Story Blog Post

“You are under arrest for the stealing of a twenty million dollar horse, Sterling Silver” Officer Sharon says.

“Stealing? Sterling Silver? I’ve never stolen anything in my life and I’m Sterling Silvers groom. I’d never steal him!” Jason exclaims, the look of horror in his eyes. “I’ve been helping the search, how am I to blame?” Jason asks now his voice rising in pitch because he was scared.

“Sir you have the right to remain silent anything you say or do may be used against you in court. You have the right…” Officer Sharon goes on and on giving Jason his rights. But he wasn’t really listening, he was too freaked out. He shut his mouth though and said nothing because he didn’t want any more trouble.

“May I ask what’s going on here?” Kelsey, the owner of Sterling Silver, asks as she walks up, “is there a reason you have put my groom in handcuffs?” she asks, her tone icy cold.

“We have reason to believe that Mr. Green here is the one who stole your horse. He has access, to Sterling Silver; reason enough with the salary he gets if he sold the horse for even half his worth he’d be set for life. You obviously his fingerprints and DNA was left everywhere because he is the groom, so it would make it easy enough for him to get the horse without anyone suspecting him. But we found his prints on a syringe that was used to sedate the horse so that he wouldn’t freak out when loaded into an unfamiliar trailer” Sharon says.

“Hold up, you think my groom stole Silver?” He was with me the night Silver was stolen. We were out to dinner with some of the other riders and there grooms. It’s a traditional dinner that is held before each show between a group of us. If you’re going to point fingers at grooms you better look at some of my enemy riders’ grooms, because Jason was with me until about two-thirty in the morning. Which is of course when we came back to find Silver miss” Kelsey explains.

“Well we will still need to take him in for questioning” officer Sharon says as she pulls at Jason’s arm.

“Why? When he was with me and could not have had anything to do with it” Kelsey exclaims her voice shrill and coated with irritation. “I have other horses and he is needed. I think all your cops need to get your focus away from my groom and look at other suspects. If my horse is injured in anyway were going to have a serious problem” Kelsey’s voice was reaching maximum volume.

“Miss Morton I’m going to have to ask you to lower your voice” officer Sharon says to a red faced Kelsey.

“I’m sorry; I just want my horse found. He was my best friend and I’ve had him since he was born. My groom is innocent, please leave him be to do his work” Kelsey says calmly after a breath. Officer Sharon hesitates then removes the handcuffs from Jason’s wrists.

“Your free to go, but don’t go far” Sharon says before turning on her heel and leaving the barn. Jason looked around grateful it was lunch time. Not that many period were around and those who were had left as soon as Kelsey showed up.

“Thank you” Jason said meekly to his boss.

“Sure, now get to work. You have three horses to feed and stalls to clean. Get a move on.” Kelsey says harshly as she turns to go she looks back over her shoulder, “and be careful. I don’t want that happening again when there are more people around” and with a flip of the hair she faced away in to the hot summer air of Sweet Palm, Florida. Jason walked into the tack room talking to himself the entire time he was mixing feeds.

“I swear that girl knows way more than she is letting on. I doubt Silver was actually stolen. Her security on Silver is way to tight. But what would the point be in stealing him? To make money? No, she already is loaded. Her father who makes millions and her mom doing the same. Plus the inheritance she got from her grandmother when she died. That girl isn’t ever going to have to work a day in her life. What with being and only child and getting every cent of her parent’s money when they’re gone. No she doesn’t need the money he’s worth. It’d be pocket change to her. Then maybe it’s for the recognition? That would be it. The public is all over this story. But she is already so famous for her riding, why more publicity? No it’s not the money or the fame. But what could it be? Jeeze I have to get moving or she’ll skin me alive!” he exclaims as he looks at the time. It’d already been thirty minutes since he’d gotten in there. He should almost be done with the stalls. He ran out and fed the horses then quickly got to work on the first stall. Finishing in fast time he went to the next, he was about halfway done when he heard footsteps.

“Jason?” he heard a familiar voice call.

“Ana?” he says peering outside. Ana was a groom from an enemy rider. But, she was also Jason’s cousin, that’s how she got into grooming. “What are you doing here?” his voice weary. She never came to this barn unless something serious was up.

“It's about the horse” Ana says finally at the stall. Her eyes were frightened.

“Horse? What…Oh Silver?” What do you know something?” Jason asks, his eyes scanning hers for information.

“I think I know who stole him” Ana says her voice layered in worry and her eyes darting around as if she was scared someone would see her.

“Who Ana?” Jason’s eyes got big. This couldn’t be good, what with her jitteriness and not looking at him, “please god don’t tell me it was you” he says harshly.

“No!” Ana says now staring dead into his eyes, “how could you think that. God Jason for someone so smart your awful stupid sometimes. You know if never steal a horse!” her voice was acid and her eyes were slits.

“Then who Ana?” Jason asked again.

“One of the grooms in the barn across from mine. I’m about ninety-five percent sure it was him” Ana says and Jason’s eyebrows pop up.

“There’s only one other male groom besides me” Jason’s says. He was thinking of Andrew Whatley, he was one of the best grooms but wasn’t really recognized. He was park of the group that when to dinner with him and Kristy. His barn was one of the more run down because those who rented it out for the summer show season were not the richest in the Equine World. He could see where the money would come in handy if he sold Silver. Jason shook his head, “no, Andrew would never do that. I know that guy. He’s great, not the kind of guy that would steal a horse” Jason says defending his friend.

“Jase, come on! Look at it; he works for one of the poorest barns. He comes from low income. So even if he quit, finding a job at one of the other barns wouldn’t be easy. Not with the snobby rich fold who wouldn’t even give him a first glance. Not in his worn out jeans, his boots that are falling apart at the seams and his dirty shirts. No, he may be amazing but you know how these people are Jason. And if he stole Silver and sold him for half of his worth he’s make a fortune. Every time that horse wins a show his worth goes up. Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if Silver was worth twenty five or even thirty million now. That horse is unbeatable with Kelsey on his back. There amazingly talented. Jason it was Andrew” Ana said her voice confident.

“Ana he was with us at dinner that night. There…was” he quieted. Remembering that Andrew had left early and then come back around one. His eyes got big again and he cursed under his breath, “crap Ana I’ve got to call Kelsey” he says and rushing into the tack room to grab his cell phone. He called Kelsey quickly with Ana standing in the doorway admiring the glistening tack.

“Kelsey its Jason, I think I know who stole Silver. Come as soon as you get this message” he says leaving his rider a voicemail after she didn’t pick up.

“Thank you Ana” he says as he walks passed her and back into the stall, “I’m sure the police will want you for questioning so stay close. But I’d get out of here before Kelsey gets back, you know how riders are with enemies” he says and watches as Ana nods and leaves. Jason finishes cleaning the stalls, and then goes into the tack room and starts cleaning that tack that needed cleaning. About thirty minutes later he hears footsteps but he also hears hoof beats, he rushes into the aisle way and is astounded, “Silver!” he exclaims, “Kelsey? What the heck?” he says.

“It was Andrew Whatley” she says shaking your head, “he gave a confession, little rat couldn’t deal with the stress of stealing. But what I believe is that he couldn’t deal with Silver looks like he has a whip mark on his hind end, nothing serious but I’m suing for that as well. He won’t ever be around these grounds again.” Kelsey says her voice low and hard, “go make him a mash and I’ll start on grooming him. I need some time with him so as soon as your done making his mash you can take a break” she says kindly and then takes Silver into his stall. Jason nods and goes off. He quickly makes a hot bran mash and puts it outside the stall for Kelsey to give Silver when ready. He then heads off and goes to clean up after a rough day. Glad that this mess was finally over and done with.