Cliff plugged in the conveyor belt and it started up, making a racket of clickity-clacks. He and Bird began to send the heavy bales up to the loft.
The work in the loft was easy at first, carrying and stacking the bales tightly against each other. First row lengthwise, then next row across. Soon, though, as more wagons were unloaded, and the stacks got higher, it got much harder. Cliff sent Bird up to help, and continued the ground job himself. As long as the wagons kept coming there would be no break. Old farmers joked that their break was in winter, when nothing could grow.
Between wagon number five and wagon number six, Hannah brought out a huge jug of lemonade. They all sat outside on the front bench, grateful for the rest and the slight breeze.
“Your face is all r ... red and sweaty,” said Liz.
“You need a mirror,” retorted Julia. “You look like a lobster.”
“And your shirt is stuck to your body! Gross.”
“So’s yours! You should talk, Liz-ard.”
Cliff laughed. “Save your energy. Another load is coming.”
Sure enough, the rumble of another hay wagon could be heard from down the road. The girls groaned.
“Drink up and man your stations.” Hannah screwed the lid on the lemonade jug and put on her sweaty gloves.
Bird waited until the others had left for the loft. “Aunt Hannah,” she said quietly. “The wild man was around again this morning.”
Hannah looked startled. “When?”
“Around five-thirty, when I came out to ride.”
“What was he doing?”
“Running away as fast as he could. Cody and Sunny chased him.”
Hannah shook her head slowly. “I’ll give the police a heads-up. Which way did you see him go?”
“Toward the back, along the fenceline in Sunny’s field. Cody and Sunny gave him a good scare. And Lucky got in the act, too.” Bird knew that Lucky would want Hannah to think well of him. “Oh, and Phil Butler and Cliff both got those horrible threats, too, like Pierre.”
Hannah was startled. “How do you know that?”
“Cliff told me about his note this morning, and Mrs. Brown told me when she dropped off Liz. They’re both going to tell the police.”
Hannah looked at her watch. It was just after twelve. “I’ll call Paul. He’ll want to know.”
“What will I want to know?” Paul had come up behind Hannah, finger on lips to ensure Bird’s silence. Hannah spun around to face him.
“Paul! You scared me.” She gave him a hug. “Cliff and Phil got the same letter that Pierre got, and the wild man was here early this morning.”
The broad smile disappeared from Paul’s face. “Not good.”
“It feels like we’re right in the middle of this,” said Hannah. “And I don’t like it.”
“Look, Hannah, I’ll take over hay duty. I’m free for a couple of hours unless an emergency comes up. You go call the police. Tell them everything. These are important pieces of the puzzle.”
Hannah stripped off her gloves again and handed them to Paul. “Five down. Knock yourself out.” She smiled briefly and strode down to the house.
“Come on, Bird,” said Paul. “Round six.”
8
FIRE!
Tan was back in his tent. The coyote was never far away, and that made him nervous. The animal was small and clever. Other coyotes wanted food. They would steal but leave him alone. But this coyote seemed to be on a mission. Like a watchdog. Tan would have to get rid of him before he could get to the girl and tell her what happened. Poison? A trap? A stone to the head with his slingshot? He’d have to do something, and soon.
But now he really needed to feed the horses at the barn next door to the girl’s. On his scouting trips, he’d noticed that the man slept all morning, so now Tan gave them water and hay before he woke up. He liked this new feeling of being needed, even though nobody would ever know. Tan looked around for the coyote. He couldn’t see him. Taking a deep breath, Tan sprinted as fast as he could.
THE HAY WAS FINALLY IN. Cliff was sweeping the barn, and Liz and Julia were lying in the wading pool that doubled as a water jump, discussing which boys at school were cute. Hannah and Paul were in the kitchen making a late lunch, and Bird was in her room, changing into clean clothes after a long, cool shower.
She slipped a soft white T-shirt over her undershirt, and pulled on her favourite green shorts. She was looking around for her running shoes when an acrid odour floated on the breeze through her open window. Smoke. Bird looked outside and gasped. A split second later, she was thundering down the stairs, shoes in hand.
“Fire! Fire! Guy and Bunny’s barn!” She raced downstairs. “Aunt Hannah! Paul! Call the fire department! I need to help Pierre!” Before Hannah could stop her, she was out the door and on her bike.
Bird pedalled as fast as she could, her legs aching from the work of putting up the hay. Bird knew that Pierre often slept all day. She feared that the horses might still be in their stalls, locked in and helpless. Bird remembered Hannah telling her that the smoke killed horses before the flames. They fainted from the smoke, then got burned. She pushed away the thought.
Bird raced up Pierre’s driveway. Her feet hit the ground and she dropped her bike. Just to be sure Pierre was awake, she threw a rock at his bedroom window over the barn. Her aim was good and it smashed through. If he was still in there, Bird thought, he’d hear it.
She held her breath and threw open the barn door. Smoke billowed out, stinging her eyes and heating her face. She coughed and jumped back, reassessing the situation. The other doors were open on the far side of the barn, and through the smoke she saw a human figure opening stall doors.
“Pierre!” Bird yelled as loud as she could. “I’ll help!”
Bird pulled off her T-shirt, dunked it in the water trough and wrapped it over her face. She took a deep breath and ran in, grabbing the first stall door latch she could reach. Instantly, pain shot through her hand. The metal was too hot to touch! She took off her shorts, swaddled her hand with the green cotton fabric and began again.
Get out! she messaged to the frightened animals. Now! It’s not safe in here! Get out now!
This is my home! A big grey was panicking, his head weaving from side to side.
Your home is in danger. Go outside where there is no smoke and fire.
Fire? A tall, bony, older chestnut thoroughbred was alarmed.
Yes. Tell all the others.
The geldings stood there, frozen
