Saddles and Sabotage: Hayley Argent Horse Mysteries, #1

By Ruby Loren

A riderless horse in a storm.

 

A competition someone will do anything to win.

When a horse goes wild after a terrible accident, it's down to Hayley Argent, horse psychologist, to do everything in her power to cure him. But it doesn't take her long to realise that she hasn't been told the whole truth about what happened to Hadrian.

With an important three day event competition on the horizon, Hayley starts to suspect that what occurred on that stormy night was not an accident at all.

The horse psychologist doesn't have long to get to the bottom of what's going on at the stables. A storm of a different kind is approaching, and disaster is just a lightning strike away.

If you like horses, fun mysteries, and romance, you will love this series! Start reading these short mysteries today.


*Please note, this book was previously published under a different title.* This is a rewritten and re-edited edition:

The Swallow's Storm

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ruby Loren
• Release date: Oct 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393388821

Book preview

Introduction

The swallows were dipping low when Taylor Jones led his horse out of the stable yard. He sensed the heaviness in the air, and when he looked up to the heavens, he saw purple thunderheads rolling over one another. This summer storm was going to be a big one.

He didn’t have much time.

Taylor swung himself into the saddle without needing to use a mounting block. The smell of worn leather and fresh hay circled him, mingling with the foreboding pressure of the storm. His calloused hands gripped the reins, and despite only just being clear of the stables, he nudged his horse into a trot.

Come on, Molotov, we’ve got to give it a shot, he said to the large, fluffy white horse between his legs. The big animal automatically switched to a canter, as if understanding the urgency its rider felt. Or perhaps it was the feeling of the electricity that crackled in the air, swirling around the thick atmosphere of the summer evening.

The wooden fence of the riding school rose into view, but Taylor didn’t bother to check Molotov’s speed. The horse cantered down the hill, ghostlike in the twilight. He sailed over the fence with all the ease of a bird taking flight, his hooves kicking the sand into the air when he landed on the other side without a hint of a stumble. An involuntary laugh of sheer wildness escaped Taylor’s lips. He moved with Molotov, shadowing his movements, as rider and horse became one.

Let’s go… just one clear round, then we’ll be done, he said. The horse pulled forwards, racing towards the first jump. Taylor barely noticed their flight over the three red and white striped poles. Before he could catch a breath, they were already upon the next obstacle - three jumps placed close together. It felt like there was magic in the air along with the electricity of the approaching storm as they jumped clear, jump after jump. Tonight, they were unstoppable.

Taylor bit his tongue when they approached the final jump - a challenging false brick wall that often unnerved both horse and rider. He felt it in his bones that this was the fastest clear round they’d ever completed. There was only one more obstacle in their way before it would be a new record.

Just one little jump…

Molotov neighed with fright and reared up as a horse materialised in front of him.

The runaway horse’s back legs kicked out, scoring a blow on Molotov’s belly that made him squeal in pain and surprise. Taylor caught a glimpse of a dapple-grey coat, flecked with foam and blood, before he was forced to hold on for dear life, or end up in the sand. He could only watch as the wild horse galloped onwards, clearing the same fence Taylor and Molotov had so recently jumped themselves. Stirrups flapped uselessly, and the strips of snapped reins whipped the air as the big horse tore up the hill, heading for home.

Easy boy, Taylor said to Molotov, who calmed beneath his touch. All thoughts of beating their best time had fled from his head as he dismounted and checked the horse’s belly. There was only a shallow cut where the other horse had kicked him. Did that horse look like Hadrian to you?

Molotov nickered in response.

Taylor thought about the state the other horse had been in when he’d run out of the woods that bordered the riding school. He’d looked like he’d gone completely mad.

Something terrible must have happened.

Come on. We’ve got to get help, Taylor said, realighting and nudging Molotov’s sides. The big horse sensed his urgency and jumped straight into a gallop, clearing the fence again as heavy raindrops started to fall and the first growl of thunder flattened his ears.

They found Hadrian outside the stable building.

His head was pressed flat against the wood, and his sides heaved with each shuddering breath. It was only now that Taylor was close enough to get a good look that he realised the horse was in a very bad way. His chest was torn open, and the muscles and ligaments beneath were laid bare.

Taylor slid off Molotov, keeping hold of his reins and slowly moving towards Hadrian. He muttered soothing words as he approached, stretching one hand out before him as he got closer…. until he finally had a hold of one half of the trailing reins.

Hadrian’s ears flicked back.

He snapped his head away, nearly yanking Taylor off his feet. Taylor held fast, glad to have Molotov there as an anchor in the sudden storm of hooves and teeth. He was even more grateful when his white horse moved in closer, helping him to herd the spooked gelding back into the stable.

It was a relief when he finally managed to close the stable door behind Hadrian and slide the bolt across. The peace didn’t last for long. As soon as the horse was in his stall, he started kicking. Taylor heard wood splintering with the strength of the blows. If he didn’t do something - and fast - Hadrian would injure himself further and might even break a leg. Then that would be that.

Taylor couldn’t help fearing that this horse might already be beyond help.

The quiet evening he’d enjoyed earlier was transforming into a nightmare. Rain lashed down on the dusty ground outside the stable. The usually busy yard was utterly deserted.

Help! he yelled, over and over again, praying that someone would come. He pulled his mobile phone from his pocket, his brain working at last. His fingers shook when he dialled the riding school’s owner and then the ambulance, not knowing what else to do.

We’ve got to go out there, he said to Molotov, who was standing by him, as patient and willing as ever. We’ve got to find Madison.

As they galloped out of the barn into the wrath of the summer storm, Taylor could still hear Hadrian kicking the walls of his stall. Every bang was like a fatal gunshot.

But nothing he’d seen so far that night could prepare him for what he found in the woods.

1

Hadrian’s Wall

Hayley Argent felt the ball of nerves swirl around in her stomach when she pulled up outside the Emeline Equestrian School. She ran a hand through hair the colour of new hay and frowned at her too-cheerful blue eyes in the car mirror. It