JACK OF DIAMONDS, REDUX

Chapter 18, edited version

Photo by Olga Nayda on Unsplash

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

“No? Why do you think that?” Richard said.

“Because what man would be stupid enough to bring it back? Right?” Nigel said.

“Exactly.”

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

Richard smiled. “Take him in, Toby, and give him a taste of the oats before ye sent him off to his mother.”

“Aye, Richard,” the boy said.

“Besides, the man knows how to ride a horse,” Sonia added.

“And?” Nigel asked, stuffing his pipe again.

“A man who’s that comfortable riding a horse, obviously grew up near horses,” she said.

“You think so, do you?”

“Look at the way he’s dressed.”

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

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

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

“No. It makes me think he comes from money,” she said, looking at Nigel and daring him to offer up an argument. “Only people who live in places like this have horses. Unless I’m wrong. Am I wrong? You don’t own a horse, do you?”

“He could be a farmer, for all you know,” Nigel insisted, nursing his pipe to life.

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