Read Online Midnight Rescue / The Proposal / Christy's Choice by Catherine Marshall - Free Book Online Page B

to Prince, it was bad, very bad.
    She had to get to him, and get there fast.
    Ruby Mae threw open her bedroom door and flew down the stairs. She ran across the wet lawn in her bare feet. Another terrified whinny filled the air, followed by a series of pounding noises, as if Prince were trying to kick right through the sides of his stall.
    She didn’t slow down, not for an instant, not even when she realized that there might be someone lurking behind the dark trees, lying in wait.
    Breathless and shivering, she finally made it to the shed. The door was slightly ajar. Either the preacher had forgotten to close the door, or someone else had been here.
    Or someone might even still be here.
    With a deep breath, Ruby Mae flung open the door. “Who’s there?” she cried, trying her best to sound like someone big and scary and well-armed.
    She took a step inside. The familiar smells of hay and leather and manure greeted her. In the dim moonlight, she could make out something lying on the floor.
    It was the preacher’s saddle, the one Prince wore! Ruby Mae knelt down, tracing her fingers over the dark leather. Someone had slashed the beautiful saddle with a knife. Long gashes covered the seat. The girth had been ripped out and tossed aside.
    A low, sweet whinny of greeting made Ruby Mae look up.
    â€œPrince?” she whispered. “Are you all right, boy?”
    Trembling, she stepped closer. And then she saw the answer to her question. The beautiful black stallion was not all right, not at all.

Seven
    L ordamercy!” Ruby Mae cried in horror. “Prince, what have they done to you?”
    Prince’s beautiful flowing tail, mane, and forelock had been sheared off. They lay clumped in the hay by his feet. He looked pathetic, and he knew it. He pawed at the floor, throwing his head up and down in angry protest.
    Ruby Mae draped her arms around the horse’s broad neck. “Oh, Prince,” she moaned, “I could just bust out cryin’. You ain’t hurt, is you?”
    Carefully she ran her hands over his shoulders and flanks and legs, searching for any cuts or wounds. As far as she could tell, there were none. But the loss of his gorgeous mane and tail was insult enough.
    â€œRuby Mae?” a voice called frantically.
    Miz Christy ran into the shed. She was carrying a lantern. Seconds later, Doctor MacNeill and the preacher appeared behind her.
    â€œWe heard your scream—” Miz Christy began. Her eyes fell on the saddle. “What happened?”
    â€œPrince!” David cried, rushing over to the agitated stallion. “What’s happened here, Ruby Mae?”
    Ruby Mae knelt down and picked up a handful of Prince’s silky tail. “I’ll tell you what happened,” she cried. “Someone hurt Prince to get back at you. If you’da just kept quiet about the moonshine, this would never have happened! It’s your fault, Preacher.” She turned to Miz Christy. “And your fault, too. Why couldn’t you-all have left well enough alone?”
    She was crying, but she couldn’t stop herself. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. She buried her face in Prince’s neck, and he seemed to calm down, as if he understood that she needed him.
    â€œAre the others all right?” the preacher asked. “Old Theo and Bill?”
    Doctor MacNeill looked over the old mule and his own horse. “They’re fine,” he said, “just a little nervous, what with all the commotion.” He stroked Prince’s muzzle. “Looks like they didn’t waste any time getting even,” he said grimly. “It’s like I said, David. Revenge is the way of the mountains.”
    â€œSo this is my fault?” the preacher cried.
    â€œI’m responsible for this horrible act?”
    â€œI’m not saying that,” said the doctor. “I’m just saying it’s time to back off. Call a truce. Let the highlanders have their