JACK OF DIAMONDS

Chap 6 - Pt 3 (A PRINCESS IN INTERVENTION.)

“He can’t possibly have stolen the horse,” Sonia said, looking at the man approaching.

“Why do you think that?” Richard asked.

“What man would be stupid enough to bring it back?”

“A good point,” the man agreed, and laughing with a quick nod, looked at the stablehand in the paddock. The colt was starting to kick up a fuss and the boy looked to be confused as to what he should do. Richard smiled.

“Besides, he knows how to ride.”

“What’s that have to do with anything?” Nigel asked, stuffing his pipe.

“A man that’s that comfortable on a horse, obviously grew up near horses.”

“That’s what you think, is it?”

“Look at the way he’s dressed.”

“The way he’s dressed? What about the way he’s dressed?” Nigel laughed.

“He’s wearing riding pants, and boots as well.”

“And that leads you to think the man grew up with horses?” Nigel scoffed.

“No. It makes me think he comes from money,” she said, looking at him—daring him to offer up an argument. “Only people who live in places like this have horses. You don’t have one, do you?”

“He could be a farmer for all you know,” Nigel insisted.

“He could be, but I doubt it,” she said.

The man didn’t appear to be in any kind of a hurry, and she turned, startled, when Richard called out to the stablehand.

“Aye, Toby, take care of Isabelle when she comes in, give her a brushing and a good rub down along with her oats,” he added. “Take Rodney inside and give him off to one of the grooms.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Wilson,” the boy said, sounding grateful.

The man spurred the horse, and the gentle trot he was riding became a practiced canter. When he reached the stables he pulled up on the reins, and sitting casually in the saddle looked down at the three of them with what could only be called an inviting smile. Sonia sized the man up immediately, from the knee high riding boots he was wearing, to the wool pants he had tucked into them, and the soft cotton peasant’s shirt and vest he wore. His hair was long, dark, and unkempt—as if he’d stepped out of a different century, she thought—his eyes equally as dark, and his smile quite dazzling with its bright, even teeth. He was unshaven, and though he looked youthful, she could see there was something in his eyes—a hardness that told her he was a man who had seen pain and hardship.

A handsome man, she told herself, 'but probably flawed in some way or another.

It seemed to her that all the men she’d met since Gerald’s death were flawed in some respect. She wondered if it was the War, or if it was as simple as the generation itself.

We had to fight our fathers’ wars.

“Reggie tells me this horse belongs to you,” the man smiled, looking at Sonia.

“That’s kind of you, but no,” she smiled back, looking at Richard.

“Reggie?” Richard asked. “O’Dowd? He sent you?”

“We were going into Chumley to pick up baking needs for Claire, when we came across her tied to a tree--the horse, not Claire,” the man laughed.

“And where would that have been?” Nigel asked. “Constable Bannister,” he said, lighting his pipe. “This is Special Constable Nazar.”

“Special, is she?” the man laughed. “I won’t argue with you about that, Mate,” he added. “Oh, Artemis Spencer,” he was quick to say.

“Where was that you said you found her, Mr. Spencer?”

“Tied to an old burned out tree. Oh, it had this tacked on to the saddle here,” he added, pulling a battered playing card out of his pocket.

It was the Jack of Diamonds.

“What’s that supposed to be?” Richard asked.

Artie looked at it as he handed it down to Nigel.

“A playing card?” he offered.

“What do you suppose it means?” Nigel asked.

“Couldn’t tell you.”

“It’s too bad you didn’t leave it tacked to the saddle.”

“And why’s that?” Artie asked.

“We might’ve got some prints from it.”

“Prints? Oh! You mean finger prints! They can do that?” Artie asked.

“Why exactly are you here, Mr. Spencer?” Sonia asked.

“Reggie told me they’d probably offer a reward for the horse. Thought maybe I could spring for lunch...Although, I’m thinking this one didn’t run away as much as she was taken.”

“Oh?” Sonia smiled. “And why do you think that?”

He leaned forward on the saddle and looked her directly in the eyes. “Then why the fuck else would you two be here?”

“Do you know where this tree is he’s talking about?” Nigel asked Richard. Anything to avoid a confrontation with a man who had an easy thirty pounds on him, he looked at Sonia

“The only one that looks to be burned out is the one at the property line. It was hit by lightning some years back, split it half but still growing.”

“That’s the one,” Artie laughed, jumping down from the saddle and giving the reins to the young stable hand when he came back out.

Sonia looked down at the soft mud in the yard, noticing the nicked hoof print.

“Could you take us out to that tree?” she asked, turning to look at Richard.

“Why would you want to go out there?” he asked.

“He may have left a clue.”

“Can we go up in that fancy car of yours?” Richard smiled.

“I thought you said it was easier to go overland than use the muddy track?” Sonia reminded him.

“It is. But you have a Bentley.”

“I do, indeed,” she laughed.

“How does a girl like you afford a Bentley?”Artie asked.

“I suppose it helps to have a rich father,” she smiled.

“Indeed it does,” Richard laughed.

“Would you like me to come?” Artie asked.

Sonia looked at Nigel who shook his head, and then smiled at Artie in turn.

“This is an ongoing investigation,” she offered in explanation.

“It is? But the horse wasn’t stolen, was it?” Artie laughed.

“What do you mean?”

“It never left the property. The man said the tree was considered the property line, so technically, it wasn’t stolen, was it?”

“I suppose it wasn’t,” Nigel agreed.

“That argument would almost work if not for last night’s robbery,” Sonia said, making her way to the front of the Manor.

“What robbery is that?” Artie asked.

“The one where the thief left a similar calling card,” Richard grinned.