Mystery Rider (9 page)

Chapter Fourteen

A dim light sent some of the darkness scurrying into the corners, but deep shadows still lingered in the low-ceilinged room. Melissa stepped through the doorway behind her, and Kate could feel her breathing on the back of her neck. Not that she blamed her. This place was spooky.

Mrs. Maynard gave her a smile, but in the wavering light, it didn't look warm or inviting. “What's wrong, girls? Have you already seen a spider?”

Melissa pressed closer to Kate's side. “It kind of gives me the creeps up here.”

“I'm so sorry, dear. We needn't stay long.” Mrs. Maynard shuffled to a corner, where the dim glow from the single overhead bulb barely reached. “Would one of you be so kind as to pull this box out for me? I'm afraid it's a bit more than I should attempt.”

Kate stared at the box she could hardly see, then glanced at Melissa. Wide-eyed Melissa shook her head. Kate moved forward. “Is it heavy?”

“Not terribly, but it's hard for me to bend over very far. I'm sorry to have to bother you with this.” Her tone was gentle and helped ease some of Kate's fears.

“Sure.” Kate took three strides and reached the box. She bent over and tugged, and it moved easily under her hands. “It's not heavy at all.” She nudged it again and pushed it into the middle of the room. “But it's covered with dust. Should we take it downstairs?”

“Hmm.” Mrs. Maynard pursed her lips. “I suppose that might be best. I'd planned to open it here, but I didn't realize how dusty everything would be. Will it be a problem for you to carry it down?”

Relief flooded through Kate at the thought of leaving the dark attic. She could fly down those steps with a box twice this heavy and not be bothered. “Nope. Want to go now?” She plucked the box off the floor and held it against her chest.

“Certainly, dear. Why don't you lead the way?” Mrs. Maynard waited for Kate and Melissa to precede her, then turned off the attic light and closed the door.

Kate shivered as the door thumped, thankful she was no longer in that creepy place. She bolted down the stairs and walked into the living area. “Where would you like me to put this?”

Mrs. Maynard led the way to a pine coffee table and patted the top. “Right here is fine. Then you and Melissa take a seat on the couch while I open it.” She frowned as Kate set it down. “I'll get something to dust the top with first.”

She returned in a moment and swiped the top of the box with a damp cloth. “Much better. Now, let's see if things are still in good shape. If so, we'll have to go back up and get another box. But I didn't see any sense in that if these are moth- or mouse-eaten.”

“Ugh.” Melissa wrinkled her nose. “I don't think I want to go back up with moths, mice, and spiders. I thought seeing a spider was bad enough.”

Kate wasn't afraid of bugs, but she agreed. All she wanted to do was get back outside with Tori and Colt. They probably thought they were missing out, but they were the lucky ones in the sunshine with a gorgeous horse—instead of being trapped in a spooky house.

Mrs. Maynard didn't respond, but she peeled off the wide band of yellowed tape that covered the line where the flaps met.

Kate peered closely at the box. It didn't appear to be nibbled, so maybe the contents were safe. She almost wished they wouldn't be, so she and Melissa wouldn't have to venture upstairs again. “What's inside?” She leaned forward and kept her gaze fixed on the box as Mrs. Maynard carefully pulled back the top.

Melissa hitched forward onto the edge of her seat. “Oh my! What a beautiful cherry-red color! Is that satin?”

“Yes, it certainly is. You have a good eye, Melissa.” Mrs. Maynard slipped her hand under the folds of fabric and withdrew a good-sized swath. “What do you think?”

“It smells musty, but it's a pretty color,” Kate agreed. “What's it good for?”

Mrs. Maynard laughed. “I suppose I should open it.” She stepped away from the coffee table and unfolded the satin to its full width, longer than her opened arm span. “Now can you see it?”

Kate gasped. “Where did you get that? I can't believe it!” She stared at a gorgeous banner that was the perfect size and fit to go over the back of a horse. The words Fort Dalles Rodeo Princess Court were emblazoned in black letters on each side. “Wow!”

Mrs. Maynard smiled. “I have three more. And the letters can easily be unstitched and new ones added to say whatever you'd like. If you children would care to use them for the parade, that is.”

Melissa gaped at her. “You mean after all the things we did to upset you, you'd let us use these? Why would you do that?”

“They aren't doing me any good in my attic, are they? And who better to use my old things than four children who want to take their first ride in a parade? It would make me feel like I had a small part in your barn and your lives, and maybe even like I was riding in a parade again myself.” She swiped her fingers beneath one eye and sniffed. “Forgive a foolish old woman for getting sentimental. This banner brings back memories.”

Kate shook her head. “That's very kind of you, but it would destroy those memories if we took the letters off and put new ones on. That wouldn't be right.”

“I don't agree,” Mrs. Maynard said. “It would be wrong to let them stay in that attic, where creatures can eat holes in them. It's a wonder this is still intact. We'll have to hope the rest are in as good a shape, since there are only four. Are you girls willing to go up again and get the rest of the boxes? There are three more, one for each horse, as I didn't want to carry a large box up the stairs.”

Kate and Melissa jumped to their feet, all fear gone about going upstairs.

“Sure. Come on, Melissa. Those boxes are small enough that one of us can carry two. Why don't you stay here and rest, Mrs. Maynard? Are the other boxes in the same area, and may we use your flashlight?”

“Yes, they're right behind where we found this one.” She handed over the light and settled herself in an easy chair. “I
am
a little tired after all the excitement and exercise, but it's good for me. I've been so lonely. You girls let me know when you're finished. Feel free to open the boxes and check the banners when you return. I'll just rest my eyes for a few moments.” She shut her eyes and tipped her head against the overstuffed chair.

Kate grabbed Melissa's hand and raced to the stairs, her heart thudding in her chest. She waited until they were halfway up before she whispered to Melissa, “Here all this time we've been worried about having the money to buy nice fabric and get it sewn to fit a horse, and God hands it to us! Wow!”

“What do you mean by that? God didn't do anything. Mrs. Maynard did.” Melissa stayed close behind Kate and crossed the threshold into the attic a half second after Kate flipped the light switch.

Kate walked toward the corner where they'd found the box and turned on the flashlight. “Don't you think it's pretty weird that we'd see an old lady riding a horse by my house close to dark, then find out where she lives, and after we do, we discover she used to be a rodeo queen and has what we need for the parade? I mean, what are the odds of that happening? As far as I'm concerned, God brought it all together, and it's awesome!”

Melissa peered into the dark corner and pulled out a box the same size as the first one. “But why would He do that?”

“Because He loves us, silly.”

Melissa shook her head. “Maybe you, but not me. I've never done anything to make Him love me. You're a nice person—you and Tori and Colt all are—but I haven't been. I guess He did it for you guys.” Her shoulders drooped.

“Nope.” Kate grabbed the corner of another box and tugged it into the light. “Not true. I think He did it to show you that you're important to Him.”

“It's just too weird. Although I'll admit it would be amazing to have somebody love you so much that He cares about stuff that's important to you.” She gave a wistful sigh as she retrieved the final box. “We'd probably better get downstairs before Mrs. Maynard starts worrying about us.”

Melissa picked up one box, and Kate grabbed another. “Hmm,” Melissa said, “I'm not sure we can balance two of these and go down the stairs safely. Why don't you wait here with the flashlight, and I'll take this one, then come back and get the other one, and we'll take the last two down together. Okay?”

Kate nodded. “Sure. You'd better be quiet, though, in case Mrs. Maynard is asleep. I guess you can put the box on the table with the other one.”

“Right.” Melissa headed to the door and disappeared.

Kate waited as the seconds turned into minutes, and Melissa didn't return. She stepped to the door and shone her light down, even though the stairwell was already lit from the single bulb hanging overhead. “Melissa? Where are you?” she whispered as loudly as she could, hoping her voice would carry, but no footsteps echoed below.

Suddenly a scream bounced from the living area all the way up the stairwell. Kate dropped the box and ran down the stairs. Melissa's frantic voice met her as she hit the bottom step.

“Kate, Mrs. Maynard is dead!”

Chapter Fifteen

Two hours later, Kate and her mother, Colt, Melissa, and Tori and her mother stood in a room at Providence Memorial Hospital in Hood River, where Mrs. Maynard lay tucked in a bed, her small frame not even filling half of the narrow surface.

A doctor patted her hand. “Your friends can stay another ten minutes. Then I want you to sleep. You're lucky it was only a mild stroke. I'll release you in a few days if you improve, but you need at least three or four weeks of rest before you try to do much at home. I'll be back in a couple of hours to check on you. Call the nurse if you need anything.” He exited the room without looking back.

Kate edged closer to the bed as another wave of relief swept over her that their new friend wasn't dead. Finding Mrs. Maynard slumped in the chair and not being able to wake her had brought Melissa to tears and near hysteria. “What can we do to help?”

Mrs. Maynard gave a weak smile. “You are all so wonderful to offer. First, I want you girls to get the boxes you brought down from the attic. Those banners are yours to use as you'd like to. Now that Sam is dead, it's just my cat, Milton, and Starlight. Could you see that they're fed every day? And Tori, would you continue to brush Starlight and exercise him like you offered until I can get home?”

Tori swiped at a tear rolling down her cheek. “Yes, ma'am. I'd love to. Would you like me to lunge him in his pen?”

“Hmm … I was thinking … Do you girls have a trainer you trust?”

Kate looked at her mother, who nodded. “We have a lady who comes to our barn and gives lessons, both private and group, a couple of times a week. She's really good.”

“That's what we need, then. Mrs. Velasquez, would you allow Tori to take lessons on Starlight, since Mrs. Ferris trusts the trainer? I'd like you to take him to Kate's barn until I'm well enough to care for him again. I'll pay for the trainer and his board, if that's acceptable. Joshua and I had a special little nest egg set aside for emergencies, but we never spent it … Now seems like the perfect time.”

Tori stared at Mrs. Maynard, then swung her gaze to her mother. “Please, Mom? He's a sweet, wonderful horse. I promise I'll do everything the trainer tells me to, and I won't do anything silly.”

Mrs. Velasquez paused, then asked Kate's mom, “What do you think?”

“Our trainer is very competent and careful. She can assess Starlight when he arrives and decide if it's safe for Tori to ride him. If not, Tori can work him from the ground.”

“I'll agree to that. Tori, I know you love this horse, but I'll hold you to your promise to follow the trainer's instructions.”

Tori looked like she wanted to jump up and down and whoop, but she merely grinned. “Absolutely. Thanks, Mom. And thank you for trusting me with your horse, Mrs. Maynard. I won't let you down.”

“Thank you, dear.” The older woman rolled her head on the pillow and closed her eyes. “I think I'd better rest now. I seem to be quite tired all of a sudden.”

Kate's mom squeezed Mrs. Maynard's hand and leaned close. “We'll be praying for you. And I want you to know that I alerted the police about the teens who have been harassing you. They're going to keep an eye on your place.” She straightened, then beckoned to Kate and her friends to follow.

Colt was the last one to leave, and he closed the door behind him. “I feel sorry for her. I wonder if she'll ever be able to live at home by herself again.”

Melissa sucked in a long breath and then released it. “I'm thankful she's alive and can talk. I was so scared when I found her unconscious. The doctor said she'll be able to go home if she gets stronger, but she can't do much on her own anytime soon. How will she take care of herself?”

Kate looked at Tori, who gave a slow nod as though she knew exactly what Kate was thinking. “I say we take turns bringing food and cleaning her house. It's not like one person who's in bed or on the couch most of the time will mess it up, but we can do her dishes and vacuum—stuff like that—and water her flowers.”

Colt stuffed his hands in his pockets as they made their way down the hall to the front door. “Count me in. I'll do the yard work if you girls bring food and clean. Tori has Starlight's care, so she probably won't have time to do much at Mrs. Maynard's house.”

“Sure I will. It's summer vacation, and it's not like I have a job. I'll do my share.”

Kate stood by the automatic door and waited for everyone to exit into the parking lot before following. “It's so exciting that you get to work with Starlight. We'll need to find someone to trailer him to the barn right away.”

Tori arched her brows. “Why? It's only a little over a mile. If you guys come with me, we could walk him there.”

Her mother shook her head. “You aren't handling that horse without an adult present, until the trainer says it's safe.”

Tori sighed. “Right. I forgot.”

Kate's mom pressed the remote and unlocked their Subaru Outback. After they were all inside, she turned to Mrs. Velasquez. “I'm willing to stop by Mrs. Maynard's on the way home and walk with the girls, if you'll take my car on to my house.”

Tori squealed from the backseat, and Kate elbowed her. They didn't want to push Tori's mom and have her change her mind. Tori sobered and hunkered into the seat, but her expression remained hopeful.

“All right.” Tori's mom nodded. She turned to look at Tori. “But you are not to do anything with that horse until the trainer arrives. Understood?”

“Sure. Besides, he'll need a day to settle into his new surroundings, and the trainer comes tomorrow, right, Kate?”

“Right. And Melissa, we should probably get to work on those banners right away too. The parade isn't that far off, so we don't have a lot of time.”

This was so cool and exciting. They had banners, and Tori got to care for Mrs. Maynard's horse. Poor lady. Kate had seen the loneliness on Mrs. Maynard's face more than once. It was so sad that a nice lady like her didn't have a bunch of friends to keep her company and care for her. Of course, she said most of her friends were dead or had moved from the area. Then reality hit her. Mrs. Maynard was getting old—or at least, she said she was seventy, and that sounded old to her. What if she had another stroke and died, or could never care for her house or animals again?