Chapter Ten

The herd was exhausted but there was always the chance of another stampede, given enough provocation, so several grooms continued to ride around the herd, keeping them all in place.

"Well done," Owen said. "Now, SOP (standard operating procedure). We walk them back. Once in their stalls they get a little bit of water and blankets. The vets will check them over. If you notice any injuries on the walk back report them immediately!" Owen ordered.

He looked over the grooms' horses and picked out the three that looked the freshest, for the grooms horses had also been ridden hard.

"You three stay mounted. Everyone else hand your horses over to Dawie, grab some lead reins and put together strings of five horses. No more than two strings per person. Remember to match up the colour of the halter when you connect strings, don't match up horses with halters of different colours! And wait for Tracey and I to get the Master out of there before going in."

The coloured halters were an idea that their uncle had come up with. The halters were used as an easy identifier of horses that didn't act out when paired up. That type of visual aid was easier to use than trying to remember which horses got on with each other, especially with the herd changing every year.

Once every horse was accounted for they all began the long, slow walk back.



With the return of all the horses, the grooms and vets sprung into high gear. Each horse was blanketed, fed and watered and was given a thorough check up. Several horses now sported wrappings on their lower legs to give them extra support.

Tracy and Owen were in the thick of things while Caitlyn was helping Harry with the horse that had been shot.

It was several hours before she and Harry emerged from the surgery. All the horses had been seen to and Tracey & Owen were waiting rather impatiently.

"Well?" Owen demanded while Tracey cocked her head to one side questioningly.

"He'll be fine. He lost a lot of blood and it will take some time to see whether the bullet damaged the muscle too badly for him to race, but he'll be okay," Harry replied.

Tracey closed her eyes in relief.

"Caitlyn here was a great help and even managed to spot a bleeder that I couldn't find," Harry commented, looking at Caitlyn.

Caitlyn blushed faintly. "I wanted to be a vet for a long time, so I learnt everything I could, whenever I could, even in hospital," she explained. "I used to bring hurt animals home until my father … he uh … he put a stop to it," she added. Yeah, after he beat me silly and wrung that poor bird's neck, she thought to herself, not realising that her lips had formed the words nor that Tracey's sharp eyes were reading her lips.

"But, I thought you were a secretary … oof." Owen glared at Tracey who had elbowed him in the ribs. She glared right back until he subsided.

There was a moment of awkward silence before the radio on the vet's desk crackled to life.

"This is Leo looking for Tracey or Owen," the radio said.

Owen toggled a switch. "We're both here, mom."

"I just wanted to check when you guys would be back. Inspector du Plessis has been waiting for your report."

"Harry's just finished with Jackknife and we were getting his report. We'll head up to the house now," Owen replied.

"Okay, see you soon."

Owen turned to the others. "Well I guess we'd better go round up Joe and head up to the house."



***************



Up at the house they were all met by food, cold water and a patiently waiting police inspector.

"Hendrik!" Owen greeting the inspector with a hand shake.

"Owen, I hear you've had a bit of excitement today," Hendrik said offering nods to the rest. "Tracey, Harry, Joe, nice to see you again." His eyes rested on Caitlyn. "Ms Sayer. Doc Thomas said he'd released you into Leonora's care. We still need to have our chat."

"We have nothing to talk about, Inspector," Caitlyn replied coldly.

"I think we do."

"Not while I have any say in the matter. Excuse me." With that Caitlyn turned and headed for the lift.

"I'm sure that you lot have much to discuss and don't need me around, so I'll just go and see to the ladies in the kitchen." Leo excused herself but instead of going into the kitchen she headed up the stairs.

"Well," Hendrik started. "Anyone want to tell me what happened today?"

The guys were happy for the change in subject, but Tracey filed the conversation away for later pondering.



***************



Leo found Caitlyn's door closed. "Caitlyn?" she called as she knocked.

After a pause a muffled voice called, "Come in."

Leo punched the door open to find Caitlyn looking out the window.

"Do you…" Leo started.

"When I'm ready to talk about anything I will."

"Alright. Just remember that there's always a cup of tea waiting for you in the kitchen," Leo replied.

"Thank you."

Silence reigned for a moment.

"We'll be in the lounge when you're ready to come down. I'm not sure how long Hendrik will be staying."

"I think I'll eat supper up here then, if you don't mind?" Caitlyn asked.

Leo thought for a moment. She didn't want to push Caitlyn too hard but on the other hand she didn't want Caitlyn to retreat.

"You'll have to come and fetch it downstairs," she offered as a compromise.

"All right then."

Leo let the door close behind her as she went back downstairs.





To be continued…