Sophie watched, mesmerized, as the stallion lowered his head and stepped into the shadow near the canyon wall. His soft neigh barely reached her as he greeted someone or something in the shadows. His walk was relaxed and his ears were forward as he disappeared into the darkness. He didn’t even glance back at the mares.
What is he doing? thought Sophie. Is he welcoming another wild horse? A mustang wouldn’t approach any other kind of animal with a whinny, would it? She watched the canyon entrance for a few minutes, unsure of what to do. She knew she should be making her way toward Aria. The mare would be waiting for her. But Sophie’s curiosity was too strong. She had to see what would make the wild stallion walk into the canyon, especially when he’d been so nervous just moments before.
Abruptly the mares stopped circling. As one, they stepped toward the canyon, their heads down and their bodies at ease. Two of the foals rushed forward, jumping and playing. There were no whinnies from their dams warning them to stay back. At the entrance to the canyon, the mares formed a circle, some of them in shadow and some standing in the moonlight. Their heads pointed toward the center of their circle and their hindquarters faced outwards. Sophie saw movement in the shadows and thought it was the stallion joining the mares, but she wasn’t sure. The shadows at the canyon’s entrance were too dark and the horses seemed to blend into a single form.
But still Sophie could tell the horses’ actions weren’t right. None of the books she’d read about mustangs mentioned that wild horses made formations like this. She knew they sometimes bunched together to protect themselves from danger when they couldn’t run, but the herd wasn’t milling about or jostling each other. They weren’t panicky or frightened, with heads high, watching for danger. This was a perfect circle from what Sophie could see, with the horses standing quietly side by side. And the center of the circle was empty. Or was it?
Suddenly, Sophie’s heart was beating like crazy. She dropped to the ground, breathless. There was something in the middle of the circle – something that shouldn’t have been there!
Sophie inched up from the ground just enough to see the formation the horses had created. Her eyes tried to cut through the shadow but she just couldn’t see clearly.
It was my imagination, she thought. I couldn’t have seen a person standing in the center of the ring of horses.
No way. Mustangs would never let a human that close to them. Never.
Chapter 17
After a few minutes, the herd began to break up. First the foals left the group and started to frolic, then the lead mare walked into the desert. The rest of the mares and foals followed loosely behind her. The stallion was the last to leave the canyon. When he finally trotted after the others, Sophie breathed a sigh of relief. The mustangs were acting normal again.
It was my imagination, Sophie told herself. It was just a trick of the shadows. Or maybe it was a rock. But why would they be standing in a perfect circle around a rock? Or even stranger, nothing at all? Sophie shivered and shoved the question to the back of her mind. It was nothing, she thought again. I was just too far away to see clearly. And maybe the wild horse experts don’t know everything there is to know about mustangs. After all, they can’t get very close to them.
Sophie waited to stand until the herd disappeared into the night and the sound of their hooves had faded. Her legs were stiff from crouching on the desert for so long. She shook them out, and then reached down for the hay net and oat bucket. Sophie was glad she didn’t have too much farther to walk. After a short time her unbroken arm began aching again, tired from packing the hay and oats so far already.
Sophie searched the hills for the entrance to the large canyon that branched off into the narrow canyon where Aria was hidden. When she spotted the familiar rock formation marking the entrance and hurried toward it.
Carefully she walked into the shadows at the entrance to the canyon. The ground was broken and rough. The moonlight, so bright out on the open desert, couldn’t reach the rocky floor and so the canyon was awash in darkness. Sophie stopped to wait for her eyes to adjust. Then she picked her way along the boulder-strewn ground. As she made her way inside, the walls became steeper. When the hilly edge of the canyon had turned to rock cliff, Sophie edged to one side and reached out. The rock wall was smooth beneath her fingers. Water from countless flash floods had blasted through this canyon over the centuries, wearing it into flowing patterns of stone.
She could tell how far she had traveled inside the canyon by looking up at the cliffs above her. She recognized many of the rock formations where the cliff’s edge was dark against the moonlit sky. Finally she recognized the gap that marked the entrance to Aria’s small canyon. She turned into it, put the oat bucket down and carried the hay net to the top of the steep rocky section. She threw it down beside the first willow bushes and turned back for the bucket.
Because the canyon was wider and elevated where the willows grew, the moonlight was able to touch them with its silver fingers. The trail to Aria’s corral wound its way through the bushes like a glowing ribbon in front of Sophie, and the tinkling sound of water greeted her from the tangled depths of vegetation.
I’m almost there, Sophie thought with relief when she heard the spring. I’m so tired!
The first time she’d walked into the narrow canyon stretching off the larger, barren one, Sophie knew she had found the perfect place to build Aria’s corral. The entrance to the smaller canyon was narrow with high bluffs on either side. This would make anyone who saw it think the canyon was smaller than it was. But after the narrow opening, the rocky floor rose and the canyon widened. Willow bushes grew wall to wall as thick as hair on a dog’s back and almost impenetrable.
But what made it perfect for Aria was the hidden spring. Artesian water bubbled out of the ground like magic, springing out near the narrow crevice at the back of Aria’s enclosure and pooling among the rocks. From the pool, it traveled less than two hundred yards, through Aria’s enclosure and into the willow thicket, before it sank back into the dry ground.
It had taken Sophie a long time to clear out enough bushes to make a trail wide enough for Aria to walk, and then to clear out a corral for her. She wove most of the willow bushes she removed into the living willow at the edge of the enclosure to make a natural fence.
The rest of the displaced willow was packed into the narrow crevice running through the rock wall at the back of Aria’s enclosure. The crevice was a narrow slit in the rocks that led to a steep, dangerous trail, covered with loose stones that dropped down to the main canyon again. Sophie knew when she sealed the crevice that she was blocking off the trail the local deer used to access the spring water, but she had no choice. She needed to keep Aria from using the crevice to escape back to the ranch. It would be terrible if Aria was discovered in foal, but even worse, if she slipped on the narrow rocky trail and fell to the main canyon below.
Sophie felt badly about the deer at first, and hoped they’d be able to find water elsewhere. She was pleasantly surprised to find that the willow fence didn’t even slow them down. Finding the path through the crevice blocked, they made their way down the trail that Sophie cleared through the willows. They leapt over the willow gate and, despite Aria’s presence, proceeded to drink at the pool. Sophie found their tracks in the dust on the trail and had even surprised them there a time or two.
Now she moved stiffly along the trail, trying to ignore her aching arms. Then the willow gate was in front of her. Sighing gratefully, she plopped her load down.
“Aria,” she called, bending to crawl through the hole in the tightly woven willow gate. “Aria, I’m here.”
Silence.
Sophie crawled through the opening and climbed to her feet. “Aria?” she said. The corral spread out before her. Aria’s gray bulk stood at the far end. Her head was in shadows.
“Aria?” whispered Sophie, suddenly feeling the hair on the back of her neck raise up. Why isn’t she neighing to me? Isn’t she happy to see me?
&n
bsp; “Aria, I have your oats,” said Sophie and knelt to pull the bucket through the hole. Then she reached back for the hay net. Slowly she carried them both toward Aria.
The gray mare still stood with her hindquarters facing Sophie. Sophie stopped. Something wasn’t right. Aria never acted this way. She was always happy to see Sophie. Could she be mad that Sophie took so long to come feed her?
Then Sophie noticed that the mare was eating something. Fresh hay lay on the ground in front of her.
“What?” whispered Sophie. “How did you get hay?”
Sophie lowered the bucket to the ground and tried not to scream. Someone was standing behind her. She wasn’t sure how she knew – she could just feel it.
Slowly she turned around. A girl stood beside the willow gate. Her face seemed luminous and, even in the pale moonlight, Sophie could see that her eyes were a strange amber color. Her hair was long and drifted in a breeze that Sophie couldn’t feel. Her hair is glowing gold, not silver like the moonlight should make it look, Sophie realized. A wave of fear washed over her. She opened her mouth to speak but the old terror suddenly grabbed her tongue and she couldn’t say anything.
Instead it was the girl who spoke, her voice as soft and gentle as a summer wind. “Aria has missed you,” she said. “You cannot leave her in this hidden place. You must take her home.”
Chapter 18
The girl is so frightened. I wish I could have approached her in the daylight. Everything is so much scarier in the dark, especially for humans. But I cannot wait until tomorrow. I must tell her of the danger that is here. The danger that may, once again, stalk Aria and her foal, little Melody. I can tell this girl is the one who is meant to save Aria and Melody. Their lives are in her hands alone.
Is this girl strong enough to do what needs to be done? Can she return them to their owners? To do so, she must face her worst fear. Is she brave enough? Strong enough?
I pray that she will be so, or… or Aria and Melody will be the next victims of a ruthless killer.
Chapter 19
Sophie drew in a sharp breath and stepped backward. She felt Aria’s warm side behind her and pressed back against the mare as she watched the strange girl.
The girl stepped toward her. “Do not be frightened,” she said. “I am not here to hurt you. Only to help.”
All Sophie could do was shake her head. She knew this girl wouldn’t help. She had already said that Sophie had to take Aria home. This girl was going to ruin her life; this girl whose life was surely perfect, with her long golden hair, perfect face, and her startling tawny eyes. This was the girl who would tell Kalene and Joel about Aria.
They’ll hate me when they find out, thought Sophie. They won’t even want to look at me. In her mind, Sophie watched the love that she had seen in Kalene’s eyes replaced by the pain caused by her foster daughter’s betrayal. She imagined hearing Joel’s voice saying “How can we ever trust you again, Sophie?” And then the shuffle from one foster home to another would start. Again.
I wish I were dead, thought Sophie. I wish God would just make an earthquake swallow me up, right here. Right now. Then I would never have to see them turn away.
Slowly she sank to her knees beside Aria and covered her face with her left hand, but she was too wretched to cry. She felt Aria nuzzle her shoulder.
“I am sorry to have frightened you,” said a voice above her, but Sophie couldn’t look up. She knew what she would see in the girl’s eyes. Accusations.
Exactly like the accusations in Sophie’s mother’s eyes on the day she walked out the door and never came back. Though Sophie had only been six years old then, her mother had blamed her for ruining her life. That was when Sophie had first wondered if she was poison to those who loved her. During the days that followed, alone in the apartment she had once shared with her mother, she kept wondering, too afraid to leave and hungry, hungry, hungry. Sophie started to believe what her mom had said. It was all her fault. She had destroyed her mother’s life simply by being born. By existing.
By the time the neighbours grew suspicious and called the authorities, Sophie had been alone for almost a week. She was scrawny, dirty, and terrified when she was found. Immediately, the social workers placed her in a foster home. The damage to her body was quickly corrected with medical attention and good food, but her mind was unreachable. She was too afraid to even speak. A succession of foster parents were nice to her, hoping to be the ones that helped her, but in the end they always gave up. Sophie became like a shadow in their homes, quiet and watchful. Afraid.
And her fear always came true; they always sent her on to another home. After six years of bouncing from one place to another, Sophie was ready to give up on herself.
But then Kalene and Joel had come into her life, and welcomed her into their home with open arms. When Sophie was silent, they didn’t try to force her to speak. They just accepted her the way she was. And Sophie started to accept herself.
The day finally came, months later, when Sophie realized she could trust them. It was the day they told her she could ride Aria. Aria was the obvious choice for a riding horse, being the only mare not in foal on the ranch, but Sophie was still surprised. Aria was their most valuable mare, the one they could least afford to lose. Yet they trusted Sophie with the beautiful gray mare anyway.
It was a real blow to them when the mare disappeared, without a trace. And now they are going to find out that I’m the thief, thought Sophie. They’re going to learn the truth about me. The truth my mom knew when she walked out on me. The truth that all those other foster parents learned about me. I’m poison. I destroy people’s lives.
Overwhelmed by despair, Sophie felt Aria’s muzzle on her back again and then the warm hand of the girl.
They don’t know what I’m really like, thought Sophie, her mind ravaged with guilt. If they did, they wouldn’t be nice to me. Aria still likes me because she’s a horse and horses don’t understand things like betrayal. She doesn’t realize that she’s here, stuck in this canyon away from all her friends and her safe barn, because of me. And the girl, she just doesn’t know what I’m like yet. She doesn’t know what a horrible person I am.
The girl’s hand lay between Sophie’s shoulder blades, warm and comforting. When Sophie’s sobs slowed and her breath became quieter and shallower, she finally pulled her hand away.
After a few minutes, Sophie rubbed her eyes and wiped her tears on her jeans, then she inhaled deeply and sat up straight. She looked up into Aria’s moon-washed face glowing above her. The mare whinnied and nuzzled her again. “I’m so sorry,” whispered Sophie. “I’m so sorry all this happened. You didn’t deserve this, did you?”
“She is very worried about you,” said the girl.
Sophie turned. The girl was sitting on the ground, almost behind her. When Sophie met the strange girl’s gaze, the girl smiled. Quickly Sophie turned away. “Are you going to tell them about Aria?” she asked in a choked voice.
“Tell who about Aria?” asked the girl, her voice gently inquisitive.
Sophie sighed. There’s no point in not letting her know, she thought. All she has to do is go to the police to ask who is missing an Arabian mare.
“Her owners,” Sophie finally said. “My foster parents, Kalene and Joel James.” When the girl did not immediately answer her, Sophie turned. The girl was staring at the edge of the canyon, watching the black ridge top.
Hope surged through Sophie. Maybe she won’t tell. Maybe she’ll just go away and leave Aria and me alone. I mean, it’s not like I’m not going to return Aria anyway. I’ve just got to wait until her foal is weaned, that’s all.
Finally the girl turned back to Sophie. “You must return Aria now,” she stated simply.
Sophie’s fresh hope was crushed. “But…” she started to say.
The girl held up a slim hand. “Wait. Listen,” she said. “You must return Aria in the morning because she is in danger here. A mountain lion has moved into these hills.” The girl’s grac
eful hand waved toward the bluff. “He is not a normal mountain lion, but a killer who feeds off the fear of his victims. He knows Aria is here. I have frightened him away once already, but I do not know how much longer I can keep him at bay.”
“Did he try to attack her? Is she okay?” Sophie scrambled to her feet. “He didn’t hurt her, did he?” Her hand explored Aria’s body. She was relieved to feel nothing but silky softness beneath her hands. No cuts. No scratches.
“He did not hurt her,” said the strange girl. “He is afraid of me. For now. But I have no doubt he will be back. You must take Aria home. Tomorrow. As soon as the sun shines on the hills. You are in danger too, as you walk to and from Aria’s enclosure.”
“But how can I take her home?” asked Sophie turning back to the girl. “I can’t let Kalene and Joel know that I stole her. They’ll send me away.”
The girl’s golden eyes searched Sophie’s face. Then she patted the ground beside her. “There is great kindness in you,” she said. “And great fear. Come. Sit. Tell me why you have stolen Aria away. I will listen.”
Sophie sank to the ground beside the girl. For a few seconds, she stared at her own hands folded in her lap. The old fear of speaking crept up behind her and wrapped its silent hands across her mouth, around her throat. Sophie looked up into the girl’s eyes imploringly, begging not to have to tell her about Aria. “Who are you?” Sophie suddenly blurted out. It was easier to ask questions than tell the girl her story. “Where do you live? I’ve never seen you here before.” Then, before the girl could reply, she added in a softer voice, “I’m Sophie, by the way.”
“Hi Sophie. My name is Angelica,” said the girl. “And I do not live here. I come from far away.”
A deeper curiosity grew inside Sophie as she listened to Angelica. Though Angelica had replied to Sophie’s questions, her answers hadn’t really told Sophie anything. “From where?” she tried again.
“From a different place,” said Angelica. “It is hard to explain.”
“A different country?” asked Sophie.
“Yes, you could say that,” was Angelica’s answer.