think not.
The urgency in the coyote’s telepathic transmission moved Bird to get back out from under the warmth of the quilts. Cody would not summon her unless it were serious.
Quickly she pulled on the jeans and sweater draped on the chair in the corner of the room. She began to tiptoe down the stairs, but stopped. Her phone. She might need it. She went back, grabbed her cell, and sped as quietly as she could to the kitchen. Bird threw on her coat and hat, stuffed her feet into her winter boots, and grabbed her sheepskin gloves.
Lucky appeared beside her, with his tail wagging madly. He sniffed her jeans. Going out? Going out?
Good dog, Lucky. Bird took a second to scratch his furry brown ears. I need to go out for a while. You stay here.
Lucky’s tail stopped wagging.
You must guard the house, Lucky.
Lucky was confused. I will come! Will come!
Bird didn’t know what Cody had in mind, and she didn’t want to worry about Lucky in the storm. Stay, Lucky. Hannah and Paul need you tonight. Guard them very well.
Yes, Bird! Yes, Bird! His tail began to wag again.
Good dog, Lucky. I’ll be back.
Bird watched him lie back down contentedly in his bed. He was a good dog, she thought. He always wanted to help. She opened the kitchen door to a blast of chilled air.
Oops, Bird remembered. Aunt Hannah would be mad if she woke up and didn’t know where Bird was. It had happened before, and Bird had promised her that it’d never happen again.
She closed the door against the wind, spied the pen and pad of paper on the telephone desk under the clock, and scrawled, “Back soon. Call my cell. xo”
She glanced up at the clock. It was almost midnight.
Bird opened the door again and stepped outside. Stinging ice pellets hit her cheeks. She pulled her turtleneck collar over her nose and looked around for Cody.
Here, Bird girl. Follow me.
The coyote appeared from under a bush that sagged to the ground under a burden of ice. Cody looked thinner. Even in the dim light, she could see that his coat was dull. He walked toward her with a stiff gait.
Cody, are you all right?
Yes, Bird girl. We must hurry.
She’d ask Paul to take a look at him. Where are we going?
To the Good Lady’s farm.
Cody called Laura Pierson “the Good Lady.” She was quite elderly. Her husband, Pete, had died the year before. Cody had called him, “the Good Man.” Now Mrs. Pierson lived alone on their farm called Merry Fields, just down the road.
That’s a really long walk in this storm, Cody.
She needs help. Now.
What’s wrong?
I must show you.
I’ll get Hannah. We’ll drive. Bird turned to go back into the house.
No! The road cannot let a car pass.
What? Sometimes it was hard to understand what Cody meant.
There is a big tree where a car would travel.
Oh.
Come with me, now!
Bird thought for a second. If Mrs. Pierson was in danger, she needed to get there fast. It would take too long by foot, and it was too icy to ride a bike.
I’ll get Sunny. He’ll save us a lot of time.
If you wish. But hurry.
Bird began to run to the barn, but with her first step she slid on a thin cover of ice on the driveway and landed on her bottom. Ice was everywhere. Would Sundancer be able to get down the lane, let alone all the way to Mrs. Pierson’s farm?
She tested the thickness of the ice on top of the snow on the side by thumping it with her heel. She found she could break it easily. No problem for a horse’s hooves to cut through the ice, she thought, but there was only one way to find out.
Bird very carefully made her way up the edge of the driveway to the barn and pulled open the door. She felt along the wall for the light switch and flicked it on.
Nothing but darkness. The power was out.
Bird stood in the middle of the aisle. Sundancer’s stall was two down on the right.
Sunny?
Is that Santa Claus already?
It’s me. I need your help.
You’ve got to be kidding.
Cody says Mrs. Pierson is in danger.
I’m waiting for Santa. It’s cold and dark and scary out there. It’s nighttime, and I want to sleep like all the other horses.
Those are a lot of excuses.
Another voice reached Bird.
I’ll help! It was Tall Sox. You helped me, and I’ll help you anytime you ask.
Thank you, Sox!
Amigo piped up. Anything you ask, it is my duty.
And me. I’ll help you! The transmission came from Charlie, the old black gelding. I’m ready to go!
You are the best. Thank you, Sox, Amigo, and Charlie.
Sunny piped in. No way! If any horse helps Bird, it’s me. Get me outta this stall!
Bird chuckled to herself. Just like Sundancer. She felt along the wall until she got to his stall. She grabbed his halter from its hook, opened the latch, and stepped inside with her arms out, feeling for her horse. He stood at the very back of the stall, making her go the whole way.
Got you. We’re going to do it the quick way, Sunny. No time for tack. Your stable blanket stays on.
This better be worthwhile. A horse needs his sleep.
She put his halter over his head, fastened a rope to either side of it to make reins, then led him outside. She slid the door closed as she messaged to the barn filled with curious horses, Good night, all. We have a job to do, but we’ll be back soon.
Bird led him to the mounting block outside the barn door and scrambled onto his back. Be very careful, Sunny. It’s icy.
You don’t say.
Take a step and see …
They slid several feet until Sundancer found a snow bank where he could get purchase.
So,
