Sundancer. Shelley Peterson

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      “Peter, please. Calm yourself. Don’t worry about the coyote.”

      “Can I help?” asked a young woman in jeans and half-chaps. She had come in through the side entrance.

      “You sure can. I’ll hold this rascal. Can you get his saddle off?” The girl efficiently unfastened the girth and removed the saddle while Sundancer twisted and jumped around. “Done. What about his bridle?”

      “I’ll take it off once I get him to the field.”

      “I’ll help.”

      Bird followed silently as they led Sundancer through the barn and back to his pasture. The young woman opened the gate, and Hannah led the prancing horse into the field. After turning him to face the gate for safety’s sake, she quickly and carefully slipped the bridle over his ears and dropped the bit from his mouth. Sundancer reared up, twisted, and threw himself into a gigantic buck. Hannah closed the gate behind her and let out her breath.

      “What a devil,” she muttered.

      “No kidding,” agreed the younger woman. “I heard he was here. I came over to see him. He’s everything I was told, and more.”

      Hannah turned to look at her visitor. “You’re Abby Malone. I would’ve recognized you right away, but I was a little preoccupied.” Hannah smiled. “You were a teenager when we last met. I’m Hannah Bradley. So Peter really did see a coyote.”

      Abby nodded. “Yes, he sure did. Cody. I’m sorry he caused all that trouble.”

      Hannah shook her head and laughed. “This horse was causing trouble before you came.”

      From the bushes, Bird took a good look at the person standing beside Hannah. Abby Malone was close to Hannah’s height, and slight. She possessed self-assurance and directness. She was fair and attractive, with a natural good humour that was appealing. Bird guessed her age at about twenty. She listened to their conversation.

      Hannah inhaled deeply. “I’d better get this over with. I don’t know if you remember, but my father is Colonel Kenneth Bradley.”

      Abby nodded. “I know. That’s not something I’d forget.”

      Bird studied her more closely. From family lore, Bird knew that Abby’s father was Liam Malone, who had been her grandfather’s lawyer for many years. Kenneth Bradley had accused him of stealing money from the family trust fund, and Liam had been sent to prison, based on false testimony. It was Abby’s detective work that had uncovered the truth and resulted in Liam’s release from prison. Kenneth was later convicted of stealing the money himself, from his own family’s fund, and served time in jail.

      Hannah was talking now. “I’m very sorry about what you and your family went through because of my father. I can’t explain why he did those things. I’m still embarrassed.”

      “No need. We got the letter you wrote after the trial. It meant a lot to all of us. In fact, my father kept it. But that’s long over now.”

      “I hear that your father’s doing great. I’m glad.” Hannah smiled. Bird emerged from her cover and stood beside Hannah, head down. She wanted to get closer to this young woman who had a coyote.

      “Hi,” said Abby. “My name’s Abby. What’s yours?”

      Bird said nothing, just stared.

      “This is my niece, Alberta,” Hannah interceded. “Eva’s daughter. She was born in Calgary, and my sister named her in memory of the clear air and the smell of pines. We call her Bird.”

      “I like both names. Alberta and Bird.” Abby paused thoughtfully. “Birds can fly. They simply open their wings and they’re in a place all their own. Do you do that?”

      Bird said nothing, but studied Abby with interest. I like you, she thought. I think you might understand me. A little.