“Could you tell us about your day…what you did and where?”
Her voice cracking and feeling as if she choked on every word, Sierra related her routine – up at six-thirty and at the stable by seven to help feed and start chores; then helped turn horses out and cleaned stalls for a couple hours. After that, she rode her assigned horses until time to bring in and feed, and then she came home, helped get dinner and clean up, and finally was trying to read a book before going to bed.
Cranson, the shorter officer, jotted notes in a small notebook as she told her story. Then Martin asked, “Who else was at the stable?”
“Uh, Enrique; on weekends he cleans stalls with me. River, the boy who lives there; he and I feed in the morning and turn out horses.”
“Enrique and River were there the entire day?”
“No, Enrique left after the stalls were cleaned. He gets half days off on weekends. River was there riding horses until we brought them in for the night,” Sierra answered, distressed at the quiver in her voice as she told the lie, and afraid her face was turning red. “And there were boarders who came to ride.”
Martin then wanted details of what horses each of them rode at exactly what times.
She answered, everything truthful except for the three hours River left to rescue Cory, and she fabricated the actual riding times to cover the gap.
“You seem to have a very good memory,” Martin said, looking at her pointedly, “almost as if you had your story rehearsed.”
This time Sierra felt the heat rise from her chest, up her neck to spread over her face as she flushed at the deputy’s accusatory tone. “It’s just that our routine doesn’t vary that much from weekend to weekend, and the horses we ride are all in a conditioning program. I wear a watch when I ride because I’m following a schedule of assigned minutes of walk, trot, and canter intervals. So our rides are actually timed precisely. I’m estimating the approximate start and end times for each ride, but I’m sure I’m within minutes.”
Neither officer commented as Cranson jotted notes. Then Martin asked, “Anyone else at the stable besides who you’ve already mentioned?”
“Uh, I told you several boarders were in and out riding their own horses.” She gave them names of everyone she remembered at the stable today.
“Do you have contact information for these boarders?”
“I don’t personally, but every boarder has a contact number posted on a card on the stalls of their horses.”
Cranson flipped back a few pages in his notebook and when his partner looked his way, said, “I have contact information for the names she just mentioned.”
Martin turned back to Sierra. “What is your relationship with River Girard?”
“Um, we work together,” Sierra answered, willing herself not to allow the heat to rise up into her face, nevertheless, felt the warmth in her cheeks.
Martin stared at her, as if expecting more. Sierra squirmed inwardly, met his eyes briefly then looked at his partner who also watched her expectantly. She chewed on the inside of her lip nervously, wondering what they wanted her to say.
When she remained silent, the deputy said, “I understand he is your boyfriend.”
“He is, but I don’t see where that’s anyone’s business but mine and his,” she answered, trying not to sound rude but wanting to cut off this line of questioning.
Martin let it drop and went on to another question. “What can you tell me about a black horse belonging to the Clark family that used to belong at your stable?”
Oh no; here it comes! “Um, you mean Corazón?”
He raised an eyebrow at her, and waited for her to elaborate without answering her question.
“He’s a horse that River rescued two years ago, and then the owner showed up to claim him. We heard she sold him to the Clarks,” she explained, trying to sound matter-of-fact.
“How did you hear about the sale?”
“A girl I know at school told me.”
“What is the girl’s name?”
“Crystal…Crystal Douglas; she’s a friend of the Clarks.”
“Is she your friend?”
“Not really; I mean, she’s a very popular girl and I’m not in that crowd. She used to ride at Pegasus so we know each other.”
Martin asked several more questions about her relationship with Crystal, and if she knew Caroline and Dean Clark, and then about River’s relationship with them. Sierra answered as obscurely as possible; trying to make it sound as if they were all merely acquaintances and not enemies.
Finally, she could stand the suspense no longer and asked, “I don’t understand why you are asking these questions? Is something wrong?”
“The horse disappeared from the Merryweather Horse Show today. Do you have any idea what could have happened?” Martin asked.
“No!” Sierra answered in what she hoped sounded like genuine surprise. “How awful.” Again she could feel her face flushing.
“Miss Landsing, what can you tell us about the night you trespassed onto the Clark property?”
“Uh…” The heat rose up her neck again at the question. The two deputies watched her. “I just wanted to check on Corazón and see where he lived.”
“Why did you feel you needed to check on this horse…without permission?”
“Uh…” Sierra hesitated again. “I wanted to see for myself what his new home was like. I suppose I could have asked,” she lied, trying to avoid talking about her relationship with Dean, “but I really thought I could slip in and out of their barn and not bother anyone.” At the skeptical looks on the two deputies’ faces, she knew they didn’t believe her. Well, even to her own ears, the excuse sounded lame.
“Did you go there to steal the horse, Miss Landsing?”
“No! No, I went there to check on Corazón…just what I said!”
Again, Martin raised one eyebrow, but asked no more questions. “You have my card; if you think of anything about today you have forgotten, or hear anything about the black horse, call me at any time.” At last the two men left.
Sierra turned to face her mother, who stood frowning with arms folded; the most severe she had ever seen her mother look. “What’s this about, young lady?”
“Mom,” Sierra began in a whiny voice, but when her mother continued to stare at her with a stern expression, waiting, she said with a deep sigh, “I can’t tell you.”
“Sierra, I tried to be very understanding when you trespassed on the Clark property. I understand your concern for that horse. But if you and River are involved in something illegal, I want to know. Sierra, you are a minor; I’m responsible for your actions. And your actions can have an impact on me as well. I think I have a right to know what I’m dealing with.”
Gulping, Sierra said, “Mom, I can’t tell you; not yet. I promise I will tell you everything as soon as I can.”
“Sierra, don’t you trust me and my judgment? Let me help you.”
“You can’t, not yet,” Sierra pleaded.
Pam continued to press her daughter for an explanation, but Sierra refused to divulge her secret, saying, “I’m not going to lie to you.” At last Pam gave up. “I have never had to punish you, but I’m beginning to think I may have to. This is serious.”
“Go ahead and punish me, it won’t change anything,” Sierra answered stubbornly.
“The only effective punishment I can think of is restricting you from going to the stable,” Pam stated.
“Mom!” Sierra gasped. “You wouldn’t do that. I have a job there.”
Pam raised her brow, waiting and hoping this threat might loosen Sierra’s stubborn tongue.
“I can’t tell you!”
The expression on her daughter’s face broke Pam’s heart. Her resolve weakened. “How can you not tell me what’s going on?” she pleaded in a gentle voice. “Don’t you know I’m on your side?”
“Give me until tomorrow, please.”
“Very well; tomorrow night when I get home from work I expect to he
ar the truth.”
*****
“I don’t want you to lie to your mother,” River said the next morning. “I’ve told Ben; you might as well tell her.”
“I don’t know that she’ll be quite as understanding as Ben. I’m afraid she’ll want us to go to the police and confess, and then we’ll have to take Cory back. We can’t do that, River.”
“No, we’re not taking him back and we’re not telling the police where he is. Sierra, tell your mother what I did, and only that you knew what I was planning. You should tell her you tried to talk me out of it.”
“No, I’m not going to lie to her. I’m just as guilty as you because I’m the one who planned and set up your alibi. You couldn’t have gotten away with it without my help.”
“I wouldn’t say we’ve exactly gotten away with it,” River stated.
“You have reliable witnesses. We knew they would suspect us, or at least suspect you; so of course the police are going to question us.”
“Right, they suspect me, but Sierra, please…” He stepped up to her and took hold of her shoulders to look deep in her eyes. “Tell your mother you knew I left the stable yesterday, but that’s all. You can say you suspected I was going to steal Cory. Please, I can handle getting into trouble, but I can’t stand for you to get in trouble as well. Don’t make it harder for me.”
With a sigh of resignation, as River pulled her against his chest, Sierra agreed that she would tell her mother what River had done, and only that she knew the plan.
When Tess drove in that morning to start her day, she first strode up to where River and Sierra were leading out the last two horses, following Manuel and Enrique.
“Both of you come into my office after you’ve turned the horses out,” she ordered.
Looking at each other, they continued on to the paddocks, and then side-by-side, entered the office and sat down across from the desk, guessing that Tess knew about Corazón’s disappearance.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” she asked. When both of them just stared at her she continued, “Walt Douglas called me last night. Corazón disappeared from a horse show yesterday and the Clarks believe you two stole him.” Her brow creased into a deeper frown as she glowered from one to the other. When neither spoke she slammed her palms down on her desk and turned to River. “You took Cory from the show, didn’t you?”
“Uh…” River swallowed nervously and looked to Sierra for help.
Things have gotten out of control, Sierra thought as she met River’s worried eyes.
Just then, the phone rang, and Tess yanked up the receiver. “Pegasus Equestrian Center,” she answered. The two watched her expression grow darker. “I see. Yes…thank you for letting me know. Yes…yes, I said I’ll talk to him.” She hung up. “That was Walt. The Clarks are pressing charges against both of you; grand theft because they claim the horse is worth eighty-thousand dollars. That makes it a felony.” Her mouth tightened in a firm line and she leaned back with arms folded. “Where is Cory?”
“How can they press charges?” River demanded. “Two deputies came here last night and questioned me, but they didn’t find anything. There were boarders here yesterday who saw me. I have witnesses that I was here all day. There’s no evidence.”
“Walt said the boarders you named to the deputies have been questioned. Yes, they all state they saw you yesterday, and they believe you were probably here all day. But none of them can remember if they actually saw you here during the hours of the crime. So much for your alibi.” Tess leaned forward and narrowed her eyes at River. “Where did you take the horse?”
“Um, it was all my idea,” Sierra blurted out. “I…”
“That’s not true,” River interrupted. “I took Cory from the horse show yesterday. I’m the one who stole him.” Sierra tried to interrupt, but he waved a hand at her, and talked louder. “Sierra knew what I planned to do, but that’s all. She is innocent.”
“No, I helped him plan it,” Sierra added in a rushed voice.
Tess looked from one to the other, and then to their amazement, she burst into laughter.
Sierra and River stared at her in shock.
Then gaining control and shaking her head, she pushed hair away from her face with her fingers, and fixed her expression back to a frown. “I cannot condone illegal methods. River, I know how hard this is for you, but you may have to give Cory up.” She looked at him again with her expression softening into one of genuine sympathy. When River glared stubbornly back at her, she asked again, “Where is he?”
“Maybe it’s better if you don’t know,” River said.
“River, is he worth getting convicted of a crime…of maybe going to jail?” she asked. In a much softer tone as River only stared back with a stubborn expression, she persisted, “Is he worth Sierra going to jail?”
With the threat to Sierra, River’s shoulders slumped and he looked down at his hands in his lap. “Not Sierra, but I will take full blame. How can she get in trouble if all she did was hear me tell her my plan?” He looked up at Tess, his eyes pleading. “I will swear she didn’t believe I would go through with it.”
Both Sierra and Tess at the same time said, “River…”
He looked imploringly from one to the other. “I will go to the police and confess. But please, keep Sierra out of it. And I swear, I’m not telling anyone where Cory is.”
“Sierra?” Tess looked at her inquiringly.
“River shouldn’t have to take all the blame,” Sierra said.
“Oh, kids, what have you done?” she groaned. Then shaking her head and wiping her hands across her face she said, “All right, don’t do anything unless the authorities contact you, and then tell them you want a lawyer present. I will support both of you in every way I can, but I don’t want Pegasus implicated in this.”
They both nodded.
“I’m going to contact my lawyer and get his advice.”
*****
With each passing minute closer to her mother’s return from work, Sierra’s body seemed to be slowly turning to stone and her heart responded by beating more frantically inside her chest. Pam worked until seven-thirty in the evening and usually got home just before eight. It was eight-o-five which told Sierra she got off late and probably had a rough day at the hospital. That was not going to make her confession any easier.
To soften the mood, Sierra had baked a batch of brownies from one of her mother’s favorite recipes. But when she tried to sample one, she could barely choke down the first bite, and it still sat in her stomach in a lump, adding to her heavy feeling. Now she sat on the sofa with her book opened in her lap, waiting, and unable to focus on a single word on the page.
At last, let’s get this over with, she sighed inwardly when she heard her mother’s car pull into the drive.
Over a plate of brownies and a glass of milk, Sierra told her mother everything, including the threat of criminal charges. When she finished her story, she added, “Mom, I’m so sorry and especially if what I’ve done gets you in trouble. But honestly, I can’t say I’m sorry I helped River take Cory. Maybe there was a better way, but I think legal methods would have taken too long, and Cory didn’t have the time. They planned to ruin him; make him an emotional wreck and break him down physically.”
“This is a moral dilemma,” Pam said; leaning over one elbow on the table and cradling her forehead in the palm of her hand.
Sierra watched her mother for several long, strained minutes of silence.
“Sweetheart,” Pam began, finally sitting up straight in her chair. “I can’t agree that you and River did the right thing. After all, it is just a horse…” she raised her hand when Sierra tried to interrupt. “I’m not trying to devalue the worth of any living creature, but this could affect your entire future…both of your futures; your chances of getting into a good university or even getting a job…”
“Cory is not just a horse,” Sierra managed to interrupt and continued with conviction in her tone. “Neith
er is Fiel, or any of the horses. They all deserve a decent life.”
“Yes, and so do people.” Pam recognized the determined look on Sierra’s face. Her daughter rarely argued with her, had never really gotten into any serious trouble; hardly any trouble at all. Pam was very grateful for that. But Sierra could be very stubborn when she had a strong opinion…like now. With a deep sigh Pam said, “I believe in our laws; and yes, I know they move slowly, but…” She looked at her daughter’s stricken face as well as the stubborn set of her mouth. She sincerely believes they did the right thing. I’m not so sure… “Sierra, I don’t know what to think or what to do. You and River have made a choice that I don’t believe was very wise. I understand your defense of a helpless animal, but at the same time…” She took in several deep breaths and struggled to keep from screaming, how could you be so stupid? Instead, she continued in a voice laced with her anxiety. “I know you think you did the right thing, but it’s so very hard for me to look at this from your point of view, because I know how this can impact your future. Sierra…oh my…” She covered her face and shook her head. Feeling defeated, she looked up again at her daughter. “This is beyond my control. I guess you will both have to face the consequences of your actions.”
“That’s what you’ve always told me, to think about the consequences of my choices, and believe me, I thought long and hard about this. Mom, I could see no other way to save Cory. It was the law that took him away from River. How just was that?”
“Do you think Tess did everything possible within the law?”
“That’s what she says, and I believe her. She wanted River to keep Cory for more selfish reasons, but just as much as he did.”
“Alright, Sierra, we’ll leave it at that.”
“You’re not going to make me go to the police?”
“No, but not because I don’t believe that’s the right thing to do. No, it’s my own selfish desire to protect you; to not have you convicted of a crime. What kind of an example am I setting for you?”
“Mom, I need you on my side,” Sierra pleaded, unable to bear the look of disappointment on her mother’s face. The look softened to one of pain, almost more unbearable for Sierra.
For The Love of Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center) Page 31
