True Crime- Barn Style

There was a stifling stillness that hung over the barn. Perhaps it was the suffocating heat that invaded the quiet night, but the animals of the barn breathed more slowly than usual. His mind told him that they were most likely sleeping but his imagination filled with thoughts of them holding their breath, waiting for some unseen foe to intrude. An envelope of darkness shrouded the barn. It was difficult to distinguish reality from fantasy. Outside, the skies were devoid of stars. In their usual place was a pervasive blackness. For a brief moment, he wondered if some dark magic was at work here. Even the heavens seemed to be aware that something sinister was about.


Standing on his hind legs, he inhaled the blackness through his long, pointed muzzle. He tasted the unseen with each breath. Even the wind was not cooperating with his investigation. It would offer no secrets to the impending force which every creature felt but could not name. Deciding that he would find no answers on the wind, Ringo decided that an on-foot inquiry may yield more clues. He placed his sensitive paws on the hard surface below him and allowed his eyes to adjust to the malevolent darkness. Quietly thanking his ancestors for blessing him with above average night vision, he scanned the surroundings.

The aluminum stall fronts did not cast their usual bright glow in the darkness. Now, they were a dull white color. He could see the redwood tongue and groove boards which completed each stall but barely discern the orderly lines of the boards. The barn aisle was familiar in the darkness. Tidy and symmetrical, each stall appeared a mirror image of its neighbor. He liked this barn. Because of his sometimes compulsive tendencies, it made him feel nice to see the order and cleanliness.

To the left of him were 7 large box stalls, each with dozing (or at least uncommunicative) horses. To the right was more of the same. The barn was comprised of two 12 foot aisles with stalls on each side. The center bank of the barn contained 2 large box stalls, solid sliding doors to the feed room, a tack area, and the spacious grooming area and breeding stocks. There were other areas of the barn- and they were usually the focal point of his attention. The office/lounge was his favorite haunt as there were shiny trophies and the occasional snack of forgotten people food. The laboratory was also appealing because there were many containers of medicines and supplies. He could spend hours rearranging them- the humans were never any good at arranging things and he often felt the need to correct that. Even the restrooms provided occasional amusement if he could find nowhere else to wash his hands. He frequently had urges to clean his hands but assumed it was part of his obsessive/compulsive nature. But, tonight, those usual hang-outs did not garner his attention. It was the main part of the barn which called to him.

As he began his patrol, a male voice- even, attractive, and tenor called to him. “What’s up, dude?” It was Chevy. Chevy was the prince of the barn. He was favored among the mares, the other animals, and mostly the humans. His amicable nature was contagious. Coupled with his California surfer-like looks, his blond mane and tail, he was enviable. When he was a young raccoon, he was jealous of Chevy. As he matured, he saw that Chevy loved the humans, too. Eventually Chevy’s gentle, easy nature won Ringo over and he discovered that he enjoyed spending time with him.

“Something’s not right tonight”, Ringo replied softly. In the dark stillness, their voices seemed to carry farther than they should have. Ringo quietly hefted his weight- all 45 pounds of it- up the wall by grasping the beveled edges of the tongue and groove boards. Once up, he was sitting inches from Chevy’s hot breath. “I’m going to scout. Have you heard anything out of the ordinary?” he asked.

Chevy leaned closer as if sharing information with a confidant. “Well, I haven’t but do you need me to protect you?”

Ringo, thankful for the veil of darkness, covered his muzzle with long, elegant fingers. He was certain that Chevy’s uncomplicated disposition did not perceive the wry smile that he covered as he answered, “No, buddy. You keep an eye on things here. I’ll check out the rest of the barn.”

He decided that it may be wise to achieve a Raccoon’s eye view of the situation so he deftly scaled the remaining height of the stall door. Once atop the stall front, he began to balance along the 2 inch header board. With more grace than a tightrope artisan, he padded quietly along the adjoining stall fronts. His ungainly shape swayed back and forth but his footfalls were sure and silent.

Ringo used his vantage point to assess the occupants of each stall as he passed over them. Lexi, a busty blue roan mare, stood a silent vigil over her week old colt, Jasper. Sissy was lying down in her stall with her form curled into a C shape. Her newborn Sam slumbered unaware in the protective fold of her body. Nikki glanced up only briefly from munching her hay as Ringo passed by. Sensing that he posed no danger to her sorrel filly, Amber, she returned to her faint rustling of the stall floor.

Ringo passed over each stall silently and quickly, his mind filtering details looking for anything amiss. Reaching the end of the row of stalls, he made a choice that would determine the fates of every creature in the barn that night.

To Be Continued Tomorrow-

(For my Marestare Friends, you probably remember this one! I wanted to post it here for everyone else...Psst. Don't give the ending away!)