woman came back out. She stood on the porch and placed her hands on her hips. She looked up the road and down. Then she cupped her right hand over her eyes and seemed to stare right where Evie stood with Kazzam. Finally, she got in the truck.
Evie panicked. Should she wave or hide? She was sure the woman had seen them. She picked up the groceries, receded into the shadows, and hid in the shelter, thinking hard. When she’d called Aunt Mary from the store, Evie hadn’t known about her picture being in the newspaper. Would her aunt feel honour-bound to take her back to Maple Mills and her angry father? Is that why she’d come with a horse trailer?
Evie didn’t know what to do. Could she trust Aunt Mary or not? It came down to that. But how could she trust someone she’d never met?
She peeked around the corner of the shelter. The white truck and trailer were indeed coming south, in her direction.
Kazzam, his black coat shining blue in the sunlight, stood in full sight, grazing on the fresh grass in the paddock.
She could not get away in time if she tried. Evie waited for whatever it was that would happen next.
Nothing. The truck and trailer drove right by.
Evie stood up and watched them pass. Now what? Aunt Mary was the only one who could tell her about her mother. Evie had promised to meet her in the store, and she hadn’t kept her promise. Would Aunt Mary want to help her now? Evie inhaled deeply to calm her troubled brain.
She’d think this out later. Right now, she was very hungry and knew the animals would be, as well. She poured some kibble out for Magpie and watched her gobble it up with great appetite.
The oats weren’t horse oats, but they were better than nothing. Evie found a stick to stir them, as well as an old rubber pail. After cleaning out the cobwebs, she mixed the oats with water, stirred until they were all wet, then brought the pail to Kazzam. He stuck his nose in the pail and ate them all up.
“Good boy!”
Magpie stood quietly while Evie smeared ointment on her sore neck. It would heal quickly. It looked like the dog had caught her collar in a fence or on a nail and had struggled to get free, leaving the collar behind.
Now that her animals were looked after, Evie went back into the shelter, sat down on the burlap bed, and opened the grocery bags. She found another stick and spread peanut butter and jam on a piece of bread. She ate it quickly, guzzled down some orange juice out of the container, and made herself another sandwich.
“That looks delicious!”
Evie started. Girl, dog, and horse all stared at the lady in riding clothes, standing beside the maple tree in the paddock.
“May I have one, too?” she asked, walking toward them. “I’m your great-aunt Mary. I came as soon as you called and had to leave my breakfast in the toaster.”
Evie nodded dumbly. She handed her the sandwich she’d just finished making. Now what? Is she upset? In a daze, she started spreading peanut butter on another slice of bread.
“May I sit down?”
Evie stammered, “Oh! Of course!”
“Did you want me to find you?”
Evie blushed deeply, filled with unease. “I didn’t know it was you in the white truck and trailer. I mean, I thought it might be you, but you’re a lot, um, a lot less old than I thought you’d be and you got here really fast.”
Mary sat and bit into the bread. “So why didn’t you wait for me in the store like we agreed?”
Evie took another bite and decided to answer truthfully. She pointed to the newspaper. “I saw that article and the picture after I called you. It says who I am and that I disappeared with a horse.”
“I wondered. I understand. I saw the article first thing this morning, too. Not bad. Chet Reynolds writes well, and he was kind to you.”
Evie stopped chewing. Chet Reynolds must be the reporter who followed me home after the race.
Aunt Mary continued, “That’s why I drove past the front lane and came in the back way. I wasn’t sure if old Bert was watching. He likes to know everyone’s business.” She chuckled.
Evie studied her. Aunt Mary was cool, and she thought quickly. “Thanks.”
“Great sandwich,” said Mary. “Nothing like PB and J.”
“I’m glad. It’s all that’s on the menu today.”
Mary laughed. Evie noticed the multitude of little lines around her eyes, and the grey streaks in the faded blond hair. Her skin was freckled all over, like Evie’s, but wrinkled and loose at her neck and elbows.
“How old are you?” Evie asked.
“Just over sixty. I know how old you are.”
Evie nodded, remembering the birthday card she’d received. “Yeah. Sixteen.”
They finished their breakfast sitting on the burlap bags. Magpie had gotten over her shyness and rested her head in Mary’s lap, looking up at her with beseeching brown eyes.
“You do look like your mother, Evie,” said Mary thoughtfully. “That’s a compliment. She’s lovely. Always was.” A brief cloud seemed to pass over her face and then disappear. “Nice dog. Is she yours?”
“No. She turned up last night and slept with me on this bed.” Evie looked at Magpie fondly. “I guess I really can’t keep her if she belongs to somebody else.”
Mary nodded her approval. “Good girl. I’ll call the Humane Society and some local vets, and if nobody’s missing her, she’s yours. She might have an implanted chip. A vet can check that out.”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
“And what about the horse, Evie?”
Evie felt suddenly chilled. “What about the horse?”
“He doesn’t belong to you, either.”
Evie jumped to her feet. “My father told Jerry to get rid of him by today! I couldn’t leave without him! They all think he’s horrible, but he’s a wonderful horse. He hurts people sometimes, but that’s because they don’t understand him. He’s just afraid!”
“There, there,” soothed Mary as she stood and put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I see the problem. But you must understand. He’s a valuable horse and people might think you stole him.”
Evie admitted to herself that it didn’t look good.
“Let’s get Kazzam on the trailer, and you and Magpie and I will drive to my farm. You’ll be far safer there than out here. Somebody else is bound to recognize him if I did.”
While they were talking about him, Kazzam had strolled up to the two women. Evie patted his nose and thought about what to do. Aunt Mary made sense. “Are you going to call Dad?” she asked quietly.
“Not yet.” Mary
