Short Fiction Blog

Turned out Isabel was right. Both men entered the barn still deep in conversation. As they passed through the door, the girls heard Duke say, “I don’t know what happened to your damn horse, she was here this morning when I did feedings.”

They couldn’t hear the strangers reply because the men were too far into the barn. With hand signals, Isabel motioned for Betsy to follow her. Slowly, they crept around the side of the barn until they were right at the door.

Isabel peeked around and saw the men standing at the far stall. The stranger was scowling at Duke and shaking his head. “She’s not here now though, is she?” he said.

“Obviously not, but that doesn’t mean I know what happened to her,” Duke replied. “I had to go into town right after feeding the horses this morning. I checked the barn soon as I got home and saw Dancing Lady was missing. I called you right away. For all I knew, you’d come and got her.”

“I didn’t come and get her. I left her for you to take care of. If I had somewhere to keep her, I wouldn’t have needed your services at all now would I?”

“Look mister, I don’t want no trouble. I take care of horses under my care. Someone stole the damn horse; you know it, and I know it, so let’s cut to the chase. What are you gonna do about it?” Duke snarled.

“I guess we get the sheriff out here,” the stranger recommended.

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