I answered the front door to discover Shaneika Mary Todd looking distraught. “Is Asa here?”
“No, she’s not,” I lied.
“It’s okay, Mom. Let her in.” I turned around to see Asa still in her hospital gown standing in the hallway.
I opened the door wider for Shaneika. “Why do I even bother to protect you?”
“I’m sorry, Josiah, but I need to speak with Asa. I went to the hospital but they said Asa had checked out.”
Asa replied, “That’s a nice way of explaining it. I went against doctor’s orders and left.” She went over to the couch and sat down. “What’s going on?”
Shaneika and I followed Asa into the great room.
“Do you think that wise, Asa?” Shaneika said, her forehead creasing.
“That’s what I’ve been telling her, but she won’t listen,” I complained.
Asa waved my concerns away. “What did you need, Shaneika?”
“I just wanted to tell you the DNA report came back. The foal you captured from Logan Kilkorn is not Last Chance.”
“Jumping Jehoshaphat! The manure is going to hit the fan now,” I said.
Asa seemed startled upon reflecting on Shaneika’s news. Shaneika and I gathered about while Asa thought this news through. She finally said, “We’ve all been played. The kidnapping was a setup from the start. It was planned to bring Lady Elsmere to her knees—to stop her racing reform activism.”
Shaneika suggested, “I think you should leave town, Asa. Let Lady Elsmere handle this.”
“What about Last Chance?” Asa asked.
Shaneika threw her hands up. “I think the horse is dead. There is no other explanation of why we can’t find him. This thing is getting too murky. I don’t want to see you hurt further. I’m not sure why you passed out bleeding, but I don’t want to be the cause of you getting injured. I’ll just have to accept that colt is gone. We’ll try again to mate Jean Harlow with Comanche.”
I kept quiet not mentioning that Kilkorn might take Comanche or Jean Harlow as part of the settlement with Lady Elsmere. Instead, I glanced at Asa. “I think Shaneika is giving you good advice. Take it.”
Asa replied, “I still think the colt is at Kilkorn’s estate. From what I’ve learned about the man, I don’t think he would put a colt down.”
Shaneika said, “Did you not learn that he is banned from racing because he tried to dope someone else’s horse? Horses are just money to the man. He doesn’t care about them.” She leaned in closer to Asa. “Lady Elsmere and I have talked it over. You’re to leave town. We will post money in your account when things have cooled down.”
Asa protested, “Do neither of you find it strange that Kilkorn has not filed a report with the police? He just has made public accusations. Very odd to say the least.”
“You don’t know that, Asa. He and his son might have had breakfast this morning comparing notes and are on their way to the police station right now. Or a complaint is sitting on some officer’s desk waiting for further investigation,” I argued.
“There is nothing to tie me in with either Logan or Micah Kilkorn.”
There was no reasoning with Asa about this. Like a three-year-old, she had planted her feet firmly and was not about to budge. She surprised both Shaneika and myself when she said, “Don’t worry, Shaneika. I agree that I have lived past my usefulness in this scenario. I already decided to leave this afternoon after I make arrangements.”
“You need to recuperate. I feel so bad about you getting hurt,” Shaneika replied, obviously relieved that Asa was leaving town. It was one less ball in the air.
“It’s not your fault,” Asa replied, refusing to explain the origin of her injuries.
Shaneika stood. “I’ve got to get to the office. I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for us, Asa. Please take care.”
“It’s okay, Shaneika.”
“Sure it is, Asa. Everything will be okay.”
Asa seemed tired and rested her eyes. “Mom, will you see Shaneika out?”
“Don’t bother, Josiah. I know the way.” Shaneika shot Asa another glance. “Take care, Asa.”
“You too, sister.”
I walked Shaneika out and watched her leave. When I closed the door I could hear Asa on the landline making arrangements for her departure. I felt sad—so I called to Baby and we visited my bees.
My bees always made me feel happy.
Asa did not.