‘What did she say?’ Kendra asked.
Blake jumped in. ‘She says Lyndal isn’t funny.’
‘It looked like something else,’ Kendra said, smiling at her youngest cousin. ‘We shall make a lady of you yet.’
A string ofverbalprofanity reached them, and they all looked in the direction of the house. Thomas was having a tantrum.
‘Stop, you little thieves!’ he shouted.
The sound of a bell clanging across the ground followed.
‘What on earth?’ Lyndal said as the girls rose to their feet and rushed into the shop.
Candace and Victoria were already at the window. Thomas now stood next to a horseless cart, waving an angry fist. ‘You will be hanging on the wall by the end of the day.’
‘Oh dear,’ Victoria said. ‘They chose the wrong horse to steal. He will hunt them down.’
Candace headed for the door. ‘We still have some time before it’s slaughtered.’
Kendra followed her aunt. ‘Slaughtered? That is an impeccably bred mare. Only a fool would slaughter such a valuable animal.’
‘Hungry people don’t care about bloodlines,’ Blake said. ‘That horse will be stew by the end of the day.’
‘Then we must tell the defenders,’ Kendra said.
Blake stopped on the veranda. ‘I’ll find the horse.’
I’m coming with you, Eda signed.
‘Fine, but the bow stays here.’
‘This is what comes of your kindness.’ Thomas ranted at his wife. ‘You happy now? The business is broke, just as I suspected. Now the trip in to confirm it has cost me a horse.’
‘Hardly any businesses are turning a profit right now,’ Candace said. ‘We rely on bartering most of the time. That is how a community survives difficult times.’
‘Your treasonous son had no idea what he was doing,’ Thomas said, stepping closer. ‘Yes, I know how he really died.’
‘Thomas, please.’ Victoria placed a hand on his arm. ‘Let us focus on getting your horse back.’
‘Give us an hour,’ Blake said, stepping down onto the road and passing her uncle. She did not look at him. Every time he spoke to her mother that way, violent thoughts filled her mind.
‘I am sending for the commander!’ Thomas shouted after them.
Blake pulled her sister along when she slowed. ‘Don’t make things worse. The sooner we find the horse, the sooner we’ll be rid of him.’
Eda adjusted the dagger beneath her skirt.
Blake glanced sideways at her. ‘Let’s try to settle this like ladies first.’
* * *
The girls tracked the thieves through the forest, two boys around the same age as Eda but half her weight. They were arguing about what to do with the animal when the girls found them.
‘All right, boys,’ Blake said, stepping into sight. ‘Hand the horse over and I’ll let you walk away.’
The boys exchanged a look.
‘This is our horse,’ the taller one said, stepping towards them.
