The Legacy (Tipperary Carriage Company Mystery Book 5)

by J A Whiting

  "I see."

  "And you're right that I could use Steel. He's as elegant and well-mannered as they come. He's also the same horse the colonel rode behind in the St. Patrick's Day parade, the last horse he was ever around as far as we know."

  Mae tried to smile. "At the same time, I'm hopeful that maybe, just maybe, I'll find the horse I need this morning. That would make the family happy and I would like very much to do that for them if I can."

  "Maybe you will."

  "I don't think I've heard of this place before." Mae placed the coffee cup in a holder and picked up her phone. "Lowlands Farm, just outside Worthington," she murmured. "I messaged them last night about wanting a black driving horse. They said to come on out this morning because they've always got horses for sale."

  "Most places do. But it might not be what you're looking for."

  "Oh, I know. But I did look at their website last night. Small place that raises a few Friesians each year. They don't seem to do much showing, but stay on the breeding side instead. And, yes, it does say here that they have 'horses for sale at all time.' So maybe we'll find something."

  "This the place Greene told you about?"

  "Yes, it is. The colonel just said he had a friend whose family owned it."

  "I remember. But did he say who the friend was, exactly?"

  "Ah, no, he didn't."

  Ross just shrugged. "Guess it doesn't matter. Either they have a horse or they don't."

  "And if they don't," said Mae, putting her phone back in her jacket pocket, "I'll have to use Steel. Do you think you'd be available to go? This will be the first time I've tried to drive at a funeral and I'd appreciate the help. This is one time where I wouldn't want anything to go wrong, even a little bit."

  He kept silent, just driving along the country roads as though he hadn't heard her say anything. Mae was about to gently ask him again when he finally spoke.

  "Not this time. Monday's not good. Have some things to take care of."

  "Oh, that's fine. I'll most likely be taking Steel anyway and he never gives me any trouble."

  They continued on their way, getting up onto the freeway for a time and then exiting again to follow along the narrow country lanes. Mae drank her coffee and Ross just kept his eyes on the road.

  It did seem strange that he would turn down her direct request for help and not even offer an explanation. Most of the time Ross seemed to enjoy going to her driving engagements and would usually offer to join her ahead of time.

  But for some reason, this one was different.

  It certainly felt as though there was something that Ross did not want to talk about. Of course, she was not about to press him about it. Some people simply did not like funerals and would never go unless they had to.

  Maybe Brandon would go along instead, if he could get away from his classes at Ohio State for the morning. He liked the horses and would sometimes even drive.

  She smiled to herself, thinking of her older son. I think Andrew signed up for college in Michigan just so he could avoid Mom's requests for help with harness cleaning.

  Well, she would go by herself if she had to. She'd done it before. The last thing she wanted to do was to let down Col. Greene's family on something that was so important to them, for she was truly honored that they had asked her to do it.

  She just hoped she could give the man, and his family, the honor they deserved.

  "We probably would have sold him off a long time ago, if he wasn't so nice," said Mr. Duncan. "I figured he could go to someone wanting a big horse for trail riding at home, or maybe for a little family driving. Meteor here could do just about anything where a horse does not have to be registered."

  Mae and Ross stood outside the main barn at Lowlands Farm, a property not much bigger than Ross's own place, and looked over the black gelding that was for sale. "Meteor" was very tall, very strong, and very gracefully built. He had the height of the other draft horses like Steel and Copper, but with a lighter and more long-legged build.

  The black horse stood with Mr. Duncan holding his lead shank, looking at his visitors with his ears up and a curious but friendly expression in his huge brown eyes. His coat was shedding out nicely and becoming slick for spring, and he had a white star on his face and two evenly matched white hind socks.

  This horse would be stunningly beautiful when all turned out for show. And he looks like he could be Falling Star’s brother.

  "How old did you say he was?" asked Ross.

  "He's twelve this year," said Mr. Duncan.

  "So, you said he was born and raised right here," said Mae.

  "He was. "

  "I'm sure someone would have taken him, pretty as he is," Mae said. "Why is he for sale now?"

  "Well… I guess you could say he's always been for sale. All of our horses are for sale to the right buyer," said Mr. Duncan. "That's what it takes to survive when you're in the breeding business. We have to sell them or we can't afford to do this."

  Mae just nodded. He was right. All horses had to earn their keep, one way or another.

  "But we never did have a trustworthy buyer come along, and the few we encountered weren't willing to pay what he's worth," Mr. Duncan went on. "You may know that a Friesian horse can't be registered if it has any white markings at all. We had a few people use that as an excuse to buy him cheap. Too cheap. Didn't want to let him go to someone under those circumstances."

  "I can certainly respect you for that," said Mae, and she meant it.

  Mr. Duncan stroked the horse's neck. "So, we ended up keeping him for our three kids and their friends to ride and drive as they were growing up. They loved taking him around the farm and would sometimes trail ride him with a couple of local groups. But our son is working and our daughter is married, and poor old Meteor is getting very little use. I'd rather see him go to someone who can enjoy him."

  I thought he said he had three kids… oh, well. Probably doesn't matter.

  "I would certainly enjoy trying him out," said Mae, reaching her hand out to the horse. He reached out his head in return and gently lipped her fingers. "He would have plenty of work if he's one of mine, but they also get the best of care and I never overdo it."

  "He's not afraid of work. Not at all," said Mr. Duncan with a laugh. "I don't think I've ever seen him get tired. And he would sure look nice pulling a big carriage."

  "A horse doesn't need to be registered to do that," said Mae, grinning. "It's like a horse show every time we go out, but nobody checks for papers."

  "I do think he'd be better with someone who can work him and keep him occupied. Horses get bored, too, with nothing to do."

  "That's very true," said Ross.

  "I'm waiting for five new foals this year, one's already arrived, and frankly, I could use the stall space for young stock that can be registered and sold for a good price. People do want the solid black Friesians."

  Mae scratched the black horse's neck. "If you can hook him up, I'd love to see him drive."

  "We can do that," Mr. Duncan said, and then looked up as someone walked out of the barn. "And there's just the man who can get him ready for you."

  6

  Coming towards them from the barn was a man who looked to be about thirty-five years old, perhaps a little older. He was of medium height and was dressed in the jeans and boots and heavy shirt that everyone wore on a farm, except that his jacket was an old, olive-green U.S. Army fatigue jacket. It looked like it had rough spots on parts of it where patches had been torn off.

  "This is my oldest son," said Mr. Duncan. "Wes doesn't ride much since getting out of the army."

  Wes shrugged and then shook hands with both Mae and Ross. "I actually work in the little diner down the road," he said. "I like it. I enjoy cooking. Mostly I just talk to the same people every day. I hope to buy it and run it myself someday."

  "Not a bad sort of life," said Mae. "Nice and steady."

  "Wes still lives here on the farm and helps out when I need him, like today.
Don't know what I'd do without him," said Mr. Duncan. "But he moved on from horses to wanting to be a business owner after coming back from overseas and getting out of the army."

  "That happens," said Ross. "Sometimes, after a long time doing the same sort of work, you just want something different."

  "Yeah, I guess I did,” said Wes. "Running a diner isn't easy, but at least you can close it up and go fishing for a few days if you want to. Can't do that with a barn."

  "That's for sure," agreed Ross.

  "Wes, your father may have told you that we were referred here by Col. Greene. He rode in my carriage as Grand Marshal in the St. Patrick's Day parade. That's how we got to meet him."

  "Yeah," said Wes, glancing back at the barn. "I saw the parade video. Looks like you have a nice carriage. Is that what Meteor would be doing? Pulling that?"

  "Yes, he would," said Mae. "I have two black carriages and I'd like another black horse partly for driving families at funerals, and partly because it looks so sharp for other events, too."

  Wes just nodded and then took the horse's lead shank. "I'll get him ready."

  Mr. Duncan watched the horse walk away. "Well, I've got other horses to see to. Wes will get Meteor ready and let you try him out. Any other questions, just let me know."

  "We will," said Mae. "Thank you. He's a lovely horse either way."

  The man nodded and started off towards the paddocks at the back of the property, while Mae and Ross walked into the barn. The big black horse stood calmly in the aisle with his lead shank dropped on the ground, while Wes brought out the pieces of harness from the tack room and settled them into place on Meteor's back and neck.

  "Wes, did you know Col. Greene?" asked Mae. "He mentioned that he had a friend who knew the family who owned Lowland Farms. I thought he meant he knew someone who knew your father. But maybe he was talking about you?"

  Wes glanced up briefly as he worked. "Sure, I knew him. He was my CO for a while. Over in the sandbox."

  "Your commanding officer?" said Ross. "Small world, sometimes."

  "Yeah, I guess it is." Wes continued working, tightening the girth on the old set of brown harness. "He ran a tight ship. Tough on everyone."

  "Sometimes that's best," said Ross. "Keeps troops from getting careless and complacent."

  "Sure. Never saw anyone tougher. Kept most of us alive. I guess that's good," said Wes, and nodded towards the horse. " One of you want to hold him while I get the cart?"

  Mae stepped forward to take the black horse by the bridle. '"I've got him.”

  "Okay. Be right back." Wes went striding down the long barn aisle to the far end.

  Mae glanced up at Ross. "The ‘sandbox’? What does that mean?"

  "Probably means he was stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Would have been about ten, fifteen years ago, if he knew Greene."

  "I can't imagine what serving in a place like that must have been like," she said quietly. "I'm just glad that Wes and the colonel did, at least, make it home."

  "There's coming home, and there's coming home," said Ross. "Not everybody comes back the same way they were."

  "I guess not." Mae watched as Wes picked up the shafts of a two-wheeled training cart and rolled it back down to the horse. In a moment, he had Meteor hooked up and ready to go.

  "You want to try him first?" asked Wes, holding the ends of the reins out to Mae.

  "Would you drive him for us, Wes?" she asked, stepping back. "That way I can see how he moves. He'll be on display as a carriage horse, you know."

  Wes shrugged and sat down sideways on the narrow seat of the cart, swinging first one leg and then the other into the foot well. Then he clicked his tongue to the horse and shortened the reins as Meteor walked off.

  Mae and Ross stood beside the large training ring and watched as Wes took the horse through his paces.

  Meteor was even prettier than Mae had expected, a very showy horse with a long, thick, coal-black mane and tail. The big white star on his face and the evenly matched pair of white socks behind showed him off even more as he walked and trotted.

  She could see that Wes was not an expert driver, but he got along fine with the horse and they seemed used to each other. Wes took him alternately at a walk and then a trot and then back again, and wove circles and figure eights. The horse was quite willing to follow whatever path was put in front of him.

  "He looks like a sweetheart," said Mae, her voice wistful.

  Ross glanced down at her. "He probably is. But it looks to me like he's also working in a very familiar place and likely does pretty much the same thing every time they take him out."

  "Hmm." She could see that Ross was probably right. "How about if you drive him so I can watch what he does? Maybe you could test him a little."

  Ross looked out at the big black horse quietly jogging around the ring. "Okay."

  Wes halted Meteor in the middle of the ring, and in a moment he'd gotten out of the cart and allowed Ross to take the reins. The big horse did brighten up when Ross took him back out to the rail, for his new driver asked him for a little more speed and for more sharp and twisting turns, and he also asked him to go all the way into the corners of the rectangular arena.

  Wes had allowed the horse to cut the corners and drift inward as he went around. But Ross insisted that Meteor go up as far as possible before making the turn, and now Mae could see some real hesitation on the horse's part. Some horses didn't like the corners because anything could be hiding there in the shadows, just on the other side of the fence posts and boards.

  And it makes their work easier to cut the corners and take a shorter path every time they go around.

  It would remain to be seen whether Meteor was cutting corners out of nervousness or laziness, but to Mae it looked more like the former. It was quite likely that he'd just never been made to do that sort of work before.

  Yet as the horse took one more big swing around the arena at a smart trot, Mae could also see that Ross was enjoying the drive very much.

  He's almost got a smile on his face.

  After one more lap around the ring, Ross halted the horse and stepped out of the cart. Wes took the horse by the bridle and led him back to the barn as Mae and Ross walked a few paces behind.

  "Well, what do you think?" Mae asked, unable to keep the eagerness out of her voice.

  Ross glanced at the horse up ahead of them. "He's all right," he said, trying to sound casual. "Big. Nice mover. Could probably trot all day."

  She grinned. He was trying very hard to keep his enthusiasm hidden, but Mae could certainly see it. "So, you think he's all right?"

  "Most likely. But…." He paused, letting Wes lead the horse on ahead of them. "Don't forget that this horse was born and raised right here on this farm. He's hardly ever been off of this small thirty-acre breeding farm. He's fine here. City streets and crowds are something different."

  "Copper was much the same," Mae countered. "He was raised in Amish country and had no idea about anything, but the schooling we've given him has really helped."

  "They all need training," Ross agreed. "But this horse is different from Copper. This one is older and has at least seen cars and trailers and something of the modern world. He still hesitates to go up into a corner in an arena he's seen all his life. Most likely he'll never get over being timid. Just the way he is."

  "I know what you're saying, but I do think he's worth a try. In every other way, he's darned near perfect. I can't wait to get him home."

  "Okay," Ross said. "Just remember he's as much a bunny rabbit as he is a horse."

  Mae could hardly conceal her excitement. Now she would have her second perfect black horse and black carriage.

  Mr. Duncan returned when he saw Meteor being led back inside the barn.

  "I think he's just what I'm looking for," Mae said, as the horse halted and the older man moved to stand at his head. "If you're still willing to sell him, I'd love to take him home."

  "I'm willing to sell him to you, Mae," sa
id Mr. Duncan. "We can't show him with all that white on him and it also makes him difficult to sell. You're the ideal buyer. If you want to give me the payment information, I can bring him out to you tomorrow morning."

  Mae glanced at Ross, who gave her a small nod. "That will work just fine," she said, and reached for her wallet inside her coat pocket. "It's nice that a business credit card works to buy a horse, too."

  Wes took the horse and started unhooking him from the training cart. By the time the harness was off, the arrangements were set.

  "Can't wait to see you tomorrow morning, Mr. Duncan," said Mae. "He'll have the best stall waiting for him."

  "Better check with Steel about that first," said Ross, and they laughed.

  "All the stalls at Goodnight Farm are the best," said Mae. "Our new horse will be very happy. We'll make sure of that."

  She turned to go. "Thank you again, Mr. Duncan, and Wes. I'm so glad Col. Greene told me about this place. It couldn't have worked out better."

  "Sure," said Wes. "Tell the colonel I said hello, the next time you see him. I'm sure he'll be glad to hear from me." He began leading Meteor back down the barn aisle.

  Mae blinked and glanced up at Ross, who seemed equally baffled. "Wes, I'm so sorry to tell you," she said, following him down to the stall. "I guess you didn't hear the news. Col. Greene passed away on the night of the St. Patrick's Day Parade."

  7

  Wes had started to lead Meteor into the stall, but halted him right where he was. "He, what?"

  "I'm very sorry," Mae said again. "It was just natural causes, from what the news said. Col. Greene was well past seventy."

  But it was clear Wes wasn't thinking about his former commander's age. He placed one hand on the black horse's head to hold him still and looked right at Mae. "Does that mean you're buying Meteor to pull Greene's funeral carriage?"

  "Oh, well, the truth is, I really don't know yet," Mae stammered.

  "I'll bet they asked you. Because you drove him at the parade. But you didn't have a black horse and that's why you're looking for one now."