For Sale or Swap - Alyssa Brugman [42]
'We'll see,' said Shelby.
20 A Change of Plan
'You did what?' Lindsey's mum was standing at the back screen door, half in and half out. Shelby could see inside, and Lindsey's place was furnished with hotchpotch old couches and armchairs like her own house.
'You brought a man, who you know to be a horse thief, onto our property? I can't believe you would do that, Lindsey. This place is our livelihood. People trust us with their animals. We can't afford to lose customers. And now you want to stay out there in the stables overnight? What about rats? Did you think about that? How do you know this man isn't dangerous? This is the silliest thing you've ever done.'
Lindsey looked down and scuffed her feet on the doormat. Hayley cleared her throat. 'I think I'll go home now. See you guys later.'
Shelby nodded. She knew that Hayley would back out, and why wouldn't she? Hayley had nothing to gain from their plan.
'What should we do?' mumbled Erin.
'You can go home too, if you like.' Shelby shrugged.
Erin backed down the stairs. 'Okies. Ring me in the morning.'
Shelby was disappointed. Erin had been the one most excited about the plan, but only when it was fun. Now that they were getting in trouble she was bailing.
Lindsey looked over her shoulder. 'You're going to stay, aren't you, Shel?'
Shelby could see that Lindsey wanted her to stay. Her mum wouldn't go off so much if Shelby was there. 'Is that OK?' she asked.
Lindsey's mum rubbed her forehead. 'You're not staying in the stables. You can stay in the house where I can see you. Ring your mother and ask permission. And tell her everything. I don't want her thinking I had anything to do with it. Lin, give me this fellow's number plate and I'll call the police to let them know.'
The girls looked at each other. 'Did you get it?' Shelby asked.
Lindsey shook her head. 'Maybe Erin did?'
'No,' said Shelby. 'Erin was with me the whole time.'
Lindsey's mum shook her head. 'You didn't get his number plate.'
'We meant to,' explained Shelby. 'It was part of the plan, but I guess we forgot.'
Lindsey's mum stared at them both for a long time. 'Well, you'd better hope he doesn't turn up. I'll lock the front gate tonight.' She tut-tutted. 'Fifteen years I've been here, and I've never had to lock the front gate.'
Shelby went into their office, where Lindsey's mum ran the business for the stables and the riding school, and rang home. While she was waiting she thought about how Erin had said too much to the man, and that sounded suspicious. She decided not to tell her mother everything, especially not after the way Lindsey's mum had reacted. Her mum might make them stop, and it was too late for that now.
'Can I stay at Lindsey's tonight?' she asked.
'Of course, Miss Muffet. Do you want me to fetch you in the morning?'
'Thanks,' Shelby replied. She bit her lip. 'Oh, and I think I saw that man today – the one who took Blue. I didn't see properly, because I was in Erin's tack shed, and by the time I came out he had gone away.'
That was sort of true.
'Oh dear! What did he want?'
'Dunno,' she said. 'He wasn't here long. Lindsey's mum doesn't think he'll come back, but she's locking the gate just in case.'
'Hmm. Well, let's hope it was a different man. It would be terrible for someone else to lose their horse and go through what we've been through.'
Shelby's face flushed. 'Yes, but if he did steal one then they could call the police, and the police would have to do something, because it wouldn't be a civil matter.'
When she didn't answer, Shelby wondered if her mother suspected that she wasn't telling the whole truth.
'See you in the morning,' Shelby said, eager to get off the phone.
Afterwards, Shelby sat with Lindsey on the back step.
'We really needed that number plate,' Lindsey said. 'If he does steal a horse tonight, we won't be able to track him.'
'We'll just have to stay up all night, and if he does turn up, we can get it then.'
Lindsey nodded. She wiped her knuckles across her eyes. 'I'm really sorry, Shel. I forgot all about it.