Chapter Five
CHAPTER FIVE
“All I know is she injected him with something.”
As Courtney neared and heard Blake’s statement she paused her step.
“I need to know what that something is,” a man’s voice replied.
“She said it was a tranquilizer, but I have no idea which one.”
“Ace is pretty easy to get. That would be my guess, but I need to know for sure.”
Just as Courtney was trying to decide what to do, as if sensing her presence, Heather turned her head.
“Courtney!” Heather exclaimed. “Thank God. Was it Ace?”
“Was what Ace?” Courtney stammered, pretending not to know what Heather was talking about.
“Stop playin’ games,” Blake growled, marching up to her. “Henry’s in trouble because of you. What did you give him and how much?”
“Okay, okay, yeah, it was Ace. I think the vial said 5 mg, but I only gave him about half,” she replied, stepping up to stare through the stall door. “He was being wild. I had to.”
“You’re the owner?” the vet asked, glancing up at her.
“Yes, I just got him a couple of weeks ago. He’s being crazy so—”
“I’m Doctor Clayton,” he said sharply, cutting her off. “Any more than that and we might have had some real issues, but this will counter the effects,” he continued gravely as he administered an injection. “Take out this dry hay, put it in a net and soak it for about thirty minutes. He should start looking better in a couple of hours. I’ll be here for the rest of the afternoon so I’ll keep checking on him. And for goodness sake,” he added sternly, rising to his feet and scowling at her, “don’t give an excited horse Ace. Not ever! And do not administer any drugs unless it’s under the supervision of a vet.”
“Uh, okay.”
“I’ll be reporting this to the show office and the local Animal Welfare Department.”
“What? Why? It was a simple mistake.”
“Drugging your horse is not a mistake,” he barked. “People like you shouldn’t be allowed to own these animals.”
“How dare you speak to me like that. He was being wild. People Ace their horses all the time.”
“That doesn’t make it legal and it doesn’t make it right,” he retorted. “Heather, thanks for realizing something was wrong and finding me,” he said, softening his voice and turning his eyes to her.
“I’m just glad you were nearby.”
“I am too! Now if you’ll excuse me I’m off to the show office to report this,” he declared, glowering at Courtney again, then turned and marched down the barn aisle.
“Proud of yourself?” Blake asked, staring at her. “You almost killed him.”
“Oh, stop with the drama. He would’ve come out of it.”
“Maybe, maybe not, and instead of bein’ defensive you should be relieved, and you should be thankin’ Heather for seein’ he wasn’t right and findin’ the vet.”
“Thanks, Heather, for telling your boyfriend about what you saw and causing all this commotion. Thanks for making sure I get kicked out of this show.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Heather murmured, staring at her. “How can you be so callous? Don’t you care about Henry at all? Don’t you care that—”
“I care that I bought a horse that’s totally wild and I can’t tranquilize because he reacts to it. What the hell am I supposed to do now?”
“Take up another sport, preferably one that doesn’t involve animals. Hold on…” he muttered, stepping closer to her and frowning as he spoke, “Henry isn’t the only one who’s been drugged. What are you on?”
“Excuse me?” she exclaimed, backing away from him.
“Your pupils, they’re dilated. You’re on something. That might explain your weird behavior.”
“I’m not being weird.”
“Yeah, you are.”
“I don’t have to listen to this.”
“The hell you don’t,” he snapped, grabbing her arm and hustling her into an empty stall.
“What are you doing?”
“Makin’ sure you don’t go anywhere,” he said tersely, sliding a lead rope through the handle and tying it off out of reach.
“You can’t do this! You have no right!”
Ignoring her, he pulled out his cell phone, dialed the sheriff’s office, and asked to be patched through to Sheriff Cooper.
“Hey, Blake, how are you?”
“Angry,” he replied. “I’m at the show grounds. A competitor here drugged her horse. It’s now under a vet’s care, and I’m pretty sure she’s usin’.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Her behavior, and her pupils are dilated. And you should also know the vet is reportin’ her to Animal Welfare.”
“I’m already here. My niece is showin’ and I stopped by to wish her luck.”
“Great. We’re in Barn A. See you shortly.”
“I’m going to get you for this, Blake Coleman. You just see if I don’t,” Courtney railed. “You’re an interfering asshole.”
He was about to respond when his phone signaled an incoming call. Glancing at the screen he saw it was from the show manager, Buck Halsey.
“Hello, Buck.”
“Hi, Blake. I’m with Doc Clayton. Are you still at King Henry’s stall?”
“Yep.”
“Is Courtney with you?”
“She is, and I just called Sheriff Cooper. He’s on the grounds and he’ll be here in a minute.”
“Good, because we found bottles of Ace and some other substances, both powder and pills. Keep her there if you can.”
“She’s locked in a stall. She’s not goin’ anywhere.”
“Great. I’ll be right over.”
“Courtney, that was Buck Halsey, the show manager,” Blake declared. “Your stash has been found.”
“What? But he has no right to look through my stuff.”
“Read your entry paperwork. If there’s any suspicion of a horse bein’ drugged he does. You’re goin’ down, Courtney.”
“The hell I am. I’m calling my lawyer.”
“That would be a very good idea,” he said as he spotted the vet marching down the aisle with Sheriff Cooper and the show manager.
“Courtney McCallum, you’re under arrest,” the sheriff exclaimed as they reached the stall. “I’ll read you the charges shortly. But first you should know two officers from animal welfare in Fairview are on their way. They’ll probably want to take possession of your horse.”
“Well, good. That saves me the trouble of trying to sell him. He’s been more trouble than he’s worth.”
“Then let me buy him! I’ll give you a check for a thousand dollars right now and take care of the vet bill,” Heather exclaimed. “Or I can wait until he’s taken and work things out with Animal Control.”