Chapter Seven. I decided to walk to the stable

I decided to walk to the stable. As I pulled the door opened and walked in, I noticed the saddles were hanging neatly on a ledge. Then over in the far corner, next to a small bale of hay, I saw what looked like a stirrup. I quickly walked over and saw the remainder of the saddle behind the bale. I turned the saddle over, picked it up and swung it over the ledge.

As I set it in place, I noticed the length of leather that held the stirrup to the saddle was cut almost in half. It was practically dangling off. Additionally, also cut almost completely, was the strap that goes under the horse to secure the saddle.

I looked around the stable and everything else looked normal. It all looked like what I'd expect a stable to look like. There were five stalls and five horses. A few pitchforks, a couple of shovels, some other tools and grooming supplies...the usual stable stuff, I'd guess.

Chance was nosing around, obviously enthralled with so many new smells.

I heard Thunder, the wild one, way in the last stall, huffing and snorting. A chestnut mare was in another stall, snorting and bobbing her head when she saw me. I walked over to her when I spotted a big burlap bag of oats that said Carson Grain and Feed on it. Carson? As in Allison Carson? Probably her father, I couldn't imagine Miss Carson owning a feed store. I took a handful and let the mare eat.

It was then the stable door opened. I turned around to see Bedford coming into the stable. He hadn't noticed me yet, but he had noticed the damaged saddle on the ledge. I watched him for a moment. He looked puzzled, which I found interesting. Last night he gave me the creeps. I wanted to know why.

It was then he spotted me. "G'morning Miss. I didn't see ya standing there."

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. Is that Maggie's saddle from yesterday? Looks like it's in bad shape," I said, looking right at him.

"Yes, it is. I was coming to fetch it and get it fixed."

I wondered how Maggie with all her expertise could miss the damage to the saddle. "Does Maggie saddle her own horse, Bedford?"

Bedford had gone over and was brushing one of the horses. "No, usually if I know she's going out, I do it."

"And did you yesterday?"

He glanced up. "No."

"Where were you?" I asked.

"I have Thursdays off, but Miss Hannah called me to come and get the horse." He continued brushing the mare.

"Don't you find it odd how an expert horsewoman like Miss Winfield can fall off a horse so easily?" I asked, leaning against the ledge.

"Strange things happen all the time Miss," he said. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help."

"I am too. Bedford, where do you live?"

He motioned outside and said, "I live in an apartment above the garage. It's small but comfortable. It suits me."

"Well, last night was disturbing to say the least. I don't suppose you heard or saw anything?" I asked.

"No, Miss. When I heard the sirens, I came down but you were already inside with the police. Like I said, I spoke with them. Then I came around and found you and the ladies. I am sorry, I didn't come out sooner."

"Well, if you didn't hear anything how could you know? Funny you didn't hear the noise when we crashed through the French doors, though." I kept my eyes on him.

He frowned as he continued with his task. "You sure you're all right, Miss?"

"I'm not the issue here, Bedford. I would think you'd be worried about Maggie."

"I do worry, Miss," he said. He sounded sincere, but something didn't ring true.

"What do you think is happening?"

He looked at me over the ledge, and said plainly, "I don't know what's going on Miss. I just take care of the horses and the property."

"But surely, you've been here forever, you have to have some opinion. Let's take this for example. What is your opinion of this?" I held out only the watch I'd found. It was still in the burlap.

He came out of the stall and looked down at my hand. His eyes widened. He looked up and, with the brush in his hand, he looked right at me. He had a threatening look on his face. He took two steps toward me and pointed the brush in my direction.

"It's a watch, Miss. Now, if you're asking if I know whose watch it is, I don't know. I learned long ago not to ask questions or go nosin' around. You might do well to do the same."

I was a little frightened, but mostly angry. "That sounds a tad like a threat, Bedford," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "A moment ago you said you cared about Maggie. Well, I care for her as well." I amazed myself at how easy that came out. "Something is happening around here, Bedford. Maggie and Hannah have asked for my help. I'm not sure what I can do, but I'm going to try."

He looked out of the open stall door and into the woods. "This is an old family, Miss..."

"With old secrets?" I prodded. He shot an angry look my way.

"Don't talk of things ya know nothing about."

"Who can talk of such things then, Bedford?" I felt as though I was getting somewhere with him.

He put the brushes away and turned to me. "Everyone has secrets, Miss. I'm sure even you."

We were having a good old-fashioned staring contest when I felt a presence behind me in the doorway.

I turned to see a woman, maybe in her late fifties. She was tall, slender and had salt-and-pepper hair she had pulled back into a tight bun, which looked a little too tight. What I noticed most of all, though, were her eyes. They were almost black. She was wearing riding clothes and had her gloves and riding crop in one hand. I had no idea how long she had been there or what she had overheard.

Chance barked at her, and then bravely hid behind me and growled.

"I don't believe I know you." She extended her hand. "My name is Sarah Winfield, I'm Maggie's aunt."

I took her hand. She had a good grip. If Hannah was the aunt everybody loved, this woman struck me as the aunt no one wanted to kiss.

"It's nice to meet you. Kate Ryan," I said.

She turned from me and glared at Bedford, who appeared as if he wanted no part of this conversation. "I was out riding and I think the poor creature has something stuck in his shoe. Bedford, please go and check."

Without a word, Bedford took a tool and left the stable.

She turned back to me and said rather coolly, "I understand there's been some excitement." She put her hand up to hair as if to straighten it. Why, I don't know, there wasn't a hair out of place. "I hope no one was seriously hurt."

"No, not seriously hurt, but it was a little scary. Do you have any idea what's going on?"

She looked at me for a moment. "No, Miss Ryan I can't say that I do. Are you investigating?"

"No, no, I just seem to be in the middle of whatever is going on and I'm curious." I was still standing by the sabotaged saddle. I held up the cut leather strap. "They sure don't make saddles like they used to."

Bedford came into the stable. "He's okay, just a stone in his shoe." He limped over and put the tool back.

I started for the door. "Well, Mrs. Winfield, it was nice to meet you. Perhaps I'll see you again."

"Yes, Miss Ryan that would be nice," she said.

It would be nice if I thought she meant it. I walked out of the stable and Chance barked at her again before following me out.

Chance ran ahead of me. I walked back to the stable door, which was open enough to hear their conversation.

"What was that all about, Bedford?" I heard Sarah ask.

"Nothing, she's just nosing around like her dog."

He thinks that's an insult. Chance has found out more than I have.

"Bedford, what did you tell her?" I heard the threatening tone in her voice.

"I said nothing, Miss Sarah. And where would I start? Mr. Alexander?"

"Don't piss me off, Bedford. I'm not in the mood."

With that, the stable door opened completely, pinning me between the door and the stable. Shit! I stood there frozen as I heard Sarah gallop away.

"Bitch," I heard Bedford grumble as he closed the stable door.

For a moment, I stood there plastered against the wall. Well, that was interesting. I quickly headed back to the house.

As I approached the deck, Maggie walked out with the afghan draped around her.

"Good morning," she said, with a sleepy yawn.

"Your ankle seems better," I said.

"It feels much better. It was a slight sprain. Besides, I'm a quick healer. How's the shoulder?" she asked looking out at the woods.

"Fine, good," I lied horribly.

"Nice try." She snuggled the afghan around her and smiled. "Thanks for the afghan."

"No problem, I was actually trying to think of a way to smuggle it out in my duffel bag. Guess who I just met? Aunt Sarah."

She looked surprised. "Really, where?"

I explained the stable incident. "She's a cool customer."

"She's always been that way...very distant and forbidding. I guess she's not a happy person. I don't know why, she's married to Uncle Nathan who is a nice, considerate man. He's a little weak where she's concerned but he treats her well. I have never been able to figure her out, though." She pointed to the woods to the right. "See that path? They live about a quarter mile behind the woods. It was my grandparent's house. This place is like a small compound."

I told her of my walk. Then I pulled out the jewelry and showed it to her. "Look what I found."

She reached out to take the ring and read the engraving. "This is my mother's wedding ring. I know that. I don't think I've ever seen the rest of it. Where in the world did you find these?" She was amazed and seemed at the same time to be very apprehensive.

"I went out with Chance. She found them across the lake, I believe." I pointed in the general vicinity. Maggie was studying the tarnished jewelry. "Maggie, I hate to ask you, but could you tell me how your mother died?"

She looked at me sadly and then gazed out at the woods. "She was murdered, Kate, twenty years ago. The police said it was a robbery. She was at the lake and the thief stabbed her and left her there." She stopped and put her hands to her face, as if to hide her tears.

Murdered? Crap. I reached over and put my hand on her shoulder. "Maggie, I'm so sorry to ask you this," I said. I put my arm around her and gave her a reassuring hug. I felt myself wanting to hold her. Instead, I quickly let her go.

She looked up at me, her eyes red with tears. "It's okay. I just haven't said that out loud in quite some time." She took a deep breath.

Murdered, I repeated again to myself. I looked at the jewelry. "Why would someone rob your mother then leave all the stolen jewelry in the woods?" I asked myself out loud. "Is this your mother's watch and locket?"

"Like I said, I don't know," she said. "Maybe Aunt Hannah will know."

Hannah was in the kitchen making coffee when we sat down and Maggie put the locket on the table.

"Good morning my darlings," she said cheerfully. She looked at the locket. "What's that?" she asked, putting the pot of coffee on the table.

"Aunt Hannah, look at it. We were hoping you'd know," Maggie said.

Hannah sat down and picked up the locket and studied it. Then Maggie showed her the other tarnished jewelry. Hannah's eyes got as big as saucers, and she looked up at both of us. "Where in heaven's name did these come from?"

She studied the locket while I retold the morning's adventure.

"Of course, it must be Miranda's. I seem to remember her wearing something like this. However, good heavens, that was more than twenty-five years ago, so I can't be absolutely certain..." her voice trailed off.

As of yet, no one had tried to open the locket. My curiosity was extremely piqued and I was getting very impatient. "Wouldn't you like to open the locket?" I asked.

Hannah looked at it sitting on the table. "Yes."

"Would you like me to open it?" I asked and she nodded.

I picked it up and tried to open it, but it had been out in the elements and wouldn't budge at first. After a couple of tries, it gave way and opened. I put it on the table. A lock of hair fell out and Maggie moved to pick it up. I instinctively reached over and grabbed her wrist.

"Wait, let's not. Hannah, can you get me a plastic bag, please?"

I gingerly picked up the lock of hair, and put it in the bag. They both watched curiously.

"Though everything has been out in the elements all these years, you never know what this lock of hair might tell us. The less we disturb the better. I doubt there's anything, but let's make sure."

With the locket opened, Maggie picked it up. I figured it was out in the elements for so long, all fingerprints had likely long since eroded away.

"Why doesn't just one of us do this?"

They both nodded. "Go right ahead." I knew they'd spent way too much time around each other, since they kept doing and saying things simultaneously.

I very carefully opened the locket, keeping it on the table. I looked at the pictures; of course, I had no clue. It was a man and a little girl who I was sure was Maggie...the resemblance was too great. I gently spun it around for both of them to see.

They stared at it for a second then looked at each other, then back at the locket once again.

Maggie looked completely confused. Hannah was ashen. I was curious.

"Who are they?"

It seemed it took an eternity for them to answer me. Maggie shook her head in amazement and Hannah swallowed and took a deep breath.

"It's you and your father, right?" I asked.

Maggie looked at me. "No, it's me and Uncle Nathan." She seemed completely bewildered.

"Are you sure?" I asked. Maggie gave me an exasperated look and I felt the color rush to my face. "Of course you are. Sorry. I never thought a brother-in-law's picture would be in it."

Hannah still said nothing. I glanced at her and knew something was up. "Well, I assume the lock of hair is yours," I said, looking at Maggie.

She nodded. "I agree, though I don't remember this locket. Maybe I remember her wearing it occasionally, but I can't be sure. It was so long ago." Her eyes welled with tears and I felt bad for her. Then she blinked and they just rolled down her face, without her changing expression. I swallowed hard at the sad expression.

I looked at the clock, it was nine. I looked at both of them; this was taking its toll. "Well, why don't we discuss this further over breakfast? Breakfast is on me," I said.

"That's a good idea. I'll be ready in twenty minutes," Maggie said and got up. Hannah declined and I felt perhaps she didn't want to be part of the discussion.

"Would you mind watching Ole Yeller for me?" I asked, motioning to Chance, who was sleeping in the doorway.

"Not at all, Chance and I will be fast friends by the time you get back. She may not want to leave. Now go, go," Hannah said with a shooing gesture.

I took the tarnished jewelry and carefully placed it in a plastic bag. "Keep an eye on this, Hannah."

"Dear Lord, I have to fix up a room for your sister and brother-in-law. Good grief! You two have fun."

She got up, kissed my cheek and was out the door with Chance following her.