitting on thatpitiful nag?
I refuse to honor Tom’s last comment with a response. Jupiteris not pitiful. Or a nag.
Kelly groans, evidently at the distant sighting of my love, andbrings his steed to a trot. I pat Jupiter and turn to the doctor. If I had anyreservations about accepting this horse, they’ve since vanished. He isn’t Jem,but he’s a good old fellow.
Thank you, I sign. Love him.
“My pleasure,” Kelly says. “As they say, don’t look a gifthorse in the mouth. Who knows if Jupiter even has teeth?”
As we draw closer to Tom, I register how displeased he will bethat Kelly bought me such a gift. Don’t tell Tom, I ask surreptitiously.
“It’ll be our secret,” Kelly answers, bringing our horses to afull stop. “Hello, Craddock.” His greeting to Tom is as bland as unsweetenedporridge. “Your eye has a nice shiner from our bout last night.”
“I’ve had worse,” my love replies with the same dull intonationand helps me down.
They stake the horses nearby. “Is that one new?” Tom asksKelly. “The animal Hester rode?”
“Jupiter was a bargain.”
“By bargain, I hope you mean free.”
We climb to the top of the ridge. Tom remains at my side, tellingme what he sees, and I get a vague idea of my surroundings. Our Lady of Sorrowschapel is nothing but a pile of charred timbers, except for one remaining wall.Tom says it is remarkably unscathed.
“There’s still some stained-glass in the window,” Kellyobserves.
A strong wind blows from the north, pushing against us. Seeanything, Tom?
Lots of trees yonder. Could be those from the vision. Areyou tired yet? Do you need to rest?
I grin, not the least bit tired. ‘Lay on, Macduff, anddamn’d be him that first cries, “Hold, enough!’
Tom laughs, shouldering a branch aside. Shakespeare thisearly in the hunt? Deo favente. What kind of day lies ahead?
Passing through the conifers, I hear the wind shake the oldgiants. I marvel at the dance going on between the elements and the mightyforest until we’re out in the open once more.
“Careful, Doctor,” Tom says. “The ravine’s up ahead.”
We walk another ten yards, and skirt around a few boulders. “Howcan you be sure this is the one?” Kelly asks.
“Call it intuition.”
Tom goes to the edge of the ravine and looks down. “I should beable to make it. There are plenty of outcroppings and shelves for climbing.”
Kelly joins him on the rim. “All yours, Craddock. I’d help ifit weren’t for my broken fingers. You might tie your rope around that stonepillar over there. Seems sturdy enough.”
The doctor gets his pack and takes something out of it. Theobject clacks together, like a handful of metal parts. Kelly tells me they arestakes. He gives them to Tom and asks him to pound the stakes into the earthnear any evidence he comes across, to mark his findings. Evidently there’s alsoidentification tags involved and twine to outline the area so the police knowwhere to look for further clues. If this practice of staking and tagging seemsstrange to Tom, he doesn’t mention it to Kelly. Even though my Interpreter hadqualms initially about having outside help, he seems rather intrigued at theidea of applying scientific methods to our supernatural investigations.
After securing the rope, Tom tosses it over the side. Itbounces several times
