Page 27 of Ladybird

Chapter 7

After talking to Sir Elwood and not being able to get any information that would help Hunter find the thief, he decided to take a walk to the stables. Mayhap the old groom would have seen or heard something that would help shed light on the stolen horse at least.

“Hello?” he called out, walking into the stables, letting his eyes get accustomed to the dim light. “Are you here, Al?” He didn’t hear an answer, so decided to look around while he waited for the man to return.

Hunter walked from stall to stall, petting each of the horses on the nose. Then he came to the stall that held Luke’s horse. “Hello, Zelma, how are you today?” He opened the gate and walked in to pet the horse.

“Who are you calling Zelma?” grumbled Al, stepping out from behind the horse with a brush in his hand.

“Al,” said Hunter in surprise. “I didn’t think you were here.”

“Of course, I am. This is where I work. Where did you expect me to be?”

“I called out for you when I entered the stable but you didn’t answer.”

“It’s hard to hear anything way back here. What did you want?”

“I wanted to talk to you about Sir Elwood’s stolen horse.”

“What about it?” he grumbled.

Hunter reached up and pet the horse on the nose. “I was just wondering if you heard anything odd or saw anyone suspicious the day Sir Elwood’s horse was stolen.”

“Why do you want to know? How is it any of your business?”

The man was cocky and crusty. It made Hunter think he had something to hide.

“I don’t believe you’d want Lord Robin to know the way you are talking to a noble, would you?”

“Sorry, my lord.” The man continued to brush the horse. “It’s just that I keep forgettin’ you’re noble. You look so much like someone else.”

“Like who?” he asked nonchalantly, pushing aside some strands of hair from the horse’s eyes.

“I don’t know. I can’t remember. But whoever it was, I know he wasn’t a noble.”

“It seems to me that you’re mistaken, Al. Now, what can you tell me about the stolen horse?”

“Nothing about Sir Elwood’s horse, but I can tell you that this horse was stolen.” He nodded at Zelma.

“Really? Why would you say that?” Hunter slowly ran a hand over the horse’s flank.

“Because of these trappings,” he said, reaching out and touching the horse’s bridle. “See these decorations etched into the leather? Well, I’ve only seen this once before. It was on the horse of a lord who visited here years ago. The lord was from Sheffield. His name was Lord Bohun.”

“Really. Years ago?” asked Hunter. “Like how long?”

“Mayhap ten years or so.”

“That is a long time to remember something. Perhaps you are mistaken.”

“Nay, I’m not.”

“All I can tell you is that this is my nephew’s horse. It was given as part of a payment from a man who owed me money.”

“What kind of debt could require such an expensive thing like a horse?”

“That, my friend, is my business and you need not concern yourself with it.”

“Where did the man get the horse from? Did he steal her?” The man cocked his head and looked at Hunter from the side of his eyes.