Coming Home - Pt-9

Howdy Folks,

On April 9, 2013 I posted the first installment of "Coming Home" and then followed with Pt 2, on April 10, Pt 3 on April 11, Pt 4 on May 8, Pt 5 on May 21, Pt 6 June 18, and Pt 7, July 31, Pt 8, Oct 15... If you're just joining us you can find Pt 1 (HERE), and each segment has a link to the next (If you'd like to revisit Pt 8 CLICK HERE) … In Pt 8 we left Billie and Hector alongside the road at the second crime scene of the day … I hope you'll enjoy this next installment.

Kessy, Saturday & me - writin' in the barn

Coming Home - Pt-9

     

She put her hand on his shoulder and gave her most assuring smile, "Hector, why don't you call me, Billie? After all we are equals, quite possibly going to be partners." She had a pang of guilt for saying that last part. Poor Roy was supposed to be her partner and he died before they ever worked together.



"Billie," he tried it out. Shook his head. "No, I do not think Billie sounds right. I think I will stay with Miss Weston. If you approve, Miss Weston."

      

"I approve, and I don't mean any disrespect when I call you Hector. Hector."

      

"Hector was my grandfather's name. It is a good name."

      

"Okay then, Hector, now that we know who we are, let's go examine our second crime scene for the day. I could have stayed in Nashville if I wanted to be this busy."

       

The car was nothing worth looking at out here, and even if she wanted to, it was still too hot. But the body, way on the far side of the road, that called for her attention. She outpaced Hector and squatted next to the body dressed in an above average looking suit, lying face down, almost comfortable looking. Her eyes were drawn immediately to the little patch of dried blood beside the dead man's face. Then she saw the little dark red, almost black spot in the back of his head. Just like the wound Juan del Paso had. And exactly the same location. She would roll him over, to look at his face. But she already knew who it would turn out to be. Andrew 'Quiet Man' Kent. She shook her head, well he's a quiet man now alright.

       

Hector rolled him, then looked at Billie with a big question mark on his face.

      

"I know," she said. "Why go to all that bother, kill Roy, kill Juan, just to bring him way out here, and shoot him too?" Billie rocked back, then sat on the road. One of the firefighters called out.

       

"Could you go see what they want?  I need to think about this."

       

"Sure Miss Weston," Hector said and started away.

      

Billie's phone rang. She looked at the screen.

      

"Hello Sheriff ... Yes, we're here. How's the family holding up?"

      

"It's rough. Been in law enforcement twenty-five years, never had anything strike in my own back yard before. Mary … Well the doctor gave her something, she's asleep now. Wish I was." He stopped, Billie could hear him sob. After a second he started again, "I don't feel much like this Sheriff crap anymore."

       

"I understand." Billie said.

      

"Oh Christ, Billie. I can't focus. I wanted to say, your Mom and Dad are on their way here. He called about ten minutes ago, I tried to talk him out of it, but your father's a determined man when he … Anyway what the hell did I want to say?"

       

"Ask about this mess I suppose."

      

"Yea that's it. What happened, a bad wreck?"

      

"Under the circumstances, I wish I didn't have to tell you now, but, we found the prisoner Roy was transporting." She paused, but not long enough for Sheriff Lovell to speak. "He's the dead man on the road in your phone call. Shot, small caliber, in the base of the skull. Just like Juan del Paso. Why would someone spring him, to kill him a few hours later?"

      

She heard the Sheriff take a long breath, then a few steps.

      

"Sheriff?"

     

"I'm trying to think. Listen Billie, if I hand this to you. What are your plans. I mean, I don't think I can handle this tonight. Understand?"

      

"Completely. You take all the time you need. Right now, I'll call the coroner and have Deputy Montoya wait for him. I was planning to visit Sara Muguara tonight. If I get bogged down tomorrow I might call Under-Sheriff Calhoun. Thought about the State Police, but you want to keep it home-grown. Honestly though Sheriff, I think it is more than a local crime."

       

"Dale Calhoun is a hard man to get along with, but you go ahead. I gotta go. Sit down … But you tell me everything every step of the way."

      

"Sheriff, who called you? How'd they get your home number, or your cell?"

       

A long pause, then, "I'm… don't know."

      ******************************

      Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Coming Home - Pt 8 -

Howdy Folks,

On April 9, 2013 I posted the first installment of "Coming Home" and then followed with Pt 2, on April 10, Pt 3 on April 11, Pt 4 on May 8, Pt 5 on May 21, Pt 6 June 18, and Pt 7, July 31. If you're just joining us you can find Pt 1 HERE, and each segment has a link to the next (If you'd like to revisit Pt 7 Click Here) … In Pt 7 we left Billie and Hector in her new office as Hector explained Sherriff Calhoun's dislike of woman and her father … Enjoy this next installment.

Kessy, Saturday & me writing

*********************

Billie opened the file again, "So this Andrew Kent was arrested for drunken-disorderly, Sheriff Calhoun ships him back here, somebody wants him sprung." She tapped her fingernails on the file folder. "He'd served time for bad checks in '06 in Arizona, arrested and acquitted for forgery in New Mexico in February '04, arrested and given two years parole for beating a man nearly to death in Phoenix in November '04. Ah, see here, he's still on parole for the bad checks. Who would want to spring a likable fellow like this?" She held the black and white mug shot up for Hector to see. 

 

"Detective Weston, Sheriff…." Deputy Hardin's voice was interrupted by the loud wailing of fire sirens.


Hector followed Billie at a run to the front counter just in time to see the Hondo County Fire Department's entire fleet of engines and a lone tanker race past their window, sirens and lights blaring and flashing.

Deputy Hardin offered Billie the phone, timidly. "It's Sheriff Lovell on the line. Someone called him at home." 

"Yes Sheriff. Highway twenty-nine ... I see ... I can leave right away ... Yes Deputy Montoya is still here, would you like to speak to him?... Alright then, we're on our way. Would you like me to call you from the scene?... I will. Goodbye."

       

Billie faced Deputies Hardin and Montoya's inquisitive stares. "A truck driver found a burning car a few yards off highway twenty-nine, five miles outside Cibolo, when he stopped to investigate he found a body lying next to it. The Sheriff needs us to check on it right away." She started for the door, turned back, "How would a truck driver get Sheriff Lovell's home phone number?" She motioned to Deputy Hardin, "You call the phone company, find out whatever you can about that call. Call me on my cell as soon as you know something."

      

"Yes Ma'am."

       

"You drive," she pointed to Hector, "I'll try to have you home before your daughter's birthday is over. Rosita isn't it?"

      

Hector smiled. "Yes. For the rose. She is our little rose. You remembered."

      

"How old is she today, let me guess …eleven. That should be right. Yea I'll stick with eleven."

       

Hector smiled broader. "She is eleven, yes."

       

"Let's hurry, so you can get home to light eleven candles."

       

Cibolo is a cluster of about a dozen rusty mobile homes that sprung up along a cattle trail ranchers and drovers had used to push herds to the old rail yards way up in the panhandle. It wasn't really a town, or even a community. It just was. Most of the folks who lived in those old trailers did not have what some might call, real jobs. They made a living working here and there, fixing old oil rigs, windmills, or hiring on a few weeks at a time on the hand full of remaining cattle outfits in the county. Billie knew Cibolo, or not too far from it, was where Juan del Paso's grandmother had her old tiny trailer.

       

Outside by the cars Billie changed her mind. "We'll drive separate. When we're through with this I'm going to tell Juan's grandmother about her grandson. She still lives outside Cibolo I'd guess."

       

"Are you sure? I think I should go with you. She maybe won't remember you. She can be hard to talk to, if she don't remember you." But he moved with a smile to his cruiser.

       

Billie opened her own car door, then turned to face Hector, "You're right, she can be, shall I say, shy."

       

Her mind was more on Juan's grandmother than her driving, or the dead man lying beside his burning car as she drove along behind Hector. Billie truly liked the ancient woman, and in fact had learned as much from her, as she herself had ever been able to teach Juan. For that she'd often felt guilty. And she felt especially guilty this moment. Had she missed some important lesson, or example she could have used to influence young Juan when she'd been helping him study? Was there something she missed that could have later kept him from making a wrong decision, a decision that ultimately led to his death alongside a desolate stretch of paved road. 

       

The Comanche people were not known for their record keeping, but Sara Muguara, could recite her linage all the way back to the Aztecs of Mexico. As she drove she remembered Sara's name meant Spirit Talker. She wondered if Grandma Sara had already heard from her grandson's spirit.

       

The smoke from the burning car drifted straight up, high into the windless sky. Most of the fire apparatus was already being wrapped up. Two engines, and six firefighters had made short work of the flames, now there was only black smoke. She stopped behind Deputy Montoya's cruiser and surveyed the scene. The body was on the opposite side of the road from the smoking car. Good thing, she thought, at least it appeared to be far enough away to be safe from overzealous hose operators. Her mind was slow to react though, and she blamed that on the long, long day which was certainly going to get even longer. She was still watching the smoke and thinking about Sara Muguara sitting alone in her dark little trailer, wondering if the message she'd received from the spirit world, about her grandson was true, when Hector knocked on her window.

      

"Ah…ah…I ah…."

       

Billie stepped out. "What's wrong?"

      

"I am not sure what to call you." He held his hands in the air, palms up, "You know, now you are a Detective. I used to, when we worked together before, call you Miss Weston. Remember? But that is not good for a Detective, I think."

       

She was surprised and amused enough by his discomfort that all she could respond with was a silly half-a-smile, and a shrug.

      

"I suppose I should call you Detective Weston, but, you know, somehow it feels funny." He made a very apologetic face, took a big breath, "Not that I think you should not be a Detective. You should. And most certainly you will make a very fine Detective, but it sounds funny to my ears."

       

Still speechless she watched him struggle and thought this is more words than she'd ever heard Hector Montoya say at one time.

     

"I mean, I will learn to like, Detective Weston…Soon."

       

She put her hand on his shoulder and gave her most assuring smile, "Hector, why don't you call me, Billie? After all we are equals, quite possibly going to be partners." She had a pang of guilt for saying that last part. Poor Roy was supposed to be her partner and he died before they ever worked together.

 ***********************

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Seeing With Her Heart – follow-up – Chy, The Blind Horse Moves Home –Ariana Tomeselli

Howdy folks,

I knew last week Ariana was moving Chy home, from the boarding barn where she’d lived most of her life. That’s why I wanted to post their story (SEEING WITH HER HEART-Ariana Tomasrlli and Cheyenne ) (Which had been published in Trail Blazer in Dec) .. about how their lives came to become intertwined and enriched by each other’s love and trust. I also asked for an update, as to why the move, and how it went, as this sort of thing could be traumatic for a blind horse. Ariana sent me all the details and it seems most appropriate to share the story in her own words – So please enjoy “Chy and Britches Big Move” – by Chy's partner, and guest blogger, Ariana Tomaselli.

Chy and Britches' Big Move

Hi Dutch and Coffee Clutch Friends, I'm Ariana Tomaselli, Chy's human partner.--

First, I am going to give you a little story behind all my horses (just for amusement).

Chy - As you know, Chy was given to me by my friend as a Christmas present since she could not afford and handle a blind horse.

Ariana and Chy - Together they Soar

Britches - My mom's friend saw a video I made of Chy. That night she had a dream, and in her dream God told her that Chy needs Britches in her life. (Britches was 1 at this time, Chy was 2). So the next day, my mom's friend called us, told us her dream, and gave Britches to us. Chy and Britches have been best friends ever since.

Taza - She is an old fireball pure bred Egyptian Arab. The owner of the boarding barn we were at would always watch me ride Chy. She would watch how Chy would buck and rear (out of excitement) and how I never came off of her. She asked my mom if she could talk to me, I thought I was in trouble. The owner told me that I have glue on my butt when I ride. She said that she has a bit of a wild Arab who was claimed a killer that needed work. With the permission of my mom, I accepted the challenge. So, I began working with Taza. Shortly after, the owner of the barn got very ill (from being in a previous car accident) and passed away. However, the day before she passed, she told her husband to give Taza to us. So, Taza became ours and became my mom's perfect riding horse. However, now she is retired because she has arthritis and is in her late 20's.

Geronimo and Tomahawk - These two horses were basically abandoned at the boarding farm. I fought for custody over these two horses for years and finally got them when their owner got into debt with the barn owner and the barn owner granted custody to me and had them signed over.

So, more about Chy and Britches ... As you know we have had all of our horses at a boarding farm called Cameo Farm; which was only a few minutes from our home. We lived in a small neighborhood where I spent my entire life. Shortly after we got Chy my mom began looking for a small farm we could call our own. We wanted Chy to live in our backyard. Then of course, we got another horse, then another, then another, and so on and so forth. My dad would always say, "We are not getting another horse until we buy a farm!" I obviously did not listen.

Ariana and Britches

Even after searching and searching, and getting the count of our horses up to 5, we were still boarding. We searched for years and years. Finally my parents were about to sign a contract for a 5 acre place that would have been OK, but just didn't feel right, when mom heard about a house ethat may be for sale. Mom and dad agreed to go look at it that same morning. As we all pulled up to that house, we knew it was meant to be! It is a small 8 acre property that is tucked back from the road and surrounded by trees, a perfect paradise; but that's not it. As my mom rang the doorbell to meet the home owner, this lady answered the door and both her and my dad stood in complete shock. It turns out, the home owner is an old family friend who grew up with my dad and his family. Small world right?

So she showed us her home and we fell in love. Dutch, it was truly meant to be, we were so close to buying a house literally a mile down the road that we weren't in love with, but ended up getting the home of our dreams.

We moved in the first week of July. We didn't plan to move our 5 horses until September because we needed to put up some fencing and build an extra stall. But, things never go as planned and due to unfortunate circumstances we had to move Taza, Tomahawk, and Geronimo less than a week after we moved in.

Geronimo, Tomahawk and Taza settling in

We kept Chy and Britches at Cameo until we finished everything that needed to be done at our new home. We wanted to move Chy into a home that was "stress-free". Oh, I didn't even tell you the best part.... our trailer, the trailer Chy loves, was sent to the junk yard moments before we had to move our horses.

We had to have our dear friend Betsy trailer our horses for us, but there is one problem... Chy is claustrophobic, and Betsy's trailer is a lot narrower than our old trailer was. I was worried Chy would refuse the trailer.

Then came the day to move Chy and Britches to their new home... I was happy but also worried that they wouldn't load on the trailer, but they proved me wrong! Chy AND Britches both walked right on the trailer!! This has NEVER happened before, usually I have to wait awhile for Chy to make up her mind of whether or not she wants to go somewhere (I always let her choose) and Britches ALWAYS puts up the biggest fight. On that day those horses knew they were going home! It made me cry tears of joy and we were all shocked but so happy!

Britches steps off first - Chy patiently waits her turn

We got them to our new place and I immediately unloaded them and put them in their new pasture. I let Britches roam around on her own, but I kept Chy on the lead so I could show her the boundaries and obstacles. Now, Britches can sometimes be, well, a mare. Haha! She is never really warm and fuzzy towards Chy, but she is always there for Chy when she needs her. As I started walked Chy around Britches would not leave us alone. In a few of the pictures I posted of me leading Chy around you can see my hand on Britches' butt pushing her away. She insisted on staying right by Chy's side. I swore Britches was trying to say, "Ariana, let Chy go, I can handle this". I took that as a sign, and I reluctantly let Chy go... and Britches took over in the most beautiful, sweet way I have ever seen.

Chy stepping "hoof" onto her new home

Britches literally walked Chy around her entire pasture, she showed her the tree, the stump, the gate, the stalls, she showed her everything! It taught me that sometimes I will not always be able to be there for Chy, I won't always be able to protect her, and baby her, and lead the way.

Ariana "pushing" Britches out of the way as she showed Chy her new home fenceline. Britches always worries over Chy. 

Chy has Britches, forever, and Chy has her will power and strength. (Oh man, I am crying now) For the first time in my life, I was able to let go and put my trust in someone else to take care of Chy, Britches.

Chy figured out everything that day. There is this automatic water in her pasture that has a lever in it which the horses have to push down with their muzzle to make the water come out. Chy figured it out on her own!! My other three horses had been there for a month and still did not have that waterer figured out!!! Chy can handle herself.

I feel like a momma bird who let her baby bird fly out of the nest for the first time, which is weird seeing that my baby bird moved home with me. I could not be anymore blessed to have such an amazing family, friends, and horses, especially Chy.

Chy and Britches all settled in

Thank you Dutch for caring about Chy and me! Ariana.

Thank you Arianna for sharing yours and Chy's story with us!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry